Feb 20, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

Jonathan’s visit: Olubadan kicks

•Neglect is ‘an affront’

NEWS

Page 8

News

P8

26 aspirants for Ekiti PDP primary

Sports

Eagles to take Mexico friendly serious erious P24 Business Firm wins 2.3GHz spectrum auction P11

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2765 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•REPS QUERY PPPRA OVER NNPC’S N331 BILLION KEROSENE SUBSIDY CLAIM P5

THE R OAD TO BRAZIL •THE RO BRAZIL: President Goodluck Jonathan (fourth right); Vice President Namadi Sambo (fifth right); Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (third right); National Sports Commission (NSC)Director-General Gbenga Elegbeleye (third left) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Chairman Aminu Maigari (second right) with Nigerian Supporters Club members and government officials after decorating President Jonathan as patron of the club in Abuja ... yesterday. Nigeria is participating in the June World Cup in Brazil.

PHOTO: NAN

Budget Office overshoots vote by N2.6tr, probe told Mystery N791m found in Teachers Institute’s account

A

PROVISION for financial emergencies – the Service Wide Vote (SWV) - has been turned into a huge drain pipe of corruption, it was revealed yesterday.

The Budget Office may have been paying cash into government agencies from the vote, even when there are no requests for such cash.

The National Teachers’ Institute, NTI, Kaduna, had N791 million credited to its bank account on December 31, 2012 by the Budget Office from the Service Wide Vote (SWV) account without request, the House

N4.7tr N2.1tr

•The amount by the Budget Office as service wide vote between 2004-2012 •The cash approved as service wide vote by the National Assembly

From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Committee on Public Accounts was told yesterday.

Speaking before the Solomon Olamilekan Adeola headed commit-

N5b N365m

•Amount budget office claimed to have released to NAFDAC •Amount NAFDAC said it received

tee, the NTI Bursar, Mallam Abdulkarim Affo, said the Institute did not request for any financial assistance from the Federal Government.

The Committee is investigating

N2b

•Amount budget office claimed it released to National Boundary Commission

how N4.7trillion was expended - as against N2.1 trillion approved by the Presidency through the Budget Office from the Service Wide Vote between 2004 and 2012.

Continued on page 2

Boko Haram batters Bama

•Soldier killed at General’s home From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

I

T was another bloody day in Bama, Borno State yesterday.

Boko Haram members launched suicide attacks, killing many residents.

Some soldiers were injured.

The casualty figure was Continued on page 2

•SPORTS P24 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P51 •N/HEALTH P53 •E-BUSINESS P58

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

NEWS

Budget office pays N791m into agency’s account Continued from page 1

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle); Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu (second right); the author Prof. Adeyemo Elebute (right); his wife Prof Oyinade and Chairman of the occasion Mr Fola Adeola, at the launch of two books The Life of James Pinson Labulo Davis A Colossus of Victorian Lagos and Worthy in Character and Learning in Lagos ... yesterday.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

The Service Wide Vote is created to fund emergency needs not captured in the annual budget of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

But no money is disbursed from the vote without due process from two authorities - the National Assembly through appropriation and the Minister of Finance, who must approve the request – before an MDA could access such cash.

In the 2014 budget, N296,138,705,839 was voted for the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF Charges-Service Wide Votes) and N924,173,571,397 for the Federation Service Wide Vote, bringing the total to over N1 trillion Affosaid: “On December 31st,

Boko Haram batters Bama in suicide bombing attack Continued from page 1

unknown as at press time because the military was still carrying out “a mopping up operation”.

It was gathered from a military source that the sect might have suffered a heavy casualty.

The Defence Headquarters said the attacks were repelled by troops and all was normal again in Bama.

The sect attacked military and security posts, the Emir’s palace and other locations in the town simultaneously, using suicide bombers.

They could not, however, enter the main army barracks in the town, which they had previously shelled.

The source said: “From preliminary findings, there were strong indications that some suicide bombers could have been involved in the Bama attacks.

“The sect members came into Bama in the night of Tuesday and started attacking various locations in the early hours of Wednesday.

“The idea of suicide bombers being involved was derived from the mode of the attack. They deployed in a lot of explosives to raid Bama.

“Some of the suspected suicide bombers were daring against the military tanks and they attempted to blow up these tanks, but failed in their bid. They risked their lives against tanks. This is why we felt there were suicide bombers among them.

“They made botched moves to destroy these tanks through suicide bombing method. So, it is still a suspicion we are investigating that some suicide bombers were involved.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “The simultaneous attacks have been repelled. The sect incurred a number of losses

T

Our ordeal in the hands of Boko Haram, by Borno emir

A

SOLDIER guarding the home of a general was one of the casualties of Tuesday night’s Boko Haram’s attack on Bama, Borno State, it was learnt yesterday.

Borno State Police Commissioner Lawal Tanko said General Umar Tukur Buratai was not at home during the attack.

“The soldiers succeeded in repelling the attacks on Buratai, resulting in minimal damage,” he said, confirming that one soldier was killed. He did not give further details.

The Borno State Government said yesterday that last Saturday’s attack by Boko Haram insurgents in Izge, Gwoza Local Government Area, was not targeted at any religious group.

Governor Kashim Shettima stated this during a sympathy visit to the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, in Gwoza.

Shettima urged Nigerians to see the Boko Haram sect as a common enemy rather than a religious group, going by its destruction.

“The report on alleged mass killing of Christians in Izge is untrue because Izge is a predominant Muslim community and most of the victims are Muslims.

“What is happening is not an ethnic or religious war. Boko Haram is a clear madness that must be condemned by all Nigerians,” he said.

The governor said the government

•Sect kills soldier in attack on general’s house From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

would rebuild structures destroyed by the sect despite the state’s meagre resources.

“We will make genuine efforts to rebuild the structures destroyed, including places of worship despite our meager resources.

“What has happened to you is a disaster that affects the Borno people.

We pray that God will grant the fortitude to those who lost their lives.”

He said that the government would pay N1million compensation on a place of worship destroyed during the attack and N200,000 for each family that lost their loves one.

The emir, who praised Shettima for the visit, painted a gloomy picture of what he and his people had been going through in the hands of the insurgents.

“It is a known fact that we suffer problem of Boko Haram attack in our communities on daily basis here.

“We appreciate government’s efforts in assisting the victims, especially the personal efforts of the governor.

“Gwoza is one of the worst-hit areas by the Boko Haram attacks.

“Few months back, they attempted to attack my palace, but it was impossible, so they vent their anger on my farm, destroying everything, including the plan-

tations.

“Every day, we live in fear of fresh attacks as individuals get killed now and then. We pray that God will help bring the attacks to an end,” Alhaji Timta said.

He urged the Federal Government to explore new security avenues in tackling the Boko Haram attacks.

Shettima was at the Presidential Villa also yesterday to brief President Goodluck Jonathan on the attack in Bama.

He said: “Do I need your consent to come and see my President? He is the President of Nigeria and I need to update him adequately on the goings-on in the state.

“There was an attack on Bama. We are yet to get the actual number of casualties but I am told they have inflicted a lot of damage on the town; otherwise the military are doing their best.”

On whether he was summoned to the Villa, Shettima said: “I came on my own.

He is the President of Nigeria, for God’s sake. Why can’t I come and update him?

Is it wrong or is it a crime to do so.”

He declined to comment on presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe’s criticism of his statement on the incapability of the military to battle the sect. “I don’t want to comment. He is our President and I am here to update him on the goings on in Bama and I don’t want to make additional comments,” Shettima said.

and a few soldiers got wounded.

“It does not appear so far that there was much civilian casualties.”

Asked why Bama had been susceptible to attack by Boko Haram, the source added: “The terrain of that place is open; anyone can come in from various ends.

“The second factor is that they could easily mingle with the community and spring out at night to attack the town.

“Thirdly, the military has been

careful in launching a full-scale onslaught on the town which could lead to the death of many innocent civilians.

“Fourthly, Ba-0ma was a strategic base of the Boko Haram which has been regained by the military. Some of their commanders also hailed from the area.

They probably felt upset for losing their operational base.”

Defence Headquarters spokesman Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade said: “The insurgents attacked Bama in the early hours of

Wednesday. They were able to make some destruction but the troops have repelled them.

“The situation has been brought under control and more troops have been sent to Bama. As I am talking to you, mopping up operation is continuing in Bama.

“The troops are combing both the bushes and surrounding locations to fish out the fleeing insurgents, including those wounded.”

Gen. Olukolade said it was too early to give specific casualty fig-

ure because “the troops are still mopping up the area”.

In the last one month, both the troops and the insurgents have engaged in a series of clashes in Bama, Lake Chad and Banki.

As at December 30, last year, the Defence Headquarters put the casualty figures of the sect to about 113.

The figures included about 50 Boko Haram insurgents and 15 soldiers that were killed in a predawn attack on Mohammed Kuru Barracks in Bama.

terrorists that they cannot win the ill-advised war they have launched against their fatherland.

It condoled with the government and people of the affected states, especially Borno, which has borne the brunt of the attacks, over the killings as well as the destruction of houses and other property.

The APC said while the Nigerian military has undoubtedly recorded some successes in its battle against the terrorists, it is time for it to rev up its strategy for preventing the kind of mass killings which

the insurgents have been perpetrating in recent times, especially in the remote areas.

The party urged the military to increase its intelligence gathering capability with a view to nipping in the bud the attacks on civilians and military targets, including barracks.

“However, we make bold to say that successful intelligence gathering cannot be possible if the stakeholders are not carried along; when soldiers have not taken the pains to win the hearts and minds of the local communities and where decision mak-

ing on key and pressing problems centres around Abuja.

“The delay in acceding to requests from troops on the field concerning logistical challenges, due to unnecessary bottlenecks at the level of the political authorities, is exploited by Boko Haram to carry out daring and deadly attacks not just on civilians but on the military itself.

“Therefore, it is absolutely important to provide the brave and patriotic personnel we have sent to the battle against the insurgents with everything they need to pros-

ecute a successful battle. We must also ensure that we are not just fighting to win the battle, but to also win the peace,” it said.

The APC also urged the Presidency to stop being unnecessarily defensive and concentrate on providing the military with all that it requires to defeat the insurgents.

The party described as counter-productive, unwarranted and ill-advised, the not-so-subtle attacks launched against Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima by the presidency, for simply

2012,we just received an alert; a sum of N791 million was credited into the Institute’s bank account from the Budget Office without any prior request for financial assistance from the Federal Government.

“We tried to make enquiries and we wrote to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to find out what was the purpose of the whopping amount but all efforts yielded no result.

“At the end of the day, what the institute did was to pay back the money to the treasury at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as required by the law of the federation. We have the evidence of payment. We never made request for any money.”

The Committee requested the Institute to provide official Treasury receipt showing as evidence that it returned the money to the treasury.

This, the committee said, is to ensure that the fund was not deposited in personal accounts. The lawmakers said investigations would begin into how the money got into the Institute’s account without being requested for.

The Chairman of the Committee said transaction through the Service wide vote is “a monumental fraud”, which he said has been responsible for the loss of several billions of naira of the tax payers’ money.

He said: “Only last week, the NAFDAC officials appeared before the Committee over the sum of N5 billion claimed to have been released to the Agency by the Budget Office from the Service wide vote and the Agency claimed it received only N365million.

“Also, just a while ago, the National Boundary Commission appeared before the Committee over the N2 billion the Budget Office claimed it released to the Commission which it denied ever receiving from the Budget Office under the Service wide vote. Where are we heading to? We must get to the root of these claims and counter claims, the fraud must stop.

The lawmaker said: “It is disheartening that the National Assembly approved about N2.1 trillion for the service wide vote account in the period under review but at the last count, over N4.7 trillion had been expended by the Executive.”

CORRECTIONS •The headline of a page 4 story in yesterday’s edition should have read: 2015: APC hires Obama’s strategists as PDP plans rallies.

•On page 27, the headline should have read: Funding SMEs leads to economic growth

APC urges military to rev up preventive strategy

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the spate of mass killings by Boko Haram in the Northeast. It called the insurgents cowards for targeting unarmed civilians, especially women and children, in their dastardly attacks.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party insisted that nothing in the world could justify the senseless slaying of innocent civilians by a band of marauding insurgents, and reminded the

stating the obvious, that our soldiers need to be adequately equipped and properly motivated, if they are to be able to subdue Boko Haram.

Continued on page 68

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 08099365644, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

4

NEWS

Uneasy calm in

•President, Polo Club, Habeeb Fasinro (second right) addressing a news conference on Polo Tournament in Lagos.... yesterday. With him are Head, Media, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Mr. Jide Sipe (left); Assistant General Manager Mrs. Ololade Fadeju and Deputy Tournament Manager, Mr. Seyi Oyinloa

Workers of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) are embroiled in a cold war with the management over poor handling of their allowances and other welfare issues. Assistant Editor SINA FADARE reports

E

•Director, Drug Evaluation and Research, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Titilope Owolabi presenting the first most compliant in Food Export Sector award to Nutricima’s Project Manager Mrs. Sarah Amadi (left) and Head of Markets Wande Oluwasegunfunmi in Lagos.

MPLOYEES of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) are quarelling with their Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii. The Nation gathered that the kernel of their grouse is the spending of N25 million on Christmas party when most of the workers' vital allowances were yet to be paid. As of the time of filing this report, the allowances in question are yet to be paid.

Investigations revealed that the Christmas party, which took place at the premises of the organisation at Oshodi, Lagos, on December 13, last year, generated controversies as majority of the workers who kicked against the party argued that if some of the mandatory allowances of the workers were yet to be paid, it was unwise to spend such a huge amount on a Christmas party that lasted for only four hours. Of particular interest to these aggrieved workers is the 13th month allowance, which NAFDAC is yet to pay. Therefore, to register their annoyance, it was gathered that leadership of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), NAFDAC branch, sent a message to members to boycott the party as a sign of protest.

Against this backdrop, majority of the workers was said to have boycotted the party, which was

•NAFDAC office

organised by the agency.

Insiders also said the initial budget for the party was N16 million before it was raised to N25 million, a situation which the workers' union saw as a reckless spending at the expense of the workers' legitimate entitlements.

It was gathered that the agency has been paying its employees 13th month allowances since the days of the former DG, Prof. Dora Akunyili.

She was said to have introduced the package to motivate the workers since most of them are sometimes called to duty at odd hours of the day. "Instead of paying the money in full, it was staggered and some people are not yet paid as l am speaking to you," lamented a worker who pleaded not to be named.

It was equally alleged that the Human Resources department engaged the services of a popular gospel musician based in Ibadan and her daughter as musicians who played at the party and they collected millions of naira for their short services. Immediately after the party, the head of the department was said to have travelled outside the country for two weeks to enjoy herself whereas "majority were denied relevant and pro-

African American History Month

T •Director, Organisational Development and Leadership, Etisalat Nigeria, Rabi Isma (middle) presenting a plaque to Dr. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju for participating in the Sustainable Conversations in Education, organised by Thistlepraxis Consulting in Lagos.. With them is Lead Discussant/CEO of Thistlepraxis Ini Onuk

•Members of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Lics Citizen Service Programme International, undergoing a three-month Voluntary Community Service at Ilofa in Kwara State...yesterday PHOTO:NAN

Lawrence Douglas Wilder

HE grandson of a former slave, Lawrence Douglas Wilder was born on January 17th, 1931 in Richmond, Virginia. With six sisters and one brother, life in the Wilder household was defined by hard work, family and education. As a boy, Wilder sought out his own business opportunities, starting a window washing business, and a subsequent painting operation, as well.

When Wilder graduated from high school, the country was entering the recession of 1948. While he hoped to join the Navy, his parents would not consent, and instead he entered Virginia Union University where he majored in Chemistry. One year after graduating from Virginia Union, Wilder, in was drafted into the US Army to fight in the Korean War. While in Korea, Wilder earned the Bronze Star for heroism in ground combat for his role in rescuing wounded GIs and capturing enemy troops. However, like the black soldiers who had returned from World War II less than a decade before, Wilder found that his heroic actions in war were not enough to exempt him from racism and segregation in the United States. To take advantage of the GI bill to attend law school, for example, he had to leave the state of Virginia because it

barred blacks from attending its law schools. In 1959 he graduated from Howard University with a Juris Doctor degree and passed the Virginia State Bar exam that same year. Wilder returned to Richmond where he established a law firm, Wilder, Gregory and Associates, one of the few minority-owned businesses in Richmond at that time.

Wilder made his entrance into politics in 1969 with a successful run for the Virginia State Senate and became the first African American state senator in Virginia since Reconstruction. Wilder served five terms, during which time he chaired committees on transportation, rehabilitation and social services. In 1985, Wilder became the first elected African American lieutenant governor. He had, however, always seen lieutenant governor as necessary stop on his way to the governorship, and in 1990 he achieved his monumental position as the first elected African American governor in U.S. history. Issues and achievements that defined Wilder’s tenure as governor include the balancing of the state budget and earning Virginia its ranking as the nation’s best-managed state. http://www.visionaryproject.org/ wilderdouglas/

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

5

NEWS

m in NAFDAC as workers battle DG

•Prof Dora-Akunyili

fessional training by the same Mrs. Oni," a member of staff of the Agency in Abuja lamented.

Besides, MHWUN also accused the DG of being insensitive to the plight of its members, particularly their welfare as he claimed that the NAFDAC officials were been paid with Research and Allied Institute Salary Structure (CONRAISS), instead of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). The former salary structure is for researchers, while the latter is for health workers, which NAFDAC employees claimed they are. The latter salary structure, the workers insisted, was what was in use during days of Dr. Akunyili. By adopting CONRAISS, there was some substantial reduction in salary of each worker ranging from N20, 000 to N80, 000, depending on the grade level and steps.

Another contentious issue that is creating a gulf between the DG and the workers was the non-chalant attitude of the Human Resources department to the union’s demand.

"The head of the department blocked all form of communication channel between the union and the DG," said another member of staff of the agency.

The Nation learnt that when all efforts to have a dialogue with the DG on the plight of the workers failed, MHWUN decided to seek audience with the NAFDAC's Governing Council chairman, Prof. John Ibu Igede, who later scheduled a meeting with the union and the Ad-hoc Committee of the council at the conference room at the agency's corporate headquarters in Abuja on January 13.

The meeting, which was said to be stormy, opened a can of worms re-

garding all the grievances which the workers have against the management. At the meeting, the union presented a nine-page document that summarised all the workers' grievances. In the document, the union frowned at the agency's failure to pay the first 28 days allowances for newly employed members of staff, which has been denied to those employed in 2009 and 2012, selective staff training to "some favoured staffers why others were neglected." "Workshops, seminars and conferences of local and international status are not distributed on nominal roll and there is no fair share in its attendance," the union further complained. Other complaints include poor handling of staff claims which has been "reduced to whom you know and which button you can press before you get what belongs to you as a right."

Also in contention is the good manufacturing practice (GMP) for overseas training which the union said is no longer given to staff before embarking on the trip, while workers now pay for their visa fees at the embassies, even though refunding could take between 6-8 months after the trip. Some staffers have also gone on training locally without financial backings by the management, a practice the union leadership insisted is putting the agency into disrepute.

The union is also unhappy with the management because most of the technologists who have acquired additional certificates in the agency were not converted to regulatory officers and that the yearly long service/merit awards which ought to take place at the end of the year party has become selective and all those that are supposed to benefit were often excluded. "The Director Admin/

HR, Mrs. Oni, used her power to remove Long Service Award from this year's award ceremony despite the agreement and approval of the DG, NAFDAC with the Union," the document said.

The Chairman of MHWUN Comrade Ibrahim Isah, in a telephone chat with The Nation, noted that the union channeled the workers' grievances to the Governing Council of the agency with the hope that something favourable would come out of the deliberation.

However, speaking about the cold war between the workers and the DG, a top management staff who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the genesis of the crisis in the agency is traceable to the Directorate of Administration and Human Resources of the agency for not taking as a priority the welfare of the staff despite the fact that it generates close to N600million monthly. According to him, in most cases, the Directorate allegedly did not brief the DG the true picture of the situation on the ground, unlike during the period of the former DG. "Prof. Dora Akunyili always fought for the welfare of the staff and she initiated some of these allowances that the management are now finding difficult to pay. If the internally generated revenue accruing to the agency every month is anything to go by, the agency has no basis not to meet up with the staff welfare demand.

"Take for instance, the GMP allowance. This is a payment that the (drug) manufacturers outside the country are paying for inspection; this is not NAFDAC money and it has accrued to a substantial amount of millions of naira over the years? Why is it difficult for the management to pay the

•Dr. Orhii

allowances of those they are sending out for inspections? Why is it that some are using their personal money to embark on the trip? Where did they get such money? These are the salient issues which the DG should urgently address," he asked.

When this reporter visited the NAFDAC office at Oshodi to speak to the DG, he met a brick wall; he was told that the NAFDAC boss was in a crucial strategic management meeting and cannot talk. However, the Director of Communication of the Agency, Alhaji Abubakar Jimoh said all the allegations against the DG was a figment of the imagination of those who have nothing to do but to spread unnecessary rumour round the agency.

"The 13th month allowance was just largesse and a special privilege, but not mandatory. Since NAFDAC started, it has been a tradition. We have religiously kept to it and made sure that it is paid. Going by the numerical strength of the staff of NAFDAC, what we did was that in that cognisance and the rising challenges, like provision of infrastructural amenities that have to compete with the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). We are not funded by the government, so we rely on the IGR. To that extent, it was staggered so that other sectors will not suffer. As l speak to you now, the 13th month salary which is an incentive and a privilege is being paid," Jimoh said.

According to NAFDAC spokesman, the union was taken into confidence when the payment of allowance was staggered. "Therefore, there is nothing unusual about it. The onus is on us to protect the public health; the issue of 13th month allowances

is secondary," he explained.

He also added that what is happening in the agency has a lot of political colouration, noting that it was an extension of the politics of second term (for the sitting DG) and that all the allegations lacked merit and substance.

"That means it has a lot of political undertone and the agency cannot be distracted from the clear mandate Mr. President has given the Director General. We cannot be distracted; the management is ready to key into the transformation agenda and we have a blue print that will make the agency to get to the next level of its assignment in the next five years.

"What you are talking about is the hangover of the second term politics that failed. Those mischievous people who wanted to use it as a big issue to stop the second coming of the DG have failed. This is a presidential proclamation and endorsement. I am dismissing all this allegation and rumour with a wave of the hand because it is a hangover of the second term politics and l think it ought to have ended now with the second coming of the DG," he said.

Jimoh explained that the DG has a lot of other welfare packages for the staff which will come into reality any moment from now.

"I also want to tell you that there are other packages that have been worked out for the staff welfare. International and capacity training is also there which a lot of money will go into. We are saying that we cannot leave that at the detriment of the 13th month allowance. We make sure that everything is balanced."

Will the agency allow the issue to degenerate? Only time will tell.

Reps query PPPRA over NNPC’s N331b kerosene subsidy claim •Under this circumstance, I can not issue certificate for kerosine subsidy, says agency boss

T

HE House of Representatives has queried the Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) over certificates of subsidy claims totalling N331billion issued to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 2012.

According to records, the subsidy certificate for N331billion was for 4.229 billion litres of Dual Purpose kerosene imported between 2009 and 2012.

The Dakuku Peterside- headed House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) that was investigating supply, distribution and subsidy expenditure on kerosene from 2010 to 2013, said the payment may have contravened a 2009 Presidential directive that stopped the subsidy.

The Committee also expressed disappointment when the PPPRA saidt was beyond its responsibility to fix prices for petroleum products, con-

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

trary to the provisions of the Constitution.

The lawmakers were also not satisfied with the agency for failing in its duty to ascertain the actual volume of Dual Purpose kerosene brought into the country before being discharged to the depots.

Peterside said the NNPC, at no point denied receiving N331billion in 2012 for kerosene from the Federation Account, “this was in spite of series of meetings and Presidential directive on stoppage of subsidy on kerosene,” he added.

Though a member of the Committee, Nnanna Igbokwe said it was necessary to ascertain that because NNPC said it was a claim sent in and has not actually received the money.

The Committee however, questioned the agency on whose authority was subsidy paid

on kerosene since there was a Presidential directive stopping it.

The lawmakers asked if the PPPRA could issue certificates to NNPC or independent marketers for subsidy claims on kerosene.

Replying, the PPPRA boss, Reginald Stanley however, said the agency was in the process of verifying the N331billion in subsidy claims.

“It was not the duty of the PPPRA to fix prices for petroleum product, PPPRA can’t fix price of petroleum products, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has that statutory duty.

“Price fixing is beyond the PPPRA, because it is difficult in a deregulated environment because of some circumstances. The agency gave a benchmark price when the environment was deregulated but the decision to sell kerosene at N50 was by the government and not PPPRA”.

While he confirmed that his predecessor, Mr.

Goody Egbuji did approve the certificates for N331billion to NNPC, Stanley said he would not comment on the reasons behind the action.

“I can’t speak for my predecessor on why he issued the certificates to the NNPC but he had his authority to do that, but going by the controversies subsidy on kerosene has generated lately, I can not issue certificate for its claims,” he added.

On the verification of the NNPC claims, Stanley said the PPPRA did not have its officials at the point of discharging products from mother. Easels to smaller vessel but at the depots where the products are offloaded into the farm tanks.

“Based on available documentation in our custody on import strictly, we can certify that these vessels arrived, however we are currently reconciling every vessel connected with the supply with the family tree,” he said.

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THE NATION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2014

NEWS

TVC News celebrates one year of global news coverage

N

IGERIA’s frontline television news channel, Television Continental (TVC) News will celebrate its first anniversary as Africa’s major news medium on February 28.

The TV station broke into the continental TV news coverage market a year ago as a 24-hour pan-African news channel.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the Ikosi-Ketu headquarters of the pan-African TV station, its Chief Executive Officer Nigel Parsons said TVC News had become a force to reckon with in the African TV market within just one year.

He said the station was attracting interests from Western cable stations, such as Reuters, Sky News, among others, which have engaged the station in content exchange to balance the flow of information between Africa and the world.

Parsons noted that despite the challenges of managing as well as

By Adedeji Ademigbuji

rising competition from other panAfrican stations on the continent, TV Continental had made a remarkable success.

He said: “It’s been quite a journey full of challenges. It’s been one of the most challenging start-ups I’ve ever managed as a result of staff recruitment to create the standards obtainable at the Cable News Network (CNN), Sky News. We could have gone to poach hands from Sky News and other established global TV because they have been trained.

But we had to train the local hands because we wanted an African who can tell the story of Africans.

“As a result, this has been a channel built by Nigerians with footprints in Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt and the United Kingdom (UK). With the level of report so far in the last one year, the station has achieved so much.”

President to inaugurate N712m research institute today

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Nurses give seven-day strike notice over 34-year judgment

EDERAL Government’s failure to implement in full the judgment of the National Industrial Court may lead to another crisis in the Health sector.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has issued a sevenday ultimatum, beginning from last Friday (February 14), to implement the 34-yearold judgement.

NANNM’s National President Abdrafiu Adeniji addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja on the planned strike.

He warned that if the government failed to meet the demands of the union, the workers would begin an indefinite strike from Sunday, February 23.

The union leader said the union could no longer toler-

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From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

ate the continued refusal of the Health Ministry to fully implement the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) awards and the National Industrial Court (NIC) judgments in the last 34 years.

Adeniji said: “On May 7, 1981, the tribunal of the AIP gave awards to the NANNM, which bordered on the professionalism of nursing, autonomy of the nursing profession, the scheme of service for nurses, among others.

“The Federal Ministry of Health and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation refused to implement the awards in full since 1981, despite the association’s repeated appeals and reminders.”

The CEO said the station was reaching about five million households in Africa and Europe.

According to him, in the last one year, the station, through its coverage of ground-breaking international news, such as the United States presidential election, Mali election, the Kenya Mall bombing, among

others, had won several international awards and recognitions.

Also, the Chief Operating Officer of TVC, Lemi Olalemi said despite the rigours of the information world, which have always made foreign media to portray Africa as the home of negativities, coupled with the technological powers at their disposal,

TVC had been able to change the direction of information flow in the global hemisphere.

He said: “If you watch CNN, you will hear the voice of America; if you watch Al-Jazeera, you will hear the voice of Middle East; if you watch BBC, you will hear the voice of Britain.”

Senate passes National Health Bill

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will, on Thursday, inaugurate the N712.45 million National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) complex in Abuja.

The complex houses 12 laboratories and it is expected to serve various research works. It is open to government and private organisations.

NIPRD’s Director-General, Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, spoke yesterday in Abuja during a pre-inaugural media briefing.

He said over 500 herbal medicines were imported, adding that the trend was unacceptable to the agency.

Gamaniel said: “When we discovered that importation of drugs was becoming unacceptable, we said ‘no, we have to turn around the herbal industry into what Nollywood has done to the film industry’.

“Now, what is NIPRD doing regarding research for herbal medicines? We have two platforms for herbal medicines. The first platform is that you are trying to manufacture a product, which is done anywhere. And you want to list that or register it with the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and NAFDAC says we are not sure of the safety. We are not sure of what you are claiming, in terms of efficacy in the product. That prompted our collaboration with NAFDAC and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with NAFDAC.”

•From left: Ogunleye, Olalemi, Parson and Director, Commercial, Funke Sogunle, during a media briefing... yesterday

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FTER months of delay, the Senate yesterday passed the controversial National Health Bill into law.

The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Ifeanyi Okowa and Margery Chuba-Okadigbo hailed the eventual passage of the bill.

They described it as a landmark achievement that would reshape the country’s Health sector.

Okowa (Delta North) and Okadigbo (Anambra North) spoke at a media briefing to underscore the importance of the bill.

Mrs Chuba-Okadigbo said the bill provides for accident victims “because we are aware that private clinics don’t attend to such victims”.

She explained that the bill also provides for a pool of funds for accident victims to avoid needless death.

The senator explained that “the carelessness of doctors and other health practitioners, especially quack doc-

From Onyedi Ojiabor,

Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

tors”, was addressed in the bill.

She said rape issues were not provided for in the bill because there are other laws on them.

Okowa said the bill seeks to regulate the health care industry “because before today, a lot of things that we do in health services in this country are not regulated and these include organ transplant and the use of blood and blood products”.

He added: “Plantation of tissue has not been regulated before now, such that if somebody wanted to transplant a kidney or carry out any other transparent, there were no regulation guiding it. And if there was any fault or default, the person who has done wrong could not be persecuted in the law court.

“Very importantly, coming into the aspect of developments, the bill seeks, practically in Clause 11, to pro-

vide a basic health fund which is needed at this point.

“We all know that the primary health care is within the purview of the local government areas. The states and Federal Government give support programmes, apart from technical support. But this bill also seeks to provide one per cent of the consolidated revenue fund for the purpose of the development of primary health care and also for the purpose of providing health care insurance to certain classes of people who are deprived.

“To that extent, we are achieving two things, because 50 per cent of the one per cent fund that is provided under Clause 11, under what we call a Basic Health Care Fund, would be utilised by the National Health Insurance Scheme for providing health coverage for expectant women, children who are under five years of age, the elderly as well as the physically challenged.

‘Jonathan not serious about steel development’

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HE Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Nurudeen AbatemiUsman, yesterday accused President Goodluck Jonathan of not showing enough commitment to steel development.

Abatemi-Usman, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Michael Jegede, spoke in Abuja at the budget defence of the Ministry of Mines and

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Steel, conducted by the Senate Committee on Power and Steel.

He condemned the zero allocation to capital projects in Ajaokuta Steel Company in the 2014 budget proposal.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central noted that steel development was the bedrock of any industrial revolution.

He wondered how the Federal Government would

achieve its Vision 20:2020 without the operation of the largest steel complex in subSaharan Africa.

Abatemi-Usman asked the Minister of Mines and Steel, Musa Sada, why provision was not made for capital projects in the steel company for the 2014 budget.

He said: “We spent billions on staff salaries every year; yet, we are where we were as far as the revitalisation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and National Iron Ore Mining Ore

Court nullifies appointment of Rivers Acting CJ

FEDERAL High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, invalidated yesterday the appointment of Justice Peter N. Agumagu as the State Acting Chief Judge (CJ).

The court also instructed Governor Rotimi Amaechi to conform to the provisions of the constitution in the appointment of an acting CJ. The position became vacant, following the retirement of Justice Iche Ndu last August.

Amaechi sworn in Agumagu, the then President of the Customary

“It is hoped that we will be able to progress beyond that because the fund provides for at least one per cent. This means Mr. President and his cabinet could decide to improve on that quantum of money to something higher than that.

“Beyond that fund, we also have the other 50 per cent, which will be used for the development of the primary health care across the nation.”

The senator noted that the nation needs primary health care services “because most of the illnesses are attended to at that level, and it is the one nearest to the people”.

He added: “We are supposed to have, in every ward in this nation, at least one health care centre so that in every local government, we are supposed to have several primary health care centres. But we know that the state of the primary health care centres is such that there is infrastructure decay.”

•Govt: we’ll appeal judgment From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

Appeal Court, on an acting capacity. His single term tenure of office expired last November.

A group, Kengena Unity Forum, went to court to challenge Amaechi’s selection of Agumagu as an acting chief judge.

Delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Lambo Akanbi relied on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution on

the issue of appointment of an acting CJ and substantive CJ to annul Agumagu’s tenure.

Counsel for the defendant Tuduru Ede expressed dissatisfaction and said his client would file an appeal.

Justice Akanbi said the constitution provided that the most senior judge in the State High Court should be selected to occupy the position, whenever it was vacant.

He, however, refused to concede to the

plaintiff’s prayer that Justice Daisy Okocha take charge as the acting CJ, pending the time for inauguration of substantive CJ. The judge said granting such order would amount to usurping the powers of the governor and the National Judicial Commission(NJC) to pick a judge for the position.

He said: “The question as to who qualifies to be appointed as acting chief judge has generated a lot of needless controversy.

Company are concerned.

“Where is the place of Ajaokuta Steel in our bid for industrial revolution? Do we seem to understand the importance of steel and the significant role it can play in enhancing our economy?

“If you ask me, I will say Mr. President is just paying a lip service to Ajaokuta Steel and steel development.

“When he (Jonathan) came to Lokoja, Kogi State, during the electioneering period in 2011, the thrust of his campaign promises, for which our people voted for him, was his pledge to revive the Ajaokuta Steel complex.

“Over three years down the line, we’ve not seen much from him in that regard.”

But Sada insisted that although fund had not been allocated for the completion of Ajaokuta Steel, the Federal Government remained committed to the revival of the steel company.

He explained that the government was working hard to clear some of the issues impeding the steel project.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

NEWS

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Permanent voter cards to be ready before 2015, says INEC

ERMANENT voter cards will be ready before the 2015 election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) promised yesterday.

The commision said it would use the Osun and Ekiti governorship polls to convince Nigerians of its readiness to make the 2015 elections free and fair.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Publicity Committee, Dr Chris Iyimoga, spoke yesterday in Lagos at an interactive session with editors on the election timetable.

The session was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under its Democratic Governance for Development Project initiative.

Iyimoga said INEC had learnt “bitter lessons” from the 2011 polls, adding that credible voter cards were critical to the conduct of credible elections.

He said INEC would ensure that the 60 million voter cards, which are ready for distribution, were available to voters before the 2015 polls.

The INEC chief explained that voter registration was an ongoing exercise, adding that the commission would use card readers to validate the identities of the holders.

Iyimoga said: “We want to assure Nigerians, who have registered, that they will get permanent voter cards before the elections. Those who are just going to register will get temporary cards, which they

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Civil Society doubts credible polls in Osun, Ekiti, 2015

EMBERS of civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday decried the slow pace of preparation for the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states as well as the 2015 polls by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

They were concerned about the non-commencement of the continuous voter registration exercise.

National Coordinator of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) Chibuike Mgbeahuruike said the non-commencement of the continuous voter registration has put the “journey to credible elections in 2015 on hold.”

He spoke at the Coalition of the Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) conversation in Abuja.

“People, irrespective of where they are, should be able to register with ease. We want to see that happening, for people to vote in elections and that has not been happening,” he said.

Besides, a representative of the Youth Action Initiative Africa, Mr. Samson Itodo, condemned the delay in the distribution of the permanent voter cards as the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states are approaching.

He said: “We know for sure that in Ekiti and Osun States between March 7 and 9, the permanent voter can also use to vote.

“We have over 60 million voter cards awaiting distribution. So, voters can use either the permanent or the temporary card. The distribution will start soon.”

The INEC chief admitted that there were lapses in the November governorship poll in Anambra State but that it was not a total failure.

He urged Nigerians to have faith

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

cards will be distributed. And there will be voter registers in these two states and those who don’t find their names in the registers or the voter card, the implication is that one: it means your name is not in the register and two; you are a sure candidate for continuous voter registration exercise.

“Now, our concern is this, if you have about 680,000 voter registers in Osun State, for instance, and you are distributing 600,000 plus voter card, is it possible that you put the distribution between March 7 and 9, which are weekends? Is it possible to complete the distribution or the display because a few days later we will have the commencement of continuous voter registration. That is a serious concern.”

Admitting that the chairman of the commission Prof. Attahiru Jega is a man of unquestionable integrity, he advised INEC to publish the manes of officals who have been prosecuted for electoral fraud. “(Attahiru) Jega is just one person. There are other 12 commissioners and 36 state resident commissioners. From my working with the INEC, there is a disconnect between its leadership and the grassroots,” Itodo said.

in INEC, adding: “I want people to watch out for Osun and Ekiti (states) to assess what we are capable of.”

As part of measures to check electoral fraud, Iyimoga said the commission would only allocate ballot papers according to the number of verified voters in the 120,000 polling units across the nation.

The INEC commissioner listed insecurity, inadequate funding, ab-

sence of internal democracy in parties, electoral apathy and prosecution of offenders as some of its challenges.

He said INEC wrote to the National Assembly to replace or modify parts of the Electoral Act that could hamper the commission’s efficiency.

Iyimoga called for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute offend-

ers, adding that INEC alone could not handle the quantum of electoral offences across the nation.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison Oluwole Uzzi said there was need for an independent agency to prosecute electoral cheats.

He said: “INEC’s Legal Department has less than 100 lawyers.

They cannot prosecute one million offenders. We need an Electoral Offences Commission because, if INEC were to do the prosecution, we would never be able to do anything else.”

On concerns about the timeline for campaigns and electoral activities, Uzzi explained that it was not a creation of INEC but the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

The Project Director, Democratic Governance for Development Project, Muortada Deme, said credible elections would be achieved through the cooperation of everyone.

According to him, stakeholders must play their part to enable the nation have credible polls.

He urged Nigerians to make the 2015 elections peaceful, adding: “Whatever happens in Nigeria is not an exclusive internal affair but has repercussions in the sub-region and the continent.”

Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) President Femi Adesina hailed INEC and UNDP for the initiative.

He said voter education and mobilisation were critical to the 2015 elections.

Mark issues marching orders on PIB, Malabu Oil probe

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• Gbajabiamila (middle) congratulating leader of the beneficiaries in one of the wards. With them are (from left) representative of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Mrs Anike Adekanye; APC Lagos Central District Leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi and Gbajabiamila’s mother, Alhaja Latifah Gbajabiamila, at the event in Lagos.

PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

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APC’ll win 2015 presidency, say Gbajabiamila, Senator Tinubu

OUSE of Representatives Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prepare to vacate Aso Rock in 2015 because the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over the Presidency next year.

Gbajabiamila spoke in Lagos yesterday at the distribution of empowerment materials worth N15 million and handing over of over 60 solar-powered boreholes he built in his constituency.

The event was organised by the Femi Gbajabiamila Foundation at the Abati Barracks, Ojuelegba, Lagos.

Nigerians, Gbajabiamila said, were ready for a change and APC was poised for that.

He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party should be ready for the role of opposition because the handwriting

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

is clear: Nigerians are yearning for a change and we’ll give them a change.”

The lawmaker said APC would win the 2015 presidential election, irrespective of the antics the ruling party might try.

Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere 1, hoped that APC members would soon emerge the majority in the National Assembly.

He said: “The situation in the House of Representatives is fluid; defections continue. By the end of next month, we will know where we stand as people are defecting left, right and centre.

“We’ll give it another few weeks. When the water settles, we will know where people belong.”

The lawmaker described the APC’s membership reg-

‘Our leaders realised that it would be difficult to rig elections where people know their number’ istration as an anal in the history of Nigerian politics.

According to him, never before has any other party undertaken such a successful registration of members.

Gbajabiamila said: “Our leaders realised that it would be difficult to rig elections where people know their number. It will be difficult to announce one million votes for me when I have three million registered members who voted during an election.”

Senator Oluremi Tinubu,

who represents Lagos Central, corroborated Gbajabiamila’s statement that by 2015, APC would be in control of the Federal Government.

She said: “We are going to produce the President, the Senate president, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and majority leaders in the National Assembly, by God’s grace, in 2015.

Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mrs Anike Adekanye, said the party would win the Presidency.

“We have done well by ensuring mass registration of people into the party. This is another landmark achievement by our party. As you can see, PDP leaders and members are now jittery because they know their days are numbered at Aso Rock,” Mrs Tinubu said.

ENATE President David Mark yesterday asked the Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) to take steps to conclude work on the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the probe of Malabu Oil. This followed a Point of Order raised by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) on the undue delay in passing the PIB and investigation into activities surrounding the sale of Malabu Oil. The Senate committed the PIB to its committee on Petroleum (Upstream) on March 7, 2013 for further legislative work while the probe of Malabu Oil was assigned to the same committee in July 2013.

Adetunmbi in his Point of Order told the Senate that he was at a function where the issue of the PIB and Malabu Oil were raised.

He said that he was asked why the Senate had not done work on the PIB and investigation into Malabu Oil. He noted participants at the function insisted that the massive corruption going in the country’s oil sector was as a result of none passage of the PIB. The lawmaker said that the participants at the forum believed that the passage of the PIB will go a long way in curbing corrupt practices going on in the oil sector.

Adetunmbi added, “On coming back from the conference I had to check my records and I found out that the Petroleum Industry Bill after debate was committed to the appropriate committee on Thursday March 7, 2013.

“It will be one year next month. As it stands nothing seems to be going on on the bill.

“The Malabu oil probe was committed to relevant committee in July 2013 about

From Onyedi Ojiabor,

Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

seven months ago.

“It may interest this Senate that an international extractive agency advocacy group did a letter on July 6, 2013 to the Italian and Netherlands government requesting for public investigation of the role companies from both countries as part of public accountability in the two countries.

“The same letter was written to the European Union (EU).

“The Italian, the Netherlands and EU parliament is about concluding public investigation and the out come of the investigation will be made public very soon.

“I think as Senators, it is a privilege that we should know what is going on so that the reputation of this parliament is not called to question.

“This is because I fear a situation where if the report of European parliaments is reporting issues that affect our economy and our own parliament, the apex parliament in Nigeria is seen not to do what it is supposed to do one year after I believe it will affect all of us collectively.

“That is why I think it is my privilege as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to receive explanation from this Senate so that if I find myself in the public arena I will be able to speak intelligently and not to be subjected to the kind of embarrassment that I suffered a couple of days ago.

“Mark sustained the Point of Order and mandated relevant committees to take immediate steps to conclude work on the two issues raised

by Adetunmbi.”

THE NATION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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NEWS

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26 aspirants for Ekiti PDP primary

HE list of the 26 aspirants for the March 15 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has been released.

The candidates are former Police Affairs Minister Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd.); former Governor Ayodele Fayose; Senator Gbenga Aluko; Mr. Biodun Aluko; Mr. Femi Bamisile; Mr. Tunji Odeyemi; Prince Adedayo Adeyeye; Chief Bode Olowoporoku; Mr. Bimbo Owolabi; Chief Ropo Ogunbolude and Mr. Bisi Omoyeni.

•Nomination forms’ sale begins on Monday From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

The rest are Mr. Peter Obafemi; Mrs. Bola Oloyede; Amb. Dare Bejide; Mr. Femi Olaosebikan; Mr. Reuben Famuyibo; Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju; Dr. Kunle Afolayan; Mr. Ayeni Biodun; Mr. Wale Aribisala; Mr. Tunde Ajayi; Mr. Mayowa Aluko; Otunba Segun Olarenwaju; Mrs. Cecilia Dada Bamisaye; Mr. Deji Ajayi and Mr. Ogunleye Israel.

PDP State Publicity Secretary Pastor Kola Oluwawole said the sale of nomination forms begins on Monday.

Oluwawole said: “The National Executive Committee (NEC) has not decided what the cost of the forms will be, although people have been saying it will be between N10 million and N11 million.”

On calls for a consensus candidate, he said: “I do not think anyone should take advocates of a consensus can-

didate serious. The NEC has clarified its position many times that the only constitutional thing that will ensure transparency and fairness is to conduct a primary.

“Even the national chairman has said he would do everything to ensure the sanctity of the constitution and that a well coordinated primary shall be conducted for aspirants. Aspirants should be on the field now canvassing for peoples’ votes.”

Doctors, groups hail Lagos anti-smoking law

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RESIDENT of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Osahon Enabulele has hailed the Lagos State government for making the law prohibiting smoking in public places.

The law compels the management of public spaces to conspicuously display “No Smoking” signs on their premises and criminalises smoking before minors.

In a statement, Enabulele praised the House of Assembly and the state government for protecting public health, promoting public decency and safe guarding the health and morality of children.

He said NMA was worried about compliance and

By Wale Adepoju

the implementation of the law, given the sub-optimal levels of public awareness and health education on the dangers associated with tobacco smoking.

Enabulele said the association was worried about the absence of cigarette smoking withdrawal programmes, adding that nicotine patches and e-cigarettes, which mitigate the withdrawal symptoms in smoke quitters, are not readily available in Nigeria.

He urged other states to emulate Lagos State by enacting laws against smoking in public places and provide resources for the rehabilitation of smokers.

Enabulele said faith-

based organisations and other social groups have a role to play to ensure a smoking-free society.

He said the achievement of a smoking-free society lies in the people, families and groups.

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN) and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) described the law as “a timely vote for public health, which should be emulated by the National Assembly, which is yet to pass the National Tobacco Control Bill into law”.

According to the law, non-smoking areas include libraries, archives, museums, galleries, public toi-

Osun APC: more projects to be inaugurated soon

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HE All Progressives Congress in Osun State has assured the people that more projects will be inaugurated by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration.

The party congratulated Aregbesola on the successful inauguration of new buildings at the Baptist Elementary School in Ilara, Ile-Ife. In a statement by its Publicity Director, Kunle Oyatomi, APC said: “The essence of the school re-classification and reconstruction is to promote the unity that has continued to exist among residents in a learning environment that meets international standard. This phenomenon was so clear at the inauguration that the Ooni of Ife, Oba

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Okunade Sijuwade, acknowledged it.

“We urge the people to discountenance the lies being peddled by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders that Aregbesola has done nothing in the state since he became governor. Please reflect on the statement of the Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Osogbo branch, Mr. Macduff Okorode Effetabore, who acknowledged that the governor has created a peaceful and secure environment, which has boosted business. The Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter, also acknowledged Aregbesola’s performance recently.”

Jonathan’s visit to Alaafin an affront to me, says Olubadan

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•Fashola

lets, hospitals and other health facilities, nurseries, day-care centres, schools, call centres and commercial vehicles.

Restaurant and bar owners are expected to have special areas for smokers, which should not be more than 10 per cent of their entire space.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

HE Olubadan, Oba Odulana Odugade, yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the Alaafin is selective and capable of jeopardising the peace and bringing the Ibadan chieftaincy institution to disrepute.

In a statement by the Secretary of the Oyo State Council of Obas, the Olubadan said while members of the council awaited the president’s arrival, Jonathan, accompanied

by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, breached the protocol of visiting him first as the council’s chairman and went to the palace of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III. He said the action showed that Ajimobi still recognises the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, contrary to the Chieftaincy Law as amended in 2011 in Cap 37 of the Oyo State Laws, 2000, which says the chairmanship should be rotated among the Alaafin, the Olubadan and Soun of Ogbomoso every two years.

The Olubadan urged the President and Ajimobi to “desist from misleading acts that can disrupt the peace in the state”.

13 robbery suspects held in Osun

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HE Osun State Police Command paraded 13 armed robbery suspects yesterday. Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Maishanu told reporters at the command’s headquarters in Okefia, Osogbo, that the suspects were apprehended between January and February.

He said the suspects confessed to the crime and would soon be arraigned.

Maishanu said Adeyemo Sarafadeen (29), Babatunde

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Ramoni (37) and Darosa Olamide (21) were arrested in Ede after allegedly stealing N190,000, adding that a Toyota Camry car, marked (LAGOS) AAA 185 BJ, a locally-made gun and a cutlass were recovered from them.

He said Ibrahim Abiodun (30) and Aluko Bola (24) were arrested on the Osogbo/Ede road, where they allegedly snatched motorcycles.

Maishanu said four others were arrested in Kosere via Ile-Ife, where they allegedly stole N170,000 from villagers.

He said motorcycles, money, charms, handsets, cutlasses, axes and guns were recovered from them.

Omoniyi Mufutau (34), Fowomo Tolu (24), Adeniyi Dele (22) and Peace Friday (28) allegedly confessed to be members of a robbery gang that had been terrorising motorists on the Ilesa/ Akure express road.

Ekiti to get five-star hotel

HE management of the Grand Towers Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ekiti State government to build a five-star hotel in the state.

The N500 million project will be located three kilometres from the Ekiti city centre and completed by December. It will be a replica of

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From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

From Grace Obike, Abuja

the Grand Towers Hotel in other parts of the country.

The firm’s Chairman, Nze Chidi Duru, said this in Abuja while signing a MoU between Grand Towers Plc and Moka Construction firm.

Duru said: “We have started the construction in Ekiti and hope to open to the public by

December. We received tremendous support from the state government on the project and we believe the hotel will add value to the state. Students in higher institutions can make use of our swimming pool and gymnasium.”

The 40-room edifice will be managed by Willemsen Hospitality Company.

Fuel scarcity worsens in Ibadan

ETROL scarcity is biting harder in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Queues have become longer at the few petrol stations selling the product.

The filling stations sell petrol at N100 and above per litre, which is above the approved N97 per litre. Yet, motorists wait long hours to get the product.

Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

(IPMAN), Oyo State branch, Basorun Joseph Oyewole said a fault at Ijegun Depot shut down the fuel supply chain to the Ibadan Depot of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which supplies Oyo and Osun states.

He said the fault led to skeletal supply of petroleum products for one month, adding that there was no supply on Monday and Tuesday.

Oyewole said the few stations selling fuel were buying from private depots in Lagos.

He said: “The fault at Ijegun has been rectified and they have started receiving fuel from Mosinmi Depot, but another problem occurred at Mosinmi, which is disturbing the supply of products to Ibadan Depot. They said they have started fixing it. So, normal supply should resume soon.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

NEWS

• The chairmen taking their oath of office...yesterday.

Fayemi advises council chairmen to seek excellence

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday swore in new caretaker chairmen in the 16 local government councils.

They are Tope Olanipekun (Ado); Adio Folayan (Efon); Sunday Ajidara (Ekiti East); Yemi Alatise (Ekiti South West); Akin Alade (Ekiti West) and Febisola Adewale (Emure).

Others are Femi Awe (Gbonyin); Kehinde Ogunlade (Ido Osi); Dele Olatuyi, (Ikole); Adegoroye Bamigboye (Ilejemeje); Tajudeen Awe, (Irepodun/ Ifelodun); Deji Ajayi, (Ise Orun); Olakanmi Olaseinde,

mented by the people.”

He said he would conduct council polls before the end of this year, adding that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework would speed up grassroots development.

Fayemi said: “There is no woman among you and this is the last time you will see a set of council bosses without women. I want you to realise that your appointments were not based on party patronage, but on your achievements. High performance is demanded from you

because the people’s expectation is high.”

He urged them to interact with rulers in their communities.

At the event were Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu; House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin; state lawmakers; Secretary to the State Government Ganiyu Owolabi; Chief of Staff to the Governor Yemi Adaramodu; members of the State Executive Council; All Progressives Congress (APC) State Deputy Chairman Chief Dele Falusi and the party’s Secretary, Biodun Ogunleye.

erly briefed. All processions and rallies must be peaceful and respect the right and safety of other people.

“The idea of blocking roads during rallies and processions and attacking innocent citizens, including security men, will no longer be tolerated. Anyone who breaches the peace will be punished.”

The commissioner said the police, under his leadership, will respect the rights of the people and uphold the rule of law.

He said ensuring peace during the governorship

election would be “a Herculean task”, but his men would perform excellently.

Maishanu said the command would rely on the force headquarters and neighbouring states for logistics and support during the election.

He said the police would be fair and warned politicians against violence.

Describing Osun as a peaceful state, Maishanu said: “I expect politicians to maintain the level of peace I met in the state during and after the election.”

•Governor swears in 16 heads of caretaker committees From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

Moba and Akindele Ogungbuyi (Oye).

The ceremony was held at the Jibowu Hall in Ado-Ekiti.

Eleven interim chairmen were returned, but those of Ekiti West, Ekiti East, Ijero, Ikere and Moba were changed.

Appreciating those who were not returned for their performance, Fayemi said he does not appoint people “based on party patronage,

but on their achievements and excellence.”

He said councils play critical roles in the socio-economic development of communities, adding that the new roads built in councils facilitated growth at the grassroots.

The governor said his administration spent over N614 million on developmental programmes at the grassroots last year, adding: “The quality of the self help projects was of high standard, as they were imple-

Play by rules, police urge Osun politicians

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S the August 9 governorship election in Osun State approaches, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Maishanu, has urged poli-

‘Streets should not be renamed’

By Nneka Nwaneri

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has said streets should not be bought by individuals, but earned through service to humanity.

He said attempts to buy and rename streets would distort history.

Fashola spoke yesterday at the Metropolitan Club on Victoria Island, Lagos, at the public presentation of two books: The Life of James Pinson Labulo Davis: A Colossus of Victorian Lagos and Worthy in Character and Learning, a collection of lectures and addresses by the founder of the Lagoon Hospital, Adeyemo Elebute.

The governor said: “How can we explain occurrences that happened in certain areas to our children when the names attached to some streets, which have meanings, have been changed?

Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos State said the state’s development should not be affected by politics. He said residents, irrespective of political affiliation, should support the government.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ticians to conduct themselves in accordance with the Electoral Act. Maishanu, who resumed duty last week, said the police would not tolerate any breach of the peace.

He advised politicians to obtain police permits before holding political activities and warned them against blocking the roads.

Maishanu said: “It is necessary to warn politicians and other people against taking laws into

O

‘The idea of blocking roads during rallies and processions and attacking innocent citizens, including security men, will no longer be tolerated. Anyone who breaches the peace will be punished’ their hands. They must trust that the police will do the right thing, if prop-

Ondo Chief Judge frees 16 inmates

NDO State Chief Judge Justice Seinde Kumuyi has freed 16 inmates of the Olokuta Prisons, Akure.

Those freed had been awaiting trial for years.

Five of them, who were accused of crimes ranging from murder to armed robbery, had spent seven years without appearing in court.

Among those freed is Friday Eje, who was arrested in 2007 for a murder allegedly committed by his brother.

He was released after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) discovered he had no case file.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Oladejo Felix, who confessed to killing his apprentice in rage, had spent seven years and six months in jail without trial.

He was handed over to a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), St. Joseph Halfway House, for rehabilitation.

Oladapo Oduwale was arrested in 2008 for threatening to deal with his father, who could not pay his Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination enrolment fee.

He was freed after the CJ called his father to ascertain

if the robbery charge against him had any substance.

Olorunda Adebowale and Felix Peter, who were accused of murder, also got their freedom after years in jail without trial.

Also freed were Audu Idris, Kehinde Johnson, Jelili Abduganiyu and Wale Ogidan, who are terminally ill.

Onigbo James and a man simply identified as Sola, who are mentally ill, were freed and sent to the psychiatric hospital for treatment.

Five minors, who were arrested for conspiracy to commit felony, were sent to a remand home.

Justice Kumuyi reviewed the bail conditions of two others to enable them leave the prison.

He said the DPP and the Police Prosecution Department (PPD) should work together to speed up the trial of awaiting trial inmates, adding: “It is serious to say that a file is missing when the case has gone to court. They should work together to trace misplaced files so that the cases can continue.”

The CJ said a number of processes were ongoing to ensure the speedy trial of inmates and decongestion prisons.

Residents hail Ogun housing initiative

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ESIDENTS have hailed the Ogun State Homeowners’ Charter, an initiative that allows landlords to obtain property documents at discounted rates.

They said homeowners can now regularise their documents with ease.

Applicants in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government have been trooping en masse to obtain forms at the designated centres.

During a tour of the centres by the Director of Urban and Physical Planning, Mr. Gbolade Badejo, an applicant in Ifo, Mr. Moses Famuyiwa, said: “At the initial stage of the programme, we did not have confidence in its workability because of the ridiculous amount of N95,000 charged for obtaining both Building Plan Approval and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). But the government has proved that it means well for us. Allowing home owners to pay N95,000 instead of N430,000 to obtain necessary documents for a standard family bungalow of four bedrooms on a single plot of private land is a great relief.”

At Ilo Awela, Alhaja Fausat Gbadamosi described the programme as the first in the state’s history, saying it showed that the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration wants to make life easier for the people.

Badejo said the programme would enable homeowners to have legal building documents and help the government to build its database for planning purposes.

He said the sale of forms would close on February 28.

•Amosun

THE NATION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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CITYBEATS LINE: 08078425391

Kidnap victim relives ordeal

HEN a businessman, who simply gave his name as Celestine, was asked to get ready for morning devotion, he jumped for joy in anticipation of a fervent prayer session. Surprisingly, afterwards, he was in pains as he was beaten to a pulp.

That was the ordeal of the man who was abducted alongside others by a gang of kidnappers along the BeninOre Road for a N10 million ransom.

The Edo State-born father of four was returning to Lagos from his home state after the Christmas festivities on December 29, last year, when he was snatched with other occupants of an Infinity Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

The morning after, he said, their captors screamed: “Time for morning devotion … time for morning devotion!” “As a devoted Catholic, I had

By Jude Isiguzo

thought it was time for morning prayers and I was happy as a Christian. I soon realised that I was wrong. I soon realised that beating was what they called ‘morning devotion.’ They beat us that morning until I lost consciousness.

I wept and I started calling members of my family to come to my rescue,” Celestine recalled.

At about 7pm, according to him, they had passed Ekiadolor and were descending the road when they suddenly heard gun shots.

Said Celestine “We were forced to stop. There were two cars in our front - a white Hilux SUV and one Toyota Camry car. But I didn’t know those behind us. We could not escape because there were gunshots everywhere. We had to surrender. Suddenly, my head was hit with a wood.

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•Arowolo

They took us about 50 kilometers into a forest before Okada. I thought they were armed robbers. And I removed my wrist-watch, money, phones and other valuables. But they told us they were kidnappers and warned us not to look at them.

“They said I should get N10 million or else they would kill me. They held me, my friend who drove, Mr Lucky and a couple returning with us.

With their three kids, they were returning from Iseluku.

They beat the hell out of us.

At about 9.30pm, they moved us like slaves further into the forest. They prepared rice for us; it did not spend five minutes on fire. I swallowed it in order to have strength.”

Celestine went on: “We spent almost two nights in the kidnappers’ den. The three children kept crying: ‘Please don’t kill our mummy! Our daddy will give you money.’

At a point, the kidnappers started beating their mother.”

He said his family members raised over a million naira for his release, adding: “When they confirmed that all had paid the ransom, they shared the money and gave me N4000 for my transport back to Lagos. Lucky’s family paid N1million; they gave him N4000 for his transport. There was another victim, who said he graduated from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 2009, with no job yet. The kidnappers took N200, 000 from him and gave him N3000 for transport back to Benin. We were released on the night of December 30, 2013. They got N3.6million from us.”

Celestine said: “The kidnappers were calling Benin, asking for recharge cards.

They had boys everywhere, working for them. After our release, they called one of

Council explains N1.4bn budget

T •Celestine

their friends in Benin who came to take them away in a car, leaving us there. It was a good Samaritan who saw us with the kids that stopped to give us a lift.”

Celestine said the routes immediately after Ore or Benin Bye-Pass are deadly, urging the government to step up security in the area. Lucky recovered his vehicle at the Ekiadolor Police Station in Benin.

Akolade Arowolo knows fate tomorrow

UDGMENT will tomorrow be delivered in the murder charge preferred against an unemployed graduate, Akolade Arowolo, after about three years.

This is contained in a Hearing Notice issued to the Director, Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Olabisi Odugbesan and Defence counsel Olanrewaju Ajanaku.

The state DPP charged Arowolo with allegedly killing his banker wife, Titilayo Omozoje before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. He was

By Adebisi Onanuga

arraigned before Justice Lateefat Okunnu on a charge of murder.

Arowolo was alleged to have killed his wife, on June 24, 2011, at their 8, Akindeinde Street, Isolo, Lagos home.

While the trial lasted, the defendant was remanded in Ikoyi Prison, Lagos.

During trial, the relatives of the deceased, including her father, George Oyakhire, and her step-mother, Adetoun, had in their testimonies, said

that the marriage between the defendant and the deceased had been characterised by series of domestic violence.

The prosecution star witness, Prof. John Obafunwa, a Consultant Pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, testified that Titilayo was stabbed 76 times.

Obafunwa, who showed pictures and films of the postmortem of the deceased, added that their findings showed that the deceased could not have stabbed herself.

Arowolo denied killing his wife, but held his in-laws re-

sponsible for all the trouble in their marriage.

He had insisted that his wife died after she accidentally fell on a knife during a quarrel on his birthday. But on another occasion, he told the court that she stabbed herself to death.

Arowolo’s counsel told the court that there was no substantial evidence to conclude that he murdered his wife. He added that since none of the witnesses witnessed the incident, their evidence are not weighty enough to convict the defendant.

HE Chairman, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, Hon Julius Oloro, has explained why he presented a budget of N1.4 billion to the council’s legislature for the 2014 administrative year.

He said its primary aim is to complement other resources of the council for infrastructural development.

Tagged ‘Budget of Reality,’ Oloro said it was designed to have 60 per cent capital expenditure and 40 per cent for recurrent expenditure.

To achieve total budget implementation, the council, he said, had embarked on an aggressive overhaul of its entire revenue collection machinery with an effective budget control measures.

The council boss expected statutory allocations from the federal and state government will be N1,372,391,954.24, while the expected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is N65 million.

Oloro said the council had put modalities in place to ensure aggressive drive for increased IGR, using a combination of methods.

Speaker of the council’s legislature, Hon Tajudeen Bello, praised Oloro for prompt implementation of the 2013 budget, saying that the House would ensure speedy passage of the budget in the interest of residents.

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

Guinness, Arik back Glo’s Evergreen Series

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NDORSEMENT for the second edition of Globacom's 'Old School'concert, called the Evergreen Series, is rising.

Guinness and Arik Air, among others, are hinging their support for the concert on the need to revitalise Nigerian music.

This year's event, according to the telecoms operator, features master guitarist and one of Africa's finest, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade, as headline act.

Other indigenous contemporary artistes will complement the show.

KSA, as he is fondly called, is to be supported by Koko Master D'banj and one of Africa's best saxophonists, Yemi Sax, at the February 28 event at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.

Organisers say they are encouraged to stage the second edition, following the success of last year's show, featuring Evangelist Ebenezer Obey.

Arik's stand stems from a similar

Arik Air hostess rebounds with new album

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Stories by Victor Akande

passion it shares with the organisers of the show as an indigenous Nigerian company: "Globacom is a truly Nigerian telecommunications company, so is Arik, a truly Nigerian airline. We are excited to be part of the project from the inception. We share the commitment to promote the best of Nigerian music and this is evident in Arik Air's support for the Glo Evergreen Series, which debuted last September with 'An Evening with the Great Commander, Chief Ebenezer Obey'. In this series, we are celebrating yet another great Nigerian legend, the King of World Beats, Juju Maestro and Master Guitarist, King Sunny Ade (KSA)," an Arik said.

On its part, Guinness expressed its commitment to enriching the communities in which it operates, adding that it plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of its host communities.

Meanwhile, support act D' banj has

• D'banj promised to excite fans in a unique way at the show. He described the coming show as one that will be a night of fun, glamour and endless entertainment, going by the synergy between KSA and younger artistes.

LYING around the world officially puts food on her table, but Arik Air hostess, Yinka Ayanda finds her passion for music quite irresistible, a hobby she says is complementary to her personality.

As a follow up to her sophomore title: Ise Mi, the fast rising Yoruba singer is set to release her third effort, Alapa Masise (lazy bone), which she describes as a banger.

Ayanda, a senior cabin crew officer kicked off her music career with Teni Teni, an inspirational Yoruba lyrical with cultural profundity.

Although she did not derail in her second effort, the artiste believes that her offering is evolving, hence the need to further up her ante, as will be seen in her upcoming songs. "It's like a re-branding. The world is going to be seeing a new Yinka, who is totally different from the one you used to know," she said.

Staying faithful to contemporary style, she described her kind of music as a fusion of soul, saying "when I started, I was working in contempo-

rary African music but that was then.

Now, I have Apala and soul fused in a unique way and I think it's a whole new Yinka."

Atanda, who revealed that her favourite song in the new album, is Alapa Masise, said she is often inspired to write songs from happenings around her, her personal experiences and that of others.

According to the singer, beyond Alapa Masise, fans could find other tracks even more exciting. "This is my album, so my judgement could be biased. I think we should leave that one to my fans to decide."

Other tracks in the collection include, Iya (Mother), Sebotimo (cut your coat according to your cloth), Oko Mi (My Husband), Ise Mi (My Work), and Ore Ogede.

Empress Njama visits orphanages

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HILE some spent the last Valentine's Day in the arms of their spouses, Nollywood actress and entrepreneur Empress Njama gave her fans another definition of love.

The Founder of House of Empress Foundation spent February 14, a day that is globally celebrated as lovers' day, with women and children from seven orphanages in Abuja.

Speaking on the occasion, the actress said: "I don't go to single homes. I run seven homes in Abuja,

but from their homes. All the seven homes are under House of Empress Foundation (HOEF)."

In December, the actress hosted 1,000 kids and physically-challenged women on her birthday at City Park, Wuse 2, Abuja, FCT. The kids, who were from various homes, were given gifts while the physically-challenged women received household equipment.

Empress, who now lives in Abuja, has featured in over 50 movies and several television soaps.

•Ayanda

BUSINESS

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

States get N200m for Agric extension activities •800 motorcycles for extension farmers From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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HE Federal Govern ment in partnership with Sasakawa Africa Association have granted N200 million to five states to train 5000 agricultural extension workers.

It also distributed 800 motorcycles to agricultural extension agents across the country in other to increase productivity.

The five pilot states include: Katsina, Ogun, Anambra, Benue, and Cross Rivers.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina stated this in Abuja at the launch of the motorcycles.

Adesina said the performance of the agricultural extension service had previously been impaired by poorly trained staff, lack of funding to pay for agricultural extension services, lack of synergies with donor supported projects and use of predominantly top-down, non-participatory approaches.

The agricultural extension service according to the Minister, will ensure efficient collaboration between the research institutes and farmers in tune with global demands and ICT driven advanced agriculture to boost food security, wealth creation and make Nigeria a global player in food market.

He said: “What is needed today is a highly knowledgeable extension service that is able to support farmers from the farm to the mill and to the market while taking cognisance of global demands, modern service inputs, and climate change demands.”

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

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 seek reduction of interest on CBN’s N220b micro-finance funds The House of Representatives yesterday said the nine per cent lending rate fixed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for lending to microfinance banks in the country is too high.

The position of the House hinged on the outcome of the CBN’s 7th Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Finance Conference held in Abuja recently.

At the conference, the apex bank announced a N220 billion fund for micro-finance banks to borrow at nine percent interest rate, which the MFBs will further lend to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

However, lawmakers criticised the rate saying it seems rather high, considering the

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

group of people the fund is meant for, who are mainly artisans, small farmers engaged in subsistence farming and small scale business owners.

The House, thereafter, mandated the committee on Banking and Currency to liaise with CBN to ensure adequate monitoring of the N220 billion for micro-finance banks across the country.

The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion brought before the House by a member, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale (PDP, Edo).

Members overwhelmingly

adopted the motion when it was put to vote by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over plenary yesterday.

Ikheriale while presenting the motion noted: “despite the fact that micro-finance banks are currently charging between 30 and 40 per cent as interest, the CBN has granted them powers to fix the rate of interest when they lend to industrialists, a situation that, if not properly monitored, maybe abused and defeat the aim of the scheme.”

According to him, the fund was aimed at addressing the financial challenges experienced by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, adding that in spite

of the noble objective of the project, “there are obvious hurdles envisaged in its implementation.”

He said the CBN’s statement shows the fund would be made available to Participating Financial Institutions (PFI), thereby improving their capacity to meet the credit needs of MSMEs. The House directed that efforts be made for easy accessibility of the funds by intended beneficiaries including the 60 per cent reserved for women, at minimal interest rate.

The lawmakers further urged the CBN to liaise with the relevant associations of micro-finance banks in the disbursement of the funds.

• From left: Chairman, NCC board, Peter Igho; Juwah; Omoniyi and Tokunbo Talabi after the auctions at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja...yesterday.

Bitflux emerges winner of 2.3GHz spectrum auction

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RELATIVELY unknown telecoms firm, Bitflux Communications, a member of the BITCOM Group,, defeated owners of second national operator licence, Globacom to emerge winners in the auction conducted to sell one spectrum slot in the 2.3giga hertz (GHz) by the regulator of the telecoms sector, the Nigerian C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission (NCC).

The electronic ‘ascending clock auction’ was held yesterday at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja. It was witnessed by executive commissioners of the NCC and other stakeholders in the telecoms industry including a representative of the State Security Services (SSS).

By emerging winner of the contest, Bitflux has 14 business days to pay the bid price of $23, 251,000 while it has another 30 days to pay N155 million for Unified Access Service Licence which will allow it to operate as “wholesale wireless broadband services’ provider.

Announcing the winner, Chief Executive Officre, NCC,

• To pay $23.25m in 14 days, N155m in 30 days

By Lucas Ajanaku

Dr Eugene Juwah said the process, which was electronically powered, went through two rounds. While the first round which had set $23 million in addition to another 15 per cent which made total to stand at $26.450 million had produced no winner, the machine immediately switched to “tie breakers’ indicating that neither of the two bidders was ready to go above what was put on offer.

According to him, failure to meet the payment schedule will see Glo coasting home with the licence.

The second round produced Bitflux offering $23,251,000 while Globacom offered to pay $23,050,001.

Speaking after being announced the winner, Director, Bitflux Communications, Biodun Omoniyi congratulated the NCC for the open, fair and

transparent process and congratulated the big brother, Globacom for being magnanimous even in defeat because, according to him “Nobody can put his head down to fight with the bull.”

He said the result was not expected but noted that the firm drew up its business plan and followed it to the letter, having faith in itself and was driven by patriotic zeal. He said the result is a clear vote for smaller firms too, saying:”Giving us a chance to do this is a way of encouraging indigenous companies to grow.”

Another Director, Tokunbo Talabi, expressed gratitude to the NCC for organisisng a “suspense filled and tension soaked yet transparent bid process”. He thanked everyone for the support and prayers, adding that the firm will not disappoint Nigerians.

Earlier in his speech, Group

Chief Operating Officer, Globacom, Mohammed Jameel who led the team, said the national operator considered the spectrum price too high when compared with what was offered in the past, adding that it does not align with the telco’s business model.

He commended the NCC for the successful completion of the process and wished the winners all the best, adding that Glo will be willing to participate in subsequent spectrum auctions by the NCC in the future.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology, Dr Tunji Olaopa, the Minister, C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson said the emergence of a wholesale wireless broadband service provider will accelerate broadband penetration in the country and spur economic growth, development and prosperity of the people of Nigeria.

Minister, committee disagree over N36.2b budget appropriation From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

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HE Senate Committee on Agriculture has disagreed with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. AkinwumiAdesina over 36.2billion naira budgetary proposal for the ministry in 2014.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Emmanuel Bwacha noted that the N36.2 billion proposed for the ministry in the 2014 budget showed a decline from the 39.9billion proposed in 2013.

Bwacha, who spoke in Abuja during the budget defence by the minister, explained that the committee was not comfortable with the budgetary appropriation for the sector.

According to him, the agricultural sector is very vital in feeding the country.

He said: “We are not comfortable with the budgetary allocation to agriculture. We will try to establish contacts to see how we can rescue the situations.

“The Agricultural sector is very vital. It is a sector that will bail us out. Our priority is to make sure that this budget is passed into law.”

Also, Vice Chairman of the Committee, Adegbenga Kaka noted that the entire budget proposed for the ministry would not be enough for farming in two states.

Kaka said: “The entire budget if we are to use it for farming in two states on road or infrastructures would not be enough let alone for the whole country to rely on it.”

Blame NNPC for fuel scarcity, says IPMAN From Adekunle Jimoh,

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Ilorin

HE Independent Petro leum Marketers Asso ciation of Nigeria (IPMAN) has accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of being behind the current fuel scarcity in some parts of the country.

The Kwara state chairman of IPMAN, Ilorin Depot, Alhaji Rasheed Olopade told reporters yesterday in Ilorin that they have not been loading fuel from the depot for some time now.”

The Kwara State Government on Tuesday ordered IPMAN to end the scarcity.

But Alhaji Olopade said: “The NNPC should answer that. Even the loading we have been having is skeletal.

When about 300 marketers want to buy and they only sell to two marketers, will that go round? We have been managing since last three weeks.

We have been loading two independent marketers.

“Before because marketers had fuel, it did not show but now that the fuel has been exhausted, the new one we are loading cannot sustain the customers.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS

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Fed Govt begins modernisation of audit system

HE Federal Govern ment has begun the modernisation of the country’s audit system for transparency and accountability in the management of the country’s resources.

This disclosure was made by the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Jonah Otunla, during a courtesy visit by officials of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

Otunla noted that the modernisation exercise is part of the financial management system reforms currently being carried out by the government.

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• Releases N200b for capex From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

Otunla stated that in the Government had embarked on treasury reforms to improve efficiency in public sector accounting and finance. Some of these he said include the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA), the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), the Government Integrated and Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the adoption of

the International Public Sector Accounting System (IPSAS).

The AGF added that his office is doing everything possible to address some of the bottlenecks being faced in the reform process. “we have some challenges both technical and infrastructure that are trying to hinder us but we are making progress,” he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, the International Director of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and

Accountancy, Mr. Alan Edwards noted that the treasury reforms, will help to ensure the reliability of Nigeria’s financial system within the next 20 to 30 years.

Edwards admitted that there were skill gaps in Nigeria’s public finance sector, which his institute was ready to partner with the Federal Treasury Academy to design programmes to bridge the gap.

Also the Federal Ministry of Finance has released the sum of N200 billion for the execution of various capital projects.

Ship owners owe banks over $3b

EMBERS of the Ni gerian Ship Owners Association (NISA) said they are not happy over the new Cabotage waiver policy being introduced by the government as many of their members are already owing Nigerian banks over $3 billion with 50 per cent of them out of business because of bad government policies.

NISA Chairman , Chief Isaac Jolapamo disclosed this at a forum organised by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar to announce the new government policy guidelines for granting of ministerial waivers under the Cabotage Law. The new policy, Umar said, is a means of discouraging ship owners engaging foreign crew to man Cabotage vessels coming to the country.

By Oluwakemi Dauda

But in his reaction to the new policy, Jolapamo pointed out that issuing a new guideline is not the priority to local ship owners and called for the abolition of the waivers that have led to foreign domination of the nation’s costal trade and indebtedness of his members.

He criticised President Goodluck Jonathan administration for not having any plans for the maritime sector.

“The stakeholders already know that maritime development is not on the agenda of the present administration, the bottom line here is that a law that has been around for 10 years and it’s not working, the guideline is not a priority, our priority today is a maritime reform that will show that this

government is sincere in developing the sector.”

“The aviation sector is not as important as the shipping sector, yet they are given every attention” Jolapamo demanded that government sets up a task force or maritime sector reform that will not talk of granting waivers after 10 years, but work for the removal of the waiver clause.

“If we continue to have the waiver, we will continue to have the same problem. Today, our members have in excess of $3billion as bad debts in Nigerian banks alone, 50 percent of us are out of business, we need to go back, for some of us to keep standing, you need to do more” he told the minister.

But contrary to what obtains before the new policy, the government said any ship that

needs a waiver must have applied for it sixty days before the arrival of the vessel on the nation’s territorial waters.

Apart from the compulsory payment of the two per cent Cabotage contract surcharge, the new guideline also stressed the mandatory employment, training and utilization of Nigerian Seafarers, as well as the maintenance and repair of vessel in Nigeria during the period covered by the waiver.

Presenting the new policy guidelines to maritime stakeholders in Lagos, the minister said that it was an effort by the Federal Government to protect local seafarers against foreign domination by correcting the anomalies in the Cabotage Law, as regards the powers of the minister in granting the waivers.

A statement from the ministry signed by Paul Nwabuikwu, Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister and Minister of Finance said “this is the first release of capital expenditure for the year and will be

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followed by others.”

The release, he said “signposts the determination of the Federal Government to ensure that clear and measurable progress is achieved in the execution of capital projects.”

FAAN explains power outage at MMIA

HE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), yesterday adduced damaged power supply cables affected by ongoing construction work at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos as the cause of the one hour darkness at the terminal on Tuesday night.

Some pre - flight operations were disrupted on account of the power outage at the terminal.

The general manager , corporate communication, Mr Yakubu Dati explained that the damaged cables are being replaced by contractors, who are working at the terminal to avoid any reoccurrence of the outage.

Dati said FAAN engineers have been mobilised to constantly monitor the contractors working at the terminal to ensure no further damage is done to power supply cables that could occasion any inconvenience to passengers and other airport workers. He said that power supply has since been restored.

He said though, the outage is regrettable, the need to upgrade airport infrastructure

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

would require that that old power supply cables buried underground when the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, was built in 1979 are replaced to upgrade the terminal to a world class facility .

Dati said measures are being put in place to ensure that power outage becomes a thing of the past at the Lagos Airport, to enable Nigeria retain her position as a category one civil aviation nation .

He said :” The outage which was on for about one hour was caused by damaged cables affected by ongoing construction work at the Lagos Airport international terminal.

“Steps are being taken to ensure it does not happen again.

“The cables supplying power to the international terminal was affected, that is the reason there was darkness at the airport.

“We plead with passengers and airport workers to bear with us as we work hard to complete ongoing construction work in the aviation master plan.”

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COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Who is in charge?

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•Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime owes the people a duty of adhering to provisions of the constitution as he jets out to seek medical treatment again

UBLIC officers have a duty to uphold the tenets of the constitution.

At the inauguration of federal and state governments, the chief executives are made to swear to be scrupulously guided by the letters and spirit of the constitution. But, no sooner do they assume office than they engage in serial breach of the grundnorm.

In Enugu State, Governor Sullivan Chime has ignored provisions of section 190 of the constitution that bind him to hand over the reins of government to the deputy governor “whenever he is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office…” The governor is mandated in such circumstances to transmit a letter to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and, by that token, empower the deputy governor to assume all the powers of the governor as acting governor until he returns and transmits another letter to the House to report that he is fit and back to discharge such functions.

The office of governor under the 1999 constitution is highly regarded and invested with so much powers and duties.

Apparently in realisation that it must be kept running at all times, the makers of the constitution insisted that anyone contesting election to the office must have a running mate who would assume office with him as deputy governor. Both are sworn in to jointly serve the people.

It is despicable that some governors flagrantly flout this unambiguous provision of the constitution by refusing to hand over to their deputies whenever they find themselves unable to discharge the func-

tions of office, either on account of illhealth as is the case in Enugu, or when on annual vacation as is the case in other states.

It could be argued that Chime might not have known that he would need to be flown out of the country for treatment, and that the time was therefore too short to transmit the needed letter to the Speaker, however, the fact that the Secretary to the State Government has been performing functions otherwise reserved for the governor is an indication that the governor has returned to an all-too-familiar path. It does not matter what the relationship between the two men is at the moment. The supreme law of the country leaves the governor no discretion in the matter. Unless and until a deputy governor is removed from office, he remains the number two citizen and is the alternate governor. He derives his powers, functions, duties and privileges from the people who elected him along with the governor, and the constitution.

While wishing the Enugu State governor speedy recovery, we remind him and others breaching the law that anyone who disregards the constitution has committed an impeachable offence, and call on the state House of Assembly to swing into action by insisting that the deputy governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, assumes office as acting governor as soon as it is clear that Governor Chime is unlikely to return to office within the period allowed by law.

Besides, the secrecy surrounding the health status of government officials is unhealthy. As of the time of this article,

the governor or his staff has not issued a statement on his state of health. This kicks against transparency in office.

When a man seeks votes, he becomes a public official and signs off much of his privacy. In other countries, bulletins are issued on the state of health of high officials who have to seek solutions to serious medical conditions.

In recent times, Mrs. Hilary Clinton, as the American Secretary of State, made known her medical status and followed up by announcing that she would be standing down at the end of President Barack Obama’s first term. Nigerian officials must learn to toe the lines of probity, accountability, due process and the Rule of Law at all times.

‘While wishing the Enugu State governor speedy recovery, we remind him and others breaching the law that anyone who disregards the constitution has committed an impeachable offence, and call on the state House of Assembly to swing into action by insisting that the deputy governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, assumes office as acting governor as soon as it is clear that Governor Chime is unlikely to return to office within the period allowed by law’

New DNA laboratory

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•A testament to Chevron’s social responsibility and score against identity crisis

T is unfathomable that a country as deeply endowed as Nigeria with huge revenue from oil cannot boast of standard medical laboratory in over 50 years of its sovereign existence. It is sad that but for recent intervention of Chevron that donated a molecular biology laboratory to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, the nation is bereft of such significant laboratory. We are nonetheless happy that the bug of corporate social responsibility that has bitten the oil giant has made this feat possible.

Until the donation of this laboratory, problems of imprecise diagnosis had become routine in the country. Not only that, simple DNA tests were usually conducted outside the country after samples must have been collected from people that can afford the usually exorbitant cost.

‘The donation of this molecular laboratory is a welcome development and a plus, especially for identity challenges that have become rampant in the society. More importantly, it will save the country a lot of foreign exchange that would ordinarily have been spent on medical tourism abroad. Other able companies and governments should emulate the Chevron gesture by establishing such an important laboratory in other teaching hospitals nationwide’

Yet, DNA technology is not only for the purpose of identification, but also for other very important purposes, including prenatal screening and genetic diagnosis.

Now, this newly donated laboratory would help meet the distinctive need of Nigeria that is lagging behind in keeping pace with advancement in genome technology necessary for tackling virtually all human diseases. We are elated by reports that when the laboratory is fully operational, its maximal utilisation will guarantee speedy and appropriate interventions in arresting dangerous medical situations, thereby reducing mortality.

Quite sadly, the problem of determining the right treatment by doctors for patients suffering from different ailments has been quite a riddle in the country. If we have had such laboratory, medical problems such as the unravelling of the DNA of victims of the DANA crash of 2012 and the protracted delay that preceded the release of bodies would have been avoided. Ms Rhonda Zygocki, Executive Vice President, Policy and Planning of Chevron Corporation, said with enthusiasm during the handing over of the laboratory that the corporation’s intervention was because it views ‘….healthcare as a crucial social service that Chevron wants to help government to implement, as there can be no development in a society where people are plagued by ill-health.’ She added that the laboratory will ‘.…unlock DNA biotechnology for Nigeria and offer such services as diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia in an unborn child and DNA finger printing

that were not readily available in Nigeria before now.’

Before now also, the country of recent has been bedevilled by challenges of miracle babies and paternal brawl. But with the new laboratory, LUTH would now be able to provide solutions to these problems and complex others needing specialised diagnosis and care. With this laboratory, parental determination, disease and disease risk determination, including DNA finger printing and forensic pathology, could easily be tackled in the country.

Widely reported recently too is the fact that LUTH is capable of handling renal transplantation, incision cataract excision surgery, laparoscopic surgery, small mandibular reconstruction surgery, joint replacement surgery, and micro-vascular surgeries but we are of the view that if properly funded and managed, these and many other medical ailments are things that any teaching hospital of its class should be able to conveniently handle in the country.

The donation of this molecular laboratory is a welcome development and a plus, especially for identity challenges that have become rampant in the society. More importantly, it will save the country a lot of foreign exchange that would ordinarily have been spent on medical tourism abroad. Other able companies and governments should emulate the Chevron gesture by establishing such an important laboratory in other teaching hospitals nationwide.

The Post’s view

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• Confirmation limbo

T’S BEEN three months since Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) and his fellow Democrats used the “nuclear option” in the Senate to unilaterally change presidential the rules to limit filibusters on most nominations. So far, though, there’s been no flood of confirmations. Part of the explanation is continuing GOP obstruction, as unfounded as ever. But it also turns out that the nuclear option wasn’t the panacea some made it out to be. It remains unacceptably hard to staff the government.c Perhaps the best — or worst — example is the number of ambassadorial nominations languishing in Senate confirmation limbo. Forget the campaign donors President Obama chose to reward with cushy ambassadorships, some of whom are embarrassments. According to the American Foreign Service Association, 20 career diplomats are awaiting consideration, including the president’s picks to lead embassies in important U.S. allies such as Chile and Colombia. Fourteen of them have already gone through their hearings. Last month, meanwhile, Secretary of State John F. Kerry sent Mr. Reid an understandable letter of complaint that more than a third of his senior staff still weren’t in place a year into his tenure. Examples include the able Tom Malinowski, whom Mr. Obama tapped in July to be assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and labour.

Uncontroversial nominees — and even those who rub some legislators the wrong way but are well qualified — should fly through the Senate.

Instead, many are stuck waiting for floor time.

When Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) tried to get two uncontroversial judges confirmed by unanimous consent last week, Republicans demanded hours of pointless debate. GOP lawmakers look set to mercilessly attack Debo Adegbile, the president’s talented choice to run the Justice Department’s civil rights team. In fact, the betting is that Republican senators, still smarting from Mr. Reid’s nuclear attack, will force the chamber to waste valuable time on all sorts of nominees.

Even with the filibuster neutered, that could hold up or effectively block many nominees from advancing. Republicans might have reason to be angry, but exacting revenge on well-qualified would-be public servants, particularly those who aren’t heading into lifetime judgeships, is toxic for the country and the sort of behavior that led to the deployment of the nuclear option to begin with.

The problem here is bigger than the partisan wars that get all the attention. Too many jobs are filled by presidential appointments, and too many of those require confirmation in the Senate, which only has so much floor time. That leads to too many layers between the federal bureaucracy and its leadership and to excessive caution from presidents, who are slow to nominate. Mr. Obama is certainly guilty of this; 13 ambassadorships, including the top diplomatic post in Cairo, are simply vacant.

One fix is to slim down the number of presidential appointments or at least the ones lawmakers must consider. The Senate did a bit of this last year in a bipartisan vote. Part of the price of going nuclear, though, is that the two parties are exceedingly unlikely to be able to agree on that sort of reform again anytime soon.

If Democratic leaders want to improve things, they can rely only on votes from within their party — and worry that they will further destabilize the institution by going it alone.

– The Washington Post

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: the ongoing face-off between the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, over the budget and the state of the economy, is another repulsive scenario. The Committee had asked the Minister to furnish it with answers to a set of fifty questions which the minister obliged it (the committee). At the weekend, however, the Committee, through its Chairman, Honourable Abdulmumini Jibrin, rejected the minister’s response, insisting that “some questions were either not answered, partially answered, ignored or completely misunderstood”. Consequent upon this, the minister has been sent another set of fifty questions and mandated to appear before the committee for further questioning.

This latest drama of the absurd is the ongoing fiasco involving the All Progressives Congress and the Federal Government in which the former justifiably directed its mem-

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Nigerian leaders must change their ways bers in the National Assembly to filibuster on debate regarding the 2014 Appropriation Bill. These two scenarios are intimately related half-truth is being presented to the public as the truth. Anyone who is familiar with the way members of the National Assembly, especially those of the lower house, have been conducting their affairs - particularly in regard to issues of finance cannot fail to note that the ostensible purpose of the so-called fifty questions is for Nigeria to have a more robust economy but the real goal, one can make bold to say, is self-service. In a House where some of the members have, at various times in the past, been incriminated

of ignoble financial crimes (remember Faruk Lawal?) and certificate forgery (remember Salisu Buhari?), and where there has never been probity and accountability in financial matters, what else does one expect but the present scenarios.

There is something not quite right in the present face-off. In one’s considered opinion, rather than the honourable minister, it is actually members of the House of Representative Committee on Finance that have questions to answer. If these so-called Honourable men are people with their honours intact indeed, they need to demonstrate to Nigerians first why they have to be taken seriously, and this has to

start with them telling us what they wish to achieve with these fifty questions. Yes, they have stated the purpose of these questions, but we know too that these questions raise issues that they themselves are also implicated in. He who comes to justice must come with clean hands, and he who leaves in glass house should throw no stones.

While it is true that the minister is the coordinator of the economy, it is also true that she is not alone in ensuring that the economy does not go to the dogs. The House of Representatives, through its Committee on Finance, ought to realize that Nigerians are not fools and cannot be hoodwinked into shifting

in awe-inspiring ways.

Though the Presidency may not have had a chummy relationship with the elder statesman over his past comments about certain policies of his administration, but the president nonetheless still hold him in high esteem. The Engineering Complex of the university was named after the current President and: Isn’t it a little curious that the man was the first to criticize Jonathan when he unsuccessfully changed the name of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University? Isn’t it also ironic that he has spoken against several policies of the current president? Even before Jonathan spoke national conference that is generating ripples across the land, Afe had said it and the President counted on some of his views.

He is known to be firm and transparently honest with his clients and associates. His natural ability to handle people is so inspiring that

even when he disagrees with them at meetings, he would disarm them with grace and wit. That is the reason he has had the rare privilege of hobnobbing with all the Presidents that have been ruling the country.

They associate with him; they curry his favour because they know he has the Midas touch. The late President Shehu Shagari asked him, after he won a celebrated case for the federal government, what he wanted in lieu of his legal fees.

Shagari had marveled at ‘how a man could turn down a whopping five million pounds in exchange for a university for his people in Ekiti.’

Afe told Shagari that he would forgo his fees of five million pounds if he (Shagari) could fulfil his heart desire of having a university in Ekiti, then a part of the old Ondo State. That was the first time Afe Babalola caught national attention.

From that point, successive Presidents had begged him to be part of their governments. When they

could not convince him to join the train, they appealed to him to recommend people of his choice to fill plum positions in government.

Even the late fiery General Sani Abacha was said to have sent emissaries to appeal to the legal giant to be the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice.

That stemmed from the respect he earned himself with his views.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as Nigeria’s President, also engaged him to gain political and legal mileage for his administration.

Perhaps nothing established the fact that Afe has won a place in the history of the nation’s giant-hood through educational advancement than the spectacle tagged the maiden convocation of ABUAD last year. What a celebration of a true patriot who came to make an indelible mark in his time!

• Kolawole Igandan is a media consultant and PR executive based in Lagos.

Afe Babalola: An icon with magnetic clout

IR: All Aare Afe Babalola - a quintessential legal practitioner and exemplary philanthropist of no mean order - ever wanted to be is the best! Loathe him, but you certainly can’t but admire his style. At the convocation of the first set of graduates of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who was personally present at the occasion spoke glowingly of the icon of law practice and first-class educationist whose institution is racing to compete with ivy-league institutions. At the commissioning, Jonathan said Afe’s feat was “notably one of the most outstanding individual contributions towards government educational project”. The visit by President Jonathan to the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), sometime ago, was just to keep a tradition that his predecessors had, for years, kept inviolate - honouring a man who has been touching lives

blames for the parlous state of the economy to the Finance Minister alone.

How accountable are these men?

How have they been expending the monies allocated to them for constituency projects and oversight functions? What can they say about the humongous amount being paid out to them every month in salaries and other emoluments, the bulk of which forms part of our recurrent expenditure? Can these men, in all honesty, wash themselves clean of the hushed allegation making the round that they routinely collect bribe in order to approve ministry budgets and other spending?

More crucial than the above is the question of morality. Here is an assembly with a shameful record of infamy. We cannot forget too soon the case of Honourable Farouk Lawan. We cannot forget too soon that this is a House where members have been routinely implicated in sundry cases of bribery leading to aborted investigation into corruption charges. How, pray, can this House consider itself morally upright enough to ask the minister the so-called fifty questions. It is all too glaring that these so-called fifty questions and other matters arising therein are related to the current impasse in the House over the Appropriation Bill, and this is rather unfortunate considering the selfserving overtone of the whole affair.

No nation can expect to be great if the leaders will always think that they can always pull the wool over the eyes of the citizenry. For sooner than later, it would be revealed that no matter for how long falsehood may have been travelling, it will take only a moment for the truth to catch up with it. A note of warning: Nigerians are watching. We are gearing up for a purge, and anyone caught in the vortex of our collective action will have only himself or herself to blame!

• Issachar Odion, a Post-graduate student lives in Abuja.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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COMMENTS

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International relations in historical perspective – 5

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 anticolonialism 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 Franco-British 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) anti-imperialism 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

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IKE her predecessors, she came to office with her people, who she planted in key areas of the aviation sector. These moles were are ears and eyes. They were the ones doing the dirty jobs for her whenever the need arose.

She came on board as Stella Ogiemwonyi, but in no time, she dropped her marital name for her maiden name. Nothing bad, you would say, since she had become estranged with her husband.

But that should have told us something about the former aviation minister. It should have told us that with her at the helm, the sector will not grow. Some seem to think that it grew under her watch because of what they call the fanciful changes she made at the terminals. But, I beg to disagree. What are these changes, which some writers have already dubbed as ''cosmetic''. They are the remodelling of 22 airports nationwide. It is good for our airports to look beautiful from outside, but the real beauty of those facilities lies in their working seamlessly.

By this, I mean getting the airports to function as airports, with little or no delay of passengers. As minister, Princess Oduah was less concerned about that, she was more concerned with using the airports to her own advantage under the guise of serving the national interest. Little wonder that she ran into trouble with experts in the sector.

She also got into trouble with the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation because of her pomposity.

what in the Reagan years was called constructive engagement which was a euphemism for support of racist oppression in South Africa.

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 Afro-Asian 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-forall 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 (19181970) 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 lead- Jide ers the feeling of some Osuntokun 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 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 (1894-1971) 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.

•Concluded

‘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’

Stella Oduah's swan song She was full of herself, yet she knew nothing about aviation. Perhaps, since she is into oil and gas, she must know something about Jet A1 , the aviation fuel, which planes use. Besides that, I do not think that she is that conversant with that beat. All she needed do as minister was to look for those with the technical know how to guide her.

Rather than do that, she elected for those who worked with her on Neighbour2Neighbour (N2N), one of the groups, which campaigned vigorously for President Goodluck Jonathan's election in 2011.

As the face of N2N, Oduah was all over the place, spending money as if it was going out of fashion and many of those in power were ever ready to lend a hand. Some National Assembly members were not left out in the binge. These lawmakers benefited heavily when Oduah became aviation minister on July 2, 2011. Assessing her tenure appears difficult because there is nothing tangible to point to as her achievement, except, if you like, the remodelling of airports, which she solely undertook.

The money for the project, according to those who should know came from the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) fund, which had accrued over the years, ever before she became minister. The fund is in the care of any serving aviation minister and the person can do whatever he or she likes

‘Those who say this minister is going, their nightmares have just begun. This minister is going nowhere. I am your minister today; I am your minister tomorrow. Perhaps, she meant to say : I was your minister yesterday’

with it. If the person decides to plant flowers in all the nation's airports with the money, so be it since he is the alpha and omega as far as the money is concerned.

Oduah had a field day, spending the money on beautifying airports, which failed to serve the purpose they were built for. What is an aviation minister for when airlines treat passengers shabbily? What is an aviation minister for when the regulatory agencies cannot do their jobs the way they should? What is an aviation minister for when security remains porous at the airports despite their so-called aesthetic beauty, which is making some people swoon over her? Last month, some experts gathered in Lagos to dissect the aviation sector under Oduah's watch.

Their verdict was an indictment of the sector. They said the heat generated over the N255million bullet proof cars bought for Oduah by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was a tip of the iceberg when looking at the rot in the sector. The sector, they said, was in bad shape and needed a surgical knife.

It seems their prayers were answered, with the sacking of Oduah last Wednesday. Before her sack, she was planning, among others, to make Aero Contractor the national carrier, without considering the implications for the economy. She had tidied up things before the hammer fell on her. We pray that her predecessor will not make the mistake of going that way.

At the Aviation Round Table (ART), the president of Sabre Travel Network, Mr Gbenga Olowo, advocated that three airlines be designated as flag carriers, adding that they should have a combined fleet capacity of at least, 30 aircraft, which

should be expanded to 50 in three years. He described as ''fundamentally flawed'' Oduah's plan to designate Aero Contractor, in which the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has 60 percent equity, as national carrier. ''Such an airline with limited capacity and weak structure cannot compete favourably in the increasingly competitive global industry'', he said.

Former Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Rowland Iyayi lamented that the NCAA cannot meet its oversight responsibility and sufficiently train its technical personnel. Yet, Oduah spent over two years in office and saw no need to address this critical issue. Iyayi said : ''Airlines are not making profit because the fabric of infrastructure in the industry is not yet what it should be. Even aviation fuel is taxed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). ''Even the NCAA cannot pay its bills to carry out a thorough oversight of airlines. Imagine airlines paying the travel bills of NCAA aircraft inspectors, who travel abroad to inspect aircraft. It appears to me that the NCAA is completely docile. The NCAA has to fight to get its autonomy because the law provides for that''. But can the NCAA lift a finger when its leadership is at the beck and call of the minister? Isn't it the same agency that cannot pay its bill that bought two armoured cars for Oduah for N255million?

With her exit, it will be interesting to know where these cars are now. duah could not have done more than she did at the aviation ministry. She was not equipped for the job; she was put there as compensation for her

O

Lawal Ogienagbon

lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

role in the president's election in 2011. This is a sad commentary on our nation, which is so blessed, but yet goes for its third eleven in manning key political posts. She should have been sacked long before now having realised that we put the wrong foot forward in posting her to that ministry. Oduah signed her sack warrant during what she called a Stakeholders' Buy In on her pet aviation master plan.

She spoke as if the aviation ministry was her private property at the event held in Lagos between January 26 and 29. Thinking that the controversy over the armoured cars had died down, she thundered before a bewildered audience : ''Those who say this minister is going, their nightmares have just begun. This minister is going nowhere. I am your minister today; I am your minister tomorrow...'' And her proteges clapped wildly to cheer her on.

Perhaps, she meant to say : I was your minister yesterday. By the way, what happened to her claim that she was shot at in her car in the heat of her probe over the armoured cars? Are the police still investigating the case? Yeye dey smell.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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COMMENTS

I

N A Multi ethnic nation where the dominant ethnic groups and their political leaders try to outwit each other using the minority as pawns to guarantee their hold on to power and where the leadership of the minority group often behave like a woman with three husbands to the detriment of their impoverished people on whose behalf they pretend to flirt, I really don’t see anything wrong in president Jonathan motor of ‘if you don’t trust others, how do you expect others to trust you?’ I think the problem is not this politics of subterfuge, but the president penchant to delegate and abdicate responsibilities to those who we now know are not driven by altruism.

For President Jonathan, his trusted friends can hardly err. They are beyond reproach. If perchance they, either as governors or ministers are involved in what , Augustus Aihkomu, Babangida.s vice, termed ‘misapplication of funds’ as against misappropriation, and got indicted by the judiciary or house committee probe, they will be given a presidential amnesty to enable them, in the words of Doyin Okupe, ‘continue to contribute to the development of their nation’. The president is therefore slow to action no matter the degree of malfeasance of his trusted friends such as Petroleum minister Alison Maduakwe, and NNPC Andrew Yakubu the Nigeria new oil wizards and the minister of Finance who often talks and acts as if she is doing Nigeria a favour by climbing down from World Bank to be our minister of Finance.

The president shields his friends .That the petroleum ministry, PPPRA presided over the theft of about N1.7 trillion, that Okonjo Iweala paid those who in the words of Audu Ogbe, a former PDP chairman, never imported a bottle of fuel’, even after arrogantly telling Nigerians she needed to pay those who imported fuel on behalf of government, that Otedola was culpable for inducing Lawan Farouk with bribe, count for little because they are the president trusted friends.

Sanusi Lamido, the outgoing CBN governor is not one of the president trusted friends.

This is why I think his current crusade against the president men which started with a private memo to the president blowing the whistle about unremitted 49.8 billion dollars to the federation account was initially ignored.

When the letter was finally leaked to the press after three months, an irritated president was alleged to have tried to force Sanusi to resign.

A reconciliation meeting of CBN, NNPC and

Sanusi vs NNPC: governance through delegation by abdication ministry of petroleum later confirmed #10.8 billion was ‘unreconciled’ according to Ngozi Iweala, the finance minister. The Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deizani Alison-Madueke, and the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Andrew Yakubu claimed the original 10. 8 billion dollars which was the shortfall they admitted existed as at July 2013 was spent as follows: NNPC withheld 8. 76 billion dollars for subsidy, 0. 4599 billion as holding cost of strategic reserve and 0.761 billion as pipeline crude oil and product losses.

But Sanusi insists such expenditure without appropriation by the national assembly was illegal. Besides, the Yar Adua administration having discovered the whole kerosene claim was a scam had by a memo signed by his Principal Secretary, Mr. David Edevbie on June 15, 2009 given a directive to stop the so called subsidy on kerosene. Sanusi presented evidence of the directive. The petroleum minister however has no counter directive even from president Jonathan .Trying to pass the buck; she said she wasn’t a minister in 2009 as if government is not continuity. She then hazards a guess. Those who flouted the directive probably did so because according to her kerosene is for the use of the poor.

Her argument ignores the fact that the subsidy was stopped by Yar Adua because it was discovered if anyone was benefitting from the scam call kerosene subsidy, it was the mar-

T

HE wave of condemnations, veiled insults and intimidating projections coming from the United States of America and her European allies concerning Africa’s position on homosexuality and same sex unions is one thorny issue that should be settled at an international jaw-jaw. Each nation could pass laws that uphold their respective positions but any law that makes a demand for men to carry pregnancies for an equal number of months with women would be a trespass.

It was our communal harmony and family ties that helped us to survive the brutal effects of the trans-Saharan slave era when the Arabs came calling and it was the same resource that helped to repair the devastating after-effects of the transAtlantic slave trade. The export of 20 million slaves aged between 14 and 45 in that era was a deadly blow to our family structure and communal harmony in West Africa and the ripple effects of the loss is incalculable. Slave trade eventually gave way to Apartheid and colonialism that were perfumed forms of the same evils in disguise. These re-branded forms of cruelty simply resumed the corrosion of Africa’s family and community assets in the attempt to destroy the man of colour.

Africa need not be diplomatic to remind the United States of America that she played prominent roles in most of these events and the records still show that USA was present at the Berlin Conference in 1884 flanked by 13 European nations at the table of wickedness where Africa was carved up into digestible colonial portions. Not one single African was present when families, communities and tribal nations were shredded into unstable territories. That table of injustice manufactured unstable, mongrel African nations that could produce nothing else but colonial service. It would not take a genius to see that the consistent thread that runs through the history of Africa’s relationship with the western world has been a one-sided string of exploitation, condescension and abusive denigration.

The studied concern of the United States for the global propagation of gay marriages could be processed as a well-thoughtout policy to further its age-old agenda in the continent of Africa and the nation of Nigeria in particular. Africa is still

‘No matter how efficient science has been it has not even scratched the surface in answering the basic questions of life and death! Perhaps the USA is unaware that homosexual acts made their advent in Africa as part of demonic rituals’

keters and government officials and not the poor. And to further demonstrate the arbitrariness of that president has delegated power to, the minister said Yar Adua’s directive was never gazeted. It will appear under Jonathan presidency, trusted ministers can unilaterally decide initiate and implement policies, and flout presidential directives because they are not ‘gazeted’ and move on to spend 8 million dollars a day on phantom subsidy.

But The CBN was not done. He has further claimed that 20 billion dollars was yet to be accounted for. The Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has at the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the alleged missing 20 billion dollars also admitted there ‘is ‘a puzzle over unremitted funds to the CBN’ which she would like an independent forensic audit to resolve. “Our judgment is that a proper examination of these documents requires technical expertise beyond the capacity of the reconciliation team.”Therefore, we believe we should have an independent forensic audit to manage these submissions,” But not too long ago NNPC and the supervising ministry of petroleum said Sanusi as a banker lacked the capacity to understand accounting processes. Suddenly we are been told there is a need for a forensic expert to trace humongous 20billion dollars.

The chairman of the committee, Ahmed Makarafi, has even added another dimension.

Apart from the forensic audit by the reconciliation group, he said that the committee would reconvene on Feb. 20 to enable the Attorney General of Federation to give a legal advice on the issue.

But what has become apparent so far is that the president trusted friends spent over N500 billion within four years purportedly on kerosene which was hardly available at filling stations and if when available sold for about N150 as against government N50 controlled price. For over four years the government appeared impotent unable to meet the demand of consumers or sanction those who sell above the advertised subsidised rate.

The president burden is immense. But I am not sure if delegation by abdication and seeking refuge in church can lighten the president burden. Last Sunday following the massacre of about 109 of our compatriots by those who are probably not Nigerians in the besieged Bornu state after the initial killing of 52 innocent Nigerians and an ambush of eight soldiers all within one week, the commander in chief was in RCC church in Banana Island Lagos, to thank Christians for their prayers, claiming it would have been worse but for their prayers and that of other Nigerians. Our revered pastor Adeboye prophesied that Nigeria would be great. Of course there is perhaps no other time our nation needs more prayers and prayers warriors than now, but I think it will be more symbolic if we try to identify more with our suffering brothers by carrying the crusade to their besieged cities and villages.

‘But not too long ago NNPC and the supervising ministry of petroleum said Sanusi as a banker lacked the capacity to understand accounting processes. Suddenly we are been told there is a need for a forensic expert to trace humongous 20billion dollars’

Gay marriages: Won’t they leave Africa alone?

By Ladi Thompson

smarting from so called reports that HIV started from African jungles where men supposedly mated with apes when we all know that the true origin of the incurable HIV disease is obvious. In the absence of basic medical healthcare, the HIV scourge is decimating African nations while American and European communities are managing to contain the spread with superior scientific prowess and administration.

Anyone can do the math! If it were indeed true that Africa was the home of the HIV virus our oral history records would have been full of massive death reports across our communities yet the patterns we have seen since the HIV virus was injected into Africa are unprecedented.

We truly need an old-fashioned palaver to let the United States and their Europeans collaborators know that we are not ignorant of the disdain with which we are regarded. Africa has hoped in vain that days when we were hounded, sold and dehumanized were over. It’s obvious that the impressions formed in the days when we were caged in zoological exhibitions alongside monkeys and orangutans to provide entertainment for the white world have never gone away.

Why on earth would anyone attempt to chastise Africa for protecting the core of its existence? Why would we throw away the ancient definition of family that worked for us even before we ever set eyes on the first European? No sensible (African) farmer would ever pen male goats in isolation of the females in the pursuit of pleasure. Homosexuality and same sex unions are an aberration that our cultural filters never accepted in ancient times because of the evil it portrayed to our values. The African farmer that gave up his all to recover his young son in the film “Blood Diamonds” is a good demonstration of how attached we are to the safety of children. When stripped of all its drapery, the United States campaign for homosexual and same sex marriages is nothing but the promotion of pleasure seekers above human responsibility. We stand to be corrected but the major difference between the proposed unions and established gender based fraternities is primarily the denial of permission for the male penis to be inserted into another males’ rectum or anus! Africa wants to know why the so-called love between same sex partners has to stray into aberrant expressions. We do not

have to graduate as medical doctors to observe that the human body was not designed to function that way.

The USA may have discovered ways to reconstruct the anal passage after brutalization but Africa cannot afford such violations. Africa cannot afford to put pleasure above communal responsibility and the initiation of gullible children into counter-productive aberrations is not something our continent can survive. We have not seen ample proof that homosexuality is a norm it seems to be more of a product of spiritual engineering and emotional indoctrination.

At the jaw-jaw, we could work out a solution where those who vote for this new dream should be given the opportunity to aggregate in the USA and Europe till they form a majority! Time would do the rest.

Africa too has a few things it can teach the rest of the world. Is it possible that the West spends millions of dollars searching for extra terrestrial life forms not observing that there are invisible life forms around us here in the Earth? Some of the things that Africa observes in the western world are consistent with the activities of demonic beings!

No matter how efficient science has been it has not even scratched the surface in answering the basic questions of life and death! Perhaps the USA is unaware that homosexual acts made their advent in Africa as part of demonic rituals.

Africa has learnt her lessons and nothing will ever take us back into human sacrifices, cannibalism or any form of devil worship disguised as pleasure. The only world power that lasted as long as 3,000 years was housed in Africa and we will tell you that its greatest secret was the copious human blood shed that was offered to malevolent deities in exchange for power. Satanic rituals usually demand acts that demean the human form and assault our dignity. We really need this palaver to find out whether America has found a way to impregnate men so that we can relax our vigilance.

Who knows what might come next? Perhaps men should be given permission to marry donkeys? It is part of a moneymaking ritual in Africa! One thing is however certain – Africa will not stand by and surrender to the destruction of her children.

• Pastor Ladi Peter Thompson, Conflict Resolution Consultant

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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COMMENTS

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Nigeria: Learn this lesson and survive

IGERIA could soon break up. As things stand today, if anybody thinks that Nigeria is not about to break up, he is deceiving himself. I don’t mean secession by this or that nationality. I mean actual dispersal of Nigeria’s many nationalities.

Anybody who takes time to observe all the quiet goings-on in the political life of our country now can easily see it. It is self-evident; it is not rocket science.

But I believe that Nigeria can be saved – that Nigeria can survive, and go on from there to prosper in the world. The country called India offers us a very useful lesson. If we learn that lesson and use it, we can save our country.

First, here is the background. India was, like Nigeria, created by the British. It was the largest British protectorate in Asia – in the same way that Nigeria was the largest British protectorate in Africa. Both Nigeria and India contain very many nationalities (otherwise known as “linguistic nations” in India) – Nigeria contains nearly 300 nationalities, India about 2000. At the independence of India in 1947, India was a “federation” designed by the British overlords. The British had created the Indian Federation merely for “administrative convenience”; the states or federating units of the federationwere arbitraryblocks territories based on administrative convenience – without any deference to the nationalities. The nationalities were grouped or split irrationally.

Like the India of 1947, the Nigeria of 1960 (at independence) was also a federation designed by the British for administrative convenience – without deference to the nationalities. The nationalities were grouped arbitrarily into three Regions, and some nationalities were split up along the boundaries of the three Regions. When many nationalities cried out against this irrational treatment, the British rulers answered that they were not willing to change anything – and that Nigerians themselves could tackle the problem after independence. Since independence in 1960, the Nigerians (civilian politicians and military dictators) who have controlled the powers of the Federal Government, have just followed the example of the British – by creating states for administrative and ulterior political considerations, and by irrationally grouping and splitting our nationalities.

Therefore, the Nigerian federation of 2014 is, unfortunately,still almost exactly like the Indian federation of 1947.

Worse still, as Nigerian rulers have created smaller, weaker and poorer states, they have reasoned that these states are too weak to hold much power or responsibility, and they have consequently grabbed all power, all resources, and all resource control in our country, and heaped everything in the hands of the Federal Government. The Federal Government has therefore become a sick and unrestrained monster, mud-swimming insanely in limitless power and money, barging into everything and anything according to its whims and caprices, dragging all efficiency down, generating corruption, distorting electoral and judicial processes all over our country, and breeding hideous poverty. With the poverty grew crimes, insecurity, various species of conflicts, and now, terrorism. Today, most Nigerians have had enough – and Nigeria is about to implode.

Parts of India (the far northern provinces which became Pakistan and Bangladesh) broke away soon after 1947. After that, the rest of India continued to shake; many nationalities wanted to break away. Today, Nigeria is shaking, and many nationalities want to break away. But Indians took action and saved their country. We Nigerians can save Nigeria too – simply by doing what the Indians did.

Here is what the Indians did. Many Indians began to advocate that their federation should be restructured in such a way as to show respect to the nationalities, and make the nationalities happyto be members of the Indian federation. Most of the biggest politicians opposed this, claiming that it would only lead to the breaking up of the country.

The Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, threatened that if it was adopted he would resign.

But the proposal grew more and more popular, more andmore intense. Finally, by 1953, the country accepted it. Nehru did not resign.

D

Of mis-interpretations and mischief-making

URING the colonial period, the white overloads held certain wrong notions and assumptions about the African continent. Assumptions that had no proof for its basis. For instance, it was the whiteman’s general assumption the native people of Africa had no history. This they arrived at because they did not find any written documentations on the lives and activities of the people. However, theYoruba people, for example, excelled in the oral documentation of the people’s history cum social and cultural heritage and passed these down from generation to generation.

Thus, from this basis of wrong assumption flowed other historical gaffe of the colonial masters. This was how the colonialist wrote our history for us in the early period of our life. Even after the exit of the colonial masters, this bias record of history still continue.

The media has not helped matters in this regard because of its faus pax or social blunder in relation to reportage over the re-classification of schools in the State of Osun.

Since this issue came to the public domain, the seeming apparent lack of total understanding of the issues involved by the public is apparent. Many were hypocritical in their criticism, leaving the substances of their argument – that is if there is even any substance in what the say – and resulted to ad hominem (attacking personality) in philosophical critical thinking and reasoning. Some arguments of columnists including Bisi Lawrence, Bishop Mike Bamidele and Bola Bolawole smacked of hypocrisy and manifest hollowness. Their unfortunate critique signposted a people somehow confused ab initio. Hence their lack of understanding of issues they write about.

Mr. Lawrence, writing in the Vanguard of Saturday, February 15 on page 14, reproved Governor Rauf Aregbesola for “his (Aregbesola) fervour for the promotion of his religious preferences as a devoted Muslim.”

He also said the governor has inclination towards favouring his religion openly. Bishop Mike Bamidele has a different grouse against the governor- And that is regarding the purported recognition accorded traditional religion by Aregbesola in the state. He said: “Aregbesola should tread softly on religious issues in the state and should be cautioned

By Kunle Owolabi against promoting traditional religion above other religions in the state.” According to the bishop, the introduction of traditional religion is ‘Biblically evil’.

For Bola Bolawole, the issue of ijab came up because some Muslims wanted to profit from the fact that a Muslim is now the governor. He wrote in his piece in Sunday Tribune of February 16, thus “My suspicion is that it is the recognition by some Muslims of their political ascendancy in the south-west and their resolve to take advantage of it.”

Taken one by one, Does Bisi Lawrence want the governor to hide his religion because he is a governor? Does being a governor condemn one to practise his religion in secret corners of his office or home? Is Mr Lawrence saying that the deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, a firebrand Christian (of Mountain of Fire Ministry hue) should stop parading herself in the public as a Christian?

And by extension, is he suggesting that over two-third members of Osun state executive members stop answering to being Christians in the public? I do not think so. Even Section 38(1)of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria expressly provided an individual’s freedom to practice his religion in public. The subsection states: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.’’

Public or private underlined by this writer as enshrined in the constitution. Thus, Mr Lawrence has no argument other than the fact that he just raised a pure resentment as everyone is free to manifest his religion in public.

Coming to Bishop Bamidele’s grouse, one does not know how to respond because of the slipshod manner he presented his case. He started by accusing the governor of recognising traditional religion which he described

A National Commission was set up to look into the matter and to advise the country.

The Commission recommended the following: First, that the nationalities should be respected, and that no nationality should be split by any boundary in the federation. Secondly that the larger nationalities should each form a state. Third, that the small and contiguous nationalities in various parts of the country should negotiate among them and form states (no nationality was to be pushed into any state; the nationalities that agreed to form a state would negotiate the constitution of their state, thereby respecting the integrity and rights of every nationality). Fourth, that a lot of powers should be devolved to the states from the Federal Government to make the states strong, and that, in revenue allocation, the states should receive much more than the Federal Government.

The process of devolution resulted in the following list of “exclusive” powers for the states: public order; police; education; local government; roads and transport; agriculture; land and land revenue; forests; fisheries; industry and trade; state Public Service Commissions; and Courts (except the Supreme Court of India).It also laid down a”Concurrent List”, on which the states and the center wouldboth have power to make laws. This list includes criminal laws and their administration; economic and social planning; commercial and industrial monopolies; shipping and navigation on the inland waterways; drugs; ports; courts and civil procedures. The Federal (or Union) Government was given powers over such subjects as defence, foreign policy, inter-state commerce, the Supreme Court, etc. In revenue allocation, the states were given a percentage much larger than that of the Federal Government.

Today, it is 85% for the states and 15% for the Federal Government.

An Indian scholar and statesman, S.D. Muni, has described the effects of this careful restructuring as follows: “The elaborate structure of

as evil. Mid way he veered off, accusing the governor of promoting traditional religion over and above other religions. Where do we place his argument: against the traditional religion or Aregbesola, who he alleged of promoting the traditional religion over other religions? We have had this repeated for the umpteenth time.

It all started with the erroneous news that Aregbesola wanted to Islamise the state. Now the allegation has changed. Going by his argument, people like Bishop Bamidele are saying that Aregbesola, a Muslim, is now attempting to convert people of the state into traditional religion worshippers instead of Islamising it. How absurd this sounds!

Bolawole’s own line of argument is the most outlandish, absurd and laughable of them all for it carries no seed of truth within it however small. A habitual fault-finder anyway, Bolawole simply whipped up sentiments and predicted chaos if nothing is quickly done to arrest a burning situation. What better role could he play than a doomsday prophet!

The critical question begging for an answer is: How and in what manner does the governor dabble into or promote a (not necessarily his own alone now) religion over another? Is it in spoken words, deeds or policies? Indeed, by extension, Aregbesola’s appearance, he portrays a conscious Muslim. Particularly by his beard. Does this pose any threat to anyone? Or has he invited others or sought to convert others by wearing his beard? One, the conflict over the use of Ijab in schools in the state predates the present government.

Two, the matter started in 2004 during the tenure of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Three, why there was no noise between the two principal religions over the ijab was because the matter was dragged to court. Up till now, the matter is before the court and yet to be decided. Three, since he came to power in 2010, Aregbesola has not made a single policy statement on the use or non-use of ijab. The reason is not far fetched. The governor recognises the fact that the matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction and could not be com-

Gbogun gboro power devolution has combined with the linguistic basis of federal unity to facilitate the management of cultural diversity in India and to help mitigate pulls towards separatism and disintegration”. Muni adds thatboth at the federal and state levels, Indians are dedicated to “a consciously followed approach to preserve and promote the cultural specificities of diverse groups”, and that that “has helped such groups identify with the national mainstream”. Finally, the health of the whole structure has been greatly helped by the fact that Indians have consciously remained loyal to the integrity of their democratic institutions and to democratic politics.

That is it. Surely we Nigerians are able to take these same steps and save our country.

In the coming National Conference, we should restructure our federation along the same lines. We should establish effective measures for upholding democratic politics in our country, the integrity of our elections, and the handling of our public accounts. These steps will surely benefit our country, our states, our nationalities, our institutions, and all of us Nigerians. They cannot conceivably hurt any Nigerian nationality or group. Therefore, hopefully, no Nigerian nationality or group will, at the National Conference, put up a resistance to them. I fear that if any nationality or group resists these measures at the National Conference, Nigeria might quickly evaporate on the spot. I fervently hope not.

mented upon by anybody. Making statement on matter before the honourable court amounts to subjudice.

What transpired in Baptist Boys high School Iwo is purely the handiwork of some disgruntled politicians who are hell bent on creating crisis so as to pave way for a state of emergency to be declared in the state before election. The crisis is all about August 6, 2014 election in the state. Pure and simple. It suffices therefore to say that those cry over school reclassification are doing so because of the success of the reform and one which has negative impact on their political ambitions.

One will apparently stand logic on its head to judge a policy as failure if one out of over 1, 900 schools in the state ostensibly chose to be erring. Besides, of over 2, 800 students in Baptist High School, Iwo, not more than 250 out of over 1, 700 Muslim girls wear ijab.

Those stoking the ember of anarchy have their own ulterior motives. Having tried and failed to gain foothold in the political space of Osun, they resorted to playing religious card so as to divide the united people of the state.

• Owolabi wrote from Osogbo, Osun state.

‘How absurd this sounds!

Bolawole’s own line of argument is the most outlandish, absurd and laughable of them all for it carries no seed of truth within it however small.

A habitual fault-finder anyway, Bolawole simply whipped up sentiments and predicted chaos if nothing is quickly done to arrest a burning situation. What better role could he play than a doomsday prophet!’

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination-Computer Based Test (UTME-CBT) suffered technical flaws at its maiden outing last year. But, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says there is no going back on its plan to abolish the Pencil and Paper Test (PPT) for CBT next year.

Stakeholders believe JAMB’s ongoing sensitisation campaign is not enough because many candidates seem to be in the dark about the CBT. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, MEDINAT KANABE AND SAMPSON UNAMKA report.

•Some the students sitting for the CBT at the FCE (T), one of the trial testing centres.

PHOTO: MEDINAT KANABE

JAMB: Selling the computer-based test

T

HE two-year grace given intending Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates to become conversant with the use of computer lapses next year. Ahead of its expiration, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has begun a sensitisation and awareness campaign on its Computer Based Test (CBT), which is the writing of the UTME via the

computer.

For now, the CBT and the Pencil and Paper Test (PPT) are used in writing the exam. This year, according to the JAMB, 70 per cent of candidates would sit for the CBT; 30 per cent for PPT. JAMB prefers CBT because, it believes, the method is foolproof and can forestall fraud. It can also ensure that candidates who pass the examination are screened and their abilities guaranteed after their

INSIDE

Edo workers threaten strike over 920 sacked teachers -Page 27

Old boys visit alma mater 50 years after -Page 47

admission.

But, Nigerians, especially candidates, appear not convinced about JAMB's ability to live up to its promise in the face of epileptic power supply, malfunctioning computers, poor communication network and other logistics defects that attended the maiden edition last year.

Investigation revealed that most candidates opted for the CBT not because they were willing, but

because they had no choice.

At the introduction of CBT for last year’s UTME, JAMB Registrar Prof Dibu Ojerinde said the method would improve the marking system, produce the raw scores of each candidate immediately after the examination, and forestall examination fraud.

For now, Ojerinde said candidates with phobia for CBT still have the PPT and the other options where questions would be presented on

CAMPUS LIFE ‘Drop the books and lace the boots’ -Page 29

the computers and answers on paper.

Despite hailing the initiative, students and instructors are complaining about what they call the poor enlightenment of PPT, to differences in the dates of examinations across states, to the likely malfunctioning of computers, or the three-hour duration of the examination, which • Continued on Page 26

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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EDUCATION ‘Comply with cash-less policy or lose subventions’

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•Fromleft: Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof Junaid Mohammed; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr MacJohn Nwabiala; Supervising Minister of Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike; his Information counterpart, Mr Labaran Maku; Senator Barnabas Gamade, former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet, and Registrar, NECO, Prof Promise Opara, during the public presentation of 2013 Federal Ministry of Education yearly report in Abuja.

JAMB: Selling the computer-based test • Continued from Page 25

some described as 'too short' for beginners compared to the expertise of those that will man the biometric device, and many more.

Last year, the UTME-CBT was mired in controversy, but JAMB says it has substantially addressed the problem.

For instance, the problem arising from the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) digital centre used by JAMB for the UTMECBT last year, which server was disrupted by power outage while candidates were writing the examination.

According to investigation, a verbal war ensued between a director of the centre and a JAMB official during the exam. Trouble began when candidates could not log in after a power outage. The YABATECH representative blamed JAMB for a shoddy preparation, calling the CBT “rubbish.” This infuriated the JAMB official, who accused YABATECH of providing a malfunctioning server. The scenario nearly degenerated into fist-cuff.

In another hall within YABATECH, an electricity spark affected some of the computers and candidates, who had already logged on, were relocated to another hall to finish their examinations.

On its ongoing nationwide campaign, JAMB visited Lagos State last week, on a testing mission, with some senior secondary school pupils drawn from Lagos schools, to allay their fears about the CBT. At the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Akoka, Lagos Mainland, the 'candidates' had their biometic data captured

by JAMB biometric operators, given registration numbers and assigned one hour to write the CBT. The students were enlightened on how to access questions online, 'navigate' (move from one subject to the other); how to submit their answers and be time conscious among other measures.

JAMB Assistant Director, Test

Development Department, Abuja, Mr Darius Azige was of the hope that the experiment would fare better in the forthcoming examination.

He said JAMB has already earmarked six centres in Lagos where the CBT will be done.

"What we are doing is a kind of advocacy and sensitisation of students. We want to reach out to parents, candidates and Nigerians.

There were attempts last year, but this year, we expect more candidates to register for CBT. When they say the UTME would be a computer based examination, parents and candidates were worried, but the fact is that CBT is the easiest examination. Even if you are computer illiterate you can in 15 minutes learn how to write the exams on computer.

"But in Nigeria when you talk about computer, people fear. We are in the age of computer and if we don't embrace it now, when will we do that? It is time we caught up with development, why should we be left behind?" Azinge asked.

JAMB Chief Technical Officer, Lagos Mr Ajetunmobi Olalekan, who accompanied the team spoke on the trial testing.

"We want to know the kind of problems we are going to encounter and how to go about solving them. We are not putting the students under any serious pressure. The biometric operators that are here are going to be trained on how to operate the biometric machine on the day of the examination.

"The problems we had last year were minor and were not in all the centres. In many centres there were no problems at all, I don't think there will be any problems this year.

"The intention is for those who are here is to tell their parents and friends what the examinations actually involve. It is not something to be afraid of after all, most universities do their Post-UTME through computer," he said.

Despite the supposed massive campaign, it appears candidates are still disillusioned about the CBT.

HE Ogun State government has warned that any government-owned tertiary institution which fails to adhere to the cash-less policy will, henceforth, lose its subvention.

At its weekly State Executive Council meeting on Monday, the government said full compliance with the state government's cash-less policy by the institutions would be a pre-condition for the release of government’s subvention due to it, according to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu.

In a statement in Abeokuta, Olaniyonu said: "Any state government-owned tertiary institution found to have wilfully contravened the cash-less policy of the state government shall forfeit the subvention due it for the period of non-compliance, with immediate effect."

The decision, Olaniyonu said, became necessary because of the wilful circumvention of the policy by some institutions, which if left unchecked, have dire consequences.

He revealed that the state government, which spends N600 million monthly (N7.2 billion per year) on subventions to its tertiary institutions had in September 1, 2012 started the cash-less policy for revenue collection in all the institutions, adding that "to date, all

Candidates ‘I am scared of the examinations because of what my friends told me. They said if I stayed on a question for too long, another question will come up and you won't be able to answer the previous one again. They also told me that I have to finish one subject before I go to another one. We don't even have an idea on how the examination would be. We need to be shown and taught how to do the examination’

JAMB ‘When they say the UTME would be a computer-based examination, parents and candidates were worried, but the fact is that CBT is the easiest examination.

Even if you are computer illiterate, you can in 15 minutes learn how to write the exams on computer.

But in Nigeria when you talk about computer, people fear. We are in the age of computer and if we don't embrace it now, when will we do that’

Akinbohun Adedotun, a pupil of Brain Builders Academy, Okota branch, Lagos, said he chose CBT option because there was no more space for the PPP examination in Lagos as at the time he registered.

Adedotun, however, has no fear about the CBT, basing his confidence on the computer training he acquired while at the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos.

A candidate, Inuejulawo Yetunde, spoke on her fear.

"I am scared of the CBT examination. JAMB should have trained us before the examination.

We need orientation. I cannot use the computer to do the examination,” she said.

Her view was corroborated by Emmanuel Martins. "I don't like the CBT examination. They should cancel it. Nigeria is not yet developed for it. We are rushing things too much. Let us go back to PPT," he said.

Another candidate, Omotola Ajayi lamented that the CBTs are becoming one too many.

"The CBT examination should be for the Post-UTME alone. We are made to pass through so many examinations, yet they are

introducing the CBT. They should hold on for now and let us do only the PPT. I cannot use the computer to do examinations.

"I am scared of the examinations because of what my friends told me,” said Haharat Badmus. "They said if I stayed on a question for too long, another question will come up and you won't be able to answer the previous one again.

They also told me that I have to finish one subject before I go to another one. We don't even have an idea on how the examination would be. We need to be shown and taught how to do the examination."

Another candidate, Chijioke Ukaegbu said: "For me I registered on time so I am writing wit PPT, I don't support the idea of CBT because some students are not computer inclined and it will definitely lead to poor results. I will advise that we continue with the PPP format that we usually have" Rotimi Olatunji, another candidate, said: "I expect the JAMB ‘s conduct of examination of last year to be better than this year's and concerning the CBT and PPT, I will advise that we should be educated more on the process,

By Adegunle Olugbamila

the 11 tertiary institutions had complied as compliance is a precondition for the continued receipt of subvention.

"The thrust of the cashless policy is not just to account for revenue collected and block all leakages, but more importantly, to assist the state Ministry of Finance in developing an accurate and sustainable financial model for each tertiary institution.

Under the policy, all revenue items of the tertiary institutions are to be collected and accounted for using an electronic platform.

"The implementation of the policy in all tertiary institutions of government has resulted in unprecedented increase in the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the tertiary institutions covered.

The IGR rose from N4, 363,806,432 in Year 2012 to N8,221,001,069 in 2013, representing 88.5 per cent increase as a result of the reform," Olaniyonu stated.

Aside facilitating budgetary planning, cash-less policy, Olaniyonu noted that the implementation has afforded management of tertiary institutions prompt access to automated funds for speedy project execution on campuses and control over students admission and management.

• JAMB Ojerinde

Registrar

Prof

Dibu

because last year several of my friends, who took the CBT complained of their inability to change answers they had already picked, so I would like those in charge to expose us to the process of CBT examinations."

Joan Jimoh, who finished from Model College, Igbokuta, Ikorodu, Lagos said he smelt a rat because of alterations in CBT examinations.

She said: "To me, I don't like the idea of CBT over PPT and my reason is because it's not written on the same day. Some of us will write the CBT on April 5, while some in May or June or even July. With the way I see things, students can go around telling their friends were to read for the examination, because they got the chance to write it earlier than their friends. On the other hand, JAMB cannot keep changing these questions. I believe they have selected questions for each year. So, before they can get new questions it will be next year."

Kareem Olanrewaju, a teacher with private school said he prefers the CBT. Nonetheless, he said his experience with the students showed that many still prefer the PPT. • Continued on Page 27

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

Edo workers threaten strike over 920 sacked teachers

ACE FILE

Needs Assessment team visits ACE Four members of the Presidential Committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Colleges of Education (PCNANPCE) have visited the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo.

Led by Prof. Aliyu Yusuf, other members of the team included Mr. Ishaq Sai, Mrs. Ayodele B. A. and Mr. Ukeje Arinze.

Addressing some senior staff in the institution, which comprised officers, Yusuf said the team was in the institution, to ascertain the needs of the college and verify the state of its infrastructure and human resources.

He also said the team's mission is not to engage in any investigation or witch-hunting, but on a fact finding mission, with a view to fashioning out ways, through which the education sector could be salvaged from collapse.

School honours provost THE Provost of the College, Prof.

Adeyemi Ibukunoluwa Idowu, has been received the 'Architect of Modern Demonstration School'' award by the Adeyemi College of Education Demonstration Secondary School (ACEDSS), Ondo.

The school gave the award last month while marking its 20th Founder's Day anniversary.

The occasion also featured the inauguration of the Boys' and Girls' Brigade and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, as well as investiture of students as members in the school.

The Principal of ACEDSS, Mr. Emmanuel Olufemi Owasoyo, expressed gratitude to God and ACE management for the various achievements recorded since academic activities began in the school.

College fetes 2000 children OVER 2000 children of the staff of the college participated in this year’s edition of the college children's party held at the college quadrangle.

The party, which was sponsored by the management in partnership with individuals and corporate organisations, is an annual event.

The college provost appealed that subsequent management should encourage its continuation.

He commended the parents for bringing their children to attend the party and prayed for them.

27

W

ORKERS in Edo State have given Governor Adams Oshiomhole up to Friday next week to recall the 920 teachers he sacked last December over allegation of incompetency or face their wrath.

Apart from reversing the competency test, which the government gave as a condition for recalling the teachers, the workers’ unions are also urging Oshiomhole to implement the Teachers Enhanced Allowance (TEA) to avoid a show down.

At a meeting with the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), its Deputy President, Comrade Nelson Onem noted that it was government's responsibility to take care of teachers, give them better salary structures to make them productive.

The state government had sacked the teachers after a verification showed that they either falsified their age or were found wanting in some areas. During the exercise, some of the teachers were discovered to have completed primary school before they were born, some completed at the age of three and a particular teacher could not read when asked to do so by Oshiomhole.

The sack came at Christmas period.

The names of the affected teachers

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

were yanked off the government's payroll. The teachers backed by its umbrella union insisted not to participate in the test. The government, which earlier put off the test scheduled to hold in three centres across the three senatorial districts in the state, has, however, reversed itself.

Efforts by the NUT to get the government to recall their colleagues were not successful as the former insisted that the affeced teachers must write the test if they want their disengagement reviewed.

However, the teachers are afraid that the test would lead to job loss for those who either performed below average or fail.

Onem said: "If you say you are not writing the test, we will support you.

We are fully in support of your struggles."

Chairman, Edo State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun, who issued the ultimatum, said labour was against the test, which he described, as a ploy to reduce the teachers’ workforce in the state.

"We are solidly behind you. If you go on strike, we will go on strike. The competency test is an avenue for the government to reduce the numbers

of teachers in the state. We want the government to recall the sacked teachers and fully implement the Teachers Enhanced Allowance.

"The government started verification with primary school teachers and discovered that 920 teachers falsified their documents.

The governor agreed to recall them and the issue of competency test came which the teachers have refused to write.The government said without the test the issue of 920 teachers will not be reviewed. The government agreed to set up a committee to sort out those due for retirement and it was extended to the core civil servants, including parastatals.

"We gave the government up to February 28 to recall those teachers or we embark on indefinite strike from first week of March."

At various fora, Oshiomhole explained that the proposed test was not to witch-hunt anybody but to ensure that pupils in the state have a sound basic primary and junior secondary education.

Oshiomhole, who declared that he has no apology for the affected teachers, noted that only those incompetent to teach should be afraid of the test.

At a meeting with some groups, Oshiomhole said: "I now find that the

• Governor Oshiomhole

key element that would define the outcome is the teacher and the NUT is not willing to let us carry out this competency test. The teachers still earn what is called the Teachers Special Allowance.

"A level 12 teacher earns more than a civil servant. This is in recognition of the importance we attach to education. We are not getting what we should get. God will punish me if as governor of this state, who has been so favoured by every person in terms of the number of votes I got from the local government areas, that I knowingly dumped the Edo child on teachers who will not impart knowledge in them.”

UNICAL to graduate 15,000 From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

F

IFTEEN thousand students will be graduating at the University of Calabar’s 27th convocation, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. James Epoke has said.

Epoke, who was on a visit to the paramount ruler and grand patriarch of the Qua and Ejagham nations, HRM Ndidem Thomas Ika Oqua III, said the convocation would award certificates to diploma and postgraduate diploma, masters as well as Ph.D degrees to deserving students in across various disciplines.

The event would also include awards and prizes for academic excellence.

Epoke, who was represented by his deputy (Academics), Prof Austin Obiekezie, said the management was in the palace to inform and invite the monarch and in line with university tradition.

Oqua solicited for a continued harmonious and cordial relationship with the institution.

He also prayed for job opportunities for the soon-to-be graduates.

•Students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo with members of the Education Right Campaign protesting the closure of their school at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos last week.

JAMB: Selling the computer-based test • Continued from Page 26

"Some of my students are still opting for the pencil examination.

They are so desperate that some of them have chosen centres outside Lagos, where they can write the

•From left: Guest lecturer Prof Olorunisola Fapetu; Vice-Chancellor (VC), Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Prof Adebiyi Daramola; DVC (Academics) Prof Adedayo Fasakin and DVC (Development) Prof Tolulope Akinbogun during FUTA's 65th inaugural lecture delivered by Prof Fapetu at the university premises.

pencil examination. Some of them told me their fear is hinged on the fact that when they make a mistake on the paper and pencil examination, they can easily erase it; but once they punch a button to answer a question on the computer, even if they later found out that the answer was not correct, there was nothing they could do about it.

"In all fairness, I think the idea is good because I'm now beginning to see some of the students, especially those who chose the CBT, studying hard ahead of the examination because they know there will be no shortcut. Some of them who have even been trying the CBT at home said it is simple to do because once you cannot answer a question, you easily punch the button and the computer moves over to the next question."

Principal, Brilliant Academy, Lagos, Buknor Gentility Charles told The Nation how he makes efforts to convince his students on the CBT option.

"The candidates are complaining about the CBT examinations, but I have tried to convince them that it is the best. I have also made a CD where I documented the process of doing the CBT examinations for my candidates. I call it 'CBT test made easy'.

"They (candidates) are complaining because they are not computer literate and as such, not used to it. They said they are scared that if they want to change an answer already picked, it would be difficult for them. I have also explained to them that they don't need to be computer literate to do the CBT as long as they can use their phones and hold a mouse.

Moses of Fel Jolad Computers Institute, Okota Lagos allayed candidates' fears.

"The CBT is a welcomed exam. We are in a civilised world but Nigeria youths are not following in the technology. Many of them that I have registered are computer illiterate, but they need to be enlightened on how to use the computer especially to write exams. When a person who is not computer literate hears he or she will write an exam with the computer, then fears settles in him.

"I have registered more candidates for the CBT not because they prefer it but because they don't have a choice since the PPT registration is no longer available. You hear complaints like: “I don't know anything about computer o' from them when they are told that there is no more PPT. “It doesn't apply to only public school candidate; many private school candidates too that I have registered cannot use the computer."

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

EDUCATION

Stakeholders in oil and gas urged to update knowledge T • Peacock begins new management programmes HE Principal, Peacock College, Dr. Zenon Adamek, has called on players in the oil and gas industry to update their knowledge to meet up with competitions in the industry.

Ademak spoke at a forum where he introduced a new management programme for the oil and gas sector by the institution.

The programme, which he said, would lead to MSc and MBA degrees, is designed for company executives and government technocrats, who can participate online and onsite.

He said the programme is meant

By Medinat Kanabe

for them.

He said the college, which is part of the Peacock Group, with interests in travel management and financial services, is also offering courses in Marketing, Personal Development, Travel and Tourism as well as Information and Communication

Technology.

Adamek said: "The programmes, which are essentially short courses, kicked off in February at the institution's facility located at Ramsgate in London. The courses, Ademak explained, are designed to fire up executives into their creative peak in order to add value to their organisations.

Under the programme, he said, participants will be taken through courses, such as Petroleum Economics, Risk Analysis, Oil and Gas Accounting and the Fundamentals of Gas and LNG Projects."

"To keep up in the modern world, you have to continually top up your skills and acquire new ones along the way.

"We offer a lot more. These include experienced instructors, modern instructional aides, networking opportunities with participants from Nigeria and other Africa countries, Asia and the Middle East," he added.

Meadow Hall adopts Lagos school

S

THE Library of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Otto/Ijanikin, Lagos State has invited the public and the community to her seventh annual seminar, which holds on Tuesday at 10 am at the Auditorium.

The Librarian, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Dr Adebambo Adewale Oduwole, will speak on the theme of the seminar: 'The role of the Library in using the internet to facilitate information for users of academic libraries'.

THE college matriculation for regular NCE students for the 2013/2014 academic session will hold on Friday next week at the DDP Hall at 9am.

Liaison unit established

•Mrs Nwani (middle) presenting education resource materials donated by Meadow to Mrs Ifeyemi. With them is Mrs Taiwo.

By Sampson Nnamka

in public schools.

Nwani said: "We must remember that all our children whether in private or public schools are expected to meet up with the demands of the 21st Century market

place and be equipped with the relevant skills to do so effectively".

"It is important to focus on the Nigerian child who is the future of the nation whether they are in private or public schools," she added.

The Head Teacher of Ilasan Primary School, Mrs Agnes Ifeyemi,

praised the Meadow's initiative, noting that both staff and pupils are excited to work with Meadow Hall.

The council's Education Secretary Mr Lukman Taiwo, while also expressing gratitude, encouraged other organisations to emulate Meadow Hall.

Fed Govt, Schneider Electric partner on technical training CHNEIDER Electric is partnering the Federal Government and the French Education Ministry to empower youths through technical training.

This followed the inauguration of the Isaac Boro Energy Training College in Grenoble, France.

The Isaac Boro Energy Training College is a joint initiative between the Federal Government and Schneider Electric Nigeria, drawing on the expertise of both Schneider Electric France and the French Education Ministry.

Since the programme began, the school has welcomed 30 students from the Niger Delta region to receive

Library holds seminar

NCE matriculation next week

T

O complement government's efforts in raising the standard of public schools in Lagos, Meadow Hall, Lekki through its Meadow Hall Foundation, has adopted Ilasan Primary School, Lekki through the School Adoption Programme (SAP).

Speaking at the adoption of the school, Meadow Hall Director, Mrs Kehinde Nwani, said SAP is an initiative aimed at supporting government’s efforts to improve the standard of education in public schools.

According to Nwani, the Foundation will assist the teachinglearning process of the adopted school. The first phase of the programme, Nwani said, began with the distribution of exercise books, stationery, teaching aids, instructional resources, and training of teachers in the school by Meadow Hall education consultants and posting of teachers who will explore 21st century learning strategies in the classroom.

She called on the private sector to join hands with the government to enhance the education of children

AOCOED FILE

training in energy management and gain complementary qualifications in information technology and languages.

Speaking at the inauguration in France, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric, Jean Pascal Tricoire, praised the partnership describing it as a worthy example of how governments and the private sector could partner for the good of society.

He said: “This cooperation is a very good example of what can be done between governments and companies. We all share the same interests of development and particularly economic development and I

hope this visionary training scheme will inspire others. Schneider electric is here to help to make it a reality.”

On the partnership, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, said the programme would help the government build capacity in the power sector.

He said: “I am truly delighted at this collaboration between the Federal Government, the French Government and Schneider Electric. Nigeria is at the verge of a revolution in the power sector. In fact, we are preparing for a revolution of sorts in the power sector in Nigeria and that is why we have

decided to massively develop manpower in that sector in collaboration with the French Government and Schneider Electric of France”.

Schneider Electric said the training falls under the umbrella of its BipBop energy access programme, which aims to address three key issues in emerging economies.

These included innovation, business and people, which are aimed at building adequate dedicated offers to combat the of lack of equipment, provide financial resources to support the creation of innovative companies in the electricity market, and provide training in energy management to overcome the shortage of expertise.

TO serve the college better, the management has created a Liaison Unit, which will be based in the Directorate of Passages.

The college said collaboration will help to interface, coordinate, facilitate and serve as liaison office between members of the college community, government agencies and parastatal, such as Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for guidelines on issuance of license), federal and state Inland Revenue Service (for tax clearance certificate), and Licensing Authorities (for issuance of plate number), amon others .

AIS holds sports meet PARENTS, guardians, students, friends and well wishers of AOCOED International School were treated to an array of track and field events at the school Sixth Inter-house sport at the college sports ground last Saturday.

At the end of the competition, Barack Obama House came tops winning eight gold, seven silver and four bronze medals, followed by Nelson Mandela House with six gold, four silver and six bronze medals.

Ayodele Awojobi House poached two gold, five silver and four bronze medals, while and Funmilayo Ransome Kuti House went home with two gold, four silver and five bronze medals.

First Lady to lay foundation of UNILAG’s hostel

T

• A cross section of participating schools during the opening parade of the Association of International School Educators in Nigeria's (AISEN) 10th anniversary sports festival at the host Olashore International School, Osun State.

HE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan will tomorrow lay the foundation for the construction of a 15-storey female hostel in the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The new facility to be named 'Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan hall' will be sited at Honours Hostel.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Management Services), Prof. Duro Oni, announced this at a briefing.

According to him, the proposed 1500-capacity hostel is an initiative of the Parents' Forum to elevate the institution, and solve accommodation challenges faced by students.

The DVC, who lauded the

By Ibrahim Yusuff

initiative, thanked Mrs Jonathan for accepting the project to be named after her.

"This is, indeed, the first of its kind in any Nigerian university for parents to come together and agree to build a hostel of international standard as a way of solving the problem of accommodation faced by their children on campus.

The Director of Students' Affairs, Prof, Olukayode Amund, who noted that about 28,000 undergraduates are struggling for 8,000 bed spaces, added that the project, when completed, would go a long way to assuage the problem of accommodation in the insitution.

29

NDDC hostel excites students

On bent knees Page 31

Page 42

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

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The long-awaited 24th Nigeria University Games (NUGA) has begun at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. It was opened by former Minister of Education Prof Taoheed Adedoja, report OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI (400-Level Language Arts) and KEMI BUSARI (400-Level Political Science).

•The OAU team during their march past

PHOTO: OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI

‘Drop the books and lace the boots’ A

FTER initial delays, the 24th Nigeria University Games (NUGA) took off at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, last Saturday.

The game is returning to the institution 30 years after of first hosted the event.

The campus was a beehive as the Local Organising Committee (LOC) members received participants on arrival at the university’s main gate. Gigantic billboards, with the inscription: “Time to drop the books and lace the

•NUGA begins at OAU boots”, welcomed them at the gate.

The opening ceremony was held in the Main Bowl Sports Complex.

Osun State Deputy Governor Otunba Titi Laoye-Tomori led dignitaries, including the Pro-chancellor and Chairman, OAU Governing Council, Prof Rowland Ndoma-Egba, ViceChancellor (VC) Prof Bamitale Omole, his predecessor, Prof Michael Faborode and the VCs

of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) Prof Oladipo Aina, Prof Saburi Adesanya and Prof Oluyemisi Obilade respectively.

Prof Omole said the ceremony ended the uncertainties surrounding the hosting of the event, which he said was part of activities marking the institution’s 50th anniversary. He said the fi-

esta was scheduled to hold in 2012, but was postponed because of the National Sports Festival in Lagos and “unforeseen circumstances”.

Ahead of the game, the university rehabilitated facilities needed for its hosting, Omole said, adding that OAU has a history of excellence in sport. Many students of the institution, he said, had excelled in athletics because of the foundation laid by the late Director of Institute of Physical Education, Mr. Isaac Akioye.

•Continued on page 30

•’Employers should treat their workers well’ •Don lauds varsity’s curriculum-P32

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 20, 2014

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Tattoos and the price of ignorance

M

Y piece today is informed by an incident I witnessed between three young “ladies” while waiting on the queue in a supermarket to pay for purchases. Two ladies in front of me made a snide comment to the hearing of another lady who had a tattoo slightly above the cleavages of her front “asset.”

Voicing their disdain and reservations, they wondered why she is exposing her sensitive parts for everyone to see just to “show off”. The tattooed lady did not take their reservation lying down. She blurted out: “Is it because you don’t have beautiful b- -bs like I do that you’re jealous?”

Your guess is as good as mine about what happened next. The supermarket security personnel and some of the men present had to restrain the “ladies” before their argument degenerated into fisticuffs and disturb the peace of other customers. However, this was not before unprintable vulgar invectives had been viciously exchanged.

That incident got me worried about the tattoo trend among our youths for quite some time. This was certainly not the first time I’ll be seeing young men and ladies engraving tattoos on their bodies. For the women, they seem to have the penchant of engraving tattoos in sensitive areas of their bodies and exposing same for all to see. I often wonder; of all the things in the world to do, why would someone spend hours engraving permanent features in his or her body in the name of fashion or trend?

This trend – I must point out – is not a Nigerian problem alone, but a global one as a frighteningly growing number of teens and young adults are injecting dangerous chemicals under their skin in the name of art and self-expression. A trend that started growing in America and Europe in the early ‘90s, tattooing soon became so popular that 36 percent of Americans aged 25-29 had at least one body tattoo by 2003. The numbers have undoubtedly risen since then as tattoos are now well-entrenched in the mainstream. Even the media at times glorifies

Pushing Out with

Agbo Agbo 08116759750 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com tattoo culture.

A few days after that incident among many others, I received a tweet from a friend, which directed me to a bizarre story in Huffington Post. In the story, a 26-year-old Englishwoman Torz Reynolds learned her boyfriend of two years was cheating on her. She decided she needed to “teach” him a lesson by removing her tattoo which had the name of her cheating boyfriend in a part of her body.

In a rather unbelievable way she used a scalpel to remove the entire section of skin where the words “Chopper’s B- - -h” were tattooed and then sent the skin – with the blood and all - to him with the message “Now he knows never to mess with me again!”

According to the Daily Mail (where the story was culled by Huffington Post), she numbed the area with Vasocaine spray before slicing a rectangle around the area, then using tweezers to peel it off. She posted an image of the bloody result to Facebook in December. When a friend called the act “crazy,” she replied, “Crazy was getting his name tattooed in the first place… cutting it out was just necessary”! She then conceded that she may end up getting someone else’s name tattooed on her body. Who that “someone” would be is left to your imagination.

To get a hook on this, I made several calls to some of our campus correspondents’ to assist me in researching the trend on their campuses and from the reports I got it appeared I opened a can of worms! One of them spoke out immediately I gave him the assignment and said: “Sir, thank you for beaming your searchlight on this ugly trend, we expect you to write more on such negative issues. Our ladies have gone mad,

‘Drop the books and lace the boots’ •Continued from page 29

“As the competitions progress, I enjoin our visitors to take time to visit some historic centres in Ile-Ife. Sports are seen as well-structured physical activities guided by rules and regulations. I, therefore, appeal to all participants and officials to put up their •Otunba Laoye-Tomori flanked by Prof Omole (left) and Prof Ndoma-Egba at the best perfor- ceremony strengthen relations among The NUGA torch was lit mance and adthemselves.

by Catherine Shitta, a 100here strictly to The University of Ibadan Level student of Philosophy, the rules and regulations governing the event, so that we can (UI) led the procession dur- following which the contest have successful competitions,” ing the march past, which started, with a football was conducted in alphabeti- match between the host and Prof Omole said. cal order. The OAU team Ekiti State University. The Otunba Laoye-Tomori, who came last.

OAU team won by four represented Governor Rauf The University of goals to one.

Aregbesola, spoke on “Building Maiduguri (UNIMAID) Celebrating the victory, a healthy man of learning”, say- team was hailed by the the coach of the OAU team, ing: “The cardinal objective of crowd, for fielding the high- Mr Chike Eluminu said: “I a university is to produce in- est number of athletes de- am happy my team won; dividuals that are well spite the insecurity in Borno expect more wins in the subgrounded in knowledge and State. It is being represented sequent fixture.” virtue. The attainment of by 167 athletes and 31 offiThe defeated team’s coach, good education must include cials. Yobe State University Adeniyi Olubi, said: “My the building of a sound mind (YSU) has the lowest num- boys did not play according and a healthy body; this as I ber of athletes - two stu- to instructions. That was have observed, necessitated dents. why you noticed that our dethe hosting of NUGA. This The NUGA oath was taken fence was porous. The boys type of game takes place ev- by Olatunde Olutayo, a played below my expectation. erywhere in the world with Physical Health Education The whole team was poor. Dehuge positive impact on the student and athlete in OAU spite playing friendly matches society.” team, after which the contest before the event, the boys still She urged participants to was declared open by put up poor performance. But embrace the spirit of sports- former Minister of Educa- let me assure you that we will manship and use the event to tion Prof Taoheed Adedoja. improve on our performance.”

they even have tattoos on their private parts and their behind, nowhere is private anymore. They take pictures of their private parts with tattoos and send to their boyfriend!”

The agreement was almost unanimous: the trend is very popular with a fair number of students’ on campuses having tattoos without really realising the negative health implications. The men are not left out as their favourite spots are their shoulders, chests and necks.

What really is a tattoo then: A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on your skin with pigments inserted through pricks into the skin’s top layer. Typically, the tattoo artist uses a hand-held machine that acts much like a sewing machine, with one or more needles piercing the skin repeatedly. With every puncture, the needles insert tiny ink droplets. The process - which is normally done without anesthetics - causes a small amount of bleeding and slight to potentially significant pain.

According to experts, tattoos breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible. Specific risks include: Allergic reactions, Blood borne diseases, MRI complications etc.

In addition to allergic reactions and the unknown long-term health effects from the metal salts and carrier solutions that make up tattoo inks, there are other health risks involved. Skin infections, psoriasis, dermatitis and other chronic skin conditions, and tumors (both benign, and malignant) have all been associated with tattoos.

Due to the use of needles in tattoo application, there is also the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as tetanus, herpes simplex virus, staph, HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, and even Syphilis. And those with tattoos might not be able to get a life-saving MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) test if they need one—some hospitals and testing locations will refuse to do an MRI on people with body tattoos due to the metal particles in the tattoo, which may cause a burning pain during the test.

I need to point out here that tattooing is not a recent phenomenon; it is an art form that has been used for centuries by tribal societies in religious rites and as a natural part of life.

At first banned and then appropriated by Western culture, tattoos have recently devel-

oped as a decorative art of self-expression used by some to celebrate events, memorialise a departed loved one, or as a show of commitment to a life partner. In the past, there is one thing for sure: all tattoos have a story. What’s not so clear is exactly what those involved in it are injecting into their skin for art’s sake.

However, a far cry from their tribal predecessors made with dyes from the natural environment, many of today’s tattoos contain an unknown conglomeration of metallic salts (oxides, sulphides, and selenides), organic dyes or plastics.

A European Commission’s report on the health risks of tattooing noted that close to 40 percent of organic colorants used in permanent tattoos in Europe are not even approved for use on the skin as a cosmetic ingredient and just fewer than 20 percent of the colorants studied contained a carcinogenic aromatic amine. Many of the chemicals found were originally intended for use in writing and printer inks, as well as automobile paints. These inks are injected deep enough into the skin that often tattoos will not even be destroyed by severe burns.

This is an area where regulations and standards are held high, so you can imagine what happens in our clime where regulation is often lax.

Removing tattoos are a different ballgame altogether. If a tattooed individual wants his tattoo removed, he should be aware that some of the pigments used are phototoxic and may break down into toxic chemicals in the body when removed with UV light or laser - common techniques used in tattoo removal. The toxic endproducts eventually wind up in the kidneys and liver, adding to your total body burden.

Ideally, it behooves on tattoo practitioners to tell their clients the negative impact of the art. However, in the absence of clear cut regulation to protect the consumer from unqualified tattoo artists, unhygienic tools and application methods, and highly toxic inks, the best advice for the youth of today is abstinence from tattoos.

My advice to our youths is this: don’t trust tattoo artists or ink manufacturers to give you accurate and complete information on the toxicity of the pigments and dyes being used—at least not just yet. They’re in it for the business of making money, health or other issues are secondary and far from their minds.

Amina Abdulazeez made history when she was elected the first woman to occupy a seat in the Students’ Representative Assembly of the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Students’ Union Government (SUG). The final year student of Political Science, who is also the Vice President of the union, speaks with HALIMAH AKANBI (200-Level Law) on the legacy she wishes to bequeath.

‘Women must not take back seat in politics’

C

AN you tell us your background?

I was born in Birnin

Kebbi, where I had my primary and secondary education. I hold a diploma in Public Administration. I am the first lady to be elected a member of the Students’ Representative Assembly in Usman Danfodiyo University. I am also the Vice President of the Students’ Union.

What prompted your interest in politics?

Naturally, I have passion for activism. So by implication, this makes me to join campus politics. In fact, I was called upon by my colleagues to participate in students’ unionism because of my pedigree. Specifically, I started politics when I was in the polytechnic; I contested for Social Director. Although, I lost the election, but since then I have never looked back. Honestly, I realised that for people to be agents of change, somebody has to take

up the gauntlet first and carry other people along.

How does your course of study help your interest in politics?

Not really. But I can say that being a student of political science has helped me to better understand the dynamics of campus politics. It has also helped to identify challenges facing students and the huge expectations from everybody to deliver. Political Scientists are seen as doctor of all political ailments and see issues from the right perspective.

Given your experience so far, would you advise women to participate in politics?

Yes. I want them to take active role in campus politics.

The campus is not meant for male students alone. Ladies should not join politics to fill up the quota; they are stakeholders. They must be part of the people determining where the pendulum of service should swing. They must not

•Amina

take the back seat when it comes to political participation. I was inspired to contest for a seat in the Students’ Representative Assembly because I discovered that no lady had been there before and presently, as the Vice President, I am working with the present legislators to sponsor a bill that would reserve at least a slot for female from each faculty.

•Continued on page 44

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 20, 2014

31

CAMPUS LIFE Students of the Nasarawa State University (NSUK), Keffi living off-campus are being asked by their landlords to pay their rent for the period of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. KAMALUDEEN ABUBAKAR and SANI MAKAMA (200-Level Geography) report that the students are seeking their landlords’ understanding on the matter.

On bent knees

W

EN they returned to school last month after

an almost six-month Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, they were hopeful of continuing with their studies without interruption. But, the hopes of students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) may be dashed by shylock landlords, who are asking them for rent for period of the ASUU strike.

Many students thought the landlords would not ask for the rent, others who foresaw the development, thought it would be reduced.

The landlords are not ready to write off or slash the rent. The school had barely resumed when some property owners started asking the students to pay their rents or face eviction.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that students in off-campus hostels pay higher. For instance, a one-room apartment costs between N90,000 and N130,000 per session. This is higher than what their counterparts pay for the same facility in the College of Education, Akwanga and Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

Students, who spoke to our correspondents, said paying for the period they were not in school would hurt their parents. They urged their landlords to be understanding.

Some landlords wanted them to pay half of the rent, but others insisted on full payment.

Victoria Agene, a 200-Level student living in a hostel in Angwan Lambu, said occupants of the lodge held a meeting whose outcome was communicated to the caretaker, Gidado Muhammad. It was learnt that Gidado promised to take the matter to the property owner.

Victoria said: “After series of complaints, we held a meeting to discuss the development and resolved that only half of the rent will

•Turaki

•Suleiman

be paid for the strike period. We have passed the message across to the landlady, and whatever her answer may be, I don’t see myself paying full rent because I don’t have money.”

Some students, whose properties were looted by burglars during the strike, said they would rather spend the money to replace their stolen person effects.

“I have spent money to buy mattress and •other things stolen from my room. My parents would not even listen to me if I ask them for money to pay rent. So, my landlord must show understanding,” a student said.

A landlord, who did not want his name in print, said: “I have discussed with my tenants and we resolved that no one would pay full rent. Not only that; I urged others landlords to do same because students only stayed for three months in school last year.”

Mosses Attah, chairman Joint Campus Committee, an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said the union would schedule a meeting with all the landlords and representatives of the school to discuss the development.

Suleiman Adamu, a 300-Level Economics Education and an occupant of Alabama City Estate in High Court area, said his landlord had

told occupants to pay half of the rent. He said: “I acknowledge the magnanimity of our landlord, who just agreed that we should pay only a half of our rent.”

Lack of water and electricity took centre stage when the landlord of Jarkasa Palace visited the building to collect the rent. Occupants criticised the landlord for his nonchalant attitude, threatening not to pay until “our challenges are solved”.

Some rooms in the building have no burglar proof, while the house is yet to be connected to electricity source. There is also no water in the building. “We are not paying any rent, either full or half, because we enjoy nothing in the house,” an occupant in the compound, who craved for anonymity, said.

The traditional ruler of Ungwan Lambu, Alhaji Mika’il Muhammad, urged students to be patient, assuring to speak to their landlords to collect half rent. He said: “As a parent, who knows what parents go through in catering for their children in school, I have discussed with occupants of my house and resolved that no student should pay full rent.”

Ibrahim Turaki, a 200-Level student and an occupant of Pinging Logde, said his landlord showed sympathy with the occupants and told them not to pay the rent.

•Jarkasa Palace

However, other landlords have stuck to their guns, insisting that their tenants must pay full rent. A tenant of Covenant Lodge in High

Court area, Maryam Muhammad, said her landlord gave occupants a deadline within which they must pay the rent in full or risk eviction.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof. Olufemi Mimiko, has met with students’ leaders on the disagreement between the management and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which led to the institution’s closure. RICHARD ADURA-ILESANMI (200-Level Mass Communication) reports.

Our story, by VC L

AST Saturday, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof Olufemi Mimiko, took a bold step to douse tension on campus. He met with students’ leaders to explain the management’s side on its face off with the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The three-hour interactive meeting tagged: VC-students’ Forum, was held in the Olusegun Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall.

Prof Mimiko spoke on some controversial issues, including the alleged non-payment of staff salary for five months and the infrastructural drive of his administration, which he said would make the university a 21st century institution.

Denying that the management was owing staff, the VC pointed out that before the ASUU national strike began last July, there was no dispute between the university and its academic staff. He claimed that the lecturers unjustifiably joined the strike.

“Despite going on illegal strike, the management was magnanimous to pay their salaries in July and August, when, ordinarily, they ought not to have been paid because they deliberately abandoned their work,” he said.

The VC said the management also paid December salary before the Christmas, a gesture he said the lecturers should appreciate.

Prof Mimiko said the September, October and November salaries, which the workers are demanding, were uncalled for, stressing that it would be unreasonable for the management to pay for the period because the lecturers were not at work.

He said: “The workers cannot just come from a six-month strike and ask the management to give them their pay checks. We don’t believe this is right; we are not going to do that just because other universities are doing it. However, we have told them (lecturers) that we are going to pay, but at least, they must do something to show that we are responsible people.

Let us work and get students to write their examination; get the final year students to graduate; then we can now sit down and see how we are going to pay. That is our position.”

About two weeks ago, the ASUU chairman, Busuyi Mekusi, and his colleagues were said to have incited students against the management and the security personnel known as Sheriff Deputies.

The students allegedly mobbed the security officials. Although, no security personnel was hurt, the uniforms of many were allegedly torn and shoes thrown away by their students. They also allegedly locked the school gate for hours, shouting: “We do not want Sheriff Deputies on our campus anymore”.

•Continued on page 44

•Students’ leaders with some lecturers at the meeting

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 20, 2014

32

CAMPUS LIFE

•Prof Ajila delivering the lecture

•Cross section of audience at the lecture

B

EFORE a large audience last Tuesday, Prof Chris Ajila, an industrial and organisational psychologist of the Psychology Department, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU),IleIfe, Osun State, delivered the 261st inaugural lecture entitled: “People and organisations: The dynamics of workplace behavior”.

The expansive Oduduwa Hall was filled to capacity as the inaugural lecturer gave account of what it takes to be human in an organisation. Ajila described the behaviour of employees as a function of personal and

‘Employers should treat their workers well’ From Oluwafemi Ogunjobi

OAU organisational characteristics.

He said: “Work has been described as the major pre-occupation of human beings and a central feature of modern society. In fact, it occupies a greater percentage of the overall time available to most people for a major part of their lives and the economic rewards obtained from it determine an individual’s standard of liv-

ing.”

According to him, an individual’s personal characteristics are based on inherited genetic factors and all the past learning experiences that shaped his personality. Individual, he said, brings these characteristics into the organisational situation, which in turn affects the way he thinks and acts.

Ajila said one of the managerial functions was to understand human behaviour and help shape it

to meet organisational goals.

He explained general behaviour of human being and harped on work behavior, which he divided into two categories - personal and situational. He said factors responsible for personal behaviour included characteristics such as abilities, beliefs, motivation and attitudes. Situational factors, he said, are those of the person’s environment or surroundings that affect individual at the time of the behaviour in question.

Professor Ajila therefore, recommends that employers of labour must show concern for the welfare of their employees and show willingness to use result-oriented and participatory management style.

He said: “Regardless of job status, employers must love their workers the way they love themselves. The culture of trust, which should be predicated on reciprocity to ensure mutuality of the attendant benefits, must be developed among all employees.”

The lecture was attended by principal officers of the institution, lecturers and students.

Don lauds varsity’s curriculum

F

•Agu speaking to journalists after he received the award

Honour for CAMPUSLIFE man

C

ROSS River State government has honoured an outgoing corps member, Reuben Agu, who served at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) for his meritorious service to the state.

Agu, a graduate of the Federal University of Technology in (FUTO), Owerri and a CAMPUSLIFE reporter, bagged the state award of Excellence during the Passing Out Parade (POP) held by 2013 Batch ‘A’ corps member last Thursday.

Presenting the award, Governor Liyel Imoke, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Effiok Cobham, hailed Agu and other honorees for the projects they executed.

Agu, while receiving the award, thanked God for making him one of the outstanding corps members whose activities were recognised by the government.

He said: “I was driven by the passion to have a positive impact in my host community and the state at large. It would not have been possible if not for the support I got from National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Cross River State,

From Stanley Uchegbu

UNICAL UNICAL and the community people.”

He noted that there were challenges encountered during the planning and execution of the projects, but added that God gave him the grace to surmount the problem.

Highlighting some of his personal Community Development Service (CDS) projects that fetched him the honour, Agu said he organised free malaria treatment in several communities, including screening, diagnostic tests, distribution and administration of malaria drugs. He also distributed treated mosquito nets to members of his host community.

A few weeks before the POP, Agu renovated the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) center in UNICAL, and held a quiz competition for pupils of UNICAL Staff School.

He urged corps members to be agents of change in their places of primary assignment and host communities and work for the development of the country.

ORMER Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Emeritus Prof Akinjide Osuntokun, has commended the management of McPherson University for its exceptional role in ensuring quality assurance in Nigerian education sector.

The ex-envoy spoke at an event organised by Organisation for Historical Research in Nigeria, which was held at the Senate Chamber of the institution.

Prof Osuntokun said private varsities were playing dynamic roles in the nation’s education sector, adding that their impact had been great.

He noted that the sector was better than what obtained in the past where only federal and state governments could own and control universities.

The Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University in Imota, Lagos State, Prof Ayodeji Olukoju promised that the organisation would collaborate with McPherson University’s Department of History and Diplomatic Studies to promote research.

Prof Olukoju said the teaching of History in secondary schools was on the decline, expressing confidence that the body would continue to bring up creative ways to promote

•Prof Osuntokun (right) with Prof Agunbiade in his office From Ayodeji Adesina

McPHERSON the teaching and application of history.

He said the body had already collaborated with Lagos State Government and other stakeholders, noting that the institution had a huge role to play in repositioning History at all levels of education in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor, McPherson University, Prof Adeniyi Agunbiade thanked the organisation for its collaboration, urging the association to do more in making significant contributions to some of the challenges facing the nation.

He said historians were important stakeholders to promote nation building, adding that they must be ready to proffer solutions to relevant problems.

Prof Agunbiade said there was need for the association to remind Nigerians of their history and values.

“There is need to interpret the implications of our decisions of today. There is need also for your organisation to constantly avail the political class with your rich experience and expertise by analysing trends and suggesting panaceas to compelling issues”, he said.

The event attracted over fifty scholars from different public and private universities in Nigeria.

Corps members clean environment

T

O promote healthy environment in their place of primary assignment, corps members serving in the University of Calabar (UNICAL), held a sanitation exercise last weekend in the university and its environs.

The exercise started at 8am from the convocation ground to the registry block and the ViceChancellor’s block.

Speaking on the reason for the exercise the Public Relations Officer of the UNICAL Corpers’ Associa-

From Sam Ibok

UNICAL tion (UCA), Akpan Enobong, said the exercise was part of corps members’ Community Development Service (CDS), which was to promote an environment free of diseases. He said environmental sustainability was a major aspect of development, adding: “Cleanliness is next to holiness.”

On his part, President UCA,

Reuben Agu, praised his colleagues for participating in the exercise, which he said was a success.

The corps members, who were dressed in their service uniform, stormed the campus and its environs with cutlasses, rakes and brooms. The exercise was round off at noon.

A 500-Level Economics student, John Etim, praised the corps member for the service rendered to the university.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

Why buildings collapse, by expert •PAGE 34

Chime to restore Enugu’s glory •PAGE 36

PAGE 33

‘UNTH has state-of-the-art facilities’ •PAGE 38

Transforming Imo health sector

T

HE Imo State government will make healthcare accessible to all, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Edward Ihejirika, has said. He told reporters in Owerri, the state capital, that the Okorochaled administration adopted policies and programmes to realise its health objective in order to rejuvenate the sector.

The government, he said, had put facilities and structures in place to take care of all citizens, especially expectant mothers and children.

Noting that government is aware of the plight of mothers and pregnant women, Dr Ihejirika said government has resolved to make maternal care free in the state, adding that all healthcare centres across the state have commenced full implementation of the programme.

However, the people are clamouring for action on the part of government to improve the health sector in the state. Majority of those who spoke with our correspondent said the health system in the state has gone awry.

Most complaints came from expectant mothers who told our correspondent that pregnant women

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

in the state are going through unsavoury situation.

To understand their complaints, our correspondent visited the maternity wing of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Investigation reveals the shocking ordeal of expectant mothers in the state, as they scale through hurdles to access low quality healthcare at exorbitant rates.

The women who are crowded in a stuffy ‘waiting’ room are made to wait endlessly for the few doctors and nurses available to attend to them.

There are instances of women who were delivered of their babies in the waiting rooms and balcony after hours of labour without any form of attention.

As early as 5:30 a.m. everyday, hundreds of pregnant women across the state converge at the maternity wing of the hospital. They will spend the whole day there. Though the few available doctors work tirelessly to attend to the women, the ratio of expectant mothers per doctor far outweighs what can allow for efficiency.

Government is aware of the plight of mothers and expectant mothers. Government has resolved to make maternal care free in the state, all healthcare centres across the state have commenced full implementation of the programme To further compound the challenges of the expectant mothers, is the imposition of exorbitant and illegal charges by the hospital authority. For example, an expectant mother pays as much as N20,000 on her first registration and deposits as much as N50,000 on the day of delivery.

Although in most states across the country, maternal care for expectant mothers is free, Imo State is yet to kick off the free maternal programme even after Governor Rochas Okorocha announced it in a public event.

The poor state of public hospitals and health centres in the state, has not

helped the plight of expectant mothers in the state, some of who are forced to patronise quacks and uncertified hospitals.

Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Ujunwa Uzowuru, one of the expectant mothers said that ”at the FMC, expectant mothers are treated with utter disdain and reckless abandon. You can imagine where an expectant mother has to wait from morning till evening to see a doctor under very unsatisfactory conditions. Most times, doctors run out of patience as a result of the number of women they have to attend to.”

She further said: ”I am scared each

day of my appointment due to the harrowing experience. No matter how early you get to the hospital, the number of expectant mothers are so much that you can’t even find a place to sit down. And any office you enter, you are asked to pay one fee or another.”

Another expectant mother who didn’t want her name mentioned, lamented that, ”for two weeks now I have been coming to get the result of the tests I did. But in other places, it takes less than an hour to get such result. At a point, I was told that they have missed the sample and my fear is that it is possible that the samples for the test can be mixed up and one could be given the wrong diagnosis.”

At the delivery ward, the story is the same. Some of the women who have been delivered of their babies but could not afford the exorbitant bills are detained by the hospital authority.

A senior member of the hospital management who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the influx of ex•Continued on page 40

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

34

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Why buildings collapse in Niger Afam Nwana is the Chairman/CEO of Abuja-based Mosaf Group of Companies.

In this interview with NWANOSIKE ONU, he explains why buildings collapse and proffers solutions to the problem.

A

S the helmsman of MOSAF, can you tell us your achievements so far in the past 30

years?

Effectively, MOSAF Nigeria Limited started operation in July 1986. We have been like a growing child. There was a time we were pursuing gatehouses, fences and boys’ quarters, clearing and all. But now, we are building skyscrapers and power plants. We are designing rail lines, building hospitals and schools.

We are equally involved in project management and consultancy services, developing merger projects like rail lines, airports, cargo facilities and canals.

We are happy that we are involved in the conceptualisation and development of some serious projects in Nigeria. We are now involved in building the biggest laboratory in the West Coast of Africa for Standard Organisation of Nigeria at Ogba Industrial Estate in Lagos which sits on almost 1.5 hectares of land.

We are involved in such projects as planning of/and designing the Calabar and Lagos coastal rail lines in conjunction with our international partners. We are also involved in the construction of the Kaduna 230 mega watts power plant as well as the Wind Farm Development in Katsina. We are involved in solar farm in Jigawa. So, MOSAF has come of age and we thank God that in the last 29 years, we have done well. But we wouldn’t have done all these without a team of dedicated and loyal staff that providence provided for us.

What are your policy thrusts in terms of running MOSAF as an indigenous company?

We are an indigenous construction company. In the circumstances, we, in 1992, started what we call reactivation of the Nigeria Chamber of Indigenous Contractors which I had the privilege of serving as the Secretary General. Incidentally, that was during Ibrahim Babangida’s regime. He asked us to come up with a construction policy which government would sign into law to check capital flight.

I provided two offices with a secretary, a car and fully furnished offices for the Nigerian Chambers of Indigenous Contractors in Lagos with the aim of developing indigenous capacities, capabilities and competences.

We put in place a policy framework, but the then government failed to implement the proposal.

Nigeria needs a signed construction policy as it obtains in countries like Israel, America, India, Australia and England.

The construction industry can bring in a lot of money for Nigeria because if we have a policy and people are benefiting from it, we can export construction and generate a lot of foreign exchange for the country. That has been my goal in the last 20 years as the SecretaryGeneral and Deputy Chairman of Nigeria Chambers of Indigenous Contractors.

As a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, I have been training engineers and impacting on Nigerians positively. MOSAF group has been training a lot of people and they are doing very well.

We need a government policy that will help drive it to the next level.

•A collapsed building

As an indigenous contractor and a foremost engineer in the system, how worried are you about frequent building s collapse? Again, are you not worried about issues concerning construction quality and the quality of delivery by your colleagues?

When you have data, policy and law but you don’t implement them, what you get is chaos or anarchy.

The system cannot produce anything better. Buildings are collapsing because contracts are awarded to people who are practising contractors. Everybody is a contractor.

Contracts should be awarded to the right people based on the right policies guiding such process. We have been talking about policy implementation. Let me mention one of the policies we are talking about. We mentioned it to Babangida, and I remember I was singled out in the Senate building

T

HE traditional ruler of Aba in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Eze Isaac Ikonne the Enyi 1 of Aba has marked both his 85th birthday and 41st anniversary celebration on the throne penultimate Friday. Though the celebrations were supposed to be joyous, an unsavoury incident would have made them events to be regretted.

At the event, the Deputy Governor Chief Emeka Ananaba was already seated at the Boys’ Trade Centre (BTC) Aba, venue of the event. In terms of protocol, no other individual would come into the arena as it was expected that everybody would have been seated before the governor or his deputy comes into the event venue.

The Deputy Governor was already seated and the ceremony was in progress when some siring-blaring vehicles drove into the venue of the event. It was Chief Reagan John Ufomba, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2011 general elections.

of the Tafawa Balewa Square when Babangida was the President. He asked if the indigenous contractors could build the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas. I raised my hand but I was not allowed to talk.

Construction is about logistics.

But let it be handled by professionals. What am saying about policy is that any big project in Nigeria that is above 50 million Dollars should be given to a foreign company but make a policy that a percentage of it must be carried out locally and those local contractors must be satisfied that these companies have competences and capabilities to carry out the task, while they could be supervised by big contractors.

After executing five to 10 projects, the indigenous contractors would have gathered the experiences, competences and capabilities to execute complex projects. We are ex-

The construction industry can bring in a lot of money for Nigeria because if we have a policy and people are benefiting from it, we can export construction and generate a lot of foreign exchange for the country periencing building collapse because we tend to contract out big jobs without proper supervision to ensure they do not use labourers instead of using skilled labour.

When you give out a project on con-

tract without adequate supervision, it is difficult to hold somebody accountable with regard to quality assurance.

We should not forget the issue of corruption which is endemic. When

Abia monarch celebrat

Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

Regarded as an affront to the personality of the Deputy Governor, his security details moved to stop the vehicles from driving into the venue.

To avoid any fracas, the Deputy Governor called back his men and stopped them from confronting the convoy of Ufomba from driving into the school premises. However, they succeeded in stopping the siring from blaring and disrupting the proceeding. While this was going on, Ufomba’s supporters were ready to confront the security details of the Deputy Governor, when Ufomba called them to order.

But for the mature manner the two men handled the situation, there would have been bloodshed.

The incident forced the two Master of ceremonies Linda Osuoha and Godspower Nwagbara to insist that the programme is not a political rally or ground for political campaign,

even as they insisted that there should be no party slogans, as the celebrator is a man of peace who would not want crisis to erupt at his ceremony.

It was after the announcement that the political maturity was displayed, as the APGA governorship hopeful in the state immediately alighted from his car, directed his people to stop all the vehicles as the Deputy Governor who was representing the governor, Chief Theodore Orji and his wife, Mrs. Nene Ananaba who represented the President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan and the governor’s wife, Lady Mercy Orji were already seated.

Ufomba quickly walked towards the celebrator, Eze Ikonne greeted him and apologised for coming late and had no intention of disrupting the ceremony. He also walked to the Deputy Governor and his wife and apologised, saying that he was sorry for what happened since he never knew that they were already seated,

which the Deputy Governor accepted. They immediately embraced themselves.

The action of the two politicians at the venue of the celebration took the supporters of Ufomba unawares as they were surprised at the behaviour of their principal. Some of them were already angling for a fight with the security details of the state Deputy Governor.

The ceremony started with the celebrator’s welcome address which was read by one of his sons. He thanked Governor Theodore Orji and his wife for their outstanding achievements in repositioning the state for accelerated growth and development in the state.

Eze Ikonne said: “It is worth mentioning that your efforts at promoting good governance, protection of lives and properties, economic growth and infrastructural development in the state are yielding the desired results. Today, Abia State is a

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eria, by expert

400 firms for Enugu International Trade Fair

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HE President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Dr Ifeanyi Okoye , has said that more than 400 companies had indicated interest to participate at the 2014 Enugu International Trade Fair.

Okoye made this known when he visited the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ima Niboro, in Abuja.

He said that the participating corporate organisations would include more than 25 companies from India, China, Indonesia, UK, Malaysia, US and South Africa.

He added that the visit was to solicit the support of NAN in ensuring the success of the fair, the 25th edition, billed for March 28 to April 7.

He disclosed that arrangements were being made by the chamber and Enugu State Government for the fair with the theme: “Increasing the Competitiveness of Nigerian Products in Global Market” .

The fair will be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Okoye said that agriculture would play a central role at the fair, saying that the fair would specifically help to boost agricultural production and commercial farming.

collapse. But none that we built has collapsed.

In terms of regulations, how can government ensure quality assurance in the delivery of projects executed by indigenous contractors?

Three things are necessary. First and foremost, there must be a Nigerian construction policy. Secondly, there must be a Nigerian construction bank. Thirdly, there must be enforcement of the laws that have been put in place.

What will be the functions of the construction banks?

When you have construction bank and construction policy, the problem of funding which results in cutting corners will be eradicated. Every builder will be registered just like we have in other professions like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which is saddled with the re•Continued on page 38

ates anniversary ‘It is worth mentioning that your efforts at promoting good governance, protection of lives and properties, economic growth and infrastructural development in the state are yielding the desired results. Today, Abia State is a haven for peace, a vital ingredient for sustainable development’ haven for peace, a vital ingredient for sustainable development.”

He used the forum to plead with the governor to heed to the voice of the people of the state, especially the Abia Central Senatorial zone by vying for a seat at the Senate, saying that the voice of the people is the voice of God. “You have done well and the people cannot afford to lose your kind of political potential in the political arena for now,” he said.

The monarch later conferred on the

He said that new products, prototypes, innovations and research findings would be displayed at the fair.

He assured that efforts had been made to provide security and necessary infrastructure, including power and water at the fair site.

Okoye said that the chamber was collaborating with the state government to provide the facilities.

He said that two 500 KVA generators would also be provided for use in case of disruption in public power supply at the fair venue.

“We have become familiar with the environment and will use our experience gathered in the past to create more ambience to make the environment friendly, through im-

proved and systematic allocation of space to participants,” he said.

The ECCIMA President praised NAN’s efforts in advancing free enterprise and sustenance of democracy in the country.

Replying, Niboro pledged the agency’s support in making the fair a success, especially as the 2014 edition would be the silver jubilee of the fair.

He urged the chamber to ensure that its activities aligned with the economic transformation agenda of President Jonathan, noting that the administration had supported indigenous entrepreneurship.

“In the past few years, Nigeria has achieved the impossible in regards to economic development,” he said

Anambra APC begins registration of members soon

•Mr Nwana

those supervising a project are after how to line their pockets with money, then they are not professionals.

We have always emphasised that we should be given jobs and allow us to do it professionally.

Since we have been in the industry in the past 30 years, no building which we have constructed has collapsed. Go and check our records.

We stand to be challenged in whatever service we have delivered. But when you give projects to non-professionals, what you get is what you bargained for.

Albert Enstein said that “everything is related”. Just as we are talking about construction engineering, it goes the same way with other professions which we all belong to.

We have quack tailors, quack doctors, quack journalists, quack politicians and quack engineers. That is why we are experiencing building

Efforts had been made to provide security and necessary infrastructure, including power and water at the fair site...The chamber was collaborating with the state government to provide the facilities

wife of the President, Dame Jonathan a chieftaincy title of Ada Ugo 1 (priceless daughter) of Eziama, Aba and the title was received on behalf of the President’s wife by the wife of the state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Ananaba.

Eze Ikonne further said she was chosen for the honour because of her outstanding qualities and her drive for human development which he said has impacted positively on the women and children of the country.

Speaking after the investiture, Dame Jonathan thanked the royal father for

T

HE All Progressives Congress APC will begin the registration of its members in

Anambra State soon .The hint was given in Awka by the party’s Interim Publicity Secretary in Anambra State, Mr. Chukwuma Agufugo.

It would be recalled that APC conducted registration of its members before the November 16, 2013 Governorship election.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Agufugo, while speaking with our correspondent in Awka, said though there was such exercise before the election, that there were challenges during the exercise.

The challenges, according to him, were that the register sent to the state did not have polling numbers on them, while those who were incharge of the registration had

We are going to meet with the party executive members to discuss on the way forward in our party especially, as it concerns the registration of members. And I believe within a short time, the party will come out with a new date for the exercise the honour bestowed on her and promised to keep working and supporting her husband to ensure a peaceful country where the citizens will have the freedom to express themselves without any fear.

In his speech, the governor, who was represented by his deputy, congratulated the celebrator on his double anniversary. He prayed that God should grant him more rewarding years and good health to continue to serve his people.

The next chieftaincy title of Agbawo dike izu (decisions cannot be taken behind a strong man) was conferred on Chief Ufomba, who quickly after the conferment went to greet the Deputy Governor, who embraced him and congratulated him on his new title.

At the end of the ceremony, the Deputy Governor walked to the canopy where Ufomba sat with his wife, friends and supporters to greet him before leaving for Umuahia.

People praised their show of maturity, saying it was an exemplary display of politics without bitterness.

•Eze Ikonne and his wife

problems of spelling names correctly because they were not from the area.

He said that the national leadership of APC would soon send new registers to Anambra like the way they did to other states during the recently held registration exercise in the states.

As at the time of filing this report, the interim state executive of APC was about to meet at the party’s state office along Zik Avenue to discuss the issue and perhaps pick a date for the exercise.

According to Agufugo, we are going to meet with the party executive members to discuss on the way forward in our party especially, as it concerns the registration of members “And I believe within a short time, the party will come out with a new date for the exercise in Anambra, and those areas we had challenges before will be taken care of”

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E

NUGU, the coal city, clocked 100 years few years ago. Plans to mark the milestone were in top gear by the state government before its abortion. The Sullivan Chime administration planned that the entire former Eastern Region will go into wild celebration to mark the 100 years of the founding of the town by the Colonial Masters. But that could not hold due to political differences among some political personalities in the state. The chairman of the centenary celebration committee was Chief John Nnia Nwodo, a former Minister of Information. Nwodo resigned his appointment in the middle of the intense struggle of who to control the political structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between Governor Sullivan Chime and the then national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, a sibling of the chairman of the centenary committee.

With everything put in place– billboards, radio jingles, souvenirs among others, Enugu was set to host the world in December 2009. It would have been an opportunity to showcase the natural and human potential which abound in the coal city. But it never took place, and Enugu, the city of coal, thrives on.

Enugu came into existence in 1909 after the discovery of coal by the Colonial Masters. The discovery of coal in Enugwu Ngwo, one of the 10 villages of Ngwo clan, was incidental. It was from this village that the town derived its name Enugu up till this day. And the story goes that in 1908, a British expedition on its way to the Middle Belt from Awka, sighted the hill at Enugwu Ngwo and reported back to Lagos.

Interest in the hill compelled the colonial government to send a team of mining engineers to the area in 1909 to prospect for silver. But the team, led by Engr. Kitson, struck coal instead.

Another team of mining engineers led by W. J. Leck, arrived in Enugwu Ngwo in 1914 to open up a coal mine. They arrived with a team of African labourers under the headship of one Alfred Inoma from Onitsha.

The Europeans settled on top of the hill at Ngwo now called Hilltop. At the slope to the south, they set up another settlement for the African labourers. The settlement is known as Alfred Camp or Ugwu Alfred.

Both settlements have expanded.

The hilltop settlement has been modernised and extended to the place where the Enugu State Broadcasting Service has its transmitting station. The Alfred Settlement, a cluster of mud houses, quaint to behold, can be sighted on a walk along Murtala Mohammed Way

•New look Enugu City

Within the next couple of years, over 3,000 men were working in the Enugu Colliery, while the Eastern Railway line that passes from Port Harcourt through Enugu to the North had about 5,000 labourers, majority of who had made Enugu their residence

•Coal miners

Chime to restore Enugu’s lost glory From Chris Oji, Enugu

(Kingsway Road) as one nears the the old site of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.

With an eye on the plains of the Udi Hills, the government, in 1915, constructed a road linking the hill station to the plains. Called the Milliken Hill Road named after the head engineer roads, a ride through the 4.8km road is a bend-drive course at a speed of 8km per hour. And soon after the opening of the coal mine in 1915, the management of the colliery embarked on massive recruitment of labourers to work in the mines. The then colonial governor, Lord Fredrick Lugard had, as early as 1912, decided that the Enugu Coal Field would be worked as a state industry in contrast to tin being mined in Jos as a private enterprise. This, he reasoned, was because of the importance

Enugu Coal Field would be worked as a state industry in contrast to tin being mined in Jos as a private enterprise. This was because of the importance of coal in the development of the Nigerian economy, coupled with the difficulty in finding labour to work in the coal mine of coal in the development of the Nigerian economy, coupled with the difficulty which he thought would be experienced in finding labour to work in the coal mine.

“I understand that except by compulsion, it is impossible to get labour in Southern Nigeria,” Lugard had said. He argued that since the gov-

ernment would have to provide force to regiment the labour, government might as well work the coal field itself.

By the first year of its operations in 1916, the colliery had in its register about 800 daily paid labourers, who in addition to the better established technical cadre made up of clerks,

•Coal

technicians, foremen, continued a huge influx of immigrants to thecity at the early stage of development.

While these later grade of workers came from districts outside Enugu in such far away places like Sierra Leone, Calabar, Warri, Owerri, Benin,

Onitsha, Port Harcourt and so on, most of the labourers were from the neighbouring villages in the then Udi Division.

Within the next couple of years, over 3,000 men were working in the Enugu Colliery, while the Eastern

Railway line that passes from Port Harcourt through Enugu to the North had about 5,000 labourers, majority of who had made Enugu their residence.

These immigrant settlers who came with their families and relations constituted a big strain on the young town

since there were yet no permanent residential structures there. This posed a new challenge not only to the Colliery Management, but also to the colonial administrative officers posted to the town, who as an interim measure, had embarked on erection of Colliery Villages to accommodate the coal miners.

In 1917, Enugu was declared a second class Township and divided into four zones viz- the European Reservation Area, the Neutral Zone, the Residential and Business Area and the Native Locations. A township Advisory Board was set up to take care of the political administration of the area. In 1920, the colonial government moved down the administrative headquarters of the then Udi Division to Enugu Township and renamed it Enugu Ngwo Division. But this lasted for a while as the headqarters were again transferred back to Udi 1929 as a result of several logistics problems connected with administering the entire division from the township.

One aspect of Enugu which most people do not know, even those who now claim authority of the city is that Enugu was once the headquarters of the Southern Provinces. Before transferring back the Udi Division headquarters to Udi, the colonial govern •Continued on page ??

Philanthropist donates brush cutters to school

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HE joy of the pupils of Government Primary School, Ajalli, in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State,knew no bounds on Monday as two brush cutters worth over N1 million were donated to them by Mr. Godwin Ezeemo.

Ezeemo was the governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) during the November 16, 2013 election in the state.

The brush cutters were the promise he made to the school when he visited the pupils in October, 2013 during one of his campaigns.

The pupils, their teachers and the entire community were all in smiles as the donation was being made.

Addressing the pupils and their teachers, Ezeemo said that his heart was touched when he visited the school last year and saw the sufferings of the under aged trying to cut the bush called school field.

He said the provision of the brush cutters was to make sure that the innocent children were shielded from snake bites, adding that the over grown field could produce reptiles.

The headmistress of the school, Mrs. Ezeohake

‘God will reward you for remembering the children, God will make you to be that which you promise to be in Anambra, God will not forsake you for putting smiles on the faces of these children’ Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Felicia, praised Ezeemo for the gesture, adding that they thought his promise in 2013 was another political one.

She prayed to God to guide and protect the donor for remembering a poor community school and its students.

Also, the President General (PG) of the women wing in the community, Mr. Alice Orji-Obasi, who doubles as the education committee chairman in Ajalli, said that if people like Ezeemo could hold powers, the state would not be the same again.

She said: “God will reward you for remembering the children, God will make you to be that which you promise to be in Anambra, God will not forsake you for putting smiles on the faces of these children”.

From left: Enugu State Commissioner For Human Capital Development, Mr Godwin Ogenyi; Representative of the Secretary to Enugu State Government, Mr John Agu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Human Capital Development, Mr Sylvester Ugwuagbo and Principal, Enugu State Cooperative College, Mr Banaiah Udechukwu, at a workshop on accessing Central Bank/Bank of Industry loans in Enugu

From left:Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Caleb Maduoma; new Bishop of Yewa Anglican Communion, Rt.Rev. Michael Oluwarohunbi; Primate of Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh and wife of Bishop of Yewa, Mrs Grace Oluwarohunbi, at the consecration of the new Bishop in Ibadan

Nsukka business community laments poor power supply From Chris Oji, Enugu

T

he Allied Business Community, Nsukka, has expressed deep concern over the worsening power situation in Nsukka, Enugu State.

In a position paper presented by its President, Comrade Okagu Augustine in Enugu, the group said poor power supply had crippled their businesses, adding that most of their members had already closed shops.

The business community lamented that the power project at Nru Junction, which would have solved the acute power problem in the area, had long been abandoned.

“We want to state with deep pain in our hearts that the power supply in Nsukka zone has gone from bad to worst. Epileptic power has killed our businesses, yet we are still paying relevant rates to the government.

“In addition to this, we are being over-laboured with exorbitant estimated bill from the Electricity Distribution Company. It would have been a different scenario if we do enjoy the power supply to a reasonable extent, but the reverse is the case as we have continued to pay for power we never used.

“As we talk to you today, over 50 percent of our members have either quit their businesses or retired to their villages owing to untold hardship occasioned by lack of power.

“We are all aware of the high cost of diesel and the implication of using it constantly to run our businesses”.

The group called on the Federal Government to all assistance to the contractor handling the Nru Junction Power project.

“Government should ensure that the contractor returns to site and complete that project. Similar projects started in other parts of the country at the same time have since been completed and commissioned.

“Our own case should not be different; government should be alive to its responsibility”, they added

Anambra GDP has grown by 40 per cent, says minister

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HE Supervisory Minister of National Planning Commission and Minister of State for Works,Ambassador Bashir Yuguda has said that Anambra State’s Gross Domestic Product – GDP has grown from N735.80 billion in 2009 to N1.005 trillion in 2011, representing about 40 percent growth.

Yuguda praised Anambra State for what he called the impressive rise in her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and noted that Anambra’s GDP was growing better than those of some African and Caribbean countries.

Speaking while presenting the pilot survey findings on the State GDP to the members of the State Executive Council at the Governor’s Lodge, Yuguda attributed the phenomenal rise to purposeful leadership of Governor Peter Obi and efficient implementation of the Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy – ANIDS. The Nation reports that the Pilot Survey Scheme was conducted by the National Planning Commission in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics in seven states selected from the six geo-political zones. The project is being implemented in two phases and would be completed in December.

Ambassador Yuguda said data were generated from agriculture, industry and other services using production and income approaches, with agriculture recording 30 percent, industry four percent and service sector 66 percent.

The minister assured that they would begin immediate updating of the State GDP to capture the numerous achievements recorded since 2010 when the last study was conducted and would be presented before the end of the governor’s tenure.

The Statistician General of the Federation, Mr. Yemi Kale, said the state was one of the top most developed and advanced states in education in the country. Kale enjoined the state to take advantage of the huge opportunity in small and medium enterprises potential to improve internally generated revenue.

Responding, Governor Obi said

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha •Governor Obi

the state had moved a lot higher from the period of study in 2010 as it had achieved a lot in various sectors. He explained that a lot of direct foreign investments by multinational cooperations had been recorded in the state since 2012 while industrial growth had witnessed a lip. The governor noted that the state has the highest number of bank branches after Lagos and Abuja which he said was an indication of viable economic growth while Anamrba remained the only state that has not borrowed in the country. He observed that the rating of the state of the state in the pilot survey was a strong statement of the status of the state in the country.

Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Oseloka Obaze, said the state ranked very high in direct foreign investment.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof.

Chinyere Okunna, said the result of the pilot study would among other things, enhance future planning and deployment of resources as the state was data based. Prof. Okunna stressed the need for updating of the study to capture the remarkable comprehensive development of all sectors since 2011.

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I

HEMEGBUNEM Okafor is an Enugu-based journalist. Recently, he had some health challenges regarding his heart. He was treated at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla. Okafor in this piece narrated his experience at the UNTH. He volunteered to make his experience public as a response to some newspaper publications, particularly by a columnist with a national daily who wrote that UNTH lacked most basic facilities “that are found even at the small private clinics elsewhere.”

Okafor said: “After reading the article, I wondered if the excellent medical services and equipment at UNTH where I underwent open heart surgery in March last year had become so bad by September as the article tried to paint. I am not holding the fort for UNTH or trying to say that there are no minor lapses at UNTH which operates within the Nigerian environment. Continuing, he said: “As a beneficiary of UNTH’s good medical services and equipment at the highest level (open heart surgery), I think it is necessary for me to let Nigerians know that UNTH is quite on track as National Cardiothoracic Centre of Excellence. And this is what necessitated this rejoinder to Mr. Ezechukwu’s article.

“In February this year, I woke up one morning and discovered that my breathing was not normal as my heart was beating faster and louder. I went to UNTH; Ituku/ Ozalla to know what has gone wrong with me.

“On arrival at UNTH, I met an efficient workforce. After the necessary protocol of registration and obtaining a card, the doctor I met at the General Out-Patient Department (GOPD) referred me to the Clinical Measurement Unit for

•Ihemegbunem okafor being examined by Prof. Anyanwu while ICU matron, Mrs. Chinwe Nnajekwu and Mrs. Ugwuoke look on.

‘UNTH has state-of-the-art facilities’ From Chris Oji, Enugu

echo and ECG examinations.

At the hospital’s echo room, I met a highly dedicated cardiologist, Dr. Emmanuel Ejim, who attended to me efficiently. And through the accurate and sophisticated echo machine at the hospital, it was discovered that I had a tumour (growth)

‘After reading the article, I wondered if the excellent medical services and equipment at UNTH where I underwent open heart surgery in March last year had become so bad by September as the article tried to paint’ inside one of my heart chambers (left atrium). The tumour is called

myxoma. According to the doctor, it was like a time bomb waiting to

Why buildings collapse in Nigeria, by expert •Continued from page 34 sponsibility of monitoring the activities of lawyers. When you go to the bank to take loan to do a job, they will check, the regulatory bodies will do the double checking and you will find out that one of the people who do a lot of checking is the bank. Before a bank gives you loan facility, it makes sure that a lot of things are in place.

I have done jobs abroad and I know such things help to put check on the contractors. A contractor can’t claim to have built 10 or 20-floor edifice when he has never built a bungalow.

One secret that is sustaining MOSAF is that whatever we have done, we did it through documentation. Secondly, we don’t pay any money unless through the bank. So, the bank has been our accountant and auditor that check our books regularly.

Those things help to instill discipline in the contractor because discipline is very important in quality and quality gives standard and standard gives sustainability. That is the role of a bank.

In terms of quality delivery, time and competence of your engineers and basically quality assurance, what can you say are the landmark projects your firm has executed in the past 30 years?

When we have finished executing projects, people always say they were executed by Julius Berger. This

•A building constructed by the firm

makes my engineers and members of staff angry. I will tell them to cheer up because it means that the project executed met international standard.

But I want to tell you that we are matching them technology to technology, competence to competence and all that. The only thing we don’t have is patronage because we are not a foreign construction firm.

In terms of corporate social responsibilities, how has your company affected the lives of members of your host communities, especially the less-privileged people?

Everywhere we had worked, we ensure that we affected the lives of the people positively. In the Niger Delta region, we built halls and trained a lot of people in various fields. In my community, Enugu-

Ukwu, we empowered 371 widows.

We train orphans, we build schools and churches. We have a foundation called “The Friends of the Environment”, whose core mandate is cleaning the environment and the best environment to clean is your brain.

You are where you are today because your parents cleaned your brain, that is the greatest environment, clean this environment and every other thing is cleaned.

With the limited resources available to us, we have been able to impact positively on the education sector. We have trained over 169 graduates. The records are there to show.

Your firm is 30 years old. What are your expectations of this company in the next 10 years?

Rail line all through the West

Coast, move about 100 million people along the West Coast, build a rail line along the West Coast to move human beings. The greatest thing you can do to human beings is to move them. If there are trains for mass movement of human beings, there will be fewer disasters like air crash and road accidents.

People will have alternative means of transportation. We don’t have a choice for now.

In the next 10 years, MOSAF would want to play major role in the development of the country’s railway system.

Are you investing in that technology; are you working with the government to that effect?

Yes we are working with government and foreign concerns. What we need is to be supported.

explode since it could occlude the mitral valve or cause stroke or sudden death without notice.

“The only treatment, according to the doctor, was surgical removal of the tumour. So, I was asked to go for heart surgery. Luckily for me, UNTH is the only hospital do•Continued on page 40

When you have construction bank and construction policy, the problem of funding which results in cutting corners will be eradicated. Every builder will be registered just like we have in other professions like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the activities of lawyers Which of the countries are you collaborating with? Is your presence only in Nigeria or does it go beyond Africa?

We are collaborating with firms in German, America, England, French in the area of rails development, construction of power plants and consultancy.

In the area of project management, we collaborate with British firms, Asian firms and Hong Kong.

We are collaborating with Indians on massive housing projects.

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•Enugu Ngwo

Chime to restore Enugu’s lost glory •Continued from page ??

ment had decided to move the headquarters of the Southern Provinces comprised of Onitsha, Ogoja, Owerri, Calabar, the Cameroons, Ijebu, Oyo, Abeokuta, Ondo, Benin and Warri Provinces from Lagos to Enugu. This was due to mainly the importance of coal to the development of the economy of the country. Enugu remained the capital for 10 years from 1929 to 1939 when the Southern Provinces was split into two – the Eastern and Western Provinces with headquarters at Enugu and Ibadan respectively. While the Eastern Provinces comprised Onitsha , Ogoja, Owerri, Calabar and the Cameroons, the Western Provinces was made up of Ijebu, Abeokuta , Oyo, Ondo , Benin and Warri.

The citing of the administrative headquarters of the Southern Provinces in Enugu in 1929 had brought about the setting up of various administrative structures with civil servants recruited from different parts of the country to man these structures.

There were civil servants recruited from Ibadan , Calabar , Benin , Abeokuta , Warri, Ondo, Aba , Owerri, Onitsha , that took residences in Enugu . Even after Ibadan became an administrative capital along with Enugu , many of these civil servants still elected to remain behind to work in Enugu . This was primarily due to the friendly disposition of the people of the area.

In 1928, two Africans were for the first time, appointed into the Enugu Township Advisory Board. They were John Anyansi and Lawrence Onwudiwe. The Latter was forced to resign in 1931 following his indictment on corruption charges. He was replaced by A. R. Broderick, a prison contractor from Benin . This was followed by the appointment of Chief Sani, a Yoruba, into the board in 1936.

With the death of both Broderick and Sani, C. D. Onyeama from Eke, Udi division and S. A. Strong, a Sierra Leonean, were appointed to replace them.

The first democratic election into the newly constituted Enugu Urban District Council was held in 1953.

Those elected into the council included Samuel Wilson, Dominic Oluka, Lawrence Ezechi, Sam Anyogu, C. O. C. Chiedozie, Michael

‘We are celebrating a city with great significance, an enduring and rugged city which has stood tall in good times and bad times, in times of peace and in times of war.”We are celebrating a city which means different things to different people but means one thing to most of us- a home.”I remember with nostalgia growing up in this city, the diverse experiences we had and the many friends we made from far flung places because Enugu was and is still home to all’ Ajoku, B. C. N. Okeke,Josiah Agu, John U. Okoro, D. T. Inyang, S. Odume.

Walwin Ebreneyin, G. K. Igwe, Gabriel Agbo, Nelson Onwudiwe, Joseph Ogbu, Ezekiel Eze, Michael Onovo, D. A. Nwandu, Hermas Adigwe and Patrick Ozonu. The councilors sitting among themselves later elected Walwin Ebreneyin, an Urhobo man as the chairman of the council with Patrick Ozonu from Ngwo in Udi Division as his deputy.

And in 1953, Mr. Ebreneyin was succeeded as chairman of the council

by Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani cattle dealer from Sokoto. Altine later became the first Mayor of Enugu when the City was elevated to mayoral status in 1956.

In 1967, a committee under the

chairmaqnship of the then Attorney General of the former Eastern Region, Dr. Graham Douglas, recommended the creation of 20 provinces in the region and 33 divisions. Enugu in addition to retaining its position as the capital of the region, was as well granted a provincial status with F. O. Iheanacho from Owerri as the administrator. He was later replaced by C. C. Onoh. And in the same year, when Republic of Biafra was declared, Enugu became its capital. And at the end of the civil war in 1970, it became the capital of the defunct East Central State and later the capital of the old Anambra State when East Central state was split into two – Imo and Anambra states. Today, Enugu is the capital of the state named after it,

•Chime

Enugu State .

At the time the planning of the aborted centenary celebration was on, Governor Chime had this to say about Enugu: “Our city has contrib-

uted so much to our lives and businesses and this is the time to show appreciation by supporting the Centenary celebrations.

“We are celebrating a city with great significance, an enduring and rugged city which has stood tall in good times and bad times, in times of peace and in times of war.”We are celebrating a city which means different things to different people but means one thing to most of us- a home.”I remember with nostalgia growing up in this city, the diverse experiences we had and the many friends we made from far flung places because Enugu was and is still home to all. ”When my father who was a parliamentarian sat in the Eastern Nigeria House of Assembly, he did not only sit with the Nwodos, he sat with the Akpabios, the Emoles, the Imokes, the Okparas and many others. For us children, we neither knew any divide nor did we reckon with tribes, we were simply Enugu boys and girls and we had great fun.So today we celebrate the city that held us all together, a city where I, like many others here today was born.”A city that was home to the great Eyo Ita, the first premier of Eastern Nigeria and the Zik of Africa, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. ”A city in its dynamism produced sports legends like Dominic Nwobodo, Emmanuel Okala, Christian Chukwu, JayJay Okocha, Innocent Egbunike and great actors like Chika Okpala-Zebrudaya, Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, Patience Ozokwor, Kanayo Kanayo, Zack Orji and many others.”In every facet of human endeavor Enugu has produced notable icons, be it in medicine, law, media or academics and because of these giant strides, we think it is important to celebrate our great past. In doing this we also want to look at where we are now and draw a road map for the future. ”When we mounted the saddle in May 2007 we met a mountain of challenges which we have studiously confronted, ranging from infrastructure collapse, poor city sanitation, insecurity, incapacitated transportation system and many more. We discovered though sadly that if drastic actions were not taken we were at the brink of losing our dear city hence our aggressive approach to urban renewal and our effort to make Enugu a modern city.”I am glad that today our efforts to renew, reclaim, recreate and restore Enugu are yielding fruits and that millions of people who turned their back to our beloved city are now returning home. Our hospitality industry is booming again and tourists are flooding back. ”One of the things we want to do is to focus attention on the great potentials inherent in our state and zone and the new opportunities available to investors, entrepreneurs and visitors.”

•From left: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, his wife Mercy, Deputy Governor Sir Emeka Ananaba and his wife Nene at a grand civic reception in honour of the governor

by Ikwuano/ Umuahia in Umuahia.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

40

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘UNTH has state-of-the-art facilities’ •Continued from page 38 ing open heart surgery in Nigeria.

“I was admitted for the open heart surgery on March 13, last year.

1 had no choice of ward where I would stay for my heart surgery but I was given a suite at the hospital private suites and this was where I stayed till I was discharged from the hospital on March 27, 2013 after a successful surgery.

“While I was in the hospital being prepared for the open heart surgery, the doctors, nurses and other medical personnel that had anything to do with me took very good care of me so much so that I had to direct my younger brother, Akachukwu who came to stay with me in the hospital to go home.”

Mr. Okafor while he was in the hospital, he was in good hands and was treated like a king to the extent that the hospital dieticians took record of his choice of food. His private suite had everything to make him comfortable, even as he said there was a refrigerator, a plasma cable television, an air conditioner and a ceiling fan. The windows and doors had mosquito nets while there was a big electricity generating set that supplied light to the hospital anytime there was public power outage.

“While I was being prepared for the surgery, the consultants, doctors and nurses attended to me as and when due. The porters were ever ready to go on errands for me; hence there was no need for any of my relations to stay with me.

“One week after I was admitted in the hospital, doctors confirmed that I was fit for the surgery both mentally and physically.

So, on March 20, 2013, I was wheeled into the ultra-modern cardiothoracic theatre.

“The cardiothoracic theatre at UNTH Ituku/Ozalla has state-ofthe-art equipment that can compare with the best in the world. A visit to the theatre is like a visit to the best heart hospitals in Europe or America.

“With the help of God Almighty, the UNTH Consultants, doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists and physiotherapists who displayed rare professionalism successfully car-

The cardiothoracic theatre at UNTH Ituku/Ozalla has state-of-the-art equipment that can compare with the best in the world.

A visit to the theatre is like a visit to the best heart hospitals in Europe or America

•An open heart surgery bypass machine at the UNTH cardiothoracic theatre during Okafor's surgery

•Okafor (in safari suit) being congratulated by the UNTH Chief Medical Director, Dr. Chris Amah

ried out open heart surgery on me on March 20, 2013.

He said: “After the surgery, I was wheeled into Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. The

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UNTH, Dr. Chris Amah came personally to congratulate me on the successful heart surgery.

“At the ICU, 1 was treated like a

newly born baby as the doctors and nurses handled me like a fragile object. The physiotherapists were very much on hand to teach me how to walk again.

I will like to say here that with the help of God, the quality of care and medication I received at the ICU helped me to recover very quickly. My recovery was very rapid so much so that after four days of the surgery, I was moved back to the private suite.”

He said the nurses and other hospital personnel at the private suites celebrated his comeback to the ward as shouts of Alleluia and praise God rented the air. The Matron of the private suites was so excited that she embraced him while dancing, waving hands and thanking God for his successful surgery.

Mr. Okafor noted that since his recovery was very rapid, on March 27, 2013, two days after he came back to the private ward, a consultant, Dr. O. C. Nzewi came to his suite and after examining him, declared him fit to go home after signing his discharge papers.

As he prepared to go home, Mr. Okafor said he felt nostalgic as he felt he was already missing good friends. The nurses on duty gathered to wish him well. As they waved at him, they asked him to always say hello to them anytime he goes there for his health checks.

Transforming Imo health sector •Continued from page 33 pectant mothers in the hospital is straining the available facilities and staff capacity, adding that the near collapse of the public healthcare system in the state is responsible for the situation.

He said: ”We are trying our best to cope with the challenges. Imagine on a daily basis we attend to between 450 to 500 expectant mothers and the figure is almost the same with delivery cases. I think the reason is that government-owned hospitals are not working because if the public health institutions are functioning as they should, they will take away the burden from the FMC.” Meanwhile, the few public hospitals in the state are poorly equipped and managed; a situation that eroded public confidence in the ability of the hospitals to deliver quality healthcare services.

At the Specialist Hospital Umuguma, the doctors and other health workers are constantly agitating for improved remunerations, resulting in frequent strike actions, which had further paralysed its operations.

The government hospitals, according to Chief Paul Ezihe, a retired health worker, became comatose after the state government leased them out to private operators, a decision

‘Public healthcare delivery in the state is at the verge of total collapse. Except something drastic is done urgently, the drift may continue.

You can imagine a situation where the only functional public health institution in the state is the FMC’ he said, was strongly resisted by experts and stakeholders.

He said: ”Public healthcare delivery in the state is at the verge of total collapse. Except something drastic is done urgently, the drift may continue. You can imagine a situation where the only functional public health institution in the state is the FMC. Granted that the government is building new hospitals, swifter measures should be taken to revive the existing ones.”

Although the Imo State govern-

•Some of the expectant mothers waiting to be attended to.

ment is building new general hospitals in each of the 27 local government areas of the state, experts are of the opinion that interim measures should be taken to provide quality healthcare to the people of the state.

We appreciate the state government’s efforts in that direction, but the people should be provided with affordable and quality healthcare delivery. In Imo State today mater-

nal mortality rate is on the increase because most pregnant women, especially those in the rural areas cannot access medical services.

“There should be functional health centres in every community and that will bring healthcare to the door step of the people and increase life expectancy which had dropped drastically in the state”.

When contacted, the commissioner

for health Dr Edward Ihejirika said the state government have put facilities and structures in place to take care of pregnant women and children.

He said the government is aware of the plight of mothers and pregnant, thus, the government result to make maternal care free, adding that all health care centres across the state have commenced full implementation of the programme.

THE NATION THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 20, 2014

41

CAMPUS LIFE Union parliament sworn in

M

EMBERS of parliament of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) have been sworn in in a ceremony held in school Auditorium 1 on Isolo campus.

Before the commencement of the programme, a minute silence was observed in honour of late Oladimeji Olu, a Computer Engineering student, who until his death was a member of the outgoing lawmakers.

In his address titled: Students’ Representative Council towards positive change, Uthman Olasunkami, a former Minority Leader in the house, said students’ unionism had lost its value, noting that in the past, students’ leaders stood their ground and fought for the benefits of students. He said unionism had become a political tool for selfish individuals, urging members to work in unity to achieve the primary objective of the union.

Mr Aderemi Badmus, who administered the oath of office on

•Daisi and Badmus with members of the parliament after the ceremony From Tolulope Ogunleye

LASPOTECH the parliamentarians, advised them to carry out their responsibilities with diligence.

The Assistant Dean of Students’ Affairs, Mr Daisi Olusegun, said

the platform was the beginning of a political career for some of them, urging them to be responsible and work in harmony.

Mr Olajuwon Aiyeokutan, also advised them not to lord it over other students on campus, adding that they should not forget their

primary objective as students.

The new officers included Aminu Lukmon, Speaker; Okpara Williams, Deputy Speaker; Akintola Sheriff, Clerk; Fagbemi Emmanuel, Majority Leader; Batife Daisi Minority Leader; Olubode Olumide, Chief Whip, Adedeji

Ibrahim, Mace Bearer; Adetola Adeniyi, Special Service; Oluwole Sarah, Publication Chairman and Babatunde Patrick, Protocol.

In his vote of thanks, Lukmon thanked everyone for the success of the event and promised to make his tenure the best in the history of the institution.

Poly elects union leaders

J

AMES Ayepada of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, Ondo State has been elected president of the school’s Students’ Union Government (SUG).

The election, which held on the school’s main campus last Friday, saw Ayepada polling 177 votes to beat his opponents Oluwole Ajimosun, who had 129 and Evidence Chibogu, who had 150 votes.

The exercise, which was held amid tight security, was marred by low turnout of voters. Many students did not participate in the election because of examination, which will start in a few weeks.

Others elected included Christiana Jegede, Public Relations Officer, Adeola Adaramoye, Welfare Director and Olanrenwaju Adeyemi, Treasurer.

Positions such as General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Financial Secretary, Social Director and Sport Director were con-

From Adedayo Oluodo

RUGIPO tested unopposed.

The part-time students also elected their president, Oluwole Adegboro, and other executives unopposed.

The election, which was supposed to have been conducted last session, was delayed by the management because of non-payment of school fee by students.

The management was, however, forced to allow the students go ahead with the exercise, following a protest on the campus by the students.

The Rector, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun met with students last week, urging them to pay their fee. He said only 15 per cent of students had paid.

Students congratulated the elected leaders, urging them to promote their interest before the management.

Be serious with your studies, freshers advised

T

HE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali has advised new students to be serious with their academics, saying those who fail to meet the minimum required Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) would be asked to withdraw.

He gave the advice during the orientation programme organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the university.

Ambali urged them to maintain close relationship with their course advisers and staff, adding: “These are the people that will help you whenever you encounter challenges in your academic pursuit.”

In his address entitled: Remember the son of whom you are, the Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Obafemi, enjoined the students to be good ambassadors of their families and the school.He warned them to be careful of the kind of company they keep.

From Olalekan Alamu

UNILORIN The SUG President, Abiodun Lawal congratulated the students on their admission into the university and urged them not to be carried away by the excitement of campus life, urging them to strive for academic excellence.

“As your leaders, we promise to uphold the union’s vision of responsibly serving and empowering every student to be a force of change by upholding the long-aged tradition of learning and character,” he said.

Lawal encouraged the new students to always abide by the rules and regulations of the school.

The event was attended by the Deputy VC (Academic), Prof Bayo Lawal; Deputy VC (Management Services), Prof Yisa Fakunle; Deputy VC (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof Oladele; Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Abayomi Omotesho and other principal officers of the institution.

•Akintan (third right) posing with his friends and materials donated to the orphans

Graduate marks birthday with orphans

A

GRADUATE of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Akintan Akindele, has marked his birthday with orphans of Ondo State Children’s Home in Akure. He donated gifts to the orphans.

Akintan, who was the president of the National Association of Business and Administration Students (NABAMS), graduated in 2009.

He said: “Celebrating birthday among friends and family is good, but it is more rewarding to cel-

•Gives UTME forms to two From Dayo Ojerinde

AAUA ebrate with the less-privileged and make life meaningful to them.”

Items donated included a bag of rice, noodles, a bag of salt, detergents and soaps. The highpoint of the occasion was the cutting of birthday cake.

The celebrator paid for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exami-

nation (UTME) forms of two students in his home town, Ukonyande in Ikale area of Ondo State. The beneficiaries are EhinmisanMorenike and Joseph Aanu.

Akintan said:”I noticed their hard work and focus and I discovered that they do not have the means to obtain the form. I decided to extend a hand of fellowship by supporting them.”

The beneficiaries thanked Akintan for the gesture and promised to take their academic pursuit serious.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

42

CAMPUS LIFE The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has completed a 174-room Hall of Residence for students of the Federal University of Technology in Owerri (FUTO), Imo State.

MOHAMMED SANI (400-Level Public Health) reports.

NDDC hostel excites students “I T is bigger and imposing,” Jacinta Izuaka, a 300-Level student of Food Science Technology of the Federal University of Technology in Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, said after the commissioning of the ultra-modern hostel built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the institution. “It certainly has more spaces than the existing hostels on our campus,” she added.

Jacinta was expressing the mind of students when the 174-room hostel was opened for use last week. For the NDDC, the occasion was a defining moment because it was delivering on its mandate.

NDDC Chairman Senator Bassey EwaHenshaw led members of the commission to the university to open the building. EwaHenshaw said the commission would step up its partnership with higher institutions in the Niger Delta to promote quality education.

He said the hostel would provide a conducive learning environment and help students in their studies.

The NDDC Managing Director, Mr Bassey Dan-Abia, spoke about the agency’s contributions to educational development. He said since human capital development tops the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, the commission would strive to provide infrastructure that would help achieve the goal.

He said: “One of this administration’s policies for the development of education is the provision of infrastructure to stop over-crowding of students and increase access to decent accommodation, in line with the millennium development goals. We are working to achieve this aim.”

On how it is assisting other agencies, EwaHenshaw said the commission provided science equipment to secondary schools, retrained 500 science teachers and 225 principals and vice principals for capacity enhancement in schools management and administration.

He said: “We will, in line with President Jonathan’s directive, consistently complete and

deliver many more projects for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta in the coming months and years. Particularly, more hostel projects will be embarked on for the benefit of our students in universities across the region.”

Ewa-Henshaw announced the approval of the university’s request for a 500KVA electric transformer and generator for the hostel.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, said NDDC had fulfilled its mandate of facilitating the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta with the projects. He praised the commission for delivering the hostel, and requested for more facilities.

President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Godson Okeke said the new hostel had given students a reason to believe in the government and the commission. “We have thoroughly inspected the project and we certify that it is worthy to be occupied by our students,” he said.

Uchenna Ohalete, national secretary of Igbo Youths Ambassadors, described the edifice as a well-thought out initiative. He said: “This is one of the biggest projects in FUTO. It will enhance the welfare of the students and go a long way in alleviating the problems they encounter in securing hostel accommodation.”

The traditional ruler of Dindi-Ihiagwa in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, Eze Kinsley Eze-Odu, described the hostel as a “jumbo edifice” that would elevate the status of the university. “As the Eze of the institution’s host community, I am not Oliver Twist but I must ask for more facilities to help the university authorities to properly manage the increasing students’ population,” he said.

The state-of-the-art hostel has a 696 bed space and amenities for occupants’ convenience. The building has a big water tank linked to a solar-water treatment plant.

Other facilities include super markets, cybercafé, games rooms and rooms for physically-challenged students.

•Senator Ewa-Henshaw (second left) cutting the tape to open the hostel. With him are Mr Tuoyo Omatsuli, Executive Director Projects, NDDC (left), Prof Asiabaka (third left), Dan-Abia (second right), Dr. Henry Ogiri, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NDDC (right) and Eze Odu (third right)

•The NDDC hostel

Fresh graduates trained by VDT Communications Limited, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firm, in its free one-year Modular Trainee Engineers programmes have been employed after the exercise. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

•Omoniyi (middle) with the trainees at their graduation

A

S part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to reduce unemployment, VDT Communications Limited, a broadband communication firm, hase given free training to some graduates in its second Modular Trainee Engineers’ Programme.

At their graduation in Lagos, the firm’s Managing Director, Mr Abiodun Omoniyi, praised the trainees’ willingness to acquire expertise in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He offered them employment in the company.

The graduates, who underwent the free modular training programme, were paid allowances, during the exercise.

Omoniyi said the programme was necessitated by the need to help the government in reducing youth employment, noting that many job seekers could not be engaged because they lacked competency and adequate expertise to add values to employers.

Lucky graduates He said: “Having identified the challenge, VDT decided to take the bull by the horns by initiating modular trainee engineers’ programme for school leavers. The selection process for the annual programme involves an assessment test and interview, which make the successful candidates to be enrolled into the programme for one year. We make the programme free of charge.”

Omoniyi congratulated the trainees on the “successful completion” of the programme, urging the government and policymakers to close the gap between theory and practice.

Omoniyi said there was need to initiate curriculum that would give students practical knowledge in their disciplines and make them employable after school.

He said:“A practical experience is critically imperative for students and graduates to be employed in the world of ICT,” he said, adding that the firm possessed facility and resources to train manpower for the nation’s ICT sector.

“We are looking forward to the time we will be in the position to enroll many more candidates into this programme to increase our youths’ potentials for gainful employment.

Such opportunity will yield tremendous positive impact on the trainees, our economy and the nation.”

A participant, Musa Haliru praised the management of VDT Communications for creating a platform for the youths to explore their potentials in ICT, saying: “The training has

impacted an unquantifiable knowledge on me.”

Another trainee, Justina Ugherughe said the programme was unique because the participants, instead of paying for the training, were paid stipends while they underwent the exercise. She hailed the firm’s belief in the youths, saying she would make efforts to impact knowledge gained on others.

VDT’s Chief Technical Officer urged the trainees not to rest on their oars, urging them to improve on the skill they learned from the training. “Don’t be a jack of all trades, be a master in one and become all-time professional in it,” he advised.

The ceremony was witnessed by top management of the firm and members of staff.

VDT Communications is a bulk internet provider that provides digital leased circuit and wireless network to a wide range of companies, including financial and telecommunication firms.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

43

CAMPUS LIFE

To praise or bury Obahiagbon

By Gilbert Alasa

O

RATORY is perhaps one of the oldest forms of art. Men who possessed this gift stoked civil actions. They made women fall in love. They made the hearts of kings merry and quaver.

Some, in their creative guile, made truths out of lies; they made puritans out of the lascivious and conferred innocence on the guilty.

Through their high-flown fireworks, they inspired reverence for what was considered lofty and revolt for whatever did not dignify humankind.

From the dawn of the Grecian civilisation to the present day, man

“F

REEDOM of the press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticise and oppose”—George Orwell.

Society and reporting are like a man and his shadow. The society needs a reporter, not for what he is, but for what he does. What he does is providing information, thereby creating knowledge.

Knowledge is power, and journalism, through its activities, provides it.

Every democratic society creates a conducive atmosphere for the practice of journalism through enactment of relevant laws. These laws are known as “press laws”.

Section 39, sub-section 1 and 2, of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, states that “…every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression including to hold opinion and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference” and that “…every person

A

GAIN, politics is in the air. The country is approaching another election year, which will begin with the Ekiti and Osun states’ governorship elections. Again, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable for elections in both states and next year’s general elections.

Given its history electoral blunders, there seems to be challenging tasks ahead of INEC, which the umpire needs to solve before embarking on the elections. This time around, the electoral body has another opportunity to redeem its battered image.

Many, who had thought the nation got it wrong electorally because charlatans were given the chance to run the electoral process, are changing their opinion. The INEC is chaired by a professor of Political Science, Attahiru Jega and yet, there has been no improvement in the process. The recent polls held in states such as Edo, Ondo and Anambra are pointers to the fact that the umpire still need to put its house in order before embarking on another election.

Nigerians were highly disappointed by the disaster that became of the elections, especially that of the Anambra State.

In the past, supplementary elections have never been part of electoral experiences of the country. In Anambra

has employed the instrument of language, metaphors, allusions and captivating imageries to inspire patriotism or sway public opinion.

History reminds us how oratory was highly regarded in ancient Rome. It was taught in schools and citizens were expected to show their public speaking skills during their comitias. Knowledge of history, vocabulary, philosophy, gods and religion, were vital weapons of these orators.

The British House of Commons was equally notable for its influential array of orators. A four-time leader of the opposition, William Gladstone, popularly referred by Benjamin Disraeli as “God’s Only Mistake”, was renowned for his adroitness in the art of oratory. Even Winston Churchill once described Gladstone as “a sophistical rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity.” Till date, some scholars argue that his wordiness was one of the reasons he had poor rapport with Queen Victoria.

There were the vestiges of Timothy Healy, Tony Benn, FE Smith, Lloyd George; all regarded as parliamentary orators of choice. Even though one may not agree with their positions on issues, they were like a thriller, arresting and caressing the

soul to submission.

Great writers are aware of this ageless secret. They are skilled in deploying a language laced with deeper literary properties to address the human condition and consequently demonstrate the straw of their artistry. Ask William Shakespeare. Ask Joseph Conrad.

Ask Wole Soyinka. Ask Balzac. And of course, ask one Nigerian columnist that has influenced my writing, Sam Omatseye.

But there is always a clear boundary between a rousing orator and a rabble-rouser. You see it from the pulse of their breath. You perceive it from the acuity of their gaze and the dilation of their eyeballs. You can smell it from the calmness that springs forth from their soul, stoking the humanity of their audience.

You can feel it from the fluidity of their discourse and their creative capacity to be poetic, sensual and yet ideologically satisfying.

Since his stint as a law-maker at the House of Representatives, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon never ceased to grab headlines. A lot of his colleagues at the hallowed chamber had great difficulty understanding the “krikum krakums” that riddled his commentaries. In my first year in the university, my phone was re-

plete with various footages of his musings. Till date, some folks still label this writer as Obahiagbon.

I was taught by Dr. A. S. Moye that communication is only effective when the message is comprehended by the receiver. Since many Nigerians find it pretty hard to understand his dialectics, should we conclude then that Obahiagbon is not communicating? Does that confine him to the class of rabble-rousers? Why the usual disconnect associated with his communication style?

One, many of us have no appreciation for subtlety, style and depth.

How often do we pour into books to learn new grammatical structures and words? We are not even meticulous enough to properly spell out our words. You see that hastiness in our text-messaging. You see it in our commentaries on the social media. Even lecturers have had to grapple with a generation that has no regard for proper articulation of thoughts and basic communication skills. Like Reuben Abati once noted, we seem like a generation in a hurry. We hurry to live, to love, to marry, to travel outside the shores of Nigeria. We hurry to die.

In my opinion, Obahiagbon has all the trappings of a fine orator. He

Journalists and the law shall be entitled to own, establish and operate a medium for information dissemination of information, ideas and opinion”. It is no doubt that these laws only exist on paper. The execution of these laws is a mirage. Over the years, a lot of journalists have suffered countless persecutions from both the government and individuals.

These persecutions could take the form of kidnapping of journalists or outright killing. What is disturbing is that the perpetrators do not seem to recognise the distinction between an “aspiring reporter” and a “professional reporter. Once you publish a report considered pejorative, you might just be up for possible persecution.

This reminds me of the plight of

Emeka Onwudinjo, a second-year student of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, who was recently expelled from school as a result of practising his desired profession—journalism.

As I stumbled on the story in Daily Sun newspaper tagged: “Okopoly expels student for reporting news”, I couldn’t help but ask: what future does journalism hold for us in our country? How free are we in expressing our opinions?

Is it a failed career for some endangered species? If all pleas by Emeka for the Rector, Prof Godwin Onu, to rescind his stance concerning the situation fail, it could mark the end of his dreams as a journalist. Even if he sur-

mounts the courage to continue, the flame of journalism in him may have been reduced to a flicker. He will be daunted, and the tendency to approach journalism with fear would creep in. This gruesome decision can hinder the desire of other ardent young reporters in our country. Why should a student report factual stories and end up being battered or assaulted?

Emeka’s case is one of many in the trajectory of reporters, who have borne the cross of reporting since the history of journalism in Nigeria. A part from Dele Giwa and others of his time, some pen pushers have lost their lives practicing the profession, including Sunday Gyang Bwede and Nathan S. Dabak both of The Light Bearer;

Challenges before INEC poll, Prof Jega admitted INEC’s blunder but still went ahead to announce result: “We are going for a supplementary election in some wards he said.”

To say the least, holding a supplementary election makes nonsense of the whole process.

Although, the INEC chairman had promised to rectify the past mistakes and vowed such would not be repeated in Ekiti and Osun governorship polls. But what has the umpire put in place to arrest challenges that may arise in the coming polls.

We do not expect the repeat of previous mistakes if the electoral body must be saved from public opprobrium. Do we still have some of electoral officers that compromised the process in Anambra and Ondo States in the system?

As part of tasks for the INEC, there are areas the agency needs to focus and amend to organise flawless process, which would in turn improve its credibility. First, does the umpire have a concise voter’s register? For any election to be credible, it starts with a flawless voter’s registration. Registered voters should be able to vote without hindrance. A credible voter’s register determines the acceptability of the

By Akinola Oluyi election results.

A lot of electoral cases are still in court because of unwholesome voter register used to conduct polls in previous elections. INEC should improve on this and provide voter’s registers that would reflect the wishes of the people.

It has become a practice by some people to input fictitious names into

the register. In Ondo State, for instance, voters’ register was inflated with over 150,000 fake names. The months preceding the election, opposition parties had alleged a plot by some powerful politicians to inject fictitious names into the register. Meanwhile, INEC dismissed this information as a rumour.

We have seen cases of politicians distributing fake voter’s cards with fake identification to some political thugs that usually go to polling units on the day of election to cast their fake votes. INEC must act to stop this practice to prevent a major crisis in our elections.

Now that we still have time to embark on voter’s registration, INEC should come out with a strategy to prevent factitious names from being included in the voter’s register.

Another task for INEC is to monitor all parties’ primary elections. The commission should insist that candidates should emerge through primaries, even if the parties have preference for consensus candidates. INEC officials must be present to monitor party primaries to ensure candidates emerge through due process.

It is only in Nigeria that we see security agents going to the polling

possesses the grit and grace to become the Cicero of our time, exuding what Churchill called the “innerGod”. But my concern is the recurring infusion of Latin and Greek terminologies in his discourse as well as his verbosity that sometimes turns a heated social issue to a comic spectacle. Though, some scholars crooned that every orator is likely to be verbose at some point. So, Obahiagbon may need to take a cue from Churchill, knowing “where every noun and adjective would go and how every piece of punctuation would bed into the speech”.

But what we have failed to understand is that oratory seems to have been lost, especially in today’s Nigerian political circles. We have an army of persons who just vomit dim-witted remarks when they face pressmen. A lot of them lack the charm to draw us to the sublime, the lofty and the idyllic. It reflects the extinction of nobility, ideology and awe associated with political power.

A renaissance in oratory could be all we need to redefine the business of legislation. That rebirth has to shine through on every page of our public life.

Gilbert just graduated from Foreign Languages, UNIBEN Bayo Ohu, Chinedu Offaro and Tunde Oladepo of The Guardian; Samson Boyi, The Scope; Sam Nimfa Jan, Details; Okezie Amaruben, News Service; Emenche Akogwu, Channels TV; Zakariya Isa, NTA; Ikechukwu Udendu, Anambra News; Nasok Sallah, Highland FM; Edo Sule Ugbadgwu, The Nation; Ephraim Audu, Nasarawa State Broadcasting Service; Baguda Kaltho, The News; Bolade Fasasi, National Association of Women Journalists; Godwin Agbroko and Paul Abayomi Ogundeji both of ThisDay. To prevent more deaths, arrests, assaults, battery, and unjustified accusation of journalists, enforcement of press laws should be treated with a sense of duty. The complete execution of the stipulated laws protecting the press should be effected.

Desmond, 200-Level Mass Comm., UNN booths with guns on election day.

Naturally, this intimidates voters.

Election day should be a day when voters should feel free to exercise their right, to elect their leaders freely without intimidation or molestation. This is a great task for INEC this time around.

Security on election day is very important but politicians have abused this good plan to intimidate voters in the stronghold of their opponents.

There were cases where uniformed men gave cover to party thugs who snatched electoral materials for rigging purpose. INEC needs to work on this and de-emphasise on the use of armed security agents during elections.

The INEC is empowered to monitor the rallies of political parties to ensure the campaigns are issuedriven. Also, there should be credibility of polling officials and polling materials should be made available at the expected time. To prevent rigging, collation centers should be open space where people themselves can see the result.

If all the tasks are properly carried out, then we can say that an incredible, free and fair election is possible in this country.

Akinola, ND II Mass Comm., OFFA POLY

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

44

CAMPUS LIFE

T

Mr. Anambra gives back to society

HE reigning Mr. Anambra Universe, Francis Egwuatu, a 500-Level Mechanical Engineering student of the Federal University of Technology in Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, has visited some schools in Anambra State for his charity programme tagged: “School tour and visit to the orphanage”.

During the visit, Egwuatu, who is also a CAMPUSLIFE reporter, distributed materials to the motherless babies and secondary school pupils. The exercise lasted for 10 days.

He visited about 15 primary and secondary schools in different local government areas of the state, including Akamiri Central School, Good Shepherd Primary and Secondary School; Anglican Girls Secondary School; Holy Innocent School in Nnewi; All Saints Inter-

T

HE Oyo State Government has named Prof Olatunde Fawole Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY).

In a statement in Ibadan, the Commissioner of Education, Prof.

Solomon Olaniyonu said the government also appointed Mrs Fehintola Ayodele as the Registrar to succeed Ms Tomi Olatunji.

Prof. Fawole, until his appointment, was a professor of Biological Sciences at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Others appointed were Tiamiyu Adeniyi, Bursar, Hammed Bakare, Librarian and John Oyetoso, Director of Works.

Prof Olaniyonu said Governor

From Stanley Uchegbu

AWKA national School; King David International Secondary School and Great Divine Gift School, among others.

Egwuatu said the tour was necessitated by his belief that youths, as tomorrow’s leaders, needed to be mentored to remain focus. The youth ambassador told the pupils to be serious with their studies, sensitising them on how to pass their examination without engaging in malpractice.

He distributed various writing materials such as notebooks, inspirational books, self-development books in writing, markers and chalks to the pupils.

During his visit to an orphanage in Awka, the Anambra State capital, Egwuatu was accompanied by

•Egwuatu (middle) with pupils of Anglican Girls Secondary School

beauty queens including Chichebem Aguocha, Obiageli Okoli and other young women.

The orphans were delighted by the

Poly gets new management From Ibrahim Adam

IBADAN POLY Abiola Ajimobi approved the appointments as part of efforts to resolve the institution’s crisis.

Students recently protested the nonappointment of substantive principal officers and demanded that their lecturers be better treated.

The students appealed to the government to accede to the requests of the lecturers in order to restore normalcy at the institution.

The commissioner said government, based on the issues raised by

students, met the institution’s management and agreed to address the issues.

According to him, while the remaining 40 per cent hazard allowance of the lecturers had been paid, the state government also ordered that the amount due for “Peculiar Honoraria” be calculated and paid within 90 days.

Peculiar Honoraria is the allowance due to lecturers who supervise students’ thesis, Industrial Attachment, projects and allied projects.

The commissioner also said that state government would soon reconstitute the council of the institution.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

visit of Mr Anambra Universe, who played with them for several hours.

When he was leaving, Egwuatu donated gift to the orphans for support. The matron of the orphanage praised the youth ambassador for the creating time to see the motherless babies.

Egwuatu said he derived inspiration from the scripture and quote

of Mike Murdock, who said: “The ability of getting ahead is getting started and we know procrastination is a killer of time.”

He said life was not about how much material people give, but how much love they showed to the needy. He said his care for the orphan would inspire other youths to work towards developing the society.

‘Women must not take back seat in politics’ •Continued from page 30

This would motivate them to take part actively.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

I want to be remembered for breaking the jinx as the first lady to be elected into the legislative arm of the SUG. And as the personality that opened the floodgate for ladies to participate in campus politics in this university. I will say it is not going to be easy because it requires hard work and commitment.

Have you had any low moment in the course of playing politics?

It was actually the day I was embarrassed. I wanted to help a student at the bus stop, who was being embarrassed by a trader whose crates of egg were smashed by the student.

As the student was being dragged, she sighted me and asked that I should help her as the Vice President of the students’ union to pay the trader. I could not help because I didn’t have enough money with me.

I was embarrassed for not been able to save the student from the embarrassment.

Would you contest in any national election?

Politics is gradually becoming part of me. I must say I will always be ready to be part of the train to make positive changes in the country. I am a beneficiary of free education in my state; this means I owe the state and my country a service to give back what the tax payers invested in me since my primary school till date. I will be ever ready to serve and promote social justice.

Our story, by Vc •Continued from page 31

On the expansion of infrastructure, Prof Mimiko said more hostels were being built through public private partnership. He said the school got a private firm, which promised to deliver 6,000-bed space hostel before September, after which another hostel would be delivered. It was gathered that 80 per cent of students live outside the campus.

He added that work had commenced on the hostels being built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), assuring that the structures would be delivered soon.

The VC urged the students’ leaders to remind their colleagues on the need to imbibe good character, which he said was one of the values a responsible student must possess. He hailed the students’ leaders for their maturity in reacting to the lecturers’ strike and advised them not to be used by anybody to disrupt the peace on campus.

The meeting afforded the students to bear their minds on the challenges they face. Speaking,

•Prof Mimiko speaking to the students

President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Julius Adeniyi, urged the VC to improve on students’ welfare.

Some of the students, who attended the meeting, described it as timely, saying it gave them insight into the issues leading to the crisis.

The meeting was also attended by top management staff of the university.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

45

CAMPUS LIFE

TEFFUND allocates N2.58b to entrepreneurship studies

T

HE Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) allocated N2.58 billion to entrepreneurial studies in universities in 2013, its official has said.

There are 129 universities in the country and each received N20 million grant.

Mr Asimolowo Musibau made this known at a seminar on Entrepreneurship Studies in Nigerian Universities, at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.

Praising the entrepreneurial research team of RSUST, Musibau said TETFUND, which hosted the event, has also created a framework for the implementation of the entrepreneurship programme as well as its monitoring, hence the need for students to tap into it The Vice-Chancellor of RSUST, Prof Barineme Fakae said: "It is

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

not a surprise that this seminar is being powered by researchers of the university because the new RSUST is asserting itself as the first in every good thing."

Fakae, who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Engineering of the university, Prof Miebaka Ayotamuno, also noted that this was coming at a time RSUST is working hard to become one of the first three outstanding universities in the country.

He observed that despite the amount it has made available to the universities for the implementation of the entrepreneurship studies, the programme lacks adequate funding going by the findings of a research team led by RSUST Director of Academic Planning Prof Maureen Koko that visited the various zones in the country, including the Federal Capital

Territory (FCT).

He also said if fully implemented, especially at the tertiary level, the programme would reduce the rising graduate unemployment in the country.

Most of the universities, he said, do not have centres for developing skills as required by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC).

Chairman of the occasion, Prof Markson Ahiakwo, said the programme is instituted by NUC to prepare undergraduates and equip them with skills other than their main course of studies, so they can become entrepreneurs after graduation.

This, Ahiakwo said, is why the NUC has invested in the univarsities, pointing out the importance of informing "the public of what the universities have done with the funds TETFUND and NUC have allocated to them to imple-

ment entrepreneurship studies."

He also stated that it is important to know the reactions of students to this programme, stressing that students should be encouraged to participate in entrepreneurship programmes.

Making her presentation, Prof Koko said the research was carried out in 124 universities.

He said findings from her team showed that inadequate funding and infrastructure were posing serious challenges to development of entrepreneurship in the universities.

The research, she stressed, further noted that students depend more on theories than practical leading to apathy for entrepreneurship studies.

As a way forward, Koko recommended that more experts in the entrepreneurship field should be employed with more practical works taught the students.

Littoral Varsity first convocation underway

T

HE next matriculation of the Littoral University (Institut Littoral Des Etudes Proffesionnelles Superieures ILEPS ), Porto Novo in Republic of Benin, will come up in the last quarter of this year..

Three presidents, two governors over 30 vice-chancellors and 60 professors across universities in Nigeria and beyond, are being expected to grace the event billed to hold at the university's permanent site in Porto Novo, ILEP'sVice-Chancellor and founder Prof Ayeni Reuben Oyebode, has announced.

At the university's 2013/2014 matriculation at its temporary site in D'Agboku Porto Novo on Saturday, Ayeni said plans have reached advanced stage between ILEPS, the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to enlist the university's graduates for the one year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

"I am glad to announce to you that in no distant time, the next matriculation will go with our convocation/award ceremony and an official launch of the N5.5 billion endowment fund of the university's project at the permanent site. We are commencing construction of new infrastructure to meet the need of staff and students.

“During the convocation, I will be highlighting some of our achievements, but now we are concentrating on building quality education for quality students that will qualify them for quality jobs in the labour market for life sustenance," "Our university is an indepen-

FUNAAB FILE

Ogunlewe harps on self-reliance PRO-CHANCELLOR/Chairman of Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has urged students to contribute to the development of their institutions.

He made the call while leading a team, which included the ViceChancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, on an inspection of facilities in the university.

On-going projects included the Information and Communication Technology building, the link road from the Unity Building, the fence along Alabata Road and College of Management Sciences (COLMAS), the 2,500-seater Auditorium, Centre for Entrepreneurship Building and the 1,000seater Auditorium.

Others were the reception and office buildings for the laboratory complex, and the 250-capacity Biology, Physics and Chemistry laboratories.

During the tour, it was decided that the location of the main busstop should be moved.

Presenting the proposal to Ogunlewe, Oyewole said an alternative location would be allotted to the park, while a gigantic, three storey building would be constructed on the current site.

'Respect host communities'

• The students taking oath. Inset: Prof Ayeni

By Adegunle Olugbamila

dent co-educational non-sectarian institution in the tradition of liberal arts and sciences, seeking to be fruitful to ideals of its heritage, committed in all of its policies and practices to the unrestricted and vigorous pursuit of truth to the certainty of values in human life and to a respect for differing point of view," Ayeni added.

He recounted the first matriculation in November 2011, which had a combination of two sets of matriculating students, as well as the third which took place at the Benin National Stadium in Porto Novo.

Acknowledging the university's trying times in the past, Ayeni assuredthat ILEPS has and is making amends in the overall students' interest.

Aside outsourcing credible and

qualified teaching staff, Ayeni also spoke on progress ILEPS is making with respect to exchange programmes with universities within and outside the Republic of Benin.

"We had challenges within and without, but with diligence and focus had ratified all of them. I will implore all students to go about their academic activities as all the necessary plans to give satisfaction to all areas that needed attention had already been taken care of and I can see that students had begun to see dynamic changes in both the

curriculum and lecturing aspects."

He said the university is still opened to individuals and corporate bodies for partnership.

Similarly, President-General, African Peace Foundation, Abuja, Prof Ola Makinwa, told the 156 new students importance of the matriculation oath.

He urged them to be committed to their studies, stay away from vices and be good ambassadors of Nigeria in the French-speaking country.

Obasanjo, Tambuwal, others for lecture

F

ORMER president Olusegun Obasanjo is scheduled to chair the inaugural public policy lecture organised by the Lagos Chapter of the Alumni As-

•Ayo Omidiran, member, National Assembly representing Irewole Federal Constituency, Osun State flanked by Vice Chancellor, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof Adekunle Bashiru Okesina (left) and wife of Osun State governor Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, at the presentation of 110 laptops to the university by Omidiran.

sociation of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru (AANI) next month.

Others eminent personalities expected at the event include: Speaker, House of Representatives, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega; Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; Central Bank Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi; and Mr Fola Adeola, former managing director, GTBank.

The theme of the lecture, scheduled for March 11 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos is: 'Building credible electoral process for democratic sustainability', and will be delivered by renowned constitutional lawyer, Prof Itse Sagay.

A statement by the Chairman, Organising Commitee, Mr. Muyiwa Odejayi, noted that AANI was formed in response to the need for government and the society to constantly tap from the rich mix of high-level manpower nurtured at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

THE Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof Felix Salako, has advised students of the institution undergoing the farm practical year (FPY), to respect their host communities to avoid unnecessary hostilities that may affect their participation in the programme.

Advising the students during an orientation organised for FPY students for the 2013/2014 academic session, Prof Salako hinted that the university was thinking of how to increase the number of host communities, to make the scheme more impactful.

The Director of the Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS), Prof Emmanuel Fakoya, said the programme was established in 2010, to expose Bachelor of Agriculture students to the agriculture practicals.

He appealed to students from the various colleges that will be participating to be law-abiding and obedient in their communities.

Dons win grants PROF Akin Omotayo, a Director and DrAbiodun Adeola, a research fellow in the university's Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, have won the Competitive Agricultural Research Scheme grants, awarded by the West Africa Agricultural Productivity programme.

According to the Project Coordinator of WAAPPNigeria, Prof Damian Chikwendu, Omotayo's project proposal titled: 'Adaptation and promotion of extra-early maize (Zea mays L) varieties to mitigate the effects of climate change in Southwest, received N12.8 million while Adeola' s with the theme: 'Improving child nutrition in Nigeria using yellow fleshed cassava/sorghum-based complementary food,' got N10,214,050.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

46

CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

EKSU FILE

Don charges PG school on research A scholar Prof Nurudeen Olorun-Nimbe Adedipe, has said the School of Postgraduate Studies must have policydriven research and innovations for it to achieve its desired objective.

He spoke while delivering AAUA 12th public lecture of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko(AAUA) Ondo State.

It was titled: "Postgraduate Studies reform for capacity building, institutional strengthening and quality assurance in the Nigerian university system".

Adedipe said: "Postgraduate education is the ultimate goal of research for development that delivers human well-being in its codified ramification; therefore, policy on research governance and management structures should place the Postgraduate School in the forefront as a focal sub-sector."

He added: "Nigerian Universities must not fall into the trap of ignoring basic or fundamental research because in it lies sustainable breakthroughs that translate into human wellbeing."

He recommended that postgraduate coursework should be made more rigorous such that it would include a United Nations operating foreign language - French, Arabic, Spanish - to enhance global job competitiveness.

Akinyele praises VC FORMER Minister of Information Chief Alexander Akinyele, has commended the transformational efforts by AAUA ViceChancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko.

He said: "I am interested in new universities. But by and large, it is a bit difficult to believe that within five years, Prof. Mimiko has done so much. It gives the impression that he didn't actually rest at all. It is excellent. It is difficult to believe that the university is barely 15 years old."

Chief Akinyele expressed the hope that landmark achievements of the incumbent administration would be consolidated by its successor.

"I pray that the next VC would be in the like of Prof.

Mimiko because he has done very well."

APPROACHING DEADLINES ACS International Guest Scholarships for Medical Doctors, US THE American College of Surgeons seeks young surgeons from countries other than the United States or Canada who have demonstrated strong interests in teaching and research to apply for the International Guest Scholarships in the United States (US).

The scholarships provide successful applicants with the opportunity of participating in the College's annual Clinical Congress in October 2015, with public recognition of their presence.

Worth of Award The scholarships, in the amount of $10,000 each, provide the scholars with an opportunity to visit clinical, teaching, and research activities in North America and to attend and participate fully in the educational

opportunities and activities of the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress.

They will receive gratis admission to selected postgraduate courses plus admission to all lectures, demonstrations, and exhibits, which are an integral part of the Clinical Congress.

Assistance will be provided in arranging visits, following the Clinical Congress, to various clinics and universities of their choice Eligibility The scholarship requirements are: Applicants must be graduates of schools of medicine.

Applicants must be at least 35 years old, but under 45, on the date that the completed application is filed.

Applicants must submit their applications from their intended permanent location. Applications will be accepted for processing only when the applicants have been in surgical prac-

tice, teaching, or research for a minimum of one year at their intended permanent location, following completion of all formal training (including fellowships and scholarships).

Applicants must have demonstrated a commitment to teaching and/or research in accordance with the standards of the applicant's country.

Early careerists are deemed more suitable than those who are serving in senior academic appointments.

How to Apply In order to qualify for consideration by the selection committee, all of the requirements must be fulfilled.

Applicants must submit a fully completed application form provided by the College on its website. The application and accompanying materials must be typewritten and in English. Submission of a curriculum vitae only is not acceptable.

Applicants must provide a list of all of their publications and must submit, in addition, three complete publications (reprints or manuscripts) of their choice from that list.

Preference may be given to applicants who have not already experienced training or surgical fellowships in North America.

Applicants must submit independently prepared letters of recommendation from three of their colleagues.

One letter must be from the chair of the department in which they hold academic appointment or a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons residing in their country. The chair's or the Fellow's letter is to include a specific statement detailing the nature and extent of the teaching and other academic involvement of the applicant. Letters of recommendation should be submitted by the person making the recommendation.

'Tim Tally Varsity will arrest brain drain' THE Vice-Chancellor Tim Tally University in Langtang, Plateau State Prof Bernard Matur Malau, in this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, says the two-year-old institution is set to repatriate some of the nation's best brains back to the country.

T

HE National Universities Commission (NUC) is granting more operating licences to private universities against the shortfall of manpower, especially at the tertiary level. Don't you think this may lead to a drop in quality of teaching and graduates?

First, the idea that we don't have qualified personnel or that they are not enough to teach is not true. There is this aspect ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) is seriously fighting and that is academic brain drain. We produce these lecturers here but because of lack of staff welfare, remuneration, research grants and other facilities, most of these people prefer to go abroad and teach.

It is not like they don't like their country but they also have passion for their profession and therefore cannot continue to practice in an atmosphere that is not conducive.

With the kind of facilities Tim Tally is putting on ground, I can assure you lecturers overseas will return home.

We are going to serve as a conduit pipe for siphoning lecturers back into the system. We want our university to be a model that others will copy from.

What do you think are the problems of education in Nigeria and how are they affecting education at the tertiary level?

If you say the education standard is falling, then you are correct. But if you say we don't have brains, I will disagree. One often discovers that most graduates that are produced in this country do well when they study overseas. In fact some of them are the best in their field because they are exposed to the right facilities and en-

vironment.

However, let me also commend President Goodluck Jonathan's administration. He has seen the need for quality education which brings about socio-economic development and empowerment. In the last ASUUFederal Government agreement that was signed again in December, Dr Jonathan approved a whopping N200 billion for a start up towards holistic restructuring of our universities. On Friday (last week) the president released N100 billion of the money to the universities for infrastructural development only. Within the next few years of his administration, we will see standard, quality and respect will be restored in the Nigerian universities.

Tell us briefly about Tim Tally University.

Tim Tally University is two years old. We have been trying to see that the first batch of students secure admission this year. We have pursued vigorously with the all the processes as far as establishing universities in Nigeria are concerned. At present, we have just built some 14classroom structures. The construction of the Administrative Block is on as well as hostels. It is going to be an institution that would accommodate all students on campus.

We run a collegiate system. At present we have the College of Arts, College of Management, College of Social Science and College of Law, College of Science and Technology, the Institute of Education and the Entrepreneurial and Skill Acquisition centre. We are at present running administrative programmes, but the real academic programmes starts by

September.

Tim Tally University is dominated in a state that was once crisis-ridden.

Won't this create security concerns for students their parents and workers?

The proprietor and chancellor of the university is Gen. Jeremiah Useni a southerner plateau. It is the only private university is plateau located in Langtang north, the proprietor’s hometown. Contrary to impression is certain quarters, it is the most peaceful environment in terms of cultural, social, economic and educational development. Even though the state in general has witnessed some crises during the last administration but for the past nine years now, absolute peace has returned to the entire state.

Interestingly again, this particular area the university is situated has never witnessed such crisis. The environment is hospitable and the atmosphere conducive for academic learning. I am encouraging people to come and see things for themselves.

What is your focus?

Our focus is inter-disciplinary! All the aspects of science, education, arts and humanities will be taken into consideration. One particular area of interest neglected by many Nigerian universities is the entrepreneurial sector. We have Entrepreneurial and Skill Acquisition centre which will be one of our cardinal focus. One of the ways for bringing institutions together and sharing in the wealth of knowledge is collaboration; and we are going to be having series of it We now have about 100 private universities in Nigeria and more is

• Prof Malau

still coming. Don't you feel threatened? What is the new thing Tim Tally is bringing along?

Today, we have close to 100 private universities in Nigeria including 36 federal universities. I was the immediate vice-chancellor of Catholic University. When we established the university, we thought it was going to be a challenge because it was then the 113th university in Nigeria. But we also discovered that so many universities were not even meeting up with admission. Many students would write the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) yet many would be denied admission.

One major challenge in the universities generally is drawing resource persons. As experienced people in the field, we know how to attract people, how to encourage them to go for further studies. Also staff welfare was another thing that made us attract the best brains. By God's grace, Tim Tally is also coming to reduce the admission shortfall in Nigeria as well as create employment opportunities. Already we have seven professors on ground.

LASUCOM gets new provost

A

•Pro-Chancellor, Lead City University, Prof Jide Owoeye (right), his daughter, Miss Oyin Owoeye, Madam Owoeye and Konyin Owoeye during the Oyin's matriculation at the varsity.

PROFESSOR of Radiology and Head of Radiology Department, Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM, Ikeja, Lagos, Gbolahan Olusegun Awosanya, has emerged the new provost for the college.

Awosanya’s term which begins next month, will run for two years.

He was voted ahead of Prof Babatunde Solagberu of the Surgery Department having polled 63 votes to his opponent’s 48 in a keen contest that saw 111 of his colleagues cast their votes in an election conducted in the college premises.

The university’s registrar Lateef Animashaun, described the election as peaceful, free and fair.

Animashaun, who was also the chief returning officer for the election, said: “The election was smooth and devoid of any rancour, the academic

•Prof Awosanya

staff conducted themselves properly.

In fact I’m happy to have conducted the election “ The provost-elect also praised the the election which he said was devoid of acrimony.

He said: “I am happy and I thank the lecturers for reposing confidence in me while I pray that God grant me the grace to fulfil my electoral promises within my two year tenure “ Awosanya, a former President of West African Society of Radiologists, will assume office next month.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

47

EDUCATION

Old boys visit alma mater, 50 years after •First project nearing completion

I

T took 50 years for the old students of Methodist Boys High School Expressway, Ibadan to build a new school hall for their 53year-old alma mater.

The MHS, owned by Methodist Church, and established in February 13, 1961 once flexed muscles with the likes of Loyola College, Government College Ibadan (GCI), in discipline academic and sports. However from early 90's the fortune of the school began to dwindle. With a surge in students enrolment and no corresponding facilities, MHS soon became a shadow of itself.

At the school’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary three years ago, some concerned old boys decided to retrace their steps back to their root. The old boys, under the Methodisit Old Boys Association (METHO-OBA) had gathered themselves and resolved to erect a new hall which members believed was the only way to launch moves towards galvanising other to also give back to the school that produced them.

"I am making a clarion call to the old boys that they should identify with their alma mater. For the first time, we now have something to show that we once passed through here. We need about 30 million more

By Adegunle Olugbamila

to complete this project," said MHS National President Dr Akinrinmade Adeyemi at the school 53rd anniversary on Thursday last week.

The uncompleted school hall within the school premises was the venue of the event, where the old boys believe their colleagues, especially those coming for the first time, would see the level of work done as well as the degree of decline the school has experienced over the years.

Some of the old boys who attended showed regrets for either being too far away or declining to make financial imput each time a clarion call was made.

"I would also say I am equally guilty," said Rev Olufemi Ajanaku, an old student, who also delivered a short sermon.

"I am from the 69' set, but ever since I graduated, I'd only been here four times. It might interest you that I live in Ibadan and many of my friends have called me unsuccessfully anytime we have something to do but I would decline. But this last invitation was like a divine intervention.

It's like God wanted to arrest me and I feel so guilty for having been so

•The old boys with some students of the school

faraway."

In his sermon with the theme: 'Where are you?' Ajanaku said just like him, many other old boys have wandered away; hence the need to return home.

"If you have been moribund, the time to act is now. When I arrived, I felt ashamed because I saw what the old boys have been doing. But I also consoled myself that all I need do is make my own contributions."

Akirinmade (72 set) said the state of MHS is like comparing light with darkness.

"The differences are quite clear! It is

like trying to juxtapose life with darkness. All the values the school stands for like hardwork, honesty, humility excellence are almost gone.

"In terms of infrastructure, you can see the building we used during our time are still the same buildings the students are still using now. There has been few interventions by the state governments, but some of the buildings government provided are not strong, some of them have even collapsed. That means the quality of work done is very poor; and that is a reflection of people that have been in power ever since."

The cost of the hall, he explained, was

initially put at N60 million, but through the frugality of the association, was pruned down to N37, with N12 million which has already seen the project to its present state.

The school’s Headboy Olaleye Mayowa called on the old boys to assist in supplying items such as rheostat, volts meter rectangular prism among others into the school laboratory.

"Our SS3 block is also no longer good. The Arts students don't have teachers in Literature in English. We need assistance in these two key areas," he said.

UK team visits Lagos technical college

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•From left: Chairman, House Committee on Education and Technology, Abdul-Wahab Alawiye-King, Mrs Oladunjoye and Mrs English at the training.

Lagos pupils prepare for debate

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INGLE-sex schools are better for students', 'Nigeria should stop taking foreign aid,' and 'Oil producing states are doing the nation more harm than good", are some of the 54 topics that pupils of public secondary schools in Lagos State will be debating on from this week in the Season V of the Lagos Schools Debate.

Debating teams of 64 senior secondary schools in the competition received grooming on how to handle their topics and improve their public speaking skills at a grooming session held at the Lagos State Education Resource Centre last Thursday.

Lead Consultant for the debate and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gradient Hills, Mr Ivor Ekpe, exposed the pupils, many of whom had never debated before, to the principles good debaters must know to be successful including confidence, research, clarity of delivery, appearance, planning and team work.

He told The Nation that since the competition started five years ago, participants have improved with each new edition.

"I think in the last five years that I have been doing this, every year has

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

shown a slight improvement. They speak better and dress better. If you have a large pool of very confident, presentable, well spoken individuals, you then have better opportunity for people who can represent your company or the state at work and play. They stand a better chance in a competitive environment," he said.

Addressing the pupils, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, said the state government takes the programme seriously because of its contribution to the speaking and cognitive skills of the pupils.

She urged them to work hard to excel in the competition. She added that even if they do not all win, the skills they gain in the process would help them for life.

"It is a sustainable programme and it deserves the best of attention. It is to ensure that we have a brighter, rewarding future for you; to ensure that you are able to speak well, have analytical minds and be able to think on your feet.

Work as hard as you can. Even if

you don't win, you would have participated. Most of those who have been participating are already doing well even in the university," she said.

After this group of 64, 32 schools will proceed to the next stage.

•Some of participants at the event.

TEAM of United Kingdom (UK) delegates has paid a visit to the Government Technical College, Ikeja.

This is to further the exchange programme between the two bodies.

The visit, which is the fifth of its kind by the team, is to further strengthen the relationship between the five technical colleges in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, said the ministry is committed to facilitating the connection with schools in Lagos and UK. She said: "It's a kind of partnership meant for us to see what they are doing there that is good, and we can copy. At the same time, they (UK) want to see what we are doing because these days, I don't think anybody or any part of the world has monopoly of knowledge."

Mrs Oladunjoye took the delegates led by Principal, Paignton Community and Sports Academy, Paigton, Mrs Jane English for a facility tour of the college, especially the state-of-the-art Samsung Academy built in the school premises.

Mrs Oladunjoye added: "Technology is the way out of the woods and we are ensuring that we have technological equipment to build the capacity of our teachers and ensure

By Sampson Unamka

that our students have skills that will make them employable. Even today, you must have skills that will make you employable and not just any kind of knowledge."

Mrs Jane English said her team's visit aims at developing links with school in Lagos and UK. She said: "We have been quite successful with this already. Many more schools in the UK will like to develop their links with Lagos schools which also enjoy having a link with UK schools. The link doesn't just last for a short period of time. While am here, it will take place over a year or two. We would use technology, skype to get our children to talk to each other. The purpose of linking the two schools is to develop international understanding and also share good practice among the teaching staff."

The Executive Secretary Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Olawunmi Gasper, noted that the visit encourages exposure and boosts school to school exchange programme.

"We send our teachers down; they are here now; some teachers were there last year, it's all about exposure of our teachers and also to allow them see us the way we are and what we do," he added

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

48

EDUCATION

Exam Ethics lauds provost's transparency

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HE Exam Ethics Marshal International has praised the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Eha Amufu, Enugu State, Prof Benjamin Mbah for entrenching ethics in examination and assessment practices in the school.

The group, which seeks to promote ethics, integrity and best practices in education, is saluting his courage to carry out ethical activities despite opposition by some workers in the school.

Since he was appointed provost in 2010, the founding chairman of the Exam Ethics Marshal, Mr Ike Onyechere said Mbah has made efforts to check malpractices as well as curb the practices of unscrupulous academics who sell grades to students.

Onyechere, said in a statement, that Mbah sent 30 lecturers to be trained and inaugurated by Exam Ethics Marshal in 2011. Since then, he added, they have been working to instil ethics in the school students and mentoring them to be members of the exam ethics club.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

He said: "Prof Mbah sponsored 30 lecturers to be trained and inaugurated as Exam Ethics Marshals. The lecturers subscribed to the exam ethics marshal pledge and committed themselves to the code of ethical self regulation and discipline in their work station; to insist on best practices in their sphere of operational influence; and to be mentors and role models for students through Exam Ethics clubs. They returned to the college and successfully championed the restoration of best practices.

"The Provost also sponsored the inauguration of Exam Ethics Clubs in the college. Embraced by the Students' Union government, the club became a vehicle and medium for the students to monitor and appraise their lecturers in terms of acts of commission and omission, relating to extortion, sale of marks, sale of handouts, withholding of scripts and other sundry acts of examination malpractice and academic dishonesty."

Onyechere added that these efforts

are already yielding positive results as the institution has cleared backlog of results which delayed convocations for many years; begun posting results online to protect students against victimisation from lecturers.

However, Onyechere lamented that Mbah has faced serious opposition in his campaign to run the college ethically leading to his kidnap on June 28, 2011. For four days, he was tied to a tree and exposed to the elements until he was rescued by the police.

He urged the security agencies to serve justice by bringing the kidnappers to book.

"All patriotic education friendly Nigerians are encouraged to lend their voices to the call for all those involved in the kidnapping of Prof Mbah to be brought to justice.

As Mbah clocks four years in office on March 18, Onyechere said Exam Ethics Marshal celebrates his successes and will continue to support him in the face of opposition. The group urged other school administrators to emulate his courage in doing right.

Lawmaker donates to school on Valentine's Day

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HE lawmaker representing Abia Central Senatorial District in Abia State, Mrs. Nkechi Nwaogu has donated a three lassroom blocks with toilet facilities to the Owerri Road Primary School 1, Umuocham, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the handing over of the facility at the school premises on Valentine’s Day, Nwaogu said the aim of the project, which she attracted through the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) project was to enhance the pupils' welfare.

Nwaogu promised to donate additional 200 desks, a generating set and refurbish some of the dilapidated buildings in the school.

By Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

She used the opportunity to eulogise Abia State Governor Theodore Orji's landslide in the state, stressing that no government progresses when majority of its citizens are poorly educated.

Mrs Nwaogu, who also doubles as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, implored the beneficiary to maintain the new facility. She listed some of the projects she had executed in her constituency to include borehole, provision of transformers to rural communities, award of scholarships to indigent children, and empowerment of youths and

women.

The Headmaster of the school, Mr. Cyril Nwosu thanked the donor for penciling the school as beneficiary of her numerous projects.

Nwosu said: "Words are not sufficient to express our hearty feelings with regards to your large heart.

"In 2009, when you visited, you awarded scholarships to more than 100 pupils from Abia Central. Again you sunk water-borehole and pledged to renovate schools and today, Owerri Road Primary School 1 Umuocham, is one of the beneficiaries. This is a legacy and a Valentine bonanza you have left for the school."

EDUTALK

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New issues to watch •ASUU/FGN MoU

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NE of the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has registered displeasure over the Kofoworola attitude of the Federal Government towards the implementation of the Kofosagie@yahoo.com M e m o r a n d u m o f 08054503077 (SMS only) Understanding (MoU) signed last November regarding the new agreements reached with the union.

The MoU largely covers 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

Osun govt’s peace efforts The news of some pupils of Baptist High School, in Iwo, Osun State, appearing in school in choir uniforms was really hilarious.

I 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 in the ‘uniforms.’

But jokes apart - because the act was not a joke but a protest - I know that the pupils could have acted on their own. There were some adults who must have instigated them to do so. However, that is not the focus of this article. What made me remember the incident is the 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)

• Group Managing Director, Adesoye College, Chief Oluwagbemiga Adesoye presenting Personal Education Tablet for Secondary Schools (PETSS) to a pupil of the school. With them are Ibrahim Mr Yusuf and Mrs Adesoye.

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YABATECH CU holds send-off

HE Joint Midday Departmental Fellowships of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Christian Union (CU) have held a send off service for her outgoing executives.

The yearly service is to celebrate and give awards to past students who had served in union at various capacities, and to also to usher in the coming ones.

No fewer than 120 executives were awarded prizes, with over 100 incoming ones inducted into the body in the three-hour service, which featured praise and worship songs by the union's main choir, Original Love Choir, and prayers by the new presidents.

Delivering the message for the

By Miracle Enweremedu

day titled: Running the race in and out of school, the outgoing president of the union, Tope Ibiyemi, charged the incoming executives to be more diligent and patient in their service to God. "Let us do more than what our previous executives have done. Be good examples in your classes and departments and let us run this race with patience with all our hearts to God throughout our service and even when we are out of the school.we should not be notorious or behave like the world," he said.

The president of the union, Abiodun Oluwafemi, a HND 2 Civil Engineering student extolled

the qualities of the out-gone executives, describing them as great men and women.

He said:" We thank God for a glorious service and mostly for the outgone executives whom I regard as great men and women because they have in so many ways supported the move of God in YABATECH and we will continuously rejoice over them.

"God has been helping us. We will work towards our vision. We have already outlined what to do by the leading of God spirit which would help us to work in unity and carry everyone along, and I know we would impart lives as we will follow our vision.”

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.

•This article is being rerun due to public demand

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

POLITICS

51

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

‘2015 is terminal year for PDP in Gombe’ Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Alhaji Usman Nafada is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State. He spoke with reporters on the quest for change in the state, shortly after participating in the membership registration. Correspondent VINCENT OHONBAMU was there.

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HAT motivated you to join the APC? The PDP has failed to bring progress. When I was in the PDP, we had some programmes, which I think are good for this country. So, I insisted that people should come and join us to vote the PDP into power. But, from the way things are moving, I understand that all those good programmes will not be achieved. That’s why I decided to join the new party, the APC where I think there is hope to move this nation forward.

What value would the defectors from the PDP add to the APC? I don’t want to believe that the majority of the people that are now in the APC are coming from the PDP. Yes, there are many members of the PDP that are joining the APC, but before we joined, there were members of the ANPP, the ACN and the CPC in the party.

About six states in the South were controlled by the APC, three or thereabout in the North and six other states joined them. The reason why PDP members are joining is that we have seen a lot of hope. That is why everyday, people are joining the new party.

Now that you are a member of the APC, what is your ambition?

Like our leader, Goje, said, I will first of all like this party to be accepted by the people of Gombe State and Nigeria in general. After that, we will try and see how we can do our congresses and, after the congresses, we will come back to the issue of who will be this, who will be that.

Do you think the APC can dislodge the PDP from power in Gombe State?

If you were with me at Nafada, you would observe that maybe, the least time you have seen that kind of gathering was when the governor of Gombe State was inaugurated. What it means is that people have now joined the APC and Gombe people are ready to bury the PDP. After the registration, we will organise a rally that will bury the PDP in Gombe State.

Even though it is dead already, but it is still in the mortuary, until that time when we will bury it.

In Gombe State, members of the defunct ACN, ANPP and CPC are accusing the defectors from the PDP of hijacking the party.

What is your reaction?

There is connivance among some of them and the ruling party in the state. But, that is not to say that this is the only problem we have with them. There are a lot of problems we have with them; they want to be everything and we know our number is about hundred times their number in Gombe State.

But,despite that, we have tried to carry everybody along. In Nafada, for example, the chairman was the CPC candidate for the House of Assembly. In Funakaye, the chairman was an ANPP member. In Kwami local government,

‘The governor has justified the confidence reposed in him by implementing peopleoriented projects across the three senatorial districts. The people know that the governor is working for the progress of the state and he will not relent. He deserves a second term because of his achievements. The slogan in Osun is continuity. No room for marauders’ •Nafada

it is the same thing. In about six out of the 11 local governments, the chairmen are from these legacy parties. In the state executive, about 70 percent of them are from the legacy parties. So, what do they want? What it shows is that these people are agents of the the PDP government in Gombe State. Our intention is just to leave them; their number is very insignificant and they are not going to do anything.

Even, those who are saying they are members of the CPC, they won under the CPC; we know the way they won. Some of them, we know how we suffered before they won; not only those in the National Assembly, those in the House of Assembly also. We know our efforts in making them members of the National Assembly and the House of Assembly.

What do you think the governor of Gombe State has not done right in the last three years?

In Gombe State, there is what we call capital flight. All the monies that are supposed to be circulating in Gombe State are not in Gombe State. They are not circulating in Gombe State because major contractors working in Gombe State are not from Gombe State. Therefore, after collecting their money, they will go out with the money and leave Gombe without money. That is a great failure.

One of the most important features of democracy is to respect the people who suffered for you; to give them the dividends of democracy. There are so many ways of giving them dividends of democracy – respect the elders, respect everybody and let them participate in

the running of the government. It is not just for one man to say I am the most highly educated, I know everything, other people are just nonentities and we don’t have to work with them. But, you have to work with everybody because, when you were looking for the position, you did work with them. So, after emerging, you have to work with everybody.

Our problem in Gombe now is poverty. If money is not circulating within the state, what do you expect? Nothing but poverty.

It is only in Gombe and Nasarawa states that commissioners were sworn in after a year. The House of Asembly has given approval for the appointment of advisers, but how many do we have today? It is only after the emergence of the APC in Gombe that we now have about 2,000 or 3,000 PAs and SAs, which have not even started getting their salaries. In number, we have, maybe, about 3,000 or 2,000 PAs and SAs, but we know some of them are just on paper. And I understand it will be the burden of the local governments.

And the local government system again in Gombe State is no longer there. We don’t have local government system again in Gombe State. For example, in my local government (Nafada), and two neighbouring local governments that I know very well, people don’t even go to work because you don’t need to go; you don’t have anything to do at the secretariat.

Are you contesting for the governorship of Gombe State in 2015?

Like I said before, our focus now is not who is going to contest, but to see how the people of Gombe State can accept our party. Our party is new and we want the people of the state to understand that this is the only party to belong to in Nigeria and Gombe State.

How can the APC expand its base at the grassroots?

I am going toTangale/Waja (Gombe South Senatorial District) for mobilisation. You know the APC is just like a bushfire and bushfire is hard to control. It is coming from the northern part of Gombe State and it is moving to other parts. It will cover the entire Gombe State. And the fire will continue to rage from there to Adamawa State.

What is your advice to the people of Gombe State?

I said we have seen failure in this state. We have seen failure generally. So, it is very easy for Gombe people to understand that there is no party to join than the APC. It will not be busioness as usual.

As a former principal officer of the National Assembly, what does the law says about the defection from one party to another?

Constitutionally, there is the right of association. That is, you can associate with anybody. What it means, even though I am not a lawyer, is that, whoever you want to associate with, you can do that; the constitution has guaranteed that. When members were moving from other parties to the PDP between 1999 and 2011, there was no problem. Now, people are leaving the PDP to other parties, or specifically to the APC, it has become a topic of discussion.

They have forgotten that they enjoyed this type of movement between 1999 and 2011. I know as a former presiding officer, I have read a lot of papers, a lot of defections from the ANPP, the ACN and other parties to the PDP during our tenure and nobody raised an eyebrow. But, because members are now moving from thePDP en masse, they are saying no, constitutionally, you cannot move; if you move your seat will be declared vacant. No seat can be declared vacant because members have that right guaranteed by the constitution. That is why members are moving. So, as far as I am concerned, you can move from one party to the other.

What is your reaction to the election timetable released by the INEC? Even, if you look at the Electoral Act, the National Assembly has made it a law in the Electoral Act that the timetable should be drawn by the National Assembly. But, the INEC went to court to protest that and the court said no, the constitution has given you power as the INEC to draw the timetable and that is why they went ahead now and draw the timetable. So, whatever is in the Electoral Act, if it conflicts with the constitution, the constitution prevails.

Northcentral nominates 15 delegates for national dialogue From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

•Okurounmu

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THNIC nationalities from the North Cental geo-political zone has selected their delegates to the proposed national conference. The groups have 15 slots at

the conference, which kicks off next month.

However, the ethnic groups did not mention the names of the delegates.

The Federal Government announced that the modalities for the conference, following the submission of the report by the Presidential Advisory Committee headed by Senator Femi Okurounmu.

In a communique issued after a stakeholders meeting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the groups commended the initiative President Jonathan, the convener of the conference.

The communique, which was signed by Mr. Solomon Sukukum

and Dr. Aboi Madaki, reads in part: “The meeting, which was attended by stakeholders (Presidents and secretaries) of development associations and ethnic nationalities from the six states of the Northcentral Zone– Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja-was conveyed for the purpose of selecting delegates for the proposed national dialogue.

“The meeting observed with dismay the declaration of the FCT as a “no man’s land,” and noted that this has grossly affected the natives of the FCT; and therefore, firmly called for the recognition of the indegenous owners of the land.

“The meeting lauded the

organisers of the meeting and described the forum as a vehicle for the united struggle for the liberation of the Northcentral Zone.”

The stakeholders said that the delegates are people of good character and true representatives of the zone and they cut across diverse religious, political and social backgrounds, adding that they will pursue the collective agenda.

The communique added: “The meeting expressed dismay at the constant skirmishes between the various ethnic nationalities in zone, and noted that such skirmishes are a deliberate attempt to weaken the zone for selfish agenda. It therefore ,called for stop to any further clashes or acts.

“The meeting allocated two slots each to the six states and one to the FCT. The remaining two was left for the Planning Committee to handle. ”The meeting cautioned warned the delegates against pursuing a different agenda at the conference.

They are expected to always intimate their respective umbrella community development associations with deliberations and resolutions of the conference from time to time”.

The meeting was organised by Conference for Authotchonaus Ethnic Development Associations (CONAECDA) and Plateau Initiative for Development of the Natives (PIDAN).

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

53

NATURAL HEALTH

Is a cocoa revolution coming?

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EMORIES of 1969 and 1970 are flooding back. I was in the Higher School Certificate (HSC) class and resident in an iron cast boarding house which seemed to be like one huge prison cage. But tough as the teachers thought they were, still they had some boys to beat. I remember three names featured almost permanently on the lists of absentees from weekend prep and morning and evening chapel services on Sunday.

It was such a regular feature that if, the principal began with the first, Kusa, the school roared… Sehindenu Sikuade. Afuge, an A alphabet name came far ahead of ours. (Boarding house meals are still boring today as they were in my HSC days) at Igbobi College, Yaba (ICY), Lagos. You couldn’t eat anything in the hostel, and you couldn’t supplement your meal in the dining hall. So, who would blame chaps like Adeniyi, who came in from England and whose father owned the then fabulous Ilupeju Supermarket, for leading the boys out. I always longed to be at the Yaba Bus Terminus for no reason than Cocoa bread. I often wondered, as I still do, why this bread was not served at table, especially with Sunday breakfast which came with cornbeef and stew. In my view, Yaba bus terminus was better designed at that time than it is today. Mini restaurants or kiosks dotted the median or partition of each bus lot, selling all sorts of snacks. They formed a joint

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for young people and school children returning home from school. One of the snacks which took me there was cocoa bread. It was different in colour, aroma and taste from all the popular bread brands around. It was made by Mr. Odumosu, the self-styled Jesus of Oyingbo, who had built a residential estate in Maryland, where his daughters and perhaps their own daughters as well, bore him children, in his agenda to repopulate the earth with only his own genes. Maybe people despised cocoa bread at that time, because of him despite its nutritional and health promoting values, especially if the bread is of whole grain origin.

Well, Odumosu and his cocoa bread are long gone now. But who can forget cocoa in Nigeria? Cocoa money built the super structure of Modern South Western Nigeria. It funded the first skyscraper in Nigeria, the 25-storey Cocoa House in Ibadan, built Liberty Stadium, Nigeria’s first modern stadium, built Bodija Estate, Nigeria’s first housing estate, built the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), one of the world’s biggest universities in terms of land mass, established the first television station in black Africa, provided the government of Western Nigeria money to build the industrial estates in Ikeja, Ilupeju, Yaba, Apapa, the Government Reserved Area (GRA) housing estate in Ikeja, Lagos, among many others.

Then, suddenly, almost everyone forgot cocoa as petro-dollar streamed in. I hung up my head in shame at an agriculture conference in Ghana more than 10 years ago, as speaker after speaker named Nigeria as one of the biggest cocoa producers in the world but with little or nothing to show for it in the export market.

I suggest the cocoa story is about to change for the better. The change may not necessarily come from export and export earnings, but very likely, in the increased home consumption of cocoa, which puts more money in the pockets of its farmers and in those of a new generation of cocoa marketers. In their operations some of these marketing companies are radically

different from the cocoa marketing board of old.

They employ multi-level marketing techniques. A distributor of one of them, 1 st money tree, processes and packages cocoa for a variety of uses. Why I see a cocoa consumption revolution on the way is because the marketing is now done through the multi-level marketing (MLM) system in which one independent marketer many have 1000 independent distributors under him, and everyone of these may have an average of 10, bringing the marketing army to one million persons. This may sound unrealistic. That was what I thought the year before GSM came to Nigeria when Seun Ogunseitan, Science and IT editor of the then the Comet, told me Nigeria

was set to have a minimum of five million telephone lines. At that time, Nigeria had fewer than 100,000 lines. I was Editor-in-Chief of that newspaper and didn’t want us to publish a frivolous report. He argued his way through and we reported an upcoming telephone revolution.

Who, today, will doubt that there has been a revolution in the telephone sector?

Not even Senate President David Mark, who, as a military communications minister, once told off agitators for more telephone lines that the telephone was not meant for the poor man!

1st money tree is also into coconut oil and Moringa.

But, as I said, I am more interested in cocoa. Medicinally, cocoa has about 712 useful chemical substances which, individually or aggregated, exhibit antioxidant properties, especially protective of the heart and the blood vessel system.

For this reason, it is thought to lower high blood pressure, prevent heart attack and stroke.

One of the ways it probably does this is through balancing of the cholesterol fractions such that there is more of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol, and less or adequate level of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), the ‘Bad guy’. LDL easily decomposes or oxidises in blood vessels, damaging them. For cocoa lovers who may be diabetic, another good cheer is that cocoa moderate blood sugar level.

I have tried this cocoa product in a number of ways. I have taken it as a cold drink, added it to rice as it is served in a plate, and enjoyed it with a fast-fix (not junk) breakfast of Weetabix.

Spirulina, wheatgrass, blackstrap Molasses.

I showed experiences with two of my confidants when it comes to nutrition, Mrs. Yemisi Amaku, my sister and my niece, Mrs. Folake Ogunje.

I recalled that, in the early 2000s, Nigerian cocoa faced a world market ban because of high level of pesticide residues found on the pods. Edith Njoku, who introduced the product, could not say if the cocoa was from an organic –certified farm. So, I put a call to Mrs. Ogunje who did a quick check online. I didn’t believe there was an organic farm in Nigeria. She found there was a Nigerian Organic Agriculture Network (NOAN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), whose members come from the Universities, research centres and farmers.

We concluded that although this product may not have come from an organic farm, it is worth giving a trial. After all, which crop in Nigeria today comes from an organic-certified farm? Carrots, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, pepper, potato, name it?

They are all sprayed with pesticides. What offers protection in this Age of the poisoned earth? , therefore is constant detoxification and good nutrition

Filaria worms, nightmare of N70m Nigerians

HE rains are signaling their intention to return, after a few months of break. And soon, the fields will become greener again, food crops will abound and there should be lots for the hungry Jack to eat. But, so, too, will be many mosquitoes, dangerous specie of insects.

Many people know and fear the mosquitoes because it causes malaria fever which traumatises many people whose genotype is AA, before they learn to deal with it. But not many people know about the other far more serious troubles the mosquito can cause in its search for human blood to make its eggs mature.

One of this is Denge Fever, which may cause bleeding from the eyes, nostrils, ears and mouth, before it kills.

There is also Filaria Worm infection from which millions of Nigerians suffer, sometimes without knowing that is the cause of their problem. When a mosquito bites an infected person and then goes on to bite another person, It may infect this other person with the Filaria worms.

When an infected mosquito bites a person, microscopic forms of filarial worms are deposited inside the skin through the bite.

There, the worms continue to grow, for between five

and seven years sometimes causing itch, and sore, which may be localised or generalised. Some people develop no symptoms.

These microscopic worms may end up in the bloodstream from where they may end up in some organs, such as the breast or, scrotum, the brain, and, finally, in their preferred abode, the lymphatic system, where they cause blockages and swellings and elephantiasis.

Lymphatic system This is the second circulatory system not well-known by many people. The better known system is blood vessel circulation which takes the blood from the heart round the body. The colour of the blood is not red, according to many researchers. The blood in blood vessels derives its red colour from the red blood cells which are abundant in them. At a point in the circulation of blood, the “white” of the blood, the real blood separates from the red cells and flows through certain channels called the lymphatic system, drainage or vessels, to take nutrients, including oxygen extracted from red blood cells, to the immobile cells in tissue and organs, and to remove their waste. The

lymph, as it is called, rejoins the mainstream red blood circulation at certain points in the body.

Lymphatic Filariasis

Being microscopic, young filarial worms are able to follow from the lymph into the lymphatic vessels where they grow into adult worms. These adult worms cause the blockages known as elephantiasis, either in the foot, arms or thighs, or in the breast or scrotum.

Many people infested with these worms but who do not develop symptoms may suffer lymphatic system damage before there is trouble in the roof.

From the lymphatic vessels, adult filarial worms, discharge millions of microfilaria worms into the bloodstream every day.

These worms are more active at night, which is why they are best detected in blood samples taken at night. An immune battle rages against them which leaves poisonous debris in the bloodstream aid cause pain and damages.

From global research reports, more than 130 million are infected in the tropical world, Asia and the Caribbean. Of this number, Nigerians account for about 100 million infected persons, which is about two in every three Nigerians. The

frightening aspect of this report is that 70 million of these 100 million people are said to be at the risk of sudden death. Such death is aided, say, the reports, by many lifestyles which encourage the influx of bacteria viruses and fungi into an already compromised internal environment. Two cases mentioned include walking barefoot on red earth, and the wearing of poorly ventilated shoes which promote sweating in the foot, the presence of fungi and such ailments as athletes foot.

Symptoms Many of the early warning signs are taken for granted by many people or misdiagnosed by doctors.

Doctors write anti-itch prescriptions without investigating cause. The given skin ulcer ointments for skin blotches without much ado.

These conditions include • Fever • Pain • Chills • Vomiting • Sweating • Headache • Abscesses • Joint pain • Exhaustion • Skin ulcer • Inflammation • Malaise • Shortness of breath

Some natural solutions As the worms exist in the skin, bloodstream and lymphatics, natural remedies which have affinity with these regions of the body should help. Some of these are • Amazon skin – P • Amazon A – P • Colloidal silver • Black Wallnut • Indian goosebeny • Clove oil or herb • Marking nut • Butterfly pea • Yellow dock • Poke weed • Neprinol • Systemic enzymes • Grape seed extract The legendary Maria Treben, one of Austria’s greatest herbalists of our time, left some recipes in her HEALTH THROUGH GOD’S PHARMACY. For lymphatic system diseases, she recommends as follows…

“Three tablespoons of Swedish Bitters, 300 grammes of calendula / 100 grammes of Horsetail /100 grammes of Yarrow / 100 grammes of stringing Nettle”.

She says one and a half litres to two litres of tea made from these herbs should be sipped throughout the day. If there are

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

swollen organs, she suggests that Marjoram and Olive oil be left to stand in the sun or near a stove for 10 days and massaged into the ailing parts. Alternatively, St. John’s ceil wort may be massaged into the affected gland.

Also helpful are Marigold, Cleavers, Chickwee, Wormwood, Blue flag root, Echinacea rot, Nettle root, Golden seal root.

I would like to suggest that all symptoms of this disease described earlier should be taken far more seriously than hitherto done, in view of the information that 100 million Nigerians are affected by filarial worm infection, which may take five to seven years, to strike, and that 70 million of these stand the risk of sudden death.

Recent cases of the death of even young people from organ failure, such as kidney failure, suggest that filarial worm tests, and not just typhoid tests, be routinely carried out, as is not currently the norm. And, as the rains come, and with them the mosquito, nothing should be left undone to protect oneself against mosquito bites.

Remember: Malaria fever is not the only result of mosquito bite. Denge fever and filarial worms come with it as well.

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industry@thenationaonlineng.net

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), cement producers and block moulders are battling to exonerate themselves from alleged complicity in the production and importation of low quality cement, which a group claims is the cause of incessant collapse of buildings. Asst. Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA examines the implication for the economy.

Quality cement: no option than compliance

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ANY reasons have been proferred for the recurring collapse of buildings. The most biting appears to be the claim by a coalition of civil society groups and professional associations in the construction industry that it is caused by low cement quality. The allegation is an indictment of cement producers and importers who have been denying the claim to protect their business Block moulders and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have also defended themselves against the claim. SON is perceived to be weak production and importion low quality cement.

The coalition is insisting that the government should make 42.5 grade of cement the standard product in Nigeria instead of the lower 32.5 grade mostly patronised by builders. The coalition, in a working document titled: “Cement: Standardisation, Safety Versus Affordability and Poor Quality,” raised a critical question over the quality of cement in the market, viz, “how do you identify good quality cement? is it by the manufacturer’s name or by its composition or pigmentation?”

The coalition argued that nearly all cement manufacturers and importers take advantage of the lax regulation and lack of enforcement to vary their pigmentation in favour of the lower grade cement (32.5), which in most cases is used in building and seen to be partly responsible for the collapse of buildings. They believe that the practice is overlooked by SON. The coalition said it is warming up for a major campaign for the standardisation of the manufacturing and importation of cement.

The coalition’s claims did not go down well with cement manufacturers, SON and block moulders, who have been debunking the allegations. Dangote Cement Plc, West Africa’s largest cement manufacturer and importer, was the first to react. The cement giant said it took exceptions to what it saw as an attempt by the coalition to lump it with other cement manufacturers who the group accused of producing low quality cement. The company insisted that it does not produce 32.5 grade cement. Rather, it produces only 42.5 grade cement in all its three plants in Obajana, Kogi State; Ibese, Ogun State; and Gboko, Benue State.

According to its Chief Executive Officer D.V.G. Edwin, this is in line with the company’s adherence to global best practices of cement production of a minimum of 42.5 grade in all its factories nationwide. He explained that Dangote Cement chose to produce 42.5 cement grade because it is stronger and has better qualities, such as higher strength capability and rapid setting, which makes it the preferred grade among block makers, builders and construction workers. With quick setting, blocks come out stronger and reduces the number of breakages.

As part of efforts to drive quality, Edwin said Dangote Cement has, in the past two years, embarked on training programmes aimed at educating those in the construction industry on how to achieve premium results through implementation of the 42.5 cement grade as opposed to 32.5 grade.

He said the seminars and demonstrations with block makers is a permanent and continuous exercise, which forms a vital part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at preventing building collapse.

He also gave a breakdown of the different grades of cement available in the market. According to him, 92 per cent of Portland cement produced in the United States (US), are in 52.5 and 42.5 grades, while other imported cement from China, Japan, Denmark and Paris are all 42.5 Grade.

“Over 90 per cent of consumers are not aware of the different types of cement available in Nigeria. Their expectations in respect to the performance of cement are the same regardless of the type. The grade (quality) of concrete to be used may allow 32.5 grade cement for certain construction work such as pavements, rendering (plastering) and culverts but would demand 42.5 grade cement for structures, columns,

•Odumodu

•Ogunleye

•Dangote

bridges and multi-storey buildings,” he said.

Edwin maintained that Nigerians deserve the best, and that the company remains steadfast in meeting the needs of Nigerians for quality, cost effective cement.

“We want to align with the civil society group that there is need for standards in cement manufacturing; we need to comply to set standard so that Nigerians can get the best,” he said, adding that those arguing that migrating from 32.5 to 42.5 would erode their profit margins are insincere and selfish as human lives are more important than profits. He said producing 42.5 grade though would lead to a marginal cost increase, it should be seen as a patriotic gesture to stem the tide of building collapse.

“We place a high premium on human lives and not cost. Nothing on earth can be substituted for human lives,” he said, advocating that the best way to ensure safety in the construction industry is to insist on 42.5 as the grade to be produced and used in Nigeria.”

Lafarge WAPCO Plc also rejected the claim that poor cement quality is responsible for the increasing menace of building collapse in the country. The company instead, argued that one of the ways to stem the tide of collapse building is by improving construction practices. Lafarge alongside other cement manufacturers in its faction such as Ashaka Cement Plc, Northern Cement Company of Nigeria, Sokoto and United Cement Company Plc, Calabar, canvassed the position that, “the Nigerian cement industry is one of the most modern in Africa, with significant new technology and capacity recently installed. Cement quality conforms to the highest international standards and the industry is constantly working with the regulatory authorities (SON) to ensure up to date testing, certification of products and quality norms.”

The group said though they remain “committed to the sustainability of construction and share public concern regarding the menace of building collapse,” experience throughout the world shows clearly that cement quality is not the source of building collapse rather, the root cause is most frequently related to poor construction practices. The group said that the level of skill, education and awareness in the construction sector must be improved.

“There have been several programmes in conjunction with SON to educate and certify block makers and masons. We are committed to organising even more education and awareness in this area and have recently participated with the Ministry of Works to pursue this initiative,” the group explained The cement manufacturers, however, did not see any wisdom in the suggestions that cement products should be limited and some removed from the market.

“Products such as 32.5 have actually been part of building in Nigeria for the last 54 years and are used widely throughout the world. Limit-

ing product choices will not be good for the consumer and will send the industry backwards and away from current international trend,” the manufacturers pointed out, assuring that the cement manufacturing community would continue to support all initiatives in conjunction with other stakeholders to eradicate building collapse.

As Moses Ogunleye, President, Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, argue, there is no reason anything sub-standard should be in the market in the first instance, much less cement.

He told The Nation that the raging controversy over poor quality of cement is a confirmation that SON is overwhelmed.

“SON seems to be overwhelmed; they are monitoring standard in several sectors and so, they may not be aware of the existence of poor quality cement in the market,” he said, adding: “let us ask questions from SON.” He also said the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory set up to register and accredit block moulders has not yet registered anybody. He, therefore, called on block moulders to embark on self-monitoring.

Indeed, SON has come under severe criticisms in recent times over alleged weakness in the regulation of the cement industry. For instance, in what is seen by many people as a veiled indictment of the regulatory role of SON, Dangote Cement said prior to Nigeria’s attainment of self-sufficiency in cement production, SON stipulated the 42.5 grade as the acceptable grade for importers of cement into the country.

The firm said as a responsible market leader, it has continued to produce 42.5 grade in its three plants in strict adherence to the stipulations of SON, wondering why SON should insist on 42.5 grade as the standard for import and allow a lower grade for local production.

“How come that during the import era, we were all compelled by the regulatory authorities to bring in 42.5 grades and now, since 2012 when import was banned, the same regulatory authorities condoned the production of 32.5 grades?,” Edwin asked.

However, SON has resisted attempts to put the blame on its doorstep. On the controversial grades of cement, SON noted that there are two

grades comprising the 32.5 and 42.5, which also have various degrees of strength, but regretted that most members of the public are not even aware of the variety in grades, standards and specific applications of cement. The organisation added that what most people are aware of are the brand names, whereas the grades standards are equally important.

“This ignorance has led to the misapplication of cement by many users and for reasons of personal gain, some people may just utilise one bag when more bags are actually required,” SON’ Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said He insisted that as a responsible organisation, SON is committed to ensuring that the consumers get the best of quality whether in the construction industry or elsewhere. To this effect, he said the organisation has constituted a technical committee of experts to generally review the problems faced by stakeholders in the construction industry especially in terms of quality of building materials, including cement.

“The committee, which is made up of wellinformed individuals would take a holistic look on the quality of building materials in the country inclusive of cement, as a responsible standards bureau, SON has never and will never leave the quality of any product to the whims and caprices of any individual or group of operators,” the DG insisted.

According to him, the issue of standardisation of products should not be left to the agency alone hence, it is necessary that stakeholders and other regulatory bodies, civil society groups, manufacturers, the academia and consumers make their input, which partly informed the putting in place of the technical committee.

“This technical committee is not chaired by SON, we just provide a secretariat and it is what the committee arrives at that would be taken to the council of SON and once it is approved, it becomes a standard. Let me also state that a standard is not enforceable except the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment designates it as a mandatory standard,” he explained.

SON seems to have an ally in the Block Moulders Association of Nigeria, which insisted that SON is not a weak regulator.

National Chairman, Block Moulders Association of Nigeria, Rasheed Adebowale, said the association is so much concerned about the attempts to portray SON as weak in the regulation of the cement sector “because we are part and parcel of the construction sector and major end users of the product.” He said that the association is not comfortable with what he described as the ‘faceless Civil Liberties Organisation’s claims. “We want to put it on record that we have never had it so good until the emergence of Odumodu at SON. The current leadership of SON is working closely and collaboratively with us to ensure quality and standard of products,” he added.

‘

We want to align with the civil society group that there is need for standards in cement manufacturing; we need to comply to set standard so that Nigerians can get the best

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LABOUR

SSOCIATION of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), has rejected the 2004 Pension Act in, saying it has brought severe hardship on retired members. The association said retired civil servants now receive peanuts as benefit under the scheme compared to what they received under the old scheme.

A communiqué issued at the end of the association’s meeting which held in Kano, implored the Federal Government to revert to the old pension scheme in order to save workers from the agonising experiences which they now go through few years after retirement.

The communiqué was signed by the association’s National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal and its six zonal chairmen.

It observed that there is increased anger in the Federal Ministry of Education, triggered by the nonpayment of salaries to some officers

Civil servants reject Pension Act Stories by Toba Agboola

since July, 2013. They resolved that the Federal Ministry of Education should liaise with the Federal Ministry of Finance and Budget Office with a view to clearing the backlog of unpaid salary before the end of February 2014 to avoid protracted crisis .

The body deplored the nonpayment of 2007 to 2010 promotion arrears to workers in the Ministry of Education and charged the national leadership of the association to give the ministry an ultimatum to settle the payment to that effect.

The association commended the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) over the launch of its housing scheme in Abuja. It enjoined the TUC leadership to work tirelessly towards ensuring that the first set of houses are delivered to

members in the shortest possible time.

In a related event, workers in the 104 Unity schools in the country have charged the Federal Government to settle all the outstanding relating to salary and arrears to avoid crisis in the sector. This was even as the workers were passing a vote of no confidence on the new pension scheme and calling on the Federal Government to revert them to the old scheme.

The workers, under the aegis of the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN) rising from the meeting of the Unit Chairmen of the Federal Ministry of Education, 104 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) and the zonal coordinators of the schools from the six geopolitical zones in Kano recently, called on the national leadership of the association to give the management of the

Federal Ministry of Education a time frame within which to pay the arrears.

The union at the meeting also demanded that newly employed officers who joined service in 2011 and 2012 and whose data have been captured but are yet to receive their salaries should be paid forthwith along with the outstanding arrears to mitigate the sufferings they are currently passing through.

The union however noted with delight the circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education directing the Principals of the Unity Schools to pay all outstanding arrears of 1st 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation to affected officers since the schools are now self-accounting.

Railway workers want action on policy formulation

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ORKERS of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) want the Federal Government and other stakeholders to partner with the union as part of measures to roll out time tested policies.

The President-General of NUR, Mr. Raphael Ben Okoro, told journalists that the partnership between the union, government and employers of labour could lead to national development and economic growth.

T

• From left: Vice President, Lagos Zone, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Vice President, Lagos Zone, Alhaji Aliu Balogun; Managing Director, NIPCO Oil Plc, Mr Venkataraman Venkatapathy and Chairman Lagos Zone of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, during a visit by the union to the firm in Lagos.

There’s decay in university system, says SSANU P RESIDENT, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Samson Ugwoke, has said there is decay in the university system, adding that so many Vice Chancellors have embezzled money and have been indicted in various visitation reports. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, the President said most of the universities have not been able to manage funds from the Federal Government well. His words: “We are talking about decay, what are the reasons for decay, what have we done about the decay?

“How far have the vice chancellors and university management judiciously managed the funds sent to them as capital grants? My own view of the assessment is that we would have looked at Nigerian universities from the past 15 years; how much has been sent to University A? How much of the capital grant has been put into use? How much has been embezzled and who embezzled it?

“Then if there is no embezzlement, it means that there is a shortfall in the required amount for capital grant to develop that university; it would be known that there was a clean usage of funds sent to that

university. But if actually the quantum of money that was sent to the university was enough to provide adequate facilities to a level, then something happened to the money that was sent and that was why we were excluded.

“That is why we say there is corruption; if government wants to prove me wrong let us go and do that assessment for the past 15 years, because it is only the statistics that is going to prove me wrong. The statistics will guide us in future funding of the universities and proper management of such funds”.

Ugwoke commended the Federal Government for the release of N30 billion for settlement of earned allowances but stressed that the amount fell short of expectation.

“As far as ‘earned allowance’ is concerned, I think some universities did well in the ratio of sharing it and giving it to staff. But there are still some universities that have not even touched the money, not even one kobo has been given to their staff.

For example, Michael Opkara University of Agriculture Umudike till today as I am talking to you, the vice

chancellor of that school has not disbursed a kobo of that money and it is more than three months since his own allocation came to him and nobody has asked why he had not disbursed the money to staff. In all, it is very evident and clear that the money, N30 billion was not able to cover July 2009 to December 2013.

More money is still required. Federal Government should expedite action in releasing the promised N10 billion to universities to see how far it will go. We are also demanding that governing councils should start the implementation of payment of earned allowances from month to month, beginning January 2014,” he said.

On the controversy surrounding ownership of university staff schools, he said: “In the circular for 2014 budget, government directed that staff school should be removed from the central budget of the universities, which violates the 2009 agreement because in the agreement, staff school appeared as a demonstration school for the faculties of education; that is how it is.

SSANU wrote directly to Mr. President on this issue. So our National Executive Council in this meeting has decided to declare a trade dispute”.

It urged the Principals of the Colleges to clear all outstanding arrears in respect of the 1st 28 days allowance within the current calendar year to avoid industrial dispute that may arise as a result of non-payment.

The communique read further, “The meeting in session frowned at the attitude of some Principals of the Colleges who have formed the habit of denying workers their entitled Duty Tour Allowance as enshrined in the Public Service Rules. It then urged the Principals to settle all outstanding DTA to al members that are due for it in line with the agreement entered into between the Union and the Management of the Federal Ministry of Education.”

Okoro said much that can be achieved through constructive tripartite methodology cannot be over-emphasized, saying it was for that reason the union is advising government at all levels to embrace trade unions and labour leaders as partners in progress, as workers’ representatives are inalienable stakeholders that deserve recognition.”

He enjoined all the trade unions in the country not to fail in their duty as champions of the common man and instruments for social change.

Govt, labour partner on capacity building

RADE Union Congress (TUC), has called on the Federal Government to partner with the trade union on human capacity building so as to transform the nation’s economy. Speaking at the triennial delegates’ conference of the Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC) in Abuja, Bobboi Kaigama called on both parties to complement each other to deliver on job creation opportunities for Nigerians:”Human capacity building is not just about today, but more importantly it is an investment in the future. We call for a glorious lasting era of fruitful partnership between the trade union movement and various tiers of government in Nigeria in human capacity building for unprecedented transformation of our nation,” he said.

On how trade union movement in partnership with government can build human capacity as the best strategy for national transformation, Kaigama said; “It is in our mutual best interest to ensure that this happens.” The labour leader emphasized that the much needed capacity building has to do with strengthening of skills, competencies, and abilities of workers so as to overcome exclusion and sufferings, while making optimal input to the economy.”The new skills acquisition trend is a conceptual approach to development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations from realizing their developmental goals or set objective.

Kaigama further explained: “For the purpose of clarity, it is vital that we understand that human capacity building involves equipping individuals with the information, knowledge; training and under-

standing that would enable them perform tasks better and more effectively. Our concern is that through capacity building individual workers and groups are empowered to expand their abilities to fully participate in the development process that would boost the ability to appraise and address issues that bother on policy choices and mechanisms of implementation among development options, based on an understanding of critical variables such as environment and the needs of the people concerned.”

According to Kaigama, there is no doubt that applying the concept of human capacity building holds true in every nation and has positive impact on national economy and transformation. What is more important to the nation’s organized labour, he stressed, is a workforce that is capable of operating industries at a level where it holds a competitive advantage over the economies of other countries.

• Kaigama

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BUSINESS e-Business

e-mail: e-business@thenationonlineng.net

About a decade ago, it seemed impossible to imagine that sitting in one’s bedroom, one could order for goods ranging from tomatoes to trinkets and cars, using the mobile phone. Technology has removed barriers, with the coming of the global system for mobile (GSM) communication. The absence of laws to punish those who take advantage of the cyberspace to fleece people, continues to impede the growth of ecommerce, reports LUCAS AJANAKU.

How cybercrooks are killing commerce F

ORMER Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Prof Cleopas Angaye will not bat an eyelid pressing the button to delete Nigeria’s name from its global list of countries with high crime rate.

At a forum in Lagos, he told The Nation why the agency he once headed is at the vanguard of getting the cyber bills pending before the National Assembly passed into law.

He said: “Nigeria is rated as one of the worst cybercimes.

If you go to the internet (and click) cybercrime, you will see that Nigeria is one of the four leading cybercrime countries.

It becomes of utmost concern when you count the United States and may be China and the United Kingdom and Nigeria is there. We shouldn’t be there. Nigeria is not as advanced in ICT as these other countries. We want to be advanced in other areas, but certainly not in crime. So, we are concerned. We want our cyberspace to be free.”

There are two items to the bill: the cybercrime and cybersecurity. “There is the cybercrime and the cybersecurity issue. The cybersecurity part of the bill spells out penalties that will be meted out to the people who contravene the provisions of the bill when passed into law. Security is about how we prepare ourselves and make sure that we secure our cyberspace against crime,” Angaye said.

Over the years, people have wondered if e-commerce, especially online retailing, will ever be practicable in the country. But in the last couple of years, cynics have been proved wrong. At the last count, not only have more than a dozen online retailing platforms registered their presence in the country, but also business has been good for them.

The question is how to consolidate on the little success so far recorded in the trade that is carried on through the nation’s porous cyberspace.

Though there is no reliable data to gauge the performance of online platforms in the country, the number of sites available is a sign that it is gaining traction among the elites.

Some of these popular sites are http://www.sunglasses.com/ , http://www.konga.com/, http://www.gloo.ng/, http:// www.jumia.com.ng/, http://www.kaymu.com.ng/ http:/ /www.mybidmonster.com.ng/, http:// www.shopkolo.com/, http://www.ozyet.com/, http:// www.buyright.biz/.

Future of e-commerce With the launch of the National Broadband Plan by the Federal Government last year, the future of e-commerce and indeed other e-transactions in the country is bright.

Broadband has been described as a game changer that will revolutionise every facet of human endaevours from telemedicine, to e-agriculture.

To former Chief Executive Officer, sunglasses.com.ng, Jaime Moreno, the future of e-commerce is bright, considering the population of the country and the number of internet users.

“In the UK, e-commerce accounts for around 10 per cent of the GDP (gross domestic product) implying over $200 billion. And by 2016, it is expected to contribute more than construction, healthcare or education.

“Now, obviously, Nigeria is at infancy stage, compared to the UK in terms of e-commerce, but this shows the potential the country has and where it could be heading soon.

“And if some people think UK is a far example, UK has 52 million internet users. Nigeria has 48 million, and most likely will overpass UK by the end of 2014,” he said.

Moreno added that lack of education about e-commerce and lack of trust between the customers and service providers remain challenges too. “In Nigeria, there is a large

•Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson

•Executive Vice Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Eugene Juwah

amount of internet users, but most do not yet know they can actually buy products online,” he added.

ing the 120 million mark, the place of quality telecoms service cannot be overemphasised. Many subscribers access the internet through their mobile phones. This implies that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should step-up its regulatory role to ensure quality of service not only in voice, but also in data services.

Employment Nigeria has a very large young population (over 50 per cent below 20 years old). The wave of e-commerce will bring many new start-ups and along with them job creation for that young population. Entrepreneurs, self-employed and freelancers will have the key to become the engine of growth and innovation for Nigeria, Moreno added.

Role of government

Obviously, the government has a major role to play in regulation and provision of the enabling environment.

With the potential that the country has in terms of demographics and internet dynamics, the government could power the country to become Africa’s hub for ecommerce. A sector analyst said allowing intensive benefits to technology startups in the country will definitely attract foreign investment and will help Nigerian and international entrepreneurs to grow and create successful companies.

Quality of Service

With the dearth of fixed broadband, mobile operators have done so well in the area of providing mobile broadband. With active subscriber population now cross-

‘Over the years, people wondered if e-commerce, especially online retailing, was ever going to be practicable in the country. But in the last couple of years, cynics have been proved wrong. At the last count, not only have more than a dozen online retailing platforms registered their presence in the country, but also business has been good for them’

Delivery time

Nigeria is a huge country with dilapidated infrastructure and unorganised transportation system. While the major highways interconnecting the country have become express roads to the graves, promises by successive administrations to rejuvenate the rail transportation system remain unfulfilled. This could certainly pose a daunting challenge to products’ delivery time. Added to this is the inefficient postal system in the country.

Innovative payment method

Payment for online transaction should be electronic.

Online stores should be web-enabled. When orders are placed on amazon.com for instance, payments are made instantly. Operators should work closely with electronic payment firms like Interswitch, eTrazact and others to device a way payment could be made within the comfort of one’s living room in a seamless and secure manner.

Combat online insecurity

Nigerians are still anxious about the security of their online information, especially without an enabling law to punish people who breach the cyberspace.

Managing Director, New Horizons Nigeria, Tim Akano said security has always been taken with levity in the country, arguing that this will make breach an easy task by the large pool of unemployed smart graduates.

“IT security is already a major concern globally. In Nigeria, where IT security is usually handled with levity, with more young people acquiring IT skills and with little opportunity to earn a decent income due to poor infrastructure, that will make them transit to technopreneure. These youths will turn to vulnerable banks, universities, government agencies and other corporate organisations to earn huge income by hacking into their database and selling it for handsome fees in the booming online black market,” he said.

He identified malware, ransomware, advanced persistent threats, spear phishing, social network attacks, cyber attacks on banks and telecoms, and cloud backlash as new threats to watch this year.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

61

e-Business

Why landlines are dead, by C Ericsson chief G

OUNTRY Manager, Ericsson Nigeria, Kamar Abass, has identified the high cost of landlines and the coming of the global system for mobile communication (GSM) as some of the reasons landlines no longer make any economic sense in Nigeria.

He said Nigeria has one of the highest phone talking time in Africa, adding that the industry has evolved over the last one decade.

Abass explained: “The fundamental part of mobile technology is that you are now calling a person not a place where you hoped that there will be someone in the vicinity of that phone. So, that is a big change. Nigeria is a place where we talk and engage a lot.

You will not be surprised to hear that the talking time in Nigeria is, in fact, among the highest in Africa. It is roughly 150 minutes per subscriber identity module (SIM.) Though it is bigger in a place like America where there is a different economic set up 150 minutes is a very high number. So, in spite of

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

what may seem as challenges, there is still very strong demand for services.”

He added that having done so well since the adoption of the GSM technology in the country, there are no longer technological justifications for rejuvenating the landline technology which is expensive.

“The reason we do not have landlines in Nigeria is that they are devilishly expensive to deliver and to maintain. Having developed to where we are today, I am not sure if there are any advantages to going back to landlines.

“Am not sure there is a value in it. Even in countries where there are established land line networks, like America, everybody has a mobile phone. So, you find homes where the landline is sitting in a

corner gathering dust while everybody has their mobile phones on their laps.

“So, I am not sure there is any need to invest in that. The more interesting opportunity is to build fibre networks into large cities so that you can connect with business, voice, data and video conferencing,” he said, adding that the problems subscribers experience on the network will go with time as operators are not resting on their oars in the area of investment.

Abass identified the absence of legacy backbone infrastructure prior to the liberalisation of the industry in 2001 as one of the major challenges besetting the operators, adding that as subscribers go through pains over quality of service (QoS) issues, the operators lose money in terms of the revenue that ought to have come to their coffers from voice calls.

• From left: Marketing & Public Relations Manager, Intel Adim Isakpona; Sustainable Development Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Bolarinwa Onaolapo; and Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Science & Technology Iboro Ekanem at a press conference.

Cash-less policy: CBN explores satellite technology

E

NCOURAGED by the success rate of its cash-less policy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is exploring the deployment of the redundant bandwidth capacity of Nigeria Satellite Communication (NigComSat 1R) in boosting the nationwide initiative and also empower the banking industry with real time internet connectivity The initiative will also see primary and secondary schools getting connected to the internet.

Head, Corporate Communica-tions, NigComSat Ltd, Sonny AragbaAkpore, explained that the CBN and management of the satellite firm are expected to sign the agreement that will run into billions of naira, adding

that it will cover all the local government areas of the country.

He said the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi gave hint to this when he launched Bank Verification Number Biometric Solution in Lagos, adding that the initiative will see to the emergence of several hot spots across the country.

He said the digital initiative contract with NigComSat is expected to be ratified early next week and will create hotspots in all the 774 local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria for seamless internet connectivity via satellite.

“All financial access points in the country will have dedicated hotspots through dedicated access points for the

benefit of the banks and their customers,” he added.

According to him, Sanusi also promised to extend the service to many primary and secondary schools in the country, adding that they will be fitted with internet .

Although the connection to schools shall be part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the apex bank, Sanusi said: “Every Nigerian bank will be connected to this platform whether the banks are located here in Nigeria or elsewhere in the global community. This will enable customers access to online real time banking services whether they live in the villages of Bayelsa or desert environment in Yobe State.”

phase of development in Nigeria.

According to the NCC’s plan, the winner of the single 2.3 GHz spectrum will become the sole wholesaler of broadband services to other service providers in the Nigerian market. Mr. Jameel stressed that the licence has therefore placed a critical responsibility on the licence winner because going forward, there will be more dependence on the Internet.

“There’s going to be more reliance on cloud services and for that to work efficiently, you have to be surrounded by the internet. Globacom is equipped to make that happen. We have the capacity to deploy very quickly, the technical know-how and the international bandwidth through our Glo 1 submarine cable,” he said.

On the issue of quality of service,

Mr. Jameel said no operator is happy when the quality of service is poor, explaining that any spell of sub-optimal service quality saddens the company because of the lost revenue for as long as it lasts.

“When a site goes down, it negatively impacts the quality of service in the immediate community it is meant to serve. If it is a hub site, the negative impact transcends the immediate community, because other sites dependent on the site that is down will also be technically out of commission. In essence, a site that goes down can negatively impact thousands of subscribers far and near, and the operator is incapable of making revenue. We don’t want that. No operator wants that,” he said.

‘Glo’s bid for 2.3GHz spectrum licence ATIONAL carrier, Globacom, to enhance service’ said it is bidding for the 2.3GHz broadband spectrum

N

licence being auctioned by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as part of its aggressive investment strategy to give Nigerians the best-in-class telecoms services.

The licence, the company explained, would ultimately improve the quality of service available to all telecom subscribers nationwide.

Speaking during a visit by the leadership of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), Globacom Group Chief Operating Officer, Mohamed Jameel, said the company remains committed to its aggressive investment drive, adding that obtaining the broadband spectrum licence on offer, would enable the company to mobilise necessary infrastructure to move telecommunications to its next

Glo Nokia Asha, D’banj thrill youths

LO Nokia Asha has continued to make waves among youths.

The smartphone was unveiled in Lagos during the announcement of the reappointment of one of Nigeria’s most popular music acts, Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, as a Globacom brand ambassador.

Glo Nokia Asha 210 is the latest and one of the most colourful Qwerty keyboard phones. The smartphone, autographed by D’banj, was specially designed for youths in continuation of Globacom’s strategic engagement with the youth segment.

The handset is compact and has a sleek, minimalistic aesthetic that’s similar to the Lumia. It comes with 2 MP camera, 3.5mm AV jack and Micro-USB port for charging.

A user of the smartphone, Mr.

Best Isioma, a Lagos-based secondary school leaver, said: “I think the phone is a great product. I, particularly, like the sound production which enables me to enjoy music on the move. Additionally, I am a great fan of D’banj, so I naturally cannot have enough of the phone.”

Another user of the phone, Mr. John Okorie of Niger Insurance, said: “This is a very beautiful phone. I like the fact that its light, very good for browsing and the parts are easily available at the marketplace in case you need to replace anything.”

Tyna Awosanya, who runs a beauty salon on Lagos Island, said: “D’banj is my favourite musician.

The Nokia Asha phone has all his hit tracks, so I am hooked on the phone. I can listen to the songs any time anywhere. Besides, it is also a trendy handset.”

Etisalat restates commitment to youths

I

N further demonstration of its commitment to helping the youth achieve their dreams, Etisalat has sponsored the maiden edition of the Abuja Inter-school Performing Arts Competition held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

According to a statement, the competition brought together people from 30 secondary and primary schools in the FCT, such as the American International School, the Turkish International School, the Regent School, and Royal Family Academy, among many others.

The event gave them the opportunity to showcase their various talents in dance, music and drama.

Manager, High Value Prepaid, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Chinelo Mbanefo, said as a brand dedicated to youths, Etisalat will be associated with genuine platforms that provide an opportunity for children and youths in the country to express themselves and showcase their talents.

“We are a youthful and innovative

brand, and as such are passionate about the youth. We are also very passionate about the development of art in the society, and most especially in our youth. That is why we chose to identify with this competition,” she said.

She expressed satisfaction with the children’s performance and the overall level of the competition, saying that this has shown that there are a lot of talents out there waiting to be discovered.

“As a youth-friendly brand, we have always been committed to encouraging and empowering Nigerian youths to achieve their dreams. We have been doing this for the past five years through our sponsorship of the Nigerian Idol.

We also have a youth enlightenment and empowerment programme for tertiary school students across the country known as Cliqfest, a product of our youth-friendly product, EasyCliq,” she added.

Akwa Ibom, Intel, others partner on fair

A

KWA Ibom State government has partnered technology giants, Intel and Interswitch, on this year’s edition of science fair.

The event is sponsored by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

According to a statement, the fair will accommodate pupils from the 36 states and Abuja and will give them the opportunity to showcase their independent research projects and invention.

SPDC’s General Manager, Sustainable Development and Community Relations, Nedo Osayande said: “We’re pleased to be part of the success of the National Science Fair. We believe that, by encouraging the young ones to take interest in science subjects, we will be laying a solid foundation for the technological development of Nigeria. This has also informed the different educational programmes that SPDC and other Shell companies in Nigeria are implementing

G

in the Niger Delta and throughout the country”.

Country Manager, Intel Nigeria, Olubunmi Ekundare while explaining the mechanics of the competition, said: “We encourage interested students to submit their original research. The best six projects will qualify to feature at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) which will holds in Los Angeles in May. Over $4 million in prizes and scholarships will be awarded to winners.”

Group Managing Director, Interswitch Transnational, Mitchell Elegbe, said the fair is an opportunity for young Nigerians to exhibit their inherent skills and demonstrate the huge potential the nation offers. “Interswitch proudly supports the National Festival of School Science Quiz and Fair competition.

We remain committed to providing people development platforms that would help young Nigerians play active roles in national development in technology and beyond.

Zinox bags global award

LOBAL largest computer, tablet and smart phone makers, Foxconn, has awarded the Zinox Technologies Platinum Partner Award to celebrate the ingenuity of the Zinox Research and Development team in its New Digital Products – the Zinox Tablet Pcs known as “Zpad”.

Foxconn’s Maricar Deocampo said: “We are awarding Zinox Technologies our distinguished partnership status in order to celebrate the newest smart device from the stable of Nigeria’s foremost and most decorated ICT Company.

“Though Zpad series is built in partnership with us, but your in-

tellectual strength, competence in digital design and capacity to challenge the best global digital products is unbelievable considering the fact that you are based in an emerging Third World country with all the difficulties with infrastructures and digital capital. Of special interest to us is your exceptional knowledge on Apps content. We are definitely excited to work with you and it has been very rewarding and we hope your country will appreciate this combined effort to deliver what we consider as one of the best series of Digital Tablet Pcs in the world.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT

19-2-14

Cadbury completes share reduction

C

ADBURY Nigeria Plc yesterday completed its capital reduction as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) effected the reduction and lifted the full suspension placed on the company in the wake of the share reduction.

Cadbury Nigeria’s post-reduction share price rose to N90.78 per share yesterday.

The NSE confirmed that Cadbury Nigeria had complied with all actions required to make the capital reduction effective, having successfully filed the court sanction of the shareholders’ resolution on the reduction with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on February 12.

According to the NSE, with the submission, the authorised share capital of the company has been reduced by about 1.25 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each from 4.0 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to about 2.75 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each. Also, the issued share capital of the company has now been reduced by 1.25 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each from 3.13 billion

•PZ Cussons declares N5.16b special dividend

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to about 1.88 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

Under the capital reduction, Cadbury Nigeria had returned excess capital of N11.9 billion to its shareholders by cancelling two out of every five ordinary shares held by the shareholders. Consequently, it reduced the share capital account by an amount equivalent to the par value of the cancelled shares and share premium accounts by about N11.27 billion.

Also, each shareholder will receive returned capital per cancelled share at N9.50 per share. Audited report and accounts of Cadbury Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2012 showed that the balances in the share capital and share premium accounts were N1.6 billion and N11.5 billion respectively.

Meanwhile, the stock market sustained its upswing yesterday on the back of an-

nouncement of a special dividend of about N5.16 billion by the board of PPZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. Directors of PZ Cussons Nigeria at their recent meeting decided to recommend distribution of N5.16 billion from the conglomerate’s general reserve as a one-off special dividend. With this, shareholders will receive a special dividend per share of N1.30.

According to the company, an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders to pass the necessary resolution on the special dividend has been scheduled for March 13, 2014, following which the special dividend will be paid on March 17, 2014.

The announcement of the special dividend triggered a scramble for the shares of PZ Cussons Nigeria. Nigerian equities remained generally on the upbeat. The All Share Index (ASI)-the main valuebased index that tracks all equities on the NSE; rose by 1.09 per cent to close at 39,397.09 points as against its opening index of 38,972.56 points. With 33 advancers to 19 decliners, aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose from N12.53 trillion to N12.65 trillion.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 19-2-14

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

63

MONEYLINK

CBN inaugurates card issuance guidelines for banks

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday, released card issuance and usage guidelines for the financial services sector.

In a circular to all deposit money banks, mobile money operators, switches and payment services providers, CBN Director Banking and Payment System, ‘Dipo Fatokun said power to issue the guideline was derived from Section 47 (3) of the CBN Act 2007. He said all stake-

Stories by Collins Nweze

Fatokun said only banks licenced by the CBN with clearing capacity shall issue payment cards to consumers and corporations in the country. He said that banks without clearing capacity can issue in conjunction with those with clearing capacity while advising all banks should seek approval from the CBN for each card brand they wish to issue.

holders that process, transmit, and or store cardholder information should ensure that that their terminals, applications and processing infrastructure comply with the minimum requirements for the sector.

The CBN director said all terminals, applications and processing infrastructure, should also comply with the standards specified by the various card schemes.

SEC asks Ecobank to reinstate director

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI) to reinstate Laurence do Rego, the former executive director of risk and finance who alleged senior management fraud.

“When the news broke we did write to them,” said Obi Adindu, a spokesman for the SEC, referring to the Janiary 8 statement from Ecobank that do Rego was no longer employed by the Lome,

Togo-based lender. We have formally written to Ecobank to indicate that action negated the initial position that we had expressed,” he said in a phone interview with Bloomberg.

SEC probed Ecobank after do Rego disclosed in August that former Chairman Kolapo Lawson and Chief Executive Officer Thierry Tanoh planned to sell assets below market value. Do Rego said she had been pressured to write off debts owed by a business headed

by Lawson and manipulate the bank’s

results last year. Both Tanoh and Lawson deny any wrongdoing.

A SEC review of Ecobank last month found “inadequate transparency in the recruitment procedures and mechanisms for board members and executive staff,” the Abuja-based regulator said January 10. It asked Ecobank to appoint a “substantive” chairman and develop a one-year plan to address the governance issues.

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branch to pick up a fully-functioning debit/credit card with exceptional security features in a few minutes. This will indeed delight the contemporary consumer.

Umeano spoke at the DatacardChamsAccess Financial Instant Issuance seminar for deposit money banks, switch operators and certified card issuers held in Lagos. The director, who was represented by CBN Deputy Manager, Shared Services Office, Babatunde Ajiboye described financial instant issuance as the next frontier for payment cards in the banking industry.

He said banks in developing and ad-

vanced financial markets are deploying the instant issuance solution to position their brands for future advancements in the fast paced payment cards business.

The CBN director urged banks to consider the shared service centre approach in deploying the solution in the Nigerian market, which entails integrating the solution with an existing central infrastructure in the market.

He said this will ensure the existence of a fully

The guidelines also stipulate that the cards issued can be ‘pay now’ such as debit and prepaid or ‘pay later’ such as credit. He said the usage channels, limits, and frequencies shall be defined by the issuing banks.

He said an issuer should have risk management framework in place that enables it identify, measure , monitor, and manage the range of risks that arise or are borne by its operations.

T

HREE Nigerians have made it to the top 10 finalists in Google’s Africa Connected competition announced yesterday.

The Nigerian finalists are Eric Obuh, a social crusader; Eseoghene Odiete, a fashion designer; and Mayowa Adegbile, a philanthropist.

In a statement, the organisers said the competition was launched in August last year, calling entrepreneurs, creative, innovators and web-lovers to share stories of how the web has transformed their lives and work. The 10 finalists were se-

interoperable and streamlined process at the backend and points of issuance thereby strengthening the existing relationships between issuers, payments schemes and other value chain players.

Managing Director, ChamsAccess Limited, Funke Alomoluwa said: “The contemporary consumer want banks to offer great, convenient and secure products and services that align with their lifestyle. Instant Issuance of payment cards provides deposit money banks with a real opportunity to respond to this ubiquitous yearning”.

ChamsAccess advises banks on shared technology

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and ChamsAccess Limited have called on banks to key into the shared-technology to reduce cost and enhance profitability.

CBN Director, Shared Services, Chidi Umeano said lenders needed to take advantage of Financial Instant Issuance Solution which attracts new cardholders, increases activation rates, as well as card programme profitability.

He said the solution makes it possible for new and existing customers of banks to walk into their

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

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

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

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

149.7450

Bureau de Change 152.0000

FIDELITYBK PZ ETERNA NEIMETH ACCESS LEARNAFRCA STANBIC INTBREW WEMABANK NASCON

O/PRICE 2.08 35.49 3.70 1.66 8.02 1.71 19.20 28.00 0.99 13.00

C/PRICE 2.22 37.26 3.88 1.74 8.40 1.79 19.99 29.15 1.03 13.50

Parallel Market

153.0000

CHANGE

COSTAIN EVANSMED GNI INTENEGINS TOTAL PORTPAINT UAC-PROP OANDO UNILEVER REDSTAREX

O/PRICE 1.90 2.98 0.64 0.71 179.99 5.51 20.72 20.80 51.30 4.50

C/PRICE 1.81 2.84 0.61 0.68 173.00 5.30 20.00 20.25 50.00 4.40

-3.04

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

Feb. ’14

July ’11

Feb ’14

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate

8.50%

8.50%

9.50%

4.50%

4.50%

5.50%

,,

Deposit Rate

,,

Liquidity Ratio

30.00%

30.00%

30.00%

Cash Return Rate

1.00%

2.00%

2.00%

Inflation Rate

7.8%

7.9%

8%

LOSERS AS AT 19-02-14

SYMBOL

154.3000

DISCOUNT WINDOWx

0.14 1.77 0.18 0.08 0.38 0.08 0.79 1.15 0.04 0.50

NIBOR

CHANGE -0.09 -0.14 -0.03 -0.03 -6.99 -0.21 -0.72 -0.55 -1.30 -0.10

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

NSE CAP Index

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

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

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

(S/N)

GAINERS AS AT 19-02-14

SYMBOL

154.0000

(S/N)

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

BANK (S/N)

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS)

lected by a panel of judges from over 2,200 entries from 35 countries.

It said five successful winners from among the finalists will now be selected by the online voting public. The winners will bag $25,000 (N4.06 million) each, and will also have the opportunity to work with a Google sponsor over a six-month period to further their online business success.

The competition categories included Education; Entertainment/ Arts/Sports; Technology; Community and NGOs; and Small Businesses.

Google Lead for the Africa Connected initiative, Affiong Osuchukwu, said Africa Connected is a competition that has run for over six months and we are thrilled at the number of amazing stories that have been collected from across Africa. Today we are excited to announce the top 10 finalists who have been selected by our judges’ panel.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

NIGERIA INTER OBB Rate Call Rate

Nigerians vie for $25,000 Google’s Africa Connected prize

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

•CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

Tenor

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012

7 Days

9.0417

Rate (Currency) Movement 6, Mar, 2012

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

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%

30 Days

9.6667

11.46%

60 Days

11.2917

11.96%

150 Days

12.1250

12.54%

Bank P/Court

Previous

Current

04 July, 2012

07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

64

NEWS Fayemi: APC states ‘ll participate in conference

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EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said the planned participation of the states under the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to better serve the people.

The governor said while the APC would not participate as a party - as had been resolved people in APC-controlled states should be allowed to participate to enable them express their views on national matters and have a sense of belonging.

Fayemi addressed reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on the participation of APCcontrolled states in the national conference.

He said the national leadership of the APC urged its governors to ensure their people participate, adding: “The President, in his broadcast, said he would choose delegates for any state that refuses to send delegates to the conference. You can imagine how it would feel if those people are speaking for us.

“The fact that the government is not for a particular party or a section of the public but for the generality of the people explains why it is necessary to allow

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado Ekiti

this.

“There is no sudden change of mind. The national conference, in its constitution, has slots for political parties as well as states. APC is well within its right as a party to decide on what its position is, as far as the national conference is concerned. But APC also has states being governed by its members, bearing in mind the fact that governors are governors of all.

“Without prejudice to the position that our party has taken, we preside over both members as well as non-members of our parties and it would be wrong for us to decide unilaterally as governors not to allow our citizens to air their views as far as the national conference is concerned.

“Take Ekiti, on which I can speak authoritatively, for example. Ekiti people are very particular about the nature of federalism we are practising.

The citizens have interest in whether we continue to run this kind of feeding-bottle federalism or not or a co-operative federalism within a regional context.

Yoruba monarchs seek more slots for conference

T

HE Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee yesterday urged the Federal Government to increase the slots allotted to traditional rulers in each of the six geo-political zones from three to six.

The monarchs said the three slots to them was inadequate, because of the seriousness of the conference to the lives and future of the people.

In a four-point communique issued yesterday after a meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the home of the committee’s leader, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo, the committee said the call became necessary

Ngige to reply on three applications next week

S

•INEC applies to strike out paragraphs

ENATOR Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will next Monday reply the three applications filed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Willie Obiano and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on whether to strike out paragraphs in the petitions.

The tribunal refused yesterday the application of Ngige to admit additional witnesses, who participated in the inspection of the electoral materials used by INEC during the November 16 governorship poll in Anambra State.

The tribunal, led by Justice Ishaq Bello, will next Tuesday rule whether one of the claimants to the APGA governorship ticket, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, should be allowed to be joined in the tribunal matter.

There was a little altercation at the tribunal between Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), lead counsel to Ngige, when

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

he applied to study the ruling of the tribunal on the application of additional witnesses as read by Justice Akintola Akinniyi.

Justice Bello said the tribunal could not be stampeded on such issues, while Akeredolu reminded the chairman that it had been agreed inside the chamber.

He opposed another motion raised by APGA to strike out paragraphs in its petition as raised by Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), which the APGA lawyer withdrew.

Ahmed Raji (SAN), representing INEC and others, prayed the tribunal to strike out paragraphs in the petition, which he described as incompetent.

He applied that paragraphs should be struck out, especially paragraphs 14 (E) AA, AC, AD, AE, AF, among others, describing them as pre-election matters, while his third prayer sought to strike out

other paragraphs in 15B(i), C(i and ii), describing them as vague, imprecise and generic.

The tribunal deferred the application by counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief A.O. Ajana, till next Monday, while counsel to Tony Nwoye, D.C. DeNwigwe (SAN), opposed INEC’s, APGA’s and Obiano’s applications.

DeNwigwe (SAN) told the tribunal that it was the wrong time for some of the paragraphs to be struck out.

According to him, “the respondents will lose nothing in law, if the petition is heard.

They will not be denied the opportunity of fair hearing.

“But the petitioner will suffer the opportunity of fair hearing if certain paragraphs are struck out. He will suffer irreparable injustice.”

He urged the tribunal to refuse the application.

On the matter involving two contestants to the APGA ticket and who the authentic

• Senator Ngige

national chairman of APGA is between Chief Victor Umeh and Chief Maxi Okwu, counsel to Okwu and Obidigbo, Mr. Maduabuchi Oba, said the petitioner was the party’s candidate.

Before then, Ikwueto (SAN), counsel to APGA and Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), counsel to Obiano, urged the tribunal to strike out the case on the grounds that it was an abuse of court process.

But Oba urged the tribunal to grant the application, referring it to the case - Benkay vs Cadbury Nigeria Ltd. The ruling on these cases will come up next Tuesday, while Akeredolu (SAN), counsel to Ngige, will give his reply to the three motions raised by Ikwueto (SAN), Ikpeazu (SAN) and Raji (SAN) on Monday.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (second left) celebrating with the physically challenged people when they declared for his second term at the Local Government Civil Service Commission Hall, Osogbo...yesterday. With the governor are his Special Adviser on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade (left); Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Special People, Prince Paul Adelabu ( third right); Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Osun chapter, Mr Onitiju Kehinde (second right) and others

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

because of the importance of the conference in the life of the nation.

The obas urged the Federal Government to examine their request to avoid undermining the essence of the conference.

Those at the meeting include the Olojodu of Ojudu, Oba Sikiru Adelani; Sabigana of Igana, Oba Soliu Oyemonla Azeez; leader of the committee and Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan; Ahaba of Ajagba, Oba Thomas Olawale Adesayo and Gbaluwe of Igbotu Kingdom, Oba Adeniyi Ajayi.

Alleged deportation: Court adjourns suit

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HE Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till April 3, the hearing of a suit by 76 Igbo against Lagos State government for allegedly ‘deporting’ them to the Southeast.

The court granted the respondents time to regularise their processes.

The applicants sought an order mandating the state to tender a written apology to them, to be published in three national newspapers continuously for 30 days from the date of the first publication.

They sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents or their agents from further ‘deporting’ or refusing them free entry to and exit from the state.

Seven of the applicants sued for themselves and “on behalf of those 76 persons ‘deported’ from Lagos State and dumped/ abandoned at Onitsha, Anambra State on July 24, 2013.”

They are Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Nnenna Ogbonna, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwu and Onyeka Ugwa.

Lagos Attorney-General Ade Ipaye and Police Commis-

By Joseph Jibueze

sioner Umar Manko are the respondents.

The applicants, through their Onitsha-based lawyer, Chief Ugo Ugwunnadi, of Okusuanamiri Chambers, sought a declaration that they were Nigerian citizens entitled to the enjoyment of their rights as provide for in sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution and relevant sections of the African Charter.

According to them, their alleged arrest and detention in camps, Oshodi rehabilitation centre, police cells and prisons in Lagos for no offence and without trial amount to a serious breach of their rights.

They sought an order mandating Lagos to reabsorb and accommodate them within the state as they are Nigerian citizens entitled to live in any part of the country.

One of those ‘deported’, Mr. Onyeka Ugwa, who hails from Orlu in Imo State, said in a supporting affidavit that he lived in Lagos for over five years and sold novels under a bridge in Okokomaiko, Lagos.

He alleged that he was arrested by policemen and offic-

ers of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) in January last year and taken to a rehabilitation centre in Oshodi, where he was “dumped and abandoned.”

Ugwa said he was transferred to a detention camp, where he met other Igbo.

He said on July 23 last year, armed policemen and other persons drove into the camp, identified those who were Igbo, separated and bundled them into buses, and left in a convoy without being told where they were going.

He said the bus kept moving throughout the night until they were taken to Upper Iweka in Onitsha, Anambra State, at the wee hours of July 24.

The Deputy Director in the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Social Development, Olabode Ajao, said the respondents did not ‘deport’ the applicants as alleged.

He said it was a state policy to cater for the welfare of residents, irrespective of state of origin, and that it does its best to ensure that they were employed and properly-accommodated so that they do not constitute a nuisance to society.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

65

NEWS ‘No inmate escaped from Edo Prison’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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FFICIALS of the Nigeria Prisons Service have said no inmate escaped from any prison in Edo State. They said an inmate in the Minimum Security Prison on Sapele Road in Benin, who attempted to escape on Tuesday evening, was mentally unstable.

It was gathered that the inmate, who was not identified, climbed the high perimetre fence.

A police patrol team, which sighted the fleeing inmate, shot sporadically to stop him but the inmate who was naked, continued running.

He was pursued by a prison official, who eventually caught up with him.

State Comptroller of Prisons Effiom Etowa, at a briefing yesterday denied reports of a foiled attempted jail break.

He said: “There was no jail break at the prison on Sapele road. The doctor has been coming to check on him. He was returning from treatment when he made the bold escape and the warders were vigilant enough to arrest him.

“Other inmates you saw on the fence were assisting the warders to stop the inmate from escaping. It was a police patrol team that saw somebody naked on the fence. No other inmate escaped from the prison.”

Govt, groups to meet with teachers

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•Oshiomhole restates commitment to quality education

DO State government has accepted the recommendations of civil society organisations (CSOs) for a tripartite meeting with teachers’ unions and civil society groups on the teachers’ competency test.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole told representatives of civil society groups, who presented a report that “if you insist that we have not sufficiently engaged the teachers, I am ready to work harder and accept your offer.

“I am happy that you are willing to be present and am going to invite them for a meeting. I will never get tired.

“I still believe that it cannot possibly be in Edo’s long term interest to have the future of the children compromised.”

From Osagie Otabor and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

The governor debunked claims that the government was planning to sack 3,000 civil servants.

He said: “We don’t have plans to sack 3,000 civil servants. It is true we have done verification in the health sector, civil service and others, which puts a lie to the claims by teachers that they are being targeted.

“We discovered some civil servants who are using their children’s certificates or their relatives’ certificate. However, we have not sacked anybody.

“If anything, we have directed the Civil Service Commission to employ more peo-

ple. In any event, we don’t have a record of taking unilateral decisions on matters affecting workers.”

On teachers, Oshiomhole said: “we have not sacked any teacher. But we have stopped the pay of some teachers who had issues after the verification exercise. We have not issued any sack letter or termination letter because we want to handle the issues in the education sector holistically and not piecemeal.”

He said the government would train and re-train teachers.

“But even for us to design the appropriate re-training programme for teachers, you must access their competence level to get the kind of training they require. You can’t pre-

scribe without knowing the problem,” he said.

The governor said government would review the case of teachers, whose names were deleted from the payroll.

He said: “If every other person wants to joke with education, I will not joke with it. I owe the Edo people quality, basic education, which is why we have abolished charges in our primary and secondary schools.

“I don’t want to stay here for eight years and by the next examinations, Edo pass rate would have dropped.”

Oshiomhole, who slated the tripartite meeting for next Wednesday, said a Town Hall meeting on education will hold next Tuesday.

Police parade 11 suspects

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R

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Delta State High Court in Effurun has sentenced two persons, including a civil servant, to 33 years imprisonment for kidnapping a prominent hotelier in Delta State.

They demanded N10 million ransom.

Wisdom Destiny (35) from Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State and Godstime Onovwakpor ( 39) from Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State were found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery, kidnapping and demanding ransom.

They got 10 years each for count one, another 10 each for robbery and yet another 10 years for kidnapping. Both got three years each for demanding a ransom. The court held that the prison terms were to run concurrently.

State Prosecutor told the court that the accused persons and one other at large on December 27, 2009, at Ovwian within the Otor-Udu Judicial Division, kidnapped Francis German from a church.

The prosecutor said German was trying to park his car on the church’s premises when the duo whisked him away.

He was released three days later after his wife reportedly paid N10 million.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

R •Head, Quality Assurance, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Adeleke Adewale (left); Corporate Service Manager Mr Oladimeji Oduyebo; Mr Enebi Onucheyo Head, Ogun State Office, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Enebi Onucheyo and factory manager, Fidson, Mr Ajayi Babatunde at the presentation of NIS105 2007 certificate to Fidson products in Ota, Ogun State.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Oyerinde: Reps want Edo AG to take over

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NSPECTOR General of Police Mohammed Abubakar was yesterday directed by the House of Representatives to ensure that the Attorney General of Edo State takes over and prosecute the suspects in the murder of former Principal Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Olaitan Oyerinde.

This followed the adoption of the recommendations of the report of the House Committee on Public Petitions, which received petitions from Civil Society Organisations.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

The House urged the inspector general “to critically investigate the alleged complicity of the divisional police officer (DPO) of Esigie in the documentation of the recovered locally-made gun , which showed discrepancies in the extracts from crime diary and the exhibit register.

He is to “harmonise all perceived areas of conflict in the investigations separately carried out by the police and

the Department of State Security (DSS), relying on quality of evidence and transmit the case file to the Attorney General for prosecution of the arrested suspects.”

The Oyerinde murder investigation has been compounded by the conflicting report by the police and the DSS, leading to the accusation of cover-up by Governor Adams Oshiomole against the police.

Chairman of the committee Uzo Azubuike said during the committee’s investiga-

Rivers police chief upholds ban on rallies

IVERS State Commissioner of Police Tunde Ogunsakin yesterday upheld the ban on political rallies in the state.

Former police commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu announced the ban days before his removal from office last week.

In a meeting with party executives yesterday, Ogunsakin said the ban was in line with Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act. He said the Electoral Act

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Residents protest unlawful arrest

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

IVERS State Commissioner of Police Tunde Ogusakin yesterday paraded 11 robbery and two kidnap suspects.

He said: “A gang of robbers opened fire on a police patrol team at 1.45 p.m. on February 14 at, Ogunabali Area, by St. Patrick Hospital, Port Harcourt.

“This prompted the police to engage them in an exchange of gunfire. The gang was overwhelmed by the superior power of our men.

“The gang fled the scene, leaving behind a grey Toyota Highlander, with registration number LSR 825 AP. “The police pursued them and Chinoso Ihesiuno was arrested and N1 million was recovered from him.

“On February 17, a kidnap suspect, David Francis, was arrested at a bank, on Trans Amadi Road, Port Harcourt while trying to withdraw the ransom for the release of a victim, who was kidnapped in Akwa Ibom State.

“Francis led operatives to the hide-out of his accomplice, Edwin Ekpeyoung.”

Two kidnappers get 33 years

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

states that parties should begin their campaigns 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours before election day.

The Police chief added that any political association, pressure groups or person (s)intending to hold any gathering in the state ‘must’ give the police a five-day notice.

“It is imperative to mention that there is need for strict adherence to the rule

of law by all in the daily conduct of their activities, to ensure that there is peaceful co-existence in the state.

“It is important to emphasise that the duty to provide adequate security is imposed on me by Section 94 (1) of the Electoral Act. “It is better you carry out your political activities in an atmosphere devoid of rancour and acrimony. You must conduct yourselves within the ambit of the law.”

•Ogunsakin

tion, it approached the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for intervention.

He said the office was confused about which of the investigation reports between the police and the SSS to work with.

Azubuike said further complications were introduced by the police when a firearm allegedly recovered from one of the suspects was registered against a man named by the DSS in the murder, but was said to have been in police custody before Oyerinde’s murder.

However, the recommendation that the civil rights activist, Rev. David Ugolor, be re-investigated, following the confession of one of the police suspect was rejected.

Minority Whip Samson Osagie observed that Ugolor obtained a judgment against the police for unlawful arrest and detention over the murder.

Lawmakers directed that the police should see governors as chief security officers of their respective states.

The police are also to brief the governors regularly in matters of serious crimes, the lawmakers said.

ESIDENTS of Warri raised the alarm yesterday over alleged return of “illegal road blocks” to the metropolis.

They alleged unlawful arrest and detention while decrying the “unfriendly disposition” of policemen at “B” Division, also known as Avenue Police Station in Warri.

The residents, who marched on the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Press Centre, accused the police of targeting innocent residents to “show they are working.”

The protesters recounted how police activities had resticted their rights to move freely, particularly in the evening.

Oghenekevwe Onome said: “We have come to you to help us reach out to the inspector general of police (IGP), the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Ikechukwu Aduba and the state government and let them know the embarrassment that has become of police, particularly the B-Division Police in Warri.”

The protesters decried the return of illegal roadblocks on Okumagba Avenue, adding that unsuspecting commuters and pedestrians were subjected to embarrassment and extortion.

Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Garaje Gado admitted his men were not blameless, adding that the public should also accept complicity because the officers were products of the society.

66

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

NEWS

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Invasion: Suswam seeks Fed Govt’s intervention

ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam has condemned Tuesday’s attack on Torkula village.

He also decried the burning of the Tor Tiv’s home and the attacks by Fulani herdsmen in Guma, Gwer-West, Makurdi and Agatu local government areas.

Suswam said the attack was a game taken too far.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Cletus Akwaya, the governor said: “Seven People were killed on Tuesday and the home of the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula and several homes at Torkula in Guma Local Government were burnt in bloody attacks by Fulani herdsmen on Tiv communities.

“The fresh wave of attacks by the Fulani herdsmen

•’I’ve tried my best, says governor

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

reached a new phase with the latest invasion, which saw hundreds of Tiv farmers fleeing from their homes on the boundary with neighbouring Nasarawa State.

“In the Tuesday attacks, about 700 herdsmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded Torkula village and attacked residents.

“After several hours of military – like operations, seven persons in the community were found dead while houses, including the country home of the paramount ruler of the Tiv, the obvious target, were razed.

“Since the attacks, there has been tension in the state, especially in the Tiv speak-

ing areas, as community leaders have risen in condemnation of the incident, which they described as an affront on the traditional stool of the Tiv people.

“The Tor Tiv, Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula, whose palace is in Gboko, hails from Torkula village. The Fulani, who arrived in the town well prepared for the dastardly mission, began by setting houses ablaze after which they opened fire on the unsuspecting residents who tried to escape.

“Apart from the people who were killed, several others were injured while some persons were declared missing.”

He said the number of the

attackers raised the question as to whether or not they were herdsmen or militia pursuing a different agenda.

The governor said it was regrettable that the incessant, bloody attacks on the farmers have persisted, despite the security arrangements put in place by his administration.

He said the government was working with the Armed Forces, police and para-military agencies to carry out patrols and provide surveillance in villages along the boundaries between Benue and Nasarawa states.

Suswam said he had done everything possible to stop Fulani attacks on Tiv people.

He called on the Federal Government to support the state in its bid to contain the Fulani invasions and provide relief materials to the displaced persons.

The governor regretted the displacement of thousands of Tiv farmers. He lamented the plight of school children kept out of school in the last three years as a result of the protracted crisis in the affected four local government areas.

Suswam appealed to the people of the state to be calm even in the face of unprovoked attacks by the Fulani herdsmen .

He urged the people to continue to regard and treat the Fulani as their kin with

whom they have shared historical excellent relations.

The governor called on the Federal Government to create ranches and grazing reserves for the herdsmen.

He said he would write to the Presidency tomorrow; and appealed to the Federal Government to intervene to avoid a war.

“I have travelled to Nassarwa more than 10 times, but in the end the attacks continued.

“For three years, I have spent huge sums of money on security that I cannot even mention, I have done everything possible, yet the attacks continue.

“I will take a letter to the Presidency tomorrow to intervene before a war breaks out,” he said.

Sambo, Tambuwal, others mourn Balat

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From left: , Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, Permament Secretary Federal Ministry of Lands & Housing, Dr Ezekeel Oyemami Chairman, Value Chain Project Consultants, Dr Joshua Egbagbe; Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing & Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, President, First World Communities Ltd Brig Gen Tunde Reis (rtd) and CEO, Novone Consult Ltd, Mr Nya Etok at a One Day Stakeholders Retreat for the enlarged Top Management of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development at the Rockview Hotel, Wuse II, Abuja.

Don’t stain 2015 with blood, Sultan warns

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ULTAN of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III cautioned politicians yesterday not to stain the road to 2015 with the blood of Nigerians, saying there is need to stabilise the nation’s polity.

“I am appealing to and urging you that the road to 2015 elections should not be stained with the blood of Nigerians” The call followed the incessant killings and de-

PUBLIC NOTICE FA S I N A

I formerly known and addressed as FASINA ADEMOLA AMOS , now wish to be known and addressed OMOILERIOLUWA ADEMOLA AMOS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

struction of property that has pervaded the northern part of the country. The monarch said Nigerians were tired of the negative things going on, adding that they want an immediate stoppage to the politics of hatred because it does not pay Nigeria.

The Sultan gave the advice in Sokoto when the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Mu’azu, visited him.

He noted that there were so much acrimony and mudslinging, pointing out that” all these are now go-

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ing on in Nigeria and there is the need to stabilise the nation’s polity” Abubakar said there were negative occurrences affecting the nation’s socioeconomic and political wheel.

“So many things are now happening in the nation’s polity contrary to what obtains in other parts of the world.

“Our politics is being played contrary to how it is done elsewhere in the world.

We need to do whatever it takes to have stability in the polity.

“Whosoever emerges in

2015 should be acceptable to all Nigerians. Violence always begets violence and there is nowhere in the world where violence will bring peace.

The Sultan advised Muslims and Christians to live according to the dictates of their religions.

Mu’azu told the monarch that the visit was aimed at showing respect to him as the father to all Nigerians.

He noted that traditional rulers were making efforts at ensuring the unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigerians, irrespective of backgrounds and affiliations.

Ahmed calls for border cooperation

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WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has canvassed cross country collaboration among Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger as part of strategies to check the activities of Boko Haram.

The governor advised the state police command to strengthen security at the state’s boundary towns to forestall infiltration by criminals.

Ahmed spoke when the police commissioner, Ambrose Aisabo, visited him at the Government House, Ilorin.

He added that it appeared that other countries prone to the activities of the insurgents were not working as hard as Nigeria in tackling the problem.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

The governor noted that operation of insurgent groups transcends the shores of the nation and admonished security operatives to cut off sources of the insurgents as a way of halting the menace.

Ahmed emphasised that Nigerians should appreciate that national security threatened by insurgents was beyond religious interpretation, but a systematic foisting of an ideological perspective on the country.

He said every Nigerian must be security-conscious and avail security agencies with vital information to ensure security of life and property.

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

ICE President Namadi Sambo has described as shocking the death of his Special Adviser (Special Duties), Senator Isaiah Balat.

Sambo described Balat as a great politician who would go down in history as someone who took steps to stabilise the Nigerian polity through his contributions and selfless service to the nation.

He prayed for the repose of his soul and for his family to have the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said Nigeria lost a cool-headed, honest and refined gentleman, whose words and deeds mirrored that of a man at peace with himself and his creator.

The Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, said Balat was a bridge builder and peace-loving politician.

Ihedioha prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest, and enjoined his family and relatives to take the development as an act of God. The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) said the virtues that Balat stood for “will remain with us”.

The Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said the country lost one of its finest Politicians.

The forum noted that the late adviser was a true nationalist, who lived a life of dedication to the cause of Nigeria’s unity and development.

The Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah, described the death as “a greatly shocking development’’.

“I received the news with great shock; I woke up with him in my mind on Tuesday and was to call him later,’’ Kukah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on phone yesterday.

He described Balat as a “self-made man, who literarily pulled himself up by the bootstraps through hard work and discipline’’.

Security expert lauds governors

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SECURITY expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has lauded northern political leaders for supporting the war on Boko Haram.

He said the support of the northern political elite was important to create a synergy in the successful prosecution of the war on terror.

Ekhomu praised Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima for acknowledging that Boko Haram attacks had reached a “state of war”.

The security expert, who is president of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), also praised the statement by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor Babangida Aliyu, that Boko Haram attacks had gone beyond the traditional pattern of attacks and urged northern leaders to be “frank and refrain from partisanship” in discussing the Boko Haram matter.

Ekhomu said combating terrorism was not a job for the Federal Government alone, but the responsibility of federal, state and local governments.

He advised political officer holders to reduce their focus on the privilege of office and instead focus on service delivery.

IPMAN demands sufficient kerosene

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From Jeremiah Oke, Abeokuta

HE Independent Petroleum Marketers (IPMAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to improve supply of subsidised kerosene product in Ogun State.

The union decried shortage of subsidised kerosene supply in the state.

The state Chairman, Dele Tajudeen, said the 33,000 litres supplied to the state by the Federal Government was not enough.

“Considering the number of the people who are using kerosene in Ogun State, the Federal Government needs to supply more.

“Thirty three thousand litres was given to the state and we have to share it among three major filling stations. You will agree with me that 33,000 litres is too small for the whole of Ogun State and I am sure it won’t last more than two days.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

67

NEWS 2015: ‘No Southeast politician should run for presidency’

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BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has advised any politician from the Southeast aspiring to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s presidential election to forget the ambition.

According to him, it would be an excercise in futility.

Speaking in Umuahia while receiving a delegation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos branch, who visited the state, while Orji said so long as President Jonathan would run for a second term, he remained the best and should not be dis-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

tracted.

The national leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo recently visited presidential hopefuls from the zone, urging them to shelve their ambition and support President Jonathan in Ndigbo’s interest.

The President of the Lagos branch and leader of the delegation, Chief Fabian Onwughalu, said the body was going round Igbo speaking states to see how governments were performing.

‘Pension assets hit N3.9trn’

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HE Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PeNop) said yesterday the pension industry has recorded about N4 trillion pension assets and 5.9 million registered contributors under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

PeNop projects a 20 per cent growth of the assets before December, a projection, which may translate to about N500 billion additional growth.

The Chairman, PeNop and Managing Director, Legacy Pensions, Mr. Misbau Yola, who spoke at a news briefing in Lagos, said: “Despite this growth prospects, the dearth of a

By OmobolaTolu-Kusimo

good, viable investment instrument remains a major challenge to the pension operators,” He said the investment window available to them presently was predominantly government securit i e s , s o m e eq u i t i e s an d treasures and money market.

The Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Demola Shogunle, assured contributors that their assets were safe and their future guaranteed.

He urged employers, who have not joined the scheme to do so to empower their employees.

Nigeria partners Pakistan on counter-terrorism

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HE Nigeria Police has entered into an agreement with its counterpart in Pakistan in the training of personnel in counterterrorism.

The deal was struck yesterday when the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar received the Pakistani High Commissioner Muhammed Ashraf Saleem in his office.

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

A statement by police spokesman Frank Mba said the collaboration became necessary following the experience of the two countries in the hands of terrorists, insurgents and kidnappers.

“At the end of the meeting, the IGP announced that the first batch of 10 police

officers will leave Nigeria for Pakistan for training in counter-terrorism, counterinsurgency, as well as bomb diffusion and disposal.

“Similarly, Pakistani police personnel are expected in Nigeria to participate in specialised training at the Police Intelligence Institute”, the statement added.

The Pakistani High Commissioner was quoted to

have lauded the initiative, saying the two countries have found themselves in similar circumstances.

The IGP has just returned from a seven-day working visit to Pakistan where he was said to have engaged in security discussions with key Pakistani police chiefs and stakeholders on possible areas of collaboration.

tant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, “the state government won’t respond to the insults or attacks the minister directed at the government of her state, her governor and the indigenes she repeatedly called militants.

“We are only responding

to express our disappointment, regret and register our shock that professor, who taught in the university for many years and is now a minister, could spend one hour on the radio, abusing the government, governor and indigenes.”

Jonathan’s visit: Okorocha, Onwuliri in war of words

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HEAD of President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Imo State, the already frosty relationship between Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Prof. Viola Onwuliri has worsened.

The governor and the minister have been at loggerheads over claims by the latter that the federal allocations to the state have been wasted on ‘white elephant’ projects by the government.

While the minister is insisting that the Federal Government has done well for Ndigbo, the governor is claiming that there is no Federal Government project in the state.

Addressing a news conference ahead of the visit, Prof.

Onwuliri restated her call on Okorocha to account for the “billions of naira” he had received from the federation account since he assumed office two and a half years ago.

The state government, however, asked the minister

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

to point to any Federal Government project she had attracted to the state, or say what would be the activities of the President during his visit.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assis-

T

Students held for murder

WO students of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education have been arrested in connection with the murder of a United States-based artist, Prince Noel Tochukwu Unuegbu, in Imo State.

The suspects are 22-year-old Eze Charles Nnamdi, a 400-level student from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State and 20-year-old Madubuchi Augustine, a 300 level student from Ekwulobia in Anambra State.

Parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Owerri, Police Commissioner Abdulmajid Ali said the late artist, who hailed from Akwu, Akokwa in Ideator Local Government, was murdered on February 4 in an undisclosed hotel in Owerri.

He said one of the suspects was arrested

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

in Anambra State where he absconded to after allegedly committing the crime, while the second one was apprehended in Akwa Ibom State, following a tip-off.

The police boss said five members of a seven-man kidnap syndicates were arrested in connection with the abduction of a brother to the former Deputy Governor Jude Agbaso.

Said he: “Two of the suspects were nabbed in a church at Owerri. Another two were arrested inside a hotel, while one was arrested through an ATM card”.

Ali said the other two suspects at large would soon be arrested. He assured that the kidnapped cleric would soon get his freedom.

FOREIGN NEWS Prince Charles takes part in Saudi Arabian sword dance

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HE Prince of Wales wore traditional robes and carried a sword as he took part in a ceremony as part of a festival of culture in Saudi Arabia.

Prince Charles joined members of the Saudi royal family for the Ardah - or sword dance in the capital Riyadh.

The prince wore a traditional ankle-length garment, known as a “thobe”, for the all-male ceremony which is usually performed at events such as weddings.

He is touring the Middle East, where he is visiting Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

It is his second visit to the two nations in just under a year and his 10th official trip to Saudi since he first toured the nation in 1986.

The Ardah features hundreds of Saudi Arabian men and boys dancing and singing in formation with swords in hand.

The ceremony was performed to celebrate the Janadriyah Festival, an annual cultural event lasting about two weeks which marks all aspects of Saudi life and is being held this week in Riyadh.

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‘Twin suicide attack’ in Beirut kills four

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T least four people have been killed and dozens wounded in a twin bomb attack in the south of the Lebanese capital Beirut, officials say.

Security sources said it appeared that two suicide bombers using a car and a motorcycle had blown themselves up near an Iranian cultural centre.

The blasts caused heavy damage to shops and buildings and

set fire to vehicles.

It is the latest in a series of attacks in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong presence.

Radical Sunni militant groups have said they will continue to target the Shia Islamist movement’s strongholds until it pulls its forces out of Syria, where they are fighting on the government’s side.

Iran provides significant fi-

nancial and military support to both Hezbollah and President Bashar al-Assad. It denies having sent combat troops to Syria, saying they are serving only as advisers.

Hezbollah’s TV station, alManar, reported that in Wednesday’s attack, the first bomber detonated a car laden with explosives near the Iranian cultural centre in the Bir Hassan district. Almost simulta-

•The prince takes part in the annual Janadriyah Festival...yesterday.

AFP PHOTO

neously, the second assailant set off a bomb hidden in his motorcycle, it added.

Officials told the Associated Press that security forces in the area had suspected one of the men was about to attack and opened fire on him, apparently forcing both to detonate their bombs prematurely.

The explosions sent a large plume of smoke into the sky.

Fire engines and ambulances headed to the area and were seen evacuating the wounded.

The Iranian embassy said that there were no serious casualties among its staff at the cultural centre. Blast walls were reportedly recently installed in front of the facility.

The bombs also exploded near the Kuwaiti embassy, a Lebanese army barracks, the Beirut offices of the Iranian state news agency Irna and state broadcaster Irib, and an orphanage run by an Islamic charity.

The orphanage’s windows were blown out and children were seen peering out of them, crying and screaming “bomb, bomb”, according to the Reuters news agency. Several were among the injured.

North Korea detains Australian missionary

ORTH KOREA has detained an Australian missionary, his wife

says.

John Short, 75, was making his second trip to North Korea with a tour group when he was detained in Pyongyang.

His wife told journalists that he had been open about his

work and was carrying religious material translated into Korean.

An Australian foreign affairs spokesperson said that the government was aware of Mr Short’s arrest.

The Shorts have been living in Hong Kong, where Mr Short owns a Christian book publishing house.

“He was carrying Korean literature on his person and that could be the reason, but again I don’t know,” his wife, Karen, told the Associated Press news agency.

She said he knew North Korea was not a tourist destination “but he cares about the people and he wants to help”.

Australia has no diplomatic representation in North Korea.

“We are in close contact with Swedish officials in Pyongyang to seek their assistance in confirming the well-being of Mr Short and to obtain more information,” the Australian foreign affairs spokesman said.

Religious activity is restrict-

ed inside North Korea and the authorities have arrested missionaries on multiple occasions in the past.

A long-awaited United Nations report released on Monday cited “an almost complete denial of the right of freedom of thought, conscience and religion” in North Korea.

UN condemns killing of 18 near Syria school

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HE United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has described its shock and outrage at a bomb attack which killed 18 people near a school it runs in Syria.

The attack came eight days after another explosion injured 40 children at another UN school in the same town.

In a separate report, the UN said that an estimated 240,000 people were trapped in areas under siege in Syria.

Over 100,000 people have been killed in Syria since the fighting began in 2011.

The attack took place at the Zeitoun school in the town of Muzeirib, near the border with Jordan.

The 18 people who died included five children and a nurse, the UN said.

Ukraine President sacks army chief amid crisis

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KRAINIAN President Viktor Yanukovych has sacked the head of the armed forces, Col Gen Volodymyr Zamana, according to the president’s website.

The move comes after the most intense violence in the country’s three-month crisis, turning Kiev into a battle zone.

Earlier the state security service announced it was launching a nationwide “anti-terrorist” campaign, to deal with a growing “extremist threat”.

There was a suggestion the armed forces could be deployed for the first time.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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NEWS Borno governor to Okupe: you’re ignorant

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ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima has advised Presidential assistant Doyin Olupe to desist from creating enmity for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Shettima spoke through his Chief Press Secretary Isa Gusau in reaction to the criticism of his comment on the ability of the soldiers to confront the Boko Haram insurgents.

The governor said the military lacks the equipment and motivation to match the insurgents but Okupe said he spoke as a civilian who knew nothing about military tactics.

But in a statement, the governor said: “The statement was rather unfair and insensitive to the sorrowful plight of Borno people and its government. It is an irony to realise that while Okupe didn’t find it worthy to hold a news conference in sympathy with the people of Borno State and to join in condemning the horrible serial attacks that left nearly 300 innocent citizens killed in February alone, he found it very urgent to try to take advantage of an honest opinion just to show his face on television in the name of doing his job.

“At the end, it is Okupe that would attract ill-feelings of the people towards the Presidency and not his targeted prey. First let me say with emphasis that Governor Kashim Shettima has the highest regard for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and appreci-

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ates the President’s continued efforts in the last two and half years in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Governor Shettima equally holds the Nigerian Armed Forces in a very high esteem and he has since proved that by his devoted support to them as successive leaders of the forces have differently confirmed. The Defence Headquarters in Abuja once described Governor Shettima’s support to the armed forces as extraordinary.

“The Army leadership in Borno once said Governor Shettima treats them as the 28th local government area in the state, just to express how much attention they get from the Governor.

“The Nigeria Police and the department of State Security feel the same way of Shettima’s administration and so do all paramilitary organisations in the state as can be confirmed from each of them.

“It is on record that Governor Shettima has in the last two and half years been corresponding with the Presidency through oral and written channels but at no time did the Governor try to take advantage of such correspondence to undermine the Presidency. The governor’s very honest remark was a case of ‘one who wears the shoes knows where it pinches’.

“The Governor knows exactly what the problems are. A leader must be bold enough to tell the truth so that solutions can be found to critical situa-

•Shettima

tions. Dr Doyin Okupe should kindly note that if he is finding a governor to drive any rift with the Presidency, he has not found one in Shettima because those who know Shettima know him to be honest, courageous, respectful, humble but also dogged. Governor Shettima will certainly not be one of Okupe’s tool for showing his face on Television.

Okupe should kindly be reminded that as a Public Relations Officer, part of his job is to interprete situations correctly to the Presidency, attract goodwill and create more friends for the Presidency and not to create rift. Dr Okupe would have scored a good point if he took time to visit Borno State, interact with the government, the people and the military, especially those on the field so he could have first hand information, rather sitting in the comfort of his office in Abuja and disregarding the sensitivity of highly traumatic people for no other reason but cheap goal of showing he is working.”

Oputa for treatment abroad

ORMER Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa may have slipped into a critical health condition after he suffered a severe stroke three days ago, it was learnt yesterday.

The retired Justice is receiving treatment at the Opara Nursing Centre of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The tense atmosphere yesterday at room 4 of the Centre, where he was admitted, suggested that he may be in critical condition.

The door leading into the wing of the Centre where he is was manned by armed security men to stop unauthorised people from gaining access.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, who visited the ailing jurist yesterday in the company of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Benjamin Uwajumogu, dispelled fears over the health of the 89- year-old elder statesman.

According to the governor, the state government had concluded arrangements with the Oputa family to fly him abroad for medical treatment.

“He is in good hands and his health is improving but he needs more attention abroad and in line with the wishes of the family, we have concluded plans to immediately fly him abroad. As a great citizen of this country and Imo State, he deserves the best and the state is totally committed to that and all expenses will be taken care of “, Okorocha said.

But the Supreme Court, the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) may not be able to play any role in taking care of the eminent jurist, who chaired the panel that investi-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri and Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

gated breaches of human rights of Nigerians. The panel was instituted by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The institutions (concerned with the service, employment, disengagement and discipline of federal judges and senior judicial staff) are headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Senior officials of the three agencies yesterday, sympathised with the ailing jurist and his family while reacting to the development.

Officials, who spoke with our correspondent, on condition of anonymity, argued that Supreme Court Justices are only entitled to their basic salary before retirement when they leave office.

They explained that the Federal Government, the NJC, the FJSC and other federal agencies responsible for the engagement and disengagement of judicial officers are no longer responsible for the well-being of retired judicial officers (judge/justice).

An NJC source said: “As it is obtained in all public service employment, once all your entitlements are paid at retirement, the government or all other public agencies are no longer responsible for your personal life.

“That is not to say that we, as human beings and his former employer, are not concerned about his current health challenge. We are simply saying that legally, his former employers are not under any obligation to intervene,” he said.

APC urges military to rev up preventive strategy Continued from page 2

“We know that several of the Presidency’s attack dogs are terribly under-employed and that they need to face the klieg lights time and again to justify the huge taxpayers fund being expended on them, but the truth is that they ridicule no one but themselves and the presidency when they have to bark at the victims of the deadly Boko Haram attacks from the comfort of their padded offices in Abuja.

“Governor Shettima is in the eye of the storm, so to say, and has wisely gone to Abuja to brief the presidency on the situation in his state after the last round of attacks. For the same presidency to unleash perhaps its most vicious and

unrelenting attack dog against the same Governor amounts to bad judgement, which also undermines the fight against the insurgents.

“The Presidency’s attack on Governor Shettima is also unfair and grossly insensitive to the plight of the people and government of Borno, who deserve nothing but our support and succour at this difficult time,” it said.

APC praised Shettima for his unflinching support to the military in its battle against Boko Haram, as well as the efforts of his administration to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the terrorist attacks, urging him to continue along that path until victory is achieved.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...

SPORT EXTRA

MARTINO: Messi can break any record L IONEL Messi can "break any record he sets his mind to", according to Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino after the Argentina forward became the third highest goalscorer in La Liga history.

The 26-year-old's double in Saturday's 6-0 win over Rayo Vallecano moved him level with former Real Madrid striker Raul on 228 La Liga strikes.

"He'll lose count [of the records he breaks]," Martino told the Barcelona website.

"Barca enjoy him and Argentina does."

His 228 La Liga goals have come in just 263 games, taking him above ex-Real Madrid man Alfredo Di Stefano's 227 goals in 359 games, and he now has Telmo Zarra (251) and Hugo Sanchez (234) in his sights.

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I have not committed adultery! —Giroud

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On a global level he has already scored the most goals in a season, the most international goals in a season and the most goals in a calendar year.

He now needs only six more goals to overhaul Raul's 71 to become the all-time record goal scorer in the Champions League.

And, ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last 16 trip to Manchester City, Martino believes Messi can still improve despite scoring five goals in his last three matches.

"I'd like to think that Messi still has a bit to go before he's 100% fit," said Martino.

"We're on form coming into the match against City, this is the perfect moment to try to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Most of the players are playing really well."

•Messi

Prandelli: Balotelli needs ´seriousness, balance´

TALY coach Cesare Prandelli believes Mario Balotelli can fulfil his potential if he avoids wasting energy on "trivial" matters.

Milan striker Balotelli often found himself in the headlines for off-the-field incidents during his time at former club Manchester City.

However, the 23-year-old has established himself as a key player at San Siro under both Massimiliano Allegri and Clarence Seedorf since his switch in January 2013.

Prandelli believes Balotelli still has plenty of room for development, but urged him to concentrate on football rather than other distractions.

"Mario Balotelli has the potential to be one of the greats. However, he needs to find a seriousness and a balance so that he can realise his potential," he told

FIFA.com.

"In recent years he has wasted lots of energy on trivial things.

The great champions don't do that. For them the only thing that matters is winning."

Balotelli will likely form a key part of Prandelli's attacking lineup at the FIFA World Cup this year - having featured regularly

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in his country's run to the UEFA Euro 2012 final and their qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014.

Prandelli explained there is a positive working rapport between the two, adding that Balotelli could prove pivotal for Italy as they look to win the World Cup for a fifth time.

"We have a good relationship,

suggesting the second leg on March 12 should be a formality.

His first was a penalty and the second a 20-yard left-footed rapier strike to the top-right corner, and Ibrahimovic acknowledged PSG had built themselves an ideal platform.

Blaise Matuidi scored in the third minute and Yohan Cabaye netted the fourth goal of the night in the closing stages as the Ligue 1 champions overwhelmed their hosts.

"I think we had a good start," Ibrahimovic said on PSG's website after the game.

"After three minutes, we scored a goal, then we played our game, created chances and scored a second and a third, so there were a lot of spaces to play and we did good, very good.

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"We have to play the second leg like we did today.

"We have a big advantage absolutely, but still we have to be focused and play our game and let's see what happens in the second game."

Head coach Laurent Blanc believes those at the BayArena saw the best football PSG have to offer.

"We reproduced the kind of soccer we were playing in the first half of the season," Blanc said.

"Obviously I am very happy with the performance. We witnessed, in my opinion, a great team.

"I'd like to congratulate everyone, from the players that started and those that came on, to the entire squad. We can count on everyone."

Pellegrini insists referee favoured barca

URIOUS Manuel Pellegrini accused multimillionaire Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson of cheating Manchester City out of their Champions League dream on Tuesday night.

Pellegrini’s outburst came after Eriksson awarded Barcelona a disputed 54th-minute penalty and sent off City defender Martin Demichelis at the Etihad.

Lionel Messi converted from the spot — his first goal in nine away ties at Premier League grounds — and Dani Alves’ late second gave the Catalan club a 2-0 win that leaves City’s hopes in tatters.

Pellegrini faces disciplinary action from UEFA after claiming that the match official was ‘not impartial’. The Chilean alleged that Eriksson was com-

pensating for mistakes he made in Barcelona’s goalless 2012 quarter-final against AC Milan - when he rejected two clear penalty appeals.

Pellegrini said: ‘He refereed Barcelona against Milan and made an important error against Barca - tonight he remedied it.

From the beginning the referee was not impartial to both teams. '

•Jonas

•Giroud

ily and friends and my manager, team-mates and Arsenal fans,’ he said.

‘I now have to fight for my family and for my club and obtain their forgiveness.

Nothing else matters at the moment.’

Guardiola: Wenger is not a failure

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AYERN Munich boss Pep Guardiola insists that Arsene Wenger cannot be regarded as a failure despite his nine-year tro-

Zlatan: Still some work to do

LATAN Ibrahimovic and Paris SaintGermain are not taking a place in the Champions League quarter-finals for granted, despite opening a formidable lead over Bayer Leverkusen.

Swedish striker Ibrahimovic drove in two goals as the French capital side beat Leverkusen 40 in Germany on Tuesday night,

•Balotelli

and we both know how to get across what we want to say," he continued.

"All the coaches that have worked with Mario try to offer him something new, because they know the enormous potential he has. When he fulfils his potential he will make a huge difference to any team."

LIVIER Giroud has attempted to clear up the situation regarding his personal life by insisting he has not committed adultery.

The Arsenal striker apologised after a picture taken of him by model Celia Kay appeared in a national newspaper. He took the pin-up to the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf the night before the 20 victory over Crystal Palace on February 2.

But Giroud said via his Twitter account: 'Ultimate precision with respect to my apologies...Yes I made a mistake but not I have not committed adultery! Things are clear...'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that disciplinary action would be taken against Giroud.

Wenger said: ‘It is an internal matter but I do not want to comment publicly because I respect his privacy.’

Giroud took to social networking site Twitter to apologise to Jennifer - who has a daughter named Jade - and his club.

‘I apologise to my wife, fam-

•Wenger

phy drought at Arsenal.

In a war of words with Chelsea chief Jose Mourinho, Wenger was labelled as a "specialist in failure" by the Portuguese tactician.

But Guardiola, who won 13 trophies in his six years as Barcelona boss, insists that football is not just about winning silverware.

"This life is not just about winning trophies," insisted Guardiola.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Arsenal compete with huge teams. Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City - they are important teams. But Arsenal remains a good team and good club.

"I have a lot of respect for my colleague Arsene: he always likes the good, good players, the good style of football."

Capello: I've nothing against Conte

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HE Juventus boss was furious with criticism from the iconic Italian trainer, but the current Russia coach has looked to mend his public relationship with his compatriot Fabio Capello has insisted that he has nothing against current Juventus coach Antonio Conte after the pair became embroiled in a public spat.

The former Bianconeri boss criticised the current trainer of the Turin club last week, to which Conte responded by saying the Russia coach lacked respect for sticking his nose in and insinuating Serie A is an amateur league now.

Capello has sought to smooth relations by applauding Conte's work with the reigning Italian champions, but defended his comments on the coach's decision to cancel a day off after Juve conceded a late goal against Hellas Verona earlier in February.

"Conte is doing a good job and demonstrating his value," the ex-England boss told Ital-

ian outlets.

"Everyone controls teams the way you think best. I never said I was against the decisions he took, I just questioned the reason that led him to cancel the day off and that I was against this kind of method.

"I do not punish people if they did not do something wrong. I never did it."

•Fabio Capello

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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SPORT EXTRA

2014 LAGOS POLO:

Unity, Valkyrie win, Ibadan beaten

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ONI KROOS' stunning strike set current European champions Bayern Munich on their way to victory against 10-man Arsenal in their first-leg Champions League last-16 clash at the Emirates Stadium tonight.

The Bayern midfielder broke the deadlock early in the second-half with a superb 20yard effort.

Mesut Ozil spurned the chance to give Arsenal a firsthalf lead from the penalty spot, after being being brought down by former Manchester City star Jerome Boateng.

But the match turned in Bayern's favour when Arsenal stopper Wojciech Szczesny was shown a straight red-card for bringing down Arjen

Arsenal falls to Bayern Robben inside the box.

David Alaba missed the opportunity to put Bayern in front from the spot before the break, but Kroos' stunning effort and a late header from Thomas Muller made sure that Pep Guardiola secured his first victory at the Emirates having previous failed twice during his time with Barcelona.

The visitors were first to go close as midfield Kroos' rasping 25-yard effort was superbly stopped by Arsenal stopper Szczesny.

Wenger's side were then gifted the opportunity to take a 8th minute as referee Nicola

Rizzoli awarded the Gunners a penalty after Bayern defender Boateng tripped Ozil inside the 18-yard box.

Ozil picked himself up to take the spot-kick, however, he blew the chance to give his side the lead with his poor effort comfortably palmed away by his Germany team-mate Manuel Neuer.

It was then the turn of Bayern to be awarded a spot-kick in the 36th minute as Szczesny clattered into the onrushing Robben leaving Rizzoli will no option but to show the goalkeeper a straight red-card.

But Alaba, facing Gunners

Atletico claims narrow win over Milan

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N away goal from Diego Costa earned Atletico Madrid a 10 win over AC Milan in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 encounter.

The hosts created the better of the early chances at the San Siro, but were unable to find a way past an inspired Thibaut Courtois.

The Belgian goalkeeper, on loan at Atletico from Chel-

sea, produced two stunning first half stops - tipping a stinging drive from Kaka onto the crossbar before going on to push an Andrea Poli header onto the base of the post.

Kaka also grazed the top of the net after combining with Mario Balotelli, while the latter fizzed a curling effort inches past the post as Milan knocked on the door without being able to swing it open.

That remained the case in the second period, with Kaka drilling across the face of goal and Michael Essien planting a free header wide of the upright.

Milan were left to rue their inability to turn pressure into goals seven minutes from time when an Atletico corner was touched on at the near post and Costa back-pedalled to nod powerfully past Christian Abbiati.

replacement goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, fired his attempt against the post as the game remained goalless at half-time.

It did not take long for Bayern to make their one man advantage count as Kross curled a stunning strike into the top corner of net to give the Germans a 54th minute lead.

Robben came close to doubling the away side's advantage soon after, however Fabianski was equal to Dutchman's cute volley.

Muller made sure of the result with three minutes remaining as he met Phillip Lahm's cross to head past a helpless Fabianski.

Kroos nearly made three soon after as his strike hit the base of the post.

The result leaves Arsenal facing an uphill battle to advance to the quarter-finals with the second-leg at the Allianz Arena on March 11.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS AC Milan 0-1 Atletico Arsenal 0-2 Bayern

LORY Ebano scored the goal of the day as he made a dozen of touches with all parts of the mallet to set Lagos Unity Polo on a 5-3 win over Lagos Sao Paolo as the Lagos International Polo Tournament gallop-off yesterday.

The classical goal, scored under enormous pressure, underlined the high reputation of the tournament which also saw Lagos Valkyrie edged Lagos Bonhams 7-6.5 in the opening match of the double-phased event which falls under the Dansa Cup. +2 handicap player, Ebano was on fire-scoring two more goals to seal victory for Unity despite Ahmed Umar-led late rally by Sao Paolo. Umar had

opened scoring for Sao Paolo with a spectacular reverse shots from 30 yards which could not match Ebano's first chukka brilliance which drew an all-round applause.

Gabriel Omale was the hero of the match as he scored a last-gasp penalty which helped Valkyrie to the narrowest of wins against Bonhams who were made to rue the dying minutes penalty miss by Chris Atkinson.

The third Dansa Cup match was won by Kano Titans/Ibah who beat Ibadan Olisa Farm 7-4.

Matches continue today in the Dansa Cup, while Lagos Ashbert 98.1 will confront Lagos Kashton/Lintex to kick start proceedings in the sixteam Open Cup.

NBBF/DStv confirm payment of N1.8m All-Stars prize money

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HE Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF and DStv, sponsors of the men's Dstv Premier Basketball League have announced the payment of all prizes to players who participated in the AllStars game decided in Lagos September last year.

According to a top official of the federation, the prize money was paid into the GTB Savings Account of the All-Stars Atlantic Coach, Ogoh Odaudu, while that for winners in the Savannah Conference was paid into the Unity Bank account of the coach, Sani Ahmed.

The total prize money, the federation stated, amounted to N1,886,330 out of which N1 million went to the Atlantic AllStars team while the Savannah Conference team got N500,000.

The MVP got N250,000 while the rest went into other sundry payments including transport allowances.

In a statement released yesterday, the NBBF/DStv said

that the delay in the payment was regrettable but was not done on purpose, stressing that the delay was caused by a hitch in the paper works with DStv and partly by some of the players who submitted air ticket stubs that had discrepancies which needed to be sorted out We have no doubt that DStv is determined to help basketball grow in Nigeria and therefore should be supported in achieving this goal,â• the NBBF stated, adding that players should always see dialogue as the best option at resolving issues rather than going to the press.

On the issue of payment of musicians who entertained at the event, the NBBF disclosed that it was not responsible for their payment as insinuated in some quarters as it promised that plans have been concluded for a hitch free Pre-season the jump-ball on February 28 and the season's opener on March 7, 2014.

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

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ood morning Zee Virtual Media. Thanks for the Stiff 4 Hours I bought from you last time. It works for me. Now I can go two rounds of sex with my wife so I enjoy it. My question now is since I have started using Stiff 4 Hours, my wife will discharge two or three time when we have sex. In every discharge she makes two noise and cry. So I want to know if this is good for her health or not. Thanks from Chibuzor Hello Chibuzor, during intercourse, the way women express pleasure makes it sound as if they are in pain.

I know you find it weird and maybe even scary but thisis normal. The reason for this is that in women, the part of their brain that responds to pain is the same part that also responds to sexual pleasure. So when women are sad, they cry and when they are enjoying sex, they also make noises that sound as if they are crying. So don’t worry, your wife is not in pain. If the intercourse was painful, she will let you know and she won’t be able to continue. Besides, if like you say she has two or three orgasms every time you have intercourse, then she is DEFINITELY enjoying herself and you are also doing all the right things– Uche Hello sir. I need a bit of advice if you don’t mind. I want to buy an instant penis enlarger but I cannot decide which one. Between the Extreme Dick Plumper Cream and the Liquid Sex Dick Plumper Cream, which one is better? Donatus The Extreme Dick Plumper Cream is twice the quantity of the Liquid Sex Penis Enlarger so it lasts longer. That is the main difference. They are both good instant penis enlargers– Uche My husband and I decide to try a bit of S&M months ago out of boredom and we liked it. So far we have bought the red furry hand cuffs and facial masks and we are interested in similar products if you ever have them again. We know that they are not very poplar here in Nigeria – Doris

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TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘But not too long ago NNPC and the supervising ministry of petroleum said Sanusi as a banker lacked the capacity to understand accounting processes. Suddenly we are been told there is a need for a forensic expert to trace humongous 20billion dollars’ ’ VOL. 8, NO. 2,765

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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ANY were caught unawares by the President’s whistle-stop tour of palaces in the Southwest last weekend.

I wasn’t. The only problem was the oversight – I don’t want to believe it is a deliberate slight – of leaving my beautiful town out of the presidential itinerary. Serene and seductive, Ada in the state of Osun offers a refreshing balm against the chaos of the city.

Dr Goodluck Jonathan said the visits were private. Not quite, many said. Some swore they were a prelude to his soon – to –be announced plan to run in the 2015 election.

The traditional rulers too have kept their discussions with the President as secret as possible. But, dear reader, today’s column is not about the presidential sorties to palaces. No. There are more urgent matters that are in no way secret but in all ways critical.

Grave.

As Dr Jonathan sought royal endorsements in the politically savvy Southwest – its leading lights could sometimes be naive – the deadly Boko Haram sect was busy in Konduga, a hitherto unknown Borno State village that is now a testimony to the devastating blow that Boko Haram has dealt our military muscle, killing residents and razing homes. No fewer than 106 died. I don’t remember a presidential condemnation of the dastardly act. I guess the President is tired of issuing those statements of consolation- that our hearts are with those who lost their loved ones - and defiance – that we won’t surrender to the Boko Haram terror machine. The sect struck again yesterday in Bama, Borno State. Needless to say, it was bloody. Whichever way we look at it, it is sad that blood, human blood keeps flowing and we all are helpless. So sad.

Who are Boko Haram’s sponsors? Where are their weapons coming from? What are Nigeria’s neighbours doing to help? Are they collaborators in this long festival of horror? How effective has been the Air Force in this war? Can we in all sincerity claim that our soldiers are well equipped and well motivated? How did it happen that Boko Haram trampled on Konduga for five hours and no help came to the beleaguered village? The insurgents use unconventional tactics, but is that enough to justify the horrific harvest of deaths and broken limbs?

We may never find answers to these questions.

But, it has not all been a bloody affair.

Those pushing for the sack of Ms Stella Oduah as Aviation minister carried the day.

She got the boot. Now, the woman of exquisite taste has the chance to lash her traducers, those censorious champions of morality who felt N255m was too much to spend on bulletproof cars for the protection of a woman who is not just a minister but a princess. Ms Oduah will now, a source who admires her monstrous but highly maligned airports transformation project said, ride in more expensive cars – to the shame of all those who called her a spendthrift.

Besides, our amiable lady will have time to think about her memoirs. The work, those

RIPPLES I WASN’T SACKED–Orubebe insists

...any EYEWITNESSES, sir?

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (NMMA)

Interesting times

• Sanusi

•Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala

who know her closely have said, will be an invaluable companion of first class managers, including those who must learn how to survive in a hopelessly stifling corporate environment that is immersed in both national and domestic politics. A likely title? Well, The odyssey of a Princess.

Now that President Jonathan has named Brig.-Gen Jones Oladehinde Arogbofa as his Chief of Staff, Chief E. K. Clark and Raypower proprietor Raymond Alegho Dokpesi can catch their breath. Just because some newspapers speculated that Dokpesi was among those being considered for the job, Clark launched into a rage, vowing to ensure that Dokpesi did not get it. Dokpesi fought back, pouring invectives on the old man. It was messy. But then, what else do you get when a high chief is battling to become a chief of staff and a chief is dying to stop him. So much for cheap chiefs.

The battle of chiefs isn’t the only show in Abuja. Until last week, many thought the national conference was a mere joke. Some, including the sagacious Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saw it as pure subterfuge in the 2015 battle. To others, it was another chance to get on board the cruise ship for a jamboree. Then,

the government announced the financial package for the talk shop –N7billion – and everybody is now struggling to be a delegate. No doubt this will rank among the world’s most expensive talk shows. Long after the delegates must have gone to celebrate their fortune –pot bellies, chubby cheeks and all - Nigerians and their friends will still be talking about the cash that got sunk into this revelry that is expected to resolve this country’s problems once and for all. But then, is talk –any talk – cheap?

Ask the mobile telephone firms and their clients.

Unknown to many, also in Abuja, the centenary anniversary celebration has been on.

Not much attention has been paid to this show, perhaps because delegates are not being selected and the per diem not announced as it was clearly proclaimed for national conference attendees. The cash, we have been told, will come from the private sector. Good. Nigerians love shows. A private sector struggling to create jobs and crying like a baby because of the huge cost of doing business – diesel, haulage, duties and others – has suddenly found the cash for Nigeria’s biggest party this year. Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim announced gleefully yesterday that 28 world leaders would join the celebration. What a feat.

So much for jamborees. Some serious business. Is $20billion oil money missing?

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should explain where the cash is gone. Besides, he alleges that NNPC has been hurling cash into kerosene subsidy when there is a presidential directive that it shouldn’t do so. Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – many wonder if she is actually ministering onto the economy – says forensic auditors should be called in. NNPC

HARDBALL

T

HE threat from the United States of America (USA) was troublingly apocalyptic. It sets one wondering if there was not more to this gay matter than Uncle Sam wants us to believe. Since President Goodluck Jonathan accented to the law against homosexuality last year, the US and most of the Western world have been crying foul, insisting on its repeal. But last week, the US government took the ‘war’ one step further when it threatened not to give up until the anti-gay law is repealed.

In a web chat with African journalists, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas Greenfield, was emphatic and unequivocal; she was quoted to have said: “US is opposed to the legislation targeted against the gay people and will continue to press forward to see that it is changed so that those group of people will have freedom to exercise their rights.”

The question now is, what would the Nigerian government and people do to convince the US and her fellow gay champions that culturally and traditionally, homosexuality is a taboo in Nigeria and most of Africa? What language do we have to deploy to convince the US that same-sex cohabitation is abhorred by all the dominant religions here? How can we get the Western world to assimilate the fact that man sleeping with man or woman

JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

says because the presidential order was not in a gazette, it carried on subsidising kerosene, even as queues for the commodity lengthen at filling stations and prices keep soaring. If at the level of the Finance Ministry we can’t find somebody to do the arithmetic, then we are in real trouble. Besides, the kerosene thing smells like a scam, a highly combustible scam scrounged off the public till. Whichever way the matter goes, Sanusi doesn’t deserve the blows he is getting; he has raised issues of probity. We demand answers. Simple.

Poor David Mark. The Senate President seems to be confused on the matter of the senators who dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP insists that he should declare the senators’ seats vacant. The senators demand that their letter to the Senate be read out, loud and clear, to seal their defection. Mark says the matter is sub judice. Clever guy. There is no way the PDP can force these fellows to stay with it. They are gone – body and soul. A man should be allowed to keep the company he likes. Isn’t this a basic principle of human right? Besides, what is democracy all about if not the right to have a choice and to exercise such a choice anywhere, anytime, so long as the exercise of such a choice does not impugn other people’s rights? A battered wife should get a divorce. More so as there is no demand for alimony.

It is just about two weeks since Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu left Rivers State. And the expeditious effect has been so soothing. Not a single shot has been fired at innocent people gathering for peaceful purposes. Projects are being commissioned and governance is back in full swing. Mbu, a garrulous officer who brooks no criticism, became part of the crises of power and suspicion in Rivers. The more he proclaimed his professionalism, the deeper he got immersed in the murky waters of politics.

Now that those who wanted him out have their prize, Mbu should spare a thought for his future. I assure him Abuja is easier to police. There is little politics. The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) will find Mbu useful in enforcing the much abused Abuja master plan. He will also be busy chasing vendors off the street in the day and laying ambush for women of easy virtue in the night.

From the Boko Haram madness, unnecessary revelries and hazardous economics to political complexities, one fact is clear: we are in interesting times.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Anti- gay law, U.S. and the end of man fondling with another is not considered an ‘orientation’ but a malady, an abomination that even animals are not allowed to engage in?

The US and her ilk will have to see the issue from the point of view of the majority of the populace who are opposed to it not because they hate their very few gay brothers and sisters but because the perverse behavior and orientation is anathema, abhorrent to the majority and out right nihilistic to the human race. What the US must do, since she has chosen to cry more than the bereaved, is to support different therapies and‘re-orientation’ programmes for the ‘afflicted’. Again, since the act of homosexuality in Africa still instinctively elicits antagonism and even mob violence against gay people, the US may support media campaigns that would crave love and understanding for same-sex people. Instead of seeking a repeal of the law, the US may canvass for a milder penalty as the legislation has the reverse salutary effect of protecting gays from mob lynching. Easier still, the US could grant our few gay brothers and sisters citizenship so they can all migrate

to America and live there happily ever after.

Otherwise, it smacks of insulting bigotry for the US to insist that her view on this matter is the only right and correct view. We agree that human right for one and all is just and equitable but when human right in America is a taboo in Africa, there is need to seek the middle ground. Besides, why has the US closed her eyes to the proliferation of small arms and ammunition in Africa which are currently deployed in wreaking mayhem in many countries of the continent? Most of these weapons are manufactured in America and Europe. Why has the US been less concerned about the ruinous effect of official corruption in Africa? Billions of dollars in stolen funds are hidden in American and European banks. Corruption has more hideous effect on human rights and dignity of the African than any anti-gay law.

Finally, America is clearly a society in decline having reached its tipping point; where would the West be in 100 years’ time as more men go to bed with men and women monkey around with themselves? Or is America intent on taking the entire humanity down with her?

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