Feb 13, 2014 by The Nation

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Bid to declare APC senators’ seats vacant fails

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Tinubu: Conference is waste of time

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•JEGA: EKITI ELECTION ‘LL BE FREE AND FAIR’ P9 •ARMY, NAVY REDEPLOY 182 OFFICERS P7

•Sympathisers at the scene of the petrol tanker accident in AramokoEkiti…yesterday.

Seven die in Ekiti tanker fire PAGE 10

•Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu (right) con•A woman wailing and others at the scene ... yesterday soling the daughter of one of the victims of the fire … yesterday.

Oduah, Olubolade gone as Jonathan bows to pressure Boko Haram kills 51

Orubebe, Minister of State (Finance) Ngama out

NKNOWN to many in his cabinet, President Goodluck Jonathan made up his mind on Monday to ask controversial Minister of Aviation Ms. Stella Oduah to “resign”, The Nation learnt yesterday. The decision came after consultations with some statesmen, clerics, stakeholders and associates. The exit of Oduah •See also and three others – pages 4 - 6 Police Affairs Minis-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

ter Caleb Olubolade, Minister of Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe and Minister of State for Finance Yerima Ngama – is, however, likely to be a foreshadow of a major shake-up in the cabinet, including the swapping of portfolios by some ministers. Besides the likely removal of five more ministers, it was gathered last night that the Minister of Petroleum Resources,

Diezani Alison-Madueke, might be redeployed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister of Transport Idris Umar may go to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Ministers were jittery last night when they learnt of the impending shake-up. Oduah’s and others’ exit was, however, with a tinge of drama as some of them queried why those they considered had worse performance were left in the cabinet. Continued on page 2

•20 girls abducted

ESIDENTS of Konduga, Borno State, had a bad Tuesday night, with Boko Haram fighters killing 51 of them. The insurgents stormed the town in their hundreds, •Shettima

Continued on page 68

•SPORTS P23 •POLITICS P51 •N/HEALTH P53 •E-BUSINESS P58 •EDUCATION P25

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS National Conference is a waste of time, says Tinubu

•Asiwaju Tinubu (second right) speaking yesterday. With him are Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right); Deputy Governor Titi Laoye-Tomori (second left); Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South West Chairman, Bishop Magnus Atilade (left); former Osun CAN Chairman, Evangelist Abraham Aladeseye (middle second row); Director General, Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), Mr Femi Ifaturoti (second row-right) and Bishops, during the APC National Leader’s Peace Meeting with South West CAN in Osogbo ... yesterday

ATIONAL leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday described the planned National Conference as a waste of time. He restated his opposition to the idea in Osogbo in an interview with reporters after a meeting with leaders of the Osun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the state government. The CAN leadership and the state government disagree over certain aspects of the education policy. Tinubu said: “The National Assembly has devoted time to the review of the country’s constitution. What again is the purpose of Jonathan’s national confab? It is a way of fooling Nigerians. There was no law backing it and whatever comes out of it would be a nullity. “Those in support of the National Conference are confused people. I am not a con-

Oduah, Olubolade gone as Jonathan bows to pressure Continued from page 1

One of the issues that dominated the consultations between the President and some stakeholders was his perceived refusal to act “decisively” on corruption-related matters. The last of such consultations was a session in Abuja on Monday attended by Lagos preacher Tunde Bakare. Pastor Bakare was Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate during the 2011 general elections. Bakare, who towed the line of many clerics, insisted that Jonathan must show “practical demonstration” of his readiness to fight corruption to earn his support. He said the President should act on the reports on aviation scandal and other corruption issues facing the government to win the confidence of more Nigerians. It was gathered that the President wasted no time in dusting up the reports of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation and the Administrative Panel headed by a former Head of the Civil the Service of the Federation, Alhaji Sali Bello. Others on the panel were the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (rtd.) as members. It was learnt that the two panels found Oduah guilty of infractions bordering on abuse of contract and procurement laws. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “All these people said while Nigerians might not see anything wrong with the personality of the President, they are unhappy with his slow attitude to glaring cases of corrupt practices by some cabinet members, including the N255million bulletproof cars’ scam. “Pastor Tunde Bakare urged him to act ‘decisively’ on reports on investigation of some cases on his table. “The President gave his word to these statesmen, clerics and associates that he would cleanse the cabinet. “But to avoid a backlash on

Why ministers were ‘allowed to go’, by Maku

ESTERDAY’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was solemn. President Goodluck Jonathan shocked the ministers when he announced the exit of four of them from the cabinet. A major casualty – the controversial Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah – was absent at the meeting. She had been told by the President of the decision to “let her go”. It was not clear whether the three other ministers dropped from the cabinet were told before yesterday. Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olubolade, Minister of Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe and Minister of State for Finance Yerima Ngama, attended the meeting. But Olubolade and Orubebe left before the end without talking to reporters. Ngama spoke briefly in Hausa to a few reporters on his way out of the Villa. Yesterday’s action by the President followed Monday’s forced exit of Chief of Staff to the President Mike Oghiadomhe. the career of such ministers, the President opted for softlanding for the affected ministers by asking them to resign their appointments.” It was gathered that Oduah’s case was complicated by her alleged unilateral removal of the desk of the State Security Service (SSS) from airports. Security reports indicated that she was “indicted” for arrogating to herself the powers of the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces. “The battle with the SSS also convinced the President that it was time to ask the Minister of Aviation to go,” the source added. Another source also alluded to last-minute battle by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, to save Oduah’s job, based on what he described as “good performance”. Another source said: “Anyim met with some top Presidency officials on why Oduah should be allowed to stay for some months to complete the ongoing reforms in the aviation sector.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Minister of Information Labaran Maku told reporters at the end of the FEC meeting that the ministers were “allowed to go” to pursue personal and political goals. According to him, the President thanked them for their contributions and wished them well in their future endeavour. Until substantive ministers are sworn in, he said the President directed the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom to take charge of the Aviation Ministry, the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Isiaku Darius is to take charge of the Ministry, Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will oversee her portfolio in addition to that of the Minister of the State. Minister of State FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide will take charge of the Police Affairs Ministry. He said: “The President announced further changes in the federal executive council. He said a number of ministers have been asked to step out of the federal executive council to pursue or further their own interests, some in politics others private-focused. But

“Some of the officials told Anyim that they could not intervene because the President was committed to his anticorruption agenda and he had made up his mind to step on toes no matter whose ox is gored. Following the responses, Anyim realised that it was too late in the day to save Oduah.” Regarding the three other ministers (Godsday Orubebe, Caleb Olubolade and Yerima Ngama, the source added: “It is only the case of Olubolade that could be linked to governorship pursuit in Ekiti State because the governorship race is still a year ahead in Delta and Yobe states. “There are other ministers, like Nyesom Wike, with governorship ambition who are still in the cabinet. So, the President might have sacrificed Orubebe and Ngama for political exigencies. Until they arrived for the Federal Executive Council meeting, neither Orubebe nor Ngama was prepared for resignation, a source said, adding: “I am aware that Orubebe has been having a cold war with the President’s

mainly what the president did today was to allow ministers who have indicated interest in pursuing further goals in the polity and in the economy and in the life of the country, to be allowed to go. “In announcing the acceptance of their decision to participate further in the polity, the President thanked them very sincerely for the great job they have done in helping the government realise a number of the goals that have been achieved under the transformation agenda. The President believes that they have done so well for the country, they have done so well for this administration. He was generally happy with what they have done, particularly in their various sectors to help the administration realise the goals that we see today and the results that we have arrived at under the transformation programme of the government.” Maku said the President explained that the former Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadomhe was not sacked because of corruption or malpractices. Maku said: “The President ex-

political godfather, Chief Edwin Clark. So, he got it tactically wrong in his political Arithmetic. “And for Ngama, his days were numbered since the President began a subtle political romance with Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late ex-Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha. His exit might be part of a new political calculation to win Yobe State with Al-Mustapha as the arrowhead or the political leader in the state.” There were indications last night that the exit of the four ministers would lead to more shake-up in the cabinet. No fewer than five more ministers might be asked to resign this month, it was learnt. The President has security reports on these ministers and their performance assessment records, according to a source, who added: “Do not forget that there is a benchmark which the President is using to assess the ministers”. “Even some of the outgoing ministers queried why those with worse performance

Continued on page 68

were still in the cabinet and they were asked to resign. “This shake-up will be followed by the swapping of portfolios by some ministers. I think the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, might be redeployed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, is expected to manage the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. “Also, Wike might be moved to another ministry. There is a recommendation to post Wike to the Ministry of Special Duties where he can have more time for local politics in Rivers State. The Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, might also be swapped. “I think there is a plan to move Minister of Works Mike Onolememen to either Aviation or Housing and Urban Planning. His survival will depend on the disposition of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih.”

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

fused man, so I cannot support the confab. Those in support have proved to be confused.” The former Lagos State governor, said the process for the emergence of the presidential candidate of the APC has commenced. He assured that the process would be open, transparent and acceptable to all members. He said the APC was poised to wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party at the centre. “There has never been crisis in the party and there won’t be any crisis even after the selection of the party’s acceptable candidate,” he said. He expressed satisfaction on the successful conclusion of the party’s membership registration across the country, saying the development was an indication that the APC is truly progressive and ready to take over power from the PDP. On the governorship elections scheduled for June and August in Ekiti and Osun states, he expressed optimism that the APC would secure landslide victory. He maintained that the PDP could not pose a threat to the APC in both states because of the party’s popularity. Tinubu said the Osun State education sector crisis had been resolved amicably between the government and the Christian community. According to him: “Religious crisis cannot occur in Osun state and we shall not allow those behind it to succeed. Education is essential to us and religion is also very important. We shall therefore ensure that the two are not affected. The stakeholders have agreed to give peace a chance in the state. “Good education is a solution to poverty and we are ready to provide the best for our children. We should not pervert the minds of these young people. Instead, we are ready to provide leadership that would impact positively on their future.”

Those in support of the National Conference are confused people. I am not a confused man, so I cannot support the confab. Those in support have proved to be confused. ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 08099365644, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS JONATHAN CABINET

What next Deputy Governor of Bauchi Alhaji Sagir Saleh (right) and Commissioner for Agriculture Alhaji Tasiu Mohammed at a workshop for Medium and Large Scale Cotton Farmers in Bauchi.

What will Ms Stella Oduah, Godsday Orubebe, Caleb Olubolade and Yerima Ngama do now that they are out of the Goodluck Jonathan cabinet? Their future is laced with uncertainties, writes Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU

N • From left: GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Former Governor, Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and wife, Angela; and Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu, at the Annual UBA CEO Awards organised to reward star performers across the group, in Lagos.

•From left: Prof Henkjan Verkade, President Nutrition Society of Nigeria Prof Ngozi Nnam and member, Board of Directors, Friesland Campina Wamco Nig Plc Rev Isaac Agoye at the 9th Olu Akinkugbe Wamco Nutrition Seminar in Lagos. PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

O condition is permanent. At the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last week, the four ministers took their seats. They exchanged banters with their colleagues. They participated in the decision making process . They reiterated their loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan. They also promised to work harder. However, little did they guess that they would soon stop attending the meeting of the highest decision-making body . Yesterday, the hammer fell on the controversial Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, her Police Affairs counterpart, Caleb Olubolade Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godsday Orubebe, and Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama. There are many perspectives about the sack. It is doubtful that it was motivated by the need to inject a new blood into the administration. It was a minor cabinet shake-up a selective sack. The move may not meet the popular demand for the removal of certain ministers holding sensitive portfolios. What the public has demanded is a cabinet reshuffle. The demand was premised on the fact that these ministers lack the competence to assist the President in meeting the goals of the transformation agenda. Many perceive the sack as a punitive measure, especially for the Aviation minister, who has been swimming in the pool of controversy. Since the bulletproof cars scam was uncovered, her job has been on the line. Although she made spirited attempts to defend her integrity, critics have maintained that the flaws should not be glossed over. The refusal of the

•HER LAST OUTING Oduah (second right) watches as Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (middle), flanked by Hon Funkekeme Solomon (second left) and Mr Oche Victor Elias (right, laid the foundation stone of the Cargo Terminal of the Asaba International Airport in Asaba...on Tuesday.

President to act decisively created a credibility problem for his administration. The scandal may continue to hunt Oduah for long. There are speculations that the three ministers-Orubebe, Olubolade, and Ngama-have divided attention. They have governorship ambition. Their rivals at the home front have not relented in demanding for their removal from office. They alleged that the former ministers were using the presidential muscle and state power to intimidate them. Although the allegation appeared spurious, it is true that the three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains have been dividing their time between their ministerial responsibilities and governorship aspirations. However, a source said that the real reason for sacking the three politicians from the cabinet is still in the realm of conjecture. Orubebe has come under attack for the slow pace of work on the East/ West Road. Many think that his ministry has not fought the infrastructure battle adequately in the nine states. But, the church elder has often refuted these claims. His entry into the Delta State governorship race provoked rage among his detractors. Orubebe has also not been able to normalise his strained relations with the acclaimed Ijaw leader, Senator Edwin Clark. The ebullient and fork-tongued old man has not relented in criticising his activities as a minister. Orubebe is a household name in the Southsouth. He is a grassroots operator. He was a councillor, local government chairman, and member of the Delta State Executive Council.

African American History Month

Arthur Wergs Mitchell, 1883-1968

•From left: General Secretary, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) , Mr Musa Amadu, President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) , Alhaji Aminu M. Maigari, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo and Mrs Fatima Obadaki (NTDC) showcasing gifts of jersey presented to the Tourism Chief during a courtesy visit to NFF office in Abuja.

RTHUR Wergs Mitchell was an African American teacher, administrator, and politician. He was the first black representative elected as a Democrat in the United States.Mitchell attended public schools and entered the Tuskegee Institute in 1897. He worked his way through school as a laborer and as an office boy for Booker T. Washington. He eventually taught in rural schools with an emphasis on farm management, and he served as president of Agricultural School in West Butler, AL, for ten years. Mitchell began practicing law in Washington D.C. in 1927, and two years later moved to Chicago where he had some dealings in real estate. He was elected to the 74th Congress

in 1935, denouncing the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and condemning the Mussolini regime. In 1937, Mitchell traveled to Arkansas. As the train crossed the state line Mitchell was forced to ride the rest of the way in a decrepit “Jim Crow” car. He immediately challenged transportation segregation through political means.Throughout his career, Mitchell issued bills holding state and local offices accountable for lynchings and to prohibit racial discrimination. He chose not to run for reelection in 1942. Reference: Black Americans In Congress, 1870-1989. Bruce A. Ragsdale & Joel D. Treese. U.S. Government Printing OfficeRaymond W. Smock, historian and director 1990. E185.96.R25

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS JONATHAN CABINET

for Oduah, Orubebe, others?

•Olubolade

•Dr Ngama

•Orubebe

Ex-ministers: Their time in office P

ERHAPS the most controversial of all the ministers ‘excused’ from the cabinet yesterday is Ms Stella Oduah. The Minister of Aviation, not a few will argue, scored some points with the remodeling of the airports. For a long time, the airports were eyesores. Even services that were supposed to make aviation good were lacking. Her greatest undoing is the controversial purchase of bulletproof cars at over N200m. Though she denied such cars were bought and added that the cars bought were not for her, many had become incensed and the call for her exit from the cabinet assumed a life of its own. It finally ended yesterday. Her colleague, the Ekiti-born Caleb Olubolade, hardly had any controversial moment in office as Minister of Police Affairs. How well he performed in the ministry will remain a subject of debate. What is clear is that the welfare of policemen, especially regarding where they live, did not improve much under him. Now, he is out to seek a greener political pasture in Ekiti State. Also seeking such pasture is Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, who was appointed Minister of State for Finance in 2011. He appeared unassuming but what was obvious to watchers of the ministry was that he had his work cut out for him, given that his performance would be judged in comparison to the performance of the immediate past Minister of State for Finance, Mr Remi Babalola. He started well but midway into his stewardship, his desire to become governor of Yobe State, it was alleged, took precedence over his duties. In October 2012, for daring to declare his ambition to rule Yobe State in 2015, Ngama, came under fire from angry youths who picketed the ministry under the aegis of Nigeria United for Transformation demanding that “Ngama Must Go.” The protesting youths called for Ngama’s resignation on the grounds that “his ambition to become the governor of Yobe State in 2015 has stopped him from discharging his duties Olubolade, the former military governor of Bayelsa State, is a governorship aspirant in Ekiti State. When he was retired prematurely from the Navy, he entered politics. His first point of call was the Action Congress (AC). He hurriedly left for the PDP when he failed to get the governorship ticket in 2007. The Ipoti-Ekitiborn retired soldier-turned politician is very close to the President. However, he has not been able to establish himself as the rallying point and arrowhead of the PDP in the state. His exit from the Federal Executive Council will definitely be hailed by other

I’m vindicated, says Dino Melaye

HE Executive Secretary of the AntiCorruption Network, Dino Melaye, yesterday described the sacking of some ministers by President Goodluck Jonathan as a vindication of his anti-corruption crusade. Melaye, in a statement in Abuja, vowed that his group would institute criminal proceedings against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe and his former counterpart in the Ministry of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah. From Nduka Chiejina and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja as a minister”. Ngama described the protesters as a bunch of miscreants, who were protesting because they were jobless. As the chairman of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), Ngama had problems with commissioners of Finance on issues bothering on non-remittance of funds to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). In April 2013, the 36 commissioners of finance and their accountant generals stormed out of the meeting of FAAC on the grounds that Ngama was always late to the meeting, thus forcing them to hold the meeting late at night and up till the time they stormed out, Ngama had not arrived. It was rumoured that Ngama’s ambition to be governor of Yobe State on more than one occasion had forced the technical session (the gathering of the accountant-general of states, the accountants-general of the federation and some employees of the Federal Ministry of Finance) and the commissioners’ forum (the gathering of Finance commissioners, the Minister of State for Finance and revenue generating agencies), to hold on the same day. Ordinarily, the technical session is supposed to hold a day before.

aspirants, especially former Governor Ayo Fayose, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Bisi Omoyeni, Dare Bejide and Dayo Adeyeye. Previously, he had an edge over them as a minister. Now, the feeling will be that a level playing ground has been provided for the governorship contenders. The perception in Ekiti is that a minister has access to state resources, which he can deploy to the detriment of his political rivals. As a minister, Olubolade was not in the mould of the political strategist, Dr. Babalola Borisade, former Education Minister and Prof. Tunde Adeniran, scholar and loyal party el-

He insisted that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, ought to have been sacked. “I am vindicated. Power truly belongs to the people,” Melaye said, adding, “When we protested against two of these ex-ministers, many abused us; but today we are happy. “We salute the courage of Mr. President, although he delayed too much because they ought to have been fired before now. “We submitted a report indicting the three

ministers to the United States last year. “Stella Oduah, Godsday Orubebe and Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke. Deziani too must go. The President must take hard decisions in the interest of Nigerians. “Now that they have been sacked, we will institute criminal charges against Orubebe and Oduah. The voice of the people is the voice of God.”

The Chairman of the commissioners’ forum, Timothy Odaah, told reporters that they took the decision to walk out because of the attitude of the minister. “All finance commissioners are unhappy with the development. The minister has breached the FAAC Act of 1992, which says that the technical session must hold a day before the commissioners’ forum; that is not happening,” he said. The spokesman for the minister’s office, Mallam Mohammed Nakoji, said the minister was absent at the meeting “due to other pressing engagements”. Unlike Ngama, Godsday Orubebe came into the Goodluck Jonathan cabinet as a controversial figure. At the time he was cleared for ministerial appointment, he was in court against the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). And this explained why he was not sworn-in alongside other ministers then. He was already seated at the council chamber for the inauguration before he was asked to go and resolve his issue with the state government first. He was later inaugurated after mending fence with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He was appointed minister of Special Duty and later moved to the Ministry of Niger Delta as Minister of State. He later became the substantive minister in the ministry in 2010 after a major cabinet reshuffle.

Orubebe struck a bond with Jonathan and his loyalty was not in doubt. In fact, he was regarded as one of the most trusted foot soldiers. He ran errands for Jonathan during the 2011 presidential election. Orubebe was also an active member of the neighbour-to-neighbour, one of the major groups that worked for Jonathan’s election. Besides, he was a well known member of Jonathan’s kitchen cabinet and shared the same political godfather with the president in the person of Chief Edwin Clark, until recently. His political interest is believed to be the cause of the rift between him and Clark, who is strongly against his ambition. What followed was mudslinging between political father and son. His exclusion from the cabinet might not be unconnected with his political ambition. It is not a secret that Orubebe wants to rule Delta State in 2015. As a minister, Orubebe did not perform poorly. He had been able to tackle major issues in the oil-rich region. Under his watch as the minister of Niger Delta, the East-West road which was abandoned as a result of insecurity has resumed and work is in advanced stage. There is also the skills acquisition projects scattered across the nine Niger Delta states. The projects, which are due for completion this quarter, he had argued, were part of the empowerment projects for the youths within the area.

der. While chieftains across the three districts defiled to them as ministers, Olubolade has not enjoyed that luxury. During the PDP state congress, his candidates could not make it to the state executive committee of the party. They lost to the candidates fielded by Fayose. The polarised chapter is a mix grill of caucauses, which revolve around three personalities-former Governor Segun Oni, Olubolade, and Fayose. Olubolade’s chance of getting the ticket is slim. Ngame is a governorship aspirant in Yobe State. The 53 year-old politician replaced Mr. Remi Babalola as

the Minister of State in 2010. It can be said that, since 1999, ministers of state for finance have been operating under the shadow of the supervising ministers. However, in recent times, certain national challenges have brought Ngame to public consciousness. As the Chairman of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), the lot fell on him to offer explanations to the aggrieved governors and finance commissioners on the sudden drop in revenue earnings. Governors who are finding it difficult pay workers’ salaries rejected the explanation.

With his exit from the cabinet, he will now be insulated from the monthly burden and embarrassment. He will also have time to pursue his ambition to rule Yobe State. Many observers see his ambition as a tall order. Since 1999, the state has been the stronghold of the progressives. The fact that people like the former Finance Minister, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, are from the state has not changed the political calculus. The APC is waxing stronger in the Northeast state and there is no indication that the PDP can dislodge the party in 2015.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS JONATHAN CABINET

Controversial ministers still holding on Four ministers 'left' the Goodluck Jonathan administration yesterday. Not a few believe that some other members of the cabinet, for one reason or the other, should also excuse themselves or be excused from the cabinet, writes Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI and Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN

IEZANI Alison-Madueke has been described as one of the two most powerful women in Nigeria. Courtesy of the generosity of President Goodluck Jonathan, she has held three significant positions in government from July 2007. She has also faced one controversy after another. In September 2008 there was an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap Mrs Alison-Madueke at her house in Abuja. On 23 December 2008, she was named as Minister of Mines and Steel Development. In October 2009, the Senate indicted her and recommended her for prosecution for the alleged transfer of N1.2 billion into the private account of a toll company without due process and in breach of concession agreement. However, the allegations have not been proved, and the minister has maintained her innocence. After Jonathan became acting President in February 2010, he dissolved the cabinet on March 17, 2010, and swore in a new cabinet on April 6, 2010 with Mrs AlisonMadueke as Minister for Petroleum resources. One of the most controversial policies introduced under Mrs Allison-Madueke as minister of petroleum resources is the government's plan to remove subsidies on petrol. She vehemently supported the discontinuation of the subsidy on the grounds that it "poses a huge financial burden on the government, disproportionately benefits the wealthy, and encourages inefficiency, corruption and diversion of scarce public resources away from investment in critical infrastructure". Following the cabinet reshuffle in September last year that saw the removal of nine ministers, there was outrage over Jonathan's decision to keep Mrs Allison-Madueke. Critics then said the President Jonathan should have fired "deadwoods" and controversial ministers, such as Mrs Allison-Madueke. They specifically expressed outrage that Alison-Madueke, Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Attorney General and

‘

•From left: Minister of Finance, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Special Adviser on NEPAD Felicia Njeze Akuabata and Director General Millennium Development Goal’s ( MDG’s) Precious Gbenoi during the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the State House, Abuja... yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke; and others were left untouched. Last year's cabinet shakeup came after months of speculation. In May last year, the House of Representatives mandated an ad hoc committee to investigate the petroleum minister over an alleged shady N9 trillion oil deal. The House was told that in perpetrating the deal, there was a deliberate exclusion of indigenous operators from exercising their rights of first refusal in transactions that led to the carving out of oil blocks. This Monday, her absence stalled the probe of the controversial kerosene subsidy by the House of Representatives. The House, through a resolution, mandated the committee to investigate issues surrounding kerosene supply, distribution and subsidy payments from the year 2010 to 2013. Apart from Mrs. Allison-Madueke, other agencies under her supervision and directly related to the subsidy claims were also absent. Agencies absent include the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) and the Pipeline, Products Marketing Company (PPMC).

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala She is the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of Economy. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, a renowned economist from the World Bank, served in a similar capacity during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. Her tenure under Goodluck Jonathan has become controversial because of the poor performance of the nation's economy. She was summoned early this year by the House of Representatives to explain the state of the economy. She was handed 50 questions on which the House demanded written comprehensive answers. Though, she had responded but the House said it was not satisfied with the answers. The House frowned at the 2014 budget presented by the Minister. The House observed that the pattern of presenting the budget breached the Fiscal Act of 2007 which requires the Minister of Finance to cause and attach the estimates of the Corporations to the national budget presented to the National Assembly.

One aspect of the budget that has been severely criticised is the allocation of over 70 per cent to recurrent expenditure leaving less than 25 per cent for capital projects. Her explanation that the failure of the Federal Government to implement the Oronsaye report on restructuring of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies that could lead to a reduction in overhead cost was responsible, the excuse was not acceptable to Nigerians. The revelations by Central Bank that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) did not remit some earnings from crude oil sales are disturbing. First, it was $10.9 billion that NNPC failed to account for. Now the Corporation is 'found wanting' over $20 billion Kerosene subsidy. The poor management of the nation's foreign earnings does not speak well of those in-charge of the nation's economy. The worst is that Nigerians don't know how much we are earning from oil sector , the mainstay of our economy. The expectation was that with the likes of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala on board, prudent management of the economy would not be a problem.

Nyesom Wike He was appointed Minister of State for Education by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. Prior to his ministerial appointment, he was the Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State. The governor trusted him a lot and delegated powers to him, an act that made people of Rivers to think that the governor was weak. On getting to Abuja, Wike turned his back against Amaechi and became a ready tool in the hands of the Presidency and the First Lady to destabilise the government of Rivers State. He was fingered as the brain behind the events that led to the suspension of Amaechi as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the crisis that erupted over the dissolution of Obi-Akpor Local Government, the bloody clash at the State House of Assembly that left many members injured, the failed attempt by five law makers to impeach the governor and the manipulation of the State Police Command against Governor Amaechi and his sup-

The privatisation programme, which remains pivotal to President Jonathan's Power Sector Roadmap, has suffered repeated timeline failures due to unresolved industrial disputes, legal and financial quagmires.

porters. He has declared governorship ambition for 2015. He has started campaigning ahead of 2015 elections through a political group called Grassroots Democratic Initiative. As a minister, he was supposed to be at his duty post in Abuja every day but Wike spends most of his time in Rivers State. Observers are of the opinion that his absence from office is affecting the smooth running of the Ministry of Education. They recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) lasted almost six months because the supervising Minister in the Ministry of Education failed to do what was expected of him to avert the crisis and resolve the issues involved promptly. Two months after the Federal Government signed an agreement with ASUU, government has failed to release funds as promised. The Academic Staff union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has been on strike since last year. There is no serious approach on the part of government towards ending the crisis. The crisis in the education sector speaks volume of leadership failure which must be addressed to save the critical sector from imminent collapse.

Chinedu Nebo Days after his formal inauguration, Prof Chinedu Nebo took the first bold step towards fulfilling his primary assignment of reviving the ailing power sector reform programme by launching the 'Power Sector Roadmap Reform'. The initiative, the new minister said, was designed to review the original road map developed in 2010 and produce data which are more consistent with the current and future challenges. Nebo, who asserted that the target of uninterrupted power supply and the 40,000 megawatts by 2020 for the country was achievable, vowed to fight the forces bedeviling the sector and collaborate with stakeholders to actualise the dream of efficient and stable power supply. He blamed the neglect and lack of infrastructural investment on the near collapse of the power sector, saying the reforms by the present administration requires holistic

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efforts and sustainable investment to succeed. "The power sector development is ongoing but will take time, money and more importantly the support of all Nigerians to see to the conclusion of the sector reform," he said. But his power sector reform may not have enjoyed a smooth sail. The privatisation of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria was fraught with some challenges. This indication emerged late last February, following the failure of the government to trash out outstanding legal, labour and financial issues bedeviling the ongoing privatization process. Though the Vice President Namadi Sambo-led National Council on Privatisation (NPC) has reportedly railroaded the preferred bidders of the 15 of 17 Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies into signing of the Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPAs) and completing their payment and formal hand over of the firm to the successor companies, there are fresh signs that the imbroglio over severance pay package is yet to be fully resolved. Claims by the Labour and Productivity Minister, Mr Emeka Wogu on February 20 that all labour issues relating to the privatisation of PHCN assets had been resolved with government kick-starting payment of the PHCN workers' severance package were later refuted by the three unions in the power ministry. The electricity workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) said in a statement released by its Secretary-General, Joe Ajaero that it rejected the government's offer of N384 billion exit package on the ground that faulty data was used for its computation. The privatisation programme, which remains pivotal to President Jonathan's Power Sector Roadmap, has suffered repeated timeline failures due to unresolved industrial disputes, legal and financial quagmires. According to some industry observers, without finding a way to neutralise various vested interest groups scheming for relevance in the sector, Prof. Nebo may fall into the landmines that forced his predecessor to resign.

THE NATION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS

Jonathan to anti-graft agencies: prove Fed Govt’s resolve in fighting corruption

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to prove to Nigerians that his administration is fighting corruption. The President spoke yesterday in Abuja at the swearing-in of the chairman and members of the National Population Commission (NPC), a member of ICPC and two new special advisers. The ceremony took place before the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. Those sworn in were Eze Iheoma (NPC chairman); Bala Qbayen and Aliyu Kwali (NPC members); Bako Abdullahi (ICPC member) and Senator Suleiman Ajadi and Fidelia Njeze (special advisers for National Assembly and New Partnership for Africa’s Development NEPAD). The President faulted remarks claiming that his body language showed that he was not fighting corruption. He insisted that the anti-graft agencies had made huge gains in the fight against corruption, which many Nigerians were unaware of. The President cited the conviction of about 250 people for various acts of malfeasance under his administration.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Jonathan said: “ICPC and EFCC must make Nigerians believe that they are working. I know what you are doing, but not everybody knows what you are doing. Ordinarily, these are agencies whose activities are not supposed to be made too loud because you don’t celebrate a situation where you send 100 or 200 Nigerians to prison. “But the society is so funny. These days, anybody who wants to claim any element of credibility will go to the television and attack the government for corruption. ‘The President’s body language shows that he is not fighting corruption or he is not ready to fight corruption.’ Sometimes, it’s even the corrupt people who are making these statements... If you want to be an angel, just attack the government; whatever you have done is covered. “Recently, the EFCC published the list of about 250 people it convicted. That is a huge number. Yet, some people say the government is not fighting corruption. How many countries have convicted half that number of people within a space of time?

Dr Jonathan urged Iheoma to give Nigerians the accurate population figures to enable the three tiers of government to plan properly. He said: “...Only yesterday (Tuesday), when we had our Economic Management Team meeting, the coordinating minister for the Economy and the Finance minister said people talk about the growth of the economy at six to seven per cent but it is not impacting on the people. “People say if the economy is growing, it should impact on the people, such as employment, feeding and other things. She said well, if the economy is growing at a particular rate and our population is growing much more than the growth of the economy, then we have challenges. When we relate the two, the economic rate and population rate then you run at a negative, and probably these are the issues.” “So, when we have a country that the population is growing than the way our economy is growing, then we must know our population figures, so that government at federal, state and local levels will be able to plan,” he said. On why he removed the former Chairman of NPC, Festus

• Special Adviser on New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Mrs Felicia Akuabata Njeze (left) and Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi, taking their oaths of office during the swearing-in ceremony at the State House, Abuja... yesterday.

Odimegwu, Jonathan said: “So population commission is critical and you also have to be mindful about the statements you make and that is not limited to the National Population Commission but to all of us holding offices. You must be mindful and not make statements that will create problem for the society. I dropped your predecessor because of certain statements he made and brought credibility problem to the commission.” “Perception in most cases are stronger than reality; no matter what you do, if the perception is wrong then society will not follow you. So I believe that you will bring strong leadership to the National Population Commission as the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I believe you are at the highest level of practice, you are at the top and you will do a good job there,” the President added. “And for the special adviser on National Assembly, you are coming at an interesting time when people are crossing to the left and right. Luckily, you have been a part of the National Assembly; you have been a senator, you know the games you play there; you know the trick. You will be able to relate with every member. The Federal

Government is for everybody and that is why we cannot talk the way they talk. Because as long as you won election to be the president of a country you are the president of everybody, even those who abuse you, even those that are ready to kill you, so you have to protect them. “To the SA on the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the key area you are going to handle are relatively new in our political history. It was formed by some African heads of state; of course, President Obasanjo was one of the pioneers who came up with the concept of NEPAD and APRM. I believe as African states, we have not been able to reach the level of their vision or dream of what made them form NEPAD and APRM. So, you have a lot of work to do, to work with your colleagues in other countries to see that Nigeria gets to where these great men and women envisioned for us to be. Congratulating them, he said their appointment is coming at a critical time when many things are happening at the same time. Speaking for the others, Iheoma promised that they would leave up to the expectations of Nigerians. “We are eternally grateful to you for giving us the opportunity to serve this country,” he added.

• Aliyu Daniel Kwali (left) and Bala Almu, taking the oaths of office as new Commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC) during the swearing-in ceremony at the State PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN. House Abuja...yesterday.

Army redeploys 88 Generals, 19 Colonels

HE Army announced yesterday the posting of 88 Generals, comprising 36 Major-Generals and 52 Brigadier-Generals. Also redeployed were 19 Colonels. Among the deployed officers are: Brig.-Gen. A. B. Omozoje, who now heads the Guards Brigade; Brig.-Gen. A. O. Folorunsho, to 81 Division; Brig.-Gen. B. A. Akinroluyo, moved to 3 Division; Brig.-Gen. A. G. Okunola, moved to 82 Division; Brig.Gen. E. O. Udoh, now heads the 7 Division. Addressing reporters on the postings yesterday, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye, warned the public not to use the postings to overheat the polity. He said: “Insinuations and mischievous interpretation of a purely professional, unbiased and thoroughly thought out process should not be trivialised by undue and unfounded speculations.” The spokesman assured the nation on the Army’s commitment to the fight against insurgency in the Northeast He said: “The operations are still ongoing and the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue to combat

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja and Precious Igbonwelundu

terrorism in all its ramifications. “It is also pertinent to reiterate that the media have an important role to play in the ongoing fight against terrorism.” Also, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Usman Jibrin, has approved the redeployment of 75 senior officers to man various commands in the Nigerian Navy. The redeployment was announced in a statement yesterday in Abuja by Commodore Kabir Aliyu, the Director, Naval Information. The statement said the redeployment cuts across naval personnel in the Navy Headquarters, Defence Headquarters and tri-service institutions. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise involved 29 Rear Admirals, 28 Commodores and 18 Captains. Those affected, according to the statement, include Rear Adm. E. O. Ogbor, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, who is now Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters. Also affected is Rear Adm. S. A. Akinwale, the Director of Logistics at Defence Headquarters. He is the new

•Navy redeploys 75 senior officers Director, Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate at Naval Headquarters. The statement said Rear Adm. A. O. Ikioda was appointed the Chief of Policy and Plans, while Rear Adm. I. E. Ibas is the new Chief of Logistics. Also, Rear Adm. I. A. Oyagha is now the Chief of Training and Operations at the Naval Headquarters “Rear Adm. S.H. Usman moves from the Central Naval Command to the Logistics Command as Flag Officer Commanding, while Rear Adm. P. A. Agba is the new Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Yenagoa. “Rear Adm. O. C. Medani is the new Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Calabar. “Other senior officers redeployed include Rear Adm. I. A. Ajuonu, Group Managing Director/CEO, Navy Holdings Limited, and Rear Adm. O. E. Ekwe, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited,” the statement said. Rear Adm. D. O. Osuofa is now Navy Secretary, while Rear Adm. A. B. Afolayan will serve as Director,

Medical Services. The statement also said Rear Adm. O. P. Ozojiofor is the Director of Training at the Defence Headquarters, while Rear Adm. A. Shettima is the Managing Director, Naval Hotels and Suites Limited. Others affected by the redeployment include Rear Adm. O. U. Emele as Director of Logistics, Defence Headquarters and Rear Adm. A. Johnson as Commander, Fleet Support Group (West). Rear Adm. L. O. Iwuoha, is the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Doctrine and Assessment Centre, and Rear Adm. H. O. Ngonadi is the Director of Development at the Defence Headquarters. Rear Adm. T. G. Epelle is the new Director, Medical (Admin/Logistics), Defence Headquarters, while Rear Adm. E. G. Ofik, is the Chief Staff Officer, Western Naval Command. Rear Adm. S. E. Ogoigbe is now Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji while Rear Adm. A. L. Akintola is posted to Naval Shipyard, Port Harcourt as Admiral Superintendent.

Also, Rear Adm. J. K. Ango is now the Director of Plans, Defence Headquarters, while Rear Adm. A. A. Osinowo is now the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters, Naval Training Command, Apapa, Lagos. Also, Rear Adm. R. O. Osondu is now the Chief Staff Officer, Logistics Command, Oghara, while Rear Adm. J.O. Oluwole is the Director of Equipment, Standardisation and Harmonisation, Defence Headquarters. Rear Adm. F. D. Bobai, the statement added, is now the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Eastern Naval Command. “The new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Naval Engineering Services Limited is Rear Adm. A. O. Odeh, while Rear Adm. S. A. Ahmadu is now the Commander, Central Pay Office, Apapa, Lagos,” it said. The statement also said Commodore O. E. Uwadiae is the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, while Commodore E. G. Ochai is the Commander, NNS Pathfinder. It also said Commodore B. T. Yusuf has been appointed as the Director of Naval Accounts, adding that the effective dates of the appointments range from February 14 to February 17.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS

Attempts to declare Saraki’s, Abe’s, others’ seats vacant fail at Senate

TTEMPTS to declare the seats of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant failed yesterday at the Senate. Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom Northeast) through a Point of Order, urged Senate President David Mark to declare vacant the seats of the 11 PDP senators who wrote the Senate on their defection to the APC. Enang, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, attempted to convince Mark of the need to declare the seats vacant. Those the senator wanted to vacate their seats include Abubakar Bukola Saraki, (Kwara Central); Magnus Abe, (Rivers South East); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West); Wilson Ake (Rivers West) and Aisha Jumai Al-Hassan. The five senators openly declared for the APC on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. Enang urged Mark to invoke the powers conferred on him as the Senate President to declare the seats of the defectors vacant. A competent source told our correspondent that the resolution to compel Mark to declare the seats of the defectors vacant was taken at the PDP Senators’ Caucus meeting

on Tuesday. The meeting was summoned after five senators of the ruling party openly announced their defection to the APC on Tuesday. The source, who pleaded not to be named, said the threat to declare the seats of the affected senators vacant was a ploy to intimidate them into dropping their defection bid. Enang said: “Yesterday (Tuesday) Senators Abubakar Saraki, Abdullahi Adamu, Aisha Alhassan, Magnus Abe and Wilson Ake declared on the floor of the Senate that they are no more in the PDP. This is the party that sponsored them to the Senate; this is the party that owns the seats they are sitting on. “Mr. President, I have two judgments of the court to present before this distinguished Senate, to show that the seats of Senators Saraki, Aisha Alhassan, Abdullahi Adamu, Magnus Abe and Wilson Ake are vacant on the floor of the Senate and they are strangers on the floor of the Senate.” But before Enang could conclude his argument, there was uproar in the chamber. When it subsided, Mark gave Enang the floor once more.

Therefore, I rule you out of order.” Enang insisted that the seats of the affected senators be declared vacant on the basis of the Senate rule and constitutional provisions. But Mark did not want to hear that. Mark said: “Senator Ita Enang, I believe you were in the chamber yesterday (Tuesday) and I went to a great length to say that this matter is before a competent court of law. It is a constitutional matter. But also, our rule is very clear that no reference shall be made to any matter before a competent court of law. “Because this matter is before a competent court of law, I shall make no further reference to it. Ita Enang, I, therefore, rule you out of order.” George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East) raised Order 14 (a), which deals with privilege of senators. He referred to the defectors as non-senators who should not be allowed to sit in the chamber. The senator also urged Mark to declare the seats of the defectors vacant, in line with constitutional provisions. Mark also ruled him out of order because the matter was before a competent court of law. Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) cited Section 1(3) of the Constitution, which provides that if any

•Mark other law is inconsistent to the Constitution, the Constitution should be supreme. The senator noted that Enang could not move a motion on a matter that contradicts Section 68(2) of the Constitution. He posited that it was obvious the seats of the defectors could not be declared vacant, especially when the Senate President lacked the power to do so. Mark, who also ruled Omoworare out of order, almost lost his cool. The Senate President noted that though every senator had the right to raise a point of order, his position on the issue was well known. He said: “Everybody knows where I stand and my stand on this issue will not change. My stand is that the issue is before a competent court of law. Because you also came through point of order, I rule you out of order.”

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

having the strongest navy in Africa, by virtue of its performance. The Nigerian navy reportedly competed against 40 other navy warships around the world and emerged winner in the tug of war. Atebi said NNS Thunder left Nigeria on August 8, last year, for Australia and returned to Lagos on December 18, before going back to Port Harcourt. The Navy captain said the ship made port calls in Angola, South Africa, Mauritius, Namibia, Congo, Australia, among others, during the operation.

Wike: Fed Govt ‘ll issue more private varsities’ licences

Enang added: “I have the judgment of Justice E. S. Chukwu, delivered on October 18, 2013, in the PDP versus INEC, Abubakar Baraje, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and others, which declared that there is no division in the PDP.” Another session of uproar among the senators ensued, but Enang was unperturbed. He said: “Mr. President, in the judgment of the Supreme Court, in the case of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, states that... “I, therefore, move that you exercise the powers conferred on you, Mr. President, to declare their seats vacant.” Mark said: “Enang, I believe you were here yesterday when I stated that this matter is before a court of law. My ruling is not going to be any different, because it is on the same issue. “More importantly, we all agreed that no reference shall be made to any matter that is pending in court. “Let me say that I, as the Chief Law Officer in this chamber, I will not sit here and make reference to any matter that is before any court.

Navy ship wins global competition Nigerian Navy

HE Ship (NNS) Thunder has won the “Tug of War” competition involving 40 navy warships from various parts of the world. The Commanding Officer of the ship, Navy Capt. Clement Atebi, who led 165 crew members to Australia for the competition, spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on arrival of the team. Port Harcourt is the final berth place of the ship. The competition took place at the Royal Australian Navy’s International Fleet Review in Sydney. The event, which had no other African navy representation, showcased Nigeria as

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

HE Supervising Minister for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has said the Federal Government will continue to issue operating licences to qualified people to operate private universities. The minister said this would enable Nigerians to have access to quality education. Wike spoke yesterday in Abuja when he hosted the management of NigerianTurkish Nile University. The minister said the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with international agencies to develop university education. He noted that the framework established by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), has boosted quality international and local private universities in Nigeria. Wike said: “We are happy that the Nigerian-Turkish Nile University has played a key role in the development of university education in the country. “We shall continue to part-

By Olamilekan Andu

ner your government and other key development agencies in Nigeria to develop our university education.” The minister accepted the invitation of the university management to tour the facilities at the institution. He also approved the participation of the Federal Ministry of Education in the International Olympiad, to be organised by the university. The vice chancellor, Prof Huseyin Sert, said the university would always contribute to the development of the nation’s Education sector. He said the organisation was also running primary and secondary schools in seven states, adding that it was committed to Nigeria’s development. A statement yesterday by Simeon Nwakaudu, the Special Assistant (Media) to the minister, said the meeting was also attended by House of Representatives’ House Committee Chairman Suleiman Aminu and the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.

•Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Toyin Ayinde (second left), his wife, Rhoda, receiving a plague for the award for excellence in the public sector from Chief J. K. Randle. With them is Chairman, Lagos chapter of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Adewale Adeyemi. PHOTO:ADEJO DAVID

Reps to probe cash-for-defection allegation •Leo Ogor: APC is crying wolf •PDP denies allegation

HE House of Representatives yesterday began investigation into the allegation of cash-fordefection levelled against the Presidency and five members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday. The APC, through its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, alleged that the PDP offered some members of the House of Representatives millions of dollars to defect to the ruling party. But Majority Leader Leo Ogor described the allegation as “unfortunate”. The lawmaker said: “The APC is crying wolf.” APC members who defected to the PDP on Tuesday are: Lawan Shehu Bichi (Kano State), Sani Ibrahim Doruwa, (Zamfara), Ibrahim Shehu, (Zamfara), Umar Bature, (Sokoto) and Abdusalam Adamu, (Kano).

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

The House referred the matter to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to establish the veracity of the inducement allegation. The committee is to report back to the House within two weeks. The decision of the House followed a motion brought before it by a member, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), that the allegation was not only a breach of his privilege but also against the integrity and image of the members. His motion was greeted by shouts from APC and PDP members. While the APC members hailed the move to investigate the allegation, the PDP members shouted: “They should provide proof; they must prove it!” Chinda said Mohammed should be invited to substantiate the allegation attributed

to him. The lawmaker urged the House to ensure that the public does not have a wrong perception of its activities. He said: “Let us not take this as if it was a political issue. It has to do with our integrity and image before the electorate. What we should do is get to the root of this matter so that the truth will be known. “Clearly, the originator of this communication is known...” Chinda prayed the House to direct its Ethics Committee to probe the allegation and report back within two weeks. When Speaker Aminu Tambuwal put the issue to a vote, members overwhelmingly supported that it be investigated. The matter was referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee. Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday denied the inducement allegation.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said the allegation was aimed at casting doubt in the minds of Nigerians on the integrity of the affected lawmakers. It said: “All well-meaning Nigerians are indeed worried by the statements and actions of the APC, which are clearly aimed at destroying our democracy and plunging the nation into chaos, by alleging that lawmakers were being financially induced. “There is no doubting the fact that the PDP, under its new National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, is reaching out to all its members, including those who defected, in a reconciliation drive that is already yielding dividends. “At a point, in the minds of some sections of the public, the PDP got to its lowest level, but we remained focused. Despite the defection of lawmakers from our fold, the PDP never assaulted their integrity.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS Fayemi’s wife assists stranded mother of triplets •Urges runaway husband to return

ELIEF has come the way of a mother of triplets, Mrs. Abosede Omole, who was abandoned by her husband because she had multiple births. The wife of the Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has offered to pay Mrs. Omole’s hospital bill and help her to set up a business of her choice. Erelu Fayemi visited the nursing mother and her babies on Tuesday at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) in Ado-Ekiti. She donated cash and other gifts to Mrs. Omole, whose only companion has been her mother, Mrs. Dupe Afolabi, since her husband deserted her. Mrs. Fayemi urged Mr. Adewale Omole to return to his wife and children and ask them for forgiveness. Instead of abandoning his wife to her fate, she said, Omole should have sought the government’s assistance through the Multiple Births Trust Fund.

Mrs. Fayemi said many families with multiple births were benefiting from the scheme and the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF). She said: “I am appealing to Mr. Omole wherever he is to please return to his wife and children. He cannot run away from his responsibilities. More so, you do not know whether these children are future stars. We need a law to prevent men from abandoning their responsibilities in this state. “There are too many instances where men abandon their families and take off. They abandon their wives in hospitals when they are presented with surgery bills and take off, with the excuse that they are going to look for money.” Having had two children before the arrival of the triplets, the governor’s wife advised that the family should embrace family planning. Omole allegedly bolted after a scan result indicated

•Mrs. Fayemi (second right) reassuring Mrs. Omole (right)...on Tuesday. With them are Mrs. Afolabi and Ogundipe. The three women are carrying the triplets.

that his wife, who did not attend ante-natal clinic, was carrying twins at the point of delivery. But the woman was delivered of triplets in-

stead. EKSUTH Acting Medical Director Kolawole Ogundipe said Mrs. Omole was brought to EKSUTH

when the faith-based home where she was delivered of the triplets could not handle the post-delivery complications.

He said the third of the triplets was under intensive care but stable. Mrs. Omole thanked Mrs. Fayemi for her intervention.

Jega: Ekiti election will be free and fare

•Jega

NDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has assured Nigerians that the problems witnessed in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State will not be repeated in the June 21 governorship poll in Ekiti State. Jega gave the assurance yesterday at an Election Stakeholders’ Meeting with representatives of political parties in Ado-Ekiti. He said the commission was working on measures to improve the voter register to prevent disenfranchisement. Describing the Anambra experience as a “hullabaloo”, Jega said INEC was working hard to make the election the best in the country’s history and restore the confidence of

Nigerians in the electoral process. He assured the people that the poll would reflect their wishes. The meeting was attended by former House of Representatives’ Speaker and Interim Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bello Masari; APC National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, a former governor; APC Interim National Secretary Tijani Tumsah; Director-General of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation Bimbo Daramola; APC State Interim Chairman Chief Olajide Awe; Secretary to the State Government Ganiyu Owolabi; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Chairman Makanjuola Ogundipe and Labour Party State Chairman Akin Omole. Some members of the State Executive Council and the House of Assembly members were also at the meeting. Jega warned politicians against making frivolous statements that can heat up the polity. He was reacting to former Governor Ayodele Fayose’s accusation that INEC was plotting with the APC to rig

I deal in narcotics, expectant woman tells court By Joseph Jibueze

N expectant mother, Saudat Wasiu (28), pleaded guilty yesterday to selling Indian hemp. She told the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, that she sold Indian hemp to survive. Ms Wasiu, who lives in Ejigbo on the outskirts of Lagos, was arrested by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on December 4, last year. About 3.9kg of narcotics, concealed in a rice sack, was found in her possession. Although drug trafficking attracts a life imprisonment punishment on conviction, Justice Mohammed Yunusa tempered justice with mercy and sentenced Ms Wasiu to three months imprisonment. The sentence would run from when she was arrested. Justice Yunusa advised the convict not to return to the criminal trade.

‘INEC has no ally, anointed leader or interest in who emerges Ekiti governor. If you have any fact, make it available to INEC and it will be promptly investigated. We must avoid making reckless statements’ the election. INEC National Commissioner, Southwest, Prof. Lai Olurode was the first to react to Fayose’s allegation. He warned politicians against making reckless statements, adding: “The door of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) is open to all parties and I appeal to you to refrain from making frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations. If you are not satisfied with the REC’s explanation, my office and that of the INEC chairman are open to you 24 hours on any issue that needs clarification. “INEC has no ally, anointed leader or interest in who emerges Ekiti governor. If you have any fact, make it available to INEC

and it will be promptly investigated. We must avoid making reckless statements. The allegation that we met with APC leaders in Lagos is not true. Since the appointment of this management, we have not done anything that has tainted our image or impugned on our integrity.” Corroborating Olurode’s defence, Jega said INEC would not take politicians making allegations serious until they produce evidence to substantiate their allegations. To prove that INEC is nonpartisan, he said a REC, who was indicted by a Court of Appeal, was asked to leave the commission. Jega said: “The only REC asked to step aside was the one indicted by the Court of

Ondo Poly Rector: sacked workers committed no crime

HE Rector of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, affirmed yesterday that the 32 workers sacked by the management committed no offence. Ajibefun, who was the second witness presented by the management at the Industrial Court, Akure, contradicted the Registrar, Mr. Tale Akinlabi, who was the first witness. Akinlabi claimed that the sacked workers were “bad”. Ajibefun said the workers were sacked because the polytech-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

nic no longer needed their services. When asked by the plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), represented by Mr. Kehinde Solomon, how the institution picked out the 32 out of its numerous workers, Ajibefun did not respond. The sacked workers are praying the court to reinstate them. Justice Ndidi Ubaka ordered the parties to file their written addresses within 21 days. The case was adjourned till April 8.

Appeal. If you have anything against any of us, come with evidence and do not distract us with spurious and unsubstantiated allegations because we want the system to keep on going. We will do our best to remain focused. We welcome constructive criticisms. We will take abuses until our stomachs are full and we can no longer stomach them. We will do our best to remain impartial and non-partisan. Anyone working against what we stand for shall be dealt with. We are doing our best to make the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State the best.” Describing Ekiti as one of the states with the largest population of enlightened voters, the INEC chairman urged the people to conduct themselves with decorum during the election. As part of measures to improve on the Anambra poll, Jega said parties would be given copies of the updated voter register to scrutinise it. He said the commission had succeeded in eliminating multiple voting, adding that result sheets are now customised. Jega said Ekiti would be the first state where the per-

manent voter card would be used for an election. He said people whose names are not on the register will not get permanent voter cards, but would be allowed to vote with temporary voter cards. Jega said those who have attained the minimum voting age of 18 years will be captured during the Continuous Voter Registration holding from March 12 to 19. Voter’s verification and the distribution of permanent voter cards are slated for March 7-9. Expressing dismay with the display of campaign billboards and posters in the state, Jega described the action as illegal. Urging politicians to play the game according to the rules, he advised them to remove the billboards and posters to avoid being prosecuted. Jega said anyone caught registering more than once would be prosecuted. He assured that no party’s name or logo would be missing from the ballot papers and urged rulers to appeal to their subjects to be peaceful. Jega urged parties to field credible agents, who cannot be bought over by more privileged parties, to ensure a credible poll.

Ajimobi orders compensation of land owners

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has ordered the payment of compensation to the original owners of the 285 hectares of land acquired by the government on the new Ibadan-Oyo Expressway. This was contained in a statement by the Supervising Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin. The land, which is situated at Akinyele Local Government Area, was acquired by the government for the purpose of building a housing estate. Addressing the landowners yesterday during the verification of titles at his ministry, Gbadegesin thanked them for their understanding and cooperation with the government. He said: “The governor has directed that compensation be paid immediately to the affected land owners.” The commissioner said the landowners would be invited to pick up their cheques after the verification.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS

Seven die in Ekiti tanker fire

T was a sorry sight in Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area, where a truck laden with fuel veered off a sloppy road and ran into some buildings. The truck burst into flames. Seven people died in the fire. The incident occurred around some minutes to six pm on Tuesday. Four buildings, two vehicles, 10 motorcycles and other valuables, all estimated at about N10 million, were destroyed. As at 6:30am yesterday, the charred carcasses of the burnt vehicles, in various mangled shapes, were still on the scene. Sympathisers gathered there, wearing mournful looks. Relations of the victims exclaiming from time to time, saying: “Olorun mi o, ofo semi” (oh my God, I am bereaved); “Iru iku wo ni eyi, mo daran” (what kind of death this, I am in trouble). The dead include Pa Abiodun Ololade (78); Kokoro Owo (reportedly in his fifties) and a teenager said to be one Gani Foto’s step child. An eyewitness said the propeller of the truck detached while it was descending a sloppy portion of the road from Ibadan-Ilesa end of the town.

•Four buildings, two cars, 10 bikes razed From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

He said: “There was nothing the driver could do. We followed it down to see how he would manage but the truck went where it wanted to go. It rolled off the road into the buildings and caught fire. A boy called Wande, who repairs laptops and handsets, escaped death because he was not in his shop. His shop and everything in it was destroyed.” Mr. Agunbiade Kareem, who lived in one of the buildings and lost a brand new Toyota Corolla in the fire, said he was outside the building when he saw the truck falling off its path and exploding. He said: “I was outside here when I saw the truck coming down and tumbling into the building. Thick smoke rose up, followed by an explosion that consumed the area. Apart from human loses, I lost a brand new Toyota Corolla, which someone proposed to buy from me at N1.4 million but I refused. I also lost two plasma TVs, one Sharp TV, six DSTV decoders and N513,000 cash, which I wanted to travel with today (yesterday).”

Mrs. Arowosafe Kubrat, who lost a Honda Accord car, said she returned from Osogbo around 5pm and parked her car in front of the house. She said: “A few minutes later, I heard a loud explosion. I rushed outside and could not see my car. Inside it, I had N103,000, some tubers of yam, a leather box containing clothes, the particulars of my vehicle and those of another car.” The tanker driver and another occupant of the truck are being detained at the Aramoko Divisional Police Station. Five of the bodies were taken to the mortuary of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH). The Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, visited the scene around 9am yesterday. She urged the people to stop building houses close to the highway, explaining that trading or living in structures built on the Right of Way (ROW) and driving faulty vehicles portend danger for the people. In an emotional voice, the deputy governor described the incident as “unfortunate”, urg-

ing the relatives of the dead to take succour in God. She warned residents against taking the law into their hands, adding that measures would be taken to forestall a recurrence. Mrs. Adelabu said speed breakers would be put on sloppy areas on the Itawure-Ado-Ekiti stretch of the road as a temporary measure while the state dialogues with the Federal Government (the owner of the road) on how to provide a permanent solution to the challenges on the road. The deputy governor, who later visited the Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti, Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi, to commiserate with him, urged drivers to always put their vehicles in order before driving them. “If the trucks are well taken care of, most of these accidents would not occur,” she added. Oba Adeyemi thanked the state government for its concern and urged the Federal Government to revisit the abandoned expressway located outside the town, which would offer an alternative route for motorists. She said the town’s road is accident prone because of its bends and slopes.

•The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (middle) receiving a gift from the Group Managing Director, Odu’a Investment Company, Adebayo Jimoh (left) and the Chairman of the Odu’a Investment Company, Chief Isaac Akintade, during his visit to the company’s Cocoa House headquarters in Dugbe, Ibadan.

Fish farmer held for ‘impersonating’ IG, finance minister

FISH farmer, Victor Kekong (34), has been arrested in Lagos for allegedly impersonating the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). He allegedly forged a letter, using the IG’s letter head, name and signature. Kekong was also accused of using the name of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and other prominent Nigerians to defraud people. He allegedly forged other confidential documents to defraud people. Parading the suspect, police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said incriminating documents found on the suspect include the Federal High Court’s Certificate of Legality; Central Bank cheque; the Ministry of Tourism’s Contract Award Certificate; Anti-drug and Money Laundering Clearance Certificate and Tribu-

By Jude Isiguzo

nal Supreme Change of Ownership. Braide said the suspect, who lives at No 5, Sand Avenue in Ifako, confessed that all the documents found in his house were counterfeit. He also confessed that he impersonated an American in a bid to perfect the planned fraud. The suspect was arrested by policemen from Area G Command at Ogba while attempting to defraud another unsuspecting victim. A 55-year-old man, who claimed to be a graphic artist, was also paraded for being in possession of fake United States (U.S.) dollars worth N2.4 million. Braide said the suspect was arrested at Alade Market in Ikeja. She said the two suspects would be charge to court soon.

Court adjourns hearing on rape victim’s suit against police, others

HE Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has fixed April 2 for the hearing of a suit filed by a businesswoman, Mrs. Ngozi Ugwu, against the police and others over the alleged rape of her seven-year-old niece by three males. Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia adjourned the suit to enable parties regularise their processes. She directed that hearing notices should be served on the fourth to sixth respondents. Mrs. Ugwu sued Kazeem Mohammed (40), Tobi Daramola (19) and James Anieskin (19) for allegedly defiling and torturing her niece. Chief Superintendent of Police Lucy Abimbola (Area Crime Officer, Idimu Police Command); Miss Anthonia (the Police Prosecutor of Court 6, Ikeja Magistrate’s Court) and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police are the other respondents. The applicant is demanding N100 million each from

By Joseph Jibueze

the first to third respondents as exemplary damages. She is also demanding N20 million from the first respondent and N5 million each from the second and third as general damages. Ugwu filed the suit on April 23, last year. In the originating motion, the applicant said the respondents are her neighbours at Greenland Estate in Lasu-Isheri Road, Alimosho, Lagos, where she also resides with her husband, her two kids and her niece. She stated that sometime in January, she had noticed blood stains on one of the infant’s under pant, and on enquiry, was shocked when her niece confessed that the first to third respondents had been defying her. Mrs. Ugwu said her niece told her that whenever she (Ugwu) was away in Abuja and her husband had gone to work, the first to third respondents came to the house and raped her.

Confab: Yoruba demand restructuring of Nigeria

OME Yoruba groups declared yesterday that delegates representing the zone at the National Conference must defend the position of the Yoruba. They warned the delegates against betraying the Southwest. The groups spoke at the Yoruba Constitutional Conference (YCC) convened in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG); the Coalition of O’dua Self Determination Groups (COSEG); O’dua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC), Atayese; Convenant Group (CG); Afenifere Youth Forum (AYF); Oodua People’s Congress (OPC); Agbekoya Reformed Society and the Oodua Foundation. The conference, held at the State Secretariat, was attended by Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.); former Oyo State Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun and former House of Representatives’ Chief Whip Wale Oshun, among others. The Olubadan was repre-

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

sented by Chief Olufemi Olaifa. Oshun, who is the ARG chairman, reviewed the key Yoruba demand, which is the restructuring of Nigeria. He said any attempt to resist the demand for the restructuring of Nigeria would lead to a pull-out from the conference. Oshun warned delegates to the conference to be cautious of whatever they present at the deliberation, stressing that any act of betrayal by any of them would have consequences. He said: “The Yoruba people have spoken in one voice and we have an agenda to the national conference. We want a pathway to our freedom and development without hindrances. We need to revisit the 1960 amalgamation order. Why is Mr President denying ethnic nationalities representation at the conference? This is unfair. We demand regional autonomy and key restructuring.” Other agendas to be pur-

‘ I believe regional autonomy and the parliamentary system of government should be canvassed and the role of traditional rulers should be spelt out’ sued at the conference include: parliamentary system of government; regional and community police system and regional army command structure, among others In his lecture, titled: “Yoruba Nation, looking back into the future”, Gen. Akinrinade said the federating states must come together to decide how much power should be delegated to the Federal Government. He said: “We need to decentralise our policing system in order for it to be more

effective. We need to clear the linkage between resource control and taxation. This conference must ensure equal representation of all ethnic groups and we must implore Mr. President to consider more seats for ethnic nationalities, because we need a nation where no ethnic group is cheated at the federal level of government.” The Olubadan’s representative said: “I believe the Yoruba’s first 11 are very productive, intelligent, hard working, experienced, inspirational and brilliant. I believe regional autonomy and the parliamentary system of government should be canvassed and the role of traditional rulers should be spelt out.” A lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), said the conference was necessary to address the nation’s challenges. Akintola added:” We already have a Yoruba agenda and anybody that goes against it at the conference will be sanctioned. This is

the time to know the true leaders and enemies of progress in Nigeria. There is nothing that should not be discussed at the conference. Let us all fight for resource control.” ONAC said the 36 states structure should be abolished and each region should have its constitution and police. It said the port authority and railway should be taking over by the Southwest. Mr. Adegboye Olaiya, who spoke for the Atayese Group, said: ”We prefer a conference of ethnic nationalities. Both our regional and federal constitution should be subjected to referendum. We do not accept government prescription of 75 per cent majority votes for decisions reached at the conference because the minorities will control the conference.” The Odua People’s Congress (OPC) called for a review of the modalities for representation at the National Conference.

Chief Segun Odegbami, who spoke for ARG, restated the need to restructure Nigeria. A former lawmaker, Senator Olabiyi Durojaye, said: ”We need to bring other Yorubas to a round table for deliberation in order to have a uniform voice at the conference. There should be true federalisma and regional autonomy, but we cannot have a new constitution within six months, so it is better to revisit the 1960 constitution that recognises three regions.” Reading the agreements reached at the end of the conference, Asiwaju Bisi Adegbuyi said Yorubaspeaking people in Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta states would be co-opted into the yoruba agenda. The representative of the Yorubas in Kogi and Kwara states, Jaiyeola Omotosho, pleaded that seven of the Yoruba speaking local governments of both two states should be made part of the Southwest.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Customs generates N85b By Oluwakemi Dauda

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) says it generated N85billion in December last year, after it took over the Destination Inspection (DI) scheme from the former service providers at the ports. Its spokeman, Wale Adeniyi said the NCS generated N70 billion in the month of November before it took over the scheme. As part of efforts to position its officials towards facilitating trade, the NCS said it has come up with different initiatives such as the Single Window project, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), information technology (IT)-based services and computerisation of its operations among others. Adeniyi who spoke during an enlightenment campaign in Lagos yesterday, said with the introduction PAAR, Customs has shown its readiness to improve the trade environment and reduce transactions cost between importers and the government beyond what the service providers were doing under the Risk Assessment Report (RAR). Its decision to introduce the PAAR on all goods coming to the country, he said, is to reduce human contact and facilitate trade at the ports. Adeniyi however, urged importers to improve their compliance level to reduce cargo dwell time in transactions and quick release of their consignments from the ports. Payment for Customs duty, reconciliation and release of cargoes from ports, Adeniyi said, can now be done electronically by all importers from the comfort of their offices.

At the moment, there is an average of about 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap. - Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

Reps to probe NITEL’s, Mtel’s non-core assets T HE House of Repre sentatives is set to as certain the worth of the non-core assets of former state-run but now moribund Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its mobile arm, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (Mtel). The lawmakers also resolved to investigate the detention of 400 traders from the northern parts of the country by the Bayelsa Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). The House has directed its House Committee on Communications to investigate the sale of the non-core assets of the two telcos and report back to the House within three weeks. The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion by Ali

• Detention of 400 northerners in Bayelsa for investigation From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Yakubu (PDP, Yobe) who said the non-core assets of the telcos amounted to billions of naira. He however said the liquidator of the national carrier, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has commenced the sale without remitting the amount realised to the designated account of the Federal Government. “The billions of naira realised from the sale of non core assets of NITEL and Mtel may have been fraudulently frittered away without

proper accountability to the detriment of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he added. Besides, he noted that it is the responsibility of the lawmkwrs to ensure probity and accountability in government transactions. “The House would be failing in its duties if it does not act now in a manner that involves a national asset like NITEL and Mtel,” he added. The motion was referred to the Commmitee on Communications by the Speaker, Waziri Tambuwal, for further legislative action. On the ‘alleged’ arrested

northern traders in Bayelsa State, Aminu Suleiman (APC Kano), who raised a motion of urgent national importance explained that the arrested persons were northern traders that frequent the coastal region of the country to trade. He said the issue should not be waived aside as it is becoming a recurring phenomenon. Suleiman added: “Last month, over 300 northerners, mostly traders, were arrested by the police while travelling in Rivers State, and another 200 northerners were arrested in Imo State under the same idea of fishing out illegal immigrants.” The prayer of the motion was unanimously adopted and refered to Committees on Interior and Human Right for further legislative input.

• Deadline is June By Taofik Salako

ECURITIES and Ex change Commission (SEC) will start sanctioning public companies which shares are not registered with the capital market regulator as from June 30, 2014. In a circular made available yesterday, the Commission noted that some companies which had converted from private limited liability to public limited liability (Plc) have since not registered their securities with the Commission as required by the extant laws. Section 54, subsection one of the Investments and Securities Act No. 27, 2007 and Rule 279 (1) (a) of the SEC Rules and Regulations require that all securities of public companies shall be registered with the Commission. “All public companies in Nigeria are expected to register their securities with the Commission upon incorporation or conversion from a private company. The Securities and Exchange Commission has however observed that some public companies in Nigeria are yet to comply with the above stated provisions,” SEC stated. The Commission indicated that all existing public companies with unregistered securities are strongly advised to comply with the provisions of the law by registering the Commission before June 30, 2014. “At the expiration of this date, all public companies whose securities are not registered with the Commission will be sanctioned appropriately,” SEC state

Aganga, Busari praise Dangote Sugar

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -8% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $45b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

SEC to sanction unregistered public firms

•Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Idris Wada flanked by Group Head, E-Channels, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Chuks Iku (left) and Regional Director, Abuja/North Central, Mr. Gbaye Adewuyi, at the inauguration of biometric data capture and electronic payroll system for the state’s workers, powered by Skye Bank in Lokoja ... yesterday.

• Tours Savannah Sugar plantation By Chikodi Okereocha

Govt defers declaration of transition electricity market T HE Federal Govern ment is no longer go ing to declare the Transition Electricity Market (TEM) proposed for next month, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said. Its Chairman, Dr. Sam Amdi, at a briefing in Abuja, said the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and the generation companies (GENCOs) have agreed with the commission that it is not realistic to declare TEM. The chairman and the CEOs therefore unanimously agreed that the conditions such as tariff review, which are precedent conditions for the market declaration have not been met. Amadi said it was resolved at yesterday meeting with the CEOs that NERC should communicate to the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo that NERC would re-

•TCN wheels 4,500Mw

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

view the Interim Rules and give the CEOs a feedback at the next meeting. He maintained that the meeting decided that the TEM will not be declared until the power sector meets all the conditions. Amadi said: “In today’s meeting, we looked at issues around the interim rules and the electricity market declaration, and we looked at issues around losses, review, and also at other problems that the DISCOs also face. “The CEOs agree with NERC submission that it will not be realistic to declare the Transition Electricity Market next month because of the fact that some of the market precedent conditions are yet to be finally resolved, particularly

the issue of loses face by the CEOs of company and also of the tariff review. “ So, we have agreed to go to the minister to communicate that NERC would review the interim rules and get back to the CEOs in the next meeting and then, so the TEM will not be declared until we meet all the conditions.” The chairman said as a result of electricity theft in the country, NERC resolved to look at the regulations in a meeting with the Attorney-General of the Federation “to ensure that we discourage and punish severe any tempering of meters or by-pass or any sort.” Amadi explained that the commission and operators were going to review electricity tariff, adding that the review does not imply increase in tariff.

On generation of electricity, the chairman, Egbin GENCO, Mr. Mike Uzogwe, who spoke on behalf of the generation companies, noted that following the re-installation of the vandalised gas pipeline, gas supply increased to 4,500megawatts (Mw) in the week. Asked what quantity of the 4,500Mw the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) could wheel to the DISCOs, the Managing Director, Mack Kast, said the company transmitted all. Stressing that TCN needs more case to develop and expand its infrastructure, he recalled that from the Monday Power Conference, TCN is now in a position to secure $1.5billion to continue to operate. He also stated that many customers by-pass meter to get power, and due to electricity theft in the country, the investors only get an average of 70 per cent of the monthly revenue.

INISTER for Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has commended the management of Dangote Sugar Refinery on its remarkable progress towards meeting its sugar backward integration project targets. According to a statement, Aganga who was accompanied by the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Lateef Busari while on a working visit to Savannah Sugar Company Ltd, Numan Adamawa State, over the weekend, expressed satisfaction at the level of positive changes seen in the company since its acquisition by Dangote Group. The visit, which coincided with Savannah Sugar 2013/ 2014 harvest season afforded the minister and the team from National Sugar Development council an opportunity to inspect Savannah Sugar facilities first hand and appraise the progress made so far in the sugar company in line with Federal Government’s New Sugar Master Plan introduced two years ago.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule

All set for Enugu trade fair

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

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

1. 2. 3. 4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero 1. 2. 3. 4.

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

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

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

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

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1. 2. 3. 4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

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

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

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

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

08.00 18.00

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

By Chikodi Okereocha

• From left: Editor on-line, The Nation Mr Lekan Otufodunrin; Director-General, Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, Mr Emeka Okereke; President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, Dr Ifeanyi Okoye during a courtesy visit to The Nation’s head office. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

ExxonMobil, banks collaborate on $8.6b contractors’ financing

XXONMOBIL Nigeria and 12 local banks, including Zenith, First Bank, Guarantee Trust, Citi, UBA, and Union Bank, among others, are collaborating on a financing scheme that is aimed at giving contractors of the American oil major access to funds at “affordable” rates. At the launch of the programme tagged ExxonMobil Contractor Finance Scheme in Lagos, the Chairman/Managing Director, ExxonMobil Upstream affiliates in Nigeria, Mr. Mark Ward said the amount earmarked for the scheme is $8.6 billion. Ward said: “The ExxonMobil Nigeria Contractor Finance Scheme (EMNCFS) is an initiative that seeks to support Nigeria’s national content aspirations by providing ExxonMobil contractors better funding options to fulfil contracts awarded.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

“This underscores one of the three key elements of ExxonMobil’s national content programme which seeks to develop local suppliers to form a competitive base. “Partnering with 12 leading Nigerian banks, it is our expectation that with the $8.6 billion available under the scheme. ExxonMobil contractors nationwide would be able to access better and quicker funding options to enable them execute their contracts speedily. The cooperation of the banks has proved invaluable to the successful rollout of this scheme.” According to him, the scheme was introduced in November last year, adding that at least, 24 contractors have been able to access funds under the scheme. He said the company will continue to encourage more contractors to em-

brace the programme. “They are ensured easier access to competitive funding as well as reduced loan processing time which would enhance speedier completion of their contracts while building their capacity,” he added. The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Management Board, Mr. Ernest Nwapa, who formally flagged off the programme, said operators are not accessing the Nigerian Content Fund as they ought to. He urged them to increase their access to the fund. He urged ExxonMobil to do more saying: “We look forward to many more years of mutual success in our collective goal to effectively develop national content in Nigeria.” The other banks involved in the scheme are Standard Chartered Bank, Access bank, FCMB, Fidelity bank and StanbicIBTC.

Reps 2014 budget debate continues amid knocks

HE debate on the general principles of the 2014 Appro priation Bill continued yesterday, with members expressing reservations on various aspects of the proposal. It was the second day of the budget debate and, like the first day, it was more knocks than kudos. The executive was also charged to ensure that capital projects in the 2014 budget are fully implemented. The Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) wondered how it would be possible for the budget to achieve its proposed targets in the face of un-remitted oil revenue, missing pension fund, oil theft and sabotages in the oil industry which he claimed militated against the performance of 2013 budget. In his presentation, he likened the 2014 Appropriation Bill to old wine in new bottle, adding that the new proposal, like the previous one cannot offer succour to Nigerians. His words: “The indices for economic growth is reduction in poverty. Reduction in unemployment and income equality are still on the increase after spending over N4.9 trillion in 2013. The 2014 budget also has the same objectives which may not be achieved. “There are no enough information in the 2014 Appropriation Bill to show that poverty rate, unemployment and income inequality will reduce if the budget is implemented.” The lawmaker flayed the YOUWIN and SURE-P projects, the job creation aspect of the budget, which

• Members task Executive on implementation From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

he claimed were hand-out schemes and opined that there should be sustainable ways of creating wealth. The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon John Enoh (PDP, Cross River) said implementation of capital projects should be a key component of the 2014 budget. “It is important to continue to call on the executive on the need to implement the capital component of the budget. Unlike 2013, let 2014 be better in terms of implementing the budget,” he said. He saif unacceptable situations in the budget whereby ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government that had no business with aviation were allocating funds for aircraft, would be corrected at committee stages. Enoh said though the 2014 budget has deficit, it is a surmountable problem, adding that once this is done, it will create more jobs and increase growth. Another member, Ford Ike (PDP, Anambra) warned against playing politics with the budget and urged a quick passage “so that the committees can work on what has been

passed to them.” He said: “What we find wrong with the budget, the constitution has given us power to appropriate. If we stay here and criticise the government we are simply pursuing shadows. The budget is not a political process but a financial one. It is easy to criticise the government. But we must be reasonable and should not play politics with the process.” The argument of Hon. Mustapha Khabeeb from Jigawa State hinged on the illegality of the non-remittance of earnings by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). “ It is illegal and unconstitutional for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to remit only 25 per cent of its earnings and hold unto the huge portion of 75 per cent.,” he said. According to him, if the income of the nation is properly utilised “there will be no need for to borrow from anybody.” Another member, Ali Ahmed (APC, Kwara) said in order to have full compliance with section 26 of the FRA, there was need to tell the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to give a breakdown of the budget’s disbursement schedules to stem the usual problems of non release of funds to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government. He further flayed the drop in appropriation to judiciary and noted the huge allocations of funds to some MDAs for research and development (R and D) activities.

OR 10 days, Friday, March 28Monday, April 7, this year, Enugu State would be the focus of attention of the international business community, as it hosts the 25th Enugu International Trade Fair. Many corporate bodies/business organisations and government agencies have since indicated interest to participate at the fair themed: ‘Increasing the Competitiveness of the Nigerian Products in Global Market.’ President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to declare the fair, which will hold at the permanent Enugu international trade fair complex, open on Friday, March 28, 2014. Expectedly, the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) is hopeful of a successful and highly rewarding outing. At a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, to intimate the organisation of preparations for the forth coming silver jubilee of Enugu trade fair and also solicit support, President, ECCIMA, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, said: “We are confident that the 25th Enugu International Trade Fair would be successful.” He continued: “We are going to effectively utilise the available space spanning over six hectares of flat land which creates ample space for exhibitor’s stands, parking space for vehicles and accommodating atmosphere for easy flow of human and vehicular traffic.” On the large exhibition space for the fair, Okoye said the Chamber would enhance the specially designated area at the trade fair complex for the exhibition of new products, prototypes, innovation and research findings for commercialisation.

NPA moves containers to Ikorodu By Oluwakemi Dauda

HE Nigerian Ports Author ity (NPA) has started the transfer of overtime containers from the various ports in Lagos to Ikorodu Lighter Terminal to decongest the ports and facilitate trade. The containers, Customs sources said, are worth over N300million. NPA has bought new patrol vehicles to accompany the transfer of the containers from the ports to Ikorodu terminal to avoid missing and diversion, it was learnt yesterday. Overtime containers are goods that have over stayed beyond the 28 days allowed by law at the port. Speaking with The Nation, the Port Manager, Lagos Port, Mr Nasir Mohammed, said the transfer would reduce the time spent in clearing goods at the port. “Moving the overtime containers from the terminals to Ikorodu lighter terminal is meant to ease the congestion, which has lingered on for a little period of time. The overtime containers have caused space constrains inside the terminals and since all the aspects must work together to attain the port operations’goal, the movement becomes important and most needed,” he said. Mohammed said the movement has created space for newly imported containers that would be processed for importers. Congestion at the ports has been a major concern to stakeholders in the industry over the years as numerous containers were often abandoned.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com /

HUMOUR HUMOUR The All-Knowing Student it was the first day of the session and a new direct entry student, Mensah, a Ghanaian, joined the class in one of Nigeria’s universities. The Lecturer said, “let’s begin by reviewing some Nigerian history.” The Lecturer asked who said, “I shall return to die in the land of my fathers?” She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Mensah, who had his hand up. Mensah replied: “King Jaja of Opobo, 1875” “very good!” said lecturer. Then she asked again, who said, “The land use act will feed the nation?” Again, no response except from Mensah: “Obasanjo, 1976.” The Lecturer snapped at the class; “class, you should be ashamed. Mensah, who is new to our Country, knows more about our history than you do.” The Lecturer heard a loud whisper: “Ghana must go” “who said that?” she demanded, Mensah put his hand up, “Buhari 1984.” At that point, a student at the back scornfully said; “Hmmm, you think you are smart?” The Lecturer glared and asked; “All right! Now, who said that?” Again, Mensah said, “Babangida to Abiola, 1992.” Now furious, another student yelled; “Oh yeah! Eat this!” Mensah jumped out of his chair waving his hand and shouting to the Lecturer, “Indian mistress giving an apple to Abacha, 1998” Now, with almost mob hyseria, someone said; “You little shit. If you say anything else, I’ll kill you.” Mensah frantically yelled at the top of his voice; “Chris Uba to Ngige, 2004!” The Lecturer fainted, and as the class gathered around her on the floor, someone said; “Oh shit, we’re in Big trouble now!” Mensah whispered; “Chimaroke Nnamani, Ayodele Fayose and Lucky Igbinedon 2007” Someone angrily said; “Dont answer him, he is a fool” Mensah smiled replied; “Obansanjo to IBB, 2011” Now the Lecturer manage to get up and asks Mensah; pls, who’re you? Show your self.. Mensah jumped, yelled and said; Jonathan to BOKO HARAM 2012.d teacher fainted.

POETRY SUNRISE LOVE Through the sunrise I see your face, We’re all alone in this place, Your beautiful eyes, Shine like gold, A wonderous treasure, That’s untold. You tell me you love me, I smile real bright, You’re the best thing that’s happened to me, I say with delight. - BRYTNI MOSLEY

Pep Talk

Good Friend So many names to call a friend, The list is far from short, Like buddy, pal and good old chum, And some might say cohort. Partner sounds too western, Confidante just doesn’t fit, We could try to use acquaintance, (I don’t like that name one bit). We’ve tried out quite a lot here, But they all feel like dead ends, So I’ll just stick with what has worked, And call you my good friend. - Jennifer Wilson

Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks. – Johann Gottfried Von Herder

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Triumph of reason •The redeployment of Joseph Mbu marks victory of national interest over parochial concerns

T last, controversial Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu has been redeployed from Rivers State. This, in a way, marks the triumph of the campaign against impunity. Many Nigerians and groups had wondered why the police authority dithered in getting him moved despite heavy allegations that he acted in ways considered blatantly partisan and contrary to the ethics of the force. He was seen as an antagonist of Governor Rotimi Amaechi who is constitutionally regarded as the state’s Chief Security Officer. Rather than complement the state government and take instructions from the governor, as provided in the constitution, he became a law unto himself. Prior to his redeployment, Mbu’s conduct had threatened the peace of the state on many occasions. At a point, he blocked the road leading to the Government House and turned back the governor and his entourage; he prevented rallies by those considered loyal to the governor; he got the House of Assembly sealed off and generally got the police perceived as an unfriendly force. It is curious that, days after the Police Service Commission declared that it could not redeploy the commissioner owing to a case in court, the man was eventually removed. That was after the All Progressives Congress (APC) had brought the matter to the front burner of high politics by instructing its members in the National Assembly to block consideration and passage of all executive bills, especially the 2014 Appropriation Bill. The redeployment is a vindication of the extraordinary step taken by the political

party and an indication that the opposition could actually serve as watchdog for public interest. We are however surprised that all CP Mbu got as punishment for nearly plunging the state into anarchy was a redeployment. The allegations against him ought to have been thoroughly investigated and, if found guilty, he deserved full punishment from the police authority. If, too, he was cleared of the charges, the report should be made public. Until a full report on what transpired in the state is presented, Mbu should not be taken to another state. The Nigerian people deserve the best; the very best. The redeployment is a soft-landing that tends to confirm the suggestion that he was on a mission at the behest of some political interest. At the heart of this is President Goodluck Jonathan who is both the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Those who find themselves occupying sensitive offices like the presidency should place the national interest above narrow partisan concerns. Otherwise, peace and tranquility cannot be guaranteed in the land. We call on Mbu’s successor in Rivers State to learn from the experience of his predecessor. He must see himself as a servant of the people, subordinate himself to civil authorities and work with the state government in ensuring that the best interest of the people is served. The task before him is daunting as he now has to sanitise the system and boost confidence in the force. For no reason must the state be allowed to degenerate once again to

the den of kidnappers and armed robbers. Rivers State is so important to the national economy that law and order must be promoted there at all times. The drive for foreign investment would fail unless those being invited see the system as fair, and the environment tranquil. In the next one year, the political theatre all over the country would be agog with activities and Rivers State is one of the likely flash-points. The tension can only be doused by a force deemed fair and firm. It takes a police force that could rise above petty local interests to draw the necessary support from the citizens. The force should be seen as an impartial arbiter in conflicts, not an interested party.

‘We call on Mbu’s successor in Rivers State to learn from the experience of his predecessor. He must see himself as a servant of the people, subordinate himself to civil authorities and work with the state government in ensuring that the best interest of the people is served. The task before him is daunting as he now has to sanitise the system and boost confidence in the force. For no reason must the state be allowed to degenerate once again to the den of kidnappers and armed robbers’

Moribund civil society •Beko Ransome-Kuti’s memorial recalls the golden era of civil society and what we miss today

NCE upon a time, Nigeria had a plethora of vibrant civil society organisations that even the country’s erstwhile military rulers could not ignore. We are talking of groups like the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Civil Liberties Organisation, (CLO) and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), among others. The civil society groups, in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) fought the military to a standstill by mobilising students, workers and even artisans for civil disobedience, protest marches and strikes during the June 12 struggle. Some of their members were maimed, some killed while others fled the country as a result of the persecution by the military junta. In short, the history of civil rule that we have today will not be complete without a pride of place accorded the civil society groups. If these groups were so effective in the

‘But the question now is: what has happened to the civil society groups in the country today? Part of the reasons for today’s ennui as against then was that the civil society groups left the trenches, perhaps because the military rulers were our common enemy. Now they have been forced back to the barracks’

military era, why have they simply gone to sleep, as it were? This was the question being asked when, on Monday, some eminent Nigerians gathered at a memorial symposium on the 8th anniversary of the death of one of the country’s foremost activists, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, in Lagos. Beko, as he was fondly called, could easily be referred to as ‘Mr. Civil Society’ if there is anything like that. He helped to form the CD, Nigeria’s first human rights organisation; the group opposed Abacha’s dictatorship in 1993. Beko was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1995 by a military tribunal for bringing the mock trial of General Olusegun Obasanjo to the attention of the world, but was freed in 1998 after Abacha’s demise. However, Amnesty International adopted him as a prisoner of conscience. It is indeed an understatement to say that the struggle was Beko’s life. He was so entrenched in it that many people knew him more as an activist than as a medical doctor that he trained as. As a matter of fact, it was his social activism that made the eminent Nigerians at his memorial symposium to so gather in his remembrance. We salute the organisers of the symposium for keeping Beko’s memory alive. There cannot be a better way to immortalise him. Beko kept to the family’s tradition in championing the cause of the down-trodden. As chairman of the Lagos State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and the association’s national deputy chair, he kept campaigning against the lack of drugs which was the hallmark of our public hospitals. He was also the president of the CDHR where he twitted power and served as a conduit to articulate mass displeasure against hu-

man rights infringement and the frigid military establishment’s clampdown on political voices. He was in and out of jailhouses in the course of the struggle. Sweet should be the memory of such rare a Nigerian who had the choice of the easy life, given his background and all, but chose to pitch his tent with the masses. When we keep celebrating such people in a country that has lost its moral soul, it is like giving an elixir to the young ones who might want to take after him. It is also a way of ensuring that the country is never in short supply of such a moral compass. But the question now is: what has happened to the civil society groups in the country today? Part of the reasons for today’s ennui as against then was that the civil society groups left the trenches, perhaps because the military rulers were our common enemy. Now they have been forced back to the barracks. But what we have today is not the kind of democracy that we fought for. So, we need to reinvent protest. Unfortunately, today many of them have been enlisted in the parochial agenda of the political elite. Sometimes they are tools in the elite’s internecine fights. But then, the role of the civil society groups is crucial because they have to provide the leadership, alongside the opposition, to effect the desired change that the country yearns for. Sometimes too, they can check an overwrought opposition. We know they have their challenges, but these have always been there; what is now lacking is the will to make the kind of sacrifice that Beko and others made to overthrow a repressive era.

Nigeria’s anti-gay law demands a response from the West

IGERIAN PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is expected to seek reelection next year despite opposition from northern Nigeria’s majority Muslim states. His attempt to win them over has now taken a toxic turn: sanction of an extraordinarily repressive new law against homosexuality. Gay sex has been banned in Nigeria since British colonial times. It is prohibited in 38 of Africa’s 54 countries. But the new Ni-ger-ian law, which Mr. Jonathan signed Jan. 7, goes further. It mandates a 14-year prison sentence for anyone entering a same-sex union and a 10-year term for “a person or group of persons who supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organizations, processions or meetings.” Public displays of affection by gay men and lesbians are also criminalized. The law has triggered a wave of anti-gay violence in parts of Nigeria. According to the Associated Press, police in the northern state of Bauchi arrested 38 men beginning in late December after the law obtained final approval in Congress. Several men were allegedly tortured into naming gays they knew. The New York Times described Sunday a man who was publicly whipped for gay sex and said a mob tried to attack other gays who were brought into court. One of the Islamic sharia courts operating in northern Nigeria administered the whipping. Both they and the new law appear to violate Nigeria’s constitution, which, as Secretary of State John F. Kerry has pointed out, guarantees freedom of assembly. Nigeria is also in contravention of international treaties it has ratified : As United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay put it, “Rarely have I seen a piece of legislation that in so few paragraphs directly violates so many basic, universal human rights.” Sadly, gay men and lesbians are easy targets for demagogues in Africa, where large majorities still hold the bigoted attitudes until recently prevalent in the West. Pressure from the international community is needed as a countervailing force. How that can work was evident recently in Uganda, a country dependent on Western aid. President Yoweri Museveni vetoed a law threatening gays with life imprisonment even as he described them as the product of “random breeding” when “nature goes wrong.” Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and a major oil producer, is harder to influence. But Britain still delivers hundreds of millions of dollars in development aid, while the United States buys 70 percent of Nigeria’s oil. Both should be aggressively using their leverage to protect the vulnerable gay community. As a starting point, they should let Mr. Jonathan know he and his government will be unwelcome in Washington and London until the law is repealed. – Washinton Post

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Human society is dynamic, hence, the need to take into cognizance changes that have one way or the other impacted on social life. Advance in communications, decentralization of cities, globalization changes in family life, transformation of work, increasing inequality and many others have created the imperative for government to understand and tackle the impact of changes on the people. It seems the height of hypocrisy when people in power resort to prayers by recruiting retinue of prayer merchants to finding solutions to social problems. When government funds are wasted on pilgrimages to offer special supplications and prayers for national crisis, it calls for self-re-examination on the true essence of intellectualism in human societies. How ironic that a nation prays to God who admonishes the love of fellow men, yet hate and injustice are pervasive among the people? God, the most high cannot be bamboozled by man. Any attempt by hypocrites reaps deluge of crisis beyond man’s capacity to contain. This is the reality on ground today, the boomerang effects of years of deceit and high level national hypocrisy. This age long conspiracy of prayer

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Enough of prayers, time for action galore in high places only makes mockery of a people. How can one rationalize a statement credited to Doyin Okupe that ‘the APC boat is destined for the Red Sea…. We went to Israel, we pray for God to remove all the people troubling Nigeria. I believe that God is working quietly to gather these people for destruction’! This prayer sample is just one notable recent one among the deluge of such hypocritical ones. How dare, people within the corridors of power have the shameless audacity to pray such prayers when the capacity of aggrieved masses to endure have been overstretched? Boko Haram Sect today may not be the only group aggrieved. Many people, groups are pushed to the wall in different parts of Nigeria. One may not know when any of these groups may cross the threshold of perseverance. When we analyze the factors that

led to the emergence of Boko Haram, there are still here massive youth unemployment, disillusionment with the system, loss of value, loss of faith in the judicial system; these issues are beyond partisan politics, requires a holistic sociopolitical re-engineering to assuage the aggrieved groups in societies. Today, Boko Haram finds religion on which to hang their grievance. Other groups can find ideology, injustice, inequality, poverty or the hypocrisies of people in government to hang theirs. My submission is that prayer merchants are not relevant to us now. We need proactive solution providers who have the needed integrity to proffer integrated sociopolitical solutions to what are basically social crises in societies. Analyzing the political events and developments with the ruling party and the nascent formidable opposition party as main actors, it

political road. The trouble with Nigeria from colonial days to date is that its leadership have never allowed the citizenry to privately or collectively express their desire to live together. We are not so sure how the federal government came to the conclusion that the 492 delegates to the National Conference is a true reflection and sacrosanct representation of over 160 million Nigerians. The questions on the lips of many Nigerians are, why is the Presidency involved in a national frivolity whose outcome will not be subjected to, and validated by referendum? Who can can vouch for President Jonathan and the manipulative

PDP machine to guarantee restriction of a rampaging presidency from stealing and appropriating the people’s voices in the national conference? President Jonathan does not need to restrict Nigerians if he is truly committed to charting a course for true nationhood. His modalities for nationhood does not include the people’s rights to validate - through referendum - that will not be subjected to the PDP manipulative machines. Moreover, that the outcome of the so-called “National Conference” will be ratified through consensus or by 75 per cent of the selected 492 delegates; therein lies the affront and impunity on

seems the same old partisan rhetoric. We have become used to mantras and campaigns of calumny on the pages of newspapers. Our redemption cannot come from political parties that believed ideology died long ago in the western world. Nigerian Politicians can port at will like porting from one GSM Service Provider to another, no stress. Our redemption can only come from the class of socialpreneurs we have today. This is the class that have reservoir of brains who have the needed knowledge base and demonstrated practical skills to redeem the country from the political ditch that politicians have plunged it. No harvest of prayer galore can redeem any human social problems. God in his infinite mercy has bestowed man with the intelligence to take charge of His affairs. • Ogbu Alexander Ameh Abuja

On the National Conference

IR: Between March 30 and May 20, Nigerians would be treated to another bizarre drama of a national conference that must be seen for what it is: an ominous blitheness that leads only to blind alley. A lot of banal gimmicks have been infused into the political space since President Jonathan’s body language indicated his readiness to cling on to power. The national conference is one of them. Those who will fall for the booby trap will have a date with history as less discerning, who decidedly turned a blind eye to the antics of a political actor and opportunist, who suddenly found an escape route in a clumsy

Nigerians. No matter what, President Jonathan’s good intentions is not good enough for us. What does it cost a determined leadership to conduct an acceptable referendum in the interests of the populace and the nation’s being? Why waste humongous sum in billions on a frivolous outing whose out coming will be derided by future governments? The nation’s survival is far greater than the President’s vaunting ambition and the PDP’s everlasting claims to raw political power. • Erasmus Ikhide Lagos

The Mbu legacy in Rivers

IR: The police is suposed to be the friend of the people partly because they are saddled with the responsiblities of maintaining laws and orders, and also ensuring the protection of lives and properties of citizens. When Mbu J. Mbu was transfered to Rivers State in Feb, 2013 as the state Comissioner of Police. the people must have thought that an end had come to the security challenges facing the state.e reverse turned out to be the case as impunity had free rein under him.There was absolute lawlessness in Rivers between Feb,2013 until his recent redeployment to Abuja. It was under Mbu’s watch that the Rivers State House of Assembly was desecrated when honourable members fought and injured themselves like thugs.Also properties were destroyed in the course of the fight and nothing was done by the police to prevent it. Futhermore, it was during his administration that a serving senator was shot and injured with a rubber bullet by the police during the Save Rivers Movement rally, thus , adding more stains to the already battered image of the Nigerian police and thereby reducing the confidence of the people in the police. With his redeployment to Abuja, the people of Rivers hope and pray that the deployment of Tunde Ogunsakin to the state by the Police Service Commission would restore the confidence of the people in the police a as friend in need and indeed. • Clarke E. Edwin , University of Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

COMMENTS

International relations in historical perspective – 4

T was in the anti-colonial environment of a cold war and bipolarity in world affairs that the process of decolonisation gathered momentum. America traditionally had been opposed to colonialism, with the exception of the aberrant behaviour of the conquest of Spanish territories in Cuba and the Philippines in the 1890’s. America’s anti-colonialism has been demonstrated since their intervention on the world stage from the time of James Monroe in the 1820’s through the time of Woodrow Wilson to the time of F.D. Roosevelt. Their opposition to FrancoBritish intervention in the Suez Canal in 1956, during the presidency of the 34th president of United States, Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) was in tune with their opposition to propping up the old Empires of Britain and France. Throughout the Second World War American policy makers had left the British in no doubt that they would strenuously work for the dismantling of the old Empires. The existence of colonial empires, the Americans reasoned, contributed to the outbreak of wars. America also wanted to occupy the high moral ground in their titanic struggle with the Soviet Union. Both the United States and, ironically their foe, the Soviet Union were committed to a policy of decolonisation for different reasons. America was driven by anti-colonial idealism fundamental to the origin and evolution of the United States itself but for Soviet Russia, right from its foundation by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870-1924) antiimperialism was an article of faith because Lenin believed that all wars were imperialistic wars fought for carving out the world into markets as a result of not knowing what to do with surplus production and primitive accumulation of capital in the highly industrialized countries. Whatever may be the reasons for support of the liquidation of the European Empires in Asia and Africa, the nationalist leaders of these areas exploited the situation to their countries’ advantage in the traditional European fashion of power politics and national interest. By 1947, beginning in India and ending in the 1970s the Europeans lost their colonial empires in Africa and Asia and by 1990 the remnant of colonial empires in Africa notably Namibia was freed. The biggest prize, South Africa, has been freed from institutionalized policy of racial discrimination and apartheid. She has since joined the civilized world under a non-racial majoritarian democratic regime. This happy ending could never have been achieved but for the determined effort and struggle of independent African countries joined by other progressive forces in the world notably in the Socialist countries and the Scandinavia. The United States policy oscillated between support for justice, benign neglect and what in the Reagan years was called constructive engagement which was a euphemism for support of racist oppression in South Africa.

HEIRS is not the first defection in this dispensation and it is certainly not going to be the last. But it is generating heat. Before them, some senators had defected, but their defection was not greeted with the kind of noise we are now hearing all over the place over the defection of 11 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to the All Progresseives Congress (APC). The Senate leadership is doing all within its power to stop the senators from going to where their hearts are. One cannot say why Senate President David Mark and co are afraid of letting the 11 senators go. Mark is claiming that his hands are tied because the issue is in court. He may have a point there, but many can see through his ploy. Mark is mouthing court order because it is convenient for him to do so in order to stop the defecting senators. According to the Senate leadership, past defections were not this controversial because the defectors did not go to court. That may be true. Truer still is the fact that the parties at the receiving end then cried out without anybody listening to them. The defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) may not have gone to court, but they took their complaint to the public domain. As the benefiting party, the PDP ignored their complaints and welcomed the defecting senators and governors to its fold without giving a damn. PDP had its way despite the demand of the extinct AD and ANPP that the seats of the defecting politicians, especially the senators, be declared vacant. Politics, as we all know, is a game of numbers. So, parties are forever looking for more people whether elected or not to boost their standing. Whether the number of people coming on board is one or two, it does not matter, the benefiting party celebrates it because it will portray it as strong and cohesive. In a country like ours, it is a big deal when politicians defect from

One can look at events during this period from reactive and active perspectives. The African saying that when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers guided the actions of many AfroAsian and Latin American countries at this time. The point was that no developing country wanted to be caught in the middle of the struggle for hegemony between the Capitalist West and the Communist East. This was why many countries in this group embraced the policy of non-alignment. This was a policy based on self-interest. It was, of course, not a policy of neutrality in the traditional sense of steering clear at all times of political engagement. Non-alignment meant that decision of which side to take would be based ideally on sovereign assessment and high moral principles and not on political expediency or ideological preference. This was the theory. But in practice many of the non-aligned countries took pro-soviet positions in international politics. There were reasons for this. The stridently anti-colonial propaganda of the socialist countries was very alluring and attractive. In practical terms, the socialist countries demonstrated their support by supplying weapons and instructors for the various liberation movements particularly in southern Africa. The socialist countries were also more prepared to offer financial and technical aid to independent African countries. The apparently great industrial strides made by the socialist countries, particularly the Soviet Union through the five-year development plans easily recommended itself to the African countries. Capitalist mode of development with emphasis on individual capital was regarded as inappropriate since indigenous individual capitalists were few and far between and the foreign capitalists were only interested in extractive industries rather than investing in consumer oriented labour intensive industries. Because the problem of youth unemployment was one of the greatest problems that the newly independent countries had to face, they found the ‘full employment’, characteristic of the commandist and centrally planned economies attractive. The example of India’s embrace of centralized planning based on five year programmes was copied by most African countries during their first decades of independence. Furthermore, the will to be different from the brutal collectivisation of agriculture in the Soviet Union and the free-for-all land alienation by a few in western countries underpinned the economic basis of non-alignment. Non-alignment was a policy based on high moral ground. Its founders Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) of India, Ahmed Sukarno (1901-1970) of Indonesia, Marshall Josip bros Tito (1892-1980) of Yugoslavia, General Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) of Egypt, Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972) of Ghana, cleverly assessed the international situation and decided

that it would be unwise of them to allow their countries to get sucked into the life and death struggle for mastery of the world. Non-alignment gave these leaders the feeling of some relevance. Their friendship and support were courted and sought by the leaders of the West and the East. In reality, all the great events of the 20th century have been resolved without the input of the non-aligned nations. We can recall, for example, the Berlin blockade of 1948, the Hungarian

Jide Osuntokun

rebellion of 1956, the Berlin air lift of 1961 and, most importantly, the Cuban crisis of 1962. For the first time, since the advent of nuclear weapons, the United States and Soviet Russia faced each other over the America’s blockade of Cuba over Soviet Russia’s missiles in Cuba. The world stood at standstill until Soviet Russia’s premier Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (18941971) blinked, when he realised his policy of adventurism and brinkmanship, left the young president John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963) no alternative than to risk nuclear war. Other events in which the non-aligned nations were marginal include the spring revolution of Czchekoslovakia of 1968, the resolution of the Vietnam war, the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the coming down of the Berlin wall, the collapse of communism in Russia itself, the disintegration of Yugoslavia, and the collapse of the apartheid regime in South Africa. In terms of Realpolitik the non-aligned movement has been rather tangential in the politics of the modern world.

‘By 1947, beginning in India and ending in the 1970s the Europeans lost their colonial empires in Africa and Asia and by 1990 the remnant of colonial empires in Africa notably Namibia was freed. The biggest prize, South Africa, has been freed from institutionalized policy of racial discrimination and apartheid’

A fish bone in Mark’s throat one party to the other. No party wants to lose a member, no matter how bad he may be. It will continue to manage such a member because he may have certain values, which those of us outside may not see. In this dispensation, the PDP has benefited the most from defections. In its fold today are many members of the opposition, who defected from their parties at one time or the other. By virtue of this fact, PDP cannot complain when its members are defecting to the other parties. To do so will portray it as a bad loser. What we have seen in the past few months shows that PDP can only take but cannot receive. If it can receive, it will not be bellyaching over the defection of its members to APC, which is fast emerging as the party to beat in the 2015 elections. PDP is jittery over its members' defection to APC because of its likely impact on its fortune in the 2015 polls. Indeed, defections from a ruling party on the eve of an important election, such as the one coming up in 2015 is not something to crow about. It is something to worry about. This is why Mark in concert with the party is trying to frustrate the defecting senators from going. Mark has been using every trick in the book to stop the reading of their defection letter on the four or so occasions that the issue came up at plenary. In contrast, in the House of Representatives, 37 members elected on PDP platform, who sought to defect to APC, were given a smooth ride. When they brought a December 18, 2013 letter titled : ''Communication of Change of Political Party'', Speaker Aminu Tambuwal promptly read it and business has been going on smoothly there since then. But, the Senate has known no rest since Mark has been dilly-dallying over the reading of the letter. If the senators were defecting to PDP would he be behaving this

way? I doubt if he will. He would have since welcomed them with open arms. The defecting senators' letter would have been taken, with Mark and other PDP members backslapping and cheering widely in celebration of their catch. The hunter is now the hunted and he is afraid of the consequences. There is no need for Mark to bring the court into this matter. Yes, the defecting lawmakers went to court. The question is why did they do that? They did it to stop their former party from resorting to what lawyers call Jankara to relieve them of their seats. You cannot put anything beyond PDP and that we have seen so far with the way the defecting senators are being blocked. What did the court order Mark so much like to quote say. The Justice A. R. Mohammed's order says : ''That the second and third defendants (Mark and Tambuwal) are hereby directed to maintain the status quo on any proposed deliberation to declare the seats of the affected and interested plaintiffs vacant, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs' motion for interlocutory injunction''. In simple language, what the order is saying is that the Senate and the House should not declare the lawmakers' seats vacant during the pendency of the case. It did not say that they should be stopped from defecting. If it had said so, will Tambuwal, who is a lawyer, have allowed the defection in the House? I do not think he would have gone contrary to the law. The thing is Mark is in cahoots with the PDP to deny the defecting senators their freedom of association. Yet, he is painting it as if he is acting within the ambit of the law. The court order he so much cherishes did not say that he should not allow the senators to defect. He and his legal advisers should take another look at that order to enable them interpret it properly.

Mark is holding a position he considers convenient to him on this matter. His job is to stall the senators' defection and so far he seems to be having his way. But for how long? No doubt, PDP is not comfortable that the APC is closing the wide gap between them in the National Assembly. Nevertheless, the party cannot force these senators to remain in its fold if they choose not to. Belonging to a party is a matter of choice, which people are free to exercise anyway they wish. Using delay tactics to keep the senators in PDP cannot work because there is no way they can do the party's bidding on any matter. s it possible for PDP to get these senators to toe its line on any issue in the National Assembly? We all know the answer. PDP has lost these senators for good and the earlier Mark and PDP realise this fact the better for us all. The game Mark is currently playing with these senators' defection is not healthy for the polity. He has no choice than to allow them go. Mark may continue to delude himself that these senators are still in PDP, but he knows that is not so. It is mere wishful thinking to hold that belief. What he and PDP are seeking to do is to break these senators' will. How can you break the will of a man who has resolved not to have anything to do with you again. Their joker, which is well known, is to declare the senators' seats vacant. But they cannot do that because of the court order specifically restraining the National Assembly from going that way, at least for now. This is why Mark is buying time by not allowing the senators

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

to read their letter on the floor. The plan is to get the court to lift that order and then they will swiftly move in to declare the senators' seats vacant even before the logical conclusion of the case. My fear is nothing will move in the Senate if Mark insists on not allowing the senators to go. The issue will continue to dominate debate in the Upper Chamber until he allows reason to prevail. For how long will he continue to play the ostrich. By his action, Mark has brought unnecessary jam to the Senate's activities. What will it cost him if the letter is read? Can't he learn from what happened in the House? Does Mark want to throw the Senate into chaos over this simple matter? The senators emphasised the point of leaving PDP at plenary on Tuesday when they came by way of point-oforder to exercise their privilege as senators. All they sought to do was to be allowed to go. Will Mark stop playing Pharaoh and let them go?

‘The defecting senators went to court to stop PDP from resorting to Jankara to relieve them of their seats... Will Mark stop playing Pharaoh and let them go?’

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

COMMENTS

T is just as well President Goodluck Jonathan never allows himself to be distracted by the hysterics of critics of his administration and his party, PDP. I think he has finally come to terms with this ceaseless attack in spite of his valiant efforts and giant achievements in the implementation of his own transformation agenda as parts of price of leadership. In recent times, in areas such as the aviation sector where giant steps are being made, his embattled minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has chosen to celebrate these achievements on her own. In the case of the agriculture sector, the achievement is selfevident with the availability of cassava bread initially restricted to the table of the rich and those in government now within the reach of ordinary people. In far away Davos, Switzerland, the attention of the media was on the energy sector. Predictably, the greatest news-that we are finally going to have our own ‘made in Nigeria car’, which in government’s view, deserved celebration, got drowned in the cynics lamentation about the fraudulent implementation of the privatisation of the iron and steel sector, which they claim has sealed our hope of ever becoming an industrialized nation. But the happy news of a Nigerian dream car, first broken to the president by Carlos Chosen, the Managing Director of Nissan in Davos, Switzerland, is according to the government, ‘a boost to its National Automobile Policy’ whose objective ‘is to make new cars affordable to more Nigerians.’ Towards this end the government ‘will encourage Nissan to produce cars in the range of N1.2 to 1.5million. And as a demonstration of government seriousness, it has already set aside N240m to purchase some of the products that are still being expected to roll out from the plant in April for ‘SURE P’. To confirm the commitment of NISSAN, Carlos Chosen has indicated the company will bring its ‘global suppliers to guarantee quality spare parts and create a viable auto mobile support industry’. On its part, our own government is committed to building of ‘automotive test centres and laboratories to conduct vehicle hemoglobin comprehensive test of parts and component that will enhance overall product quality.’ Perhaps government is restricting our participation to this limited role because of its experience in the last 14 years. It will be recalled PDP administration at the onset of the fourth republic inherited a thriving automobile support industry. Michelin and Dunlop that have since relocated outside Nigeria were

Unanswered questions about Nigeria’s dream car active, employing thousands of Nigerians, until the energy crisis coupled with government’s indiscriminate issuance of import licences and granting of waivers drove them out of the country. Similarly, there were about 16 viable battery manufacturing firms spread from Ojota, Trade fair complex in Lagos, through Keana, Nasarawa , Goni Gora, Chikun,and Sabo, all in Kaduna; Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa, Oluyole, Oyo and Nnewi in Anambra State. They suffered similar fate because of massive importation of both fairly used and sub-standard battery products from China, Korea and Turkey. In place of popular local brands like Exide and Ibeafo batteries, we today have as many brands as there are importers, most with a life span of six to 12 months. Much as it can be said that the president is implementing his party economic policies which many argue favour only the privileged and those in government, the president can take advantage of hindsight to find out why the efforts of ‘Nigerian dream car’ by past Nigerian governments failed? It is on record for instance that between 19701980, the government, in conjunction with some automobile plants in Europe set up Peugeot Nigeria Ltd. (PAN), Kaduna, and Volkswagen of Nigeria Ltd. (VWON) Lagos; Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO), Enugu, Styr Nigeria Ltd., Bauchi, National Truck Manufacturers (NTM), Kano, and Leyland Nigeria Ltd. Ibadan. Prices of products of the locally assembled vehicles skyrocketed beyond the reach of Nigerians who resorted to fairly used (tokunbo) cars.

ECENTLY, an Abuja Federal High Court held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) infringed on the patent rights of Bedding Holdings Ltd (BHL) in the contract purchase of Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines in 2010. In his judgment, Justice Ibrahim Auta awarded N17.3 billion damages to the plaintiff – representing 50 per cent of the value of the contract. The genesis of the case was the contract awarded by INEC in 2010 to three firms (one indigenous and two foreign) for the supply of DDC machines for voter registration in the run up to the 2011 general elections. It was a contract award that drew much attention to itself, first for the shortness of time for the firms to execute it, and second, for the involvement of foreign companies in a job many argued would be effectively handled by indigenous firms. INEC in a sense heeded the call of some patriotic Nigerians by awarding a huge part of the contract to the only Nigerian firm among the three awardees. This gesture alone created instant jobs for hundreds of Nigerians and arrested capital flight. At the end, Nigerians were justified for canvassing for all the job to be given to competent indigenous firms. Proof of this was the verdict from INEC that only one company delivered the DDC machines within the stipulated time frame of about 35 days. That company (Zinox) was the only indigenous firm among the lot. This feat strengthened the position of local con-

‘Was the DDC machine used by INEC including the process of deploying such machine a Nigerian invention or the invention of any particular person or institution? What about the DDC machines used during the national identity card project or the ones used during the SIM Card registration by NCC and telecom companies in the country?’

Most of these government initiatives even after privatization by PDP government had by 2007 collapsed. Our problem is complex. Precisely because of greed, our reckless leaders have been unable to manage areas where we have comparative competitive advantage like large rubber plantations and byproducts of petroleum refined products to sustain and support the tyre and battery manufacture sectors. But this has been compounded by our past colonial masters who have resolved to retain our big market for their finished products or as dumping ground for their obsolete industrial complexes. The result of our new plan for local assembly plant for the Nigerian dream car is therefore not going to be different from what happened in the 1980s when France and Germany sold their refurbished obsolete plants to Nigeria after acquiring new technology. The new Nigeria assembly plant will probably roll out models already on their way out in the home country. In an environment where there are no rules and where government endlessly engages in issuance of import licenses and granting of waivers for party sympathizers, the local assembled cars will most certainly face competition from the state of the art, new, computerized and more fuel efficient products we cannot prevent from entering the Nigerian market. In a free market economy, how does a government that cannot control price of kerosene in spite of billions of subsidy maintain a regime of subsidy to keep price of the Nigeria dream car at N1.5m? Who are the share holders of the company?

In an incisive opinion piece in this newspaper last week, Kunle Bello a retired Managing Director of M-Tel referred us to ‘The British Privatisation scheme that took off in 1979 and transferred about 50 companies to private hands of over 10million shareholders out of a population of about 52m and raising more than #50billion from the scheme for the exchequer. In the case of the French-regulated privatization, it led to allotment of shares by France’s ministry of finance to firms, employees, public and even private investors. He drew comparison between these and our own process whereby our own BPE (Bureau for Public Enterprises) according to House probe, merely supervised underhand dealings by privileged group as shown by the sales of Daily Times , NICON, Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC) Oku Iboku and, Aluminiium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) Ikot Abasi .etc. What is the share spread of the recently privatized energy sector whose new owners now plead for government for equity participation? In the ongoing energy sector summit, the minister of finance disclosed only this Monday that government is setting aside 500 million dollars to aid the new investors in the energy sector. What was the outcome of such bailouts for the aviation, textile and banking sectors? This is why Nigerians need more information on the ownership structure of the company that is saddled with the responsibility of manufacturing the Nigeria dream car at a government pegged price.

‘In an environment where there are no rules and where government endlessly engages in issuance of import licenses and granting of waivers for party sympathizers, the local assembled cars will most certainly face competition from the state of the art, new, computerized and more fuel efficient products we cannot prevent from entering the Nigerian market’

INEC, patent and the judiciary By Ahmed Musdafa tent advocates to canvass for a wider berth for local companies in the overall national quest for economic growth and sustainable development. Consequent upon the award and successful execution of this contract, Beddings Holding approached the court, claiming it is the rightful owner of the patent for DDC machines and allied process of data capturing. In delivering his judgment, Justice Auta said: “From the evidence before this court, it is clear that the plaintiff actually owned a subsisting patent right over the process, application and the use of DDC machines for voters’ registration”. He also said: “Section 6 of the nation’s Patent and Design Act preclude anybody from using a patented invention without the consent of the inventor. So, INEC should always play by the rule so that its conduct does not affect the outcome of elections.” It was on the basis of this that the judge awarded cost in favour of the plaintiff. While I do not begrudge the plaintiff for the judgment or the three companies for making billions of naira from the DDC machines contract, there is the overriding need to examine the nature of patents, the implications of the judgment, the behaviour of INEC and the role of the judiciary in the nation’s electoral process. A patent, according to Encarta dictionary, is an exclusive right officially granted by a government to an inventor to make or sell an invention. Patents are granted for inventions and an invention is a process or device created by someone or group. The very fact that it is called an invention worthy of patent suggests that such process or device is new, unique and has never before been achieved. In the instant case of DDC machines, it is hard to prove that any Nigerian, individual or body corporate, is the inventor. To infer such and to ascribe such status to oneself means that other DDC processes including the bungled national identity card project under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the direct data capture undertaken by the Nigerian Communications Commission and the telecoms companies in the country all infringed on the right of the patent owner. All of these projects bordered on the capturing of the biometric data of Nigerians in just the same way the INEC DDC machines did.

Patent under any law, sovereignty or trade agreement including the World Trade Organisation (WTO) schedule is a very serious matter which must not be subjected to political, pecuniary or sentimental manipulations. Thomas Edison holds the patent for the electric bulb because he invented the electric bulb through well-defined process in a known and verifiable laboratory. He did not lay claim to the invention, he actually created a device. On that count, humanity says he deserves his patent. This is the context in which the judgment of Justice Auta is not only curious but strange. It is at best a mockery of reality and acceptable global tenets on matters of patents and patenting. But it raises a number of questions. Was the DDC machine used by INEC including the process of deploying such machine a Nigerian invention or the invention of any particular person or institution? What about the DDC machines used during the national identity card project or the ones used during the SIM Card registration by NCC and telecom companies in the country? The DDC machine comprises a laptop with camera, fingerprint capturing device (scanner) and printer. Besides, none of these devices can function without a software of its own and you need another software to tie them up together to function as a unit. I am a firm believer in the judiciary and a fervid advocate that people should resort to the judiciary to defend their rights. To that extent, the judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction should be binding on the parties involved. But the judiciary is not all about a High Court. The instant case requires further judicial inquisition and it is on this basis that a judgment of this nature need to be scrutinised by a higher assizes namely the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. It would be interesting to know in the final analysis what should earn a patent from the Nigeria patent office. Should one, for instance, be awarded patent for a product or service which he or she had no factory, laboratory or proven competence to create or just because such person was able to produce any document to support a claim? Nigerians need urgent answers to assuage their curiosity. •Musdafa writes from Abuja

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

COMMENTS

F President Jonathan’s National Conference meets as planned, then some 500 selected Nigerians will soon be sitting to discuss Nigeria’s conditions, to review the multiple issues that are wrecking the country, and to find abiding solutions. I take it, therefore, that the time for honesty and frankness has come. I take it that those who understand the hurt and anger that their people feel are now duty-bound to make it clearly known to the rest of us. I take it that those who know their peoples’ real feelings but continue to mouth Nigerian “patriotic” platitudes are betraying a trust. I can testify to my Yoruba people’s experiences in “independent” Nigeria since 1960. I was already a teenager and a high school student when Chief Obafemi Awolowo became Premier of our Western Region in 1952. I remember how, under him and our other leaders, our Western Region bounced from development to development. We widened and tarred many roads, and constructed water supply systems for many of our bigger towns. Then there were the big regional development projects – the first television establishment in all of Africa, a mighty sports stadium in Ibadan, an industrial estate in Ikeja (the first of its kind in Africa), the Western Nigeria Development Corporation with holdings in industries, banks, real estate, etc (the largest accumulation of African-owned investment capital in Africa), extensive plantations of rubber, palm trees and citrus in parts of our southern forests, farm settlements for nurturing our class of modern farmers, experimental farm centers, etc. My father owned a fairly large cocoa plantation where we his sons worked side by side

‘We are resolved to stop the decline, and to propel ourselves upwards and forwards again. We ask for no favours. We want freedom to achieve progress and prosperity in our own way and at our own pace – as some of our youths like to put it these days, in Nigeria if possible, out of Nigeria if necessary’

NE of the most memorable events recorded in the Holy Bible is the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. The story, in the book of Genesis, is not only well known to virtually every Christian and many more who have taken time to read the holy book, but its captivating essence is quite instructive. Each verse captures the incontrovertible evidence of God’s power over creation and how it could be used to favour as well as destroy, depending on His preferences, while on the flipside also showcasing man’s frailty to recognising, acknowledging and situating the profundity of such capacity in his relationship with God. How could the Israelites display such faithlessness after witnessing the wonders God performed in pulling them out of Egypt, including practically dividing the Red Sea to allow them passage and causing it to swallow the pursuing Egyptian soldiers, that they, in no time, began to doubt that the same God could see them through obviously far lighter problems? That is probably where the growing grumbling of many Nigerians grappling with the current challenging situation of electricity supply in the country becomes understandable. Suffering, no matter how slight, is certainly not man’s best of friends. So, in recent times, like the Israelites began to grumble as soon as the journey through the wilderness became more upsetting and some of them wishing to have been left in Egypt to continue and die in endless suffering, even with the strong smell of the Promised Land wafting through the air, many Nigerians are also already similarly becoming weary of continuing the journey on the clearly defined road towards optimal electricity delivery. Apart from individual complaints, media commentaries seem to have added to the growing doubts over the recently concluded privatisation of the power sector in the Nigerian, notwithstanding that the same people actually joined in rolling out the drums to welcome that singular feat achieved not too long ago. Because patience is a virtue which appears to be in short supply, this apparent despondency within these quarters have led to their questioning the competency of the new operators

Nigeria must stop destroying its peoples with farm labourers on our weekends and school vacations. Father and other cocoa farmers were forever grateful for the different kinds of help they were receiving from our regional government – such as government subsidized pesticides for improving cocoa productivity, seedlings of new kinds of cocoa trees that were better-yielding and more disease-resistant, encouragement and help to cocoa produce unions, and efficient handling of cocoa marketing worldwide. With these, cocoa plantations expanded continually in our region. There was much order, pride and dignity in our parents’ cocoa farming and marketing enterprises. Not surprisingly, our parents became, according to the records, the most productive African farmers on the African continent. Their cocoa exports poured money into the life of our region, provided most of the money for our region’s development programmes, and supplied most of the foreign exchange for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As peak to our development, our regional government started a programme of free education for our children – the first of its kind in Africa. This was meant to be the base for our faster progress, development, and modernization. And then we built at Ife a very special university for ourselves, a university ambitiously designed to be one of the very best in the world – in physical properties and in academic excellence. Above all, our region’s political life was stable and orderly. None of our leaders (of any party) tried to rig our lections. When elections approached, it was never certain which party would win, and even our biggest politicians (like Chief Awolowo himself, or our charismatic leader of the Opposition, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu) were confronted by strong opponents in their constituencies. We heard news of candidates of opposition parties being molested by governments or arrested in some other parts of Nigeria, and of elections being rigged there, but we were sure that such things could never come to our region. Our region was a confident

modern democracy. All in all, our region was the leader, and the pace-setter, in virtually all spheres of development and modernization in Nigeria. We the youths proudly called our region “First in Africa”. We were proudly confident that we were going to become a highly developed part of the world – and that we were contributing a lot to the over-all development and progress of Nigeria. But since independence in 1960, we Yoruba people have been losing very heavily in virtually all directions,partly because over-centralization has destroyed the capability of our state and local governments to promote development, partly because of the general socio-economic decline of Nigeria due to crookedness and corruption – but also substantially because of the hostilities specifically directed against us Yoruba from Nigeria’s federal sources. We have often had to expend much energy to fight against unwarranted federal encroachments, undercutting, and hostilities. It should not be forgotten that one of the reasons why Bola Tinubu became a hero among us in recent years is that, as governor of our Lagos State, he proved very capable at foiling attempts by the federal establishment to overrun Lagos State, to deny (or even steal) its assets, and to step down its progress. As things stand today, our schools system, most of our roads, and our urban water installations,have disintegrated. As part of expanding federal control, our cocoa economy was federalized and made to collapse. Thanks to federal control, we cannot provide efficient electricity to our towns, and therefore our educated citizenry cannot engage in technological innovations. Our regional university which we built at great expense was taken over by the federal government and, under hostile federal handling, has been made to decline abominably. An urban rail-transport system which we planned for Lagos and for which contracts were already signed was cancelled by a federal government, just to emphasize federal supremacy.

Gbogun gboro For years, countless thousands of our educated youths have beenroaming our streets jobless, and countless thousands flee daily to other lands to escape from the poverty and deprivation. Our pride and morale as a nation, and our confidence in our ability to achieve and progress, is continually assaulted in Nigeria. We now live in a degree of poverty that is alien to us and that we do not deserve. That is the heritage of Nigeria in our lives. Some persons will, no doubt, respond that we have not been without some gains. Yes we have had some gains, but not nearly as much as we would have made at our known pace if we had been operating freely and without all the drags and confusion of Nigeria. Our losses are overwhelming – even alarming. Nothing can pay for them. We are resolved to stop the decline, and to propel ourselves upwards and forwards again. We ask for no favours. We want freedom to achieve progress and prosperity in our own way and at our own pace – as some of our youths like to put it these days, in Nigeria if possible, out of Nigeria if necessary. We know that other Nigerian nationalities want the same for themselves too, and we are therefore confident that there exists a good chance for our leaders to work constructively with leaders of other Nigerian nationalities for a positive Nigerian National Conference that will produce changes beneficial to all Nigerian peoples and to Nigeria.

Power sector: Return to Egypt? By Sunny Igboanugo in the sector. “Where did they prove their expertise that qualified them to take over? What is their capital base? How are they going to raise the money they require to increase capacity and turn the sector around?” And as is wont in our clime, the only conclusion is the expected mantra – corruption. “They sold the companies to their cronies.” But does it follow? Where on earth have the expectations such Nigerians demand of the current process been met before? Surely, very few businesses are likely to mature and break even in three months. Even in well established ones, how much positive changes can be expected with the change of management in so short a time without cutting corners? Does a farmer not attend to his yam; guide the shoots and stems properly to ensure they do not stray away; continuously weed it; erect scarecrows to ensure that animals are kept away and engage in other activities necessary to prepare for a rich harvest? Does it happen in three months? Do we then expect less from the new operators in the power sector, whose tenure on the scene is less than three months? No matter the expertise with which they come, are they not expected to take stock and examine the ground before going full blast with their operations? What about staffing and equipment matters? Indeed, is it possible for them to do what the country could not do in decades in less than three months, given the depth to which the sector has sunk during this period? These are the bigger issues, the bigger questions. Even the telecom sector that symbolises the most apt example of the expectation in the power sector did not come quite easily or happen in a jiffy; neither have the services come anywhere to being perfect, nearly 15 years after. Have we forgotten that for many years, GSM phones remained the exclusive preserve of privileged Nigerians? Not only were the SIM cards quite costly, the process of obtaining them was also cumbersome. Now, the same cards are sold in every street corner at

give-away costs and sometimes even free. From the foregoing, the only plausible option open to Nigerians is to be faithful and trusting. Professor Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power, presently driving the process, must have the trust which the Israelites denied Moses during the journey to the Promised Land, not only because it is the only way to get there quickly, but because his pedigree beggars any form of failure. His outing in similar assignments, particularly as the Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN and the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, at different times, may be too distant for some to remember. But not the seamless conclusion of the privatisation exercise, a feat which not only appeared intractable before his arrival, but acknowledged as one of the most ambitious and most transparent of its kind in the world. Even at that, industry followers would admit that domestic issues that fell on Nebo’s desk like signing the management contract for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and issuing of the Schedule of Delegated Authority (SODA); inaugurating the TCN Supervisory Board and revamping the transmission infrastructure; reactivating and funding the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and resolving labour issues and paying entitlements of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) among other things were not easy tasks, given the hiccups that dogged the entire process in the past. Yet, the Minister handled them so effortlessly. Recently, President Goodluck Jonathan flagged off Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria, another initiative that appeared like the icing on the cake in widening the horizon of the minister’s mandate, as it is aimed at electrifying the remotest areas of the country without hope of being connected to the national grid in the foreseeable future. The combined effect of all these is that there is a focused leader, who does not only know the direction he is going, but has the impetus of motion and the only foreseen result is success. Last week, the minister was quite emphatic about this in his strong message to generator sellers: “Mr. President had announced and I

have reiterated it that generator sellers should start thinking of another business, because we will give Nigerians power.” Certainly, only the frivolous can talk with such boldness without a basis and those who know Nebo, will never associate him with that weakness. Of course, the picture he painted is already manifesting in some areas of the country. In Abuja, for instance, many people have forgotten that they own generators. As for problem areas, the minister promised accelerated action to deal with them. “We have problems in Lagos – technical problems. Power fluctuates so badly in Lagos; is much worse now. That problem will be resolved very soon. But in many parts of the country, you will begin to see gradual growth and very soon, with the repair of the Western gas pipeline – WarriEscravos and so on - generation capacity will grow. And when that happens, there will more power available for the distribution companies to give to Nigerians,” he added. Good news: A few days after, that has happened, with the report that the pipelines have been fully repaired. Perhaps, the only foreseeable hiccup here is vandalism; saboteurs diving into the high sea to burst pipelines supplying the power stations with gas to ensure that electricity is not generated, for either economic or political reasons. They are the ones Nigerians should turn their anger to and do the battle against. They are the ones capable of derailing the train that has already left the station. In fact, nobody who was at the Nigeria Power Sector Investors Conference, on Monday, February 10, would have been left in doubt about what is going on in the industry. Not after witnessing the quality of investors from 29 countries that were there scrambling to see how they would get a piece of the action. For many Nigerians who seem disappointed that the transformation they expect after the assets handover in the power sector, has not taken place, it is instructive to note that the privatisation exercise is not an end, but a means to an end. That axiomatic first step, the right step in the direction of a thousand miles has just begun. And with it, comes a resounding message: We will not return to Egypt.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

The management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been squabbling since the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, mounted the saddle five years ago. Last week, the institution suspended the ASUU Chairman, Dr Busuyi Mekusi, and five others for allegedly instigating students crisis about two weeks ago. LEKE AKEREDOLU reports.

•Members of the Sheriff Deputies deflating tyres of vehicles brought by ASUU.

Varsity, ASUU row deepens •Union chair, others suspended for alleged incitement

HE feud between the management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State and the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) came to a head last Friday, with the suspension of the union’s Chairman, Dr Busuyi Mekusi, and five others.

Their suspension followed the query they were issued by the Registrar, Mr Bamidele Olotu, on the institution’s behalf. Others are the Vice-Chairman, Dr Sola Fayose, treasurer Dr. Dorcas Alese, Investment Secretary Dr. Agboola Adetula and two extended members of the executive, Dr.

Benson Igboin and Oluwasegunota Bolarinwa. They were accused of instigating the students to riot two weeks ago. The university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Victor Akinpelumi, said the suspended teachers would soon face a committee set up to investigate the students crisis.

INSIDE

COEASUAOCOED dissolves factions -Page 27

Lagos school where pupils pay N30 tuition daily -Page 47

The teachers were asked to stay off the campus until the panel concludes its job. But, Mekusi told The Nation that the management’s action was “inappropriate and a breach of their fundamental human right.” He also denied the allegations against them, claiming that “they are merely

CAMPUS LIFE

being victimised.” In line with the management’s directive, security men prevented the lecturers from entering the campus on Monday. After a heated argument, they were said to have been allowed in, but the lecturers reportedly turned back. There have been no love lost between the management and ASUU since Prof. Femi Mimiko assumed office as Vice-Chancellor in 2009. Two weeks ago, ASUU, which hosted its members from other universities, had a face off with the • Continued on Page 26

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

Three injured as explosion rocks hostel -Page 29

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

EDUCATION

Why ABUAD designs Social Justice programme, by Afe Babalola

HE Founder, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has said the need for the university to influence its host community, the society and the country is why ABUAD initiated Social Justice programme. He said though many universities in Nigeria have failed in this regard, the four-year-old varsity with her rising profile, is ready to rise to the occasion. Said Babalola: “You may ask why Social Justice? Universities have a sacred duty to provide quality education but that is not all. It also has a duty to contribute to bring change to their host communities, immediate geographical locality and even the country as a whole. The world over, governments depend on universities and other specialised research institutions for economic, political and legal advice and crucial research data in the process of formulation of policies which will affect the citizenry. Regrettably, Nigeria universities have scored low in this area.” Addressing a police team, who attended the Social Justice certificate programme on Tuesday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said the programme hopes to improve the efficiency among members of the nation’s security apparatus, including

By Adegunle Olugbamila and Medinat Kanabe

the Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), embassies, the government and its agencies. According to the legal luminary, the programme has two main components - BSc. ( Social Justice), a four-year course and a certificate programme, targeted at working class groups both in the public and private sectors. Babalola said in line with global best practices, the university has also designed modern and highly relevant curriculum on Social Justice, with qualified resources personnel to man it. He said there is a need for programme in universities because universities have a duty to contribute to bring change to their host communities, immediate geographical locality and even the country as a whole. "World over, governments depend on universities and other specialised research institutions for economic, political and legal advice and crucial research data in the process of formulation of policies which will affect the citizenry. Regrettably, Nigeria universities have scored low

in this area. This is the reason we conceived programme." he said. Condemning Nigerians' attitude towards work, he said many who work in the public service believe that there is no need to put in their best in the discharge of their duties as they are guaranteed a steady income, allowances and benefits, adding that others simply go to work to mark time and return home without contributing anything to the advancement of the country. Speaking on how the programme started, Babalola said in 2011, the university assembled a team of distinguished international and local experts to develop a multidisciplinary curriculum that can effectively solve the prevailing local and global economic, social, political and other challenges facing the world today. He added that the outcome, which is the Curriculum on Social, received 100 per cent approval from the Federal Government through the Nationa Universities Commission (NUC). "This innovative curriculum will equip both graduates and the certificate holders with multidisciplinary and multi-skilled knowledge suitable for employment locally and internationally. It combines carefully selected courses in law, social sciences, Information

•Aare Babalola

and Communication Technology (ICT) and international languages and culture. The degree and the certificate are highly relevant for students and workers who would want to work or are currently working in different areas of life including paralegal services, police, intelligence and security outfits, customs, immigration, international and local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), ministries of justice, foreign affairs, among others. "It is also very relevant to politicians, culture and tourism experts, international diplomacy consultants, national and multinational corporations, etc. The course

Varsity, ASUU row deepens • Continued from Page 25

university’s security team known as Sheriff Deputies, Mekusi and Bolarinwa, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly now a lecturer in the institution, were reportedly assaulted during the squabble. Their vehicle’s tyres were deflated by the security officials, who claimed the ASUU team spurned security checks. But, ASUU, through its National President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, has accused Prof Mimiko of directing the security officials to disrupt the union’s meeting. In a statement on management’s action, Akinpelumi said the ASUU officials were suspended because they failed to report the alleged assault of Mekusi and Bolarinwa to the authority. "Prof Mimiko believes that they (lecturers) should have reported the incident to him if truly they were assaulted because nobody was there when the incident happened. How can lecturers be promoting violence and ordering the students to cause mayhem? You see some of these students, after they heard what their lecturers said, that they won't teach them again because they were attacked by security officials, went rioting because of what they just passed through during the sixmonth ASUU's strike. “The management was very sad that some lecturers started telling the students that they (ASUU) have been attacked by security officials so they will not teach again for the next one week and that the students must take action since they have been attacked. They (lecturers) said since they can be assaulted, none of the students is safe from the Sheriff Deputies' harassment. "The management expected that the union should have reported the attack to them on that fateful day because the management was also holding a meeting at the school campus. Prof Mimiko was even in that meeting. But rather, they preferred to take laws into their hands by inciting the students to protest. Who knows what would

have happened but for God's grace that helped in forestalling the violence? ASUU did not bother if students would be killed during such violence; they didn't think of the negative effects of their action on the students, institution and the university's host community "Six of them were given query because of their involvement in the crisis. There are a lot of ways to handle this issue and the management has used one of it. They will stay away from school pending the outcome of the committee to be set up by the university authority very soon." Reacting Mekusi accused management of playing the ostrich, saying it should have suspended the union rather than handpicking only six. Explaining ASUU’s role in the crisis, he said: "The management lied that we incited the students. What really happened on that day was that we held our congress and the union resolved that we should drive in a motorcade to the school gate where I will address my colleagues. That was how those officials came and the crisis broke out. "I and Mr. Bolarinwa were attacked. We were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The only time I interacted with the students was when I was coming back from hospital and I was about entering the campus. The students were already at the school gate and they insisted that I must address them on the situation of things. I told them to remain calm and maintain peace. I also informed them that the issue is about ASUU and not students and that we would take the necessary step.

• ASUU members during the protest.

“So, the management was only looking for means of covering up their atrocities. Have they forgotten that the leader of the Sheriff Deputies apologised to the union that his men were only acting according to instruction by the school authority? How can we incite the students? Did we invite them to our meeting? The management is only victimising six of us and we are only punished because we are the leaders of union." Mekusi said ASUU is strategising on the issue, adding that it would rather keep mum for now.

He described the management’s committee as “criminal,” saying it would be wrong for the administration to sit on such issue. None of the Sheriff Deputies agreed to speak. They said they had been directed not to speak with reporters. When The Nation visited the campus, many of the lecturers also declined comments. But, a lecturer, who pleaded that his name should not be mentioned, said Prof Mimiko was acting as an autocrat.

‘I was not in the school on that day because I was sick and from what I learnt, the security officials were acting according to the instruction from above. I also gathered that when the crisis broke out, one of the lecturers went to the classes and informed students that the security officials slapped their lecturers’

‘The world over, governments depend on universities and other specialised research institutions for economic, political and legal advice and crucial research data in the process of formulation of policies which will affect the citizenry. Regrettably, Nigerian universities have scored low in this area’ is highly intensive, rigorous, practical and very interesting. It creates opportunities for international exchange programmes, local and international internships and externships, work-study programmes and other field experiences for the undergraduates. It also provides an excellent foundation for students who could not gain admission to study law as first degree to pursue it at masters level or as a second degree. The police team was led by the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, and the Inspector-General of Police. "You see, my brother, this is one of the effects when you place your brother or relatives in such a position. He has been acting because he knows he is untouchable. He believes that if he even sets the school on fire, nobody dares query him. He has turned himself to a tin god and everybody is afraid of him. If he (Prof Mimiko) is coming and lecturers are discussing, they will immediately run away," the source said. "We are not in the military era but workers in Akure are being ruled by a military man. He has forgotten that one day he will leave office and another set of person will become vice chancellor. “Should I say it is a payback time for us lecturers?” another source said, “because when he (Prof Mimiko) was denied this appointment by the late Governor Olusegun Agagu, we fought for him, we mobilised and supported his brother to become a governor but in return, we are being owed four months salary and we are also being victimised.” Another lecturer said they were ready for the worst, adding that they are in support of all actions taken by the union. The Students Union President, Comrade Olugbenga Adeniyi, has blamed both parties for the crisis, urging them to sheathe their swords. He blamed the management for allegedly directing the security officials to stop ASUU from meeting on campus, and accused some lecturers of poisoning students’ mind. Adeniyi said: “I was not in the school on that day because I was sick and from what I learnt, the security officials were acting according to the instruction from above. I also gathered that when the crisis broke out, one of the lecturers went to the classes and informed students that the security officials slapped their lecturers. I think this is wrong. This was what prompted the students to go on rampage. “I am not in support of the Sheriff Deputies and I also kicked against the students for rioting. But I am begging the two parties to resolve their differences because no student is ready to go home again, after spending almost six months at home due to ASUU strike.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

COEASU-AOCOED dissolves factions

AOCOED FILE

Non-teaching staff to retire at 65 THE Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/ Ijanikin, has okayed 65 years as the retiring age for non-teaching staff. The Governing Council, at the college’s second regular meeting approved the age. It takes effect from December, it said.

•Sets up caretaker committee

ITH the dissolutions of the two factions of College of Education Academic Staff Union, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (COEASU-AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin, chapter, and the setting up of a caretaker committee, it appears the crises-ridden union has finally found its bearing and it is on peace path. On Tuesday, last week, the two warring factions of the union led by comrades Michael Avosetinyen and Elesho Timothy decided to sheathe their swords. This was after a much-heated debate, which was the hallmark at the union's congress. This has paved the way for the emergence of a caretaker committee that has been charged with realigning the union chapter with the national body, and later, instituting a committee that will conduct a credible election for a new executive. However, the resolution did not come easy. The Nation's investigation revealed that truce was brokered through the AOCOED's intervention, which set up a reconciliation committee for the two factions, as well as a letter from COEASU national body directing COEASU-AOCOED to do the aforementioned. Trouble began in December when the Avosetinyen-led faction refused to step down after a two-year term, insisting that the new constitution that stipulates a four-year single term must be upheld. This development irked some of his colleagues, who felt Avosetinyen’s executive denied his predecessor led by Comrade Adeyemi Adesanya, the opportunity he was agitating for; thus a parallel union led by Elesho emerged to challenge Avosetinyen's legitimacy.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Subsequently, a group that called itself ‘Concerned members of COEASU’ also sprang, and called on Avosetinyen-led exco to vacate office. Meanwhile, COEASU national declared Avosentiyen-led executive illegal for declining to allow his predecessor run their outstanding two years according to its revised constitution. A source said AOCOED management had summoned the leadership of the two factions, with some elderly members of the union, to find a lasting solution to the problem. A letter dated same January 28 with Ref. No: COEASU/NS/03/01 signed by the COEASU National President and General Secretary Asagha Emmanuel Nkoro and Nuhu Ogirima, was addressed to COEASUAOCOED. It was titled "Emergence of factions: Our position’. The union’s expanded National Executive Council (ENEC) meeting held at the Federal College of Education Oyo (Special), on January 28 expressed its displeasure over the state of things in COEASU-AOCOED, especially the flagrant abuse of its revised 2010 constitution which in Article 16, henceforth stipulates a four-year single term for any executive. The national COEASU, therefore, insists that any of its union at the branch level that fails to align with its mother body does not have the authority to flaunt its name.

Calendar ready • Comrade Avosetinyen

•Comrade Elesho

‘Our greatest challenge is how to reconcile COEASU-AOCOED with the national body. I am very confident that with God, we will succeed. Today (Monday), we are q taking over all the unions property from the factions and we shall kick off our job without hesitation and without prejudice’ The letter reads in part: "Given the foregoing, ENEC resolved that the existing leadership/grouse in the name of the academic staff be dissolved by congress and a caretaker committee be constituted forthwith to take charge of the affairs of the academic staff. The committee, when constituted, would shoulder the responsibility of liaising with the national body of the union for guidance with a view to reconciling fronts and shall conduct the chapter election in consonance with the provision of the constitution of the union." A source said calling a congress of the union was a herculean task as the two factions stuck to their guns; and when congres was eventually called

on Thursday January 30, a decision to dissolve the factions was reached; yet could not be ratified due to poor representation of the two factions, thus congress agreed to another date on Tuesday last week where the resolutions were finally ratified. Chairman of the caretaker committee Comrade Wole Ajose told expressed the confidence in God that the team would succeed. "Our greatest challenge is how to reconcile COEASU-AOCOED with the national body. I am very confident that with God, we will succeed. Today (Monday), we are taking over all the unions property from the factions and we shall kick off our job without hesitation and without prejudice," Ajose said.

Fed. Govt to take over abia Poly

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-eke, Umuahia

HE Federal Government will soon take over the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, its Chairman, Governing Council Prince Christopher Enweremadu, has said. Speaking with The Nation at his country home at Ngwaukwu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state, he said the necessary machinery is in motion for the proposed take-over of the institution. Enweremadu said a member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Uzo Azubike moved the motion to that effect at the floor of the House. He said that the motion had been approved by the House. Ekweremandu said the duty of the council is to provide the enabling environment to ensure that the proposal becomes a reality. "Our duty as a council is first to ensure that the state and institution benefit from the proposal with the approval of the state governor,” he added. Enweremadu said members of council welcomed the development, He continued: "We are doing everything possible to take advantage of the proposal, as we know the advantages the new position will bring to the state, students and institution.” He said Aba, which is a business city, has a lot to benefit if the institution is taken over. Enweremadu explained that the state governor has okayed a new permanent site for the state poly at Osisioma.

•Matriculating students of the university.... last Friday.

Lead City Varsity VC charges students on excellence

HE Vice-Chancellor, Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof. Olufemi Onabajo, has charged new students of the institution to aim for excellence in their academic pursuits. Onabajo gave the charge while addressing the freshers, their parents and guests at the 10th matriculation for the 2013/2014 academic session. He urged them to put in their best in their studies to excel, as well as enjoy the opportunity to be offered employment into the university after graduation.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

He said: "The university has a culture of employing our best brains after the completion of their NYSC programme. And to qualify for this privilege, you must excel. Your journey to first class or no class at all, starts now." Onabajo said Lead City University mould lives, re-defines university education and raises students and graduates who would impact

MHS Ibadan clocks 53

HE 53rd anniversary of Methodist High School, Expressway Ibadan, comes up today at 10 am, at the new school hall. The school’s alumni National President Dr Fadeyemi Akinrinmade, said the event will feature the relaunch of the school hall, which construction, according to him, has reached an advanced stage. The event will also showcase a brief get together as well as the need for old members to brainstorm towards rebuilding the school's lost glory. He urged old students to attend the event.

positively on their world. He further said the university is unshaken in its student-centric posture, charging the students to avail themselves of the facilities and conducive learning environment that the university offers. "Everything that will make your stay here memorable is put at your disposal: beautiful home away from home, ensuite hostel accommodation, a stadium with astroturf field, ultra-modern sports complex equipped with a gymnasium, swimming pool, badminton courts, squash courts etc. have been provided for your use and pleasure. The central library, departmental libraries are well stocked for your academic needs, coupled with seasoned academics that are rare to come by and technologists to groom you," he added. Onabajo thanked the parents and guardians for attending the ceremony and for their support and encouragement to their children.

THE college calendar for the year has been released. The college PRO Adebowale Odunayo In a statement, urged members of the college community to visit Information and Public Relations Unit to collect it.

College seeks PPP

THE college management has invited application from reputable firms, persons and printers, for some of its projects. These include the rehabilitation and management of filling stations, establishment of an eatery/restaurant, and commercial bindery. According to a statement from the Information Unit, all the projects will be domiciled at the college premises. The management said it will welcome suggestions and ideas on the projects, which would be forwarded to the Provost, Registrar or management.

Staff promoted, rewarded EIGHT staff, including Mr. Ogunlusi, R.O, Mrs. Awobodu, V.R, Mr. T.T. Elesho, Dr. Adeleke Ademola, Dr Ayoade Olusoji, Mrs. Idowu Abosede O, Mr Fakayode M. Folusho, and Dr Nojimu-Yuusuf Roseline, have been promoted to principal lecturers. Another staff member, Dr. H.T.K. Ishola, received an award for stewardship by the National Executive of WICE while Mr. Ilori Olajide John, Mr. Akeem Ayobami, were commended for their high sense of responsibility and gallantry. The duo were also given two incremental steps and cash award. Dr. Adeleke, I.A.; Dr. Awofisayo, O.A., Dr. Olaleye, B.O., Mr. Dotun Oluwa, Dr. Oganah , B.C., were given approval to complete their Ph.D in different universities within and outside Nigeria. Dr. J. A. Farayola was granted one year sabbatical leave and appointed as the Acting Rector, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos. Mr. J.A. Olajide and Dr. Bolarinwa, R.O. were given approval to go for one year sabbatical leave to Osun State College of Education while it also accepted Dr. Bolarinwa from Osun State College of Education, Ilesa. Dr. Rahman, M.A. was given approval to transfer his service to LASU while Mr. Wale Odunayo, was appointed SUBEB director.

• Provost AOCOED, Mr Bashorun Wasiu Olalekan

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

EDUCATION

Obi’s N10m donation divides Anambra school

HERE is papable tension at the Community Secondary School, Awada, Obosi, Anambra State. The management of the school and the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) are divided over how the N10million donated to the school by the state Governor Peter Obi for the rehabilitation of its structures is being spent. PTA Chairman Chief Anthony Ezebube has accused the Principal, Mrs Felicia Ogbunude of spending the money without consultating the PTA leaders. Ezebube accused Ogbunude of asking new pupils to bring one white plastic chair each, saying this is illegal. He alleged that contrary to an agreement that general meeting of the body and the school management would be held twice a term at the instance of the principal and an emergency meeting whenever the need arose, none was held last year. “I was told that money was given by Governor Obi but I was not told how the money was lodged into a bank. And I also heard that she said

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

the money did not concern the PTA. We need an account of how the money is being spent,” Chief Ezebube said at a meeting between the school management and the PTA. The PTA members are, however, insisting that whoever would take up the contract of repairs at the school must be approved by the PTA and the school authorities. One of the founding fathers of the school, Sir Osita Nzewi, argued that since Governor Obi demanded that stakeholders should oversee the projects for which money was released, the school management alone should not be accountable for the spending of the N10million. Nzewi, therefore, called for accountability. Following a petition to Governor Obi against the principal on the issue, which was also copied to a nongovernmental organisation - United Action Against Corruption and Justice International, zonal coordinator of the human right group, Anyim Sunday, promised to step into the matter if the parties

involved failed to handle it properly. But Mrs Ogbunde denied the allegations. She explained that a seven-man committee was set up, which she chairs and which also has as members her deputy (Administration), a representative of the monarch of the community and the PTA chairman. According to her, she and the school’s bursar are signatories to the bank account. Ogbunde said she signed an undertaking with the government staking her pension and gratuity should she be found wanting on how the money was spent. She said the plastic chairs were intact. She , however, apologised for her inability to call the meeting, claiming it was due to pressure of work. However, The Nation’s investigation shows that the donation is actually tied to Ogbunde’s pension and gratuity. Besides, the government mandated her to set up a committee of stakeholders on the matter. It was gathered that the PTA is to report to the commission any suspected shoddy deals. • Members at the meeting.

Institute partners varsities

•Participants at the training

WAEC trains principals, teachers

O fewer than 350 teachers and principals in Lagos were among the first batch of those being trained by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). With this large figure, experts say the nation may soon witness a significant improvement in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). The three-day capacity building, which kicked off at the Events Centre, Ikeja on Monday last week, is aimed at enhancing the skills of secondary school teachers, who are expected to impact their students, Head, WAEC National Office, Mr Charles Eguridu, said. "The council has deemed it necessary to make this training programme available to all teachers in the federation, in response to the perceived dwindling educational standard in the country and as part of its corporate social responsibility. The council believes that a better informed and equipped teaching force would greatly improve the quality of teaching and learning which will have positive impact on the educational development of the nation," Eguridu added. On the objective of the training, Eguridu said the examination body was worried each time it announced results and there was a drop in statistics. "So, we asked ourselves what the

By Medinat Kanabe

problem was and what could be done,” Eguridu further explained. He continued: "What do we do if the succeeding generation after us will come and not be able to carry the responsibility of moving the nation forward in terms of education? We did a research and discovered that there is a general decline in the quality of teaching and learning in schools; so we decided that teachers should be trained." He reminded teachers of their role as change agents, admonishing them to be attentive. He warned that should they be lacking the right skills and competences to teach, the children will not be well equipped to write exams. The state Commissioner for Education Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, underscored career development, which the trainees can apply in situations, such as decision making, creative thinking and human resource management. She said the importance of the programme could not be over emphasised, noting that welltrained teachers are the catalysts for breeding future leaders who are academically sound and are role models with an enterprise spirit needed for a sustainable and competitive national economy. Mrs Oladunjoye, who represented Lagos State Governor Babatunde

Fashola, at the event, also said: "The training is necessary because it will make us have sound teachers who can be role.” The Chairman, Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Lagos State House Abdul-Wahab Alawiye-King hopes the collaboration would achieve its aims.

HE Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) is seeking partnership of 65 universities, corporate organisations and governments to impart accounting students and professionals with global management accounting skills. Its Regional Director, Africa, Mrs Samantha Louis, who paid a threeday visit to Nigeria with the Global President, Mr. Malcolm Furber, said at a briefing at Protea Hotel, Ikoyi on Tuesday, last week, that the proposed deal with the institutions would lead to the production of Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMAs). She said so far, they have had fruitful discussions with some universities. "Our approach is to work in partnership with any organisation in any country that operates well and this also involves the universities. It is not our job to replace the universities, but I think if we work together, we are going to raise standard for everybody in the world," she said. Mrs Louis said CIMA stipulates professionalism and ethical conduct for members and students so that integrity, expertise and vision are brought together.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Furber said the recent joint venture between the institute and the America Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) led to a new designation, the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), adding that since the launch of CGMA in January 2012, the designation has attracted support from leading businesses around the world. He explained that the support stems from CIMA's efforts to keep its members management accounting skills up to date and relevant. He said: "We regularly update our syllabus to ensure that our qualification reflects the everchanging needs of business. In terms of our 'thought leadership' research, we are constantly scanning the horizon to ensure that our members are at the cutting edge of their profession. Our members are also obliged to adhere to codes of ethics and good conduct. Combined, this makes a winning formula that is driving business excellence around the world." With Nigeria seeking greater relevance on the global stage, Fuber said, CGMA qualifications can prepare professionals for roles in business and government.

• From left: Mrs Louis; Furber; and Country Manager, Ijeoma Anadozie, at the briefing.

Transportation blues at LASPOTECH

A field day for burglars Page 31

Page 42

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

CAMPUS LIFE

THE NATION

0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

An explosion has rocked the Abraka campus of the Delta State University (DELSU), killing one student and injuring two others. ESE OKODUWA (200-Level Home Economics) and IDJIGHERE JESUTEKEVWE (400Level Botany) report.

•Scene of the blast

Student dies in hostel explosion

N explosion has rocked the Abraka campus of the Delta State University (DELSU), killing a student and injuring two others. The victim, simply known as ‘landlady’, was a final year student of Chemistry. The incident occurred some minutes past 8am last Thursday while some students were still sleeping. Others, who had got up early were either relaxing or preparing to go to the library. There was pandemonium, following a deafening sound from the Council Hall, a female hostel. Thick smoke billowed from the roof of the hall. What caused the blast? CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the explosion may have been caused by a gas cylinder. When our correspondents visited the scene,

students gathered to discuss the incident. Some thought it was a “bomb explosion”. A resident of the hall insisted that it was caused by a gas cylinder. She said: “The first thing we felt was a vibration, which shook the building to its foundation. Initially, I thought the hostel was going to collapse, but when I ran out of my room I saw smoke com-

ing out of Room 24.” CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late ‘landlady’, who was on fire, ran out of the hall. She was said to have tried to put out the fire by staying under the shower. She ran out for help when that did not work. Many did not take anything before running out of the hall. A student said: “I quickly

‘The first thing we felt was a vibration, which shook the building to its foundation... I thought the hostel was going to collapse, but when I ran out of my room I saw smoke coming out of Room 24’

recovered all my files and essential documents and then ran for my life.” Eyewitnesses said the fire was put out by the male students, who live in a nearby Abraka Hall. They moved into the building to ascertain what caused the blast. They were later joined by the school security personnel and fire fighters. CAMPUSLIFE learnt that three students, who are occupants of the room were burnt . They were rushed to the university health centre, but transferred to the Eku General Hospital. The affected Room 24 has six occupants but only three of them were around when the incident occurred. •Continued on page 30

•ASUU strike shuts down varsity-P32 •Valentine’s election at Ekiti varsity-P41

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

A worthy collaboration

HE world changed dramatically on September 11, 2001 when 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes in the United States of America (USA) and used them for suicide attacks. Two of those planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Within two hours, both towers collapsed. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense), leading to a partial collapse in its western side. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was targeted at Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. In total, almost 3,000 people died in the attacks, including the 227 civilians and 19 hijackers aboard the four planes. The response of the Americans was swift as they launched an attack on al-Qaeda stronghold of Afghanistan which was then run by the Taliban who are sympathetic to al-Qaeda cause. That war has lasted for fourteen years now. The domino effect of 9/11 has remained heightened tension in some parts of the world as al-Qaeda and its affiliates went global by identifying with disgruntled group and subtly hijacking their causes to pursue their own goal. This was why there are fears that Boko Haram, which has been terrorising the North East of Nigeria, may have links with al-Qaeda in The Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). After years of warfare trying to decimate al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the US – like the erstwhile Soviet Union before it - realised that might alone could not win the war. Thus, they resorted to a counter narrative which is aimed at changing the perception of the citizens of Afghanistan. Back home, our security forces have battled Boko Haram for years with no end in sight, even though the new Chief of Defence Staff has given April as the deadline for the decimation of the group. However, I was glad when Prof Isaac Adewole, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), paid a

Pushing Out with

Agbo Agbo 08116759750 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com

courtesy call on Maj.-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Oyo State two weeks ago, which is bound to open a new vista in civil-military cooperation in the country. Prof Adewole said there was need for strategic research into the real reasons for the escalating violence in the country, particularly the North East where the dreaded Boko Haram sect is gradually carving out an enclave for itself. When I first read the story, I re read it a couple of times to be sure the VC is not reported or quoted out of context. For me, this is good news coming from the ivory tower that deserves commendation if it eventually pulls through. At the meeting with the GOC, Prof Adewole said the fight against Boko Haram requires academic and strategic research, and I tend to agree with his postulation. I agree because terrorism is a serious threat anywhere. It is difficult to deter and defend, and it is a high priority on almost every nation’s international co-operation agenda. The struggle against terrorism needs greater effort with a global approach and civil-military co-operation, both nationally and internationally. The vice chancellor proposed a framework in which UI would partner the Army to go into the “heart and soul” of the people and produce strategic methods of curbing the sect’s members.According to him, the declaration of the Chief of Defence Staff that the insurgency would end in April was realisable, with new methods and strategic research. Hear him: “The Chief of Defence Staff said the insurgency will end in April. I do not have the facts and information that he has. But, I believe that winning a war involves winning

Student dies in hostel explosion •Continued on page 29

Two of the victims fell into coma immediately, as they were said to be sleeping when the the late ‘landlady’ was using the gas cooker. The blast occurred after oil dropped on the burner of the “faulty gas cylinder”. The late ‘landlady’, it was learnt, sustained third-degree burn; she was transferred from the General Hospital in Eku to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where she died. Prof Temi Akporunor, the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), expressed shock, saying the blast was caused by students disobedience. He said despite the ban on gas cooker, some students still used it. Prof Akporunor said: “The school has issued directive against the use of cooking gas, electric cookers and ring boilers in the hostels and the

regulation is still in force. Those who want to cook have been told to do so in safe places in the hostel. BY next session, the number of occupants in each room would be reduced and this would make us to provide kitchen for the students.” The DSA urged students to comply with the school rules, saying defaulters would be sanctioned. Asked about the victim’s condition, Prof Akporunor said: “I have been to Eku General Hospital to check on them and I can say that they are responding to treatment; their condition has been stabilised.” The DSA said the management would offset their medical bills. “We are paying the bills; it is part of their rights as students. Health insurance is guaranteed for every student as far as you pay school fees but many students don’t know this,” he said.

•Students standing outside the hall to discuss the incident

the heart and soul of the people. The university can partner the military to find out what are the real reasons for the insurgency,” Prof Adewole said. The vice chancellor also said the proposed partnership between the Army and UI’s Department of Strategic Studies would help in “re-teething and retooling” the military’s work force. This, to me, is one of the roads to travel because terrorist networks today are becoming more dispersed and less centralised. They are more reliant on smaller cells inspired by a common ideology and less directed by a central command structure. This is why it has become problematic to even identify who actually runs Boko Haram. There is a palpable fear almost everywhere as terrorists have declared their intention to acquire and use weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to inflict even more catastrophic attacks in areas where they operate. Increasingly, sophisticated use of the Internet and media has enabled terrorist to communicate, recruit, train, rally support, proselytise, and spread their propaganda without risking personal contact. This is a major source of concern to us and governments across the world. I must point out also that war on any form of insurgency is both a battle of arms and ideas – a fight against the terrorists and their murderous ideology. In the short run, the fight involves the application of all instruments of national power and influence to kill or capture the terrorists; deny them safe haven and control of any area and cut off their sources of funding and other resources they need to operate and survive. In the long run however, winning the war means winning the battle of ideas, which even the world’s only super power, the US has grudgingly admitted. Ideas can transform the embittered and disillusioned either into murderers, willing to kill innocent people, or into free peoples living harmoniously in a diverse society. This is why the UI initiative should be adopted as a template for other varsities to adopt. To wage the battle of ideas effectively and change the narratives, we must pinpoint what does and does not give rise to terrorism:Terrorism is not the inevitable byproduct of poverty, even though poverty plays a role in recruitment drives. Many of the 9/11 hijackers were from middle-class backgrounds, and many terrorist leaders, like Osama bin Laden, are from privileged upbringings, just

like our own “underwear bomber”, Abdulmuttalab. Might alone – even though it has its place cannot root out terrorism, in roads can be made by identifying a combination of intertwined factors which research can help bring out. Segun Okeowo: Straightening the records Your write-up titled “Remembering Segun Okeowo” in The Nation of February 6, 2014 refers. It is not correct to say that the marginal increase in students daily cost of feeding from 50kobo to 70kobo was responsible for the “Ali-must-Go” students crisis of 1978 led by the late Segun Okeowo. Rather, the increase was from 50kobo per day to N1.50kobo per day. I was then a final year student of the University of Ibadan when the event occurred in 1978.The fact is that in our first year in 1975, feeding fees in all campus cafeterias was 70kobo per day i.e. 20kobo for breakfast, 25kobo for lunch and 25kobo for dinner. When the news of the Dimka’s coup of February 13, 1976 got to the campus, Nigerian students immediately took to the streets to demonstrate against the coup, knowing neither the coup plotters nor their intentions. As a result of this massive support, which the Nigerian students gave to Murtala’s government against the coup, the Federal Government, now headed by Gen Obasanjo after the assassination of Gen. Murtala Mohammed in appreciation and to further woo students’ support, reduced their cost of feeding from 70kobo per day to 50kobo daily i.e. 10kobo for breakfast and 20kobo for lunch and 20kobo for dinner. The students appreciated the gesture, which unfortunately did not last for more than one academic session In 1978, as part of Governments’ economic policy styled austerity measure, General Obasanjo increased the feeding cost from 70kobo daily to N1.50kobo daily i.e. 50kobo per meal. Nigerian students protested vehemently against the 300 per cent increase in the daily feeding cost. Government refused to rescind the decision and students called for the removal of Col. Ahmadu Ali as the Federal Commissioner for Education. This was the genesis of the “Ali -must- go” demonstration organised by National Union of Nigerian Students(NUNS) and led by Segun Okeowo now of blessed memory. Dr. U. A. Uno, Calabar

Prince Koyoyo is chairman of Joint Campus Committee (JCC), an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Delta State chapter. The 500-Level student of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering of the Delta State University (DELSU) speaks with PHILIP OKORODUDU (classmate) on why students must involve in unionism.

URING the last nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), your group blocked the Niger Bridge in Asaba to draw the government’s attention to students’ plight. Did you achieve anything with the action? Yes. The rally achieved a positive outcome. The national president and the zonal coordinators in the Southsouth and Southwest were at the rally. The blockade made President Goodluck Jonathan to take action and intervened to resolve the dispute. Some students are of the opinion that NANS has outgrown its usefulness. Is this so? To some extent, I will say yes. But I will also tell such students to stop sitting in their hostels and making noise. If today NANS is not living up to expectations, the students making noise from the comfort of their hostels are also culpable. If they participate actively in NANS activities, no criminal would come out to hijack the structure. If NANS must be repositioned, students must participate actively. Is it true that most members of NANS national leadership are not students? This is correct. That is why we have tried to awaken students to know what NANS is all about because if there is no awareness, students will not know that non-students are leading them and taking decisions on their behalf. In Delta State here, we have been able to create this awareness. What most of these people do is to go out and buy the forms of a

‘Non-students have infiltrated NANS’

•Prince

school and once their names come out, they go and purchase forms for one position or the other. Some of them are overage. NANS is only for students, who should be free to contest without fear. NANS leaders are regarded as government’s agents. Do you share the view? Yes. And this will continue to be so if students sit in the comfort of the homes and allow those who are nonstudents to be at the helm of their affairs. Crimes were allegedly perpetrated

by students during the last ASUU strike. What role did NANS play in engaging the students? We actually anticipated such occurrences because students were out of school doing nothing at home. They were at home and we did not have control over them, so we expected the parents to look after their wards even though we knew it was a difficult thing to do. Most universities have abridged their academic calendar because of the strike, a development that is putting pressure on students to finish their course outline. Do you think this is good for the nation? It is sad because I am also affected as a student. A situation where you have to run a full semester for six weeks is bad. But this is a sacrifice, which we all have to pay for the progress of education in Nigeria. In terms of the future, it will be on record that students who were victims of this anomaly sacrificed their time for the nation’s education system. What is the relationship between NANS in Delta State and the government? The state government has pursued student-friendly policies in education and has also improved the welfare of students. •Continued on page 44

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

A field day for burglars Students of the Modibbo Adama University (MAUTECH) in Yola, Adamawa State were confronted with broken windows, damaged doors and smashed ceilings -trademark of burglars when they resumed after the protracted Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. PHILIPS OGBAJE (500-Level Information Technology) reports.

TUDENTS living in Sangere area, one of the host communities of the Moddibo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH) in Yola, Adamawa State capital, resumed after the almost six-month Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike to find their properties have been looted. Burglars had invaded their hostels while they were away. Broken windows, damaged doors and smashed ceilings littered everywhere. Only a few hostels with security guards were spared. It was like a horror scene, a final year student, who did not mention his name, said, adding: “I could not believe my eyes when I saw only my ceiling fan, plastic chair and table out of everything I left in my room. Even a role of copper wire I left in the room was stolen.” Fauzzy Court, a student hostel, was not spared by the burglars. Tanenga Gegeh, 300-Level Business Education said the 11 rooms in the building were burgled. According to him, the burglars gained access into the building through the ceiling, carting away the occupants valuable. “We returned to meet our rooms empty. Our food stuff, carpets, curtains, and clothes were all looted. It is only our mattresses that were left behind,” he said. Susan Kosonjav, a final year student of Management Technology, who lives in Government Re-

served Area (GRA), said the burglars made a bonfire in her compound to cook, before looting the building. “They cooked and defecated into a container, which they abandoned in the compound,” said Susan, who was not surprised by the development. She added: “The extent of the damage done to my room was much but I expected it. This is why I packed everything valuable in my room before I left. Burglary is a common thing in Sangere, I was just lucky that they left my foam, but every other thing was carted away.” Freedom Ehimen, a 500-Level Information Technology student, said he was surprised the burglars could be audacious to use his gas cooker to prepare food, before carting away his personal effects. There are speculations that it may have been the handiwork of a group because of the similarity in the pattern of operation. Channya Fannia, a 300-Level Library and Information Science student, said the criminals broke into his hostel through the ceiling. Stephen Maneke, a 200-Level Soil Science student, said he was shocked seeing “everything I have laboured to acquire in my room” disappeared. “Where will I start from again,” asked Martins Echi, a 200-Level Building Technology student, who did not meet anything in his room.

•Some personal effects left after the burglary

•Some of the rooms burgled by the criminals

In chat with CAMPUSLIFE, Peace Kenneth, a student-reporter with a local television station, described the incident as sinful. “Every house in Sangere except a few was burgled without a pity for students. Some students, who did not travel during the ASUU strike,

were injured when their houses were burgled. It is a sin against the students,” she said. Students, who spoke to our correspondent, said the burglary would not have happened if the school was not on strike. But for the strike, the burglars would not

have come to steal from us,” said Joy Emmanuel, whose room was emptied. The students condemned the police, which they accused of patrolling the area only in search of curfew violators but not to arrest thieves.

Four students and a lecturer at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) died during the protracted Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. The university community held a procession last Friday.STANLEY UCHEGBU (500-Level Accounting) reports.

•Accounting students displaying posters and placards to mourn their colleagues and lecturer

•A procession of mourners moving round the campus

T was a gloomy day last Friday at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) when the news of the death of four students and a lecturer hit the community. Students of the Faculty of Management gathered to mourn three of their colleagues - Francisca Abakum, Samuel Larry and Mabel Udo, all in their final year. They were yet to get over the news when another report got to them that a lecturer in Accounting department, Agba Daniel Otonkwe,

Forever in their hearts

had died. The students wailed endlessly. The three students, it was learnt, died after brief illnesses. While the Faculty of Management students were mourning, a procession of Linguistic and Communication Studies students emerged, singing dirge for

Queeneth Patrick Akpan, a 300Level student, who reportedly died after complaining of toothache. United by their colleagues’ death, the students wore black clothes and left for the main campus with placards, bearing the names of the deceased. Amid wail-

ing, the procession moved from one department to another. The march caused a traffic gridlock on the campus. Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the late Francisca’s close friends, Queen Dalen and Peace Muonem, described her as a cheerful student, who never played with her

studies and looked forward to her graduation day with high hope. “We all started this battle together but it is sad that Francisca did not wait to win the war,” Queen said. Blaise Akpan, the Students’ Union Financial Secretary, said: “It is uninexplicable that victims of these untimely deaths are final year students. What is wrong?” •Continued on page 44

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

•Students protesting the high-handedness of the security personnel on campus

ASUU strike shuts down varsity

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, have gone on a week strike over its differences with the school security personnel. Its Chairman, Busuyi Mekusi, accused the management of using the school security outfit, known as Sheriff Deputies, to disrupt the meeting of the union. Mekusi said members of the executive were meeting with a team sent to the branch by the National Executive Council (NEC) at the union’s secretariat when they were informed that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, had directed that no ASUU vehicle, aside that of the local branch, should be allowed into the campus. A source close to the management told CAMPUSLIFE that there was an order restraining ASUU from holding the meeting. “But since members of the union were bent on causing trouble in the school, they defied the order,” the source said. Mekusi said: “While we were telling the man that such a directive was not good for the image of the university, the people that accompanied the messenger started to deflate the tyres of the University of Ibadan (UI) ASUU’s vehicle and that of Benue State University (BSU). The two vehicles were alleged by the security officials to have refused to submit themselves to routine security checks at the school gate, thus driving forcefully into the

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi

AAUA

campus. Mekusi claimed that while the argument was on, he observed that one of the invited ASUU members and former speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Oluwasegunota Bolarinwa, was being attacked by the security officials. Mekusi also claimed to have received a punch on his right hand. Following the inciting address, students went on rampage and mobbed officials of the security outfit, but the security men had scampered for safety. Their uniforms and shoes were thrown away by the students. The students also locked the school gate for hours, chanting “we do not want sheriff deputies in AAUA anymore”. It was gathered that the relationship between the security officials and students was not cordial because of the manner with which some of the students were treated. The university management, in a text message to members of the university community later in the day said: “In the early hours of Monday, January 27, 2014, two buses with tinted glasses carrying plate numbers FL282LND and AZ886MKD, led by the chairperson, ASUU AAUA, rode forcefully into the campus of AAUA, refusing to submit themselves to routing security checks. When they were accosted and asked for explanation, the occupants of the buses roughhandled the university security officials and beat them up. Two of the

security men are now hospitalised,” the message read in part. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the university management was yet to pay members of the union their five months salary arears during covering the six-month national strike. A source within the union said their colleagues in other universities had been paid their salaries. “And I remember clearly that the federal government signed the nonvictimisation clause. So, I don’t know why our management refused to pay us,” the source said. The university management, in a text message, accused Mekusi of inciting students against the management. Students urged the management and the institution’s chapter of ASUU to resolve their differences in order to avoid a prolonged industrial crisis which could disrupt their academic programmes. The Senate President of the university’s Student Representative Council, Kowe Odunayo, appealed to both parties to settle their feud as it would negatively affect students’ academic lives. Okolocha Great, a 200-Level student of Educational Management said: “I plead on behalf of my fellow students that the strike should stop because it’s really affecting our academic calendar. Let the management save us from another strike.” Badiru Adetayo, 100-Level Biochemistry, advised both parties to shift ground, saying management should pay the academic staff their salaries.

Corps member vaccinates dogs against rabies

MEMBER of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Dr Victor Oyebanji, serving in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has provided free health services to hundreds of domestic animals, including dogs and goats in Upenekang and Iwuo Achang communities in Ibeno Local Government Area. Victor said the initiative was borne out of his desire to ensure that people were protected against animal related diseases. He noted that rabies was one of the major diseases transmitted from dogs to human beings, usually transmitted through dog saliva. He said: “If the dog owner or a child with wound plays with their dog, they can easily contaminate these infections. So this public health initiative is aimed at reducing the infection risk for lovers of dogs. We equally extendedthe ges-

•Victor vaccinating a dog during the exercise From Muri Lawal

UYO ture to goat and sheep because they also can transmit disease like fungal infections as well as other related disease which can be easily transmitted to man.” Victor advised the residents to report dog bites immediately at the hospital where they would be properly treated, adding that he was encouraged by the turn out of residents for the vaccination

programme. The traditional ruler of the community, Obong Joseph Eshett,thanked the corps member for extending the free healthcare service to their community, urged them to extend the service with more days so that other residents could benefit from the programme. One of the beneficiaries, Mr Sunday Kufre, who brought six dogs for treatment, thanked the organisers of the health programme, saying such gesture was rare.

‘We’ll not compromise academic excellence’

HE Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has resumed the 2013/2014 academic session. A visit to the School of Management and Business Studies showed that majority of the freshers had started their registration exercise. Some of the students who pleaded not to be named said that the registration exercise was rigid. The Rector of the College, Dr Margret Ladipo, said his administration was committed to promoting academic excellence and drive the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. She assured that more innovation were underway, adding that the college would not increase tuition fee. “At the moment, the college is much more concernedabout improving on the existing structures and strengthen the academic

From Mark Orgu

YABATECH

strength of the institution,” she stated. Dr Ladipo charged students to be more focused and be committed to their academic engagements, saying that the college would not condone poor performance from students. The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA) Mr O.T. Raheem, said the college had developed new strategies forboosting scholarship, stressing that the college’s new hostels would be officially open in February. He saidthe renovation of most hostels in the college had started to make the campus comfortable for students. Raheem charged students to always visit the counselling unit for assistance, urging them to adhere to the rules and regulations of the college.

Varsity holds matriculation From Rasheed Adebiyi

FOUNTAIN

HE seventh matriculation ceremony of Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, has held. The event was attended by principal officers of the institution. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bashir Ademola Raji told students to always abide by the university regulations throughout the duration of their programmes. He stressed that the institution hadthe vision of producing graduates with great academic excellence and sound Islamic values. Prof Raji charged them to always participate in socio-educational programmes such as literary and debating, Man “O” War, Writers Club and the Fiqh Forum at the university. The university also presented 10 students honoured as the school’s best academic students in the previous academic session. They were to benefit from a scholarship scheme for the rest of their education at the university. The students included Adebayo Ayodeji, Yewande Osinowo, Adebisi Jempeji, Ridwan Odusote, Opeyemi Bello, Azizat Oni, Ikeoluwa Bakare,Kabiru Opeyemi, Abdul-Azeez Olayemi and Olawale Adeboyejo.

Union to improve students’ welfare

HE Students’ Union Government at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has presented its programmes for the 2013/2014 academic session to students. The union President, Salvador Babajide, said students should expect good welfare package and prompt responses to their needs. “The union will constantly sensitise the students in maintaining peace and order as well as sustaining good relationship between the union and management of the college,” he stated. He appealed to the authorities of the college to effectively monitor its academic calendar so that lecturers would enjoy their compulsory lecture-free week, noting that this had caused disagreement between management of the college and students in recent times. The union said it was committed to promoting the welfare of students who voted it into office, saying that it would do everything in its capacity to prevent

From Mark Orgu

YABATECH violent demonstrations. He added that it would dialogue with management when problems occur. Salvador said lack of power supply, water and management excesses always make students to protest. The union leaders also had their preliminary session with its legislative arm.in his address, Salvador said it was vital for both arms to work in harmony and cooperation. He charged the executives to be more proactive and desist from pursuing selfish interest, saying it could affect their activities in a negative way. The Constituency Leader of School of Technology, Kehinde Adeko said his team would work with the provisions of the constitution in students’ interest. The Speaker, Joshua Akinjayeju, said his administration would be committed to realising its objectives, stressing that the purpose of the session was to harmonise the budgets of all the arms.

CAMPUSLIFE ALUMNI DATABASE Have you ever reported for CAMPUSLIFE since its debut in 2007? Have you been part of the numerous studentwriters that have been mentored through CAMPUSLIFE’s bi-annual workshop sponsored by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) and Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in the last seven years? The Nation is creating database for a reunion programme later in the year. Please, let us have your information: full name, institution attended, employment history, current location, phone number(s), email and any community-based activity you may have or currently engaged in. Send your details to CAMPUSLIFE Editor, Wale Ajetunmobi, via campusbeat@yahoo.com or SMS to 08054503104.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

‘Procedures are necessary for good result’ •PAGE 35

Suspected killers of monarch arrested •PAGE 36

PAGE 33

Food manufacturers warned against improper storage •PAGE 37

•Governor Obi (middle) with Prof. Chinyere Okunna (left), Vivian Nwandu (second right), the Acting Vice Chancellor of Tansian University, Prof. Pantaleon Umechukwu during the presentation of cheque to the Proprietor of Tansian University, Prof. John Bosco Akam at the university premises in Umunya.

Obi tackles infrastructural deficiency D

EARTH of infrastructure has been the major problem of most higher institutions across the country.But the story is changing in Anambra State.Reason: The governor ,Mr Peter Obi, has donated N6 billion to the institutions to address their infrastructural challenges.. There are about 20 tertiary institutions in the state including colleges of education, polytechnics and universities.They all benefitted from the governor’s largesse penultimate Friday as he made handsome donations to them. Obi made history as the first governor to address the problem of these institutions whether private or government-owned. Such institutions as Paul University, Awka (missionary), Madonna

•Governor splashes N6b on varsities From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

University Okija,Tansian University(private) and federal university like Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, all smiled the banks. Governor Obi began with the state university, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Uli. He presented a cheque of N5 billion and six vehicles to the university; two buses to students’ union in the two campuses of the university at Uli and Igbariam and four patrol vehicles for security matters.

He moved to Paul University where he donated N100m and two vehicles and then went to Madonna

University, Okija and donated also another N100m and two buses. He later presented two vehicles and

He said the money is for infrastructural upgrade and development with the promise that the assistance would get to all the higher institutions in the state

N100 million to Tansian University, Umunya. At the Nnamdi Azikiwe University , (UNIZIK) Awka, Governor Obi presented a cheque of N100 million for developmental projects including construction of internal roads in and the road to Beautiful Gate. Obi also presented four new vehicles including two Hilux security vans and buses for Students Union Government tothe institution. Ekwueme Multi Disciplinary Centre also benefitted got a 50 KVA generator, among others . He promised to provide the school with a life saver ambulance. He said the monies are for infrastructural upgrade and devel•Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Obi tackles infrastructural d

•Governor Obi (third left) with Uju Okeke (left); Chinyere Okeke (third right); Bishop Alex Ibeziem (second left), Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa (second right), Archbishop Christian Efobi (third right), during the presentation in Awka. With them is Prof. Gaius Igboeli (middle)

•Continued from page 33 opment with the promise that the assistance would get to all the higher institutions in the state. So far, he has spent over N6 billion in cash and vehicular donations to the institutions he visited. The governor said the support his government was offering to higher institutions in the state was in line with the policy of his administration to offer support to all organisations and institutions in the state, whether private, public or government-owned, provided their services were for the good of the residents. He assured that all higher institutions in the state will benefit from the initiative. He expressed optimism that the support would impact positively on the institutions. He stated that the N100 million that was released to the institution and other institutions were part of the state government’s effort to create a better learning environment and uplift the level of infrastructure in the university. Obi said that the policy of his government to support all institutions in the state was borne out of the fact that those institutions not owned by the government also assist the government, sometimes even better in the training of residents of the state. The governor, who disclosed that his administration was able to save the sum of about N20 billion in its savings account with the banks, also gave the sum of N1million to Anambra State Indigenes Association studying in the university. Responding, the Vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka , Prof Boniface Egboka, thanked Governor Obi for his sustained favourable disposition towards the university, its staff and students. ‘’Your unquantifiable broadmindedness towards the university has manifested in your various donations to the university , with a Toyota Coaster bus ; a Nissan bus ; a bus for the Faculty of Law; the rehabilitation on the request of the university administration, of the Ifite –Amansea road used mostly by staff and students . ‘’Your Excellency’s personal intervention in the PAYE tax imbroglio between the university and the Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue. Though this issue has not been completely resolved , Your Excellency’s personal intervention helped to mitigate the matter , and was a giant step forward in the

pending resolution of the matter, and your promised financial assistance towards the rehabilitation of the road leading to the beautiful gate of the university. Egboka, represented by Acting Vice Chancellor/Deputy Vice Chancellor( Administration), Prof Greg Nwakoby , a Professor of Law noted that ,’’ indeed , never before in the university’s 34 years of history , first as a state university and later as a Federal University has it been the beneficiary of such highly commendable level of attention from any chief executive of Anambra State . We can never be grateful enough to Your Excellency. ‘’Your Excellency, if your positive attention to Nnamdi Azikiwe University is described as astonishing , then your relentless drive towards the transformation of Anambra State , even in the twilight of your administration , could be said to be both captivating and mesmerizing. Through the Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), articulated by your administration which for the first time in the history of the state is bringing an integrated and holistic approach to the development of the state , every nook and cranny in the state, every segment of the society is experiencing positive changes. ‘’The constraints of time do not permit us the privilege of going

•Governor Obi (middle), with Dr. Uju Okeke ( left), Prof. Stella Okunna (righ , Prof. Ahaneku Joseph (second left), during the presentation of the cheque to tration of UNIZIK, Prof. Greg Nwokobi (second right)

Obi said that the policy of his government to support all institutions in the state was borne out of the fact that those institutions not owned by the government also assist the government, sometimes even better in the training of residents of the state. into specifics , but we must not fail to mention your empowering of community policing which has brought with it relative security of life and property. We cannot overlook Your Excellency’s return of mission schools to their original missionary proprietors. The policy decision is going a long way in character formation of our children for the betterment of the society. …we therefore , seize this opportunity to congratulate you for your most outstanding good governance of Anambra State . “You have done exceedingly well for the state and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, we wish you success in all your future endeavours, praying that the rest of Nigeria would one day have the blessing of experiencing the won-

•Work in progress at Awka Township Stadium

ders of Obimetrics , a term we have coined to describe your dazzling performance in office as Executive Governor of Anambra state. At the Anambra State University, Obi explained that the philosophy behind direct disbursement of funds, the Governor said it was not, and could not be interpreted as abdication of responsibility of governance. He said that the state government built a lot of structures in the university, including the perimeter fencing of the permanent site at Igbariam, the Faculties of Law, Social Sciences, Mass communication, Agric and Management buildings, the Administrative Block, classrooms, among others, but insisted that direct disbursement achieve more, especially through the Churches. “With the Churches doing the

projects directly, you hardly hear of variation and related terms”, Obi said. The governor said that the presentation of cheques to schools and hospitals had not made him turn blind eye to other needs of the state. “For instance, in investment alone, since I became the governor, we have invested over N20b for the state, which which was different from the culture I met. Before I came it was debt all the way. In INTAFACT (SABmiller), government invested 10 per cent, which is above N2 billion. A few days ago, I laid the foundation for the expansion of their facility in Anambra State. As part of our contribution, the state will pay another N2 billion and we shall pay it this February,” the Governor said. Governor Obi used the visit to inspect various structures, equipment and facilities at the university. He said the support to the institutions, which will get to others, was in line with the comprehensive education programme of his administration geared towards turning around all schools and institutions, irrespective of ownership for functional and qualitative knowledge. He charged the students to aspire to be good and worthy ambassadors by working hard to equip themselves properly to attain full potential in life, assuring that the government would continue to as-

•From left: Public Relations Officer, Awg Committee, Ichie Chidozie Okeke and You Senatorial seat in Enugu

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

deficiency

ight) and the DVC, Academics of UNIZIK to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Adminis-

sist the universities to tackle their various challenges. Speaking at St Paul’s University and Madonna University at Awka and Okija respectively, the governor said the intervention was necessary because those institutions were in Anambra State and they train children from the state. At both universities, Governor Peter Obi presented cheques of N100 million each to both of them. He also gave one bus and one security vehicle each to them. At St Paul’s University, the Archbishop, Province on the Niger and Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Most Reverend Christian Efobi while thanking the governor for the gesture, assured that the church would continue to pray for his administration to complete its vision for the state. The Awka Anglican Bishop, Dr Alex Ibezim, expressed gratitude that Governor Obi is investing in human infrastructure rather than in frivolities. Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Gaius Igboeli who presented the governor with a plaque, disclosed that the institution was grappling with challenges of accreditation.He thanked him for his intervention. At Madonna University, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chuks Ezedum, who thanked the governor for his numerous achievements that marked him out from other governors, commended him

The Acting Vice Chancellor of Tansian University, Prof. Pantaleon Umechukwu, promised that the money would be judiciously used for the progress of the students for the visit and sought the reconstruction of the access road to the university. At Tansian University, Most Rev Prof (Msgn) John Bosco Akam while receiving the cheque and key to the vehicles, thanked God for the gift from Governor Obi to the state and said it was marvelous that for the first time since the state was created God gave Anambra State a leader that understood that governance must be according to the dictates of God and for the benefit of all. Disagreeing with the idea of retiring from politics by the governor, he prayed to God to continue to give him the strength to serve Nigeria in higher capacity. The governor also performed the foundation laying ceremony of the St Peter Hostel the school is building . The Acting Vice Chancellor of Tansian University, Rev, Fr. Prof. Pantaleon Umechukwu assured that the money would be judiciously used for the progress of the students. Governor Obi also visited Tansi International College, Okpuno, where he thanked the teachers for the great job they are doing. He promised them computer machines, money to upgrade their library, sick bay and other facilities.

wgu People’s Assembly (APA), Mr Okolo Onyekachi, Chairman, Enlightenment outh Leader, Mr Jude Okechukwu, at a news conference on zoning of Enugu West

Ugochukwu Emezue, former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, has worked in the print and electronic media. In this interview with our Aba Correspondent, SUNNY NWANKWO, he shares his experience as a political appointee, how he rose from Special Adviser to CPS, achievements of the governor and other sundry issues that affect Abia and the country at large. Excerpts:

‘Procedures are necessary for good result’ B

EFORE your appointment as the Chief Press Secretary what was your media background? I served in Nigerian Television Authority(NTA) Ibadan where I had an award and as a corps member after my NYSC programme, I was asked to stay for some time. After sometime, I went to Third Eye newspapers in the same Ibadan and that was in 1994, to work there. My quest for higher things also took me to Lagos to work for Diet newspapers which is Daily Independent newspaper of today. But to be honest and fair, I am more or less an electronic man or journalist. Because that is what I love doing, talking on television, radio. I have to go back to Ibadan to work with Galaxy Television as one of the pioneer member of staff. I served there as a sport journalist and political editor. From there I moved on to DBN Television Lagos where I worked as an assistant manager news, became deputy manager news and at some point I was sent to Abuja to go and head the bureau in Abuja and later I was brought back to Lagos as manger news. I also went to SilverBird Television where I worked as news editor, then became the manager news. Again I went to Television Continental (TVC) where I was the manager current affairs. Those periods I had my programmes in SliverBird, I had a programme I called ‘head-to-head’, it was a very hot programme. At TVC, it was fireworks and from there, I came to Abia in 2009 to be the special adviser to the governor on electronic media. From there I became the Chief Press Secretary. Can you shed light on your experiences as the former CPS to Abia Governor? Well, let me say first of all that I have to thank the governor, Chief T .A Orji, his wife, Lady Odochi Mercy Orji and of course my most senior brother, Chief Chinedum Orji for the opportunity given me to serve in Governor Orji’s administration, my state and my own little community. I must be thankful and grateful because without such opportunity, I don’t think I will be who and where I am today. I served a governor who is caring, and nice to see each and every one of us as members of his family. As you make mistakes he corrects you in love and make sure that you are on track. So, for me, you can never buy such experience. It has given me a rare opportunity and has made me strong. Professionally as a journalist, it has also exposed my idea of being outside and inside government and so now that I am on my own as a

•Emezue

professional, I begin to appreciate the two worlds. As a professional who has gone in, I have also been able to see how things work. You don’t just come into government and say you want to do something, there must be some procedures and of course, those procedures are things that will guide you so that you don’t make mistakes, when you come out to do something. You do it very, very well. So, for me, I have had two sides of experience now and I am very well positioned after making judicious use of the opportunity that the governor gave me to serve the state in his administration. I have been relaxing doing things now with ease unlike when I was the CPS battling with official engagements and other office pressures. That time too, there may be some piece that I may also want to do, but did not have enough time to put the piece and make it look as what it ought to be, but now have I the opportunity to do so. How would you describe your experience in the media within these years before your appointment as the CPS came?

It was rewarding and challenging. It also prepared me for what I was able to do in office as Abia State CPS. It was indeed rewarding, because it opened my eyes to journalism. I am one person that has worked with Governor T.A Orji as his media aide who has an experience as a newspaper, TV and radio person. So, I have that advantage. Like I said, I started my journalism in Ibadan, worked in Lagos and of course in Abuja. So, it tells you that I have a lot of experience with me. Those were some of the things that really prepared me and it also helped me while I was on the job; at least the contacts and colleagues I worked with assisted me a lot. There is no media house that I don’t have a friend either as my boss or as a junior staff that worked under me. So that is the contact and that is exactly what you also need in the kind of job I did to also project the image of my principal. You came in as a special assistant to the governor on electronic media and finally became the chief press secretary. What difference do

As a professional who has gone in, I have also been able to see how things work. You don’t just come into government and say you want to do something, there must be some procedures and of course, those procedures are things that will guide you so that you don’t make mistakes

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

HE suspected killers of late Igwe Moses Ugwu, the traditional ruler of Umuode in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, have been arrested. The gang leader was arrested last week by the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police after a 16-month manhunt.The monarch was assassinated on October 9, 2012 in front of his shop at Akpuoga Nike. The cheery news of the arrest came in police bulletin signed by the spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu. It states: “The operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (S.A.R.S) have arrested one Ejike Mba of Oruku in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State over his involvement in the alleged killing of Umuode monarch late His Royal Highness Moses Ugwu Ode 1 of Umuode. “Suspect alongside with others at large but now on the wanted list of the operatives had on 9/10/12 at Akpuoga Nike allegedly murdered the monarch in his provision store at about 7.40pm and took to their heels. “Suspect who is about 26 years of age is a kingpin of the alleged murder of the monarch. He has been at large with his gang after the commission of the alleged murder and following a manhunt for him and his gang by the eagleeyed operatives of the special AntiRobbery Squad(S.A.R.S) Enugu, “It was further gathered that information emerged about where he attended a function and allegedly concealed his presence in Oruku also in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State and the operatives acting swiftly, nabbed him. He is now helping the operatives in their investigations and will be charged to court after police investigations just as manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang are intensified.” The felled monarch’s community, Umuode and the suspect’s community, Oruku have been locked in a protracted tussle over land. The two communities in Nkanu East Local Government Areas of Enugu State have been involved in skirmishes that have refused to abate. A visit to the communities reveales sad memories of communal war fought with bitterness. Although there was calm in the communities as at the time of this report, the police and the army were seen at strategic points striving to ensure that miscreants did not cause more havoc in the areas. The former Minister of Power and world renowned scientist, Professor Barth Nnaji hails from the area specifically, Umuode. In September 1995, Nnaji addressed a special session of the United Nations in New York . His topic bothered on Robotic Engineering and it is on record that he is the first black man to address such a special summit. Nnaji kept the audience spell bound. He was cheered by all and sundry in attendance and accolades poured in from different parts of the world. But back home in his native home of Oruku/Umuode, some of his kindred in recognition of his achievements, decided to honour him by organising a rousing reception for him. But the reception turned out to be a sad experience for Nnaji. It was disrupted by a section of the community. They saw it as an opportunity to unleash vendetta on opponents associated with the root cause of the problem ravaging the communities. That reception, till this day never took place. Both communities were under one traditional ruler and as one town before the military administration in 1995 divided them into two autonomous communities.The division followed disagreement on

Death of undergraduates: Family alleges foul play

AMILIES of Mr. Joseph O. Azih and Theophilus Nwakanma of 9B and 14 Ahunanya Street, Umungasi, Aba, Abia State, have petitioned Governor Theodore Orji over the fate of their missing children, Martin Azih and Temple Nwakanma. In a petition signed by their lawyer, David Ifedilinwoke Esq and addressed to Governor Orji, Martin and Temple who are undergraduates of the Imo State University and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede were arrested on Friday August 30, 2013 at Redeemed Street, World Bank Housing Estate, Abayi, Aba by members of the Scorpion Squad of the Abia State Vigilante Services. The families lamented that since the said arrest; nobody has seen or heard from the two undergraduates. According to the petition, the parents of the duo lodged a report at the World Bank Police station and have searched other security formations across the state without success. “They, thereafter ,went to the said Vigilante Group (Bakassi) Scorpion Squad at Ekeakpara where the Head of the unit, Ugochukwu Amaugo, admitted that they actually arrested them at the World Bank Estate close to World Bank Police station but claimed they handed the boys over to men of the Nigerian Army at Umuahia. “Our clients immediately hurried to the Nigerian Army unit stationed at the Tower, Umuahia where the Vigilante men claimed they took the

••Building torched during the communal clash

Suspected killers of monarch arrested From Chris Oji, Enugu

which community produces the traditional ruler after the death of the one who ruled from 1976 to 1983. The Umuode clan insisted that it was their turn based on the rotation clause in the communities constitution. The Umuchiani clan produced the first Igwe and also insisted that it will retain the position. The third clan Onogowo seemed to be neutral on the issue and the hostilities raged between Umuode and Umuchiani. Umuode clan was forced out of the union. Since then, the communities have been at loggerheads over their border demarcation.The Umuode on their own acquired an expansion of land from a neighbouring community of Akpugo at N30million. But the clashes that followed since their resettlement have resulted in loss of lives and property. As a result, the Umuode people fled their new homeland in 1999. The Umuode people have been in and out of their community. They have been refugees several times. They have appealed to the government to come to their aid to enable them return to their homes permanently. In their words, “we are tired of all these problems, we cannot continue to suffer like this in our father’s land”. The people of Umuode pleaded for government’s assistance to bring the feud to an end. On their own part, the people of Oruku are pointing accusing fingers at the Umuode clan for being the mastermind of the crisis. They condemned the activities of “unscrupulous elements who had worsened the matter through their evil

His blood will not be in vain. It is going to bring positive things to Umuode people. May his death be a lesson to us. He died for us to get peace plans and actions instead of seeking ways of ensuring peace.” In their words, “We know those who are solidly behind this problem and their secret plans. All we want now is peace because violence could hardly pave way for progress. We have equally endured a lot from Umuode” The people of Oruku lamented that the crisis had claimed a lot of lives and drastically reduced their population, urging the government to help bring the conflict to an end so that peace could prevail in the area. The administration of Governor Sullivan Chime waded into the crisis. The governor visited the warring communities. And with that visit, the people heaved a sigh of relief. They saw the visit as commencement of government peace process. Chime during the visit admonished that both communities should be ready to make sacrifice to enhance the resolution of the crisis. The governor maintained that the government would leave no stone unturned in bringing to an end the communal clashes that have lingered for so many years.

He pledged that no amount of blackmail would thwart his effort at ensuring a lasting peace and uniting both communities. In his words, “Government on its own part would help to resolve the crisis and resettle both communities but one thing is that you people should be ready to make sacrifices.” Governor Chime promised to beef up security there, rehabilitate all the roads linking their neighbouring towns and resettle them. But the promise ended with the visit. The climax of the crisis was the killing of the traditional ruler of Umuode. The Oruku people washed their hands off denying any involvement in his death. But the recent arrest of Ejike Mbah of Oruku may open the pandora box against them. During the burial of the monarch on December 14, 2012, the troubled community of Umuode came to life. Umuode kingdom wore a complete new look in sharp contrast to the look of a town at war with its neigbhour. The major road linking the community with its neighbours was graded; pathways and walk-

ways were carefully paved to ensure free movement of visitors. The only church in the community, the Catholic church, could not contain the large crowd that attended the funeral mass. The mass was said at a cleared expanse of land just 100 metres from the church. And that land where the funeral mass took place would remain the resting place of the fallen Igwe and others to come behind him. He was buried there immediately after the mass. The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga, conducted the funeral mass and assisted by a battery of other priests. The bishop emeritus of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Okonkwo Gbuji was also in attendance. In his homily, Bishop Onaga, short of cursing the killers of Igwe Ugwu, declared that no matter the amount of money made by the assassins, it will never be useful for them. He warned those that are paid to kill and those that hire people to kill that God’s judgment was near. “Do not think it is far. His judgment is just by the corner,” the bishop sermonised. Bishop Onaga gave hope that all the wasted blood as the Umuode and Oruku crises lasted, including that of Igwe Ugwu would not be in vain. He recalled that Igwe Ugwu was before his death mediating in another crisis between two communities. Said the bishop: “His blood will not be in vain. It is going to bring positive things to Umuode people. May his death be a lesson to us. He died for us to get peace.” While hoping that one day God

•Orji From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

boys to but the soldiers denied ever seeing them. The parents have also visited the Vigilante Headquarters in Umuahia, but the boys were not seen,” the petition read in part. The petition further recalled that the Area Command of the Nigerian Police at Aba invited the men of the Vigilante Group on September 9, 2013 where they admitted arresting the two undergraduates but could not explain their whereabouts. Sources close to the families hinted that unscrupulous persons have used the incident to dupe them of substantial amounts of money under the guise of helping to locate the whereabouts of the undergraduates and appealed to Governor Orji to use his good office to ensure that the missing children are returned to their parents. Efforts to reach army and police authorities failed as they could not be reached for comments as at the time of this report.

Food manufacturers warned against improper storage

•Orhii

T •The late Ugwu

The governor maintained that the government would leave no stone unturned in bringing to an end the communal clashes that have lingered for so many years would resolve the crisis between Umuode and Oruku and the two brother communities eat on the same table, the bishop charged the royal fathers of Nkanuland to rise up and live up to their responsibility and ensure that everlasting peace returns to the warring communities.

•Ejike Mba

HE National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned food manufacturers and vendors against improper storage and packaging, saying it is detrimental to health. The Director General of agency, Dr Paul Orhii, gave the warning in Enugu on Tuesday at a two-day workshop on national food safety organised for food manufacturers in the South East. Orhii, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the agency, Dr Sampson Adebayo, said that improper food storage and packaging negated the mandate of the agency. The DG said that observing scientific and systematic approach as well as the control of hazards during food manufacturing, processing and storage would improve food safety. He said that any operator found wanting would be punished according to the provisions of the law. The director general expressed optimism that the workshop would expose participants to safe practices in primary food production and storage, food labelling and other guides on exportation of food products. “In view of the serious and negative public health effect and the economic impact of unsafe food which is more in sub-Sahara Africa, NAFDAC in fulfilling its mandate must play a role in assuring food safety. “One of such role is educating rel-

evant stakeholders, especially primary producers, small and medium food processors, state and local government food inspectors and others,’’ he said. In a lecture, the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in the agency, Mrs Ogochukwu Mainasara, urged manufacturers to maintain the World Health Organisation (WHO) keys to safer food. She listed the keys to include clean hands, safe raw materials, safe food temperature and cooking thoroughly. Mainasara advised food vendors to always in-print manufacture and expiry dates on their products to ensure effective security. Some of the participants commended NAFDAC for the workshop, saying that it would help them to maintain clean environment during food production. Mr Michael Eze of Sunchi Integrated Farms Ltd, Enugu, said the workshop had also enlightened them on food storage temperature. “We have learnt how to handle food, the safety and the precautions. We will apply this in our poultry, on how we handle our chicks and finished products better,’’ he said. A producer of local gin in Ebonyi, Mrs Josephine Ogenyi, called on the government to look into cases of overlapping responsibilities between NAFDAC, Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). Ogenyi expressed dismay over the development, adding that payments and registrations with these agencies were hindering progress in the business. “We want the government to help us look into the matter of clash in responsibilities of food regulatory agencies,’’ she said. Participants from Chitis Bakery in Enugu and Banquet Table Water in Ebonyi called for more workshops to improve hygiene in food production, processing and storage.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘Procedures are necessary for good result’ •Continued from page 35

you think you brought new to these offices? When I assumed office, I discovered that a lot of people believed so much in rumours. You go to Isi gate, you hear that the governor has done this or that and before you know it, the thing has spread like wild fire and I began to ask myself, does it mean that information does not flow to the people? Because as an information manager, you must be proactive to let people know what the governor is doing so as to kill those kinds of information and that what exactly how I came in. I started by going on radio, people would call me; you talk about what the governor is doing. You begin to tell people this is exactly who the governor is and what he is doing, and you also get feedback. This is because when you work with people, you also feel their pulse. So, I think that to some extent,that gave us an edge. You know when you are proactive, you give people information about what the government is doing, and you are invariably killing lies and fabrications. Because they can only fabricate when they don’t get to know what his Excellency is doing. You know that basically, information must reach the people, therefore in my own little way, I put up some bill boards to showcase what the governor is doing in the state because, it is not just saying it, but putting it in pictures so that people can also see it. The average man on the street sees Chief Press Secretaries as propagandists who were employed to lie for their principals. So, in a situation in Abia State judging from the achievements of the governor in terms of projects, how do you look at the situation? He laughs………… Like I said, I am a reporter; I report what the governor has done or is doing. So, I tell people convincingly about the projects, programmes and activities of the government. If I come out on TV or radio to say that the governor is building Government House. I am not telling you that the governor has completed building. What I am telling you is that the building is in the process. This is not propaganda, if you doubt, you come and see the stage of the project. So, there is this believability that you want to let people know what the government is doing. The ASEPA building, New Secretariat, BCA Ultra Modern Complex, Diagnostic Centers in Umuahia and Aba, the chest clinic, New Government House, Adelebu and Isieke Housing Estates, roads in Aba and Umuahia to mention but a few are some of the projects that the governor has built. They are there for everyone to see and you will agree with me that, there is nothing like propaganda in them. I also do not wait for event to come on me. Immediately the governor finish doing something now, I made sure that it is disseminated. By so doing, you don’t even know that you are making impact on people. So I make it a point of duty to go on these platforms (radio, TV, Newspapers) to relate with people

when you are rating Chief T.A Orji, ask yourself, how much do we even get as a state for the governor to be doing this project? In Aba, the governor has done roads; he has helped in building overhead bridge at Abia Polytechnic. The governor has also helped in ensuring that Geometrics power station is coming into fruition and that is exactly what people want, electricity. The governor in no distant time will provide a more comfortable space for the auto motor dealers to do their business

•Emezue

and to let them know what the government is doing. It in turn gives me the opportunity to feel their pulse. That is why I am there. To publicise the activities of government, let people know that the governor is working. It is not propaganda, like people will always

want to believe that we tell lies. I don’t believe in telling lies and that is why when my colleagues write from the point of no information, what I usually do is to call them and say, what you have written is not true, if you can permit me, this is the true position of things and if I see that you are not convinced, I can also throw an invitation and say, oya, come and the good thing about the governor is that each time you invite journalists to come, he is open to talk to them without even asking what are the questions? The governor I know and support at every point in time is such a person that is media friendly. Before your exit as the chief press secretary, rumours rounds had it that it was as a result of the fracas you had with the governor that led to your ousting. Would you like to clear such insinuations? Like I said, I came in here in 2009 and at every point in time; the governor will do a cabinet reshuffle. I wasn’t the first chief press secretary. At least, I have met one or two people here before I became the chief press secretary. Government is something that at

every point in time, the governor had to dissolve his cabinet to bring in new people to inject fresh ideas and fresh blood into the system and during those periods, was I not in government? These are the questions that you have to ask yourself. Does it mean that the people who had gone before me quarreled with the governor? The answer is no because that is how government operates. At every point in time, fresh ideas, input, people and reinvigorate government and now it is our own turn. I am not the only one that has been dissolved. All the special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants have been dissolved. So, you expect people to say a lot of things at least to suit them. It is normal. I see it as normal. In fact, there is nothing that people will not say. But the good thing is that I am sitting here to tell you that I am committed to the cause of Chief T. A. Orji. I am sure that it tells you that look, it goes beyond office and I mean it with all sincerity. When it was the governor’s birthday, even after my position as the chief press secretary, I authored a piece. He is my boss

Chime pledges more women representation

•Chime

OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has assured women of more representation in elective and appointive positions in the state. Chime made the promise in Enugu when the South East Zonal Coordinator of Women for Change and Development Initiative, Mrs Gloria Chukwukere, called on him. He pledged the commitment of his administration to the success of the programmes and projects of the organisation in the state. Chime, who was represented by

the Chief of Staff, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo, praised the initiator of the programme and First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, for her good works. “We are proud of the unequalled achievements of the First Lady in the welfare and promotion of the living standard of women in the country,’’ he said. The governor also commended coordinators of the initiative at the local, state and zonal levels for their good works in translating the programmes and activities of the body to the grassroots. Earlier, Chukwukere described Enugu as the most gender-friendly state in the zone. She praised Chime for his developmental projects and programmes in the state, saying they would improve the

lives of the women in the state. The coordinator noted that Enugu had the highest number of women at the decisionmaking level in the zone. Chukwukere lauded the introduction of free maternal and child healthcare programme in all government health institutions in the state. She said the group was in the state to sensitise women on its activities with a view to empowering them economically and politically. The coordinator explained that the First Lady, who is the founder and initiator of the programme, had the interest of Nigerian women at heart. Chukwukere said the body was non-political, non-religious and non-patrician, adding that it was meant to protect the interest of women in the country.

forever and ever, he brought me and made me what I am today and I am so grateful to him and I am committed to him. I am not regretting being the chief press secretary because I have a wonderful relationship with Governor T.A. Orji. He is my mentor and will continue to be. And that is why we are praying for him to go higher. That’s our prayers. I am a professional, you are a professional too. Tomorrow you might the next person to be the spokesman of the governor, you are not going to be there forever, but the good thing is that you are a professional. I have contributed my own quota to the growth and development of the state and there is no way you cannot cherish that. The Ugochukwu Emezue of 2008 is not the Ugochukwu Emezue of today whether you like it or not and all glory goes to God and Governor T.A. Orji. I could be very popular when I was in Lagos and other places that I have been, but if you are a prophet outside and you are not recognised at home, that is the worst thing that can happen to you. But today, I am now at home and I have made my own impact and my people now appreciate me courtesy of the fact that Chief T.A Orji gave me the opportunity to serve. So for me, it’s a life time experience and I am grateful. The situation in Aba has brought so many attacks and propaganda on the government. By your own assessment, can you say that the governor has achieved what he had set out to do in Aba? Definitely the governor has done well in Aba and I keep telling people that when you are rating Chief T.A Orji, ask yourself, how much do we even get as a state for the governor to be doing this project? In Aba, the governor has done roads; he has helped in building overhead bridge at Abia Polytechnic. The governor has also helped in ensuring that Geometrics power station is coming into fruition and that is exactly what people want, electricity. The governor in no distant time will provide a more comfortable space for the auto motor dealers to do their business. The Osisioma Motor Park has being relocated. Security in Aba has been taken care of. so, I don’t know other yard stick that people want to use to measure the governor. Look at secondary schools that have been renovated both in Aba North and Aba south; are they not something that we should be happy for? And of course you ask yourself what the governor’s predecessors did while they were there.

Police arrest man for killing girl friend

HE police in Anambra have confirmed the arrest of a 27-year-old man suspected to have beaten his girl-friend to death in Onitsha. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, told reporters that the suspect was arrested while attempting to run away after the incident. “A full scale investigation has commenced on the matter to unravel what really happened,’’ Chukwuemeka said. A resident of No. 46 Old Market Road, where the incident happened, told journalists on condition of anonymity that the suspect was in the habit of beating his girl friend even though the girl refused to let go of the relationship. “It happened last night when we started hearing the usual beating and cry from their corner. “At a time, it appeared that he noticed that his lover was no longer responding, so, with the help of his mother and some neigbours, they rushed her to a hospital where she was confirmed dead,’’ the witness said. The incident reportedly happened around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Following the development, some residents of the compound left their homes for fear of arrest.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Aba residents decry deplorable state of roads

•Imo State Governor Roachas Okorocha (middle) with Deputy Governor Uche Madumere (left) and former Chief of General Staff Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe...during Ukiwe’s visit to the Government House in Owerri.

Poll predicts purchase of more goods, services N IGERIA’S leading public opinion polling and research organisation, NOIPolls Ltd, has said that consumers in the country are positive about their personal state and the stability of the nation’s economy. The NOIPolls made the observation in its monthly polling for consumer confidence index (CCI) for January which was released on Tuesday. The poll said the optimism was expected to result in the purchase of more goods and services and ultimately stimulate economic growth. According to the poll, the score for January was 83.9 points and the CCI comprises two independent variables, the Present Situation Index (PSI) and Expectation Index (EI). The NOIPolls said the CCI provided consumer assessments of the economic situation as well as the intentions and expectations of Nigerians for the future. It noted that the PSI of 64.7 showed that many Nigerians were satisfied with their present personal and economic situation. The poll also showed that the EI score of 96.9 revealed that consumers were highly optimistic about the future. NOIPolls said that a total of randomly selected 4,000 adult Nigerians were polled monthly through telephone interviews. “Since this is our first reading, we clearly cannot identify trends. Once we have a track record of several months, we will be able to draw some conclusions on the patterns observed’’ it said. Meanwhile, the organisation has introduced two new indices for its polling. A statement from its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director, Ms Oge Modie

The NOIPolls said the CCI provided consumer assessments of the economic situation as well as the intentions and expectations of Nigerians for the future gave the names of the indices as the Personal Well-Being Index (PWBI) and the Eagle 30 Business Confidence Index (EBCI). According to Modie, the NOIPolls PWBI measures factors impacting on the everyday lives of Nigerians and producing a

complete view of the individual’s personal well-being. She added that the Eagle 30 Business Confidence Index measured business leaders’ perceptions and expectations about the Nigerian business environment using the top 30 companies in the

country. On the benefits of the indices, Modie said the different indices could be used as key indicators to measure economic growth, consumer behaviour, the prevailing business environment and impact of policies on the population. “The introduction of our portfolio of indices encourages enabling stakeholders in all major sectors of the Nigerian economy and across the globe to make informed decisions. “They also serve as key pointers to would-be investors in the Nigerian economy to enable strategic entry into the country,’’ she said. The CEO said it would also assist journalists, the academia and other experts in their reports and research.

Lawmaker seeks closure of illegal schools

HE Chairman of the Anambra House of Assembly Committee on Education, Mrs Rita Maduagwu (APGA-Nnewi South II) has said that illegal and sub-standard schools in state would be closed down. Maduagwu told journalists in Awka that allowing such schools to exist would continue to affect the quality and standard of teaching and learning in the state. “We cannot fold our hands and watch things go the wrong way. Education is the best legacy one can give to her loved ones and it must be a quality one for a better future. “If we pretend about this issue, we will be killing this generation and generations to come; so we must say no to any substandard school in this state, that is why we are lawmakers,” she said. The legislator noted that activities of illegal schools had encouraged ‘miracle centres and examination malpractice’. Maduagwu said many nursery, primary and secondary schools as well as examination preparatory centres in the state were operating without permission or approval from the ministry of education. She said that such operations had encouraged poor reading culture among the students because they operated below standard and the students rush into such

schools to pass their examinations with ease. The lawmaker said that the illegal schools operated in substandard structures, facilities, were over-populated and employed unqualified teachers to maximise profit while their products were half-baked. “Closing the schools will enhance the quality and standard of education in the state while effective monitoring by the ministry will improve on the standard of education. “The assembly has adopted a motion to give this directive a legal backing,’’ the lawmaker said.

If we pretend about this issue, we will be killing this generation and generations to come; so we must say no to any substandard school in this state, that is why we are lawmakers. Activities of illegal schools had encouraged ‘miracle centres and examination malpractice’

OME residents of the commercial city of Aba in Abia State have decried the deplorable condition of federal and state roads in the city. The residents told journalists in an interview on that if nothing was done before the commencement of the rainy season, Aba would be become “ghetto”. Mr Chima Eze, a resident of Port Harcourt Road, said that it was bad for the government to have allowed the road to deteriorate to the point of endangering the lives of the people. ”It is quite unbelievable that government could leave the road and others in the city in such dilapidated condition, in spite of various forms of taxes and levies imposed on the people. “As the name implies, this is the only road that leads to Port Harcourt from Aba metropolis; but now, you cannot go to Port Harcourt or come in to Aba from Rivers State using that road. “The roads are bad and I wonder why Aba residents have been left to suffer like this,’’ he said. Another resident, Mr Okoye Umeh, who lives along Ikot Ekpene Road, said the city should be declared a disaster area and that the Federal Government should take over the rehabilitation of roads in Aba, to give the people a new lease of live. “As things stand now, it is impossible to go to Akwa Ibom and Cross River states through Ikot Ekpene Road in Aba because of its deplorable state. “This is the road used by traders from Akwa Ibom, Cross River and even Cameroon to come to Aba to buy things. “But now, they no longer come because the road is in such a terrible condition and this is adversely affecting those of us that are traders.” He called on the government to come to their aid, noting that if the rains resumed with the roads in such state, businesses in Aba would die. Mr Okon Edet, a trader who comes from Eket to buy things in Aba, said that he had reduced his business visits to Aba due to the hardship he experienced on the roads. ”Aba roads are very bad and I pity the residents. What I see in Abia is condemnable. “The roads are deplorable and I hope that God will give Abia people a governor who will work for them like Akpabio is working for us, otherwise they will suffer terribly,” he said. The worst roads include Aba/ Ikot Ekpene and Port Harcourt, Ogbor Hill, Ngwa/Ohanku, Obohia roads and the Over Rail areas.

It is quite unbelievable that government could leave the road and others in the city in such dilapidated condition, in spite of various forms of taxes and levies imposed on the people

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Kudos, knocks for road contracts

NAMBRA State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has followed the footsteps of former Governor, Sen Chris Ngige in making sure that the state has the best network of roads in the entire country. Before now, some people were of the opinion that Obi was adamant on the dilapidated roads both in the capital city of Awka and elsewhere in the state. In the last lap of his administration in what he has tagged as the last push, Obi has awarded more road contracts as if he is just beginning afresh. Most of those road contracts cut across all the 177 communities in Anambra including the EnuguOnitsha Federal expressway. All the roads combined would cost the state government over 30 billion naira, while the state is spending close to seven billion naira on the federal road. But some of those roads are not being done without any controversy as some of them had either been neglected or abandoned for the incoming administration to complete. In the capital city of Awka , one of such roads is the Ezeudu-Akaraogholi road that traversed Arthur-Eze Avenue down to the express road close to Christ the King Hospital . It has been close to eight months since the joy of the people was cut short because of the inability of the government to continue work on it. There are others across the state that are in the same state, yet more contracts are still being awarded almost on daily basis by the out-going Obi administration. However, the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike told The Nation in Awka that no road has been either neglected or abandoned by the administration. Uzodike himself had been accused of being the de-facto Governor by some of his colleagues, alleging that he had cornered about five roads to his native Awka-Etite alone, leaving other communities with either one or nothing. But in his reaction, Uzodike explained how he got a “text message” on his phone where he was accused of employing all his people in the state- owned Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS). According to him, “I have not employed any single person in that establishment and if anybody finds out that what I have said is a lie, I will resign this position, I have never employed any single person “On the road contracts, the only road this government is doing for my people is the Awka-Etiti – Nnewi which is the only inter link which this area is known for “Also, in my local government, the other one is Umuoji, forget the way people talk, you do not pay attention to gossips, all I know is that Obi does not favour any person or area in distribution of amenities in this state” “The only thing that makes people believe that I have cornered all the roads in my area is that we have about 12 tarred roads in Awka-etiti done through self help projects by our illustrous sons “If not that those people who constructed those roads are now old, you will be seeing more, we need more roads in this area, and that is where the state government comes in and really, this Obi administration has done well for the people of the state “Awka-etiti was known for how many people did you train or make, there was competition in this community, people like Chief IKB Igboanugo, Jeo-Best, Ebele Ezeanya, Patrick Ezeli, Inter-Bau among others, all built roads in this area “Not only those influential persons in the area, there were age grade groups that did roads in the commu-

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has began massive road construction and rehabilitation in the last lap of his government. The projects have received kudos and knocks from the people.

•Awka-Etiti road under construction

•Ezeudo Road, Awka abandoned From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

nity, may be that was the reason that influenced the speculation that Obi has done many roads for Joe-martins in the community “People know how to bring my name into controversy and that is what they are doing on the road issue “I ruled Awka-etiti for six years as the President General PG of the town and I had to quit for peace to reign in the area which was done in 1991 under the Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife administration” “My decision to resign my position is the fruit of the peace that has existed in the community till date and also, I ran Rangers for 17 years and when I backed out on July19, 1984 till date, the team has not won any laurel “People calling me names has been part of me, from 1980 till date, I’m still the National President of Uthman Dan Fodio Alumni (Sokoto) which they have refused to take from me” Uzodike said. He said that his only failure in life would be to leave office without persuading Governor Obi to pay gratuity to the ABS and National Light Staff

•Uzodike

It has been close to eight months since the joy of the people was cut short because of the inability of the government to continue work on it. There are others across the state that are in the same state, yet more contracts are still being awarded almost on daily basis by the government (government-owned establishments) pensions. “We want to make them feel they are part of government, but I do not blame Obi because his predecessors abandoned the offices” History, according to Uzodike,

would have it that no former Commissioner for Information , Culture and Tourism surpassed his achievements in the state. “Let me tell you, those people talking about awarding more contracts in the twilight of his administration

and asking which one will he leave for Chief Willie Obiano. Is it not the same government of the All Progressives Grand Alliance? “This is APGA government, we are talking of continuity, Obi and Obiano are the same, people who are nursing the impression that Obi will not leave money for Obiano are making a big mistake “There are lots of money for the contracts and payment of workers engaged by the state. Moreover, Governor Obi will leave good money for the incoming administration” Uzodike said.

Imo NDDC commissioner warns against project duplication

HE Imo State Commissioner in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Kyrian Uchegbu, has warned against the waste of resources through project duplication. The warning was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Commission, Mr Tony Omah, and released in Owerri on Tuesday. It noted that avoiding such waste would fast track the achievement of sustainable development in the Niger Delta area.

According to the statement, Imo residents should take advantage of some of the programmes of the commission to improve on their living standards. It listed such programmes to include women and youth empowerment and the free healthcare delivery services. The statement warned contractors handling NDDC’s projects against doing substandard jobs as the commission was determined to encourage international best practices. It called on the youth in the Niger Delta to shun violence and refrain from negative activities to embrace peace for quicker development.

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE NUGA: Students reject ‘forceful eviction’

•Students at the Students’ Union building during the show

Freshers thrilled at Bonfire Night

HE University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) was agog last week when the Students’ Union Government (SUG) held its yearly bonfire night. The event, which was held at the main pavilion of the Students’ Union building, featured musical performances, acrobatic displays, comedy show and choreography. The union’s Vice-President, Oluwakemi Hassan, said the event was organised to welcome the new students, adding it would enliven

From Hameed Muritala and Toyin Ali

UNILORIN the freshmen who had been exposed to rigorous academic activities since they resumed. “This year’s edition of the show has really shown an improvement in the social life of students on this campus,” stated Nurudeen Adeyemi, a 300-Level student of Law. For Abdulwahab Katibi, a 300-

Level Agriculture student, the memory of event would continue to linger in the minds of students. Niniola Iyanda, 200-Level Law, said the organisers did well in making the event exciting. The Secretary of the union’s social committee, Titilope Anifowoshe, thanked the students for participating in the programme.

TUDENTS of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have condemned the order to vacate their hostels for participants in the Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA). Students expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, wondering why the management wanted them out after they had p `aid for accommodation in the school halls. In a release signed by the institution’s Registrar, Mr Dotun Awoyemi, students were directed to vacate their rooms before 12 noon last Friday to allow management to make adequate preparation for the contingents. Students, however, rejected the move, saying the ejection was forceful. Some of the students have taken to writing open letters pasted on strategic locations on the campus. Oluwajuwon Sanyaolu, chairman of Pace Setters Movement, a students’ group, in a release titled: “The NUGA: Contempt and sacrifices”, said his group was not opposed to the hosting NUGA, but said the risks the game posed to students, the safety of properties and the threat of cult invasion without an elected students’ union to counter this menace remained worrisome. The letter reads: “Students are going to be exposed to the danger of Nigerian roads for a game that is supposed to last just for ten days. This is not only illogical but also insensitive. Why can’t the NUGA be held at the end of the session? Why must students be exposed to the dangers of our roads? We are not opposed to the NUGA

From Sikiru Akinola, Kemi Busari and Temitayo Ayetoto

OAU games, but we are not happy with the fact that the university management has hastily concluded plans to force students to go back to their respective houses, shortly after returning to campus following the six month strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).” Oluwajowon said students were not supposed to be spectators during games, saying any attempt to evict the students could defeat the objective of the sport fiesta. Adejinmi Babafemi, a student, said the management could lodge the sportsmen at the university’s Conference Centre and hotels outside the campus with funds that had been earmarked for the event. Another student, who did not want to be named, said the absence of students union in the school would encourage management to take decisions without consulting the students. He urged the university management to restore the students’ union. The Chief Security Officer of the university, Mr Paul Ogidi, said that the decision was in the interest of the university. He added that plans were in top gear to ensure safety of the participants. “Men of the Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Man ‘O War, Red Cross and students’ volunteers would be on hand to ensure security. We are aware of the security situation in the country and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that everything works out as planned,” he stated. The games are expected to hold between February12 and 22.

Varsity matriculates 6,000 From Oby Okeke

UNIZIK HE Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has held an orientation for freshers. No fewer than 6,000 students took the oath of matriculation on the ceremony held at the Convocation Ground on the campus. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Boniface Egboka, who was represented by his deputy (Administration), Prof Greg Nwakoby, congratulated the new students for scaling the admission hurdle. He noted that the university was committed to providing the enabling environment for learning and research through rigorous academic programmes, staff-mix, facilities uplift and emphasis on character development. He urged the students to fulfill their obligations by paying their school fees as and when due to enable the university to maintain existing facilities and provide new ones. He warned the students against examination misconduct, certificate forgery and cultism, saying that it could warrant suspension or expulsion of such students. The event witnessed dramatic displays and awareness campaigns held by various religious bodies for the new students. Prof Egboka said the university had created as scholarship scheme for indigent students and those with disabilities. “A scholarship scheme for indigent or disabled students is in place. To qualify for the grant, a student must have a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.50 or above on a five point scale. We have also instituted a work-aid scheme to assist indigent students in their academic pursuit,” he stated.

Valentine’s Club donates to orphans election at Ekiti varsity

•Members of the club with the materials donated to the orphans

EMBERS of Junior Chamber International (JCI), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) chapter have donated to the Save Our Soul Children (SoS) Village at Owu-Ikija in Ogun State. The organisation provided scholarship to cover the children’s tuition from primary to tertiary levels. Gift items were also presented to the orphanage. When CAMPUSLIFE spoke to a mother of one of the children, she

From Sanya Boluwatife

OOU

was excited at the donation. The President, Adeneye Odunayo, said: “This exercise was a time to show love, care and hope to the less privileged in the society. The project was impactful due to the fact that we were able to contribute our quota

to the well-being and happiness of the kids. We also spent quality time with the children. As we say in this organization, service to humanity is the best work ever.” The orphanage, which was created in 1996, caters for no fewer than 120 vulnerable children.

Parliament ratifies union’s budget

HE legislative arm of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has passed the union budget tagged: Budget for continuity and consolidation. The approval came a year after the union was inaugurated. A member of the union said the delay was caused by the violence that took place in the school last year and the strike by the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The session was attended by the Deputy Dean, Students’ Affairs Di-

From Mubarak Ibrahim

UDUS vision, Dr Suleiman Kura, members of the executive and members of the National Association of Campus Journalists (NUCJ), UDUS chapter, among others. The sum of N5,134,550 was proposed by the executive last June but N5,017,970 was approved for nine executive members. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some proposed items of the Social Director were not approved as the union discovered that the prices were inflated to about N388,000. The Presi-

dent, Usman Maizare, also had a case with the house due to financial misconduct. The total amount approved for each officers included President, N216,000; Secretary General, N58,500; Assistant Secretary General, N26,900; Public Relations Officer, N390,100 and Director of Sport, N296,000. Others included Director of Sales and Business, N492,400; Director of Food, N38,300; Director of Welfare, N2,596,650 and Director of Socials, N495,000.

HILE their colleagues in other campuses will be marking Valentine’s Day tomorrow, students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) will be electing their leaders to occupy the vacant seats of the Students’ Union Government (SUG). The union had just been reinstated after three years of proscription, following a violent protest by students. Do students have choice not to participate in election? Emmanuel Olatoun, a 300-Level Plant Science student, said: “We have waited for three years for the union to be reinstated and we are happy that finally, we would elect our union leaders on Valentine’s Day.” The management announced the lifting of the ban on students’ union activities recently, releasing election plan to be midwived by lecturers and students. The development was greeted with mixed reactions by students. A student, Wale Ijigbami said: “It is good that management has released timetable for SUG polls. But do students have assurance about the management’s sincerity? Remember that the same thing happened in the past when an electoral committee was set up to conduct the election. And the elec-

From Olanrewaju Awe

EKSU tions were not held. Some of the contestants seem to me as stooges of the management.” Olakunle Olajide, a 400-Level Public Administration, said: “For the parttime students, we don’t think we want to be actively involved in the election because they have reserved the role or offices “assistants” and “Vice President 2” to us in the central executive cabinet and I think we deserve more than that . That’s why you would see that those positions zoned to part time students do not have candidates running for them.” Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Omirin from the Faculty of Education, urged them to have faith in the coming election as they were putting all logistics in place to make it a free and fair process. He added that the election was going to take a different shape unlike what obtained in the past. “The election, this time around,won’t be conducted at the popular Faculty of Arts as it has been done in the past. Rather, we would have polling units across all the faculties to ensure orderliness and fairness,” he stated. During the manifestoes at Liberty Estate Student Residential Area, one of the candidates, Babajide Kolawole, 400Level Economics, said: “We thank the management for reinstating the student union.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

•Some students rushing for a bus at Odogunyan bus stop

F there is a challenge the students of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) living in Odogunyan area of Ikorodu wish solved, it is for them to have buses conveying them to and from the school every day. The stress of going to the campus from their off-campus residence, a few kilometres from school, is taking toll on their health. Since the beginning of the semester, the students have been facing transport challenges, making them to be always late for lecture. Despite their proximity to the campus, students going for morning classes usually miss lectures because of their inability to get vehicles. Findings by CAMPUSLIFE revealed that many commercial bus drivers restricted students from boarding their buses because of the fare they pay. They feel that it is not profitable to carry students. The drivers, our correspondent learnt, prefer to transport passengers that are ready to pay the exact fare. It was gathered that students started paying lesser fare when the

•Campus bus...not available for students in Odogunyan area

Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) students living in Odogunyan, Ikorodu find going to school difficult because of transportation challenges. ADEKUNLE OLADUNNI (a student in School of Technology) writes.

Transportation blues at LASPOTECH Students’ Union Government (SUG) made a formal complaint to the Director of Students’ Affairs (DSA) on the high cost of transportation. The union later met with the commercial bus operators to reduce their fare only for students, an agreement that did not go down well with many drivers. Only a few are willing to carry students from Odogunyan to the school gate at a subsidised fare. When such buses convey passengers, there is always a rush from students, who struggle to jump in. Tricycle and

motorcycle are available for students but they could only carry a few students living in the area. The DSA took a step two weeks ago to address the situation. He had a discussion with the transporters, who registered their vehicles with the school; the drivers assured him that additional buses would be moved from Ikorodu garage to Odogunyan to solve the problem. Although, there has been an improvement, but the problem still persists at the time of this report. This prompted the students to

urge the authorities and the students’ union to come to their rescue. Some of them, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, praised the DSA for the move, but said the challenges were yet to disappear. A student in the School of Technology, Nimat Diaro, spoke said: “We appreciate the role the DSA played and the SUG, because the situation has improved. The campus shuttle buses carry students with a convenient fare. But some of the transporters are yet to comply. It is

only a few busus transporting us to school. I will use this medium to plead with other transporters to consider us as their children.” A student said: “It is not easy going to school from here. We are really suffering in other aspects, apart from transport challenges. There is also high cost of rent we battle and this is the reason why many students are yet to pay their school fees. We face difficulies in getting water and struggle to survive. The management should start a hostel project so that we can be free from all these problems.” The president of National Association of Science Technology Student (NASTES), John Moses urged the students to be patient, saying the management was doing its best to alleviate students’ suffering. “The management is doing its best to make all of us feel comfortable. Student should be patient; more buses will soon be available for them,” he said. On inadequate accommodation, Jamiu Awoyokun, an ND II student, urged the management to fast-track its hostel project to provide accommodation for students on campus.

As the nation grapples with security challenges, participants at the third residency training programme organised by Tolerance Academy, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), have promised to harness the people’s differences to promote peace. GILBERT ALASA (400-Level Foreign Languages) writes.

HE drumbeat of crisis resonates in every part of the country. Boko Haram detonates bombs and sheds innocent blood; many believe that peace is elusive. Against this backdrop, Tolerance Academy, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), held a seven-day seminar for youths and students to promote peace in the country. In the opinion of its Academy’s Curator, Ayodele Obajeun, Nigeria would overcome the challenges when the values of tolerance are entrenched in the consciousness of the people. The only reason why the country’s challenges seem insurmountable, he said, is because Nigerians did not appreciate their individual differences, which he said is crucial for any society that wants peace and harmony. Obajeun said: “What we are doing with Tolerance Academy is to bring together people of diverse geographical, religious and social backgrounds together and provide a suitable ground for them to get to appreciate individual uniqueness. What we have discovered through our annual trainings is that participants’ perception about certain ethnic groups changed. And each participant is expected to create a forum either in their school or neighbourhood to promote these values so that Nigeria can be safe for all of us.” Some of the participants, who were received train on peace resolution, urged the elite to show good example to the coming gen-

That peace may reign eration. To Richard Enake, a 100-Level student of International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), religious leaders must preach the message of love and mutual understanding as remedy to the current strife in Nigeria. He said: “I understand that all religions preach love. Besides, the African traditional society is one in which love and mutual sharing thrived. What is amazing, however, is that despite the fact that majority of our forebears were not as educated as many of us are today, they understood and held firmly to social values that are behind the progress of every great society.” Mabel Okpaefi, a graduating student of Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said the nation’s insecurity challenge was caused by a period of intolerance by the people. She said: “We have lost it at the home front. Tolerance is no longer considered as a virtue; it is now seen as cowardice. In the family circle, people are told to fight back at the slightest provocation. A society cannot attain its potentials in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and rancour.” A 100-Level student of Law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Oyindolapo Oluwadamilare, urged partici-

pants to create similar platforms and impact knowledge they garnered from the training on others. He said he intended to start a peace-building initiative after

the programme. “It is my utmost goal to bring together young people around the world with divergent socialcultural and religious affiliations

•Some of the participants after the training

and promote peace, love and mutual tolerance. With the turbulence that currently ravages the world, we need organisations to support peace-building initiatives to reclaim the harmony that God placed on the earth at creation. I believe it would go a long way to solving some of the pressing global problems,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Wanted: The Mandela of our time

By Philip Okorodudu

HE demise of Africa’s greatest personality and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela last December has, no doubt, created a void on the continent. Literally, the whole world cried when the news of Mandela’s death spread across the globe. Social media was agog, given the Internet users updates every minute. Encomiums trickled in from every part of the world. Renowned world leaders sent their condolences to the family and people of South Africa. In the United Kingdom and a few other countries, a minute of silence was observed in his honour prior to the commencement of his burial arrangement. It was reported that between the

time of his death and funeral on December 15, over one million tweets mentioned the word “Nelson Mandela”. In Nigeria, the eulogies were endless; virtually everyone had one good story to tell about the late Madiba. All forms of news media refreshed our memory about the icon, his achievements, how he suffered, how he was incarcerated, how he wrote his numerous letters while in prison to his comrades to continue in the struggle against apartheid, how he was eventually released after several international interventions and how he extended hand of fellowship to the last apartheid president F.W de Clark. This singular act won Mandela and de Clark a Nobel Peace Prize. At the national memorial organised in his honour by President Goodluck Jonathan in the Aso Rock Chapel after the end of the three-day mourning period declared by the Federal Government, the tributes kept coming in like a torrential rainfall. Perhaps carried away by the strong personality of the late Nelson Mandela, President Jonathan said politicians with their provocative and unwarranted utterances on national issues would not be great men like Mandela but “tiny men”. At the international memorial in South Africa where close to 100 world leaders were in attendance, it could be said that the roll call of world leaders present literally took most part

of the memorial programme. The dignitaries were so many that only a few world leaders were given the opportunity to address the large crowed with the president of the most populous Black Country in the world not being one of them. For those who spoke, like the president of the United States Barack Obama, the late Mandela was simply “a life unlike no other”. Various writers in all spheres of life have also written about this great son of Africa. As expected, the write ups were not different from what the world leaders said at Mandela’s funeral; virtually everyone extolled his virtues. Thus, there was hardly any fault found in the person of Madiba. If a single soul (even though I agree with those that are of the notion that Nelson Mandela was not just a single soul but an aggregate of the best of souls) could, at his death, provoked such an outpour of emotions globally, what stops us from emulating such a global figure who sought to emancipate his people? What stops us from becoming the Mandela of our time? What stops us from being remembered like Nelson Mandela? There might be no apartheid as it was in the time of Mandela but the current problems besetting humanity is probably worse than racial discrimina-

tion. The time has come for us to play our roles in the total emancipation of the human race on this continent. Our roles need not be as gigantic as that of Mandela, who bore the burden of his country on his shoulders. We must note that the late icon did not achieve greatness in a day. He started as a students’ union activist and was expelled in 1940 for participating in demonstrations on campus. His student unionism was not for cheap political and financial gain as is mostly the case today. In his days, the whites oppressed the blacks despite the black being the majority and that was what Mandela fought against and eventually won. The scenario presently is different from what was obtainable in Nelson Mandela’s days. Madiba was born at least three generations before this present generation and yet his legacies lives on. We must therefore borrow a leaf from this great icon so as to affect our own generation and indeed the generations yet unborn positively. We can also become the Madiba of our generation if we can change our perspective about our country and her chances at becoming a united country. For us to be the Madiba of our time, there are a few things which we must do to put us on the right track towards

becoming the hero and heroine of our generation. We must imbibe the spirit of selflessness as preached and practiced by Mandela. Madiba himself once noted: “As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself....Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, and humility.” In essence, we must not be desirous of what we will benefit from our country alone but contribute our quota towards the development our nation in all areas of human endeavour. Those in positions of authority must be exemplary in their leadership style. It should not be a case of do ‘what I say’ and not ‘what I do’. Mandela could not have been remembered in such magnitude if he had only spoken without putting his words into actions. Our leaders must demonstrate the rare spirit of forgiveness that the late Mandela exhibited. We must learn to tolerate one another and reconcile with those for whom we have grudges so as to move our society forward. This way, generations yet unborn will fill our impact on our society. Though, we might not be remembered the way Mandela is today, but posterity will definitely be on our side as having contributed our quota towards the betterment of our society and by extension, the human race. Philip, 500-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, DELSU

Impacts of Anambra returned schools

HE Anambra State Government’s move to return mission schools was initially greeted by uproar, with many questioning the rationale behind that move. Some people opposed the policy, calling Governor Peter Obi unprintable names. The antagonisits claimed, among others, that returning the schools would constitute financial burden on the churches. This reason seemed hold some water, as churches, from Adam, has never been financially buoyant. But, the media gave the people of the state a platform to propagate their arguments on whether to return the schools or not. At some point, some of the churches were cut gasping to stamp out the reasons for otherwise, having feared to have been expected to pay salaries of staff. The state government on its part did not, as expected, go to sleep. It explained why such action was paramount. At first, the government declared that it has lost focus of its expected mission to the schools.

ROWING up as a child, I was told different stories. Among these, my personal favourite was the tale of an upright citizen. The story revolved around a gallant Nigerian citizen, who was diligent and upright in a Utopian version of the Nigerian society. He did everything that was right to promote his country. Gullible as I was then, such a story seemed farfetched and too good to be true. As I grew older, I got to know that the tales were sweet-for-nothing, arranged by good men who had a nostalgic craving for the good times, for a good country they had once known. Sadly, however, the good times were gone, driven away by evil in the hearts of men. The country’s plea fell on deaf ears as it totter in the wilderness. The good country we bade farewell, bloody but unbowed, swore to return to the

In fact, the government, without mincing words, said that it had done more harm than the expected good to the schools. Recalling the high standard of education and rich moral principles schools enunciated when it was initially in the management of the churches, government noted that such feat could only be achieved by same people who started it. But the government promised that it would still be in charge of the teachers’ salaries. One would not be taken aback by such declaration by the government in whose hand the trust of the people was entrusted via the social contract. At first, it is no longer news of how some public officials loot public funds, and mismanage office for their selfish gain. If stories of the crimes and atrocities committed by government officials daily are to be totally right, the schools may not be there in the next decade. One does not need to say, once again, that this country has got virtually everything needed to make life worth living for its people; but the problem has remained that the

its leaders are corrupt. So, Gov. Obi knows the problems with schools. He knew that the government had acquired the schools, perhaps, with intention to fund and improve on their facilities, but he felt the takeover was not in best interest. He returned the schools to the church so that the government won’t have to contend with school challenge out of the myriads in its list. The Anambra State government places much premium on the education of the young people particularly the children. Gov. Obi is known for his saying that “the society human being are exploiting today would take a revenge on their children tomorrow”, hence the great need to fix the society right for them. Consequently, there is no known tool for human development other than provision of qualitative education. It is the bedrock for human development; its careless handling would not leave a positive path to toe. The impact of the schools has begun to be felt. The state government, while re-

turning the schools, doled out huge amount as compensations to repair the damage it had done to it. The funds run into several millions. Today, Anambra schools have begun to regain their pride. That move and gesture of love have induced a healthy competition among the schools owned by the churches, private individuals and the government. There is a massive reduction on the number of school children seen on the streets with school uniforms roaming the streets during school hours. Moral principles and good conduct of school children have improved. It is also important, therefore, for the government to take a close watch on the schools under its direct control. Some communities are at loggerheads with the principals of their schools over funds released by the government. Some principals have been accused of devising means to siphon the money. All the issues need to be looked into. These positive impacts seen in

By Mmaduka Odogwu the church-controlled schools should be widespread. Now that the government has fewer loads in terms of primary and secondary education, it should, through the Ministry of Education, move to tackle fundamental problems bedeviling education in the state. Mmaduka just graduated from UNIZIK, Awka

We are the change we need good people of Nigeria when they retraced their steps like the proverbial prodigal son. I am a millennial, a Generation X. We are known for our determination and resilience even in unfavourable situations. I strongly believe our beloved country is not a lost cause. The menace of the years has warranted us to look out for the good times we once experience. The ideology we imbibed at birth was influenced by circumstances around us. It is the ideology of succumbing to oppression or as the saying goes: “If you can’t beat them, join them”. It was to give up and accept one’s fate as a member of a corrupt society; to lie with dogs and get up with fleas. The only solution to this cankerworm that

has eaten deep into our very essence is an ideological overhaul. How can we change? We have the tools; we just lack the knowledge to bring the change we desire to life. But despair not, we have come, bearing glad tidings. I offer to everyone, the long sought knowledge. The catalyst for change is in every one of us, the light of reformation still glimmers in us, undaunted by the surrounding darkness; the flame flickers but does not die. We need to fuel this flame to burn ever so bright. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine! You should too. We are the future of the nation; we can spur change in our little corner, in our daily activities, in

whatever position we find ourselves. As a class governor, member of the student representative council or Students’ Union Government leader, nothing is too little or insignificant to matter. Do whatever you do as a diligent citizen. As Mahatma Ghandi remarked: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Together, with our heads high, let us chant the motto of transformation, and like a chain reaction, we will have cause to step back and admire the work of our hands. We would have achieved the seemingly impossible feat, the herculean task, that is, change. Change is here, Change we can! Change we shall! Let this ideology be your guide this year. Ikechi, 300-Level Law, UNILORIN

By Ikechi Chukwu

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Association gets new leaders

•Jibreel (fifth left) with staff of the university after the workshop

Aliyu hails IBBU’s research initiative

HE Niger State Governor, Dr Muazu Aliyu, has commended the management of the Ibrahim Babagida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State for promoting researches that were in line with the vision of the state. The governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Mines and Solid Minerals, Abubakar Baba Jibreel, at a one-day workshop with the theme: Indicators and impacts of climate change: Analyses of indigenous responses to sustainable development Challenges in Niger State held at the institution’s Senate chamber. He said there was need for the university to collaborate with various stakeholders in the state in its

From Olayinka Olatunbosun

IBBU research studies to achieve multisectorial involvement and benefits that would accelerate her developmental process. The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Mustapha Ibrahim Lemu, praised the creativity of the university on the research project, describing it as another feat in the research experience. In his welcome address, the ViceChancellor, Prof Ibrahim Kolo, said the research project was important to the state, saying that the problem of climate change posed serious environmental challenges that threatened mankind. He said

there was urgent need to evolve a study that would help proffer solutions. Prof Kolo said educational institutions have the responsibility of providing mitigation measures to the problem of climate change. The Technical Coordinator of the project, Prof Nuhu George Obaje, said the focus of the research was to establish the effect of the climate change in the lives of the people of Niger State and their responses to the development. Prof Obaje explained that the state was divided into three zones in which some urban and rural-urban communities were selected for the study, using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

ART-time members of the National Association of Computer Science Student (NACOSS) at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), have elected new leaders. The executive is led by Robert Uwemedimo, a final year student of Computer Science, who got elected unopposed. He was the Vice-President of the association during his National Diploma programme. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Uwemedimo was asked to lead the association because of his leadership quality. Others elected include Onyekachi Ofoegbu, Vice-President; Pauline Edward, General Secretary; Gabriel Fawehinmi, Auditor; Joseph Omijie , Welfare Director; Efe Oghenenre, Social Director; Tosin Ojomu, Treasurer; Akeem Ayodeji, Financial Secretary, Samuel Nwaulu, Public Relations Officer and Yahaya Alli, Sport Director. Uwemedimo, in his acceptance speech, said his goal was to promote academic excellence among members.

•Robert From Tolulope Ogunleye

LASPOTECH "Academic excellence remains our biggest hurdle. We must help members set clear goals and devise strategies to achieve success in their studies. We are also planning to organise workshops, seminars and tutorials for them," he said. He appealed to his colleagues to work with him as team. He said: "By the grace of God, my tenure will transform many students' lives positively and they will all benefit from the programmes we are planning for them."

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Some of the freshers at the matriculation

Forever in their hearts •Continued from page 31

Some of the mourners said it was disheartening to see final year students dying after years of labour to get their degree. According to them, the joy of being school should be for life, saying untimely death disrupts plans, shatters hopes of loved ones and robs parents of their benefit of investment on their children. Lamenting Otonkwe’s death, the President of Nigeria University Accounting Students’ Association, (NUASA), Innocent Paul, said the loss was not only to the Accounting Department but the entire faculty. He described the late lecturer as kind and easygoing. Innocent said: “We need prayers and God’s intervention because it is God that can save us from this wind of untimely death. We share the grief of the families of the deceased and we pray God to grant them the fortitude the bear the irreplaceable loss.” Head of Accounting Department, Dr Bassey Bassey, who addressed the students, said Otonkwe graduated from the department and was employed as Assistant Lecturer II. Dr Bassey said Otonkwe was one of the brilliant students in his class,

adding: “I taught him; he was very good in statistics and that stoke my interest in him.” CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late lecturer taught in Calabar Polytechnic before its conversion to University of Cross River. He also taught in a secondary school but left for UNICAL after his Master’s degree. The late Otonkwe was said to have complained of weakness and loss of appetite. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the deceased applied for loan in the school to travel to India for treatment, but when he was operated, it was also discovered that his condition had worsened. Otonkwe died on his way back to the country. “It is shocking news to us,” a lecturer said. The Dean of the Faculty, Prof Joseph Udoanyang, was not available for comment. But his predecessor, Dr Offiong Amenawo, described the death as sad. “We prayed to God to grant the late Otonkwe and the students eternal rest. Dr Offiong urged students and staff to always go for medical checkup. The remains of the deceased have since been buried.

‘Non-students have infiltrated NANS’ •Continued from page 30

Since the inception of the Uduaghan administration, bursary and scholarship have been given to deserving students. This has engendered a very cordial relationship between our group and the government. What are your achievements? We have been able to revive the

true spirit of comradeship in our institutions. Before now, most students knew very little about NANS and its activities; so we made it a point of duty to enlighten our colleagues across campuses in the state. Also, we have been able to sustain peace on our campuses; whenever we are having challenges, we embark on peaceful rallies instead of violence.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE I don’t hate you, says Fayemi to teachers By Adegunle Olugbamila

EACHERS on the payroll of the Ekiti State government are to get letters of their promotion this month, Governor Kayode Fayemi has assured. Dr Fayemi gave the assurance last the weekend when he dropped the curtain on the 2013 capacity training for 2,322 teachers and the presentation of certificates to participants. He used the forum to disabuse the teachers’minds that he never liked them. The teachers drawn from the three senatorial districts have been sharpening their teaching and school administrative skills at a workshop tagged: '2013 cluster schools model for teacher professional development training programme" since November 14, last year. The participants got their certificates at Olaoluwa Muslim Grammar School, Ilawe Road, Ado-Ekiti (Central); St Louis' Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti South, and Ekiti North Local Government Secretariat, Ikole-Ekiti (North). Besides, the governor told the teachers that his administration will design more programmes to further enhance their capacity and ensure their welfare. According to him, teachers, being critical stakeholders in actualising government's education and human capital development agenda, will continue to have their attention priortised. He said: "I stand to re-assure you that your welfare would never be compromised for anything by this government because your importance as the engine room of educational development in the state could not be overemphasised." He said there was no truth that he never cared for the teachers, blaming the insinuations that teachers would be sacked if he is returned to office for another term on his political opponents. His words: "Teachers are the engine room of educational development in our state. This is a fact that cannot be overemphasised.

• From left: Member, Board of Governors,St Gregory College, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mr Akin Ajayi; his counterpart Sir A. Obilana; guest speaker Mrs Botoku Folaranmi Olapeju; school Administrator Rev. Edmond Akpala(centre); chairman of the occasion Pastor Wale Adefarasin; President, St Gregory's Old Boys Association Dr John Abebe and school's Assistant Administrator Father Emmanuel Ayeni during the cutting of the cake at the speech/prize giving day held at the school premises in Lagos. PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

Amaechi seeks cash to fund education

IVERS State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has urged teachers to be committed to their duties of moulding children to help the government recoup its investment in education. Amaechi spoke at the public presentation of two documents - the Rivers State Education Strategy Plan, and the Service Charter for Public Primary and Secondary Schools. In his speech, he lamented the reduction of funds to the state coffers, which he noted has adversely affected the government's ability to pay salaries of teachers and others, as well as complete projects in education and other areas. He said: "I never thought that there would be a time our revenue would fall from N20 billion to N13 billion. In the past six months that has been happening. So we are literarily, virtually struggling to pay salaries." Amaechi explained that remuneration of the 13,000 teachers recruited last year would bring the state's wage bill to N8.9 billion, a chunk of the N13 billion it is receiving. He added that the state is struggling to equip 215 newly-built primary schools with computers,

By Kofoworola BeloOsagie

while six already-completed model secondary schools are yet to be inaugurated because it requires N800million to furnish each of them. "If I have sleepless night, it is, where do I get the money to fund the project I must complete? I need to furnish schools; we have completed six new secondary schools. But nobody is listening to me because we have no money to furnish them. We need to release N800 million per school to pupils into those schools," he said. Despite these difficulties, he said the government was ready to source the funds elsewhere. To recompense this effort, he urged the teachers, who have benefited generously from training and employment, to take their jobs seriously. He charged them to work harder to improve the state's performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which currently stands at third nationwide. He said: "I hope that we will improve. This morning I was looking at the West African Examination Council results all over the coun-

• Mrs Lawrence-Nemi (second left) presenting the plan. With her are SUBEB Chairman Sir Oruitemeka (left), Ngo (second right) and Executive Director, Rivers State Education Quality Assurance Agency, Prof Okorosaye Orubite (right).

try for three years. We have maintained consistently third. Why can't we be first going by how much we have put in education? We need to ask ourselves that. Highlight of the programme was the presentation of the four-year strategic plan and the service charters by the Education Commissioner, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi. In her speech, Mrs Lawrence-Nemi said the plan would enable all stake-

holders work towards achieving common goals within a set time frame. She explained that the plan draws from the National Education policy and recommendations of the 2013 Rivers State Education Summit. She said: "This plan stipulates the objectives of the ministry, identifies the roles and responsibilities of departments, agencies and parastatals and other stakeholders, and prescribes the

timeline to achieve the said goals." The strategy plan, which has 28 objectives was reviewed by the Vice-Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Prof Rosemund GreenOsahogulu, while Dr Suleiman Adediran, a consultant discussed the charters, which stipulates the standards of services expected from public primary and secondary schools in the state.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

EKSU FILE

VC advises PG students

POSTGRDUATE students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti have been warned against prolonging their stay in the institution. The Vice-Chancellor Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina gave the warning during the 2012/2013 matriculation of the School of Post Graduate Studies. Aina, who was represented by his Deputy (Academics), Prof Olugbenga Aribisala, noted that a large number of postgraduate students usually overstay their normal period of studies, a development which he stressed, has been of concern to the university. "This will not be tolerated again," he said. Aina also spoke about the restructuring of the postgraduate programmes. "I, therefore, advise you to join hands with your faculties and the board of School of Postgraduate in our effort to re-structure the school and make our programmes more attractive to all,” he said.

Kegite praises VC

THE Kegites Club International, EKSU branch, has commended the Vice-Chancellor Patrick Aina for providing a level-playing ground for all genuine and legal associations on campus without discrimination. The social club stated this in a letter of appreciation sent to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aina who visited them in their shrine. "We appreciate your visit to our shrine which was a clear demonstration of your vision for the students in your effort to transform the university to world class citadel of learning" the Kegites stressed. A letter dated January 29, and signed by a member Olatunji Olusola, noted that the visit to the shrine was the second of its type by a sitting vc in the last 33 years. The club emphasised that Prof Aina’s visit to the shrine meant that he shares their collective efforts, and sustaining the culture of their forefathers which the association stands for.

Agric. building unveiled A MODERN Faculty of Agricultural Sciences building complex described as one of the best in universities has been completed by the contractor handling the project. The complex with laboratories and offices were handed over to the VC last Thursday.The twostorey building with four big laboratories and three others, also include office space for lecturers. Receiving the keys, Aina said the edifice was one of the giant steps taken by his administration to transform the university. He noted that the construction of the complex took less than a year to complete, a situation he described as a miracle.

Staff school reopened THE VC has promised that the university will continue to provide conducive learning environment for pupils in the university's staff school. He made the promise while declaring open the newly renovated staff school buildings. The VC said the refurbished buildings were equipped with modern lockers, magic chalkboards and exotic tiles among others, noting that the job was executed through the internallygenerated revenue (IGR). The Acting Headmistress, Mrs. Bosede Owolabi said it was the first time VC in EKSU would take a giant step to renovate the staff school.

APPROACHING DEADLINES NDDC Overseas Scholarship for Niger Delta Students 2014-2015 NDDC Overseas Scholarships invites applications for its overseas postgraduate scholarship scheme to equip Niger Delta students with relevant training and skills for effective participation in the local content programme as well as compete globally in various professional fields. The Niger Delta Development Commission Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme is for suitably qualified applicants with relevant Bachelor's/Master's Degrees from recognized Universities in the following professional disciplines: Engineering Medicine (M.sc. Public Health Excluded)

Computer Science/Technology Geology Geosciences Environmental Sciences Agriculture Worth of Award: Not stated but they usually cover fees and offer stipend for living expenses Eligibility Applicants must have gained Post Graduate admission into a recognized university abroad. First Degree with minimum of 2nd Class Lower Division for those wishing to undertake a master's Degree programme and a good Master's Degree for PhD candidates from a recognized University. Applicants must have gained Admission into a Post Graduate Programme in any of the listed disciplines in a foreign University.

Applicants who have not already enrolled in overseas’ universities are not eligible to apply. Bond of good conduct from any of the following persons from the applicant’s community/clan. Member of National Assembly Chairman of the LGA. First class traditional ruler. High Court Judge Persons with evidence of cult membership or criminal record shall not be considered for the award. Applicants must have completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) How to apply Application must be made online at the Commission’s website: with the following attachments: Recent passport photograph

Local Government identification letter. Post Graduate (PG) admission letter from Oversea Universities. Relevant degrees from recognized Universities. NYSC Discharge Certificate Successfully completed applications will be assigned a registration number automatically. Print the hard copy of the online generated acknowledgement for ease of reference. All shortlisted applicants will be posted on NDDC website. If you have questions, contact the Director, Education Health and Social Services, NDDC, at: scholarship@nddc.gov.ng Deadline: All completed applications must be submitted on or before February 28, 2014

COEASU urges Fed Govt to reverse IPPS salary scale •’Strike goes on’

HE Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), has vowed to resist the imposition of the central salary payment system, otherwise referred to as IPPIS, introduced by the Federal Government. The COEASU Chairman Federal College of Education (FCE), Zaria branch, Mallam Mu’awiya Usman made this known. The union, in a statement, vowed that it would continue its ongoing strike until the government addresses its grievances which include the release of the White Paper on the Visitation Panel to the colleges in 2012, as well as the release of funds for accreditation of programmes. Usman frowned at what he called Federal Government’s “usual dillying-dallying” in addressing labour issues, adding that members of the union have resolved at various congresses to continue with the strike until government solves all the contending issues. He said: “After the meeting of the national expanded executive council where the 51 chapters of the union were represented, we had a local congress meeting at the FCE, Zaria where members

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

affirmed the resolution of the national executive meeting. We have therefore resolved that the imposition of IPPIS as a platform towards the realisation of the government policy of Treasury Single Account (TSA) on the colleges remains unacceptable for the reasons we have severally advanced previously. “We have also resolved not to return to duty unless the government releases funds for the implementation of migration for the lower cadre of staff and payment of peculiar allowances. Also, the government is yet to release funds for accreditation of NCE programmes and this has to be resolved. “We also want government to release the White Paper of its visitation panel of 2012. There are other issues like the proliferation of substandard colleges of education, neglect of states’ colleges of education among other issues that we want government to address.” He called on members of the union to remain resolute in the struggle for improving colleges of education and asked the government to take adequate measures of addressing criminality across the country.

• Vice-Chancellor University of Ibadan Prof Isaac Adewole (left) congratulating Prof Kolapo Hamzat at the latter's inaugural lecture at the Trenchard Hall.

Medical Science Lab Council inducts 56 scientists

IGHT medical laboratory scientists from Achievers University in Owo, Ondo State and 47 from Ebonyi State University, Abakalili, have been inducted into the Medical Science Council of Nigeria (NSCN). Speaking at the ceremony at the university, its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. J. A. Odebiyi said one of the major priorities of the institution is the training of medical laboratory scientists for qualitative healthcare delivery. He commended the management and staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, for their support for partnering with the university in training the students. He noted that the institution is making adequate preparation for a successful re-accreditation of the programme, which according to him, would be carried out by the council by the middle of this year. His words: "The Medical Laboratory Science provides essential diagnostic tools for effective curative medicine; it is, therefore, a fundamental sector in our health delivery services. It stands be-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

tween patients and their doctors. "It is into this vital sector that we are inducting the happy and radiant graduates of today. I know that at both the pre-clinical and clinical levels of their training, they have been fully equipped academically and ethically to cope with the requirement of this noble profession". In his lecture, titled: “Evolution of Medical Laboratory Science: Personalised Medicine-Challenge of the future,” Prof. Oluyemi Akinloye said medical laboratory scientists have a major role to play in the wind of change blowing in the health sector. He said: "Our graduates here today are medically qualified to join this ship of change. “The global trend in medical practice is a holistic approach to patient care and fast moving beyond evidence-based medicine to personalised medicine. "If the health delivery service in Nigeria will move with the tide of time and benefit from technological advancement in this ge-

netics era, adequately informed professionals will be inevitable. Unfortunately, genetics and its application in Medicine are still being taught in our medical schools at a very basic level. "Most postgraduate training in genomics is still more of theoretical exercise than practical application. Effort should be directed towards human resources devel-

opment in health system. "Noble field of medicine that comprises obviously many professional of inevitable importance are gradually losing their senses of responsibility and nobility. Strike and professional agitation that was never known or associated with this noble calling is now a common phenomenon.”

JABU matriculates pioneer PG students

HE first set of Post-Graduate students of the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), has taken the oath of matriculation with 372 undergraduates. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Sola Fajana congratulated the 50 postgraduate students, assuring them of quality education. "We promote the values of commitment to quality, integrity and service to the society; values which will eventually make you good and dependable citizens. All the staff members are here to support you so you can have a rich, full

By Sampson Nnamka

and enjoyable experience in JABU," he said. Fajana, however, warned the students against social vices and antisocial activities; adding that any student caught will be sanctioned. JABU’s Pro-Chancellor Prof A.M.A. Imevbore and the Registrar Wale Aderibigbe attended the event. The university, reputed to be the first entrepreneurial university in Nigeria, is striving for further advancement in advanced education and research.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

EDUCATION

King’s College ready for A Levels

ING'S College Principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju, has called on the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, to give the school a nod to recommence the Higher School Certificate (HSC) programme. Olapeju, who spoke at the inauguration of seven projects at the college's Victoria Island annex on Wednesday, last week said the approval would enable children from low and middle-income homes to undergo the A Level programme, which is a preserve of the rich. Two of the projects inaugurated - a twin-lecture theatre and the assembly hall - were rehabilitated by Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria (TUCN). The principal said with the stateof-the-art theatres, which can sit 200 students each, as well as quality laboratories, the school can comfortably admit up to 200 A Level students, like it used to do in the days when the premises hosted the Federal School of Arts and Science. Olapeju said: "With the commissioning of the two projects donated by our partners, King's College can commence the HSC programme.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

The world-class lecture theatres were used to run the A-Level programme in those days. We are appealing to the Federal Ministry of Education to permit us to run A-Levels. "The children of the elite are the ones having access to A-Level in this country. All the elite private schools around us here are running it. The cost of the A-Level is high but with all the facilities on ground, it would be cost effective for the Federal Government.” However, responding in an interview, the Permanent Secretary, FME, Dr MacJohn Nwobiala, said the college still needs to boost its facilities before it can run A Levels. "I think King's College can be given the opportunity in future when the level of infrastructure and management capacity can cope with the demands of higher school education. I have no doubt that other federal schools also merit to be given that opportunity to run the higher school certificate. We must ensure quality service delivery," he said. While praising the company's in-

Lagos school where pupils pay N30 tuition daily

•From right: Executive General Manager, GSR TOTAL E&P, Mr. Claude Bordenave; his counterpart, Deep Water Administration, Mr. Joseph Ajilore; Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Education Mr. Lambert Oparah, representative of Acting GGM NAPIMS, Mrs. J.S.Kolapo, Deputy General Manager, CSR, TOTAL E&P, Dr.Attah, and Mr. Olapeju at the inauguration.

tervention, the supervising Minister of Education, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who was represented by Nwobiala, however, urged the firm to go further and adopt the Kings College as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions. "It will not be out of place to use

ous purposes. He added that the firm was satisfied with the quality of the projects, which he said were implemented within the planned budget. To ensure the facilities are well maintained and optimally utilised, Deputy General Manager in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) and Public Affairs, Dr Nkoyo Attah, said Total will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the college.

Imbibe leadership values, Fashola’s wife urges

HE prayers of 10 children living in Makoko, a Lagos suburb were answered when a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), CEE-HOPE Nigeria granted them scholarship for primary education in the area. Makoko, which suffered a major battle to escape a massive 48-hour quit notice demolition from the Lagos State government barely two years ago, has one of the highest number of out-of-school children, in addition to high teenage pregnancy rate in Nigeria. This number feeds bleakly into Nigeria's 10 million unschooled children. A United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) report released last year June indicated that Nigeria has the highest out-of-school children, standing at 10 million and probably the world's highest. One out of every five Nigerian children is out of school, UNESCO said. The beneficiaries with ages ranging from four to eight, stepped into Whanyinna Nursery and Primary School built with stilts on the Makoko lagoon. Dressed in their school uniform, shoes and bags provided by the NGO, the children were received by the Director of the school, Mr Noah Shemede and a group of eight teachers. The Whanyinna Primary School is probably one of the best by Makoko's standard; it was built and donated by the Yatch Club, a team of foreign visitors who were perturbed by the level of illiteracy in the area in 2009. With a population of 215 pupils, it is one of the very few schools in the area where English is the medium of instruction. Mr Shemede described the NGO’s gesture as an encouraging one, adding that the parents of the children were excited when they heard that CEE-HOPE has offered to dry their tears. He noted that some parents in the community cannot afford the N30 daily school fees charged by the school owing to poverty. "As a result of poverty, many prefer to keep their children at home. As I speak, there are many children on the lagoon who want to come to school but cannot afford the little fee," he said.

this medium to appeal to Total Upstream to adopt King’s College as its school for continued assistance since both King’s College and Total Upstream represent twin brand of excellence in Nigeria's academic and business circle," he said. In his speech, Deputy Managing Director Deep Water District, TUCN, Mr Charles Ngoka, said the oil company decided to intervene having used the college's facilities for vari-

•Mrs Abah and the beneficiaries. By Opeyemi Samuel

Shemede, who listed many challenges confronting the school, said the school was living on the generosity of donor agencies, one which just provided a 'Floating School', built by Netherlands-based Nigerian architect, Kunle Adeyemi and funded by the German Heinrich Boll Stifung, UNDP, the African Conservation Programme and the Goethe Institute. "By next week, 25 Primary Five pupils will resume at the school to pave way for more enrolment at the nearby one-storey building Whanyinna School. Both schools will need libraries, more stationery and volunteer teachers," Shemede noted. The school has also produced very brilliant pupils, including the head prefect, 10-year-old David in Primary 5, who is due to take up a secondary scholarship in a school in Lagos, offered by a public-spirited individual. Executive Director of CEE-HOPE, Mrs Betty Abah, said the gesture was borne out of the NGO's need to restore hope to the Nigerian child through the NGO's ‘Harbin-

ger of hope’ scholarship targeted at indigent children. Mrs Abah noted that the Harbinger of Hope scholarship targets 30 children for the pilot scholarship programme with the first batch going to five indigent pupils from Ikotun. She added that the organisation would increase the number over time to blighted communities and neighbourhoods like Makoko. “The scholarship covers the pupil's school fees, writing and reading materials, school uniform and others. It is a cardinal agenda of CEE-HOPE under its welfare programmes for indigent children. This will help reduce the numbers of out-of-school children. This is because education is the key to national development." Mrs Abah continued: "UNESCO estimates that over 10 million Nigerian children are out -of-school. We believe this portends a bad omen for the future. If these children are neglected, they will adopt negative means to make ends meet .Many of the crimes such as kidnapping, armed robberies and others recorded in the media daily are consequences of this problem."

HE First Lady of Lagos State Mrs Abimbola Fashola, has counselled students to imbibe the spirit of leadership and excellence to distinguish themselves in life. Mrs Fashola, who spoke during a one-day familiarisation visit to Vivian Fowler Memorial College For Girl Lagos, stated that the nation is in dire need of committed and responsible leaders urging the students to be focused in order to perform their roles effectively as leaders and future mothers. Mrs Fashola admonished the students to stand against things that are at variance with the norms of the society. Fashola, who was the lead speaker during a panel discussion, organised as part of her visit admonished the students to imbibe integrity, diligence and truthfulness. She noted that great leaders usually exemplified discipline and sound moral values. "Everything about life is choice

•Mrs Fashola

and the consequences of any step or action you take is dependent on your choice which affects who you are in life,” he said. Mrs Fashola who praised the college for training the girl-child to imbibe both moral and academic discipline, said it is high time youths stood against any negative tendencies that can affect their future. The Director of the college, Mrs Olufunke Amba, explained that Mrs Fashola's visit was aimed at inspiring the girls to learn from her as a mother and a role model. The visit, she added, was to enable the students interact with her and also gain insight on how to become responsible mothers in future.

APC Lagos deputy chair donates books to school

HE Lagos State Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Safiriyu Abiodun Sunmola, has distributed exercise books to 18 schools in Somolu local government, Lagos. Abiodun was represented by the Senior Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Primary Education Mrs. Abosede Ottun. Also in attendance were the Somolu Educational Secretary Michael Steven Oikeh, and the Supervisor for Education in Kosofe Aremo Adewale Abdul. Five 40 leaves exercise books were distributed to each student in primary Three, Four, Five and Six of the 18 schools. Speaking with The Nation, Oikeh said: "The essence of this is to distribute books, big notes, free of charge to the pupils in primary 3, 4, 5, and 6 to promote our primary education."

By Ibrahim Adam

The headteacher of Baptist Academy Primary School Mrs Osatuyi Janet, described the book distribution as good, urging parents to appreciate the gesture. "The initiative is good. Like one teacher said this morning that the books of some pupils in her class has finished. As they have done this, it is a good innovation which the parents will really appreciate." she said. The beneficiary schools include: Agunbiade Primary School, Olaolu Primary School, Jehovah Shalom Primary School, National Autopedic Special Primary School, Igbobi Primary School, and Adebule Primary School. Others were: St. Paul Primary School, St. Peter Primary School, Odunlade Primary School, Savior Primary School, Baptist Primary School, and Ijebutedo primary school among others.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

EDUCATION EDUTALK

with

New issues to watch •ASUU/FGN MOU

ARLY this week one of the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), registered Kofoworola displeasure over the attitude of the Federal Government towards the implementation of Kofosagie@yahoo.com the Memorandum of Understanding signed last 08054503077 (SMS only) November regarding the new agreements reached with the union. The MOU largely covers details of the implementation of the Needs Based Assessment of Public Universities as well as other areas of the ASUU 2009 agreement. After the devastating effect of the lengthy strike of last year (July-December) on the academic calendar, the last thing we need to here is some foot-dragging by the government over implementation. The only way to make up for the precious time students lost at home is for the MOU to walk. Since the Federal Government has already made a commitment to implementing it, then there should be no further delay. There is a lot of work to do to spend the N200 billion meant for this year. The implementation committee should settle to work. We cannot afford another strike. Since schools resumed between December and early January, some have not been able to settle down because of internal crisis. Any cause for ASUU to call for a national strike again will be a terrible blow on such schools. We must not allow it happen.

Belo-Osagie

• From left: Coordinator, Henley Business School,Greenland, Henley-on Thames Oxford-shire, England, Chief Fassy Yusuf; Alumni Convener, Ms. Flora Omosevwerha; An Accountant, Mr. Bayo Osindero; and MD/CEO Tamy Consulting, Mr.Tolu Ojo, during the school’s inaugural alumni summit in Lagos. PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

Aliyu seeks NYSC extension to 18 months

IGER State Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, has advocated the extension of the service year of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from 12 to 18 months. He spoke while hosting the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen Johnson Bamidele Olawunwi in his office in Minna, Niger State capital. Aliyu said the extension was necessary to give corps members a new orientation, enable them have better understanding of the country and for their contribution to national development. "Of the development of the country and that of the NYSC, I think there is need for us to extend the NYSC service period from 12 to 18 months. This will enable a better understanding of the country. With the extension, we give the corps

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

members better orientation about the country and make them appreciate the country and the scheme rather than making it a stop-gap," Governor Aliyu said. Commending the founding fathers of the scheme, Aliyu said the scheme has become one of the great tools for national unity, taking a swipe on the critics of the scheme. He advised the new NYSC boss to restore the glory of the scheme by addressing some vices bedeviling it. He cited vices such as absentee corp members, fake camps and fake discharge certificate. Earlier, the NYSC boss said his priority as the 16th director-general is to fully computerise the activities of the scheme and give adequate attention to the security and wel-

‘With the extension, we give the corps members better orientation about the country and make them appreciate the country and the scheme rather than making it a stop-gap’

Osun govt’s peace efforts

• Aliyu

fare of the corps members and staff. "Our priority is to avail ourselves with the virtues of information and communication technology (ICT) by ensuring that we computerise our activities such that any corps member who failed to attend even community development programme in any part of the country will be detected from our base in Abuja," the DG hinted. He told the governor he was in the state to start a tour of all facilities of the scheme nationwide. Olawunmi later inspected the NYSC permanent site at Paiko and visited the Emir of Minna, Dr. Faruq Bahago.

Return civic education, says NOA chief

HE Director-General (DG) of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, has called for the re-introduction of “civic education” into the curriculum of schools to expand frontiers of knowledge of the citizenry about Nigeria. Omeri made this appeal when he received students of Queens Science Academy, Kano in his office in Abuja. He said the return of civic educa-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

tion would complement the Federal Government’s efforts to bring back values that used to define Nigeria as a nation. Omeri charged the students to remain focused and shun examination malpractices and other social vices inimical to the pursuit of their academic activities, adding that today’s students would be leaders tomorrow.

“Learn to grow up as responsible citizens; the only way to make a difference is through your concentration on your studies. Always do the right thing. In those days, civic education used to be part of school curricula where students were thought civic responsibilities and duties of citizenry, rights and privileges, among others. The students were on an excursion visit to the NOA to learn more about its functions and operations.

Ex-SUG leader gives free JAMB forms in Ondo

FORMER president of the Students Union Government (SUG) of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, Mr. Mayowa Adebiyi has given free Unifed Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms to 50 students selected from Akoko Southwest local government area of the state. Adebiyi said his action was due to the importance of education to the nation, adding that more funds must be budgeted for it. Adebiyi, who was the AAUA President in 2007/2008 set, said his focus was not only on the students, but also rural women and youths that need financial empowerement. The event tagged: 'Mayowa Adebiyi free JAMB forms to stu-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

dents', held in Akungba-Akoko, began last year with 35 students as pioneer beneficiaries. Adebiyi noted that his intention is to support the people, particularly the poor with his resources. Adebiyi, who is one of the consultants to the United Nations for Educational, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), said it was what he earned from the organisation that he was returning to the society. "We are not giving the students the cash. Already, we have purchased the forms with the scratch cards, it is just for them to visit the

cafe and register. We do not want to give them the money so that they will not divert it for another purpose. "The beneficiaries were selected from Akoko Southwest after we have met with traditional rulers, opinion and religious leaders. They were the one who selected these beneficiaries for us. Thirty five benefited were from the first edition and this year, we are giving 50 students" he said The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Jamiu Ekungba, praised Adebiyi for the initiave. Ekungba, who was represented by his personal assistant, Chief Rotimi Ogunbodede, urged the beneficiaries to see this as a challenge of becoming great persons in the future.

The news of some pupils of Baptist High School, in Iwo, Osun State, appearing in school in choir uniforms was really hilarious. I sure had a good laugh when I heard of it. I tried to imagine what went through the minds of teachers and others as the pupils filed into school with the uniforms. But jokes apart - because the act was not a joke but a protest - I know that the pupils could have acted own. There were some adults who must have instigated them to do so. However, that is not the focus of this piece. What made me remember the incident is the recent effort by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to make peace with the various groups who have had one scruple or the other with the government's education reforms. The reforms have resulted in the merger of some schools, introduction of similar uniforms for all levels of the school - elementary, middle and high schools. Like happens in almost all cases, not all stakeholders are happy about the changes. I commend the peace initiative and I hope something positive will come out of it.

A call to commitment (new Rivers Education Strategy Plan/Charters)

Really, we need to get rid of this 'developing country' status. We simply have all it takes to get there. Almost on daily basis, we hear of new projects and policies designed to take us to the Promised Land. And when closely examined, they are highly elevating and seem very good if only they are well implemented. The Rivers State Ministry of Education has come up with a strategy plan for the next three years. It details 28 objectives, the activities to fulfil them, the ministries, units and departments to get them done, and the time lines to achieve them. It is simply impressive. Now, we have a document by which to measure what Rivers State is doing in the education sector. It provides a focus for all the reforms that have been taking place in the state's education sector since 2007. The state has taken the step towards strengthening the foundation of its education system. It has gone beyond building beautiful structures to working out the fine details of how to institutionalise principles and practices that will ensure learning outcomes are achieved. Just like the government has made efforts to make the learning environment conducive and meet the learning needs of the pupils, it has followed up with teacher supply and training. The Quality Assurance Agency is already up and ready to run and the school-Based Management Committees (SBMC) have a guidebook to work. The service charters for public primary and secondary schools, the second document presented alongside with the strategy plan, spells out the quality of education service delivery to be expected from these schools. However, it is not as if all things are so rosy and there are no problems. At the launch of the Strategy Plan on Monday, Governor Roltimi Amaechi lamented the paucity of funds that has resulted in the delay in paying teachers, and completion of many education projects. He also said the Quality Assurance Agency has not been able to start working because of lack of funds. That has to be taken care of urgently so the strategy plan can be implemented. Also, the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice LawrenceNemi, has her work cut out for her. For the remaining part of her tenure, she has to ensure that the stipulated time lines on the strategy plan are kept. It a huge task, but one that if well fulfilled, we as Nigerians will be glad, and it will set a precedent that it is indeed possible for policies to work in this country.

POLITICS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

On February 13, 1976, the Military Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, was assassinated in a bloody coup led by Lt.-Col. Bukar Dimka. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on Gen. Muhammed’s life, his brief, yet historic regime and his legacies as a leader.

Murtala: 38 years after I

T was a day of horror in Lagos, the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The people of Obalende and Ikoyi were thrown into panic and confusion. On February 13, 1976, the Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed, was full of life. At noon, he was getting set for the Jumat service at the Obalende Central Mosque. He did not get to the mosque before he was cut down by coup plotters led by Lt.-Col. Bukar Dimka. It was the end of an era. The former Commander-In-Chief was assassinated when he was six months old in office. He was 38. His murder provoked rage. Murtala was killed at a time his popularity was soaring. His revolutionary tendencies had endeared him to many Nigerians, who were unhappy about the reluctance of the former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, to set up a transition programme. The Kano-born officer was a man in a hurry. He wanted to maintain a clean break from the past. He was determined to clear the mess in the civil service. In his view, corruption had wrecked havoc on the country and, unless the cankerworm was removed, the future would be bleak. His robust foreign policy also shored up the image of the administration. Owing to the non-alignment policy of the regime, the Head of State became a folk hero among students. Mohammed was also committed to the transition programme set up by the Supreme Military Council (SMC). However, he did not live to implement it. The deceased military leader was not the only target of the coup plotters. His Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Akintunde Akinsehinwa, and his driver, and the military governor of Kwara State, Col. Ibrahim Taiwo, were killed. Other targets were Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Yakubu Danjuma, the late Gen. Sheu Yar’Adua, Col. Ibrahim Babangida, and Col. Olu Bajowa. A member of the gang, Major I.B Rabo, was detailed to kill Murtala. Another member, Lt. Usman Dauda, was to hit Obasanjo. Lt. Lawrence Garba was to get rid of Danjuma. Dimka, the Director of Army Physical Training Corps, made the coup broadcast. But, what saved Danjuma, the Chief of Army Staff, was that he was attending a conference with top officers. If the coup plotters had insisted on killing him, there would be many casualties. Obasanjo could not be located by the murderers. Another officer, Col. Raymond Dumuje of Army Ordinance Corps, was mistaken for the Owu-born soldier. He was shot and wounded. Babangida later emerged as one of the officers who foiled the coup. Darkness descended on the nation. Many Nigerians were enraged by the cruel act. As his body was flown to his native Kano, there were wailings. The country was united in mourning. Later, the 38 masterminds, including Dimka and Gen. Illiya Bisalla, the Minister of Defense, were tried and executed by the military. Also executed were former Benue-Plateau Governor Joseph Gomwalk, Col. A.D.S Wya, Lt. col. T.K. Adamu, Lt.Col. A.B. Umaru, Col. Isa Bukar, Lt. Col. Ayuba Tense, Major D.C. Dabang, Major Ola Ogunmekan, Major J.W. Kasai. Major J.K. Afolayan, and Lt. Lawrence Garba. Seven non-commissioned officers were also executed. The coup changed the course of history. If Murtala has not been killed, the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Obasanjo, would not have become the military Head of State. Thirty eight years after, the memory of Murtala’s magnetism and charisma and popularity is evergreen. The Murtala years are still remembered with fondness. However, many civil servants, especially university teachers and top diplomats, who were affected by his pseudo-radical approach, remember him as an impatient soldier and temperamental administrator who spared no thought for details before taking drastic actions. In his book, “Gowon: The Biography of a Soldier-Statesman”, Prof. Isawa Elaigwu, described Murtala as a very intelligent and hardworking officer, but was often repulsive and temperamental, a trait that earned him the name ‘bulldozer’ among some of his colleagues”. By refusing to heed to strategic advice, his troop was drowned in the River Niger in Asaba/Onitsha during the civil war. When he became the Head of State, he was furious at the system. With immediate effect, the appointment of many civil servants were terminated. Both the good and the bad in the civil service were swept by the gale of forced retirements that characterised the period. Since his ‘tenure’ was brief, perhaps, other weaknesses of the military General could not unfold. Murtala took over from General Yakubu Gowon in July 1975. He was a civil war hero with lots of exploits. After the civil war, military officers had frowned at the composition of the Federal Executive Council (FCE) in the post-civil war period. They complained about their exclusion from governance. In the FEC, only few officers, including Gowon, Admiral Akinwale Wey, and the Inspector General of Police, were officers. Restless soldiers were also grumbling that the 11 state governors and one civilian administrator had stayed long in their offices. They were agitating for their replacement. In response to these agitations in the bar-

•The late Gen. Muhammed

‘However, many civil servants, especially university teachers and top diplomats, who were affected by his pseudo-radical approach, remember him as an impatient soldier and temperamental administrator who spared no thought for details before taking drastic actions. In his book, “Gowon: The Biography of a Soldier-Statesman”, Prof. Isawa Elaigwu, described Murtala as a very intelligent and hardworking officer, but was often repulsive and temperamental, a trait that earned him the name ‘bulldozer’ among some of his colleagues’ racks, Gowon appointed Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo as Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing. He also gave Murtala, a doyen of military signals, the communication portfolio. However, the days of Gowon were numbered in Doddan Barracks. Many officers were spoiling for war and regime change. Gowon was also not in the dark, although he made no conscious attempt to avert coup that drew the curtains on his regime. When a top police officer, Dikko Yusufu, alerted him to the danger, he brushed the information aside. In Yusufu’s biography, “Aristocratic Rebel”, the author, Ayo Opadokun stated that “Gowon prevaricated and procrastinated. The General felt no urgency. The Head of State told M.D that he knew there was discontent, and he was going to handle it in his own way when he returned from the OAU meeting”. At the OAU meeting in Kampala, Gowon received the news of his ouster with understanding and philosophical calmness. His cousin and Commander of the Brigade of Guards, Col. Joe Garba, led the bloodless coup. When he was leaving Lagos for Kampala, the Head of State warned the military boys against bloodletting. At the airport, Gowon, as recalled by Elaigwu, told Garba: “If you are plotting, let it be on your own conscience and let it be without bloodshed”.

Historians did not attribute the coup to the thirst for power by senior military officers. But, after the coup, they emerged as the beneficiaries. The planners sought for direction from them. Murtala and Danjuma were renowned coup plotters. They were the brains behind the mutiny that terminated the lives of the first military Head of State, Gen.Aguiyi Ironsi and military governor of Western State, Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, in Ibadan. Murtala was popular amount young officers and it was said that he was asked to become the Head of State to give the change of government a sort of credibility. When Murtala became the Head of State, Obasanjo became his deputy. He had turned down the suggestion that Brigadier James Oluleye and Martins Obada should become the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. In fact, historians have always referred to the administration as Murtala/Obasanjo regime. The trio of Murtala, Obasanjo and Danjuma spearheaded socio-economic and political reforms which, in part, repositioned Nigeria. However, Danjuma was previously junior in rank to Major General Illiya Bisalla, who became the Federal Commissioner for Defense. Murtala was immediately promoted to full General and Obasanjo and Danjuma to Lt-Generals. There was tension, following the inability of Bisalla to adjust to the reality of the new power structure. Murtala was very combative. His maiden speech on July 29, 1975, was explosive. “All members of the Federal Executive Council are hereby dismissed with immediate effect”, he thundered. Subsequently, all executive orders carried the tag of immediacy. No foot-dragging, no lethargy, no tardiness. Murtala/Obasanjo Administration ushered a new dawn. Corruption, negligence, nepotism, favouritism and tribalism had soared under the Gowon Administration, thereby making critics to question the basis for sacking civilians from power, in the first instance. Although Gowon as an individual was not corrupt, many governors and federal commissioners had soiled their hands. Under Murtala, decisions were carried out with dispatch, precision and patriotism. He promptly asked for the list of indolent, lazy and corrupt civil servants across board. He lacked the mechanism of authenticating the claim of the drafters. Indeed, he was impatient. There was no sober reflection before taking decisive actions. The super permanent secretaries who Gowon relied as the kitchen cabinet were the first casualties. Their bright careers were cut short. Out of 12 governors, only two; Brig. Mobolaji Johnson (Lagos) and Brig. Oluwole Rotimi (Western State); survived the gale of dismissals. Many directors and other promising technocrats learnt about their retirement on the radio. There was instability in the civil service for the first time. University teachers were not insulated from the military hammer. The move fostered public accountability. But, the negative effects were also far-reaching. Suddenly, civil servants started to cut corners in anticipation of such emergencies. Lecturers started to show inclination for primitive accumulation. Many sacked civil servants faced adjustment difficulties. Some of them fell sick and died. With immediate effect, Murtala decongested the Apapa ports. He created additional seven states with immediate effect. The former Head of State promised to complete construction work at the international airport, Lagos. He promised to build refineries, bridges and railways. The implementation of these projects was with immediate effect. He promised to stop the fuel scarcity and the high cost of petrol and kerosene. Normalcy returned to the sector. Murtala also played a populist politics. When he promised to hand over to civilians in 1979, he became the toast of the political class. The transition programme took off with immediate effect. It was later completed by his successor, Obasanjo. The former Head of State made his mark in foreign policy. He attracted some radical intellectuals to himself. One of them was Dr. Patrick Wilmot. His non-alignment position motivated freedom fighters to intensify the agitation for liberation in Africa. Under Murtala, the idea of relocating the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja was mooted. In post-Murtala period, the nation became the victim of “immediate effect” philosophy. Successive military regimes caught the bug. The Buhari/Idiagbon regime, which posed as an offshoot of Murtala/Obasanjo Administration, carried on with the affairs of the state with that sense of immediacy. Both good and bad policies were implemented with urgency. Following Murtala’s demise, relations between Britain and Nigeria were strained. The Federal Military Government alleged Gowon’s involvement in the Dimka coup. The new Head of State refused to visit United Kingdom throughout his reign. Pressures were even mounted on him to pull Nigeria out of the Commonwealth of Nations. Gowon, who had enrolled as a student in Warwick University, denied his involvement. The former Head of State was immortalised. The Lagos international airport was re-named “Murtala Mohammed Airport”. Few other monuments were also named after the gallant officer. For a year or two, February 13 was observed as a public holiday. But what would have happened, if he was not killed in 1976? Probably, he would have also retired into politics or business, or become a non-state actor in the international community.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

POLITICS Hon. Abayomi Ogunnusi is the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance and sponsor of the bill on state and community police. The legislator from Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency spoke with VICTOR OLUWASEGUN on national security and other issues.

‘Insecurity ‘ll persist without state police’

OU are the sponsor of the bill on the state and community policing. What is your motive? The bill, if you look at the title, speaks for itself. The title reads: “A bill for an act to alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of state police and to ensure effective community policing in Nigeria.” So, it is obvious that the intent of the bill is for effective security at the state and local government levels. The security situation in the country is at an all time low. There are escalating incidents of robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, militancy and many other vices that a centralised police system has not been able to stem. The way forward is the establishment of state and community policing. The purpose of having lawmakers at the parliament is to represent the interest of the people. For me, the security of the people I represent and, by extension, the generality of Nigerians, is paramount. Hence, the bill is seeking to alter the necessary sections of the constitution to allow for the establishment of state and community police in Nigeria to ensure effective community policing as a modern security strategy. Specifically, what sections are being targeted for amendment in the constitution by your bill? The bill is seeking to alter the provisions of Section 214 and sections 217, 218 and 219 and sections (d) and (e) and Part Two of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. The bill seeks to delete the clause that bars the establishment of state police and community security structures in the country. We have the neighborhood watch and vigilantes in some states. Is that not what you seek? What we seek is something better. What you are referring to exists only in a few states. In 2004, the Federal Government introduced community policing as a security measure. In fact, it was funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development ( DFID) through the Nigeria Safety and Security, Justice and Growth (SJC) programme. Only six states participated and they were Jigawa, Kano, Benue, Enugu, Ondo and Ogun States. Though the project was a success, it was not effectively institutionalised. There is the need for security structures and powers to be devolved across the tiers of government. That way, it will be effective because it will involve the people and communities. Criminals have families; they live in houses. There is no way a force of just about 350, 000 men will effectively police a nation of over

150 million people. Do the mathematics. What’s the ratio? But state and community policing will resolve the issue of lack of manpower and also provide employment to the teeming youths. But, critics have said that the concept cannot work. What is your view? Change is difficult for some people. The only thing that is permanent is change. Why would the concept not work? This is probably the only country in the world that operates a federal structure and uses a unitary police system. And where has that taken us? We are all aware of what happened in Rivers State recently when Senator Magnus Abe was shot because the Presidency was not comfortable with the rally held by the opposition party. The kind of impunity being shown by the police in Rivers State, with the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan, shows that it is time that state and community policing is established by constitutional means. The centralised system of policing is being abused and used as a vendetta against perceived political foes. Would the change in the policing system not lead to the disorientation of the security system? We are living in a dynamic society and you can’t get a different result when you do things the same way. We will get over whatever challenges there may be. In terms of security, there must be a paradigm shift in the way we think. Obviously, the merits of running state and community policing far outweighs what may be considered as the demerits or what we have now. Those opposing it have not advanced superior arguments on why state police and community policing should not come to stay. Running a centralised police force is no longer feasible or effective. We must come to terms with that. It is evident for everyone to see. The police force is stretched and are often times clueless as to how to deal with the increasingly sophisticatesd criminal organisations. On the flip side, many people are supporting the concept. This is because they have seen the

immense benefit that would bring peace and security to all the states should it be created. In a true federation, the state police would be an option of choice and all federating states would participate in the maintenance of peace as opposed to a centralised system that has woefully failed to address the ever increasing need for a secured society. The Federal Government is underfunding the centralised policing system. Can the state fund the state police effectively? From the onset, the funding of the police has always been a joint effort between the Federal Government and the state governments. No state would want to be overrun by criminal elements. Hence, you find the states providing support, in terms of vehicles, communication equipment, accommodation and finances in order to have effective security in their states. Of course, funds would be provided by the states because they know that peace and security will lead to economic growth. Can state poliec be insulated from corruption? Problems can only arise with corrupt political regimes that would want the state police force to harass, intimidate and commit crimes against political opponents. For instance, in Rivers State, the police is being used to undermine the authority of the governor and create insecurity in the state. Challenges of corruption can only creep in due to, among other factors, poor oversight or accountability from the political regime appointing the police, which could lead to poor organisation, corruption and chaos in dealing with crime. There must be checks against bribery. In some countries, there are no minimum standards or requirements to becoming a police officer other than political favour or connections. The lack of effective supervision and oversight, poor selection criteria and political favoritism lcan lead to criminal enterprises within the police. One is also not ignorant of the fact that training may be limited, usually performed through “on the job” training and mentorship by veteran

‘The kind of impunity being shown by the police in Rivers State, with the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan, shows that it is time that state and community policing is established by constitutional means. The centralised system of policing is being abused and used as a vendetta against perceived political foes’

•Ogunnusi

officers perpetuating corrupt practices. We should not also pretend that there won’t be the challenge of career advancement that may be based on political connections, instead of meritorious performance and service to the community. Having identified these challenges, it goes to show that half the solution has been provided. To completely eliminate these problems that may turn state police to exactly what we have presently, any serious-minded state must be ready and willing to massively invest in its police infrastructure, in form of offices and accommodation, security equipment, communication gadgets, security vehicles in form of patrol vans, and Armoured Personnel Cars (APC). On the other hand, the training, welfare, emoluments and other motivating packages of the personnel must not be handled with levity. It is only when these are taken care of that the best and maximum benefits of state police can be derived. If not, political interference and favoritism will infect the highest ranks of the state police, thereby jeopardizsing its independence and plunging its leadership into unnecessary political battles. Do you think that the bikll will be nationally accepted? I strongly believe that the national appeal for state and community policing is on the rise and its total acceptance is just a matter of time. Nigerians are becoming well informed of its benefits. Already, former President Ibrahim Babangida, Governor Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi and Kayode Fayemi are unequivocal in their support for it. A host of other people, including the former Director-General of the defunct National Security Organisation (NSO), Alhaji Umar Shinkafi, have also spoken in support of it. I believe their support is anchored on the recognition of the key element of state and community policing that place emphasis on crime prevention.

APC changes permutation in Jonathan’s home state From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

•Sylva

T was carnival-like rally for the home-boy. Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva rode into Yenagoa, the state capital, with funfair. Associates, friends and relations were on hand to welcome him. Exuding confidence, the former governor declared that the days of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were numbered, the All Progressives Congress (APC), he said, will bring succour to the people. The temporary headquarters of the opposition party along Enepa-Yenizuegene street was aglow with festivities. The crowd was in a joyous mood. Brooms, the symbol of the APC, filled the air. “We are tired of the PDP. We want the APC”, exclaimed a youth as he waved his broom.

When the APC leaders alighted from the convoy of cars, there was jubilation. On sighting Hon.Tiwe Orunimighe, the youths shouted the slogan of change. Orunnimighe is the former Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. He is also the former leader of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON). The politician is an ally of Sylva, who stood by him in the period of tribulation. He is now the APC interim chairman. The former governor was also accompanied by the former Special Adviser on Youth Affairs and Chief of Staff, Samuel Ogbuku. Also at the rally was a member of the APC Interm Executive Committee, Mr. Miriki Ebikibina, Elder Chris Alagoa and Mr. Aroz Zuokomor. The rally was organised to sentitise members of the party to the importance of the membership registration. The exercise was later conducted by the members of the APC Registration Committee led by an activist and lawyer from Cross River State, Mr. Obono Obla. Other members are Mr. Adokeye Ameye and Preye Aganaba. Orunnimighe described the PDP as the party of anti-democrats. He said the party will not retain power in 2015, urging the people to join the APC. The politician urged the Southsouth stakeholders to do away with sentiments. He said President Goodluck Jonathan has not lived up to expectation. though from the Niger Delta region had failed to guarantee their future. he added: “They have always said our son is

the President. Yes, we agree. But, you and l know that, as youths, you don’t have a future under the PDP, which has been hijacked. Those who hijacked it are now lording it over the members. “Have you ever seen where sitting governors abandoned their party to embrace the opposition? This is to tell you the level of impunity that exists in the PDP.” Orunnimighe drew attention to the performance of the APC governors in 16 states. He said, if the party gets to the centre, it will change the face of the country. Urging the people to register as APC members, he said: “This exercise is different from that of the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Our party, the APC, has seen the future because, in the nearest future, we will be going digital. So, your passport is required for registration. “Even though the INEC comes with electronic voting and any kind of voting, we are set. The party will bear the burden and cost of providing passports. Photographers have been deployed to take passports of willing members. “We will manage to go to your places, get your passports and attach them to your forms. We need your signature on the form or your thumbprint. Don’t allow anybody to take your form. It is what qualifies you as a member of the party”. Orunnimighe added: “In the next one year, the APC will be the government of the day. The former Vice President of the country, who is the number one founding member of the PC, Atiku Abubakar, has gone to APC.

“Have you ever heard in the history of this country that elected members of a party abandoned the party and defected to another party? This is to tell you the direction that we are going. As we speak, APC states are 16 and, by the census of this country, the population of those states are two times the states controlled by the PDP.” The politician assured that the APC will provide equal opportunity for members to pursue their aspirations. He said: “They used to say that the APC is a ghost party in Bayelsa. Now, you can identify the people behind the party in the state. Everybody has an opportunity to register as a member. With your membership cards, you are equal to any of our party chieftains and you can contest for any position”. Obla urged the people to participate in the registration. He said: “I am happy that the revolution is starting from Bayelsa State. I now know that the APC has come to stay. From today, no more CPC, no more new PDP, no more ACN and no more APGA. Obla added: “It is a very simple exercise. Go to your polling units. All you need is two passport photograph. Meet your registration officer. He will give you a form. Fill your name, your phone number, sign or thumbprint. “The form is in two parts. One will be detached and given to you the other one will be sent to Abuja. The one given to you will be your temporary membership card, until about two months when a permanent card will be sent to you. The registration is open to all Nigerians from 18 years old and above.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Can Nigeria produce standard herbal drugs? About six months after President Goodluck Jonathan directed Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu to ensure that Nigeria develops locally produced herbal drugs that can compete with orthodox drugs worldwide, not much seem to have been done. But a member of the committee set up to do the job says there is no cause for alarm. WALE ADEPOJU writes

ILL Nigeria ever produce globally acceptable herbal drugs? The answer is yes, but when, is what experts cannot put their fingers on. The process, though slow, is gradually taking shape, Prof Adebukunola Adefule-Ositelu, Chairman, National Expert Committee for Research and Development in Natural Medicine (NECRDENM) has said. The country, according to her, is on the path of developing her own internationally acceptable herbal drugs. Last year, President Goodluck Jonathan charged the Health Minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu to constitute a committee to develop five worldclass herbal drugs that can be marketable internationally. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) inaugurated the committee to develop herbal drugs to treat chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, hepatitis and kidney failure. Adefule-Ositelu said NAFDAC was doing its best, adding that it was hampered by lack of equipment for clini-

cal trials, among others. “This is because a lot of animal experiments have to be done before the drugs are tried on humans. The toxicology of drugs to know if they are toxic and training of practitioners are necessary. Another problem with herbal drugs is that most of them are not evidence-based and for any drug to be acceptable internationally, it must be scientifically proven beyond reasonable doubt,” she said. Mrs Adefule-Ositelu, who is a member of the committee, said the Federal Government should liaise with universities for more analysis and clinical works on herbal drugs because the country has good vegetation and personnel. NAFDAC, she said, had set up sub-committees to drive the programme, adding that it was also trying to get model clinics where drugs identified can be tested on patients. “A local committee based in Abuja has been meeting. The problem is that members are scattered across the country. So the logistics have not been favourable. “But the major problem is funding. Research works are

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not cheap to do. Clinical trials, tests for toxicology and efficacy of drugs cost money,” she added. She said there was need to build trust because traditional medicine practitioners are afraid to put down their formulas. “Some think once they submit what they have it will be taken away from them. But this is not true. So, there is need for collaboration between the orthodox medicine practitioners and the traditional practitioners,” Mrs Adefule-Ositelu said. She said Nigeria has anti-

cancer drugs, which were developed from natural vegetation, adding 20 different preparations that can cure malaria are available. “The country also has 20 products that can lower blood sugar of diabetics,” she said. She said: “I know cancer patients who refused to have surgery, chemotherapy and radiation but used herbal remedies and they were cured.” She said there should be colleges to train traditional medicine practitioners, adding that they should know their limitations. Pharmacists, she said, should do more research on natural products. “So many of them that were discovered to be potent have not be developed for commercial purpose,” she said. Some ailments, she said, were already being treated with herbal drugs because “you won’t see patients with haemorrhage in hospital wards as they prefer traditional remedy.” She called on the government on the need to establish a body that will bridge the gap between the orthodox and traditional medicine practice and

develop drugs for the country. Prof Adefule-Ositelu said training should be organised for the practitioners in each state. “Lagos is the only state that is moving the traditional medicine forward,” she added. She identified inferiority complex as a factor affecting the growth of traditional medicine. “We need to have confidence in ourselves; we will be courageous enough to do things that will move the country forward,” she said. She said she got involved in herbal medicine by providence, adding, “I was at LUTH where I was practicing when a patient introduced me to garcina kola, which I developed.” She said the herbal drug is used to treat glaucoma. “I got the consent of the ethics committee and it was used on eight different animals in LUTH. Its side effects were less on animals compared to orthodox medicine. It cleared my son’s redness of the eye. He picked the formula on the shelf and tried it while I was away and it worked. That gave us insight to its antibiotic property,” she said.

Mrs Adefule-Ositelu said the herbal drug has helped to address popular discharges from the eyes, adding that it worked when tested on cultured bacteria because it inhibited their growth. It cleared popular eye infection such as conjuctivities, which in local parlance is called Apollo. It has antiviral property. “Having discovered the intraocular lowering effect of the drug on laboratory animals, we went ahead to use it on glaucoma patients and it worked. “We presented it at World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE),” she said. The professor of Ophthalmology said the country can produce internationally acceptable herbal drugs. “If on a small scale I can achieve on garcina kola for glaucoma, we should encourage the practitioners to come forward with their preparations and help to develop them. In fact, Nigeria already has herbal drugs that are of international standards, it only needs to bring the practitioners together get their formula and do clinical trials on them,” she said.

When we look at ourselves in the mirror and suddenly notice a new wrinkle or age spot on the skin that hasn’t been there before, we get disturbed. Our skin serves many purposes, and our facial skin is especially exposed and stands at the forefront, hence it is prone to damage that is quickly evident on our face. What causes our facial skin to age and what can we do about it? •Sun Sun exposure is a major factor and is more important than our chronological age to the appearance of age spots, wrinkles, reducing in skin elasticity and sagging skin. In fact, about 70 percent of skin aging process depends on the amount of sunlight our skin is exposed to throughout our life. Solar radiation accelerates destruction of collagen fibers in our skin through oxidation process. The elastic collagen fibers become rigid and fragile and their basic structure is destroyed – a phenomenon called solar elastosis. The accelerated oxidation processes also damage the genetic material in the skin cells and cause an abnormal division of cells. Thus the solar radiation also increases the risk of malignant and pre-malignant skin lesions and of course, leads to the appearance of rough, thin and wrinkled skin. Beyond that, prolonged sun exposure damages the sebaceous glands and causes dry and sensitive skin. • Smoking Smoking causes premature fine lines that typically appear on places where the skin is very thin, such as the sides of the eyes (smile lines) and above the upper lip. These typical smoking lines may appear 10 to15 years before they appear among non-

Causes of premature ageing of facial skin antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables reach the deeper skin layers (the dermis) and partially neutralise the oxidative damage associated with prolonged exposure to the sun. Also fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C are essential to the proper production of collagen. Berries are especially rich in vitamin C.

• Genetics

smokers. The reason for the premature wrinkles among smokers lies in the reduction of vitamin c levels in their blood, which is lower in 60 per cent on average in comparison to the level found in the blood of non-smokers. Vitamin C is a key component in the production of collagen fibers, which are responsible for the elasticity and appearance of youthful and healthy skin, whereas lack of it affects the

proper production of colagen.

such as hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin fibers.

• A diet low in protein and rich in simple carbohydrates

• A diet low in fruits and vegetables

A diet rich in simple sugars and sweets causes the connective tissue in the skin to become rigid and lose its elasticity. On the other hand, complete protein is important to the production of protein structures in the skin that are vital to the appearance of fresh skin on the face,

Fruits and vegetables are the main source of antioxidants in our daily nutrition. Sun exposure, smoking, chronic diseases and air pollution expose us to accelerated oxidation damages in our body. Soluble dietary antioxidants such as lycopene, lutein, beta-carotene and other

Our body has an inherent ability to produce enzymes that operate as antioxidants along with the ability to correct individual damage in DNA, which is the genetic code present in all cells. These antioxidant enzymes produced in our body are responsible for the effective repair of the damage to our genetic code that occur with the aging process. However, the tendency to repair genetic damage and the amount of antioxidants our body produces naturally are inherent in our genome, so our parents also affect the degree of damage caused to our skin with the aging process.

• Stress Prolonged emotional stress causes increased secretion of stress hormones such as corti-

sol and adrenaline. These stress hormones accelerate various aging processes that include suppression of normal synthesis of connective tissue, characteristic obesity of the face, along with osteoporotic processes that damage bone density and cause changes in bone structure.

• Tendency to facial mimicry The tendency to talk with exaggerated facial movements is acquired and learned. Usually children tend to mimic their parents characteristic facial movements during the conversation. Intensive use of facial muscles brings exaggerated expression lines on the face that causes us to look older than we are. For example, repetitive frowning causes the appearance of frown line between the eyebrows and may become permanent even from our late twenties. Also frowning and raising the eyebrows causes the appearance of horizontal forehead wrinkles that become deeper on the skin. Beyond wrinkles, repeated use of expression muscles causes their dominance under the skin and damages the relaxed and smooth appearance which is typical to young looking face.

•Source: www.healthyandnaturalworld.com

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH

Epidemic of premature birth, baby diabetes? (3) “W HAT has befallen the Earth"?, many people ask when they hear of children as young as two years suffering from diabetes. Yet this is not a strange event to many physicians who, every day, attend to children who suffer from such diseases as asthma or even cancer. In the 1990s, I saw a seven-year-old girl who suffered from cancer of the high muscle. She was under the care of Dr. Ajeigbe, a pharmacist turned oncologist (cancer doctor), at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He was the doctor of Miss Shakerat Adeoti, a 33year-old microbiology graduate who had cancer in both breasts. Shakirat was introduced to me by Mrs Dorcas Akintoye, and I advised her to go to LUTH after she successfully stopped the bleeding in the breasts with herbs. At that time, knowledge of helpful anti-cancer herbs was not as enlarged as it is today. Nevertheless, Shakirat was able to undergo chemotherapy for one year without manifesting the typical side effects such as blackened skin, nausea and vomiting and falling hair. Fifteen or so months into chemo, she couldn't digest capsules or food, had serious breathing problems for which she was on oxygen support, suffered from an outbreak of shingles as her immunity dipped, and died eventually of respiratory failure. Every Sunday afternoon, I visited Shakirat at LUTH, and that was how I got to meet that seven-year-old girl, QUEEN, who, incidentally happened to be a pupil in my friend's primary school at FESTACT town, Lagos. Her story was pathetic. During the break time at school, one boy kicked a ball which hit her in the thigh. Back home, she told her mother of the pain in that thigh. Her mother massaged the thigh with hot water and a popular heat balm, but the pain would not subside many days, even weeks after. Then, Queen's mother took her to a doctor who, after series of test referred the girl to LUTH where the cancer of thigh muscle was diagnosed. Shakirat and Queen were in the same ward, their beds almost opposite each other. Queen would go to Shakirat whenever she was in pain and crying. Shakirat would cuddle her, and give her some food supplements I brought to her, Then, the doctor on duty would come and give her anti-pain and sleep injections and, off to a trip into illusion she would go. I call it a trip into illusion because that absence of pain was temporary, and did not result from a resolution of the deep cause(s) of her trouble. Queen's mother came regularly to see her. On a few occasions, I saw her; she often brought ice cream in love. Perhaps this was this girl's favourite snack back home. I often wondered, sad that her mother was ignorant about nutrition, particularly for a cancer patient. Sometimes, I felt like calling her aside to talk to her, but we were in a hospital environment where it was wise for everyone to mind his/her own business. After all, wasn't ice cream, egg and fried food served other patient? During visiting time one day, I caught Shakirat trying to hide her meal from me. I have told Queen's story to show that something is not just beginning to go wrong. As a point of correction, it isn't the Earth that something has gone wrong with… It is the inhabitants of the Earth who have gone bunkers. Baby Diabetics As it must have been discovered in the first two parts of this series, mother cannot escape responsibility for what happens to the health of their babies. As I am often reminded by my faith, a baby is "a gift for the right mother". This does not imply, though, that fathers may have no hand in any mishap. I have seen many fathers take their children out for a treat which is anything but an opportunity to load them up with junk, killing food. No doubt, women bear the heavier responsibility. They attract the babies in the first place. They need to prepare their bodies' adequately for pregnancy, and give the growing baby the best nutrition can offer, not junk. Lactation or breast feeding, requires that they eat right and they must prevent the child from becoming a 'sweet tooth. I admit a woman may be helpless sometimes such as the mother of a two-year-old diabetic baby who suspects her baby's Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes was caused by a hospital drug to control asthma. In a seven-year-old child, the blood sugar still runs as high as 140 mg/dl even when controlled with the insulin. The cause of this diabetes is still unknown. It is a traumatic experience for a parent who is bringing up a child who has to take insulin injections every day. It is a sad experience for the child too, can the diabetic child be helped? Type 1 Diabetes This is the type of diabetes children often have. Adults are more prone to TYPE 2 diabetes. Diabetes occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood stream than should be there. The excess blood sugar can damage the eyes, the kidney, the liver, the nerves and even the brain. In the adult, it may occur because the cells refuse to 'drink' or let in blood sugar. There are about 100 trillion cells in the adult human body. They make up the eyes, bones, brain , nerves, organs (such as the liver, kidneys) and the blood and immune cells, to mention a few. Each cell has a covering, the membrane, which is made up of fatty acids. On the membranes are 'windows' or 'doors' called receptors through which everything the cell requires to live enter into it. The cell needs blood sugar, so why would the receptors refuse to open to let in blood sugar? Many suggestions have been made in this regard, such as: • Overconsumption of carbohydrates in the diet The way we eat in Nigeria, we consume carbohydrate in mounds. Some people eat about five to 10 service spoons of white rice and stew. Compare this with a meal of two service spoons of rice, one service spoon of green leafy vegetable, half spoonful of diced carrot, one or two parboiled tomatoes, one medium sliced onion e.t.c. The heavy carbohydrate meal of rice or eba or fufu ( some people eat about three wraps of swallow' food) pours sugar into the blood. The pancreas produces a large quantum of insulin to 'burn' the excess sugar, but insulin doesn't really 'burn' sugar in

the real sense of it. Rather, it accompanies or 'sweeps' blood sugar across the cell membrane into the cell. Before it would do this successfully, however, chromium, a friend of the cell membrane, has to accompany them to 'knock' on the door. Unfortunately, today, most carbohydrate foods are processed and do not have enough chromium. About 90 per cent, if not more, of the chromium in brown rice is lost in the milling of brown rice to white rice. It is doubtful if bread, now a staple food has any chromium left in it after the processing of wheat to white flour. Yet the sugar in white bread is released into the blood faster than the sugar of cube sugar. Thus, the absence of chromium or a deficiency of it leaves a large pool of sugar in the bloodstream which cannot cross the cell membrane to the cell. Thus, also, insulin is trapped in the bloodstream. Too much of it circulating in the blood vessels cause the soft muscles of these vessels to overgrow rapidly as though it were a fertilising agent for their growth. This causes a narrowing of the blood vessels and the consequent elevation of blood pressure. Thus, again, these culprits i.e. excess insulin in the blood vessel, cause heart disease, heart attack or stroke in addition to organ damage. This is why herbal formulas to check hypertension, diabetes and even blurry vision or to promote eye health come with chromium in about 200mcg dosage per day.

•Demineralised, Devitaminised Foods Certain minerals and vitamins are needed for glucose combustion. The B-Complex family, for example is crucial for the KREEB'S CYCLE in which carbohydrates is completely and efficiently digested and converted to ENERGY, CARBONDIOXIDE and WATER. Besides, diabetes have been found to lack such minerals as Magnesium and Zinc, which are now major components of anti-diabetes -herbal formulas

•Insulin Resistance This implies that the cells refuse to take up insulin from the blood stream, sometimes even in the presence of chromium, a situation which some researchers have attributed to the wrong types of fats in the cell membrane. This is a serious problem. I've seen people hit 400mg/dl despite the best of the dietary and pharmaceutical drug support. Many studies support the notion that insulin resistance over a long period of the consumption of large carbohydrate diets. Each time such a meal is eaten, the pancreas pumps out a large quantum of the insulin to deal with the sugar flood in the blood. The bloodstream thus becomes filled with insulin. This insulin quantum irritates the cells and they 'close' their 'doors' and 'windows'. Who would not do the same on a stormy, rainy day when the storm blows dust and rain water into the house? • Irritation of the Pancreas Viruses, bacteria, yeast, mild, heavy metals and chemicals and even flat worms, not to mention tumors, may cause such irritation as may make the pancreas, overstimulated, overproduce insulin, a factor as stated in insulin resistance.

Type 1 Diabetes In type 1 diabetes, which babies and children suffer from when the pancreas is producing little or no insulin, insulin injection have to be given to keep such children alive. Insulin is produced by certain special cells of the pancreas known as the islets of Langerhans. When these cells are partially or permanently damaged, the system has to survive on insulin support in the form of plant-insulin containing herbs, or artificial insulin injection. There may be one thousand and one causes as we say, of this anomaly. The origins may start in the womb, where many health havocs brew. We know, for example, that many adult men who do not produce sperm or make too little of them, may have suffered from damaging mumbs as children, or their mothers may have too much estrogen one of the major female hormones while the young bodies were forming in the wombs. Too much estrogen damages sertoli cells of the testes. There cells provide the food which nurture the infant sperm cells. If there is no food from the sertoli cells on account of being drowned and killed in an estrogen ocean, starvation would occur and the sperm cells would die. The insulin-making capacity of the pancreas of a baby in

the womb or that of a growing child may be disturbed or damaged partly or wholly by a number of factors, which may include auto-immune disease. In this condition, the immune system is no longer selective and is killing cells of the body. It is meant to protect, not the foreign bodies which seek to damage or kill these cells. But the immune system is no fool or wicked. It works through a system of signaling. All 100 trillion or so cells of the body originated from one fertilised cell and radiate electromagnetic energy of the same frequency. Germs, toxins and other foreign bodies "broadcast" their existence on different energy frequencies. An acidic internal environment disorients the immune system as the signaling of an acid abrased or poison cell differs remarkably from the norm. The immune system naturally mistakes altered cells for foreign bodies and attacks them. Let's not forget that this is why, in a person transfused with the wrong group blood, the immune cells of the different blood groups go to "war" immediately, causing blood coagulation and death. I have a niece who does not tolerate fish, the antigen of her immune system disagrees with the antigen of fish. Even one teaspoon of fish sauce udder in her food will make her vomit all day. Some people do not tolerate honey or other food for similar reasons. They have bodies allergic to those foods because their immune systems had learned to misrecognise them as enemies. Therefore, anyone who does not want immune damage to his or her body should avoid disagreeable foods. Candida, viruses, bacteria mold, chemicals heavy metals, flat worms etc in the panaceas. A sick pancreas may habour one, a combination or all of these and more especially, excess sugar in the blood. When the baby is in the womb, many pregnant women have oral thrish (gray or white tongue, or Candida in the mouth. Some have Candida in the vagina and bloods and do not treat if before they get pregnant. Now, autism in some children has been linked to Candida in their brains. I know a woman who, on hearing this, admitted she was treated severally before and during the pregnancy of her autistic child. Even after their birth, parents indulge their children in sweet things. Children's pharmaceutical medicines are sugar embalmed. Few parents give their babies and children garlic and anti-Candida herbs. Check the tongue of your baby or child today. It is likely to be gray! There is a particular children's multivitamin/ multimineral which is all sugar. I did not allow it in my children's medicine chest. This is not to mention all sorts of sugar-coated cereals, biscuits, sweets beverages, soft drinks, bitter lemons, malt drinks etc. All these change the pH of the blood to acidity Microzyma, a microorganism cell resident in every cell, human or plant or animal, is transformed by the acid into bacteria, then yeast (to which family Candida belongs), mold and viruses, depending on the degree of the acidosis. Microzyma is designed by mother nature, say some researchers, including Dr. Robert Young, author of pH Miracle, to dissolve or destroy unviable cells. Alkalinity promotes viability; Acidosis destroys viability. Corpses are acidic, which is why mycrozyma makes them rot. When a fruit, say orange or pawpaw becomes too ripe, its sugar level increases, making its cells acidic, for which reason mycrozyma goes to work to destroy it. When sugar flushes the human cell excessively, wouldn't mycrozyma go to work as primordially commanded by Mother Nature? Isn't this the reason diabetic sores which become gangrenous lead to tissue death? We know of external diabetic sores. What of the within organs, such as prostate or pancreas, from where some of the commonest health challenges come nowadays? Flat worms (fasciolopsis), parasites in the intestine of animals enter the human body through their eggs in animal intestine which survive cooking and a weak digestive system. In Nigeria animal intestine a dietary delicacy is known in restaurants as "Round About" for the foregoing reason, I do not eat it. From a pregnant woman, eggs of flat worms may cross to the growing baby and make the liver or pancreas its home after developing to adult stage in the intestine. In the liver, it is known as faciolopsis hepatica.

Help for baby and child diabetics

Therapy goals may include the following steps • Detoxification to make the body alkaline and clear microorganisms resident in the organ. The liver needs help to help the process. The blood must become clean and well-oxygenated. Herbs such as Milk thistle, Stinging Nettle Root Tumeric, Burdock root Pau d'Arco in children's dosages (1/4 or ½ dosage depending on age) should help. •Alkalisation with Wheatgrass and Hostail helps. Horsetail lowers blood sugar and, because of its high silica content) alkalizes and dissolves growths. • Lowering of elevated blood sugar with insulin containing herbs or with herbs with a reputation for lowering blood sugar. There are many of these in the Nigerian market. Some of them are Fenugoek, Cinamon, Garlic, Onion, Bitter melon, Chanka, piedra. Also helpful are proprietary products such as Maria Treben Sweedish Bitters, Kyolic, Blood Sugar, Nature's way Blood Sugar etc. bilberry, Lion's Mane, Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), Vitamin C, Zinc. Unfortunately these are adult products which must be skillfully adapted to the dosages of young ones by age or weight as the children's market is not well-developed in Nigeria as yet. Many parents do not take care of themselves, let alone their children. They run helter skelter only when there is fire on the roof. • Massage of the reflex zone of the pancreas in the palm or sole of the foot, using the thimble or Guardian Angel acupuncture device should help. This may stimulate healing in the pancreas where damage is not permanent for this, reference guide books such as Devendoro Vora's YOUR HEALTH IN YOUR HANDS (2 volumes) may help the therapist and the children.

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

Despite the Federal Government’s N100 billion intervention fund to revive the textile sector, operators are still not finding things easy. Pakistani investors are, however, said to be waiting in the wings to help out. OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE writes

Textile: Still a long walk to recovery F OR textile manufacturers, it is still a long road to recovery, despite the Federal Government's N100 billion Intervention Fund Investigations by The Nation show that while many textile companies are still closed, the local textile market is awash with imported textiles from Asia most of which are substandard. The United Nigeria Textile PLC (UNTL) in Kaduna, is for now, operating at below 10 per cent installed capacity, according to the Director-General of Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Usman Saulawa. The company has yet to get off the ground, as its machines remain obsolete. Other textile companies in Kaduna, which used to boast of the highest concentration of textile companies are also still struggling to return to life. To Saulawa, government put the wrong foot forward when it extended the N100 billion lifeline to the sector without first addressing the concerns of local textile manufacturers who have been complaining about the dearth of infrastructure and the influx of sub-standard fabrics from Asia. He said the lack of a conducive environment for the manufacturing sector is responsible for why the stimulus package is not working. He noted that the epileptic power supply is hampering textile operation. He argued that the stimulus package extended to operators at six per cent interest is not the panacea for the sector, rather it is the provision of necessary infrastructure particularly regular electricity supply. Most of the machines, he said, run for 24 hours and so require steady electricity supply. Besides, scarcity of black oil and processed cotton add to the production cost of textile manufacturers, which in turn, make the finished products less competitive. The Vice President of Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Dr Roland Ogbonna, agrees with Saulawa, noting that except the challenge of inadequate electricity supply is addressed, no stimulus package will work. President, Nigerian Union of Textile and Garment Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN), Mr. Oladele Hunsu, also canvassed the same position. He said the N100 billion intervention fund had not made impact because of policy somersaults and poor infrastructure. He said: “Only a few textile industries across the country like UNTL in Kaduna and some other popular ones have accessed the fund. Unfortunately, others that are trying to access the funds cannot do so due to the new policies regarding importation of textile products.” Many textile companies, he noted have turned their factories to warehouses because the sector has not experienced the desired change expected in the wake of the intervention fund. He said: “Some textile manufacturers have resorted to im-

porting ready-made textile materials from Asia and other countries. While some of the materials are original, a good number of them are fake. Smuggling of banned textile has choked the market and discouraged potential manufacturers.” The National Chairman, Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Ibrahim Igomu, said smuggling is the major problem of the industry. He commended the government for the intervention fund, which he said has gone a long way in bringing a new lease of life to the industry by providing an opportunity for players to have an injection of capital to upgrade machineries, modernise and replace obsolete equipment. He said the fund has assisted some operators to address some major challenges, such as working capital, critical infrastructure, electricity supply and high cost of fuel oil. He added that smuggling from Asian countries, faking of existing trademarks and intellectual property infringement remain some of the major hurdles before the textile revival programme. Igomu alleged that “some unpatriotic businessmen fake trademarks of textile materials; they imitate them and dump them on unsuspecting consumers. Our borders have become so porous that market shares of genuine products have been eroded. When you smuggle these things, you don’t pay import duty. You can see that it is a major challenge. These unpatriotic Nigerians together with their collaborators smuggle sub standard textiles into the Nigerian market.” He observed that between 80 and 90 per cent of consumers with purchasing power are in Nigeria. “If you look at the negative effect of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET), neighbouring countries like Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana are turned into grounds for smuggling into Nigeria. This is an area that we have made representation to the government,” he said. Igomu noted that between 1975 and 1991, the country had about 125 active textile industries. “We were contributing about 45 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the real sector, generating about $7billion in the non-oil export sector and employing close to 450,000 Nigerians which made us the largest employer of labour outside the federal, state and local governments. He regretted that the industry has unfortunately been on the decline, a development he said, began when government signed the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement that opened up the borders without adequate protection for local industries to all kinds of imports. “This situation continued unabated until government began to show interest in 1999,” he said. Igomu recalled that the intervention fund idea was mooted under

•African designed fabrics former President Olusegun Obasanjo and was sealed by the present administration, which handed over the administration of the intervention fund to the Bank of Industry (BOI). “We thank the government for conceiving policies such as the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), which was to encourage export of products such as finished textile materials. However, some of the challenges that we are facing is in the area of Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate (NDCC) that one obtains as a result of that grant; it is not being recognized as a Cash Income,” he said. His grouse is that his members

find it difficult to use the NDCC to pay customs duties. He said: “We are appealing to government that it should be done in such a way that we can use the certificate for import duties, payment of electricity bills. We can use the certificate to purchase fuel. Sadly, customs has made it clear that the certificate is not recognized as cash income in their books.” The NDCC, he said, should be as good as cash and customs allowed to recognise it as cash income in their books. He said although government had come up with vibrant policies, such as the intervention fund and the banning of some categories of printed fabrics, the Stan-

dard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) still has work to do. SON, he said, should address the issue of sub-standard products. The supervising ministry, should address intellectual property infringement and trademark. He also encouraged government to empower. Customs to secure the borders including the monitoring of major markets to checkmate the influx of sub-standard products. The NTMA National Chairman also urged government to de-emphasise the role of customs as a revenue generation agency. He said: “All over the world, customs are not •Continued on page 56

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

INDUSTRY

UK firm, LAWMA collaborate on institutional capacity, recycling L AGOS Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Knowledge Factory International United Kingdom (KFI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate for purposes of knowledge transfer and wealth creation. The cooperation between the duo will aid capacity and technology deployment within the public and private sectors to establish an Africa centre of excellence on waste management, says LAWMA Managing Director, Mr. Ola Oresanya. He said the objective of the MoU is to establish the basis for the development of a collaborative- based knowledge transfer programme between both parties to bridge tech-

• To access oversea grants on green technology

by Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst. Editor

nology gaps and correct policy deficiencies in the waste management sector. He said the synergy will promote accelerated growth and sustainable development, promote long term trajectory of waste due to growth in population and industrialisation. In addition, the agreement will also facilitate international knowledge transfer and best practices

through exchange visits and partnership between Nigeria’s waste management and professionals from Europe, America, Asia and other parts of Africa, he added. Chairman, KFI, Prof Chris Nwagboso said his organisation will act as host for capacity development programme in the country and Africa and will identify support programmes that will enhance the growth of the partnership besides organising workshops, seminars, conferences and performance im-

provement through knowledge transfer. Nwagboso also said his firm will assist LAWMA to access international funding to encourage recycling of materials, such tyres, pet bottles and bottles which are high foreign exchange earners. The KFI chairman said the country has been missing out in overseas grant on green technology and said with this strategic technology the country would be better for it. Funds, he said, would also be

drawn from European Project Funding and Management Academy, United Kingdom to build capacity for LAWMA to benchmark with cities such as San Francisco, which has the best recycling facility globally and Mexico with a large population like Lagos. Oresanya added that these initiatives would serve as prelude to the planned Material Recovery Facility at Igando in Lagos, which will serve some West African cities such as Accra, Libreville, Freetown and parts of the country to not only create wealth but multiple opportunities for the medium and small scale enterprises (SMEs).

Textile: Still a long walk to recovery •Continued from page 55

•From left: Asst Director, Press and Public Relations, Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), Mr Babatunde Adele; General Manager, Ms Yinka Fashola and Deputy Head, Administration Mrs Bolatito Jaji at a PHTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS briefing on the on-going registration by the agency at Ikeja, Lagos.

Why buildings collapse, by SON DG

• ‘Any block less than N200 is substandard’

IRECTOR-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu has attributed the incessant buildings collapse to the use of sub-standard products by builders. At an interactive session with reporters in Lagos, Odumodu said the agency’s field checks showed that many block moulders have no idea of the standards guiding their business, adding that the rate of buildings collapse in Nigeria in the last five years is more than the one recorded in the last 15 years. Odumodu said the agency’s business was the protection of lives and property, adding that SON is playing its role. “SON is fully playing its role in the country. Our business is to protect and safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians,” he said. He frowned at a situation where moulders literally mould sand with tint of cement and pass such as cement blocks and sell at low rates to make money. According to him, any block that is less than N200 is substandard. The DG of SON pointed out that some moulders use one bag of cement to make about 80 blocks, whereas a bag of cement should make between 25 and 30 blocks. “I have met with block moulders association and some of them confessed to me that they make substandard blocks. This is not accept-

By Toba Agboola

able. Some block moulders produce 80 blocks with a bag of cement. Some get up to 60. No building can stand with that kind of mixture. A bag of cement should produce between 25 and 30 blocks. Any block that is sold for less than N200 is a substandard block. But we discovered that some of the blocks are sold for N160,” he said. Explaining further, Odumodu said a cement of 32.5 grade is meant for plastering and block moulding, while that of 42.5 grade is for heavy concrete and building bridges. He said all cement manufacturers in Nigeria have met with the quality standard. On the possible discontinuation of the 32.5 grade, he said the issue will be left for the technical committee to look into, adding that a committee, which will not be chaired by SON, will soon be set up to look into it. He said the committee is made up of cement manufacturers, block moulders, consumers, civil society groups, and even the press. He pointed out that all the cement manufacturers in Nigeria are producing 32.5 grade, even when the Federal Government specified 42.5 for the importers.” All the cement companies in Nigeria are making use of the 32.5. At the time the Federal Government specified 42.5 for

the importers, the Nigerian manufacturing companies are producing 32.5. Even companies that have been producing since independence are making 32.5,” he clarified. Odumodu however, pointed out that any company that wants to move from 32.5 to 42.5 is free to do so, provided there won’t be increase in the price of cement. “Of course there may be a change in the cost of production, but whether you are doing 32.5 or 42.5, you must maintain the same price. And the manufacturers have the responsibility to let the consumers know what they are buying. This is very important, “Odumodu said, adding that part of the measures to bring sanity in the industry is for block moulder to register with local associations. “Every block moulder must register with and belong to a local association. We want to hold people responsible. Every block moulder must have a registration number that his product must carry so that when a building collapses and we look at the blocks, we can invite the maker to give us some explanations. It is not just because SON wants it, but because it will serve the interest of everybody, “ he said. Recently, cement manufacturers in Nigeria had distanced themselves from claims that poor cement quality is responsible for the growing cases of building collapse in the country.

solely to generate revenue but to facilitate trade. When an economy grows in terms of volume of economic activities, economic institutions are not growing in the same way. Our people have preference for American cars or cars built according to American specifications. Why this is so is because the American Regulatory Agencies are critically doing their work. For a car to be used in America it must meet certain level of standards; it must have basic safety features. This is what we are telling the government to do as it concerns the textile industry.” Igomu warned that except government works hard with all the relevant agencies to bring sanity to the textile manufacturing value chain, the aim of the intervention fund may be defeated. But the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said government was looking at resuscitating the sector through various facets. He said: “We are looking at it from cotton producers to ginners, to textile manufacturers and then to the fashion designers. This why the government offered the whopping N100billion intervention fund to the sector.” He identified massive influx of textiles and apparels from Asia, particularly after the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) expired in 2005, inadequate and epileptic energy supply and heavy reliance on self-generation of power, leading to high and uncompetitive production costs as some factors that led to the sector’s decline. Aganga listed other factors to include global economic challenges, massive smuggling of cheaper textiles with lower quality, changing consumer tastes and habits and huge debt burden on producers in the value chain. He however, noted that the sector still holds strong potential because of its natural cotton

•Aganga

endowments, large market size and legacy sector knowledge, adding that Nigeria’s population of over 167 million represents a natural market for basic textiles and apparel related goods. He said the potential to export to regional and select developed markets (such as the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) tariff regime is also attractive, adding that the existing textile infrastructure and skill base provide the industry with a pool of knowledgeable workforce particularly in the North. These realities, the minister emphasised, make the sector too important for the government to ignore. With government’s seeming policy inconsistency and inability to summon the political will to address the infrastructure challenges that have for long held the sector down, some discerning foreign investors are cashing in on that to invest in the sector. The Nation learnt that some moribund textile companies may soon roar back to life, as a trade delegation from Pakistan, after a tour of facilities in Kaduna, pledged to turn them round soon. Saulawa said the Pakistani businessmen confirmed that the same machines they found in the Nigerian factories are of the same technology they are using in their country where the sector is flourishing with Pakistan emerging a textile exporting country. Saulawa said the difference is inadequate infrastructure in Nigeria. However, with the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), which allows private operators to run power firms, the consensus is that there may be light at the end of the tunnel for textile companies, at least in the area of electricity supply. But how far government is prepared to complement this by addressing other challenges remains to be seen.

•Saulawa

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Labour frets over IOCs’ divestment

EMBERS of the organised labour have expressed concern over likely job losses that will arise from the ongoing divestment by International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the nation’s oil and gas industry. This is despite assurances by operators and regulators that the move is good for indigenous participants in core upstream activities. Lagos Zonal Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Rev. Folorunsho Oginni, said the union is taking steps to ensure that the interest of its members are protected. He blamed the Federal Government for IOCs’ assets divestment, adding that government has failed to create the enabling environment for indigenous oil firms and IOCs to thrive. Specifically, he said

By Chikodi Okereocha

government has failed to address the myriad of challenges in the sector, which include endemic oil theft, illegal bunkering, piracy, destruction of oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta, and the nonpassage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). He expressed fears that the indigenous oil firms that will take over the assets of the multinationals will massively disengage workers in the sector, going by their antecedents as slave drivers. “If you ask an average oil worker who they prefer to work with, they will tell you it is the IOCs. This is because Nigerian investors are slave drivers. “When they take over these companies, they will sack our workers and employ casuals. This they will do through outsourcing. Foreign owners are more concerned about

the welfare of workers than Nigerian investors. The problems we have today in the industry are caused by Nigerian- owned companies because they always bring their anti-workers policies into their operations,” Oginni said. Union leaders in the industry say the spate of divestment of onshore assets by some IOCs is adversely affecting members in the sector even as they estimated that over 15,000 jobs will be lost before the end of the year. Already, two multinational oil companies have informed the oil workers’ unions of their intention to sack half of their workforce towards the end of the first quarter of the year as part of their divestment plan. The companies have met with the leadership of the labour unions and negotiations are on-going as to how payment will be made to the affected workers.

‘Strikes may truncate Vision 20:2020’

HE Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC) has said Nigeria’s quest to be part of the best economies of the world by the year 2020 may be endangered by frequent workers’ strikes in the country. Its President, Comrade Mohammad Yunusa, advised the Federal Government to evolve viable industrial policies that would place industrial relations on the front burner, adding that a sound industrial relations policy could help check frequent strikes in workplaces in the coun-

try. He called on the Federal Government to prioritise policies that would sustain industrial relations issues with a view to ending frequent strikes by workers in the nation’s economy this year so as to attract the much needed local and international investors to sustain the transformation agenda of the government. He urged the Ministry of Labour and Productivity to develop a module that would help federal, state and local governments to create jobs for the citizens.

Kaduna shares N2b loan to unemployed

HE Kaduna State government has set aside N2 billion to be shared as loan to unemployed people in the state, the Executive Secretary of the State Industrialisation and Microcredit Management Board (KSIMMB), Hon Edward Percy Masha, has said. Speaking at a luncheon with micro finance banks union and chief executives in Kaduna, Masha said N1 billion will be for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) while the remaining N1 billion, which will come through the Bank of Industry (BOI), will be accessed by farmers. “The N2 billion has been guaranteed by the state government and once the budget is passed into law, beneficiaries will access it as loans

in the micro finance banks,” Masha said. He disclosed that about 1,000 unemployed men and women will qualify for the loan this year. “They will be asked to open accounts with the micro-finance banks. We are working with Grow and Employment in States (GEMS), a Department for Infrastructure Development (DFID) sponsored programme on a new lending policy. We have enough funds this year to improve the lives of the unemployed,” he said. Kaduna State Commissioner for Finance, Samaila Aliyu, said at the event that the state government is determined to ensure quick release of the funds for the benefit of the people of the state.

‘Speak up over bad leadership’

O • President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Samson Ugwoke (left), presenting an award to Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Muhammad Hamisu Muhammad, during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of SSANU, at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi

NUPENG warns on imminent fuel scarcity

HE Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), said it has watched with great concern the activities of oil majors and multi-nationals in the industry and warns of imminent fuel scarcity if such nefarious activities are not checked as the union would direct its members to embark on nationwide strike without notice. In a statement signed by its president, Igwe Achese, the workers stated that the new drive of the oil majors and multi-nationals amounts to sabotage and that if not controlled will lead to an unhealthy atmosphere in the sector. The union therefore calls on President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Labour and the National Assembly to quickly intervene before the bubble bursts. The union noted the degree of impunity and non-conformity with best practices by the multi-nationals in their dealings with contract workers in their system. It stated that these current actions are all efforts geared towards sabotaging the economy of the country and to impoverish its citizenry, particularly the contract workers in their system. NUPENG reiterated that some of the provocative anti-union policies and decisions have remained unresolved despite the mediatory role played by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Federal Ministry

Stories by Toba Agboola

of Petroleum Resources. It added that these include the unresolved transitional issues of the Chevron contract workers who transited into new contracting companies since January, 1 last year, and that 14 months after discussions, some of the issues are yet to be resolved. The union stressed that it has made several attempts of reopening discussions on the outstanding transition issues but all to no avail. It noted that the understanding reached that National Petroleum Investment Managements Services (NAPIMS) should convene a meeting to resolve the outstanding transition issues as they affect the contract workers has not materialised. The statement stated that the new labour contractors are resisting unionisation of the workers with tacit support from Chevron management. NUPENG revealed that in “recent times, some of the multinational companies have begun a systematic lay-off of our members who work as labour contract workers in their companies and thereafter replace them with service contracts. These companies include Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and Agip Oil Company Limited. The union alleged that the management of Mobil Producing on November, 30, 2013 laid-off over 200 contract workers under the guise that the contracts have expired and that new contracts will also com-

mence to replace the old ones forthwith. NUPENG stated that in the case of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited, over 50 labour contract workers have been pencilled down for termination without adherence to due process, just as the union has also been having a running battle with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and their contractors over unionisation of contract workers, as well as putting in place a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The union protests the massive promotion of all junior staff in SPDC to phase out NUPENG, while leaving only Kingsley Enomate, the NUPENG Branch Chairman sacked by Shell but was forced to be reinstated. “This action is victimisation for trade union activities” Achese said. Achese also said NUPENG has unresolved labour issues with Septa Energy and Olgette over unionisation and victimisation of workers and therefore warned that the union shall therefore not be under any further obligation to give any notice of embarking on an industrial action, if these issues are not urgently addressed. The union, he said, has therefore, placed its members nationwide on notice to mobilise for a total shutdown of activities in the oil and gas industry, in protest against these injustices in the industrial relations practices if there is no immediate intervention from the government.

RGANISED labour and civil society activists under the aegis of Abuja Collective, have called on Nigerians to speak up against politicians whose actions are injurious to the overall interest of the country. Former General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade John Odah, who spoke at a memorial organised to celebrate the lives and times of the late Baba Omojola and Prof. Festus Iyayi, in Abuja, urged Nigerians to take their destinies into their hands. Odah said: “At a time when our nation is going through some of its severest challenges and difficulties, since the civil war, as patriots, it is our belief that the task of rebuilding our nation is one that should not be left to only the political class. Nigerians from all works of life

must speak out against the desperate and despicable habit of large sections of the political elite, trying to manipulate our religious and ethnic diversity for devious political agenda.” Vice President of the NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu, said labour and its allies will organise mass protests over the pathetic state of public education in the country. In a keynote address titled “The Banishing of the Revolutionary Intellectuals,” Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, a veteran activists and former lecturer at the Bayero University, Kano, described the attitude of the political leadership of the country towards education as tragic. “Our schools are bad because our education system is in crisis, which is the result of the lack of interest in education by government,” he said

Group moves against Lagos anti-strike bill

HE Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), has criticised a bill before the Lagos State House of Assembly seeking to criminalise strike actions in the state. The bill seeks to make strike an offence for any group of workers in the state, but CDWR’s chairman, Comrade Rufus Olusesan, said the bill is a return to military dictatorship in a democratic environment. Olusesan said: “This is tragic and quite laughable that a House of Assembly in a civil rule could ever contemplate such a bill in the first instance when its mandates include expanding the vista of democratic rights of citizens as well as workers of which protests and strikes are features of their legitimate expressions

of fundamental human rights. “For further enlightenment of the House and the executive arm of the Lagos State government, we wish to emphasise that labour strike is legitimate worldwide as an acceptable weapon of fighting back when rights and interest of workers are undermined and all other meaningful approaches fail.” Olusesan added that it is not within the purview of any legislature to criminalise strike or industrial actions, adding that rather than arrogate the power of life and death to itself which the anti-workers bill represents, the House should know that it is the anti-labour programmes, policies and actions of government and other employers of labour that make strikes inevitable.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS e-Business

e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net

The first assembly plant for mobile phones, tablets, laptops, personal computers (PCs) and accessories in Nigeria has been inaugrated in Ilesha, Osun State by Governor Rauf Aregbesola. LUCAS AJANAKU, who visited the plant, writes on its prospects for its host community, the state and the country.

LESHA is a quiet agrarian community in Osun State. This community has won a place for itself in history as the host to the first mobile phone assembly plant in the country. This is coming more than a decade after the telecoms industry was liberalised with boosts in foreign direct investment (FDI) and quatum growth in its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP). In the Europe, Middle East and African (EMAE) markets, the country has some advantages which make her unique. Some of these are its huge population and large labour force. Despite these merits, foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Nokia, Samsung and LG have consistently shunned the idea of setting up an assembly plant in the country citing dearth of infrastructure as a disincentive. While South Africa remains the largest smartphone market on the continent, with more than a million units being shipped each quarter, the International Data Corporation (IDC’s) latest figures show that Nigeria is rapidly gaining ground. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), active subscribers have crossed the 120 million mark in a population of about 170 million, giving prospects of further growth. But all these advantages appear not to make the country attractive for foreign OEMs to site factories so that jobs could be created and technology transferred with its attendant multiplier effects on improvement in standard of living and boost in GDP.

Nokia’s perspective Former Nokia’s Vice President, West & Central Africa, James Rutherfoord, said: “(Though) Nigeria is not the biggest market for Nokia, Pakistan and a number of very populous countries in the region. (siting a factory here) is a very difficult question at this point in time. Most of component suppliers, all the people that make chips, that make batteries and all of the components, they are all in the Far East. So it is very difficult to create a factory very far away from them. So, it needs more than just Nokia just deciding to open factory in Nigeria. We need the whole ecosystem of people producing the components to be very close by otherwise we will have a product which cost will be much higher if they are not close to the other manufacturers.”

Samsung’s perspective Director, Hand Held Products, Samsung West Africa, Emmanuel Revmatas, said: “This is a question that is raised on a regular basis, so let’s take one step back. I think first of all, as an OEM, Samsung in particular has made a significant investment in Nigeria. If you look at the numerous projects we are involved in, from a corporate social responsibility investment perspective (and I use the investment rather than responsibility) we have done some exciting initiatives like establishing the first Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy in Ikeja where we have been busy training a group of students in various technical skills. I think for many people, they also don’t realise that for our consumer electronics business, several of our products are assembled locally. In terms of the mobile industry, it is a little bit more complex because you are dealing with a lot more components that come from various more sources. “At the moment, quite honestly, there is no immediate plan to establish a factory in Nigeria. Our main priority is to ensure that we can provide high quality affordable products with two year service which is what Samsung offers to the people of Nigeria. The future is the future and of course things may change, as you know, we continuously innovate and are part of a very dynamic industry.”

An African firm to the rescue A pan-African information communication technology (ICT) firm, RLG Communications, last week broke the jinx by inaugrating the first factory that will assemble mobile phones, computers and liquid crystal display (LCD) television set in Ilesha, Osun State. Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said the youth are passionate about developing themselves and they need the platform to do that. He said the RLG dream is a venture that will go grow beyond the imagination of skeptics. Known as RLG Adulawo Technology City, Ilesha, the chairman of the firm, Mr. Roland Agambire, said it is only Africans that could tell the story of the continent positivly. According to him, all the bad stories told about the continent, that it is the haven for crimes has to be challenged by showing

•Workers at a mobile phone assembly line

Here come Made-in-Nigeria phones that it has come of age. According to him, RLG Mobile has been in operation, manufacturing mobile phones in the past 12 years. “In the last 12 years, we have improved our products to a quality that now appeal to the eyes. The products are much stronger and better now, compared to what it used to be. We have learnt from our mistakes and we are better now. RLG has operated in Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, China and United Arabs Emirate. It has assembly plants in The Gambia and Ghana,” he said.

Firm’s focus “The focus of RLG is to become a leader in innovation with a vision for creating a strong African brand. If you ask me if we have an African brand today, my answer will be in the negative because Africans cannot single our something we can attest to. If someone is looking for an African brand to identify with, such person will find none. So this is an opportunity for us to use ICT tools in producing our own brand and create jobs for the people,” Agambire said.

Scope of investment Country Director of the firm, Tosin Ilesanmi said it is one of the biggest assembling plants in the stable of the firm which has attracted an investment of $50 million. “The assembly lines alone cost $10 million and we are aware we will still spend more, but that is not to say that it is a very big investment because we believe we can do more than that,” he said “We have a tagline which is “Proudly Yours’. This means we have brought the brand to Nigeria and it is owned by Nigerians and will be promoted by Nigerians. RLG is about the people of Africa, giving them the confidence that Africans can start very small in business, but can grow very big in the same business. Africa has always been a source of raw materials for other countries. They take away the raw materials and turn them into finished products. The finished products are later sold to us. We are supposed to be richer than any other country in the world, but we have allowed ourselves to be poor because of our own mindsets.

Job creation Ilesanmi said the relationship of the firm and its host countries is to create jobs and promote the brand. “We offer skills that will enable them assemble computers and mobile phones. Our first encounter in Osun State is the training of over 20, 000 young Nigerian youths in Osun State, in collaboration with the state government that bankrolled the training cost. The first batch of the 5000 that were trained out of which 200 outstanding trainees

‘Our R&D Laboratory is already compiling available Nigerian software apps that will run on the phones. We will have apps on local culture, e-commerce, e-education, all tailored to the Nigerian market. We are in the ICT world that creates local content to solve local solutions, and that is exactly what we are doing with the RLG phones’

were sent to Ghana for further training are now manning the assembly lines. Aside those employed directly by the firm, we have built Enterprise Kiosks with solar power to enable those trained to work because we understand the challenge dearth of electricity poses to entrepreneurship.” He said the plant can create about 1, 000 jobs when it starts running at optimal capacity while after sales service and product marketing will create over 10, 000 jobs. “In the market strategy of the RLG products, we have three lines of business, which are the Enterprise Business, After Sales Service, and the Turnaround Production Time. The Enterprise Business is a very detailed plan that allows youths to trade with RLG and establish meaningful jobs for themselves, by selling RLG products. “The After-Sales Service has to do with aligning some of the people with various shops that will be dealing with RLG products by detecting defects and making repairs and replacement of faulty parts, and this will create over 500, 000 jobs across the country. The Turnaround Production staff are factory workers that will be engaged with factory production, and this alone can create over 1, 000 jobs at a time.” he said. Another impact of the factory in human capacity building is in the area of partnership with universities and polytechnics across the country for practical knowledge acquisition. Already, a number of universities have written letters, expressing interest in forging partnership with the firm, especially in the computing and electronics space.

Production capacity The RLG Adulawo Technology City comprises a training centre, research and development laboratory and a corporate office. From the production capacity point of view, the plant is designed to produce a minimum of 5, 000 phones and 2,500 lap tops per day. “But as we progress, and the workers understand the working principles of the machines perfectly, the number can be doubled as it is scalable. The plant is today, the biggest manufacturing plant of RLG and we are proud of that,” he added. The firm will now assemble the famous Opon Imo (tablet of knowledge) and partner telecoms firms in the country to do buiness. While Glo has bought into the vision of the firm, Ilesanmi said it is discussing with others.

Local content Everything about the factory has 100 per cent local content beginning from the construction of the factory itself. He said what most manufacturers do is to outsource some of their production lines. He said 100 per cent of the production contents will are sourced from the country. “As part of the local content infusion in all that we would be doing in the assembly plant, we will be seeing a lot of local applications on the ph ones. We are looking at local contents and our Research and Development Laboratory is already compiling various forms of available Nigerian software applications that will run on the phones. We will have apps on local culture, e-commerce, e-education that are tailored to the Nigerian market. We are in the ICT world that creates local content to solve local solutions, and that is exactly what we are doing with the RLG phones,” he said.

Challenges The major challenge is dearth of infrastructure. Ilesanmi said to combat the challenge, the firm has procured a 150 kva generator while the government of Osun State has provided 500 kva transformer. In addition to this, the firm has made provision for biomass to generate captive electricity for the plant.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

e-Business

MTN partners Shoprite on telecoms

TN is partnering with Shoprite Retail Supermarkets, to avail subscribers products and services at all its outlets nationwide. MTN said this new move is in continuation of its drive to enhance service delivery to its customers across the country. With this deal, customers can top up their airtime with the MTN VTU Plus service and purchase data bundle in a more convenient manner while doing their regular shopping. Customers also have access to MTN’s product and services in a more structured and serene ambience. Speaking at the launch of the service, MTN Sales and Distribution Executive, Mr. ‘Tsola Barrow, said the partnership with the leading retailer across the country is a product of MTN’s

commitment to explore different ways of taking service closer to its customers and improving customer experience. “The MTN-Shoprite partnership is built around providing our customers with a good shopping experience by providing airtime within the environment where they shop for their groceries and personal items,” Barrow said. Also speaking, Financial Director, Shoprite Retail Supermarkets, Nigeria, Mr. Mubanga Muche, said Shoprite was partnering with MTN to give their customers what they want. “We are very excited about this partnership as we continue to improve on the shopping experience of our customers. Customers can practically do all their shopping under one roof, including purchasing airtime with so much ease,” Muche said.

Data traffic to hit 190 exabytes

ORLDWIDE mobile data traffic will in crease nearly 11-fold in the next four years and reach a yearly run rate of 190 exabytes by 2018, according to Cisco Visual Networking Index Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast for 2013 to 2018. In a statement, it said the projected increase in mobile traffic is partly due to continued strong growth in the number of mobile internet connections, such as personal devices and machine-to-machine (M2M) connections, which will exceed 10 billion by 2018 and be 1.4 times greater than the world’s population (United Nations estimates 7.6 billion people by 2018). According to the projections, in terms of mobile data traffic growth rates over the forecast period, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is projected to have the highest regional growth rate. By 2018,

the MEA will have a 70 per cent compound growth rate (CAGR) and 14-fold growth while Central and Eastern Europe will have a 68 per cent CAGR and 13-fold growth. Asia-Pacific will have a 67 per cent CAGR and 13-fold growth while Latin America will have a 66 percent CAGR and 13-fold growth. North America will have a 50 per cent CAGR and eight-fold growth; and Western Europe will have a 50 per cent CAGR and seven-fold growth. In terms of mobile data traffic generation, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to generate the most mobile data traffic. Asia-Pacific: 6.72 exabytes per month; North America: 2.95 exabytes per month; Western Europe: 1.9 exabytes per month; Central and Eastern Europe: 1.64 exabytes per month; The Middle East and Africa: 1.49 exabytes per month; and Latin America: 1.16 exabytes per month.

‘Nigeria not investing enough in research, development’

OW investment on research and development (R&D) is a major reason the nation has not made in-road into innovation, the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof David Adewumi has said. He said R&D budget should come under the national budget on education because it falls under education. He said: “Government is not investing enough in R&D and it is unfortunate because any development in any part of the world is brought about by R&D. this is so particularly in respect of ICT. The government is not investing enough but then, hopefully, the National Information Development Agency (NITDA) will take up the responsibility of getting government to do more.” He said the minimum budgetary allocation recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to the education sector is 26 per cent of member countries’ annual budget. Prof Adewumi who spoke on the sideline during a press conference in Lagos, said: “The budget on education should incorporate R&D budgeting which is 26 per

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

cent. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is asking for 26 per cent of the whole national budget. You also compare it with your own budget. “What amount of your own budget (as an individual) you spend on education is more than 50 per cent. If the nation is spending 26 per cent to have a knowledge-based economy, it is not too much. That is the best way to go. So, the Federal Government should take a second look at the funding of R&D.” Speaking on strategic stakeholders’ engagement, he said it is the best way to go in the industry, adding that it will continue to do what he described as “constructive engagement and building of strategic partnership with important stakeholders in the industry.” According to him, stronger stakeholder partnerships with NCS will build an inclusive, globally competitive and prosperous Nigeria that will be the envy of other African nations. He said the group will continue to push its advocacy campaign through its annual conference,

adding this year, the event with Building a knowledge-based economy in Nigeria: The role of IT, as its theme, will be held in Enugu. He said the theme was picked because no nation could grow and develop in the 21st century with the application of IT tools. He said: “The nation is not fully harnessing the growth opportunity of the IT sector. The industry, academia, profession, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders are not tapping into the opportunities in the IT industry. Appropriate recognition, policies and legislation still needs to be put in place. There is a glaring need to incorporate and prioritise the role of the IT sector if Nigeria is to be a key player and fulfill its promise in this century. “It is against the background of the very critical role that IT must play in achieving rapid national transformation that it is imperative that the information profession and industry is represented in the upcoming National Conference. Nigerian IT professionals, through its umbrella body, the NCS are very uncomfortable with their lack of representation in the composition of the National Conference.”

Ericsson apps competition makes debut

rricsson has received many entries for its annual global apps competition from the sub-Saharan Africa region. Its Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, sub-Saharan Africa, Shiletsi Makhofane, said Africa is a mobile continent and mobile application development is becoming one of the continent’s next big industries, “New behaviour and emerging technologies are changing how work is organised. This year’s competition focuses on apps that will define the next generation of working life.” According to a statement, the theme of this year’s competition is Apps for Working Life, in support of Ericsson’s vision of the Networked Society in which - through a combination of mobility, broadband, the cloud, applications and services - anything and everything is connected. Kenyan team, MedAfrica, won the global Ericsson Application

Awards two year ago for the mobile application which seeks the health of communities and regions in Africa by increasing access to health-care related information and services. Since winning the Ericsson Awards, they have developed an updated version of their app which was featured by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), showcasing how technology can do good. This is the fifth consecutive year that Ericsson has organised the Ericsson Application Awards. Students and smalland medium-sized enterprises from anywhere in the world are invited to submit Android and iOS mobile apps. This year, the first prize is EUR 25,000, the second prize is EUR 10,000, and there is special recognition for innovation supporting Technology for Good. Third to 10th prizes include diplomas and honorary mentions.

Global sale of gaming consoles to exceed $750b

LOBAL sale of gaming consoles will exceed $750 billion in this year and then plateau as consumer usage will continue to converge, a new report by Deloitte has shown. In addition, the report predicts that phablets — an oversized smartphone that’s part cell phone, part tablet — will outsell tablets by $25 billon and the total global sales of smartphones, tablets, PCs, TV sets. According to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited’s (DTTL) 13th edition of the Global TMT Predictions recently released, the top global technology, media, and telecom trends for 2014 include the

10 million unit year for wearable technologies; 50 million homes doubling up on pay-television (TV); the global value of premium sports video rights increasing 14 per cent led by North American sports leagues and European football (soccer); and a potential upsurge of eVisits. Managing Director, Global TMT Industry, DTTL Jolyon Barker, said: “Our report details many watched and often contended trends in the industry. While there has been much uncertainty around wearables, we predict that consumer interest will lead to a lucrative market with $3 billion in sales in glasses, watches, and fitness bands.

•From left: Chairman, Conference Committee, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Moses Braimah; President,

Prof David Adewumi; Chairman, Publicity and Events Committee, Jide Awe and Executive Secretary, Chinedu Onuoha at a briefing in Lagos.

Why SMEs are not doing well, by Vodacom

ACK of investment in technology and appropriate application to solve problems is one of the reasons small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not doing well in the country, Managing D i r e c t o r , V o d ac o m B u s i n e s s Nigeria, Guy Clarke, has said. Clarke, who spoke at a roundtable on its new business product, software as services (SaaS), in Lagos over the weekend, said the firm had invested in providing infrastructure by substantially funding an undersea cable, adding that with the absence of legacy infrastructure, it could be challenging for business to grow. He said the firm has also invested in data centre in line with the trends in the industry, adding that the place of data and cloud can no longer be wished away as they are the two dominant forces shaping the global information technology (IT) industry.

By Oluwaseyi Ala

“The ability to analyse data and make it relevant to your need is changing. Cloud computing is another game changer. But in most emerging markets where there is no legacy infrastructure,” he said, adding the opportunity opened to businesses to leapfrog is to tap into the infrastructure provided by the firm in the country. Speaking on SaaS, the Product Manager, Abu Ettu, said c ol l a bor a t i on a nd communication are key to business success, adding that with the appropriate solution, SMEs and other businesses could greatly optimise productivity. He said: “Gone are the days of buying, maintaining, upgrading and securing your software requirements inhouse. Simply choose the software your business

needs and we will do the rest. Hosting SaaS from Vodacom will increase productivity by having direct communication link with employees wherever they are; banishes worries about losing data as data is securely stored at Vodacom’s data centre; increase productivity by judiciously while there will be support from Vodacom managers. There will also be access to the Vodacom Business Self Service Portal.” He identified speed of change, increasing complexity, new technology and targeting today’s users as the major challenges besetting businesses as offices move away from the traditional physical structure to virtual in the era of agnostic devices. Ettu said business agility, adaptability, continuous collaboration, speed are business drivers. Others are innovation, future-proof IT, ubiquitous computing adding that cloud has become the king of all.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-2-14

Avon blames poor performance on economic policies

VON Crowncaps & Containers (Nigeria) Plc has blamed its poor performance in 2013 on inclement macroeconomic condition and cheap imports from Asia and Europe. The explanation from the packaging company came on the heels of continued decline in the prices of most equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The common index at the Exchange, the All Share Index (ASI), dropped by 0.43 per cent yesterday to bring the average year-to-date loss at the stock market to 2.54 per cent. An investors’ note obtained by The Nation indicated that Avon had “extremely difficult” situation during the year ended 2013. Audited report and accounts of Avon for the year ended March 31, 2013 indicated a loss before tax of N127.70 million in 2013 as

•Equities slump by 0.43% By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

against profit before tax of N120.71 million in 2012. Turnover had increased marginally from N11.46 billion in 2012 to N11.71 billion in 2013. Directors of Avon noted that the financial year 2012-2013 was characterized by extremely difficult market situation for the company, which was exacerbated by competitive threat to the company’s products from cheaper and better substitutes in the form of rigid as well as flexible plastic packaging. The company also blamed cheap imported products from Asia and Europe for the downtrend in the Nigerian market adding that the operating environment was worsened by sluggishness in the

economy on account of tight liquidity and high interest rates. Avon outlined that structural problems afflicting the macro economy and security situation prevailing in certain parts of the country as well as delays in receiving payments from customers compounded its poor performance during the period. Meanwhile, Nigerian equities continued on the downtrend yesterday as investors tended towards panic selling. With nearly three decliners for every gainer, the aggregate market value of all quoted stocks on the NSE slumped to N12.912 trillion as against its opening value of N12.968 trillion. The ASI slipped by 0.43 per cent from 40,453.61 points to 40,278.82 points.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 12-2-14

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

MONEYLINK

‘Fed Govt earns N521b from oil’ It said Federal Government estimated retained revenue was N252.58 billion, while total estimated expenditure was N342.03 billion. “The fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an estimated deficit of N89.45 billion, compared with the provisional monthly budget deficit of N73.92 billion,” it said. According to the apex bank, available data indicated a general increase in banks’ deposit and lending rates during the review month as the spread between the weighted average term deposit and maximum lending rates narrowed by 1.1 percentage point to 117.79 per cent. It said the margin between

Stories by Collins Nweze

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

HE gross Federal Government revenues from petroleum stood at N521.28 billion, about 70.1 per cent of the total revenue for November last year, an Economic Report for the month released by the Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said. The report obtained by The Nation showed that for earnings were lower than both the monthly budget estimate and the level in the preceding month by 19.1 and 1.0 per cent, respectively. It said the the fall in oil receipts was attributed, largely, to the shortfall in receipts from crude oil and gas exports in the review period. Also, non-oil receipts (gross), stood at N222.74 billion (29.9 per cent of the total). The CBN said the figure was below the monthly budget estimate by 25.9 per cent, but exceeded the level in the preceding month by 4.1 per cent. The decline in receipts, it said, was relative to the monthly budget estimate reflected, largely, the shortfall in receipts from all the components, except Education Tax.

the average savings deposit and maximum lending rates narrowed by 0.0.04 percentage point to 22.47 per cent at the end of the review month. “The weighted average interbank call rate rose to 11.15 per cent from 11.08 per cent in the preceding month, reflecting the liquidity condition in the interbank funds market. Provisional data indicated that the value of money market assets outstanding at endNovember 2013 was N6.6 trillion, indicating a decline of 2.01 per cent, in contrast to the increase of

Barclays Africa reports improved earnings

Fortis MfB secures 5m euro loan B

ORTIS Microfinance Bank Plc has received five million Euro facility from the FMO, the Netherlands Development Finance Company. In a statement, the firm said the fund, which is a five year unsecured term loan will be applied for on-lending to boost activities in the microfinance sector of the economy. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Kunle Oketikun expressed his satisfaction saying it will enable his organization deliver on its core services of making funds available to small scale businesses at the least cost. He noted, “This loan will ensure that our esteemed customers have access to finance at cheaper rates and longer tenors.” FMO is a Dutch development bank that supports sustainable private sec-

supports Fortis as one of the leading MFI’s in the country to further implement the client protection principles (‘CPP’) with the aim to become CPP certified. The FMO facility will contribute to further financial inclusion and stimulate the further development of financial services”. Oketikun advanced his organisation’s commitment to the future growth of microfinancing noting that the only thing really micro about microfinancing is in the smallness of the loans and not that the entire operations would be small and confined to a room and parlor. He further stressed that “with the introduction of mobile money, electronic banking and internet banking the services of formal financial institution will soon get all Nigerians irrespective of location.

toresting in ambitious entrepreneurs. FMO operates on the philosophy that a strong private sector leads to economic and social development, empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life. FMO focuses on three sectors that have high development impact. The sectors include the financial institutions, energy, and agribusinesses with emphasis on food & water. With an investment portfolio of EUR 6.3 billion, FMO is one of the largest European bilateral private sector development banks. Broekhuizen stated that they provided this unique loan to Fortis because Fortis has positioned itself to provide microfinance banking services to support entrepreneurship and the empowerment of the large unbanked population with a focus on (mostly female) micro clients and small enterprises. The CIO further noted that “Fortis will receive a local currency senior loan equivalent to EUR 5.0 million. FMO

FGN BONDS 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

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

ARCLAYS Africa Group reported a 14 per cent rise in fullyear earnings partly due to sharp fall in bad debt charges that showed the bank’s tighter lending policy is starting to pay off. Reuters said the African subsidiary of Britain’s Barclays reduced its exposure to personal lending over the past three years and increased bad debt provisions in response to a downturn in the country’s economy after the financial crisis. “There is no denying that our business has been through a tough period,” Chief Executive Maria Ramos said. The bank, the first of South Africa’s main four banks to publish earnings this season, reported a 21 percent drop in bad debt charges. Barclays Africa is remaining cautious even though South Africa’s economy is showing signs of picking up and could grow by as much as 2.8 percent this year, according to the central

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

-2.11

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8

2-5-14 2-3-14

245.6422

-2.57

400m

399.9m

155.7

1-29-14

209.2910

-1.51

Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

BANK (S/N)

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

(S/N)

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

Parallel Market

153.0000

C/PRICE

CHANGE

7UP TRANSEXPR UBCAP UAC-PROP COURTVILLE WEMABANK IKEJAHOTEL FCMB PAINTCOM MOBIL

74.97 2.32 2.23 19.99 0.77 1.00 0.74 3.80 1.95 122.00

82.64 2.55 2.40 21.05 0.81 1.05 0.77 3.90 2.00 125.00

7.67 0.23 0.17 1.06 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.10 0.05 3.00

Feb. ’14

July ’11

Feb ’14

MPR

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate

8.50%

9.50%

4.50%

5.50%

30.00%

Cash Return Rate

1.00%

2.00%

Inflation Rate

7.8%

7.9%

Deposit Rate

Liquidity Ratio

LOSERS AS AT 12-02-14

SYMBOL FIDELITYBK DANGSUGAR CONOIL UPL INTBREW NB ZENITHBANK NAHCO SKYEBANK WAPIC

O/PRICE 2.36 11.83 50.98 4.12` 28.52 152.20 21.24 5.85 3.93 0.99

C/PRICE 2.31 11.60 50.00 4.05 28.04 150.00 20.95 5.79 3.89 0.98

CHANGE -0.05 -0.23 -0.98 -0.07 -0.48 -2.20 -0.29 -0.06 -0.04 -0.01

6-2-14 N13.07tr 40,766.16

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

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

DISCOUNT WINDOWx

O/PRICE

NSE CAP Index

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 12-02-14

SYMBOL

400m

Date

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NIGERIA INTER OBB Rate Call Rate

bank, from an estimated 1.9 per cent in 2013. Unemployment has fallen and the jobless rate slowed to 24.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, the lowest in seven quarters. Manufacturing is also starting to look up with output rising 2.5 percent year-on-year in volume terms in December, compared with the 1.4 percent economists polled by Reuters had expected. Chief financial officer David Hodnett said Barclays expected slow loan growth in South Africa, its biggest market, in 2014. “With South Africa interest rates likely to rise further and consumers under pressure, we expect mid single digit loan growth in South Africa this year.” Barclays’ results are the first since the group was formed by combining Absa Group Limited and Barclays’ African operations in July last year to create Africa’s third-biggest banking group by market value.

DATA BANK

Tenor

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

0.3 per cent at the end of the preceding month,” it said. The development was attributed, largely, to the decline of 3.4 and 0.32 per cent in Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds and commercial Paper (CP) outstanding, respectively. It said total federally-collected revenue (gross) stood at N744.02 billion. This, it said, was lower than the monthly budget estimate by 21.3 per cent, but an increase of 0.5 per cent over the receipt in the preceding month.

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012

7 Days

9.0417

30 Days

9.6667

Rate (Currency) Movement 6, Mar, 2012

Offer Price

Bid Price

AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 0.72 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 172.15 ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.10 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.72 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.72 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CORAL INCOME FUND 1,617.65 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,000.00 FBN HERITAGE FUND 115.83 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 100.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND 1.05 KAKAWA GUARANTEED INCOME FUND 143.11 LEGACY FUND 0.78 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND 1,856.44

0 171. 9 1. 1. 0. 0. 1. 1,613. 1,000.00 115. 100. 1. 1. 142. 0. 1,857.

• ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE OPEN BUY BACK

10.17% 11.46%

60 Days

11.2917

11.96%

150 Days

12.1250

12.54%

Bank P/Court

Current

04 July, 2012

07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CITYBEATS Insecurity worries Farmer held for ‘impersonating monarch T IG, Okonjo-Iweala •Man caught with fake Dollars A HE Ojora of Ijora-Iganmu Kingdom in Lagos State, Oba Fatai Aremu Aromire, is disturbed by the continued harassment of his subjects in the Ijora-Badia area of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state by hoodlums. He has, therefore, urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and the Commissioner of Police Umar Manko, to put adequate measures in place to safeguard the lives of the residents. The monarch called on the police authorities to redeploy all the policemen attached to the Ijora-Badia Police Station for allegedly aiding the hoodlums. Oba Aromire, who described the situation in the area as frightening, said life had become miserable for the residents since last year, when a group of hoodlums laid siege to the community, threatening to wipe out all the residents should they refuse to support their claims. The traditional ruler blamed the development on the high rate of unemployment, adding that the police personnel in the area were incapable of handling the onslaught of criminals, robbers and other miscreants who terrorise the area due to lack of committment, shortage of patrol vehicles and insufficient weapons. Oba Aromire urged the police to strengthen manpower at the station to handle the very demanding situation, which most times, results in death: "I had to employ the services of members of the Oodua People's Congress (OPC) to complement the efforts of the police," he said. He said most of the police personnel in his domain had over-stayed their welcome as they “have been there for over 10 years.”

THIRTY-four-year-old fish farmer has been arrested for allegedly impersonating the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The suspect, Victor Kakong, was said to have used the IGP’s letterhead with a forged document bearing his name and signature. He is also accused of using the name of the Minister of Finance, Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and other prominent Nigerians to defraud his victims. Kekong allegedly forged other highly confidential documents to

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

perpetrate the act. The Lagos Police Command's spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who paraded the suspect, said other incriminating documents found on him include: A Federal High Court certificate of legality, a Central Bank cheque, a Ministry of Tourism's contract award certificate, and an antidrug and money laundering clear-

ance certificate. Braide said the suspect, who lives at 5, Sand Avenue in Ifako, a Lagos suburb, confessed that all the documents also were counterfeit, adding that he confessed to impersonating an American in a bid to perfect the planned fraud. The suspect was arrested by police operatives from Area 'G' Command in Ogba, while attempting to defraud another victim. Also, a 55-year-old man, who claimed to be a graphic artist, was

By Adebisi Onanuga

• Ajudua

OPULAR lawyer, Mr Fred Ajudua, yesterday urged an Ikeja High Court to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to charge a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, (rtd.) with money laundering. Ajudua made the request in an

application filed by his counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, before by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye. Ajudua challenged the competence of the 14-count charge preferred against him for allegedly defrauding Bamaiyi of about $5.9m (about N1billion). Ajudua's request stalled his trial for the alleged offence. His counsel opposed a request by EFCC's counsel Mr Seidu Atteh that Ajudua should take his plea yesterday. Citing previous Supreme Court decisions, Ojo said an application challenging the competence of the charges should be taken before the arraignment. The court ruled in Ajudua’s favour.

Ajudua’s fresh application is also praying the court to quash the charges against him. He is seeking an order "directing and compelling the prosecution/respondent to prefer a criminal charge and/or arraign the underlisted persons for the offences of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, money laundering and corrupting of public officers: Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd.), Lawal Danladi Yaro, Abdullahi Garba, Martha Bamaiyi, Garba Tagda, Mohammed Abubakar, Lt. Col. Timothy Chechet, Sam Kwendo Bandi." In a written address filed in support of Ajudua's application, Ojo argued that it was clear that Bamaiyi, from his statements, engaged in diverse acts of criminal-

•Private party for few guests Stories by Victor Akande

prize-based fan campaigns. She promised the winner and guests an intimate concert in Mimi's home. "Hi darlings, it's Mariah here! I'm excited to be here on Prizeo, doing something that I've never done before. "You all know that this is my favourite time of the year, and so I've decided to give back and raise some funds for the incredible St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a cause close to my heart as a mom.

"In exchange for a small donation, you will be entered to win a trip to New York City (I'll fly you from WHEREVER you are in the world) to visit me in my home, where I will give you and a loved one your own private concert... on Valentine's Day! "I wanted to do something extra special for such a magical organisation, and I thank you dearly for your support. I look forward to meeting and sharing a special moment with you. xo Mariah Carey ," she posted online.

• Mariah Carey It is not clear if her twins and husband, Nick Cannon, will be part of that home show.

• Sheifunmi interviewing Lloyd fashion, events, health, etcetera. The objective is to get the hosts to discuss issues people are/aren't talking about in ways nobody else would, featuring celebrity and non-ce-

lebrity guests and giving fans an opportunity to see and listen to the side of celebrities they don't know. The programme, which is set to start on Friday, will be streamed live on http://

ity. The EFCC arraigned Ajudua for allegedly swindling Bamaiyi of $5.9m (about N1bn) between November 2004 and June 2005. The commission alleged that Ajudua defrauded Bamaiyi while they were remanded at Kirikiri prison in Lagos, adding that the money represented the professional fees charged by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to handle Bamaiyi's case and facilitate his release from detention. Justice Ipaye ordered EFCC to respond to the application within seven day. The defendant was ordered to file his reply, if any, within two days of EFCC's counter-affidavit. The case was adjourned till February 27 for the hearing of the application.

For Valentine, Toke Makinwa turns bartender

Google returns with celebs 'Hangout Series' FTER a successful first edition, Media Personality Sheifunmi Yusuf is back with a Googlepowered online interactive talk show called 'Hangout Series.' The show, a creative content programme in pop culture and lifestyle, would be co-hosted by MTV Shuga actress Sharon Ezeamaka to discuss issues from the viewpoint of young people. Going by the previous edition, the show will feature a guest or two every episode, to treat and debate topics ranging from music to movies,

• IGP Muhammed Abubakar also paraded for being in possession of fake US Dollars. Braide said his arrest followed a tipoff, adding that the suspects would soon be charged to court.

Ajudua seeks Bamaiyi’s trial for alleged money laundering

NEWS (SHOWBIZ) Mariah Carey plans Valentine concert fundraiser for charity N her modest way of showing love to the needy, Grammy Award winner Mariah Carey is planning a private concert for a few guests at her home for the Valentine's Day celebration. The singer, who said a huge concert is not necessary, noted that the show would give her the opportunity of getting close to few cherished fans. Carey is vending tickets to the private performance via Prizeo.com, a platform where influencers raise money and awareness for their chosen causes with

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

gplusid.com/hangoutseries and on Youtube http:// bit.ly/1m3n1zt after the show. The previous edition had guests like Emma Nyra, Lola Rae and Saeon, among others.

FTER what looked like a shocking secret wedding to Maje, her beau of 12 years after several break-ups, socialite and OnAir-Personality Toke Makinwa is out with another stunt; planning to play the bartender around Lagos, on Valentine's Day. The beautiful lady is not alone in this deal, being bankrolled by beverage brand, Fayrouz. The brand is contracting celebs, including Uti Nwachukwu and Isio Wanogho to delight couples with Fayrouz 'original' cocktails. The three 'cocktail bartenders', according to organisers, would be in premium bars around Lagos mixing Fayrouz cocktails so fans can see their favourite celebrities mix up exciting and refreshing cocktails. The razzmatazz is part of the brand's plan to reward and thrill consumers with exciting activities this Valentine. The 'Original Mixer' will be giving loyal consumers and their loved ones in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos the opportunity to taste the Fayrouz Cocktails; Champagne De Fayrouz, Omoge, Fay Martini, Tatoo, Royalty, Virgin Royalty, Ultimate lady and many more tomorrow and Friday. "I'm so excited about being one of Fayrouz mixologists on Valentine’s day. I can't wait to go into a sexy bartender mode," Toke Makinwa said. According to Fayrouz Senior Brand Manager

Nnenna Ifebigh-Hemeson, "the Fayrouz Valentine’s Cocktail activation is our own little way of rewarding consumers during this season of love and following what Fayrouz represents, we are bringing something unique as usual to couples who are original in a way that is classy, innovative and unconventionally fun." Interestingly, the brand has its hand in a lot of activities this season, having also been announced as official sponsor for Darey Art Alade's Love Like A Movie 2, a Valentine concert featuring international music star Kelly Rowland at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Saturday.

• Toke Makinwa

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS

•Oshiomhole (middle) with Rev Akubeze ( fifth right), Reverend Father Paul Enow (fifth left) and other priests at the mass ...yesterday.

It’s a miracle I survived, says Oshiomhole

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday that it was a miracle he survived an accident on the Benin-Abuja Road on December 28. Speaking at a special thanksgiving mass, the governor said it was God’s mercy that made him and other occupants survive the direct impact of a bus, which hit his car and destroyed it. Reading Psalms 127:1 “Unless the Lord watches the city, the watchmen watcheth but in

•Edo governor relives experience in accident on Benin-Abuja Road vain”, Oshiomhole said: “The essence of today’s occasion is to give testimony to the fact that when we buy armoured vehicles, we are only thinking in terms of enemies who might choose to use firearms to fire at their enemies. “But as I saw on December 28, even the armoured vehicle is not sufficiently armoured to protect the vehicle itself from accidents. “The real armour is the ar-

Amaechi praises Air Force

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has lauded officers and men of the Air Force for remaining neutral and apolitical. Amaechi spoke when the new Commander of 97 Special Operations Group, Port Harcourt, Air Commodore Ajibola Augustine Jekennu, led other officers and men to visit him at the Government House, Port Harcourt. He said: “Let me welcome you to Port Harcourt. Let me through you thank the Air Force. You have been supportive of government and you have been apolitical. What we would do is to encourage you to continue to

distance yourself from politics. “There is a difference between politics and governance. Politics is when you become a card-carrying member of a party and you are listening to the political party and doing things according to its dictates. “Governance is when you support the government to execute responsibilities that impact on everybody and serves all interests. I think that the Air Force has played that role here in Rivers State.” He urged the new commander to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and ensure that officers and men remain apolitical.

Monarch to face murder charge

HERE was drama yesterday at an Asaba Magistrate’s Court when the Obi of Abavo Kingdom, Uche Irenuma II, was brought into the court on a stretcher to face a 16-count charge of murder and other felonies. Prior to his arraignment, the ruler collapsed Monday at the State Police Command after his arrest for allegedly giving false information to the police. He was later revived at a private hospital. Irenuma, who was being administered to intravenous-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

ly, convulsed violently almost falling from the stretcher, as soon as a court official read out the charges. No plea was taken. The Magistrate, Mrs. Q. Momoh, ordered that the monarch be remanded in a federal prison/hospital custody, pending advice from the public prosecutor. She said she lacked jurisdiction on the matter but granted hearing in the case. The matter was adjourned till March 11.

Cargo terminal for Asaba Airport

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has laid the foundation of the 6, 000 metric tonnes International Cargo Terminal at the Asaba International Airport. At the ceremony witnessed by the former Minister for Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, aviation experts and government officials, Uduaghan said President Goodluck Jonathan deserves commendation for working towards growing the rural economy. According to him, President Jonathan has shown commitment towards diversifying the nation’s economy from an economy dependent on oil. He said the cargo terminal would move goods, especially agricultural produce, to different parts of the world. Uduaghan said: “Thank you for selecting Asaba International Airport as one of the cargo international terminals. “We are glad that our initiative fits into President Jonathan’s programme of empowering farmers.”

mour that God provides when we submit to His will. It cannot be procured by money, it cannot be procured by the most potent arms makers. Only God can armour us against evil. “We had a serious accident and the armoured vehicle was itself destroyed. Those of us in the car, three of us, none of us

were harmed and as you can see, we all came out of the armoured car unhurt, alive. “The armoured car is off the road, but we the ordinary people covered by the Blood of Jesus survived it”, he said. The governor added: “I pledge to rededicate myself to the services of the people of this great state. For the remaining

time that I have, I will do as God directs me to continue to use the instrument of governance to deliver the greatest good to our citizens.” Speaking in a homily at the service, the Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese, Rev. Augustine Akubeze, said there is a need for people to always thank God for his kindness and mercies.

'Political terrain challenging for women'

OUSE of Representatives Majority Leader Mulikat AdeolaAkande has said the nation's political terrain has been challenging for women. She also said Nigerian women could only secure 32 of the 469 seats in the National Assembly in 2011. The lawmaker noted that the percentage of elected women in the National Assembly to men is about seven per cent. Mrs Adeola-Akande, who spoke in Abuja at a roundtable with some reporters on the forthcoming conference on: The Nigeria Women Strategy Conference. She urged political parties in the country to pay more attention to the 35 per cent Affirmative Action for women in politics. The roundtable was attended by another member of the House, Betty Apiafi, some leaders of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and experts on women affairs. Mrs Adeola-Akande said: "There is no doubt that the political terrain has been challenging for women. This is

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

evident in the last elections of 2011, where only 32 women were elected into the nation parliament out of 469 members; a figure, which depicts just seven per cent representation. "However, we have had significant and laudable milestones recorded through such women who have weathered the storm in the face of daunting challenges thrown up by the dynamic of our political structure. The country has benefited from the contribution of these few women in governance." The lawmaker said the proposed conference, holding on February 17 and 18, would be non-partisan on how to "encourage more women to participate actively - quantitatively and qualitatively in politics in Nigeria". She added: "One of the tested strategies for increasing women's political participation has been the use of multiple platforms to galvanise women to participate in electoral processes. Early enough and in the run up to the 2011

elections, several initiatives, activities and events were organised, leading to unique results. "There was an increase in the number of female candidates; over 800 women made the primary election of their political parties. "There was a slight depletion in number but a rocket rise in the number and positioning of women in parliament and appointive post at all levels. This was a product of the synergy of action and collaboration between government, civil society and development partners. "The Nigerian women strategy conference is one of such galvanising activities that aim at an early collation of energy and strategy to further the potential for gains by women in Nigeria's democracy and government structures. "The office of the first female Majority Leader of the House of Representatives seeks to link up with the work by all stakeholders for a robust conference that will harness and review initiatives, commitment and strategies towards the 2015 elections and beyond."

2105: 'INEC budget is inadequate'

HE Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Jerry Manwe, has said the N45 billion allocated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in this year's budget is inadequate. Manwe (PDP, Taraba) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the allocation was half of what the commission required to prosecute the 2015 elections. NAN recalls that INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had told stakeholders at a forum in Abuja that the commission would need about N93 billion to conduct hitch-free elections in 2015. "If you don't give him (INEC chairman) the amount of money he requires, you do not expect him to conduct a credible election with that amount of money in the budget," he said. Manwe said INEC had not made any formal request to the House of Representatives for an increase in its budget to prosecute next year's elections. He said: "Normally such requests are made during budget Defence." The lawmaker said the Federal Government should not wait until the time of elections before providing funds for the commission to carry out its mandate. On January 6, Jega listed financial constraints and voter education as likely constraints to the 2015 elections.

EFCC to improve conviction record in 2014, says Lamorde

HE Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, yesterday said the commission is working to improve its conviction record this year. Lamorde spoke in Abuja when he hosted the Director, West and Southern Africa, Department for International Development (DFID), Susanna Moorehead. The EFCC chairman noted that though the commission secured 117 convictions in 2013, it would not rest on its oars to improve the record. He said the EFCC would "secure more convictions in economic and financial crimes cases in 2014". A statement by the Head of

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Lamorde faulted the non-passage of the civil forfeiture bill, which has hampered assets forfeiture in the country. He said: "We are still grappling with conviction-based forfeiture. There is a bill on non-conviction, but it has not been passed." The EFCC chairman said though the judicial process had been a major challenge, he was optimistic that the new practice directive would facilitate quick dispensation of cases pending in court. Lamorde added: "Some cases, which were taken to court in

2006, are still at their plea stage because of all kinds of interlocutory injunction. "Apart from investigation and prosecution, the commission engages in public enlightenment and sensitisation in its efforts to encourage Nigerians to join the fight against corruption." He said the EFCC was partnering faith-based organisations in anti-graft campaigns for re-orientation. When Moorehead asked him about where the commission would need support in the future, Lamorde said the training of investigators and prosecutors should be sustained, while the public enlightenment programme should be supported. The EFCC chairman also

sought assistance in the acquisition of modern software to enhance the commission's investigation. Ms Moorehead, who hailed the EFCC for fighting economic and financial crimes, said the DFID and the commission had been long-standing partners in the fight against acts of malfeasance. She hailed Lamorde for the recoveries the EFCC had recorded, adding that the DFID would continue to support the commission's work. The DFID director was accompanied by Ben Nethar, Head, DFID Nigeria; Oliver Blake, Team Leader, Governance and Social Development, DFID and Catherine Wein, Political Governance Advisor, DFID.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS

Gusau, Obanikoro take a bow at Senate

How to end oil theft in Niger Delta, by Uduaghan, Okorocha

HE infamous “bow and go” syndrome played out yesterday, as the Senate screened six people President Goodluck Jonathan nominated for ministerial appointments. Those screened included Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Amb. Aminu Wali (Kano), Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Mrs. Lawrencia Labaran Mallam (Kaduna) and Gen. Mohammed Aliu Gusau (rtd) (Zamfara). Senator Obanikoro, who was the first to be screened, recalled his days in the Senate and his appointment as the High Commissioner to Ghana. He listed some of his achievements as a High Commissioner in Ghana and the motions and bills he sponsored as a senator. One the motions, he recalled, was the issue of ocean surge in

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Lagos, which he noted led the Senate to empower a committee to visit the site and seek a solution. He also recalled that he sponsored anti-casualisation bill to prevent expatriates from enslaving Nigerians. He was asked to “bow and go” without any question. Before Obanikoro was asked to “bow and go”, Senate President David Mark noted that the Senate believed that anybody, who became a senator or a member of the House of Representatives was more than qualified to be a minister. A former Leader of the House of Representatives, Wakil, was the second to be screened. The politician, who was accompanied by a former Speaker of the House, Ghali Umar Na’Abba and a host of other old

House members, also recalled his days in the lower chamber and his contributions. He was also asked to “bow and go” without a question. The same treatment was extended to Gen. Gusau. As the Sergeant at Arms walked the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo into the chamber, Mark remarked that Gusau is a retired General from NDA Course One, while he (Mark) is a retired General from NDA Course Three. There was a prolonged laughter in the chamber as senators shouted “it is a tale of two Generals”. The Senate President’s remark set the mood in the chamber, as senators shouted “bow and go, bow and go.” Mark asked: “Is it the wish of the Senate that Gusau should bow and go?”

The senators yelled “yes, he should bow and go.” Mark asked Gusau to take a bow and go. The former NSA stepped forward, lowed his head toward the Senate President, did the same to the side the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators sat and turned to the side of the opposition parties’ senators and bowed. Gusau took calculated steps to the door where a horde of loyalists were waiting for him. An observer at the Senate gallery remarked: “It is good to belong.” Amb. Wali (Kano), Mrs. Eyakenyi and Mrs. Mallam did not enjoy the same privilege given to Obanikoro, Wakil and Gusau, as they were grilled by the Senate before they were allowed to leave the chamber. The screening of the next set of six nominees may be concluded today.

Anambra tribunal to rule on three motions next week

HE three-man Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Awka, Anambra State, led by Justice Ishaq Bello, will next Monday give ruling on the three motions presented by the petitioners. They are on whether the tribunal would allow a witness, who inspected the materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as ordered by the tribunal, testify, as filed by Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Others are the motion filed by Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), representing APC and Ngige on the consolidation of all similar applications in the matter and the one filed by Chief Willie Obiano challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear pre-election matter as raised by Dr. Chike Obi-

•Ngige, Nwoye battle Obiano, INEC From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

digbo. During yesterday’s sitting, Chief Obiano, Chief Victor Umeh, Senator Ngige and the deputy governor-elect, Dr. Nkem Okeke, were absent. The application raised by Akeredolu (SAN) to add a witness, who participated in the inspection of the INEC materials, was challenged by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) for Obiano, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) for INEC and Osita Nnadi (SAN) for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The tribunal struck out the petition filed by APC as represented by Akeredolu (SAN) against the inclusion of the

African Congress of Democrats (ACD) as the fifth respondent in one of the cases. When the application was made by the APC counsel, it was not challenged by the opposition and the tribunal chairman struck it out. Chief Awomolo (SAN) representing INEC, said the motion by Akeredolu (SAN) constitutes amendments to all the petitions. Also Ikpeazu (SAN) and Nnadi (SAN), counsel to Obiano and APGA, urged the tribunal to dismiss it. Ngige and Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are challenging the declaration of Obiano of APGA by INEC in an election they alleged was marred by irregularities.

They are praying the court to nullify the election conducted on November 16 last year and order a fresh election under a revised voter register.

OVERNORS Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta State), Rochas Okorocha (Imo State) and other stakeholders from five oil producing states have suggested ways the nation could protect its oil installations and end crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. To them, government’s involvement of host communities in its security and development plans was one of the best ways the country could protect oil installations, stop oil theft and aid development in the region. Uduaghan, Okorocha, Delta State’s Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mofe Pirah, Chairman, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Andrew Fawthrop and others spoke in Abuja at an event tagged: “The Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) Fair”, organised by Chevron, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Chevron Joint Venture. Other speakers at the twoday event included development expert, Dr. Ikem Tolar and leaders of community development groups from Rivers, Ondo,

Speaker declares member’s seat vacant From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

MO State House of Assembly Speaker Benjamin Uwajumogu has declared the seat of the member representing Oru East, Greg Okemiri, vacant. He made the declaration yesterday in reaction to a letter requesting the House to implement the judgment of the Court of Appeal dated May 10 last year. The letter mandated the Speaker to prevent Okemiri from participating in the House proceedings. It reads: “It is unfortunate and indeed a big blow to the rule of law that despite being aware of the judgment delivered by the Appeal Court more than seven weeks ago, you and other principal officers of the House of Assembly have in flagrant disobedience to the order, continued to allow Okemiri participate in the Assembly deliberations and draw salaries and emoluments as a member. “We are therefore constrained to demand that you obey and enforce the judgment by ensuring that Okemiri does not participate in the deliberations and activities of the House of Assembly.”

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Imo, Delta and Bayelsa states. The event was to examine the successes and shortfalls of Chevron’s community development concept, which allows host communities to drive development initiatives. Uduaghan said he was part of the negotiations, which resulted in the signing of the first GMoU between Chevron, Egebma/Gbaramatu Central Development Council (EGCDC) and Delta State government on October 5, 2005. He said the initiative has not only enhanced participatory partnership among communities, development agencies, the oil company and the government, but it has also ensured an era of accountability and transparency in the administration of community resources and execution of development projects. “The GMoU has helped to reduce disharmony and disunity among communities, which would have arisen due to alleged embezzlement of community funds, since the communities are engaged in the day-to-day running of the programme. “The Chevrom GMoU model has also contributed to the success of government’s peace and security agenda, as conflict in the region, which hitherto resulted in the destruction of some communities, is now a thing of the past,” the governor said. Uduaghan urged the Federal Government to explore the option of domiciling the contracts for pipeline surveillance by engaging contractors in the host communities. He said this would ensure effective protection of such facilities, adding that it would enhance collective responsibility on the part of the communities.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

love the excitement, anticipation and romantic energy of Valentine’s Day. It is a special day and you can feel it in the air. But my husband says that Valentine is fake and he doesn’t believe in it. How can I celebrate and enjoy valentine if my own husband does not believe in it? Cynthia The 14th of February is the day that the whole world has set aside to celebrate romantic love. Humans don’t need a good excuse to celebrate for as long as the intentions are good and positive. We celebrate birthdays, Christmas days, Salah Days, Easter days, wedding anniversaries, independence days etc. A day of celebration is essentially a day that a person or group of people have set aside for remembrance and a bit of fun. Valentine is no different. On Valentine’s Day, we remember the relationships we have with people and we try to celebrate them because anything good is worth maintaining. Simply put, just like we maintain our cars, houses, appliances etc, relationships need to be maintained too and that is what Valentine is all about. So here is what I suggest. Your husband shouldn’t stop you from being happy and generous on the 14th of February. So regardless of what he has to say about it, buy him a card and a gift and give them to him on Valentine’s Day. Cook something nice. I am sure he likes food like everyone else. And when night time comes, wear something seductive. I am sure when you put in this kind of effort; he will be forced to participate eventually. And if he ends up enjoying himself, he will likely change his mind about future Valentines – Uche There is a girl that I am friendly with. We are not officially dating but we are close. But for some reason, we have both not admitted to one another that we are lovers. Maybe I am too nervous to make the next move. This is Valentine week. What should I do? John Dear John, buy her a nice card and a thoughtful gift and then tell her that you want her to be your girlfriend. It is as simple as that. Don’t be scared. You are not facing a

firing squad. It is just a gesture and she will say yes – Uche Hello Chief. You have to hook your boys up. I have to perform on the 14th. I suffer from premature ejaculation and after the first round of intercourse, I have no energy left. Thanks – Moses Moses you can use the Liquid Sex Desensitizing Spray to control quick ejaculation and last longer. And to boost your performance, combine it with Exploding Thunder Supplement. Or you can buy just one product that does everything like Red Lips Premium or Rhino 5. These two super supplements strengthen weak erections, give erections on demand, stop premature ejaculation, enlarge the penis and help you perform multiple times for up to a week – Uche I want to buy my wife lingerie for valentine but I don’t know much about what is trendy or best – Alfred Alfred for sexy night gowns, we have the Baby Doll with Polka Dot Detail, the Halter Tie with Plunging Neck Line, the Under Wire baby doll withRhine Stone Detail and many others. And then there are edible underwear and Crotchlessunderwear as well such as the Crotchless Pearl Black Panty, the Crotchless Tuxedo Pantyand the Crotchless Frills Panty with Bow Detail. You can see their images on www.zeevirtualmedia.com. For more information, call the numbers below – Uche I need your best vibrator delivered before the 14th. Add an orgasm gel as well – MrsUkaegbu Go for the 8 inch Vibrating Emperor and the Encounter Orgasm Gel. Call the numbers below-Uche The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com . Happy Valentine - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS

Sanusi gives account of stewardship

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi gave account of his nearly five years at the apex bank. He said key decisions taken under his leadership, including the banking reforms that saw five bank Chief Bank Officers (CEOs) removed - one was jailed - were backed by the law. Sanusi, who spoke at the Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie (Barristers and Solicitors) 30th Anniversary Lecture held in Lagos, said from stock market fraud and subsequent crash and false book keeping to insider loan abuses perpetrated by the bank chiefs, the financial sector was put at risk. The CBN boss said he nearly rejected the job offer, adding that subsequent decisions taken were fully guided by the law. “And when I went into the banks, I discovered that there were so many problems bigger than anyone had ever thought. And banks were getting excellent ratings, sitting on nonperforming loans running into over 40 per cent. At that time, we thought it was N500 billion problem. Later, it was seen as N700 billion problems, but later it turned to N1 trillion problem. We took the decision that we would go into the bottom of these problems and tackle them, no matter how big they were. That we did anyway,” he said. Sanusi described what happened in banking as symptomatic of what is happening in the country, adding that people should be punished for wrongdoing - whether they are in banking or oil or politics. “The truth is that if you did what the bankers did, you should get the same treatment that the bankers got. We had this problem, and we had to keep the banks on life support,” he said. Continuing, he said he took legal counsel very seriously in the

•’Banking reforms ‘ll endure By Collins Nweze, Snr Finance Correspondent

course of the reforms to avoid their reversal. “Interestingly, the first advisers I appointed were legal advisers before financial advisers. I basically called the lawyers and said, look, I have a problem. This is what I see in the banks. We are not going to fix these problems until we change the management of the banks. We had cases where the Central Bank had removed management, and they went to court and claimed their fundamental human rights had been breached. I don’t want to take a single decision in this process that would be reversed by court of law,” he said. Continuing, he said the first thing he did was to make sure that every single step taken was backed by the law, which is why none of the decisions has been upturned. “If any of the decisions was upturned, we would have won an appeal. We have always listened. When the lawyers said don’t do it, we will not do it. However, I wanted to know all the powers that were available to me under the law, and I wanted to exercise all of them because the problems were so big, we needed all the legal backing,” he said. He said it was after listening to the legal counselling that the bank CEOs were removed and new management appointed, adding that some of the things seen in the banks were frightening. “In one case, after three to four weeks of looking at the bank and the money taken by the CEO, we discovered that the total amount taken were equivalent to the entire Federal Government Allocations to states,” Sanusi disclosed. On sustainability of the CBN policy, he said the policies he put

in place are sustainable because top management of the CBN and bank CEOs were carried along. He said his decision to do only one term, was mainly to get the final test of walking away and watching the system continue from there. “Maybe I want to walk away. I spent the last one year trying to create sustainability on what we have been doing. I think it is going to work,” he said. Sanusi said the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) was established after going through the legal system while also putting structures in place to recapitalise the ailing banks and take care of the nonperforming loans (NPLs). “At the end of the day, we spent over N3 trillion to purchase the NPLs and recapitalise the banks. One of the banks had over N600 billion negative capital,” he said. Sanusi said: “Today, people have forgotten how bad things were before the new CBN regime. If you want to get somewhere, you need to annoy some other people so that they can help you.” The CBN boss said it was difficult to have stability in banking system, if bank CEOs or bank management are allowed to treat depositors funds like personal property. Sanusi said he found it difficult to accept the CBN job because he had after the 2007 election criticised the government. “After 2007 elections, I had come out to say that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rigged elections. I wrote articles supporting General Muhammadu Buhari. I did not see how I was going to find myself working with a government that I had so openly criticised.

•Sanusi

“I got a few phone calls asking: ‘I heard you were appointed CBN Governor, and you were saying no. Don’t you make that mistake. If they offer, you have to accept’. Anyway it came,” he said. Sanusi said he knew the difficulties that came with the job because I was chief risk officer. “I actually, know the conditions some of the banks were in and also that it would be very difficult to fix. The risks of failure were very high,” he said. He explained that before he came into office, the stock market had crashed by 70 per cent. “In 2007, it was the best performing stock exchange in the world. In 2009, it was the worst performing stock exchange in the world. Interbank rate was so high, banks had run out of T-bills and bonds. Inflation was at 15 per cent, and I thought what kind of job to go into. And I said how I could work with politicians,” he said. The CBN boss plans to be in the next one year after leaving office a visiting professor in some foreign universities and also set up a Centre for African Policy. Sanusi said the margin between deposit and lending rates is still very high, adding that the Central Bank is committed to improving intermediation between banks and their customers.

PDP aspirant makes case for Agric

PEOPLES Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr Deji Ajayi has promised to develop the Agricultural sector to boost the stae’s Internally Generated Revenue,(IGR) if he becomes the governor. Ajayi lamented that Ekiti has not developed optimally

despite its enormous natural resources, promising to change the trend if elected. Ajayi, a native of Ayedun Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area spoke at the weekend while collecting his letter of intent to contest the governorship election at the PDP’s Secretariat in Ado

Ekiti. He said: “It is very regrettable that we have not developed in a way that is commensurate with the natural resources at our disposal, our agrarian nature has given the state opportunity to diversify the economy and stop relying on oil proceeds from

Abuja. “I will ensure that I invest heavily in Agriculture and has the potential to generate at least N30 billion revenue internally per annum.” The businessman cum politician boasted that the PDP will be victorious in the election, despite its chal-

Soldier dies chasing suspect

SOLDIER was killed yesterday by a hitand-run driver while attempting to recover a woman’s jewellery from a suspected thief. The deceased, a resident of Ikeja Cantonment, was said to be returning from duty in

By Precious Igbonwelundu

the morning on his motorcycle, when he saw the suspected thief snatch the woman’s jewellery and he chased the hoodlum. The incident occurred near Barracks bus stop, Anthony

Oke, Lagos. Identified as James, the soldier, according to eyewitnesses, caught the suspected thief and punished him, but the hoodlum later ran away, prompting the soldier to pursue him across the

expressway. While chasing the fleeing suspect, an oncoming vehicle on high speed knocked him down and he hit his head on a stone and died. It was learnt that policemen attached to the Ilupeju Police Division and soldiers rushed to the scene to evacuate his remains. Spokesman for the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Col. Omale Ochagwuba, confirmed the incident. He said the soldier died in active service.

Clarification

I •All Progressives Congress(APC) chieftain in Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Alobo-Bakare and his wife, Dupe displaying their membership cards after registering at Ward C, Anthony Village...yesterday

N a story published yesterday, a former governorship aspirant of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Abraham donated an undisclosed amount of money to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State chapter and not N900, 000 as claimed in the report. Also, Dr. Abraham didn’t speak about his political future - whether he would run or not.

Okorocha suspends commissioner

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday suspended indefinitely, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Mma Love Onyechere. Although no reason was given for the suspension, it was learnt that it might not be unconnected with an alleged disagreement between her and a member of the Local Government Service Commission during the All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration last week at Uhube in Okigwe Local Government.

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Anthony Anwuka, said the commissioner was suspended indefinitely. The Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Uche Ejiogu, has been mandated to take over from her. The SSG said the decision to suspend the commissioner was taken after the weekly executive council (exco) meeting presided over by the governor.

Baptists meet

HE first Executive Committee meeting of the Lagos East Baptist Conference (LEBC) this year holds on Saturday at the Conference Room, Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos, from 10 am. The Conference President, Rev. E.A. Awotunde, said members should be punctual, adding that kingdom business and other matters affecting the associations and churches under the conference would be discussed.

PDP chieftain loses bid to register foreign judgments

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Buruji Kashamu, yesterday lost in a bid to have the judgments entered in his favour by the courts in the United Kingdom (UK) registered by a Nigerian court. Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja in a ruling, dismissed Kashamu’s ex-parte application, with which he sought leave to register two judgments he said were entered in his favour by UK courts. Kashamu said in the application that the UK courts, in both judgments, cleared him of alleged criminal offences for which the United States Government was reportedly seeking his extradition. Justice Kolawole described Kashamu’s application as an abuse of court’s process on the grounds that he applied to the court outside the period allowed by Nigerian laws. The judge held that he could not extend the stipulated period within which the judgments from foreign courts could be registered. “I doubt that the period of six years, which the law provided for registration, could be extended. I find myself unable to exercise my discretion to grant the prayer. “This is a process, which constitutes an abuse of the court’s process. The application fails and it is hereby dismissed,” Kolawole held. The decisions arose in the suits - Governor of HMP Prison, Brixton Vs Government of The United States of America Exparte Buruji Kashamu & Government of the United States of America Vs Buruji Kashamu and delivered on October 6 and 10, 2000. Kashamu in the application by his lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN), filed pursuant to Order 6 Rule 14(1) of the Federal High Court (Civil Rules, 2009 Section 10(a) of the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act Cap. F.35 LFN 2004 sought to register the two judgments from the foreign courts. The Attorney-General of England and Wales was named as the sole respondent in the application. Kashamu prayed the court

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

for “extension of time within which the applicant shall register the judgments in the suits (a) Governor of HMP Prison, Brixton Vs Government of The United States of America Exparte Buruji Kashamu, and (b) Government of the United States of America Vs Buruji Kashamu, delivered on October 6 and 10, 2000. “An order of this honourable court for leave to issue and serve the processes filed in this suit, outside the jurisdiction of this honourable court on the Respondent to wit: on the Respondent’s office at 20 Victoria Street, London, England, SW1H ONF.” Kashamu stated, as a ground for the application, that he was “unaware that he needed to register the aforesaid judgments delivered in his favour by the courts in the United Kingdom in Nigeria and out of negligence did not obtain the services of a legal practitioner to advise him on this issue until he was informed by his counsel, Dr. Alex A. Izinyon (SAN) on December 10 last year.” He added that he was aware that the period within which the applicant should register the judgments by virtue of the Foreign Judgments Act Cap F35 had expired, a development, which informed his application for leave of the court to register the judgments out of time. In one of the judgments dated October 6, 2000, District Judge Tim Workman quashed the committal order, having found the proceedings against Kashamu unfair because the US Government concealed vital identification evidence. The second, dated October 10, 2000 which resulted from a full trial, declared that he had no question to answer. “I am, however, satisfied that the overwhelming evidence here is such that the identification evidence, already tenuous, has now been so undermined as to make it incredible and valueless. In these circumstances, there is no prima facie case against the defendant and I propose to discharge”, District Judge Workman held.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS

Iran warns US, Israel

RMED forces chief of staff General Hassan Firouzabadi has warned the Islamic republic's arch-foes that Iran is prepared for a "decisive battle" if attacked, Fars news agency reported yesterday. Report: Iran successfully testfires two missiles Associated Press Iran 'forever' comments on nuclear program seen as sop to hardliners Reuters Iran says nuclear talks failure would be 'disaster' Reuters Iran president says ready for final nuclear talks Associated Press Israel PM slams Iran move to send ships towards US AFP "We are ready for the decisive battle with America and the Zionist regime (Israel)," Fars quoted Firouzabadi as saying. He also warned neighbouring

nations not to allow any attack to be launched on Iran from their soil. "We do not have any hostility towards regional states, but if we are ever attacked from the American bases in the region we will strike that area back," he said. Washington has many military bases in the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. US Secretary of State John Kerry said late last month that if diplomacy with Iran fails, "the military option of the United States is ready and prepared to do what it would have to do". But Firouzabadi accused the US of bluffing. "Over the past decade, they brought their forces but came to the conclusion that they can't attack us and left," he said, dis-

Opposition plan for postwar Syria ignores Assad THE Syrian opposition called yesterday for a transitional governing body to oversee a U.N.-monitored ceasefire across Syria and expel foreign fighters, in a paper that avoided any mention of President Bashar al-Assad. The confidential paper, seen by Reuters, lays out a vision of post-conflict Syria with all ethnic groups participating in a transition process aimed at restoring peace and stability. Opposition and diplomatic sources said it deliberately does not refer to Assad, in line with a text agreed by world powers in June 2012 which calls for a transitional body with full executive authority, including over the security apparatus and the army, but which leaves the Syrian ruler’s fate open. “I think that the opposition has come to the obvious conclusion that the best way to deal with Assad is to avoid mentioning him,” one Middle Eastern diplomat said. The memorandum was presented to mediator Lakhdar Brahimi and a Syrian government delegation at a joint session at talks in Geneva aimed at halting three years of bloodshed that has killed more than 130,000 people and driven millions from their homes.

missing the US military threat as nothing but a "political bluff". President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday the West should not have and delusions about using a military option. "I say explicitly, if some have delusions of having any threats against Iran on their tables, they need to wear new glasses. There is no military option against Iran on any table in the world," he said. Iran is due to resume talks on Monday in Vienna with the P5+1 -- Britain, France, the United States, Russia and China plus Germany -- aimed at reaching a comprehensive nuclear accord following a landmark interim agreement struck in November. Western nations have long suspected Iran of covertly pursuing nuclear weapons alongside its civilian programme, allegations denied by Tehran

Mass grave found in Central African Republic

•Rouhani

which insists its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful. Neither the United States nor Israel has ruled out military action to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, if diplomacy fails.

Algerian military plane crashes -100 N Algerian military transport feared dead plane has crashed in mountains

in the north-east of the country with 103 passengers and crew on board. The Hercules C-130 crashed in a mountainous area of Oum al-Bouaghi province, en route to Constantine. One survivor has been found and the search continues, emergency services official Col Farid Nechad told public radio. The plane is said to have been carrying military personnel and family members. Women and children were among 71 bodies recovered from the crash site, public radio reported. The plane's original departure point is believed to have been the Sahara Desert garrison city of Tamanrasset, 1,500km (950 miles) south of Constantine, but it had made a stop in Ouargla. A source told radio station Ennahar -

which has close links to the government and army - that contact was lost with the military plane between Oum alBouaghi and Constantine, as it may have been starting to make its descent prior to landing. It crashed into Djebel Fertas mountain, some 380km (240 miles) east of the capital Algiers, senior military official Col Lahmadi Bouguern was quoted as saying on state media. He said bad weather and gusty winds were the probable cause of the crash. The plane was carrying 99 passengers - soldiers and their families - as well as four crew members, a security source told AFP news agency. This is the worst plane crash in Algeria for more than 10 years and the third involving an Algerian military Hercules.

TOP U.N. official warned on Wednesday of “ethnic-religious cleansing” in the Central African Republic, as peacekeepers uncovered a mass grave at a military camp occupied by Muslim Seleka rebels in the capital Bangui. The atrocity is the latest sign of the escalating conflict that has gripped the former French colony since March when Seleka seized power. Their campaign of rape, torture and executions against the mostly Christian population has triggered off sectarian violence which has displaced a million people. A Reuters witness saw at least a dozen decomposed bodies at

the military camp in the 200 Villas neighborhood of Bangui, where Seleka fighters have been stationed for several months. The bodies had been stuffed into a large underground chamber, possibly a septic tank. Pastor Antoine Mboa Bogo, head of the local Red Cross, confirmed the existence of the grave and said his staff would return to the camp on Thursday to determine the number of dead. It is not known who committed the killings. Violence has worsened since Seleka leader Michel Djotodia resigned as president in January under international pressure.

Lebanon army arrests jihadist chief

EBANON’S army yesterday said it arrested a commander of a group loyal to Al-Qaeda and defused two car bombs, one in Beirut and the other in the country’s east. “After careful follow-up and monitoring, the (army) intelligence directorate in Beirut arrested the terrorist Naim Abbas, a commander of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades,” the army said in a statement. The army said it had been monitoring Abbas, a Palestinian, for a while, “after receiving information about his role in preparing and detonating car bombs.” The army also said it had defused two car bombs, the first in the western Beirut neighbourhood of Corniche alMazraa. It said the car contained around 100 kilogrammes of explosives and explosive belts as well as mortar shells. The statement said the army

had also seized a second car “which came into Lebanese territory from Yabrud in Syria and was going to Beirut.” The army said three women were in the car and had been detained. Yabrud is a town not far from the Lebanese border inside Syria which is under rebel control. The Abdullah Azzam Brigades, which describes itself as loyal to Al-Qaeda, has been listed by the United States as a terrorist organisation since 2009. It claimed a November twin suicide attack against the Iranian embassy in Beirut that killed 25 people. Its Saudi leader Majid al-Majid was arrested in early January and died days later from poor health. Abbas’s detention also follows the indictment of a Sunni Muslim sheikh, Omar Ibrahim al-Atrash, in connection with two suicide bombings in southern Beirut that killed at least six people.

NEWS Boko Haram kills 51, abducts 20 girls in Borno Continued from page 1

some of them in army uniforms. They drove in Hilux vans and had an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) as back-up. For four hours, they killed and maimed villagers. Many houses were razed. Hundreds were injured. About 1,000 houses and a mosque were burnt down. The insurgents also took hostage 20 young girls from a local school, a teacher said. The military also confirmed that the attack took place and that it was assessing the number of casualties. Survivors recounted yesterday the nightmare as Governor Kashim Shettima visited. “It is barbaric and unfortunate,” the governor said. In the ruins of the mosque yesterday lay bodies ready for burial. They included those of three children who did not look more than 10 years old. “Why us? Why us?” a woman wailed, trying to understand why militants set on creating an Islamic state in the country would attack a town of mainly Muslim farmers. Numerous villages in the area have been attacked and hundreds have been killed in recent months, despite a nine-monthlong military state of emergency to halt the uprising in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. The Boko Haram insurgency has made thousands homeless while more have fled to other parts of Nigeria and to neighbouring states. Farmers described Tuesday night’s attack to the governor. They told the governor that about 400 attackers in military camouflage drove in from all directions in apparently stolen army trucks led by an armoured Personnel

CAN urges govt to probe Boko Haram’s sources of weapons

HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday urged the Federal Government to investigate the sources of sophisticated weapons and ammunition that Boko Haram, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen were using in the North. The association said the Goodluck Jonathan administration should also expose the sponsors of killer groups across the country. It noted that from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Kaduna states, the gory stories of killings through shooting, burning of Christians’ homes and their churches were becoming too rampant with the security situation getting worse. CAN said in Plateau State alone, it recorded over 100 dead Christians within a month between January 6, and February 6. In a communiqué read yesterday by its General Secretary, Rev. Musa Asake, after this year’s first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the umbrella Christian body expressed concern about “the insecurity challenges that have continued to face us as a nation and Christians in particular in our dear country, Nigeria”. It said: “As Fulani herdsmen get increasingly sophisticated with each attack, the National Executive Committee of CAN calls on the Federal Government to investigate the sources of the weapons and ammunition used by the Boko Haram, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen in their various attacks and also expose their sponsors. “CAN recorded the death of over 100 Carrier (APC). They called people out then opened fire, the survivors said. The few soldiers and police stationed in the town, outnumbered and outgunned, fled, they said. The extremists arrived at 6 p.m. and went from house to house, using homemade bombs to set them ablaze. Shettima said about 70 per cent of the town was destroyed. The attackers only fled around

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Christians in one month - between January 6 and February 6. At least 30 people sustained various degrees of injury. Recently, these evil men disguised as soldiers, went inside a Catholic Church while the church was in session, locked the doors and killed the worshipers.” It also urged the Federal Government to put in place an enduring system to curtail the Boko Haram insurgency, attacks by gunmen and Fulani herdsmen. The umbrella Christian body noted that the “three agents of evil” had a carefully planned and executed agenda against Christians, using simultaneous approaches. CAN said: “The Federal Government should come up with an efficient and enduring system that can overwhelm the resurgence of Boko Haram, gunmen and Falani herdsmen who are prowling villages, shooting and killing innocent Christians. At a time we should have been enjoying peace through articulated and sustained security programmes, the scourge of Boko Haram, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen has continued to pose serious problems to Christians, particularly those living in the North. “In particular, we want the Federal Government to investigate the killing of the Kankia Pastor, who was murdered in cold blood on allegation that a body was found near his house. Arrest and prosecution of those found to have taken part in the dastardly act...”

10 p.m. when a military aircraft strafed them into flight, survivors said. Angry residents asked the governor why it took hours for the military to respond. Konduga, an agrarian centre of about 10,000 farmers, is 35 kilometres and 30 minutes’ drive from Maiduguri, the state capital, which is the headquarters of the newly created military 7th Division which also has an air

force base. Shettima told reporters who accompanied him on the trip that the extremists, “are better armed and better motivated” than the military. He said the soldiers were doing their best but were not as well-equipped. Shettima told residents he would remain with them until promised food, clothing and other emergency supplies arrived later yesterday.

Continued from page 2

plained that contrary to this insinuation which came from the social media and were also replicated in some regular media, Oghiadomhe left to pursue further interest in politics. “The office of the chief of staff does not supervise the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), it has no direct correlation with the work of the NNPC and he said if Oghiadomhe had left because of NNPC, then it will suggest that there must have been people in the NNPC that would have been involved with him and those people too would have gone. So contrary to these speculations, the President asked him to go when he offered to resign to participate to pursue interest in politics. The president made it very clear that the resignation of the former chief of staff has nothing to do with the alleged misdemeanors in NNPC, but rather it was purely a decision of the former chief of staff to withdraw his services to participate in pursuing further interest in politics,” he added. On whether Mrs Oduah was asked to go based on the report on the N255 million car scam by the committee set up to investigate the allegation, Maku said: “I have just reported exactly what the

Why ministers were ‘allowed to go’, by Maku President said. Also don’t forget allegations don’t necessarily mean guilt and I think the press should always take sometimes to be patient. But the truth of the matter is that they left because they indicated interest in playing deeper roles in the politics of the country and the President has decided to let them go”. On why the government is keeping silent on the allegation of missing funds by Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, he said: “I will caution that we be patient for the institution of government to respond. You will recall that the CBN governor claimed $49 billion or there about was missing and inquiry shows that that was not so. Now he has been making further claims and NNPC has been responding and I believe that I do not have the facts now to answer your questions.” Maku added that the council considered the report of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group and referred it to the Minister of Agriculture to look into the recommendations and present a memo.

The President explained that contrary to this insinuation which came from the social media and were also replicated in some regular media, Oghiadomhe left to pursue further interest in politics. – Maku

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS Two policemen killed in Makurdi From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

WO policemen attached to the Benue State Civil Service Secretariat were shot dead by suspected robbers yesterday. The hoodlums allegedly carted away money meant for the Ministry of Finance. An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said he heard sporadic gunshots at Ishaya Bakut junction, off MakurdiOtukpo at 3pm. According to him, two men waylaid a government van with two policemen and a lady, who was later identified as a cashier with the ministry. “They shot the front tyres and brought the van to a halt. As the policemen attempt to return fire, the suspects opened fire and killed them; they then took a big bag and fled in their Toyota Corolla vehicle. The incident created a gridlock on Ishaya Bakut Road, which is a stone’s throw from the B Division. Police spokesman Daniel Ezeala told The Nation that the two policemen accompanied the cashier to the bank to withdraw money. Ezeala said the driver was arrested while the cashier is receiving treatment in the hospital. Commissioner for Finance Omadachi Oklobia said he cannot state exactly how much was withdrawn from the bank.

Adamawa PDP lawmakers to join APC

ARRING last minute changes, elected Adamawa members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives may defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers are angry that theywere sidelined by stakeholders in the state. They alleged that the stakeholders, who are loyal to ex-PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, held a meeting with the new National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu without inviting them. It was gathered that when Mu’azu directed that senators and lawmakers be invited to the meeting, the stakeholders ignored them. The neglect accounted for the defection of one of the senators , Ahmed Barata. They also claimed that

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

some top aides of President Goodluck Jonathan from Adamawa State had been misleading Mu’azu. According to findings, preparatory to the defection of the PDP lawmakers, 17 of the 24 members of the House of Assembly signed a ‘secret pact’ with ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to join the APC. The House of Assembly members blamed the stakeholders loyal to Tukur for running politics of exclusion in the state. Two senators from the state have technically pitched tent with APC. A source said: “It is getting obvious that APC might have a clean sweep of Adamawa State going by the attitude of the so-called PDP

stakeholders in the state. “All PDP members in the House of Representatives are likely to joinAPC because of the politics of alienation of the stakeholders, who are loyal to Tukur. “For instance, last week, the stakeholders called for a meeting with Mu’azu and they deliberately refused to invite members of the House of Representatives because they alleged that they belonged to the remnants of Governor Murtala Nyako’s camp left in PDP. “Yet, some of these stakeholders have never won election in their polling units.” Another aggrieved lawmaker said: “PDP is crashing in Adamawa State and APC will gain. “We are only giving them a long rope to pull before we defect to APC. “Instead of harmonising

the Bamanga Tukur faction and those who refused to leave the party with Nyako, a faction is assuming control and shutting out the others. “It is unfortunate that some top aides of the President, who are sympathetic to the Bamanga Tukur group are misleading both the President and Mu’azu .” A third source added: “The signs are there that we may leave PDP for APC because APC is offering a level-playing field to all. It is politics of exclusion that will make us quit PDP. “Already, 17 of 24 members of the House of Assembly have signed a secret pact with ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar to defect to APC because of the attitude of the so-called stakeholders. “If Mu’azu does not put things in order, we are gone for good from PDP to APC.”

362 traders lose N1b in fire

OKOTO State Commissioner for Information Danladi Bako said yesterday that property believed to worth about N1 billion were lost by 362 traders in the fire at the Sokoto Kara Market. Bako spoke after the state executive council meeting. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Sokoto Kara market was gutted by fire on February 5. Bako said the assessment of the number of victims and losses was made by a special committee set up by Governor Aliyu Wamakko after the incident. “Governor Wamakko will soon meet with the leaders of the traders union of the market. “The state government will donate money to them to rebuild the market and restart their businesses,’’ he said. Bako said the council commiserated with the victims of the fire incident. “The council also discussed proactive measures to prevent a recurrence,’’ he said.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

KANO State government has affirmed its position that any health worker found to have cleared expectant mothers to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj will be summarily dismissed from service. The warning was reechoed yesterday by Deputy Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the opening ceremony of the review of last year’s hajj, organised by the Pilgrims Welfare Board. He said government decided to take the measure as the action of the health worker will result in the loss of 25 seats by the state from the National Hajj Commission. Ganduje, who noted that hajj operation is an all –year- round exercise, commended the Pilgrim Welfare Board for the early commencement of the preparation programme, saying he will personally lead the state delegation to secure accommodation for this year’s intending pilgrims. He also directed the board to scrutinise all Local Government Centre Officers in order to fish out bad elements among them, so as to ensure a more successful hajj operation. The Executive Secretary, State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Laminu Rabiu, said the review of last year’s hajj is the first of its kind throughout the country. Rabiu said those excluded last year will be the first to be considered this year.

PUBLIC NOTICE •Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko (second right) being briefed by an All Progressives Congress (APC) official when he visited the party’s registration centre in Karaye...yesterday.

I’m moving to PDP, says Belgore

HE 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kwara State, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), announced yesterday his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Those that defected with him are Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo; Bunmi Olusona; Idris Mahmoud; Sa’ad Omoiya; Isa Afon; Agboola Ismail; Toyin Ayinla; Bar Funsho Sa’ad; Atanda Soro; Khadijat Abdullateef; Ganiyu Onikere and thousands of supporters. He said: “We are joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which - as fate now has it - has shed the core of the liabilities that made our people run away from it. “We are joining hands with other likeminds in the PDP, who were unjustly shut out because of

APC: good riddance From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

their progressive bent to endear the party to the people of Kwara State. “Together we will work to advocate and bring about economic liberation, equal opportunity for all and positive development to our dear state and its people.” The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the defection of Mohammed Dele Belgore as good riddance. APC added that he was more of a liability in the political chess game of the state. State Interim Chairman Ishola Balogun-Fulani said: “He was more of an ethnic card player than a politician, who is in-

sincere. “If Belgore is truly a progressive politician which APC represents, he would have not leave the APC which everybody sees as the platform that would address the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, including the people of the state. “But for him to have claimed that his exit in the party was because he was not given the leadership of the party speaks volume about what the erstwhile PDP has always said about him that he is a self-centred politician, who is more interested in his own aggrandisement rather than the interest of the people and this he has confirmed in his speech delivered today where he formally declared for PDP.

Ex-deputy governor, Kaduna lawmaker join APC ORMER Kaduna State Deputy Governor James Bawa Magaji and a member of the House of Representatives, Isah Ashiru, have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). Magaji registered with the party at Fadan-Kaje, in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area; Ashiru registered in

‘Don’t allow expectant mum for hajj’

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Kudan ward, Kudan Local Government Area. The former deputy governor said the APC has left no one in doubt that its emergence in the political space is to bring change to Nigeria and Africa through progressive, peopleoriented and purposeful lead-

ership. He said: “Our people have suffered untold hardship in the last 15 years of very corrupt, indolent, incompetent and sophomoric leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “This has made our people to become disillusioned, disoriented and disgruntled,

which is responsible for the militancy in the Niger Delta, kidnappings, Boko Haram and all the insecurity tendencies that were not known to us prior to PDP’s assumption of office in 1999. Ashiru, who represents Makarfi/Kudan, urged supporters to rally round the party to ensure victory in 2015.

“We want to congratulate the people of Kwara that today the last of him has formally exited the platform that would take us to the next level. Everybody has seen that the only political party that is with the people is the APC.” MISSING INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT I Muhammad Lutfi Ayan of No. 9 Casablanca Street, Wuse II, Abuja misplaced my International Passport No. N004199678 and Receipt Temporary Card on 27th January 2014 within Central Area. Please if find kindly call 080-39111279

I ADEDIRAN TOLUBORI JAMES HEREBY DECLARE LOSS OF LETTER OF EXIT FROM DESIGN OPTIONS NIG LTD LAGOS WHICH HAS SINCE WOUND UP. GENERAL PUBLIC AND STANBIC IBTC PENSION SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE GEORGE-OYEBANJO I, formerly known as Mrs. Omotola Adeyemi George-Oyebanjo now wish to be known as Mrs Omotola Adeyemi Adepoju. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note

PUBLIC NOTICE RAFIU

I formerly known and addressed as RAFIU ALICE OJUOTIMI. now wish to be known and addressed as NOAH ALICE OJUOTIMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE OBJECTION TO CHANGE OF NAME FROM RUMUOKWURUSI YOUTH MOVEMENT TO RUMUOKWURUSI YOUTH ASSOCIATION We, the members of Rumuokwurusi Youth Movement hereby object to the application to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for a Change of Name to Rumuokwurusi Youth Association and formation of Trustees as published in the Nation Newspaper of Tuesday, January 21, 2014, on page 50. The general public is advised to disregard this publication as false, null and void and of no effect and the CAC should please not register this name. Signed: COMRADE JOHNSON AMADI For: Rumuokwurusi Youth Movement.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NEWS AFENIFERE RENEWAL GROUP’S CONFERENCE IN IBADAN

•Senator Olabiyi Durojaye (left) and Gen Alani Akinrinade at the Constitutional Conference organised by Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan, Oyo State...yesterday.

Mr Ademola Oyinlola (left); Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and member, All Progressives Congress Membership Registration, Lagos State, Mr Ayo Afolabi.

•Olotu Omoba Leye Ashaye (left); former Managing Director, defunct Daily Sketch, Mrs Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo and former Minister of State Bashiru Awotorebo

•Former Oyo State Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun (right) and Comrade Olugbenga Awosode

•Comrade Moshood Erubami

•Lodi of Ife, High Chief Eluyemi Segun (left), Oba Alayemore Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo and Lowate of Ife, Oba Adebowale Olafare. PHOTOS: FEMI ILESANMI

AIT boss to Ijaw leader: you are an irritating interloper

Clark opposes Dokpesi as Oghiadomhe’s replacement

JAW leader Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark has slammed the Chairman of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and other perceived candidates lobbying to succeed the former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe. Clark, a former Information Minister and acclaimed confidant of President Goodluck Jonathan, said neither Dokpesi nor others touted as Ogiadomhe’s replacements were qualified. He said: “I want to state categorically that Chief Raymond Dekpesi is not a fit and proper person to replace Chief Mike Oghiadomhe in all aspects, having regard to his antecedents. “Therefore, I wish to warn those who are championing the cause or lobbying for him (that they) should put Nigeria first. “It is being rumoured that since the resignation of Chief Oghiadomhe, Chief of Staff, the name of Raymond Dokpesi has appeared in many newspapers as a likely replacement for Oghiadomhe as Chief of Staff.” Conceding that President

He was connected with some of the men, known and unknown, who were part ofn the October 1, 2010 bombing at Eagle Square, Abuja, where many innocent Nigerians were killed From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

Jonathan was at liberty to pick a new Chief of Staff, Chief Clark, however, insisted that Dokpesi was not the right man for the job because of his antecedents. He listed the many “sins” of the media guru to include working against the interests of Jonathan and the Southsouth in previous elections. The Ijaw leader said the

AIT Chairman had also been tainted by allegations linking him with October 1, 2010 bomb blast. “I am aware of the fact that Chief Dokpesi has been a regular caller at the Presidency for some time now, without showing any sense of remorse and repentance during the aggressive and notorious activities against President Jonathan between 2010 and 2011, particularly when he was the campaign DirectorGeneral for former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. “He was connected with some of the men, known and unknown, who were part ofn the October 1, 2010 bombing at Eagle Square, Abuja, where many innocent Nigerians were killed. “Some of those persons include: Mr. Henry Okah, who is serving jail terms in South Africa; his brother, Charles Okah, who is also facing treasonable trial in Abuja, and Mr. Edmund Ebiuwaren, who is serving life jail term in an Abuja prison and who was alleged to have received N5 million from Raymond Dokpesi.”

•President, Afenifere Renewal Group(ARG),Comrade Wale Oshun (left) and Otunba Lai Ayetundun.

•Chief Clark

The Ijaw leader warned that because of Dokpesi’s “past interests and disposition”, he might become a threat to the President. He hinted that Dokpesi’s perceived grievances against Dr Jonathan was the refusal by the Federal Government to pay about N7 billion owed him after the Under-17 World Cup championship held in Abuja. “We have observed that shamefully, he found himself into Presidential Campaign Team when IBB, Atiku Abubakar, General Mohammed Gusau and Dr. Bukola Saraki, etc failed in their bid to stop President Jonathan’s reelection,” Clark said.

S the jostle for the vacant post of the Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan continues, the Chief Executive of DAAR Communications, owners of AIT and Ray Power FM, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, yesterday hit back at Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, for saying he (Dokpesi) is not fit for the job. The businessman said responding to Clark would amount to dignifying “an irritating interloper”. Dokpesi, in a statement last night in Abuja through his Executive Assistant, Okiemute Olori, said Clark belongs to the old generation that does not believe in the unity of Nigeria. The statement said: “The attention of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi has been drawn to reports in ...which Chief E. K. Clark was quoted to have made spurious and slanderous statements against his (Dokpesi’s) person. “To be sure, this is not the first time Chief Clark would be engaging in these kinds of unbridled and unwarranted attacks on the person and character of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi. “Nigerians, who are familiar with the comic ranting of Chief Clark against Dokpesi

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

and other prominent Nigerians, will agree that responding to him amounts to dignifying an irritating interloper. “We will like to alert Nigerians to the fact that Chief Clark has a deep-seated hatred for Dr. Dokpesi and has never hidden the fact and, as such, we see Chief Clark’s attacks on Dr. Dokpesi as premeditated and preemptive. “Whatever modest contributions Dr. Dokpesi has made to the growth and development of Nigeria has been by the special grace of God and he would not be distracted by the likes of Clark, who has apologised to Nigerians for his untoward remarks in the past, remarks that negate his selfish claim to elder statesmanship. “Time will soon tell whether Chief Clark served the interest of Nigeria in the past few years since President Jonathan assumed office or whether he has been merely an agent of provocation, irritation and disunity. “Dr. Dokpesi will continue to work assiduously for the promotion of harmony, cordial and brotherly co-existence amongst all Nigerians, irrespective of which geographical section of the country they belong...”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

SPORT EXTRA MEXICO FRIENDLY

Keshi picks Yobo, 22 others S

UPER Eagles' Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has listed Skipper Joseph Yobo in his squad of 23 for the international friendly against Mexico in Atlanta, USA on Wednesday, March5. Yobo, who is back in the keenly-followed English Premiership, this time with Norwich City, on loan from Fenerbahce FC of Turkey, last played for the African champions at the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, which Nigeria won. Also returning are Israelbased defender Juwon Oshaniwa, 2014 African Nations Championship Most Valuable Player Ejike Uzoenyi and Canada-based striker Bright Dike. New faces include former junior internationals Ramon Azeez and Shehu Abdullahi, and Belgium-based strikers Imoh Ezekiel and Michael Uchebo. Centre - back Kunle Odunlami, who made CAF's list of Best Eleven at the recent African Nations Championship in South Africa, is also called. Usual faces like goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, defenders Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders John Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and Obinna Nsofor will also fly to America. THE FULL SQUAD OF 23 Goalkeepers: Vincent

Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel) Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Is-

rael); Joseph Yobo (Norwich City, England); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars) Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Shehu Abdullahi (Kano Pillars); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers) Forwards: Ahmed Musa

(CSKA Moscow, Russia); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Victor Moses (Liverpool FC, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC. Turkey); Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy); Bright Dike (Toronto FC, Canada), Imoh Ezekiel (Standard Liege, Belgium); Michel Uchebo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium)

•Keshi

HE Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has fixed March 19 as the commencement date for the 2013/2014 Zenith Women Basketball League which will now have 16 teams. This is contained in the communiqué issued after the federation’s three-day Stakeholders’ Forum held at the National Institute of Sports’ Auditorium at the Abuja National stadium. The communiqué, signed by the Media Officer of NBBF, Ehidiame Omorodion, said the 16 teams would play in the first two phases of the league. It said eight teams would qualify at the end of the phases to play in the Final Eight PlayOffs. The communiqué also stated that the 2013/2014 DSTV Men’s Basketball League would commence on March 28, with a preseason match at the National Stadium in Lagos. ``The 2013/2014 DSTV Premier Basketball League will commence on Feb. 28 with a pre-season match at the National Stadium in Lagos between two premiership teams. ``The regular season will commence on March 7 at the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences,’’ it added. The communique further

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja there is no contemplation to employ a foreign Technical Adviser for the team. “Honestly speaking, I don’t know anything about any body language to hire a foreign coach for the team; the truth is that there is no contemplation to employ a foreign Technical Adviser for Stephen Keshi of Nigeria for the World Cup and that is of-

ficial”, he stated clearly. Inyama also made it clear that the Federation would give full support as usual to Keshi to be able to lead the team to impressive campaign in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil come June. “We will give Keshi all the support as Nigeria Football Federation to ensure that the best legs are the ones that would take us to the World Cup in Brazil this year. Nigeria has always been a team

that adds colour to any international competition like we did at the 1994 World Cup in USA, The Atlanta 1996 Olympics and the Saudi ’89 U- 20 World Cup and so on. This time around we want to add a positive colour to the Brazil 2014 World Cup. The Nigeria Football Federation will continue to provide Keshi the enabling environment to do his job”, he promised.

I was frustrated by Cardiff’s style—Osaze

IGERIAN striker Osaze Odemwingie has revealed he was

"frustrated" by the style of football played under Malky Mackay, labelling it only "effective in the Championship" stating it wasn’t right for him. Odemwingie, who is now playing under Mark Hughes at Stoke after a move last month, said he became isolated because of the long ball tactics employed by Mackay and a lack of width in the side. In his words, “The style of football under Malky Mackay was not really right for me. It was effective in the Championship but not in the Premier League, we played a lot of long balls and sometimes we didn’t really have wingers. As a striker, you can get isolated that way”. However, the striker who began his career with Bendel Insurance in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) recently

By Bowale Odukale received praise from his new boss after he scored his first goal for the Potters, his third Premier League club, in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Southampton also avowed that he likes his new boss especially his team talks and the Premier League table is so tight, as a player you find that very stressful. “Mark Hughes is a man I like working with. His teams talks, before and during matches, are very good. He is a passionate man who knows how to get a point across”. He said “The top of the table is more exciting than it has been for years. As a player, you find it quite stressful but also very exciting. There is so much on every game. Even now, at the start of February, it feels like the games mean so much”. “If you go four or five games without winning you are go-

said all participating teams were expected to upgrade their facilities ahead of their final inspection by the NBBF and sponsors. It also said they would be responsible for mobilising their fans and ensuring sustainable followership of the league games. ``In support of this, DSTV has introduced a cash reward of N500,000 and other incentives for the team with strongest fan base,’’ the communiqué added. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the DSTV league would be having two newly-promoted teams, Kwara Falcons in the Atlantic Conference and Gombe Bulls in the Savannah Conference. The communique also announced the ratification of the relegation of Comets and Yelwa Hawks from the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences. It also disclosed that the premier league sponsor, DSTV, has introduced the ``Supersport Man of the Match Award’’ for the best individual player in every match. The communiqué further said the federation would appoint a Technical Director to accelerate its developmental projects.

NNPC/Shell Cup enters state final stage

NFF refutes ‘foreign coach’ story HE leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has stated that they have no plans to hire a foreign coach for the Super Eagles as it was being rumoured in some quarters. The Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation Media Committee who is also a board member of the federation, Chief Emeka Inyama disclosed this on an NTA programme on Tuesday night and said whoever is carrying the rumour should put a stop to it. The issue of hiring a foreign coach was more in the news shortly after the Eagles managed to win the bronze medal of the last Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa. But the NFF chieftain has come out publicly to rubbish the claims. “This is not the first time we have been hearing this (that the NFF wants to hire a foreign Coach for the Super Eagles) even after we won the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa February last year (2013). It was everywhere that the NFF wanted to bring a foreign Technical Adviser to the team even in the middle of the AFCON 2013 in South Africa then. “I have discussed with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation and I want to speak officially on this matter also that there is no truth in the rumour, there is no truth in the speculations, there is no truth in the comments going all over. Like I did say Keshi is in charge and

2013/2014 Zenith Women Basketball League to kick off March 19

ing to be in huge trouble. If you go four or five games without losing, you will jump up the table. I think this next month will be crucial”. He added

RELIMINARY matches of the All Nigeria Secondary Schools Football Championship for the NNPC/Shell Cup 2014 are being rounded off this week in all states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. According to the programme of activities released by the Nigeria Schools Sport Federation(NSSF), the organisers of the championship, all states are to round off their preliminaries on Thursday, February 13th and Friday, February 14th, 2014. Meanwhile, in Kebbi state, the final will come up on Friday between Army Day Secondary School, Birnin-Kebbi and Government Seondary School, Gesse at the Nagari College playground from 3:00pm. It is expected that the honourable Commissioner of Education as well as other dignitaries from the Ministry will attend the final. In Ibadan the Oyo State capital, the NNPC/Shell Cup final will be played at the ancient Olubadan stadium on Thursday between Brightville College, Ibadan and Success High School, Babanla, Ibadan. The Kwara state NNPC/Shell

Cup final will come up at the mainbowl of the Ilorin stadium on Friday, February 13th, between Government Day secondary school, Sao representing Moro Local government council and Kwara Football Academy secondary school, Ilorin. In Osun state, the battle for the zonal preliminaries ticket will be between Progressive High School, Modakeke and Osowusi High School, Iloko-Ijesha at St. Charles Secondary School playground on thursday. Nasarawa state final will be played between Govenment College, Keffi and Government Science School, Andeka while Fortune Academy, Calabar will tackle 2N Multinational secondary school, Ikom for the Cross River state trophy. MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta will host the Ogun state final between Alamuwa Grammar School, Ado-Odo and Adeola Odutola College, IjebuOde on thursday from 3:00pm, while in Plateau state, Government Secondary School, Kopyal will confront Government Secondary School, Sabon-gida, Langtang at the GSS Laranto playground.

Ifelodun Comprehensive holds Inter House Sports •Green house emerges overall winner REEN house has emerged as the overall winner of the Ifelodun

•Odemwingie

Comprehensive high school Mushin, Lagos inter- house sport held at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research,(FIIRO) Lagos. The house garnered a total of 12 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals. Orange house was placed second with 3 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze medals, while White house came third with an impressive array of medals. Earlier in the day, the event had been declared open with prayers by Pastor Shoola, while the Principal of the school,

By Israel Odebiyi and Kudirat Oderinde Adewunmi Kehinde in his opening speech urged students to be of good behaviour throughout the event: "The inter-house sport competition undoubtedly is a unifying factor that will bring students, parents guardians, management, members of staff and stake holders together." Performing houses for the day were Yellow, Blue, White, Orange and green house. It was indeed a day of sweat, determination and laughter, highlighting the cohesive nature of sports in the process of child empowerment.

www.thenationonlineng.net

WHO SAID WHAT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘I pledge to rededicate myself to the services of the people of this great state. For the remaining time that I have, I will do as God directs me to continue to use the instrument of governance to deliver the greatest good to our citizens ’ VOL.9, NO.2,758

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

‘F

REEDOM, freedom, everywhere there must be freedom: Freedom for you, freedom for me, everywhere there must be freedom’.

The short poem above on freedom is not foreign in origin. It was the catchy song and slogan of the NCNC, the leading political party in the heady days of Nigeria’s nationalist movement. The freedom refrain became popular in the mid 1940s when colonial Nigeria was stirred into demanding independence from British colonial rule. The Action Group, the other leading Nigerian Party, also joined the fray with its own slogan of ‘Life more abundant’, or ‘Afenifere,’ that inspired and caught the imagination and nationalist impulse of the Yoruba. Not to be left out, the Trade Union Congress, under the uncompromising and courageous leadership of the indomitable Michael Imoudu, waded into the fray in 1946, or thereabouts, with a hugely successful labour strike for pay increases for the workers. The strike was total and effective. It paralysed the activities of the colonial government and exposed its weakness. It was forced to give way to the demand of the workers for wage increases. This event marked the beginning of the struggle for Nigeria’s independence. But the vision of Nigeria’s early leaders of an independent country in which freedom would flourish has since been abandoned, as has the general welfare of Nigerian workers who now wallow in abject poverty and misery. I was a boy growing up in Lagos at the time and saw some of those popular demonstrations, mainly at Tom Jones Hall, Evans Square and Oyingbo in Lagos. The colonial government allowed public demonstrations as long as they were peaceful. That is no longer the case today in Nigeria where peaceful demonstrations are often broken up by the police. My late father, who was then in the colonial civil service, often took me along to watch those political demonstrations against British colonial rule in Nigeria. He tried to explain to me that we were fighting for our freedom. That did not mean much to me at the time as I was too young to understand what freedom meant. The struggle for freedom and against foreign rule gathered momentum everywhere. The British had ruled India for over 300 years. But in 1947, after a bloody colonial war led by Mahatma Gandhi, India was granted its independence. The event was epochal as it presaged the fall of the British Empire and foreign rule in Asia and Africa. In Nigeria, the activities of the independence movements were confined largely to Lagos where, over a century, some educated elite of professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and engineers had emerged. It was this educated African elite that led the struggle for independence in Nigeria. Initially, all that this small educated African elite wanted from the British colonial authorities was repre-

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

True meaning of freedom

•Map of Nigeria

sentative government, and equality of treatment with white British officials; not outright independence. They had all been educated in England and loved and admired the British way of life. Colonial rule in Nigeria was benign and more visible in Lagos, the seat of the colonial government. It was at the old Bristol Hotel in Lagos that a black West Indian was first offered accommodation when it was thought he was white, but refused later, when he was discovered to be black. The vibrant Lagos press took up the matter, and strongly supported the agitation for freedom from foreign rule. To the credit of British colonial rule in Nigeria only one journalist, Anthony (later Chief) Enahoro, was arrested and convicted for sedition, after he had made a speech at the Tom Jones Hall calling for a revolution in Nigeria against foreign rule. Outside Lagos, the pro-independence movements made very little impact as colonial rule and some of its atrocities were not so visible, or rampant. Unlike in India, there were no bloody massacres of the people in colonial Nigeria. But there were a

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..BETTER than our EVER_RELIABLE CANDLE?

GO VERNOR AD AMS OSHIOMHOLE GOVERNOR ADAMS

few incidents outside Lagos, such as the tragic Aba women’s riot and the violent demonstration led by Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, over the introduction of local taxation in Abeokuta that led to the Alake being deposed by the colonial authorities. In Northern Nigeria where the British colonial authorities worked closely with the powerful emirates, there was very little agitation for independence. Raji Abdallah in the North was like a lone voice. British rule did not change much there. There was very little sense of the loss of independence or freedom in much of rural Nigeria where British colonial officials ruled through the Obas. Only the black educated elite in the South felt the humiliating impact of colonial rule. In 1960, Nigeria was granted independence with profound goodwill and amity on both sides. Its independence struggle was short and the transition peaceful. After World War II, Britain was hardly in a position to retain its African colonies and decided to let them go. Starting with the old Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1957, the African colonies all became free from foreign rule. By 1962, British colonial rule in Africa had ended. In October 1960, I was a student at the then University College, Ibadan, and was proud to see the British Union Jack unfurled and replaced by Nigeria’s national flag at the Lagos Race Course (now Tafawa Balewa Square). Like many other Nigerians, I believed that the end of colonial rule would usher in freedom and a better future for the people of Nigeria. But in later years, I began to realise that though Nigeria was now free, this did not mean that its people were also free and could really take their destiny into their own hands. This new freedom was, soon after independence in 1960, undermined by new challenges that were not anticipated at independence. Foreign domination had ended, but it was soon replaced by tribal domination and tyranny that was more extensive and vicious than colonial rule. The ‘federal might’ was used to crush the demo-

HARDBALL

T last, Stella Oduah, President Goodluck Jonathan’s embattled minister of Aviation, bites the dust — and well, in a neighbour-to-neighbour way. Given the explosive twin-Stella-gate, of the purchase of two BMW armoured cars for almost US $ 1.6 million (when US and UK price for each car is no more than US $267, 000) and alleged certificate scandal, Ms Oduah did not exit the cabinet, pursued with hot presidential rage. What happened was “voluntary resignation”, in the best tradition of a neighbourto-neighbour graceful exit. You see why President Jonathan cannot, and should not, be an army general, a dictator, a Nebuchadnezzar or a Pharaoh? That should be obvious, when you recollect Ms Oduah’s neighbour-to-neighbour electoral exploits. How Ms Oduah did the candidate-president great honour. Neighbour-to-neighbour, or N-2-N for short, so popularised the Goodluck brand that a voter in downtown Lagos, rhapsodised in the blazing sun, on a voter queue: you sure must have Patience to get Goodluck. It was tribute to N-2-N’s electoral blitzkrieg that

cratically elected AG government of the Western Region, and its leader, Chief Awolowo, jailed for treason in suspicious circumstances. This presaged the 1966 military coup and the ensuing civil war in Nigeria. Tribal colonialism had replaced foreign rule. The freedom from colonial rule in 1960 and respect for fundamental human rights in Nigeria has since proved to be illusory and elusive. Alien rule is evil, repugnant and unacceptable. And we were right in resisting it. But there is less personal freedom today in post-colonial Nigeria than under British colonial rule. Our new rulers care far less about any freedom or liberties for their subjects. Now, the true nature of Freedom is often not understood. It is usually regarded as a single and simple idea: let people be free to lead their lives as they will; provided always that they do not interfere with the equal liberties of others. But Freedom is not such a simple idea. If it were, it would be triumphant everywhere. It is not even a single idea; it includes many other ideas, which sometimes may conflict with one another. There is, first, national freedom-the right of a people to determine its own destiny, free from alien domination. There is, secondly, Constitutional freedom-the right of the citizens to manage their political affairs, not subject to a despot or an oligarchy, or tribal domination, but ruled by representatives duly and freely elected by them. There is also personal freedom- the freedom of thought, of speech, of association, of religion; freedom from arbitrary arrest and punishment, and from any form of control, other than that of impartial courts of Law. These personal freedoms are the bedrock of a stable society. A truly free man will not stoop to certain despicable ways of behaviour, such as docility, cowardice, servitude, sycophancy, lying, meanness and plain stupidity, all of which abound in Nigeria today. Only enslaved people exhibit those characteristics. And a nation is not made great if its people are enslaved. Great nations can only be built by free men, not enslaved men. Ancient Rome was great because its citizens were free. A free man will defend his freedom and his nation tenaciously, even unto death. He may, like Nelson Mandela, be jailed for his hankering after freedom, but he will still feel a sense of personal freedom, an inner feeling that transcends all physical shackles. And the true attitude of the free man is not to ask more from the state but to see that it is governed justly. A true liberal, or progressive, goes into public life thinking of what he can contribute rather than what he can get from the state. •To be continued • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Stella bites the dust, N-2-N fashion that mood was nationwide. And when Jonathan was winning, and some rascals tried to portray his great pan-Nigeria mandate as some “pan-Nigeria mandate of Southern Nigeria and the Middle Belt”, N-2-N came up fast with its own graphic representation, to show the mandate for exactly what it was: a real, genuine and confirmed pan-Nigerian mandate. So, would you expect the President to show brazen ingratitude, and throw away the prized Stella just like that, because of some unsubstantiated scandals and rumours? Doing that would conform to sheer rashness: the exclusive preserve of dictators, of army generals, of Nebuchadnezzars, of Pharaohs. But perish that thought: Goodluck Jonathan is a democratically elected president! So folks, you can understand his tardiness and grace in the Stella affair. Still, not a few insist Ms Oduah is rather Janus-faced: she brought great honour to an electioneering president; but Stella-gate also brought great odium to the sitting president and his exacted office.

So, many believed she should have fallen on her sword — metaphorically, that is — as the ancient Romans would have done, to save the dignity of the presidency and the integrity of the president. But whoever does that these days? The Romans were after all ancients and antique. Not a few too expected the president to wield the big stick, and throw out the beloved Stella. But again, that would be playing Pharaoh or Nebu. But at last, the president has played the political equivalent of mercy killing: Stella would go; but not when the mobs are baying; not when the rabble is screaming, for blood. She would go when it is dignifying, when it is calm and when the president is ready. Ay, that time has come, and Stella has made her exit with grace and honour, N-2-N fashion. Alleged corruption or no alleged corruption, that is how to do it. So, foreign experts in good governance should come learn something new: how to fight and conquer corruption, N-2-N fashion. It is a Goodluck special.

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