The Nation Feb 26, 2014 by The Nation

Ondo Speaker Adesina dies of cancer at 53 NEWS – Page 9

Newspaper of the Year

News State-owned varsities to cost more P6 Sports No World Cup action for Ike Uche P24 Business Reps praise CBN on remittances P55

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2771 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Sanusi sues Jonathan

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Osun bags award in Dubai for Sukuk

•SEE ALSO PAGE 8

•NLC faults suspension

•www.thenationonlineng.net

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

•From left: Dele Oladunjoye of Kola Awodein and Co., solicitor to the Sukuk deal, Andrew Morgan, the MD of Islamic Finance News and Publisher, Andrew Morgan RedMoney Group, Dr Wale Bolorunduro, Commissioner for Finance, (representing the Governor) and Mrs Hajara Adeola, MD, Lotus Capital Limited

USPENDED Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has sued President Goodluck Jonathan before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, challenging his suspension from office. In a suit filed late Monday by some of Continued on page 58

•KWARA APC, PDP QUARREL P7 •TRAILER CRUSHES EXPECTANT MUM, OTHERS IN LAGOS P10

Fire and fury as Boko Haram kills 43 pupils

•T ORCHED CHED: The school’s ICT Centre ... yesterday TOR CHED

PHOTOS: DUKU JOEL

Pupils were trying to climb out of the windows and they were slaughtered like sheep by the terrorists who slit their throats. Others who ran were gunned down

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T was like a scene from an action-packed movie. A band of insurgents bearing rifles stormed a school. They set fire to the administrative block, moved on to the hostels where pupils were fast asleep and shut the gates. They set the hostels on fire and started shooting. Those who tried to escape were captured,

From Duku Joel, Damaturu

their throats slit. But it was no movie. The scene was real at the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State where no fewer than 43 pupils were killed on Tuesday by Boko Haram insurgents. They died either from gunshot

’

wounds, direct attacks through matchettes or as a result of complications from burns. The death toll was expected to rise yesterday as soldiers were still gathering bodies, military spokesman Capt. Eli Lazarus said. The attack is the fourth on Continued on page 4

•Gaidam (left) listening to teacher Garba recount the attack ... yesterday. With them are Police Commissioner Rufai Alkali (second left), the SSS director (third left) and others

•FASUAN, OYEBODE, OTHERS IN EKITI CONFERENCE DELEGATION P8

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

Uncertain d

•Director of Veterinary Services, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative Dr. Ganiu Adams (right) speaking at a forum for stakeholders' on the beef value chain in Lagos...yesterday. With him are Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative Prince Gbolahan Lawal and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative Dr. Olajide Basorun (left). PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Nigerian equities lost N354 billion in two days of announcement of the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by President Goodluck Jonathan. Capital Market Editor, TAOFIK SALAKO, reports that most pundits still expect further capital flight as investors scramble away from the uncertainties foisted by the unprecedented move

N •From left: Speaker, Taraba House of Assembly, Josiah Sabo Kente, Taraba State Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar, Senior Manager, Govermental Relations, MTN Nigeria Austin Iyashere and Taraba State Commissioner of Health Oliver Wubon at the MTN Foundation Y'ello Doctor official flagoff ceremony in Jalingo...yesterday.

•Head, SuperSport Africa Andre Venter (left) speaking at a news conference on the DStv Basketball at the SWAN Reception Hall, National Stadium, Surulere Lagos...yesterday. With him are Head, Marketing and Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria ; Martin Mabutho, President, Nigerian Basket Ball Federation (NBBF) Tijani Umar and Marketing Manager, DStv Chioma Afe.

IGERIAN financial markets appear to be in the cold and investors appear to be uncertain of the days ahead. The only timetested certainty for most pundits and investors is the scramble for safety, quick exit to watch the direction of event. Thursday’s suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by President Goodluck Jonathan is riveting the financial markets. Investors in Nigerian equities have lost N354 billion between Thursday and Friday as sudden upsurge in sale orders on Thursday tripped the hitherto bullish market situation. Market capitalisation of equities dropped by N167 billion on Friday, in addition to N187 billion lost in immediate reaction as the news of the suspension broke out on Thursday. Aggregate market value of all quoted equities dropped to a low of N12.301 trillion as against its opening value of N12.468 trillion. The benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)-the All Share Index (ASI), indicated a daily average decline of 1.34 per cent, bringing the decline since Thursday to 2.81 per cent. The ASI, which tracks the values of all quoted companies on the NSE and as such serves as country index for Nigeria, had declined by 1.47 per cent on Thursday. The ASI closed yesterday at a low index point of 38,295.74 points as against its opening index of 38,816.19 points. As the news of the suspension filtered into the market on Thursday, aggregate market value of all quoted equities dropped by N187 billion from

•Dr Jonathan N12.655 trillion to close at N12.468 trillion. The ASI also dwindled to 38,816.19 points as against its opening index of 39,397.09. Analysts were unanimous that the downtrend was in reaction to the suspension of the CBN Governor. Aggregate market value of all equities at the NSE had witnessed sustained rally between Monday and Wednesday. It opened the week at N12.427 trillion and built up successively to N12.528 trillion, N12.530 trillion and N12.655 trillion on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. The ASI had also sustained steady rally prior to the reversal on Thursday. ASI opened at 38,767.29 points and built up to 38,964.75 points, 38,972.56 points and 39,397.09 points within the first three trading days. The Nation’s review at the weekend showed that market considerations of most equities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) crashed to their low on Friday. From the banking to manufacturing to downstream oil sectors, most leading equities slipped to their lowest prices this year at the weekend. Most banking stocks fell to their lowest market considerations. Share prices of multinationals, which usually feature largely in portfolios of foreign investors, highlighted the panic among foreign portfolio investors. “The uncertainty surrounding policy direction and political risk in the economy brought on by the foregoing (suspension of Sanusi) is likely to spur further capital flight to safer regions or safer asset classes. With foreign portfolio investor’s constitut-

African American History Month

•From left: Head of Sales, Nokia Nigeria and Ghana Joseph Umunakwe; Senior Manager, Product Marketing, Nokia West and Central Africa Olumide Balogun and Head of Sales, Nokia West and Central Africa Chris Brown displaying the newly introduced Nokia X range of smartphones at the 2014 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Eric H. Holder, Jr

RIC H. Holder, Jr. was sworn in as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States on February 3, 2009 by Vice President Joe Biden. In 1997, Mr. Holder was named by President Clinton to be the Deputy Attorney General, the first African-American named to that post. Prior to that he served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. In 1988, Mr. Holder was nominated by President Reagan to become an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Mr. Holder, a native of New York City, attended public schools there, graduating from Stuyvesant High School where he earned a Regents Scholarship. He attended Columbia College, majored in American History, and

graduated in 1973. He graduated from Columbia Law School in 1976. While in law school, he clerked at the N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Upon graduating, he moved to Washington and joined the Department of Justice as part of the Attorney General’s Honors Program. He was assigned to the newly formed Public Integrity Section in 1976 and was tasked to investigate and prosecute official corruption on the local, state and federal levels.Prior to becoming Attorney General, Mr. Holder was a litigation partner at Covington & Burling LLP in Washington. http://www.justice.gov/ag/meetag.html

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

days ahead for equities, investors ‘

Most market operators had factored in the fact that Sanusi’s leaving could lead to some adjustments in monetary policies. The issue to investors in the Nigerian market will be the nature of his exit and whether it has undermined CBN independence •Dr Okonjo-Iweala ing 50.0 per cent of the Nigerian stock market, any significant amount of capital flight is likely to have weighty consequences on the market. Since this development, the NSE ASI has lost a total of 2.8 per cent, due to selling pressures emanating from foreign and local market players reacting to the news. The true impact of this development is however yet to unravel as the news continues to filter across markets and participants,” Afrinvest (West Africa), a major investment firm, stated at the weekend. According to analysts at Afrinvest, the particular significance of foreign portfolio investors in the economy will be revealed in the days ahead as investors scramble to safety. Blue chip stocks with significantly diversified foreign interest will be the most likely culprits of this capital flight. Emerging market strategist, Standard Bank, Samir Gadio, said “Sanusi’s suspension is a disruptive move which indicates that the CBN has de facto lost much of its independence.” The circumstance of Sanusi’s exit and the issue of independence of the CBN are two issues that are of con-

•Sanusi

•NSE chief Oscar Onyema

cern to foreign investors rather than the exit or the politics of his suspension. But many foreign investors appeared concerned about the negative view on the anti-corruption record of President Jonathan. The circumstance of Sanusi’s suspension- after the CBN Governor alleged and made public presentations on missing funds-some $20 billion, from the national oil company, has been the headlines for most global media reports, irrespective of the allegation of financial recklessness leveled against the suspended governor. “I believe that most market operators had factored in the fact that Sanusi’s leaving could lead to some adjustments in monetary policies. The issue to investors in the Nigerian market will be the nature of his exit and whether it has undermined CBN independence. Another factor that will be of concern to investors is the economic and policy orientation of the newly nominated CBN Governor and his pedigree as an independent minded person. These two factors an affront on CBN autonomy and lack of clarity on Mr. Emefiele’s economic policy orientation may be the reasons

for financial market instability with possible exit of some foreign portfolio investors, depletion of Nigeria’s foreign reserve, pressure on Naira exchange rate and increase in fixed income yield in the next couple of days and weeks,” Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu told The Nation. “Foreign investors are likely to sell Nigerian assets more actively in coming days subject to market liquidity constraints. So far Treasury bill and bond quotes are not really being shown by onshore brokers (or the bidask spreads are quite wide) which is typical of Nigerian capital markets during periods of pronounced stress. That said, we see yields moving higher in the near term, with the magnitude of the sell-off at the long end potentially being partially mitigated by the bid from domestic pension funds at a later stage,” London-based Gadio said. Analysts at Afrinvest expect the ripples to move round the financial markets-from equities to bonds and currency exchanges. According to analysts, there is an

expectation that the yields on Nigerian sovereign bonds will cross the 15 per cent mark in the near term and also at the March 2014 bonds auction as investors weigh in on the decision of the Federal Government. “This development is likely to lead to an increase in the country’s risk premium, thus requiring a re-pricing of yields to incentivise investors. This increase will undoubtedly raise the governments cost of borrowing, exacerbating re-current expenditure (over 65.0% in 2014). The country may also find it tough raising additional funds through Eurobond issuances and may be lured to raise the coupon to compensate for the higher risk perception. Nonetheless, the high yield environment should be attractive to Pension Fund Administrators which are major players in the bond market. This could serve as a buffer in reducing the increased upside pressure on yields over the medium term,” Afrinvest stated. Market pundits expect further depreciation in Naira as the CBN battles to calm nervous investors. According to Afrinvest, Naira may depreciate by about 2.0 per cent this week,

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driven by increased demand for foreign currency by foreign portfolio investors seeking a flight to safety. The capital flight could also have a telling effect on Nigeria’s foreign reserves. The Nigerian foreign reserves shrunk by $2.3 billion or 5.3 per cent from $43.6bn in December 31, 2013 to $41.3bn as at February 19, 2014. This was primarily used to defend the Naira, sustaining it within the CBN’s band N155/US$1 +/- 3 per cent against selling pressure triggered by foreign portfolio investments reversals. According to Afrinvest, foreign portfolio investments constitute 48.8 per cent of the total reserves, highlighting the significant impact of a drastic reversal on the country. However, analysts at GTI Securities called for caution but expressed optimism that the momentum of the negative reaction might slow down in the days ahead. According to analysts, the rampaging sell-off could drop significantly in the days ahead as many stocks have entered oversold position, creating attractive buy opportunities for discerning investors.

Local Govt chairmen need better service delivery method, says Mamora

OCAL Government Chairmen should be transparent and accountable to those who elected them into office, former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Olorunnibbe Mamora, has advised. Mamora spoke at a workshop for officials of Local Governments organised by the Lagos State Government, Gubernatorial Advisory Committee in Lagos, yesterday. He was the chairman. He urged the local government operators to equip themselves for better service delivery to achieve their set goals. Mamora said being a local government Chairman is an honour and a call to service. He said: “But you should strive to leave behind a true legacy of service that will outlive your tenure.” The Chairman, Gubernatorial Advisory Committee (GAC), Prof. Adebayo Williams, stressed the importance of Local Government. He said Local Government may be the third tier of governance but it is the first realm of the people. Williams said: “local government is the first line of assault whenever there is a breakdown of the sacred covenant between the governed and the governing, it is the first port of call for an enraged citizenry. “In certain societies, city councillors are often deemed to be more important than parliamentarians. The election of the Mayor of London often generates more excitement and political tension than the national

By Leke Salaudeen

elections, To the average New Yorker, the mayor is more important than the state governor or even the president. But for Rudy Gulliano’s energetic and hands-on approach things could have turned out much worse in New York on September 11, 2001. On the objective of the two-day seminar, Williams said: “Let me quickly state that this is not a fault-finding workshop. It is a factfinding mission meant to rub minds among those who have been in the field with a view to probing the problems from source and finding the way forward.” “The workshop itself is coming up against the backdrop of the proposed National Conference. The conference itself presupposes that something is structurally amiss with the country. The structure of local government is in Nigeria is a crucial link in the chain of structural disorder that has hobbled Nigeria and stalled its march to authentic nationhood”, Williams stated. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ademorin Kuye advised local government chairmen to always carry out budget appraisal so that they can measure their budget performance. Kuye praised the local governments in the state for their empowerment programme for women and youth which he said is being copied by other local governments in the country. A guest lecturer Professor Oyelowo

Oyewo of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, spoke on “Public Perception of Local Governments in Lagos State”. He noted that local government that is closer to the people are not making much impact in the life of the people. This he attributed to the encroachment of their functions by the state government. Oyewo said if the state governments are challenging the Federal Government over usurped powers, then the Local Government should be allowed to perform their functions as clearly stated in the 1999 constitution. He said the local governments in the state surrendered their powers when they signed a memorandum of understanding that empowered the state government to collect Land Use Charge in place of Tenement Rate that was the exclusive responsibility of local government. Oyewo called for creation of more local governments or local council development areas because, according to him, Lagos is a mega environment that the existing 57 Local councils and LCDAs are grossly inadequate. In his presentation Dr Yemi Fagboun advised the local government to always make their budget accessible to the public so that people can assess their performance. The Nation Editorial Page Editor, Sanya Oni, urged the local government to pay premium on cleanliness of the environment. He noted that the local councils have greater

•Mamora

responsibilities to perform in order to meet the expectation of the people. The two-day workshop ends today. Dignitaries at yesterday’s programme include a former member of the House of Representatives Wale Osun, a former Commisoner in Lagos, Mrs. Kemi Nelson and local government chairmen.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

Govt’s strategy on Boko Haram ineffective, says Atiku

ORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar said yesterday that efforts being made by the Federal Government and the security agencies in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency, appear to be ineffective. Atiku was reacting to the killing yesterday of 43 pupils of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Gujiba

•Burnt boys hostels ... yesterday

Fire and fury as Boko Haram kills 43 pupils Continued from page 1

schools in Yobe. Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was furious. The figure of the dead from Boko Haram attacks this year is about 300 civilians – two months alone. There are no figures of the military dead. The sect’s members invaded Buni Yadi – 70 kilometres from Yobe State capital Damaturu – in many Hilux and other categories of vehicles, according to eye witnesses. They started operating around 2.00a.m and did not leave the school until early morning. There were no troops in sight when they operated. The insurgents set ablaze a locked hostel, shooting and slitting the throats of those who escaped through windows. Some were burned alive. Forty buildings were burnt down. A teacher, Adamu Garba, said he and other teachers who ran away through the bush estimate 40 students died in the assault that began around 2 a.m. It was difficult to communicate from the town, because extremists last year destroyed the cell phone tower there. Garba, who teaches at a secondary school attached to the college, said the attackers first set ablaze the college’s administrative block, then moved to the hostels, where they locked students in and started firebombing the buildings. At one hostel, he said, “students were trying to climb out of the windows and they were slaughtered like sheep by the terrorists who slit their throats”. Others who ran were gunned down.’’ He said students who could not escape were burnt alive. Garba spoke to The Associated Press (AP) in Damaturu, where he and other teachers escaped to. President Goodluck Jonathan, in a media chat on Monday night, said Boko Haram attacks were “quite worrisome”, but that he was sure “we will get over it.” Thousands of Nigerians have lost family members, houses, businesses, their belongings and livelihoods in the four-year-old rebellion. Tearful Governor Ibrahim Gaidam suspended his weeklong inspection tour of projects to visit the college, which is razed down. The governor said some of the burnt students had been conveyed to Damaturu by Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) officials. He uttered no word as he moved from one ambulance to the other, looking at the burnt students. Parents of some of the dead yesterday evacuated the bodies for burial. Three of the injured pupils are on treatment

Angry governor: more troops or we’ll all be gone

EETHING with anger, Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam yesterday urged the Federal Government to deploy more troops in his state or the people of Yobe and Borno states “will be gradually wiped out” by Boko Haram insurgents. Speaking on the horrific attack on pupils, he said: “It is most unfortunate that in the past one year, we have experienced these kind of ugly acts from some insurgents for the fourth time, today. “The first one was at Government Day Secondary School, Damaturu; the second one was in Mamudo Government School and the third in College of Agriculture, Gujba. In Damaturu Secondary School, the insurgents massacred about nine pupils. In Mamudo, they killed about 24. In College of Agric, they killed about 40 students. “It is unfortunate. The action is highly barbaric, wicked, inhuman and immoral and it is devastating at the same time. It is unfortunate that up to five-six hours of killing and massacre, there were no security men around to contain the situation. At the same time, I’m aware that the military command in Yobe lacks adequate number of troops. Despite that, they must change their strategy of operation. If you pull out the military in the town and taking them out to operate in another place, there should be some few left on ground to contain any un-

foreseen circumstances. I believe they should change their strategy. “I want to use this opportunity to call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the chief of army staff and chief of defence staff or whoever is concerned to send, as a matter of urgency, more troops to Yobe to contain these insurgents. “I was made to understand clearly that they don’t have enough number of troops to cover each and every school in Yobe, but at the same time, they need a change in strategy to tackle this problem. “It is unfortunate that our grandchildren are dying for lack of care, perhaps from the Federal Government. These things are happening only in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in the North eastern part. Whatever it is, we have seen quite a number of troops in Maiduguri, and we need to get more here. We will all die but the circumstance of the death is what matters. How can you just take arms and come and meet defenceless students, kill them, burn them and go away and then move to another school and do the same. “I think the Federal Government should be more serious to ensure that these inadequacies are arrested; otherwise, I think they will gradually wipe out all the people in Yobe and Borno states. I so observe,” Gaidam said The governor went on: “We are constrained that the security men are not

under the jurisdiction of the state government. The arrangement of police, SSS and soldiers is vested in the Federal Government and we are still calling on them to live up to their responsibilities. “I also want to condole with the families of those who lost their lives and pray for Allah to forgive them their sins,” he said. The governor gave a cash donation of N100 million to the members of staff of the college. One of the teachers told our reporter that the attackers came in Hilux vans with some dressed in military uniforms and bulletproof vests. They came in and started shooting. Some of them were fully kitted in military uniform with bullet proof vests. Only boys were killed and the girls were left unhurt. None of the girls was abducted by the insurgents – to my knowledge,” he said. A senior teacher who took the governor round the school also lost his son in the attack. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) under the aegis of Nigerian Students NANS Zone ‘C’, comprising of Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba,Yobe states and FCT Abuja, condemned the attack. A statement signed by Comrade Dauda Muhammad Gombe, Comrade Baba Adamu Muhammad, said: “The attack on innocent students is very serious and an issue of concern to all.”

•Burnt assembly Hall with an inspiring inscription ... yesterday

at the Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Damaturu. Military sources claimed that the insurgents invaded the school overnight through what preliminary investigation described as an “unusual source”. Some of them were said to have used the bush path to sneak into the school to perpetrate the deadly act. Troops are said to be on the trail of the insurgents, with the Defence Headquarters or-

dering troops to either arrest or destroy them en masse. According to a top security source, most structures in the school were burnt by the insurgents. “A mop-up operation is still in progress as I am talking to you,” he said. Responding to a question, the source added: “The insurgents came to the school in an unusual manner, using bush path. They trekked to the school under the cover of darkness.

“They invaded Buni Yadi from their bases and cells, which are between Yobe and Borno states. Certainly, they came in from Borno axis. “Unlike in the past, they did not shoot or use vehicles to attract attention of security men in the college. “We also discovered that they destroyed the telecommunications masts in the area about two days before the invasion. They brought down the masts to make it impos-

sible for the school management to send distress signal to town. “As a matter of fact, they changed their tactics but they cannot have the last laugh.” Asked if there was no military formation or post around the area, the source added: “There were troops in Buni Yadi. They were patrolling other locations in the town as at the time of the incident.” “The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has ordered troops to rout out the insurgents dead or alive. It is not everything we can disclose, but we are tracking them by air and land.” Defence Headquarters spokesman Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade said: “The insurgents are being trailed to locations between Yobe and Borno states. The whole operation is involving air and land counter-attacks. “It is either the insurgents are arrested or destroyed. We believe that we will get them.”

Jonathan condemns killing of pupils in Yobe

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed sadness and anguish over the senseless murder of pupils at a college in Yobe State by terrorists. In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President extended con-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

dolences to the parents and relatives of the murdered pupils. It reads: “The President wholly condemns the heinous, brutal and mindless killing of the guiltless students by deranged terrorists

and fanatics who have clearly lost all human morality and descended to bestiality. “He assures the nation that his administration will not relent in its ongoing efforts to end the scourge of terrorism in parts of the country which has sadly claimed more innocent lives today.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will continue to prosecute the war against terror with full vigour, diligence and determination until the dark cloud of mass murder and destruction of lives and property is permanently removed from our horizon.”

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

Local Government Area of Yobe State. It was the latest in the sect’s chain of bloody attacks on soft targets in recent times. The statement said: “All the Federal Government had been doing about addressing the security situation in the Northeast region of the country amounts to mere chasing of shadows if school walls cannot be protected from armed attacks. “This will not be the first time in recent times that school children are being attacked, and it is particularly disheartening that the Federal Government is yet to devise a strategy of keeping our schools safe from terror attacks. “If our counter-insurgency strategies are not strong enough to keep our children safe inside their schools, then one must wonder if such a strategy isn’t mere chasing shadows.” Atiku is miffed by President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement on Media Chat on Monday that the government had been successful at pushing armed attacks to the fringes of the country. “It is important that the Federal Government upped its counter-insurgency strategy and desist from taking credits in pushing armed attacks to the fringes, as the President would like to put it. No Nigerian’s life is less in value to another,” the former Vice President stated. He added that it was imperative for the government to ensure security in schools, particularly Federal Government Colleges because of what he described as their unique role in forging national unity among pupils from diverse backgrounds. A statement released by his media office said Atiku broke down in tears when he was informed of the killing of the pupils. “My heartfelt condolences go to families of the slain school pupils. It is unfortunate that innocent school children become victims of armed attacks”, Atiku said.

If our counterinsurgency strategies are not strong enough to keep our children safe inside their schools, then one must wonder if such a strategy isn’t mere chasing shadows. OUR ERROR The story – Suntrust, six others clear CBN’s hurdle, which was advertised on the front page yesterday was inadvertently ommitted. The error is regretted. The story is published on page 55 in this edition

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

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

Jonathan not serious about fighting corruption, oil theft, says Amaechi

Niger Delta activist backs Jonathan on Sanusi

•‘Jonathan should govern by the rule of law and not the rule of man’

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said President Goodluck Jonathan is not serious about fighting corruption and oil theft, especially in the Niger Delta. He urged the President to govern by the rule of law and not the rule of man. Amaechi spoke yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, while receiving the British Minister for Africa and Member of Parliament Mark Simmonds. The NGF chairman said: “The last letter written by the (suspended) Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was the diversion of $49.8 billion. Now, they have been able to manage the crisis to reach $20 billion, but $49.8 billion was spent outside the Appropriation Law. So, it is all about diversion. “While I join you to say we should fight oil theft, when the British Prime Minister meets the Nigerian President, he should also deal with the issue of financial diversion. The way the President spoke in his media chat yesterday (on Monday), there

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

seems to be uncertainty. “He (President Jonathan) does not know the figures accurately. They are calling $20 billion, while others say it is $10 billion, but even if it is $1 billion, it is N170 billion, which is almost the budget for Enugu, Anambra and Kwara States combined in a year. So, when the Prime Minister is discussing with Mr. President (Jonathan), they should address these issues. “This is the highest level of corruption in the history of Nigeria. So, it is important that when you see President Jonathan, he should deal with these issues, so that we can develop and govern the state. “Yesterday (Monday), Governors’ Forum met and it appears we do not have money to pay salaries anymore. This is not caused by oil theft alone, but with financial diversion, which does not go through the Appropriation Law. It is pure impunity, illegal and a breach of the Constitution and that is against the rule of law. “So, it is important that when

you talk with the Presidency, advise them to govern by the rule of law and not by the rule of man. You should also tell your friends and partners in Europe that since the President in Nigeria is not mindful of obeying the Constitution, those of you who are closer to him can advise him that countries all over the world are governed by rules for which everybody knows the punishment attached to offenders.” The Rivers governors added that the Federal Government must be more serious with the fight against oil theft. Amaechi said: “I do not know how much you have seen about oil theft and I do not know if the Federal Government is serious about combating oil theft. Why I say this is that for two years now, the Federal Government has refused entry into the country, two surveillance helicopters paid for by the Rivers State Government. “These helicopters have cameras and their job is to fly all over and whomever that is stealing oil, you will see. The helicopter will have a monitor with the Army, Police, Airforce and with

the Department of State Security (DSS). “I suspect the refusal may be for political reasons. The helicopters have been packed in America for two years now and the Rivers State Government is paying demurrage on them. If you see how much oil we are losing, we hear it is about $7 billion annually, then you will see that we need the helicopters. “We paid for them, not the Federal Government and we are prepared to help them, but the President (Goodluck Jonathan) has emphatically refused to allow the two helicopters into the country for the past two years. We are still paying demurrage. The manufacturers have told us if they should sell them. “So, if the Federal Government says it needs help, why not bring in the helicopters, rather than run to the British Government? These are questions you should ask them. I said the same thing to the American delegation. Our problem is not just oil theft which is costing this country to lose about $7 billion a year, but financial diversion.” Simmonds said he was in the country to see the United

From Shola O’Neil

A •Amaechi

Kingdom’s investments, especially in the oil and gas sector, and to also participate in Nigeria’s centenary celebration. He condemned the environmental degradation caused by oil theft and indicated the readiness of the United Kingdom to partner with Nigeria to to tackle the menace. Simmonds said: “I just came from the Niger Delta area, where I saw some of the sites affected by environmental degradation, even some of the environment damaged and it makes us to emphasise the importance of Nigeria’s authority to tackle the problem.” The British minister said Prime Minister David Cameron and Jonathan were discussing how the two countries could work together to make a positive difference.

Ekweremadu inaugurates e-Passport Mobile Enrollment Service in Japan From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has inaugurated an ePassport Mobile Enrollment Service for the Embassy of Nigeria in Tokyo. Ekweremadu yesterday handed over an e-Passport Mobile Enrollment Machine to the Mission on behalf of the Federal Government. A statement by his Special Adviser (Media) , Uche Anichukwu, said Ekweremadu expressed surprise at the inability of the Mission to attain the status of a passport-issuing centre for too long. He said: “I was here about ten years ago as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing to understudy the housing policy of Japan with my colleagues. I met Ambassador Adamu Aliyu who made this challenge known to me. I reported this to the appropriate authorities at the time, but only to be told about two weeks ago by the current Ambassador that the Mission was still facing the same challenge. “I had, therefore, taken it upon myself to bring the machine here since I was visiting, but the Honourable Minister assured me that the machine would be in Tokoyo before my arrival. I am therefore grateful to the Honourable Minister of Internal Affairs for keeping his promise.” Ekweremadu explained that although the attainment of an E-Passport Enrollment Service status alone was not enough, it was a necessary progress. He said: “He promised to personally ensure that the Mission acquired all the requisite capacity to be able to produce and issue international passports in earnest.”

NIGER Delta youth activist, businessman and politician, Chief Ayiri Emami, has backed President Goodluck Jonathan on the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Emami, who is the Akulaga of Warri kingdom in a statement yesterday, said Sanusi ought to have been sacked long ago. He described the cashless policy as anti-Niger Delta, adding that he had carried out his responsibilities with arrogance. Sanusi said: “The huge fund running into hundreds of billions of naira that were frittered away as donations, grants to religious bodies, payments to moribund airlines, illegal loans write-off and other sundry expenditures made without recourse to the CBN Act and the board were gotten from oil revenue from the Niger Delta region. “Mr. Sanusi never deemed it fit to fly one of the numerous private jets to these oil bearing but underdeveloped areas of the Niger Delta region to do an on-the-spot assessment of how the cashless policy would impact negatively on their businesses and lives as it affect payment of salaries to workers and transaction of business in a largely bank-less environment with hundreds of thousands of workers. “So, to us in the business hub of the riverine oil bearing area, Sanusi’s cashless policy is definitely cruel and anti-Niger Delta.”

Southwest Muslims seek role in Confab From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

•Pupils of Lilyvale Schools, Akute, Ogun State and Greensrich Schools, Ikorodu, Lagos being received by Chief Pilot, Dana Air, Capt. Segun Omole during their excursion to Dana Air at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

Reps flay Commission over N400m Service Wide Vote

HE House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts yesterday grilled the National Planning Commission (NPC) over alleged missing N400 million it received from the Service Wide Vote. The Secretary of the commission, Ntufam Fidel Ugbo, could not give adequate answers on the N400 million the Budget Office said it gave the Commission in 2012. The Chairman of the Committee, Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, requested the Secretary to the Commission to present the committee with the transaction details. Also yesterday, the Committee summoned the DirectorGeneral of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Apkobolokemi, to appear before it today over alleged mismanagement of funds. The lawmaker said if he fails to appear before the committee, it would have no option than to issue a warrant of arrest on him. He said the decision of the

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

committee is hinged on the fact that over ten invitations had been extended to the NIMASA boss without him appearing to defend the Auditor-General of the Federation’s query against the agency. A member of the committee, Ossai Ossai, urged that should

the NIMASA boss fail to appear today, a warrant of arrest should be issued against him. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday denied collecting the N65 million under the Service Wide Vote as claimed by the Budget Office. Its Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, said the agency did not receive such funds.

Giade said the last time the agency received money from the Budget Office was in April 2009. He said it was paid N52 million. The NDLEA chief said he was not aware of the receipt of N65.2 million in October 2009. The committee fixed another date for further hearing of the case, urging the NDLEA boss to ensure safe custody of the official documents.

ASUP strike shuts out two million students

HE eight-month old strike of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has forced over two million students out of school, the National Secretary of ASUP, Nda Umar, has said. He spoke yesterday at a rally organised by the Federal Polytechnic, Bida chapter of the union. The rally was at the palace of the Chairman of Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar. Umar told the royal father that the union chose to press home their demand through the traditional leaders in the country following government refusal to meet their demands. . Umar told the monarch that the union has a 13-point demand, which was reduced to

Jide Orintunsin, Minna

four by the Supervising Minister of Education Nyeson Wike to four. He said the union suspended its strike last March following the intervention of some respected personalities. The union leader said their demands were for selfish reason, explaining that they were after proper funding of polytechnics. He said government’s failure to listen to the union’s demand has left its members with no option than to go on strike. The Etsu Nupe, who was represented by the Sheshi Katcha, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, promised to take up their grievances. He said: “We will be pushing and defending your demands.”

USLIMS in the Southwest under the aegis of Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) have urged Southwest representatives to carry them along during the National Conference. Addressing reporters yesterday at the home of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, the Executive Secretary, MUSWEN, Prof. Dawud Noibi, said: “Our representatives at the National Conference should carry the Muslims alonsg. There is need to carry us along because we also have an agenda at the conference.” He said although the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) would represent Muslims’ interest at the conference, there was need for Muslim leaders in the Southwest to be represented. Leaders from the Southwest present at the news briefing were the Baba Adinni of Lagos State, Sheik Afeez Abu, Secretary of the Muslim Community in Lagos State, Alhaji Saheed Giwa, Chairman of the Muslim Community in Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, Alhaji Femi Abass, among others.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS Ekiti hosts The Nation’s forum on MSMEs

Southwest Regional Integrated Forum on the promotion of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will hold tomorrow and Friday in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. The programme is the third in the Southwest regional integrated programme, organised by Vintage Press Ltd, Publishers of The Nation, in collaboration with CEEDEE Resources. It is hosted by the Ekiti State government. The maiden edition of the programme was a legislative summit in Ibadan, Oyo State in February 2012. The second edition was a grassroots business expo hosted by Osun State in Osogbo last year. According to a statement by Mr. Soji Omotunde, The Nation general manager, Corporate Services, the regional integration programme is tailored to promote regional economic cohesion as a platform for national development. He said the programme is a major intervention to boost regional and national economy through the promotion of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). “It is also aimed at being a mode of attracting substantial internally-generated revenue, and solving PUBLIC NOTICE OLUSOGA

I formerly known and address as Miss Olusoga Olusola Oluwatomi now wish to be address as Mrs Ilori Olusola Oluwatomi. All formal document remain valid. The general public should please note.

the high rate of youth and unemployment. It will provide an avenue to look “beyond white collar jobs.” The theme is: “MSMEs as solutions to unemployment and economic development.” The major areas of focus, he said, would be the showcasing of vast MicroSMEs opportunities and products in the Southwest; providing a platform for interregional MicroSMEs opportunities and products; promoting MSMEs as tools for economic development and guiding youths on how to become entrepreneurs. The programme, which holds at Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Hall, will feature seminar on MicroSMEs, exhibition of common and uncommon MicroSMEs products, IT products, artisanship and locally-manufactured equipment by local entrepreneurs. A special attraction at the opening ceremony will be the presentation of a book: Regional integration as strategy for national development, a collation of speeches at the earlier programmes. Aare Afe Babalola, founder/president of Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti, will chair the opening where Southwest governors are expected. Special guests include Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rabiu musa Kwankwaso (Kano) and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (Edo).

PUBLIC NOTICE MR JOSEPH AYANTOSO ADESOKAN The person whose photograph and names appear above is no longer in the employment of Ologbon Microfinance Bank Ltd, Ogbomoso. The customers of the bank and general public should take note. Thanks. SIGNED: MANAGEMENT.

•From left: Director-General, Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI), Dr. Lanre Adebayo; Ambassador of the Philippines to Nigeria, Alex Lamadrid; Technical Adviser to the Minister of National Planning Commission on International Affairs, Dapo Oyewole and Senator Gbemisola Saraki, during One-Day Interface between PDI and members of the international community at the Yar'adua Centre in Abuja... yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

Jonathan's comments on Borno wrong, says APC

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned President Goodluck Jonathan's statement on Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima during his media chat on Monday night. It described it as unwarranted and petty. In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said President Jonathan was wrong to have threatened, no matter how subtly, to withdraw from Borno, the troops battling Boko Haram insurgents. APC urged him to apologise to Borno indigenes and to Nigerians for the presidential indiscretion. It said the threat, which was in

response to a statement credited to the governor that the soldiers need to be better equipped and motivated, showed that President Jonathan did not have a good grasp of what was expected of him as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. "Mr. President, your most important duty as President is to ensure the welfare and security of Nigerians, irrespective of the criticisms you may face or whether or not they voted for you. Therefore, you are not doing anyone a favour by performing that duty. It is the role you swore an oath to perform. "Even if you feel that the Gov-

ernor should not have made that statement, it is incumbent on you, as the President and the father of the nation, to take the higher road, instead of choosing a public forum to air your grievances. Wittingly or unwittingly, Mr. President, you have played into the hands of the insurgents, who must by now be gloating at the discordant tunes in government over the battle against them," APC said. Using the President's exact words to the Governor during his media chat, the party said: "A (President) should be mindful of what they say. Yes there are issues, but no matter how frustrated you are you don't make

Jega lists challenges of 2015 poll

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified logistics, funding and lack of voter’s confidence as major challenges facing the electoral body as the 2015 elections approach. INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, spoke in Asaba yesterday at a seminar by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), in collaboration with INEC. Its theme is: “Building confidence in the electoral system: the task before DSIEC.” Jegan assured that the commission would address the challenges before the poll. He said: “Logistics remain a major challenge in a country where basic infrastructure is still lacking. It should always be remembered that it is the same washed-off roads and treacherous waterways, the same poor water transportation facilities, the same airlines, which run late,

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

the same difficult electricity situation, etc that are used by EMBs during election. “Yet, we cannot make excuses. What is required is to plan early, build the right partnerships, share our difficulties with the public to the extent possible and prepare our workers for the elections.” Emphasising the importance of funding, Jega said: “Planning is meaningless without adequate funding. This entails adequate fund provision and timely release of such funds.” He went on: “The commission received the support of the government in this regard in 2011. However, we cannot lose sight of the reality that elections only constitute a small, albeit important part of an array of things competing for funding.” What is important, the INEC boss said, “is that government

and EMBs maintain a balanced view of funding election based on adequate resources and financial discipline,” adding: “A major cost component in Nigerian election is the personnel cost.” He said: “In the 2015 elections, our estimates suggest that nearly 50 per cent of the budget will go to personnel-related heads, particularly ad hoc workers.” Jega noted that although “elections management in Nigeria is challenging, with preparation, productive engagement with stakeholders, openness and accountability, our EMBs can build confidence in the electoral system to make election less conflictprone.” Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said lack of preparation on the part of politicians led to electoral conflicts, adding that some politicians oftentimes prepared petitions and planned for violence ahead of election proper.

‘Students of state varsities to pay more’

TUDENTS of state-owned universities may pay more fees from the next academic session, if the prayers of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of the universities are granted. The Chairman of the ProChancellors Forum, Justice Aldophos Karibi-White, said yesterday that the need for the upward review of fees being charged by the universities was to enable the institutions meet the requirements of teaching and research work. Karibi-White, who spoke at the 3rd Biennial Conference of ProChancellors in Minna, Niger State, said the state-owned universities would have to hike fees if they were to carry out their mandates.

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

“We at the Committee of ProChancellors have observed that the federal and state governments are politicising the issue of payment of fees in the universities. “For the state universities to attain the world class standard, there is need for upward review of the fees charged. “It is common knowledge that private primary and secondary schools charge higher fees than many of the stateowned universities,” he said. Karibi-White expressed worried about the implementation of the agreement reached between the Federal Government

and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), saying proprietors of the state universities were not part of the negotiations. He said: “I think it is vital for the survival of the university system and the realisation of the goals of university education to devise an equitable system to curb and control the appetite of ASUU members. “The Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE) should know their proper role in university administration and confine itself within the scope. It (FMoE) is not the employer of the workers of stateowned universities and cannot lawfully and rightly intervene,” Karibi-White said.

this kind of statement." It said based on the anger exhibited by President Jonathan while commenting on Governor Shettima's statement, the party was justified in its call on the President not to go ahead with his reported plan to remove the Governor and replace him with a military administrator. "President Jonathan should know that a leader cannot afford to be taking decisions on the basis of a perceived slight or criticism, because such decisions are most likely to be wrong and counter-productive. He should also use his enormous powers as President for the benefit of the people, not to their disadvantage. "By his threat to pull out the troops from Borno for one month, he has further victimised the good people of the state, who have been at the receiving end of the senseless attacks by Boko Haram. A retraction of his threat and an apology to the people will be a good starting point for Mr. President to make amends," APC said.

‘Fed Govt won’t merge civil defence with police’ From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

HE Federal Government will not merge the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with the Nigeria Police, as there is no such plan in government’s agenda, Minister of Interior, Patrick Moro, said yesterday. He said the two security agencies have separate mandates, with the former performing its statutory roles well, adding that it does not have to be merged with the Police or any other sister organisation. The minister spoke with reporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after the inauguration of the administrative block and 36 unit staff quarters of the Civil Defence College of Security Management, by Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Moro said: “It is a desire by a group of people or by one person (to have NSCDC merge with the police). I can tell you that the mandate of the NSCDC is different from the mandate of the police and as long as the NSCDC is conducting itself and delivering on its mandate, the Federal Government has no intention of merging the outfit with another organisation.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

Security operatives search for Jonathan’s cousin

ECURITY operatives in Bayelsa State are searching for 70-yearold Inengite Nitabai, the cousin of President Goodluck Jonathan. Nitabai was kidnapped on Sunday by 10 men, who stormed his compound at Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area. Security agencies were ordered to find Nitabai, who is said to be the President’s adopted father. It was gathered that gunboats of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the police were deployed to the creeks of Ogbia and Nembe. The Commissioner of Police, Hilary Opara, said the security agencies were making efforts to find the victim.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Opara was said to have been patrolling Otuoke since the incident occurred. He was sighted in an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). The police boss said gunboats was stationed at the Onuebum waterside to patrol the creeks. He said the police were also searching for some suspects, who ran away when they sighted the police. It was learnt that the police patrolled Edebiri, Kiambiri, Anyama and Ogobiri creeks. One of Nitabai’s children, Frank, said his father was kidnapped a day before a meeting over a land dispute. He said the police were

supposed to meet with Nitabai and other relations on Monday, a day after he was abducted. Frank feared that his father’s kidnapping might be connected with the land dispute. He appealed to security operatives to also look in that direction. Frank said: “My father heard that some relations sold his land at Ogbia. “He reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police. The commissioner was supposed to meet with my father and others involved on Monday. Unfortunately, my father was abducted a day before the meeting. “I am appealing to the authorities to also look at that

Peaceful council polls in Plateau

•Nitabai

aspect.” Opara said two suspects were arrested in connection with the land dispute. “The other two suspects saw my men and ran away. We will get them,” he said.

Benue killings: Akume weeps at displaced persons’ camp From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

•Akume

ENATE Minority Leader George Akume wept yesterday when he visited persons displaced as a result of attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Benue farmers.

The Senate Minority leader was at St. Francis Catholic Church Daudu, to sympathise with victims taking refuge under the care of a priest, Rev. Solomon Ukeyima. Over 10,000 people from five settlements - Waku, Kaseyo, Umenger, Tomotaa and Akaahemen - in Guma Local Government are taking refuge in Daudu.

Akume was accompanied by the member representing Makurdi North in the House of Assembly, Avine Agbom, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, Justice Utsaha, Nanevwua Uhondo, Targema Takuma, Philip Anza and Beck Orpin. Ukeyima told the visitors that the church was overwhelmed by the number of displaced people. When the priest told

Akume that the people lost everything, the senator broke down in tears. The former governor appealed to them to be patient. He praised Ukeyima, who he described as a priest with a large heart. Akume lambasted those responsible for the security of the nation but failed to halt the activities of hired mercenaries in Benue State. He donated money and relief materials.

Kwara APC, PDP trade words over clash

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State are trading words over Monday’s street brawl in Ilorin. Street urchins paralysed activities in parts of Ilorin when they fought over rent. APC alleged that the violence was perpetrated by PDP thugs. The party’s spokesperson, Sulyman Buhari, in a statement said: “We condemn the violence, disruption of business activities and destruction of property at Post Office, Taiwo Isale,

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Niger road, Unity road and other areas of the state by PDP thugs. PDP has declared war on the people of the state. “According to the information at our disposal, the action was due to the failure of the PDP leadership to fulfill promises made to the thugs, who were mobilised to its Sunday rally. “The frustration of the opposition PDP has led to a declaration of war on residents. If this trend is not arrested, it is capable of turning the state to a war-rid-

den zone. But the Publicity Secretary of the PDP caretaker committee in the state, Mohammed Alhassan said APC’s accusation was not true. He said: “What happened was a misunderstanding between some groups, which does not have anything to do with party affairs. ‘’However, trying to achieve cheap publicity by disseminating wrong information to the public is an act of irresponsibility on the part of APC’s leadership and its allies. “APC should address is-

Indian doctor held for practising without licence

N Indian Neurosurgeon, Dr. Raju Bhuvaneswara Basina, was on Monday arrested in Abuja by officials of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for operating without a licence. He was picked up by the Police from Apo Resettlement Division and MDCN’s inspectorate officials, led by Dr. Henry Okwuokenye, at the Asokoro District Hospital. Basina (53) was performing a craniotomy (brain surgery) at the time of his arrest. The Chief Medical Director of Asokoro Hospital, Dr. Ahmadu Abubakar, appealed to the officials to wait for him to finish his

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

surgery. Basina applied for a licence after months of practising at the hospital without clearance from the MDCN. Okwuokenye, who is head (Inspectorate Unit) of MDCN, said investigations showed that Basina had been practising for months before applying for licence last August. He said: “The MDCN is yet to process Basina’s application because we are waiting for a response from our counterparts in India. “But Basina has continued to work on contract, insisting that he had applied.” According to him, mere

application did not constitute the temporary licence meant for doctors who are trained outside Nigeria, adding that Basina should have waited for response before practising. “We wrote to India to tell us about the status and licence of Basina but they are yet to get back to us. ‘’Although he claimed to have applied, mere application is not a licence to practise. “When we asked him if a doctor could practise in India without licence, he said No. Why then is he practising in Nigeria? Time has come for us to sanitise the system, Nigeria is not a banana republic where anything can happen,” Okwuokenye stated.

sues rather than engaging in cheap blackmail of our party. ‘’APC leaders and their members should also be aware that a more intimidating event will soon come up with the visiting of President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday.”

HE election into 15 local governments of Plateau State was held in a peaceful atmosphere, as there was no report of violence. Governor Jonah Jang, who voted at his Ladura in Du, applauded security agencies for the peaceful conduct. But the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged intimidation of its supporters. APC’s Interim state secretary Alhaji Salisu Nakande said: “The election was peaceful and we commen the state electoral commission for its preparation. The distribution of electoral material was good and timely but later in the day we began to notice malpractice. Garba said: “There was no voting in some polling units in APC stronghold, we noticed ballot box snatching by PDP agents, the security agencies compromised in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).” Commissioner for Justice Edward Pwajok noted that the election was conducted in accordance with the law, adding that litigation and injunctions trying to stop the election were cleared from the State High Court to the Appeal Court.

Knocks for senator over comment on Akpabio

KWA Ibom State Commissioner for Special Duties Emmanuel Enoidem yesterday crticised comments on Governor Godswill Akpabio by the senator representing Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene), Aloysius Etok. Etok, in a newspaper interview, said Akpabio was intimidated by his soaring profile. He said he would defeat the governor in a free and fair election in Ikot Ekpene. The senator also said Akpabio was not happy when he (Etok) moved a motion for President Goodluck Jonathan, who was then a vice president, to be made President to succeed the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Akpabio is seeking the Ikot Ekpene seat held by Etok, who wants to represent the district for the third term. Speaking with reporters in Uyo, Enoidem described Etok as a man

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

with a diminishing profile, who failed the people at the National Assembly. The commissioner said Akpabio was vocal and played pivotal role i n th e e m e rge n c e o f President Jonathan. “Akpabio’s support for Jonathan has been unwavering. It is wrong for the senator to make this type of claims. “ To sta rt w i th , o u r senator does not have any capacity to support Jonathan. He lacks capacity, both in his wards, in his local government and the senatorial district he represents. So, I don’t know what level of power or support he will be able to gather for the P r e s i dent. “It is childish for him to say that Akpabio is intimidated by his profile. I don’t know what profile he has. As far as I am concerned, he has a diminished profile.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

Ekiti promotes vocational studies in schools

HE Ekiti State government has restated its determination to promote vocational studies in public primary schools. Pupils from basic schools in the 16 local government areas converged yesterday on the premises of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, and displayed their vocational skills. The occasion was the second edition of the Public Primary Schools’ Trade Fair. At the fair were Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu, who is the SUBEB chairman, and the governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, who was the mother of the day. Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, the special guest of honour was represented by Osun SUBEB Permanent Secretary Fatai Kolawole. Chief Julius Ajayi chaired the occasion. Also present were Ekiti House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Taiwo Orisalade; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese Rev. Felix Femi Ajakaye; Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology Kehinde Ojo; Commissioner for the Environment Dr. Eniola Ajayi; Commissioner for Women Affairs & Gender Empowerment Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu. The pupils displayed various

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

handicrafts, including pots, wood carvings, local mats, hand fans and baskets, some of which were bought by the guests. They also displayed local pastries, including Ojojo (fried water yam) and Aadun (sweetened corn powder). The deputy governor said the promotion of entrepreneurial education in elementary schools would help “budding talents to fully realise their potentials”. She said the fair was a forum for pupils to showcase the entrepreneurial and technical skills that were imparted in them in their various schools. Her words: “Entrepreneurial education is aimed at exposing pupils to attitudes, behaviours and practices (outside their usual academic works) that would equip them with relevant skills to stand on their own without necessarily running after non-existing white collar jobs after leaving schools. “Today’s exposition is a call for us to return to the old era, when emphasis was on handiwork, such as weaving, pottery, wood carving, tie and dye and knitting, among others, at the elementary level of education. The primary goal is to promote creativity and innovation through the acquisition of requisite skills”. Mrs. Adelabu described the fair as “another trail-blazing concept

Two pupils drown in septic tanks in Ibadan

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

WO pupils have died in septic tanks in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Between penultimate Friday and last Friday, three children fell into septic tanks at two locations in the city. Two died and one survived. Last Friday, Ayo Afolabi (9) fell into a septic tank at Ore Meji, Odo-Ona Elewe at about mid-day. The late Afolabi and his friends were playing around the septic tank when he fell into it. He was evacuated by sympathizers, but died on the way to the hospital. Penultimate Friday, two pupils of a private school in Adamasingba, Adeagbo Fadairo (10) and Lawal Fawaz (8) were playing during the break period when they fell into a septic tank. It was learnt that an artisan, who was carrying out a repair, left the tank open. Fadairo died before help came. Fawaz survived. Police spokesperson Olabisi Ilobanafor confirmed the incidents.

Aspirant disowns committee

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, has condemned the composition of a consensus committee by a group of aspirants from Ekiti South Senatorial District. He said the committee was “compromised and masterminded by a few self-serving individuals”. In a statement in Abuja by Mr. Yemi Akinbode, the media director of BOFER, Omoyeni’s campaign organisation, the aspirant described the committee as “stagemanaged”. He said no representation of the party sat on the committee as was agreed by aspirants, adding that the original members were schemed out of the assignment, with four of the seven members “intentionally misinformed on the date of the meeting”. He said: “Incidentally, the four that were prevented from participating are members of PDP State executive, who were to represent the

party structure. “Our participation in the botched consensus process was based on trust and the strong believe in the collective interest of the Southern Senatorial District, an area that has never produced the governor since its creation. “We thought we were dealing with credible and sincere people, but the event of Monday has shown that the Dr. Tae Lawal-led committee is not only fraudulent and selfserving, but its members are cheap and mischievous, as demonstrated by their neglect of the template originally drawn by all aspirants.” Omoyeni said he was committed to genuine processes that will lead to the emergence of a sellable PDP flag bearer. He urged the public to disregard the outcome of the committee’s meeting, adding: “With the antecedents of the members, nothing credible and good can come from their kangaroo committee.”

•Prof. Adelabu (left) watching a pupil from Ado Local Government, Fasusi Favour, sew a dress...yesterday.

designed by SUBEB under the well-focused and result-oriented administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi, to ensure that the talents and innate skills of pupils are harnessed to make them productive individuals to the development of the state and the nation from their tender ages”. She said the administration’s investment in basic education has earned the state the “Fountain of Knowledge” appellation, adding that the Early Childhood Development Education Mega Centres established in the three senatorial

districts have been adjudged the best among public educational institutions in the country. Mrs. Fayemi hailed SUBEB for the “unique initiative”, saying it has made Ekiti a pacesetter in the Nigerian education sector. Describing the fair as “laudable, helpful to the pupils and good for national development”, she urged SUBEB to sustain it and get her office more involved in subsequent editions. In her goodwill message read by Kolawole, Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said: “Ekiti State is reclaiming the

practical aspect of education, which the country lost to protracted military rule.” She promised to domesticate the programme in Osun, adding that the catch-them-young approach was worthy of emulation. The Brand Manager, Honeywell Flour Mills, Mr. Lanre Da-Silva, said governments and parents need to give pupils vocational to make them financially independent in the future. Trophies, cash and gifts were presented to the councils that came first, second and third.

Fasuan, Oyebode, Ajakaye, others are Ekiti National Conference delegates

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has named Chairman of the defunct Movement for Ekiti State Creation Chief Oladeji Fasuan as leader of the state’s delegation to the National Conference. Others on the delegation

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

are International Law expert Prof. Akin Oyebode; Prof. Bisi Aina; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese Rev. Felix Ajakaye; Secretary, Yoruba Unity Group (YUG), Dr.

Kunle Olajide and Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Idowu Babalola. According to a letter to the President from Governor Kayode Fayemi, Fasuan fills the Elder Statesman’s slot. Prof. Oyebode, Prof. Aina

and Bishop Ajakaye represent Ekiti North, Ekiti Central and Ekiti South senatorial districts. Dr. Olajide and Oba Babalola fill the two slots allocated to Ekiti out of the 15 slots to ethnic groups in the zone.

Activist Erubami joins APC in Ibadan

IGHTS activist and Convener/President of the Nigeria Voters Assembly (VOTAS) Mashood Erubami has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging rights activists to embrace active politicking. Erubami was yesterday presented by Ward 9 in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, to APC leaders in the council as an aspirant for the Egbeda/Ona-

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Ara Federal House of Representatives seat. He said only active participation by activists in politics could effect the desired change. Recalling the struggle by activists over the years, part of which led to the emergence of democracy in 1999, Erubami said an egalitarian society, where abundance

would be guaranteed for all, would remain a mirage unless activists join political parties. He said he decided to contest the election to enable him practice what he had been preaching. Erubami said: “Instead of assessing me based on my antecedents and what I plan to do if elected, the people are saying I am okay for the job but my not being an Ibadan

man is the snag.” He said having lived in Ibadan for over 35 years, he expected the people to talk about how to improve the city and not mundane issues. Erubami was received into the party by the APC leader in the council, Mr. Mathew Fatunbi, popularly called theAsiwaju of Egbeda. Fatunbi said he believed the activist would be the voice of the voiceless, if elected.

Osun gets award in Dubai for Sukuk

HE N11.4 billion Islamic bond (Sukuk) taken by the Osun State government has won the Islamic Financial News’ (IFN’s) Deal of the Year Award in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It was an evening of honour for the state and Lotus Capital, the issuing house, as IFN Managing Director Andrew Morgan presented the award to their representatives on Monday night. Osun State was represented by Commissioner for Finance Dr. Wale Bolorunduro. The Managing Director (MD) of Lotus Capital Limited, Mrs. Hajara Adeola, represented

the firm. General Manager and Head, Listing Sales and Retention of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs. Taba Peterside; Mr. Dele Oladunjoye of Kola Awodein and Co., solicitors to the deal; and a Director of Lotus Capital Limited, Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu, were also present. Bolorunduro said the receipt of the award was made possible by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s penchant for exploring new ways to solve problems. He said: “Kudos should go to Aregbesola for this award. His three years in office have shown that he stops at

‘Kudos should go to Aregbesola for this award. His three years in office have shown that he stops at nothing to embrace novel ideas, as long as those ideas further the interests of the common man.’ nothing to embrace novel ideas, as long as those ideas

further the interests of the common man. The state has provided the platform for Lotus Capital to prove that this can be done. We are grateful for this recognition.” Lotus Capital Limited was established in June 2004 and is headed by the former Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Mr. Fola Adeola. Going by world financial record, it is one of the world’s fastest growing financial organisations, with over 200 billion dollars in assets across the world. The company is said to be growing at an annual rate of 20 per cent.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

Lagos gives injured fire fighter N5m

Ondo Speaker Adesina dies at 53

NDO State House of Assembly Speaker Samuel Adesina is dead. Adesina, who represented Odigbo II, died yesterday after a battle with cancer. He was 53. In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Rotimi Adelola, described the late Speaker as “a bridge builder, a man of integrity and a team player, who placed the interest of the state above personal considerations.”

•SSG, NUJ mourn From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

He said: “The Ondo State government received the news with shock. We commiserate with his family, the legislature and the people on the loss. May God grant us the fortitude to bear the loss.” The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone B, described Adesina’s death as “a loss to the legislature and the state.” In a statement by its Vice-

President, Dele Atunbi, the union said the AraromiObu born politician used his position to advance the cause of the people. It said Adesina died at a time his experience was most needed, adding that he would be remembered for his “belief in the Nigerian project and the economic emancipation of his people.” NUJ commiserated with the government, House of Assembly and people on

T •The late Adesina

the “loss of a rare gem.” It prayed for the repose of the late Adesina’s soul.

Tributes for ex-student leader Segun Okeowo

T was a day of tributes on Monday night, as serving and ex-students’ union leaders converged on the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja, to eulogise a former students’ union leader, Mr. Segun Okeowo, who died last month. Okeowo was famous for leading the “Ali Must Go” students’ protest in 1978. The Night of Tributes was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youths and Students Affairs, Jude Imagwe. Imagwe said Okeowo im-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

pacted positively on many lives and should be immortalised. He said it was sad that no group gathered to celebrate him since his demise last month, adding that this prompted the organisation of the Night of Tributes. Imagwe said: “I will do everything possible to ensure that this foremost exstudents’ leader did not die in vain. His legacies must forever be remembered. He will be immortalised.” Urging students’ union leaders to shun partisan poli-

‘Students’ leaders should act responsibly. The students’ union body should return to what it used to be in the past, which was the voice of millions of students’ tics and avoid being bought over by politicians, he said: “Students’ leaders should act

‘Job creation’ll curb insurgencies’

ORMER Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Wale Omole has said the only way to curb violence is job creation. He said the government should address the fundamental problems that fuel insecurity. Omole spoke with reporters at a variety night at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral (AVMCC), Diocese of Lagos West (Anglican Communion) as part of events marking the cathedral’s 50th anniversary. The night featured choreography, documentary, special song renditions, musical performances by gospel artistes Monique and Wole Sax and a drama, among others. Omole said: “The greatest factor for violence is poverty. When youths leave school and have no job or food, they become violent. I am not justifying violence, but if you want to ameliorate crime, you must provide jobs and make life better for the people.”

By Nneka Nwaneri

Omole, who chairs the 50th Anniversary Committee, said the variety night was organised for youths, adding: ‘’They are the future of the church and the more we involve them, the more committed they will become. They put up something beautiful tonight. In 50 years time, they will be the elders of the church.” The anniversary lecture, titled: “The church today”, will be delivered tomorrow by Dr. Tunji Braitwaite. Other activities lined up include a visit to orphanages and a dinner. A three-day prayer session was held earlier for the nation. Dean of the cathedral Ven. Abel Ajibodu said: “This church has contributed much to Nigeria and the world. People who have passed through this church have travelled across the globe and contributed positively in all human endeavours. As a church, it has been our tradition to pray for the government. It is part of our liturgy to pray for peace, breakthrough, well being and wisdom for leaders. The security situation is a concern to the church.”

Awo symposium for March 4 By Seun Akioye

•The late Awolowo

symposium, titled: The Nigerian Constitution: The Awo Road Not Taken, is being planned to mark the 105th posthumous birthday of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The seminar, organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Foun-

dation, will hold next Tuesday, at NECA House in Alausa, Lagos, by 11am. The Foundation’s Executive Director Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu said recommendations at the seminar would be sent to delegates to the proposed National Conference, which will start on March 18. Dr. Awolowo-Dosunmu said: “As the institutional custodian of the late Awolowo’s intellectual legacy, the foundation has decided that his prescriptions on the Nigerian constitution should be placed before delegates to the conference and Nigerians.” She said the panellists were

carefully chosen to involve the younger generation, adding: “We have chosen this panel because we want to involve the younger generation, who can be more open and can look at these documents with an unbiased mindset.” The keynote address will be delivered by Pius Adesanmi, a professor of African Literature and Culture at the Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. The discussants are Chief Executive Officer, Visible Impact, Fela Durotoye; Chief Executive Officer, RISE Network Toyosi Akerele; Public Affairs Analyst Bala Zakka and Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch Monday Ubani.

responsibly. The students’ union body should return to what it used to be in the past, which was the voice of millions of students.” Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Sam Amadi, who is also an ex-students’ union leader, called for better interaction among youths on critical issues. He cautioned youths against unwarranted criticisms, urging them to engage in productive ventures. The deceased’s son, Kolade, said his father “will forever be his hero.” Representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) were present at the event.

HE Lagos State government has given N5 million grant to a firefighter, Mr. Sikiru Agbaje, who was injured last year in the line of duty. Agbaje sustained severe burns on his hands, legs and other parts of his body while attempting to rescue lives and properties in a fire on January 3, last year, at No. 20, Akinjoro Street in Abaranje, Ikotun. He was hospitalised for over two months at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). Agbaje is yet to recover fully. Presenting the cheque to him in Alausa, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture Oyinlomo Danmole said: “Governor Babatunde Fashola approved a grant of N5 million for you and directed in a letter that if the assistance is not enough, we should see what we can do to make your life comfortable.” Danmole said the gesture showed the government’s commitment to the welfare of workers and would motivate them to work diligently. To protect firemen, he said the government has acquired protective gears which would be complemented with modern equip-

By Oziegbe Okoeki

ment that will arrive in the country soon. Danmole decorated 34 newly promoted fire service officers, urging them to see their promotion as a greater call to service. He said: “You are one of those who put in great service to protect the life and property of residents. In the course of your job, you put your life on the line. We run away from fire while you run to it to combat it. We will continue to make your work easier for you.” The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Omotayo Olabenjo, said 20 of the officers were promoted to Chief Fire Superintendents; 11, Assistant Chief Fire Superintendents; one, Chief Fire Officer; one, Deputy Director of the Fire Service; and one, Director of Fire Service. Speaking for the decorated officers, the Director of the State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, thanked the governor for his concern for their welfare. He said: “Our promotion comes with greater expectation, as the governor always say that the reward for hard work is more work. We must continue to do our jobs diligently.”

10 LOSS OF DOCUMENT

I, Rajeeva Devtadeen Tripathi S/O Late Devtadeen Ramratan Tripathi R/ O, Flat No. 104, Upvan Apartments, 4/276-3, Parwati Bagla Road, Kanpur- 208002 do hereby inform to one and all that I have changed my name from Rajeev Devtadeen Tripathi to Rajeeva Devtadeen Tripathi.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

This is to inform the general public that the deed of akcnoledgment dated the 22nd of July 1975 and executed between Alh. Bakare Kasali Akinliyi and four others akcnoledging the title of emmanuel oloye ashamu and registered as 44/44/1520 got lost. This notice is for record purpose. Sign: Titi Ashamu for the Estate of late Ashamu.

•Former Commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka Anyaoku (fourth right) speaking at a book launch in Lagos. With him are Ajana of Okeagbe, Oba Ola Fajana (left); Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh; Mrs Mercy Ogunjobi; founder BOF, Elder Bisi Ogunjobi; representative of Ekiti State Governor Prof. Gabriel Alegbeleye and Pastor Awodeyin

Expectant mother, three others crushed to death in Lagos A

TANKER driver last night rammed into passengers waiting at Oshodi bus stop in Lagos, killing four people including an expectant mother instantly. The critically injured were rushed to an undisclosed hospital, but eye witnesses doubt if they could survive because of the severity of their injuries. The incident occurred at about 7:47pm. The driver escaped with the tanker, but sympathisers were able to drag one man down from the articulated vehicle as he tried to clear way for the driver to escape. The Nation sighted the man inside police vehicle. It was a horrible sight as people wailed. Bodies of the deceased were scattered on the ground with blood everywhere. One of the legs of the foetus was broken. Marketers especially from

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

sociations, interest groups, trado-medical associations and private health providers. The committee, Ngige said, would advise the council on its function and any other matter. Ngige, a member of the Senate Committee on Health and Primary Healthcare, retired as a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Health. He said it was significant that the bill provides for fund from the consolidated revenue of the federation account to be used to pay medical services for the poor, provision of health care for accident victims

and those unable to pay hospital bills. The senator added that it would also ensure proper funding for the Basic Healthcare System, called the Primary Healthcare and the ever-widening Specialist Healthcare. He said another provision of the bill was for the establishment of an “essential drug formulary and an essential drug list and safety of drugs.” “The implication is that there will be a compendium of drug list, which will be reviewed periodically by the formulary,” Ngige added.

19. Ngige said the bill would allow for an inter-sectoral and inter-departmental collaboration, to facilitate research, planning and management of health service. The lawmaker, who represents Anambra Central, said another milestone achieved by the bill was the establishment of the National Council of Health, a technical committee, whose membership comprised professional health as-

Group expresses concern about growing impunity

GROUP of thinkthank professionals the Broom initiative has expressed concern over what it described as “unabated executive lawlessness” being displayed by the federal government. In a statement by leaders of the group, Mr MICHEAL Ighoma and Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed,the group said: “We have watched with keen interest the various missteps and outright assaults targeted at our collective intelligence as a people, culmi-

Olorunsogo Ultra Modern Market trooped to the scene. The expectant mother, Mrs Isiwat Haruna was one of their colleagues. She was said to have bade her co-marketers ‘Good bye’ before the unfortunate incident occurred 20 minutes later. Mrs Haruna, a rice seller popularly known as Iya Wasiu was the wife of the Deputy Chairman of Olorunsogo Ultra Modern Market in Oshodi. Her husband Lukman was speechless. He was being consoled by fellow marketers. The deceased younger brother threatened to stone anybody near the remains. He carried a big stone chasing anyone who dared him. Not quite long, the mother

of Mrs Haruna popularly called Iya Adijat was accompanied by neighbours and family members to the scene. “Where is Isiwat? What happened to Iya Wasiu? Where did they carry my daughter to,” she asked in tears as people tried to calm her down. She was wailing and begging people to answer her before meeting her son-in-law, Haruna, who broke the sad news to her. “Mummy, Iya Wasiu ti ku! (Mummy, Wasiu’s mother is dead!” The women threw herslf on the ground but she was urged to take heart. She shouted: “Ikunle abiyamo! Ina jo mi o! Allahu Allahu....” Haruna, who spoke with The Nation could not believe his wife was gone. “We were together in the

Ngige lists benefits of health bill

HE Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Chris Ngige, has described the passage of the National Health Bill as a development, which would enhance the practice and provision of health care delivery service. Ngige told reporters in Abuja that “for the first time, there will be a law offering a composite framework for the development, regulation and management of the health system and setting of standard in the country.” The Senate passed the National Health Bill on February

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

market before she started going home and I told her to expect me soon. It’s not up to 20 minutes she left, I boarded a bus to join her at home only to see people gathered at the accident scene. My mind quickly went to her and I told the driver to stop, only to get to the scene and saw my wife’s body scattered on the ground,” he narrated. Eyewitnesses, Stella Edmund and Victor Ekerendu said the tanker driver might either be sleeping or lost control. Ekerendu, a mobile police officer attached to (NAFDAC) said he crossed to the other side to buy roasted plantain. “I just saw the tanker running over people who wanted to board a bus; seven people fell, four died, other quickly taken to the hospital. I could have been among the dead if not for God’s grace,” he said.

nating in the diminished and low esteem it has earned us in the comity of nations. “When faced with weighty and damaging allegations, an embattled government can choose to counter them in different ways. It can discredit the accuser, it can draw out the accuser with an alternative narrative, it can argue from personal incredulity, it can remain silent where the conclusion is based on the absence of evidence, it can simply do the honourable thing and address the allegations

Church holds programme

PPER Room Brethren Ministries (an Interdenominational Prayer and Deliverance Ministry), will hold a five-day prophetic programme. The host, Prophet Paul Esupofo, said it would start on March 3 and end on March 7, from 6pm to 9pm daily. He said the programme is tagged: “No More Delay” (Kosi Idaduro Mo) (Isaiah 3:1). Venue is the open ground beside Railway Police Station, Mushin, Lagos. The cleric said there would be salvation, healing, deliverance, breakthrough, testimony and others.

without employing an informal fallacy.” “The suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor is perhaps the most incredible act of recklessness so far carried out by this government,” the group said. It added: “Never mind the fact that this action is unconstitutional, never mind that it calls into question the socalled fight against corruption, never mind that it reeks of the most petty of machinations, the removal of a patriotic officer for bringing to the nation’s attention, a matter of

such significance as missing oil money, is just plain immoral. “How sincere is a government that allocates ¦ 2 billion to the existential fight against the Boko Haram insurgency, versus ¦ 70 billion to the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme? “The government’s conviction in the battle against Boko Haram is justifiably being called into question. Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has openly declared that the enemy is better equipped and motivated than our military.

Vehicle owners get ultimatum

HE Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of abandoned vehicles parked at Bar Beach, Onireke Beach and Apapa Police Stations to remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction two

weeks after this publication. The vehicles are Toyota Celica AE 854 AKA, Volkswagen Faragon bus AGL 212 AU, Mercedes Benz CX 549 PHC, Nissan Sunny AG 387 DUU and Volkswagen Faragon bus XK 781 GGE.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

•The suspects...yesterday

PHOTOS: KAZEEM IBRAHYM

‘Pastor’, nine others arrested in baby factory

HERE was tension in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday, after a baby factory was discovered. During an early morning raid by the police, five expectant girls were arrested. Four men suspected to be working at the factory were also arrested. The owner of the ‘baby factory’, Pastor Grace Akpan, who used a religious organisation, called ‘Jubilant Garden Ministries’, as front to lure the girls, was arrested.

Rivers Assembly writes National Assembly

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Of the five girls, two are from Odukpani in Cross River State; the rest are from Akwa Ibom State. Commissioner of Police Umar Gwadabe said the baby factory is located at 5, High Tension Street, by Four Lane, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo. Gwadabe said the arrest was made through an intelligence report monitored by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) operatives. The commissioner listed the girls as Margaret Effiong (20), Esther Effiong (21) and three teenage girls, with the youngest being 14. Also, a two-

T •Mrs. Akpan

parents. “Many of the girls are having problems. All of them are married. I am not the founder of the church, I am just a leader. Jesus is the founder of the church.”

HE Archbishop Vinning Memorial Church Cathedral will on Thursday hold a lecture to mark its 50th anniversary. The lecture, which will be delivered by Lagos lawyer Dr Tunji Braithwaite, will start at 11am. Dr Braithwaite will speak on the topic: “The Church Today”. Former Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof Wale Omole will chair the occasion. Eminent Nigerians and church leaders, including the Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican communion, Bishop James Odedeji, are expected at the occasion billed for the church’s auditorium in Ikeja, Lagos.

Lawmaker •Ex-AAU VC to chair assessment committee she is actually 70.” arraigned •’I’m set to sacrifice my future’ “There is no fun in discussFrom Osagie Otabor, Benin

(NUT) to stay away from the meeting. NUT State Chairman Mike Uhunmwangho said they boycotted the meeting because they didn’t know if the meeting was meant to embarrass teachers. •Oshiomhole He said stakeholders meetEACHERS in Edo State ings on education should be are to write an assess- attended by people with ment test, instead of bright ideas. competency test. Uhunmwangho said they These were part of deci- would attend a meeting with sions at the end of a stake- the government today. holders meeting on educaSpeaking at the meeting tion. which lasted four hours, GovTeachers obeyed direc- ernor Adams Oshiomhole extives by the leadership of the plained how he met with the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT four times but that deci-

Senator decries misinformation on water scheme ICE Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Domingo Obende, yesterday decried the misinformation concerning the status of the N800 million Okpella Water Scheme in Edo State. Obende, who spoke at the budget defence by the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, enquired why the minister allegedly told the people that the project was completed and inaugurated. The lawmaker said the minister spoke about the project during his good governance tour of Edo State. Obende said he was concerned not only because the

will soon appear in court.” Mrs. Akpan countered the claim of the police. She said she is a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) and not a human trafficker. The suspect said some of the girls were brought to the centre by their families. Her words: “The police entered our church and arrested us about 5 a.m. They said I was reported to have so many expectant women and they don’t know why I should have that. “I am a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA). I was given the certificate in Anua Hospital when they called us for a seminar. Some of the girls were brought to the centre by their

Edo teachers to write assessment test

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

RIVERS State House of Assembly has directed the Clerk to write the National Assembly on the number of times it sat when it took over its legislative functions. The Deputy Speaker, Leyii Kwanee, who presided over plenary yesterday, directed the Clerk to find out the number of times the National Assembly sat after taking over its functions last July, following the crisis in the Assembly last July 9. Kwanee said: “It is imperative for the House to find out, so that no one could challenge our sitting. The House should have a minimum of 181 sittings.” A Federal High Court, Abuja in December, ordered the National Assembly to stop carrying out the legislative functions of the Rivers Assembly.

year-old boy was rescued. The arrested men are: Ndifreke Umana (31); Ezekiel Umana (29); Godstime Johnson (18) and Ukeme Etim (20). The police boss said: “A woman, Prophetess Grace Daniel Akpan, was arrested at 4 a. m. at 5, High Tension Street, by Four Lane, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, for operating a baby factory under the guise of a religious organisation, called Jubilant Garden Ministries. “Girls and young men were camped for the sole purpose of raising babies for sale and human trafficking. In view of some reported cases of child abduction in the state, we arrested these criminals. They

Church lecture tomorrow

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

project was in Edo North but that his constituents were not happy that the project was said to have been completed when this is not the case. He said: “Mr. Minister, the N800 million Okpella Water Scheme project was assumed to have been completed and inaugurated. You spoke about it during your good governance tour of Edo State. “I also want to know when you get information from Ministries, Departments and Agencies whether you verify and cross-check such information.” Maku said he did not go to

Edo State to inaugurate projects as claimed by the senator. He said after his tour of projects in the state, there was a forum in Benin where people were told to ask questions, noting that nobody raised the issue of Okpella. The minister insisted that he never said the project was completed. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe asked Obende to reserve his question for the minister of Water Resources who he said was in a better position to explain the project.

sions were misrepresented by the NUT. Oshiomhole said the NUT misled its members by telling them that the government agreed not to hold the competency test, whereas NUT told government to give it more time. He insisted that 920 teachers were not sacked but that their salaries were put on hold. “We won’t understand who forged what unless the competency test is done. The teacher who could not read presented two affidavits. The original said she was born in 1954 and the photocopy said she was born in 1964, which means she would be 60 when

ing people I know voted for me but they voted for me to provide credible leadership. I offer to pay the political cost by insisting on this test.” The governor said a former Vice Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, has been appointed as chairman of the committee to conduct the assessment test. He added: “This exercise is not about saving cost or downsizing but about replacing what is bad with what is good. Those that cannot be retrained will be retired and that is more on government financing because we have to pay those we retired and the teachers we will employ.”

Woman for burial

•The late Mrs Olanrewaju

HE death of Mrs Comfort Omoriyeba Olanrewaju (Nee Awakan) has been announced. Mrs Olanrewaju died on December 2. She was 80. There will be a wake on Friday at St. Mary Primary School in Isalu, Iseyin. The funeral will hold the following day at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ojubaba, Iseyin. Interment follows at her residence. Guests will be entertained at Muslim Grammar School, Saki Road,Iseyin. She is survived by children and grandchildren.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

AJORITY Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly Philip Shaibu has been arraigned in absentia at an Edo State High Court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for alleged forgery of tax clearance certificate. Shaibu, who represents Estako West, was slammed with a six-count charge in a suit dated October 8, 2013. The lawmaker was accused by the ICPC of giving false information to officers of the State Board of Internal Revenue in November 2006 when he (Shaibu) applied for income tax clearance certificate and claimed that the application was made by the management of Zaknote Nigeria Ventures Limited. It also stated that Shuaibu, in July 2000, in Abuja, made false statement to ICPC officers by stating that he was an employee of Zaknote Nigeria Ventures Limited between 2003 and 2006. Shaibu said he was shocked when he learnt about his arraignment from people and after investigations, he discovered that the matter was adjourned. He said a Federal High Court recently delivered judgment on the matter and promised to make the judgment public.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014

CITYBEATS LAGBUS trains captains T HE management of LAGBUS Asset Management, the Lagos State public transportation outfit, has begun the training of bus captains to ensure optimum performance on the wheel. Its Managing Director, Tunde Disu, urged the captains to always stop at only designated bus stops, warning that as no excuse would be tolerated. “People have different challenges bothering them which could reflect in their attitudes; so, do not feel embarrassed when you are faced with such. You must ensure that you do the right thing always. We are ready to be consistent with our policies, so that the public will know us for what we stand for,” he said. He stressed the need for captains’ politeness on the wheel, pointing out several complaints that the compa-

ny had received from different customers against the captains. Deputy Head of Operations of the outfit, Olubodun Ogunyankin, noted that since LAGBUS is the face of Lagos State transportation system, anyone caught violating traffic rules would be dealt with accordingly. He advised the captains to be observant and duly check the buses for optimal service condition before putting them on the road. Its Head of the Marketing and Communication, Toun Gaji, reminded the participants of the mission, vision and policies of the company. He said it is mandatory for them to work in line with the organisation’s guidelines and be good ambassadors to the company and the state. She charged them to be decent, respectful and highly resourceful.

Community decries harassment by hoodlums

OMMUNITY leaders in Bayeku in Ikorodu on the outskirts of Lagos State have cried out over an alleged plot by a land speculator to use individuals and groups to foment violence in the area. In a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and Chairman Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro, they alleged that the land speculator was planning to invade the community again with hoodlums. The petition, which was dated February 13, 2014, by

the Aberija Family and the Community Development Association (CDA) of the area, was signed by the Olotu of Aberija Family, Chief Olajide Ogunyemi and Pastor Olawale Obayemi. The residents are appealing to the IGP, Fashola and Okiro to put adequate security measure in place to safeguard their lives as they are now living in fears. The land speculator was said to have threatened to wipe out all the residents if members of Aberija Family refuse to sign the Power of Attorney allegedly agreed to earlier with a family member on the community’s land.

NEWS (SHOWBIZ)

CITYBEATS LINE: 08078425391

Ejigbo assault: Market leader, 11 others held

• Police declare four wanted

USTICE appears on the horizon for the three women that were assaulted in February, last year, at the Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo in Lagos State as the police yesterday paraded the Babaoloja of the market, Isiaka Waidi, and 11 other suspects. They were paraded by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Mr Chris Ezike, and the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), at the Adeniji Adele Police Station, Lagos Island. The victims - two young girls and their mother - were tortured and brutalised by some people at the market for allegedly stealing pepper. One of the girls, Juliana Agoma, reportedly died in Benin Republic, where she was receiving treatment after the ordeal in which she sustained serious injuries. The police said four others, who are still in hiding, had been declared wanted. They added that their pictures would soon be made public for their easy identification. Those declared wanted by the police are: Tiri, an alleged member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), who was captured in the video footage and alleged to give stripped Juliana, her daughter, Ajoke, and the other vic-

‘They said they would cut off my mother’s head. They told our landlord to give us quit notice, that we were thieves’ By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface and Gbade Ogunwale (Abuja)

tim, naked; Otepa Oluranti, Michael Abolore and another simply identified as Akeem. In March, last year, an internet video, showing where the three females were being tortured went viral, drawing the ire of Nigerians, especially civil society groups, who demanded investigation of the video and the perpetrators’ arrest. Mba said: “Waidi is said to be the mastermind of the dastardly act which culminated in the arrest, debasement, torture and extortion of N50, 000.” Another suspect is Haruna Abdullahi and Buhari Yusuf, who mixed the concoction of pepper and alcoholic spirit that were applied on the bodies, including private parts of the victims. Others are: Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Oloruntoyin

MID glitz, the fortunes of 10 young filmmakers got a boost last Saturday, as they received prizes in different categories of the MTN Afronolly short film competition. The event, at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, witnessed a large number of youngsters from different African countries. They all came with high hopes, but only a few were adjudged worthy of the laurels. In the Short Film category, the first prize of $25,000 was clinched by Florian Schott for his flick, Everything Happens for a Reason, while Crimson– Your Cup of Tea, by Daniel Etim Effiong and 10:10 by Gbenga Salu came second and third place, earning $10,000 and $5,000. In the Documentary segment, Victor Okoye was decorated with the best diadem for his film, Creative Minds, going home with $25,000 cash prize. The second prize of $10,000 went to Ronke Ogunmakin for Awele’s Diary while Ng’endo Mukii came third place with Yellow Fever, getting $5,000. But it was not a winnerstake-all, as the other four finalists from both categories received $500 each. An ecstatic Florian Schott, a Namibian, said winning the $25,000 is a great opportunity for him to help in devloping the Namibian film industry. “It’s amazing. I am more than excited, coming tops in the MTN Afrinolly Short Film category. I am extremely grateful to MTN for the $25,000 prize money and award given to me; this will

•Ezike

•Waidi

Dauda (Iya-Oja), Adekunle Adenuga, Jimoh Busari and Azeez Akinosun.” He said the suspects were identified on a parade by eyewitnesses, who went further to reveal parts played by each suspect, assuring that the Force would work with Interpol to confirm the veracity of Juliana’s death. Ezike said the suspects’ arrest was facilitated by civil society groups and the state Office of the Public Defenders (OPD). Waidi denied being involved in the torture of the victims, saying that he was at home when security guards attached to the market called him that they had discovered persons behind the stealing of missing pepper and tomatoes in the market. Waidi added: “When I got to the market, I was taken to their home. I found out that it was a little girl. I left instructions that they should hand them over to the police since I was rushing down to Alausa in Ikeja for a meeting. I didn’t even know the extent of what the security guards did to the woman and her children until I saw the video. I was not the person that

committed the crime; it was the security guards.” Nike Salami, 16, half-sister of the late Juliana said Waidi lied as she recounted how Waidi repeatedly kicked her mother, after others had stripped her naked. “They said they would cut off my mother’s head. They told our landlord to give us quit notice, that we were thieves. They sent us out of the area and we went to live at my mother’s village,” said Nike. Mrs. Ajoke Agoma praised Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin for “relentlessly pursuing the case. Okei-Odumakin, who said she had visited the late Juliana’s grave in Benin Republic, added: “We also wanted to prove a point that jungle justice does not pay.” The Director of the OPD, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, who said the case file would be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution, vowed: “We’ll ensure that justice is done in this case.” Mba said the police would work with other security agencies, in the distribution of the pictures of the wanted four, so that people could alert the nearest police wherever they sighted them.

Nollywood Fund: Managers reiterate Friday’s closing date

• L-R, Odugbemi, Oyeyemi, Schott, Overall winner, Kelani, and Juliet Ehimuan-Ohiazor Country Manager, Google Nigeria at the Presentation of the Winners of MTN Afrinolly Short Film Competition in Lagos recently.

Winners emerge in Afrinolly Short Film Award

Stories by Victor Akande

help in pushing the Namibian film industry further, because, I will reinvest the money into film production in my country,” he declared. Although a joyous event for the eventual winners, the judges had a sober moment remembering one of their colleagues, who could not live to see the day. He was Komla Dumor, the Ghanaian journalist, who worked for BBC World News as a main presenter of Focus on Africa, who died on January 18. From the selection of judges, headed by Nigeria’s Femi Odugbemi, it was evi-

dent the award came up with the best in a keenly-contested show. The competition, an online challenge for young Africans to create short and documentary films of 15 minutes, requires participants to upload their works to a dedicated website, where finalists are decided by the jury and votes. The initiative is being partnered by MTN Nigeria, iRepresent International Documentary Film Festival and Goethe Institut. Speaking at the event, General Manager, Consumer

Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, said MTN would always love to develop every area where it operates. “Our core objective for sponsoring Afrinolly is to empower African youths to tell their stories from their perspective and eliminate financial barriers to produce quality movies.” Other judges include Mahen Bonetti, Franklin Leonard, Tunde Kelani, Bongiwe Selane, Steven Markovitz, Akin Omotoso, Obi Emelonye, Nmachi Jidenma and Tambay Obenson.

ILMMAKERS who want a share in the Federal Government’s N3 billion intervention fund may need to hurry, as the Federal Ministry of Finance, as fund managers, have announced that applicants into the Film Production Fund (FPF) component have just this week to submit their requests. The FPF is one of the three segments of the scheme, called Project ACTNollywood, which also includes Capacity Building Fund (CBF) and Innovative Distribution Fund (IDF). A statement from the Project Coordinator, Dr. Supo Olusi, said applications close on Friday, adding that applicants should visit www.projectactnollywood.com.ng for an online request. According to Olusi, 250 applications have been received

from filmmakers, who would win a minimum of N10 million. He noted that the FPF grants are in two categories; “one for up to N10 million – with preference given to films under implementation and the other, which attracts more money, is for special projects that have the potential to position Nigeria on the global stage and raise the bar on innovation, quality and experience in Nigeria’s motion picture industry.” Of the N3 billion, the FPF has a total of N700 million for disbursement, while the N300 million and N2 billion were earmarked for the CBF and IDF components. Project ACT-Nollywood is led by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

• Crew on set of a Nollywood film

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Life

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

Sustaining a cherished legacy – Page 17

Fresh filip for art auctioneers – Page 18

Museum as national unity and cultural integration (11) – Page 48

• Winners of Etisalat literary prizes Bulawayo and Uche

Two women, two prizes – SEE STORY ON PAGE 16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

It was an all-women affair as winners emerged for the maiden edition of Etisalat Literary Prizes. The starstudded award ceremony at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos was a celebration of the arts, culture, womanhood and Africa’s best, reports EVELYN OSAGIE.

Two women, two prizes •Etisalat unveils winners for literary prizes

S in a highly-desired sporty bout with hundreds of athletes, and the race for the best of Africa’s debut book and flash fiction writer began last June. From hundreds of entries, last December, they were screened to nine, and then three in January. Three women – Yewande Omotoso (Bom Boy), Zimbabwean writer NoViolet Bulawayo (We Need New Names), and South African Karen Jennings (Finding Soutbek) – were the top contenders for the Etisalat Prize for Literature. After being picked by the panel of judges, which include Prof Pumla Dineo Gqola of the University of Witwaterstrand, South Africa, (who chairs the panel), Sarah Ladipo Manyika (writer and academic) and Billy Kahora (Managing Editor of Kwani Trust), the three gunned for the £15,000 (about N4.1 million) prize. It also came with an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück and an Etisalat Fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia where the winner would be mentored by Prof Giles Foden, author of the Last King of Scotland. Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Matthew Willsher, said the award was designed to discover, encourage and reward newAfrican talents in fiction writing, adding that it is part of the company’s efforts at promoting the arts and subsequently impacting the Publishing Industryjust it is doing with Nigerian Idol, among others. “We are passionate about African stories touching the whole world,” he said. “Surprise”, “joy”, “excitement “ and “tension” could best described what the writers felt at the time. And from then on, the clock ticked faster than usual until it finally came to a stop last Sunday at the Federal Palace Hotel when the winner was unveiled. “And when I found out that my book was in the initial shortlist, it was a wonderful and amazing feeling. …is my first book and of course, like any young writer hoping to write for the long term, making the finalist is a big deal,” Bulawayo had told The Nation a night before the award ceremony. When asked if she were to emerge winner, Jennings, who was proud and pleased to have made the shortlist, said: “I would probably faint…then I would cry. This is because I put a lot of heart into this book. I wanted to write a book on the poor people and corruption, which is much in South Africa. Too many people are forgotten in South Africa.” Like a suspense-filled drama, the ceremony had its fill of spectacle, humour and tension, which the organisers earnestly tried to douse with the performance by the celebrated music legend, Youssou N’Dour, who performed six songs, including the late Bob Marley’s classic Redemption Song and New Africa. His stretch of performances, which was spiced by a blend of electrifying drumming and the sonorous voice of Nigerian female act, Ruby, some guests said, heighten the tension cum excitement in the air. But they came as a soothing balm for Bulawayo, who said, “When my book was first mentioned as one of the three that made the final shortlist, I gained excitement but today, for some reasons, I was very calm, maybe, because of the music. It was special and helped calm my nerves down.” Her statement reaffirms the psychological effect of listening to music during moments of tension. And when, finally, the judges’ chair, Prof Gqola took the podium to announce the winner, she obviously added to the already mounting tension with her choice of words and pauses. “The winner of this historic…”magnificent… inaugural (silence)… award is…NoViolet!” The statement was followed by a resounding applaud. From Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, whose short story, entitled: Hitty Budapest won the 2011 £10,000 Caine Prize for African Writing, has again added another award to her collection as the maiden winner of the Etisalat Prize for Literature. As winner, she would also have book tours in three African cities; and get the chance to start work on her second book. Her book, We Need New Names, which was also shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, tells the story of ten years old Darling’s journey out of Zimbabwe to America; and how she navigates a fragile and violent world. While the judges praised the finalists for the diversity, both on the level of content and narrative style, show of ingenuity in their works and the elegance use language, they adjudged Bulawayo’s style and language as more “exquisite”. Gqola said: “You can’t but notice that these writers take their craft seriously. We had to justify the reason for picking the book. We worked within the criteria required: character, originality, narrative strength and language. Another interesting thing was that, three of us, love eccentricity. “But what Bulawayo does with language is very exquisite. There were so many layers to the language. It is hard to do a novel that splits into two parts but she did that really well. So much have been written about Zimbabwe and its crisis in the last decade, most of which are political: I love that Noviolet’s book is a clear story about the last decade in Zimbabwe. But it is also a story about a little girl. I love how she was able to fuse really big political, social issues and a very intimate, familiar little girl world.” How does it feel being a winner? “Happy” Bulawayo said: “I am very excited. I mean I have been fortunate to have been recognised for quite a few awards before this. But this is the most significant

•From left: Yewande, prize winner Bulawayo and Jennings

•Prof Omotoso and Aidoo

COMPETITION for me because it is a pan-African prize that is in its first year. “Writers write; prizes come later. I learnt through the process of writing my book that it truly takes a village to write a book. From my great-grand mother to my friends to all the storytellers and the judges, I say thank you; it has been fun.” She advocated for more of such prizes in the continent, saying it would help promote literature. “We are all aware of the shortage

‘NoViolet’s book is technically very accomplished. She does astonishing things with language…very well thought out story that speaks Africanness. I read it before it came out, when it did and after. As my country woman, I am proud of her winning; but above that of how she has written about a history that is very important to me. She is a very accomplished writer’

of literary prizes on the continent even as we, African writers, are consistently producing literature. I think it is very significant and encouraging that we get our own prize to see which would see to the works we produce. I thank Etisalat for this most excellent and necessary prize. Let us follow in the footsteps of Etisalat – bring out those prizes from here on the continent, such as Flash Fiction Prize, Prize for Literature written in our languages. Poetry and Screenplays, etc.” Patron of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, who is also a Zimbabwean, also praised Bulawayo’s use of language. She said: “NoViolet’s book is technically very accomplished. She does astonishing things with language…very well thought out story that speaks Africanness. I read it before it came out, when it did and after. As my country woman, I am proud of her winning; but above that of how she has written about a history that is very important to me. She is a very accomplished writer.” Even though it was not planned, Prof Kole Omotoso, who is also a patron, is father of one of the finalists. He said he was proud of his daughter’s achievement so far. Yewande and Karen did not go home emptyhanded. They were also rewarded with a Samsung Galaxy notebook and tours to two African cities. Omotoso praised Estisalat’s efforts at promoting literature in the continent. “It is not just writers and publishers that the prize has affected, but has, in fact, affected other prize, which has come up to •Continued from page 16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

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After two years of re-engineering, the old Regency Hotel now rebranded as Chesterfield Hotel on Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos got a new lease of life, with its unveiling at the weekend, reports Assistant Editor Arts OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

Sustaining a cherished legacy

ORMER Nigeria’s ambassador to the Netherlands and Executive Director of Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu has commended the new management of Chesterfield Hotels for taking the bold step in rebranding the hotel to meet current trends in the industry. She said turning around the fortune of the hitherto moribund hotel and raising the bar in hospitality business is an indication that there is a great hope for others to grow. “I hope more people will have the same opportunity to prove themselves,” she said. Dr. Awolowo-Dosunmu described the late owner of the hotel, Otunba Jobi Fele as a good man, whom she always looked forward to his wisdom and words of advice. She recalled that the late Jobi Fele believed in a legacy that is sustainable after life and ‘that is evidence in what we are witnessing today.’ While expressing confidence in the management of the hotel, she said the children of the former chairman of Odu’a Investment should keep maintaining the place and ensure standard in its operations. She urged the hotel management to let their services, maintenance and quality of facilities be the selling points in remaining in business. “The maintenance of the facilities will speak for the hotel. It must provide the best service in order to compete in the globe. Nobody should be intimidated by the big chain hotels as hotel such as this should also carve a niche for itself. In fact, maintenance, services and staff attitudes to work can make or mar hotel business, especially staff attitudes. There is always room for improvement,” she added. The hotel Managing Director, Mr Abiola Jobi described the rebranding as part of the sustenance of legacies left behind by his late father, adding that ‘we are in business to give quality services to the people.’ According to him, the transformation of old Regency Hotel to Chesterfield Hotel was done to attract corporate clients, after about 12 years of low operation. Jobi said clients should expect first class service oriented hotel powered by excellent service, quality

Two women, two prizes •Continued from page 17

imitate what Etisalat is doing - talking about the NLNG Prize for Poetry won by a book published by a close friend of mine, Odia Ofeimum. Soon after, Etisalat made request for 1000 copies of the three books on the shortlist, NLNG asked Odia to give them 500 copies of Tade Ipadeola’s book. That is the first time you’d have a prize influencing another”, he said. The announcement of the Etisalat Prize for Literature (Flash fiction category) came with its own excitement. The prize was presented by another patron of the prize, foremost female playwright Ama Ata Aidoo, who is said to be the first African female flash fiction writer, . The lines: “….We understood the unspoken rules of our union. He can talk to other girls. And I can play with other boys…” from Nigerian Uche Okonkwo’s Neverland, winner of the Etisalat Prize for Literature (Flash fiction category) caught the audience attention in a somewhat romantic way. Aidoo said brevity of the genre, which was made popular with the

•From left: Chukwu,Uche and Imasuen.

•Front view of Chesterfield hotel

TOURISM food and facilities. Jobi, who has been in the hotel business since graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, assured that given his tutelage from his late father, the task ahead of him would not be insurmountable. “I am lucky and privileged to have a father like him. He literarily baked me to face the world. He was always preaching the value and essence of advent of the internet, has fascinated writers over the years. The ingenuity of the craft, according to her, “is in the ability of the writer to tell a compelling story in a small space”. This, she said, takes great talent and courage. Along with 19 others, Uche succeeded telling a beautiful story in 300 words. And on seeing Uche, who although is in her 20s could pass for a teenager, approach the podium after being announced as winner, Aidoo screamed with excitement, “Oh, it’s a girl!” Its judge, award-winning author, Eghosa Imasuen praised the quality of Uche’s work, saying:: “The story was confidently told and was neat and clean. It was the layers of meaning in very few words with simplicity coming from the small hints of the title Neverland, which denotes Peter Pan and agelessness. The idea behind the story of archetypal love triangle, which is played so simply, can expanded to every generation, and the simple items causing the argument have so many meanings.” The event also celebrated writers of all generations: from the Nigeria’s D.O Fagunwa and Naguid Mafoud to those written by contemporary writers like Ben Okri and Chimamanda Adichie. Re Olunga Orchestra’s stunning performance formed part of the ritual celebrating writers, which the organisers tagged: The Write of Passage, a tradition that was said to have been originated from the, then, University of Ife, Ile Ife, Osun State.

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

knowledge as the key to facing the world’s challenges. I have always worked in hotel since I graduated from OAU, Ile Ife, he said. Chief Kunle Abdul, a friend of the family and customer said the change of name should reflect in the improved service, which Regency was noted for. “I have gone round and I appreciate the facilities. They are far better than what operates in other big names in the industry. We will continue to patronise the hotel,” he added.

Youths creative writing workshop holds in Warri

SSISTANT Professor of Poetry and Literature at Texas State University, San Marcos, USA, Dr Ogaga Ifowodo, will lead a three-day youth empowerment creative writing workshop for secondary school students selected from 10 schools in Warri and its environs—including his alma mater, Federal Government College, Warri. It will run from on 26 to 28 February. The workshop is supported by the International Institute of Education’s small grants programme in collaboration with the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. It will be declared open by Prof Hope Eghagha, the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education while a representative of Prof Patrick Muoboghare, the state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, will give the closing remarks and present book prizes to participants. Ifowodo will have a roundtable on the third day to discuss problems in, prospects for, and approaches to, the effective teaching of literature at the secondary school level. He will be joined by the fiction writer, journalist and culture advocate, Molara Wood, author of the recently released and brilliant book of short stories, Indigo. Ms Wood, whose story “The Last Bus Stop” is part of the workshop readings, will not only be a guest writer and facilitator, but participate in a Question-andAnswer session with the students. The choice of venue and participants is informed by two major considerations. First, as a deliberate attempt at extending writing workshops beyond Lagos where they always seem to take place— and only for practising or aspiring professional writers at that. Second, as an intervention in a part of the country, the Niger Delta, where massive unemployment and shocking poverty in the midst of the abundant oil and gas wealth expropriated there from tend to lead the youths to serious crimes and other antisocial activities. While a workshop may not match the amnesty programme through which the federal government has tried to palliate the youths of the Niger Delta, the hope is that it will emphasise and help inculcate an important skill for sublimating feelings of anger and frustration into an aesthetically and socially productive form of art. Through the habit of keen observation and deep reflection on their society in order to write about their experiences (personal or imagined), the participants will be encouraged to value the value of self-expression by way of the cultivation of good writing skills, especially as such skills need not be limited to creative writing, but to careers in journalism (print or electronic, including blogging) and in the public relations and technical communication departments of corporations. Above all, emphasis will be laid on the need to master their medium, in this case English. Thus, prizes will not be awarded to the best stories or poems from the workshop but to all the participants and their literature teachers.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

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Fresh filip for art auctioneers At this year’s Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation lecture, Dr. Ozioma Onuzulike of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka examined whether art auctions in the country are ladders of progress or shots in the artist’s foot, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

HE gathering was expected to be stormy. It actually turned out to be. Tempers were raised and revelations made on seemingly classified information. But, despite the divergent views, various speakers shared a common ground-that art auctions must be supported by all stakeholders in the country. The event was the fourth Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation lecture, which attracted scholars, artists, collectors and gallery operators. Venue was Maryland, Lagos home of Prince Yemisi Shyllon. The guest speaker, University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s art teacher, Dr. Ozioma Onuzulike’s goal of provoking healthy debates and productive dialogues was achieved at the end of the lecture. “I am happy that I stirred this debate, which I stated at the beginning, is my objective. Top players in the auction business have revealed trade secrets they were initially hiding. This is very good,” he remarked while urging auction houses to build more transparency round their operations. Indeed, issues such as structure, transparency, forgery, fake artworks, identity and qualification of valuers raised in the paper attracted critical comments from stakeholders. Speaking on Art auctions in Nigeria: Ladders of progress or shots in the artists’ feet? Onuzulike, who gave kudos and knocks on auction houses in the country, said auctions have achieved more than a pass mark as they have awakened the much needed awareness on the investment potentials of art to the Nigerian public. He noted that they have also opened the door for new collectors to come on board for the betterment of the art market. “The effect of the growing art market in Nigeria has also enhanced the respect for art in the country, gradually turning the visual art into a rewarding and prestigious profession in the minds of parents, aspiring artists and the society in general. Beyond the local scene, they have also attracted the attention of the global art market, which has recently turned its gaze to the modern and contemporary art of the country,” he said. He said the young history of art auctions in the country reveals its steady growth and appreciable impact in the visual art sector, locally and internationally noting that the first auction organised by Nimbus Gallery in 1999 was revolutionary in the history of art and its market in Nigeria. “With the record sale of Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Palm Wine Women for N2 million, the auction brought art to the front pages of the newspapers. A total of N22 million was realised at the auction, a sum that was very significant in the Nigerian economic context at that time and brought art to the front pages of newspapers,” he said. He observed that the late Prof Ben Enwonwu’s works are the highest priced in the art auctions. He noted that at the Arthouse auctions, Enwonwu’s works have sold highest for four times, and twice at the Terra Kulture/Mydrim auctions. “For example, at the November 2011 auction, his 1956 bronze sculpture Anyanwu sold for N30.8 Million and at the May 2011 Terra Kulture Gallery auction his Untitled ink on paper piece was sold for N13.5 Million. Data available in the auction catalogues show that Enwonwu’s works have been featured in all the 11 Arthouse auctions and twice in six collaborative auctions by Terra Kulture. His works have sold above the N2 million mark 26 times in the Arthouse auctions,” he added. He, however, noted that In April 2010, November 2012 and May 2013, El Anatsui works sold highest. To him, art auctions have given artworks more value, particularly those of younger generation of artists whose works have done well in the auctions such as Rom Isichei; Abiodun Olaku; Fidelis Odogwu; Diseye Tantua; Chidi Kwubiri (Germany); Duke Asidere; Ben Osaghae; Sam Ovraiti and Nnenna Okore (USA). “Indeed, the younger generation of contemporary Nigerian artists have been favoured by the latest improvement in the price of works at the auctions. An examination of the results available at the Arthouse website shows that a number of them have moved up to the N2 Million mark and beyond,” he said. According to him, Nigerian art auctions have made salient impacts in other ways, including the provision of regular exhibition platforms and better professional visibility for the works of both old masters and emerging artists. He noted that before series of auctions came underway, artists had complained of the exorbitant fees charged by galleries to show their works in their spaces. “With the proliferation

Onuzulike

•Shyllon

of auctions, many artists now enjoy free exhibition platforms and even higher returns above and over gallery exhibitions. Those who still find the need to work with galleries have gained more confidence in themselves. “It has been suggested that their auction results, or those of their peers, are bound to embolden them to ask for an upward review of their deals with the gallery owners and art dealers, although Nnenna Okore thinks that, ‘with the Nigerian economy in mind’, the prospects of the artists’ success in making galleries ‘rethink and give more value to work… is still a steep expectation. Through the auctions, many artists are happy to reap from their studio toils. “A number of them are of the opinion that the auction prices have helped to put official bench marks on their works. They are also happy that the auction catalogues have provided the much needed reference materials documenting or ‘gazetting’ the value of their works. In other words, the catalogues have become formidable market tools for them and those who represent them, having become veritable endorsements on their practice,” he added. Onuzulike observed that with the absence of a viable art historical and critical publishing, auction catalogues, in spite of their lack of careful documentation, have also doubtlessly provided invaluable records of modern and contemporary Nigerian works of art. He said its numerous images of artists’ works are of standard print quality and are of important archival value. Continuing, he said: “Nigerian auctions have also provided alternative exhibition models. Before now, there had been heated debates on the politics of representation in terms of how ‘home-based players’ are ‘benched’ by our ‘coaches’ or ‘technical advisers’ in preference to the ‘professionals’ or the Diaspora ‘players’...There has been a consistent yearning in Nigeria for the promotion of works which ‘truly’ reflect what is on ground in the country, not presentations of false pictures of the state of Nigeria’s contemporary art to Western audiences. It would then appear that the auctions are now coming to the ‘rescue’ by presenting ‘the way we are’ to both local and global audiences.” However, the guest speaker queried the pedigree of valuers or art appraisers who work for the Nigerian auction

houses, wondering if the valuations are transparent and credible. He also noted that concerns are raised over favouritism for certain artists ‘well connected’ to powerful collectors. who are influential players within the auction circles, and perhaps strong valuers for some auction houses. The question of lack of rarity in much of the works being put on auction was also raised by the speaker, who noted that many emerging artists have become too regular at the auctions, almost turning the auction arena into a primary market. On the issue of structure of art auctions in terms of the professional or unprofessional inputs that have shaped art auctioneering, and the implications of such to the future development of Nigerian art in a competitive global space, he said auction houses do not devote time and resources to scouting for rare works by living artists who are still in active production and, especially, those by emerging talents. “The artists’ rare pieces can be more easily discerned through a deep knowledge of their entire body of works, a knowledge that comes from field researches as against invitational consignment of works at the door steps of the auction houses. This is especially the case where many of the works have neither ‘lived’ long enough to pass through the scrutiny of art criticism nor been weighed in the balance of art history, so as to find their level in the stream of modern and contemporary Nigerian art development,” he said. He also noted that the identities of those who select works for auctions are a closely guarded secret. This, he said, raised question on the lack of confidence on the part of the auction houses on the professional specialisation and pedigree, as well as interests, of those who decide the fate of artists there. He observed that the identities of the valuers who work with or for the auction houses are also not published but ‘shielded from public knowledge. This lack of transparency falls short of standard practice.’ He, therefore, described operators of art auction houses as gamblers. Founder of OYASAF Prince Yemisi Shyllon said art auction is new in the country as such its operators should be commended for their efforts. “Criticisms to help us for the future, not to shoot us in the feet are what we need now,” he said. Dr Demola Azeez of Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos noted that undue focus is the production aspect of art at the expense of its overall growth. He said other aspects of the art such as documentation and criticism should be taken serious just as e production. In his reaction, Krydz Ikwuemesi of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka argued that there are enough art historians who are not doing field works. “No university is offering art criticism in the country. Also, there is no synergy between critics, writers and artists in studio,” he noted. Founder, Art House Contemporary, Lagos, Mrs Kavita Chellarams said forgery is not peculiar to Nigerian art scene adding that Sotheby’s and Christie in UK still contend with cases of forgery in spite of their hi-tech. In the same vein, Proprietor of Treasure House Gallery, Mr. Sehinde Odimayo said all stakeholders should encourage the operators of auction houses in achieving better results. “Rome was not built in a day. Sotheby’s and Christies in the UK started as mere art dealers. Here in the country, there are no infrastructures, and it will take time to build them. We must gradually build and carefully the needed structures. In fact, where there are no specialists, operators must improvise and within their resources. We must be patient. What we should look for are opportunities to involve passionate people,” he said.

‘The effect of the growing art market in Nigeria has also enhanced the respect for art in the country, gradually turning the visual art into a rewarding and prestigious profession in the minds of parents, aspiring artists and the society in general. Beyond the local scene, they have also attracted the attention of the global art market, which has recently turned its gaze to the modern and contemporary art of the country’

•

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014

COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Don’t mob gays

•Gays should be punished, but not outside the court of law

HE issue of giving legal sanction to same sex marriages has in recent times shown the divergent cultural values and orientations between African and western societies. Several western countries, including the United States, Britain and France, among others, have legitimised same sex marriage. However, most African countries have refused to sanction the practice. The latter have stoutly rebuffed pressure from some western countries to grant so-called gay rights, which they see as a feature of a truly democratic society. For most African societies, same sex marriage is unnatural, abnormal, perverse and immoral. It is an abuse of freedom that is harmful to the health of society. Nigeria is one country that has taken decisive action to curtail gay rights and promulgated a law that makes same sex marriage criminal and illegal. The Same Sex Marriage (prohibition) Act was in January signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan. The law imposes a 14 -year jail sentence for engaging in gay marriage. It makes it a crime for anyone, straight or homosexual, to hold a meeting of gays or to advocate human rights for gays. Those who are convicted for engaging in these acts can be jailed for up to 10 years. The anti-same sex marriage law reflects the will of the vast majority of the Nigerian people and their communal values. Law cannot be divorced from the cultural mores of a people. No country has a right

to impose its own values on others. The freedom guaranteed by democracy must not be allowed to degenerate to license just anything so that society does not descend to anarchy. The west has the right to believe that gay rights are an expression of democratic values and human rights. But it must also respect the right of other societies to hold a different view. However, the Same Sex (prohibition) Act must not be allowed to become an excuse for the perpetration of impunity and lawlessness. This was what, regrettably, happened when a mob of about 40 people reportedly invaded a shanty town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, penultimate Thursday, with the purported aim of ‘cleansing’ the neighbourhood of gay people. Armed with wooden clubs and iron bars, the mob was said to have dragged 14 young men from their beds and brutally assaulted them. The purported gays were threatened with death if they came back to the community. Houses were said to have been painted with graffiti declaring “homosexuals pack and leave”. Even more shockingly, four of the victims who were marched to a police station received no protection from those who were supposed to uphold the law. According to Ifeanyi Orazulike of the International Centre on Advocacy for the Right to Health, they were kicked and punched by police officers who hurled abuses at them. Luckily, the men were ordered to be released by a senior police

officer because there was no evidence that they were gay since they were not caught having sex. Even then, the injured men had to be treated at the organisation’s clinic. It is thus not surprising that the United States Embassy, reacting to the incident, reiterated its concern that the anti-same sex law “might be used by some to justify violence against Nigerians based on their sexual orientation”. This kind of impunity and mob action is indefensible. Any law must be enforced in accordance with due process. Those suspected of violating the anti-same sex law must be prosecuted in court, not persecuted by a mindless mob. They remain innocent until proven guilty.

‘Armed with wooden clubs and iron bars, the mob was said to have dragged 14 young men from their beds and brutally assaulted them. The purported gays were threatened with death if they came back to the community. Houses were said to have been painted with graffiti declaring “homosexuals pack and leave’

Something to cheer

• As Nigerian-British Ejiofor wins prestigious film award

N February 16, Nigeria co-shared with Britain a starring role in global limelight as a Nigerian-British son, Chiwetel Ejiofor, was pronounced the best actor for 2013 in Britain. It was at the British Academy Film and Television Award, (BAFTA) held at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Ejiofor’s starring role in the riveting drama, 12 Years a slave, earned him the prestigious BAFTA prize over such world renowned and talented actors as Leonardo Dicaprio and Matthew McConaughey. It is indeed something to cheer for a country like Nigeria which the world has come to associate with odious headlines about scams and down-the-ladder positions in global human development indices. But the BAFTA comes particularly now, as a significant testimony to what might have been had

‘Chiwetel Ejiofor’s moment in the sun is as well Nigeria’s moment. It is our little victory, our reminder that even in our current political and socio-economic morass, there is a torch somewhere we can hold to the world. We salute Ejiofor and his clan for helping us to hold up that light in spite of ourselves’

the country been able to harness her potentials. Ejiofor was born in 1977 in Forest Gate, London, England, to Nigerian parents. He attended Dulwich College in South East London and later the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. By age 13, his talent as a thespian was already noticeable as he was appearing in numerous school and national youth theatre productions. What may be his big break came in 1997 when ace producer, Steven Spielberg, cast him in Amistad alongside great actors like Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins. Though BAFTA is his biggest haul so far, he is noted and highly regarded for his versatility in film, theatre and television productions and he has won numerous awards in the three genres in over 15 years of practice, with more than three dozen works. Some of his notable stage productions include title roles in Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night, or What You will. In 2008 he got five Golden Globe Award nominations and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for Othello. Same year, he was presented with an Order of the British Empire (OBE), by Queen Elizabeth 11 for services to the arts. Focused and hard-working, Ejiofor has just played a lead role in Half of a Yellow Moon, an adaptation of Chimamanda Adichie’s Nigeria civil war novel and he currently works on Z for Zachariah, a postapocalyptic drama. Receiving his biggest

award, Ejiofor enthused about his producer Steve McQueen: “I am so deeply honoured and privileged. Thank you for your work, your artistry and your passion in this project … to make it of such value and worth. This is yours by the way – I’m going to keep it… but it is yours.” This Nigerian honour, though a bit far removed, and Ejiofor’s evocation about artistry, worth, value and passion in a project are ingredients we want to commend to the Nigerian movie and entertainment industry. His story is a proof that even talent is brewed in the cauldron of proper education, patience, tenacity of purpose, focus and hard work. Ejiofor’s Nigerian counterpart in Nollywood must learn that their one-act wonder and flesh-bearing celebrity syndrome are ephemeral and of no lasting value. This explains why 20 years after, Nollywood is still in the woods, inundated with slap-dash productions. Nigerian practitioners of the makebelieve must imbibe the culture of quality technical productions, artistic scripting, well-researched and deep thematic narratives. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s moment in the sun is as well Nigeria’s moment. It is our little victory, our reminder that even in our current political and socio-economic morass, there is a torch somewhere we can hold to the world. We salute Ejiofor and his clan for helping us to hold up that light in spite of ourselves.

What the stimulus accomplished

F all the myths and falsehoods that Republicans have spread about President Obama, the most pernicious and long-lasting is that the $832 billion stimulus package did not work. Since 2009, Republican lawmakers have inextricably linked the words “failed” and “stimulus,” and last week, five years after passage of the Recovery Act, they dusted off their old playbook again. “The ‘stimulus’ has turned out to be a classic case of big promises and big spending with little results,” wrote Speaker John Boehner. “Five years and hundreds of billions of dollars later, millions of families are still asking, ‘where are the jobs?’ “ The stimulus could have done more good had it been bigger and more carefully constructed. But put simply, it prevented a second recession that could have turned into a depression. It created or saved an average of 1.6 million jobs a year for four years. (There are the jobs, Mr. Boehner.) It raised the nation’s economic output by 2 to 3 percent from 2009 to 2011. It prevented a significant increase in poverty — without it, 5.3 million additional people would have become poor in 2010. And yet Republicans were successful in discrediting the very idea that federal spending can boost the economy and raise employment. They made the argument that the stimulus was a failure not just to ensure that Mr. Obama would get no credit for the recovery that did occur, but to justify their obstruction of all further attempts at stimulus. So the American Jobs Act was killed, and so was the infrastructure bank and any number of other spending proposals that might have helped the country. The president’s plan to spend another $56 billion on job training, education and energy efficiency, to be unveiled in his budget next month, will almost certainly suffer a similar fate. This may be the singular tragedy of the Obama administration. Five years later, it is clear to all fairminded economists that the stimulus did work, and that it did enormous good for the economy and for tens of millions of people. But because it fell short of its goals, and was roundly ridiculed by Republicans and inadequately defended by Democrats, who should have trumpeted its success, the president’s stimulus plan is now widely considered a stumble. This enabled Republicans to champion an austerity policy that produced deep reductions in discretionary spending, undoing many of the gains begun in 2009. The result has been a post-stimulus recovery that remains weak and struggling, undermining an economic legacy that should be seen as a remarkable accomplishment. The legacy of that policy, detailed by the White House last week in its final report on the effects of the stimulus, affects virtually every American who drives, uses mass transit, or drinks water. It improved 42,000 miles of road, fixed or replaced 2,700 bridges, and bought more than 12,000 transit vehicles. It cleaned up water supplies, created the school reforms of the Race to the Top program, and greatly expanded the use of renewable energy and broadband Internet service. It’s probably too late for the White House to persuade skeptics about its program, but its assessment echoes the views of many independent economists and the independent Congressional Budget Office. “The Recovery Act was not a failed program,” the C.B.O.’s director, Douglas Elmendorf, told annoyed Republican lawmakers in 2012. “Our position is that it created higher output and employment than would have occurred without it.” Government spending worked, helping millions of people who never realized it. And it can work again, whenever lawmakers agree that putting people to work is more important than winning ideological fights. – New York Times,

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Preparatory to the 2015 general elections, political permutations have thrown up an unprecedented trend of defections from one political party to the other. Thirty-seven members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives were the first to cross-carpet to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while eleven other PDP senators are angling to switch to APC. Some members of APC have also defected to Labour Party and PDP respectively. This defection blues presently rocking the political space is not new in Nigerian politics, but it has kept tongues wagging. The motives behind defection vary from one person to another. In fact, I can say without any fear of contradiction that most defections these days were borne out of ulterior motives and self-serving agenda of the de-

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

What’s the motive of defecting politicians? fectors. Defection opens a floodgate of exodus of party members who rightly or wrongly felt aggrieved, short-changed or disenchanted with the way their party was being run, especially in the Second Republic. Politicians who know their onions translate their movement to other parties into victory and success, while others who fail are doomed politically and consigned to the dust bin of history. What is the mind of the Constitu-

tion and the Electoral laws on defection as it continues to dominate public discourse and raise so much legal and political dust? What impact will this development create in our democracy? The law made it clear that a candidate who is elected on a platform of a given party and defects to another ceases to be a member of that political party. It is, therefore, at the discretion of a jettisoned party to either declare his seat vacant or not. The PDP and APC adjudged to be the strongest today

are mostly immersed in this defection fever with the PDP threatening to declare the seats of the defectors from the party vacant. The laws of the land should be applied across boards on all defecting elected politicians in accordance with the constitution and the electoral laws. The court should also prove that sentiments have no place in law. If this happens now and justifiably too, a precedent will be established and the issue of defection will be laid to eternal rest.

House of Representatives, he would and must have the means of payment. The war on corruption cannot be fought on the pages of newspapers but much on practical approaches to issues and not the personality involved, and more importantly is the record time at which this case was pursued. Then, one begins to wonder why the trial of former governors like Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Mohammed

Abdullahi (Nassarawa), Abubakar Audu (Kogi), etc has remained in a cul-de-sac. If, as EFCC would claim, the former governors are scuttling their trial by employing frivolous applications, is this endless? Or has EFCC lost the steam and/idea to pursue these cases? EFCC should rise to the challenge by doing its homework before rushing someone to the court. This will guard against wasting tax payers’ resources. They should not

act on the spur of the moment or on rumours. Instead, they should ensure rock-solid evidence that can secure a conviction before arraigning someone in court, and most importantly, not a media war. EFCC should be alive to its responsibilities, and not following the crowd.

side all relevant documents to the House Committee on Human Rights and the Zonal South West Office of the NHRC via DHL Express. The sworn affidavit was accompanied with a cover letter in each case, explaining my complaints and prayers. I equally provided my email for official acknowledgement of the receipt of the petition. The mails were appropriately delivered and acknowledged verbally. Similarly, I sent a text message and also called Mr. Ado Sule who confirmed verbally that the mail was received. I appealed to him that I would appreciate if the receipt of the mail is officially acknowledged.

The official acknowledgement of a public petition makes it clear to the petitioner that the presented case would be looked into. Similarly, the petitioner should be provided with information on progress being made on the petition. We must begin to show our citizens that they are duly respected and counted worthy by agencies established to protect their rights. This is the only way other nationals will begin to respect us and the culture of impunity will gradually become a thing of the past in our polity. I have lived in the United States of America for a few years and my rights were never violated even as

Bankole’s vindication, challenge to EFCC

IR: The recent discharge and acquittal of Honourable Dimeji Bankole, erstwhile Speaker of House of Representatives, calls to question the efficacy or otherwise of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). In 2011, the commission made a big issue of Bankole’s arrest, creating a mole hill out of nothing by deploying virtually all police personnel available in Abuja to arrest just a single soul. When he was arraigned in court, the road leading to the court and its main entrance were barricaded by fierce-looking riot policemen and other security forces, as if Abuja was under emergency rule. The gun-wielding policemen and other security personnel were everywhere within the court complex. Most Nigerians condemned this show of force to arrest just a single person, as if he is a common felon. But EFCC’s “meticulousness” during Bankole’s arrest vanished in the two courts where he was docked. That a man could win in two different courts speaks volume of the inability of EFCC to prosecute cases, but rather engage in media war. While Bankole’s trial lasted, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said he saw nothing wrong if Bankole borrowed to run the

• Badejo Adedeji Nurudeen Surulere, Lagos State.

It should be noted that the provision for declaring the seat of a defected member of the legislature or executive vacant was to discourage political nomadism. Elected representatives defy the law and defect because the 2010 Electoral Law as amended is not applied accordingly. The mass media which should hit the nail on the head has been shy or rather pretentious on this matter. Instead of providing information, education and direction to the most appropriate perspectives on the issue, the fourth estate of the realm decided to throw the issue to the public domain for judgment. So many phone-in programmes and vox pop have been carried out without any of such efforts pin-pointing the exact application of the law. They rather left people more confused than they were before the issue came up. The Nigerian Bar Association is equally standing aloof on this matter. In this case, those who should be the drivers of the decision-making process and opinion-moulding have turned out to be pretentious onlookers. An analyst once said that for the fact that one has converted to either Christianity or Islam does not make him or her righteous or guarantee him heaven at last. The character and attitude of the defectors, if not changed, will make no difference in their sojourn in their new parties. • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze (sunnyeze02@yahoo.com)

Help, my rights are being violated

IR: May I use your widelyread medium to appeal to the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Human Rights and the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to officially acknowledge the receipt of the petition I mailed separately to them. When I called the House Committee Secretary, Mr. Ado Abdul Sule (08065276836), earlier to inquire about the processes involved in submitting public petitions to the committee, he asked me to mail the petition to the NHRC and I promptly did. I duly mailed the petition along-

an international student. However, right in my homeland, my fundamental human rights were not only trampled upon but grossly violated and sustained with an orchestrated blackmail. The observed anomalies have continued without being resolved. This is the basis for appealing to the House committee and the NHRC to come to my aid and help protect my rights as a Nigerian citizen. Once again, I urge both bodies to officially acknowledge the receipt of my petition and act appropriately by investigating my complaints. •Akinlolu, Abdulazeez Adelaja University of Ilorin

THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014

COMMENTS

NESG: N102b in TETFUND/UBEC; Sanusi and ‘kerocalamity’; Whistleblowers;

S the Nigerian Economic Summit Group focuses yet another spotlight on Education, sadly, while some children have no desks, chairs, books and lab equipTony ment, there is N69 billion Marinho in TETFUND and N33b in UBEC, totalling N102billion, un-accessed by potential beneficiary institutions. Is this an administrative, political will, red tape or corruption problem? NESG 2014 should insist that this be solved and some institution and state ministry of education officials should be investigated and perhaps removed for incompetence. Whistleblowing is dangerous to your employment health. But we, the honest, must improve efforts to clean up the growing cesspool. Remember the fertiliser, NITEL answering machine, NEPA guesstimeter, multiple pension, petrol, bunkering and kerosene scams, the funding of political parties from government coffers, and the questionable census figures from the 1956s? -All corruption. And now shamefully and perhaps illegally governments punish us for government failures by billing citizens to assess emissions from very expensive private generators bought for business survival and to replace government power failures. Is this not double punishment over-charging, illegality and government corruption? This must be challenged in court. In this cesspool, Nigeria needs many whistleblowers, websites, exhibitions and Museums. The exit of CBN GovernorSanusi, who is no saint, appears a vindictive step to shut him up, so close to the end of his term. Was it an attempt to prevent him using CB documents as backup when talking to NASS on the N10b kerosene scam? Sadly there are always others immediately available to take the place of fallen stars. We are all animals and the human is a very nasty animal. While one expects government agencies to cooperate we do not expect them to cooperate in corruption. No doubt he will ‘resurrect’ as the Emir of Kano and future Presidents will pay homage. Yes, he was excessively flamboyant and loud for a CB Governor. That asset will prob-

HAT Borno State is the founding home of the Boko Haram insurgency is no longer news. Muhammed Yusuf, the founder of the sect, was eliminated by unscrupulous security agents in very controversial circumstances after he was captured during a riot in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in 2009. In that mayhem, many people, including scores of security agents, were either killed or maimed. The security agents responded by mowing down whomever they suspected to be a Boko Haram member. It was during this melee that Buji Fai, a two-time Chairman of Kaga Local Government of Borno State and former Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Water Resources, was killed. He was captured alive in his farm along Bui – Danboa Road, but was later reported dead in very questionable circumstances. After he was arrested, the former commissioner demanded to meet Ali Modu Sherif, the then state governor. He was taken to the Government House half-naked in handcuffs. Unfortunately for him, Sherif was said to be out of office by the time they got there. The late Buji Fai was later taken to the police headquarters where he was reportedly killed. Mohammed Fugu, a Maiduguribased businessman, also suffered a similar fate. He was reportedly killed by the police at the police headquarters in Maiduguri after he gave himself up. The government of Sherif displayed nonchalance to the killings when its officials later stormed Railway Quarters with bulldozers and demolished Yusuf’s house as well as Fugu’s compound. Dissatisfied with the development, Yusuf’s family went to court, accusing the police of extrajudicial killing of their patriarch. The court gave its judg-

ably help him on speaking tours worldwide with the Wikileaks and the US security whistleblowers. He should be joined by Odumegwu whose successor at the Census Commission was warned against commenting on past rubbished Census figures which favour the North. It seems the politicians are the only ones who do not know that the census figures are a corrupt, malicious, malignant mathematical creation. Ostriches! Some people, and government insider Mafiosi or cabals, do not want the truth because it will question Nigeria’s foundation for unity. I disagreed with Sanusi’s policies like high base lending rate, the N5000 note, high interest rates, undisclosed bank bonuses and policy not to appreciate the naira to pre-Abacha levels $1:N88. His giving of billions in funds to ‘needy’ causes is not within the remit of CBN. The CBN’s job is to keep and improve the value of, and not spend, our money and to handle, hold and manage and invest our money wisely. He did not even pay CBN pensioners without a costly fight to the Supreme Court. However, Sanusi’s exposure of the ‘kerocalamity’ is redemptive and worthy of national honours. We need a WHISTLEBLOWERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, WAN, and a website. We should all get whistles and on a particular ‘WAN’ day, blow them at officials committing crimes. We should call carry ‘WHISTLEBLOWER WHISTLES’ and blow them whenever we see a checkpoint, or other crime being perpetrated. There is corruption everywhere, from petrol station pump supervision, to hospital admissions, to exam success, to police stations, to the electricity we generate and the water we drink or the air we are allowed to inhale. There is real war by the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen with many deaths and injuries and homeless. Nigeria must stand firm for Nigeria to survive. We must stop corruption at every level. Nigeria must fight but can it fight two battles on two separate fronts- corruption and the Boko Haram. Around the world, Venezuela, Ukraine, Thailand, we see the suffering and struggle for political purification. Bad politicians of every party must be forced out. Nigeria’s goose laying golden eggs days may be over. As our gallant soldiers defend Nigeria with their blood, from the internal and external war of Boko Harem, we must clean up the rest of the country. We must clean up the polity, which must not be allowed to fund itself

from the treasury. We must clean up the civil service, stopping bribe-taking before every service is given or even appointing consultants as middlemen. We must clean up the bar and the judiciary. We must clean up our homes, offices and communities. Are you corrupt? Stop today before you kill Nigeria. One addition, can we not call on political parties not to fund, equip, use or be seen with thugs, other people’s children, for political war? Demand a ‘thug ban’? Let us have poster and advert wars but no physical violence. Sponsoring violent bodies or having them in one’s entourage should lead to expulsion from the party. The Ejigbo extortion and murder of women and girls is an opportunity to stop irregular behaviour by irregular ethnic or political militia/armies and police. To force them into visibility and responsibility there should be compulsory 1] Registration of members, 2] Name tags, large size, 3] Duty Rosters, 4] Mug shots, 5] Closer Supervision, 6] Prosecution and Punishment for breaches of the code and 7] Accessible Membership Lists. What manner of man would murder, beat and treat women this way unless he is in a criminal organisation? Go on ‘Blow a whistle!’.

‘We must stop corruption at every level. Nigeria must fight but can it fight two battles on two separate fronts- corruption and the Boko Haram. Around the world, Venezuela, Ukraine, Thailand, we see the suffering and struggle for political purification. Bad politicians of every party must be forced out. Nigeria’s goose laying golden eggs days may be over. As our gallant soldiers defend Nigeria with their blood, from the internal and external war of Boko Harem, we must clean up the rest of the country’

Rescuing Borno State ment asking the Police to pay the sum of N100 million to the family, but the police appealed the verdict. By this time, anger had inflamed passion as the sect members were poised for war. That was how the whole Boko Haram insurgency started as a war between the sect members and security agents on one hand and the sect and government on the other hand. Though shortly after Sherif left as governor, the new helmsman, Kashim Shettima, paid the N100 million to Yusuf’s family, the sect members could not be placated as many contending interests had been introduced into the entire imbroglio. Remember that at the inception of the crisis, it was alleged that Boko Haram was a militant wing of the Borno political class under Sherrif. It was under his watch as governor that the sect blossomed. This, probably, accounted for the reason why Fai demanded to see the governor face to face on the day he was arrested on his farm before his life was abruptly terminated. That liquidation was probably to forestall what would have led to a great confession. Perhaps, that confession that never was, could have helped Borno government and indeed the federal government to bring the temerity of the sect members to an early halt. However, rather than abating, the activities of the insurgents have, in the last few months, escalated, particularly in Maiduguri, its traditional founding place, in spite of subsisting State of Emergency now in its ninth month. Since the beginning of this month, the sect appeared to be having a field day in their operations despite the presence of military Task Force in

‘Turenchi apart, the military really needs to demonstrate that it is an effective fighting force that can be relied upon by rooting the rag-tag Boko Haram terrorists from our soil without further prevarication’

the state. Their ceaseless attacks have led to the untimely death of more than 300 people in this month alone. Last week, a terrified Kashim Shettima, the Governor of the state, shuttled back and forth to the State House, Abuja ostensibly to brief President Goodluck Jonathan on the killings. While addressing reporters shortly after, Shettima made it clear that Nigeria is “in a state of war”. He also said the fight against Boko Haram was far from being won, as the insurgents seem to be more motivated than the Nigerian military. He warned that the faster Nigerian leaders braced up to the challenge, the better for the country. But a few hours after Shettima’s outburst, Doyin Okupe, an aide of the President on public affairs, in his usual boisterous manner, countered that the military was better equipped and motivated to fight Boko Haram militants. My take is that Shettima is the man who wears the shoe and so should know better where it pinches. At any rate, uncertainty now pervades most of the North-east each day, over fear of possible attack by the sect. The question being asked by many today is: for what use have the huge budgetary provisions made for the armed forces in the fight against the insurgents been put into? This is germane following the seemingly failure of the security agents to tackle the insurgency headlong since all these months that emergency had been in place. Rightly or wrongly, some people have attributed this lacklustre performance by the security forces to high level of corruption in the management of funds budgeted to fight the menace. Aside from the issue of up-to-date military hardware, it is believed that the absence of an operational air wing of the Army may have constituted a clog in the wheels of progress in the execution of operations in the affected areas. The fact remains that the Army pilots

trained for such operations have largely been idle since they were not being utilised because of the absence of Army Aviation in the country. This has made the Nigerian Army to rely solely on the Air Force for air support in their operations. This, no doubt, may have greatly hampered the operational efficiency of the army in its ongoing combat operations against the insurgents as the Air Force was said to be more or less reluctant to take orders from the Army because of the inter-service rivalry. An air wing would make it possible for the Army to plan its operations and execute them speedily without relying solely on the Air Force for such support. There have been instances in the past where soldiers had been endangered when an expected air support was called off at the last minute after troops had advanced into the battlefield, at the Sambisa Forest. This abrupt tinkering with operational plans has often given the insurgents the upper hand as security forces have been easily routed for lack of the desired support. The casualty figures from these operational misdemeanors have been tremendous. Besides, the thinking is that there is a sort of political undertone in the insurgency attacks which have recently escalated in line with the body language of Mr. President which suggests that he will soon declare for a second term in office. The attack may be aimed at portraying the President as anemic and incapable of protecting the people in the far North. And the sponsors of the insurgency are believed to be some political gladiators in that part of the country. The government needs to unmask them in order to cut-off the oxygen supply to the insurgents. With the way things stand now, the onus is on the Nigerian military to gird its loins and effectively confront the menace of Boko

Dele Agekameh Haram, particularly in Borno State, which appears to be its only remaining theatre of war, and its environs. Chris Olukolade, a MajorGeneral and Director, Defence Information, has assured the nation that the military is capable of winning the war against the insurgents. Turenchi apart, the military really needs to demonstrate that it is an effective fighting force that can be relied upon by rooting the rag-tag Boko Haram terrorists from our soil without further prevarication. The insurgents may have taken sanctuary in the hills of Cameroun, from where they attack isolated villages every now and then. But, mind you, Cameroun could be quite reluctant to cooperate with Nigeria in the prosecution of this anti-terrorists’ campaign. That has been the nature of the francophone countries in Africa, especially in the West-African sub-region. If that is the case, we should not hesitate to close all our borders with Cameroun as was done in the past. It is only through this, that we can bring its government to see reason and co-opt it into this must-win war. This is a war that must be won at all costs even if it means declaring a full-blown emergency on Borno State.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014

COMMENTS ‘The President has finally legalised corruption in the country by removing transparency and replacing it with lies. It is very unfortunate that lies and deceit have overpowered the truth in the country we all call our fatherland. The earlier all of us stood up to challenge Sanusi’s suspension, the better. Anonymous’

•Jonathan For Dare Olatunji In Nigeria of today, awards are given to the most criminal to appriciate his or her criminality in the country. Very soon our leaders will be thinking on how to give awards to terrorists for terrorising people. Our money is being wasted on daily basis in the name of award giving. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos The criteria used as widely advertised were Sustainability, Empowerment, Impact, Change agent, Corporate brand (SEICC) in line with the UN development outlines for MDGs. Thank you. From MVGWA Team Re: ‘Annals of awards and coronations.’ The award of MVGF won by Abia State Governor’s wife among other wives further revealed the joblessness of these state first ladies! What have they done and what impact did they make on citizens’ welfare, none. This to me was part of joblessness by them further impoverishing many others. Corruption unlimited! Awards without efforts! Awards without credentials and awards without requirements. One day, all these fantasies shall come to a close. Awards, my foot! From Lanre Oseni Some of these awards are monetary-orientedagenda organised to get money from the awardees. Award is no longer on merit but what belly will eat. From Gordon Nnorom Dare, when leadership is aimless and visionless, what it offers are myriads of senseless programmes and corruption aiding devices. The issue of First Lady started with the military and in spite of its continuity, constitutional reviews over time even by the military which initiated it, First Lady office has been refused constitutional right. Where, in the world, does such a permissive fraudulent platform exist except in Nigeria? It is nauseating that the election of a leader confers automatically the “first lady office” on his wife? What an insult on the Constitution and an abuse on the freedom of electoral right of Nigerians! Don’t be surprised if in future a governor’s wife initiates an award for the “best governor’s child”. Something urgent has to be done on this nauseating “first lady office”; an unconstitutional political creation, now. Nigerians’ mandate is to the elected person only. From Lai Ashadele But Tunji, how will there be a quarrel among our First Ladies when more awards are going to be invented? No prize to you for guessing who and who have been selected for the following,

HE great body of critical discourse on the politics of the era seems to have little good to say about those in government, the politicians and their parties. Thus, when years ago, a military ruler sought to change the face of the country’s transition chain by decreeing a five-party structure into existence, the arrangement was rubbished by a political leader of thought who called it “the five fingers of a leprous hand.” Who would want to be part of a terminally diseased system? So, it didn’t last. Earlier, another military creation- a two-party affair that held much promise at the beginning- collapsed because of the chicanery of the evil genius behind it. Successor governmentsmilitary and civilian- have borne the scars of the woeful failures of those which came before them. The reason they posted lack-lustre performance wasn’t difficult to locate: they did not have lofty ideas, revolutionary concepts of governance that marked them out as serious custodians of the mandate to rule. It is claimed that ideas rule the world. But they did not seem to believe this axiom and so they stormed the scene largely without a plan. In a word, they were unprepared for the high office they occupied. He, who fails to plan, plans to fail! And how abysmally our politicians might descend again as governorship polls hold in two south west states in few months while general elections come up nation-wide in 2015, if they refuse to learn from the past; if they refuse to

soon to be announced: Most Winsome First Lady, Best Dressed, Most Valuable Cook, Most Inventive Hair Stylist, Best Nollywood Fan, the Omoge Faaji, Most Valuable Prayer Warrior, etc. Watch out for the announcement. But I assure you there will be enough to go round. And enough funds from the governors office to celebrate them. Cheers! From Femi Osofisan It is a master piece indeed. However, I pity our generation that has refused to make sacrifices and rescue this country from the deep “mess” it has been thrown into by our “supposed” leaders. Please help me organise an award for the Best Driver. Did you say no money would be gotten from organising it? Poor attitude to issues has been woes. Arise O! Compatriots indeed! From Amadi Nicholas U., Imo State Polytechnic, UmuagwoOhaji. For Gbenga Omotoso Gbenga, these are funny up-to-date Nigerian stories well packaged for the Nigerian readers. I cannot stop laughing. Political madness I must say, nice work! From Eniola A. Mr. Gbenga, please note that the village where Boko Haram killed over 146 people is Izghe village in Gwoza Local Government not Konduga you referred to in your master piece tagged “Interesting times”. From Ismail More power to your elbow. I like your writeups on the happenings in Rivers State. Anonymous Good analysis, Gbenga. I love that. Wish you the best. From Sammy, Lagos Mr. Omotoso, it is so unfortunate that our own dear native land has been deprived of nourishment and now made to scavenge on the carcasses of dead conscience. From Daniel Pedro McDaniel, Kaduna I read your interesting column tagged, “Interesting times” and I enjoyed it, but time is interesting and very unfortunate, while other countries like South and North Koreans are busy uniting themselves in development, we are busy stealing and dividing one another in so many things. Anonymous Your piece “Interesting times” is quite very interesting. Kudos! From Niyi Idowu The Nigeria Police is under-using and misusing the talents and skills of its officers and men. CP Mbu should have been deployed to Borno State where his skills at decimating the President’s real or perceived enemies and tough guy are needed to combat Boko Haram. From John Oko, Port Harcourt Thanks Gbenga, you have made my evening. We are really in very “Interesting times” in a country where we are helpless with virtually everything, including human beings, sitting with

on their heads. A pleasant one; but when will you talk about a state in Southeast where local government service has been exterminated? From Kalu, Umuahia Although today’s Editorial Notebook dealt with serious issues, it sent me reeling with laughter when I got to poor lion heart Mbu’s new assignment in Abuja! Who says Gbenga is not the fearless gladiator of modern times that uses the pen! Bravo! From Dr. Yusufu Musa CON, Former Deputy National Chairman ANPP Your Editorial Notebook is fantastic. Please, keep on with this type of essential points so that everybody will know how Jonathan spends our money. From Peter Olaiya, Akure I weep for Nigeria. At a time that $20 billion probe is ongoing, the President suspended the CBN Governor. What is President hiding? We now know where the $20 billion is. Nigerians, rise up to this looting of our money. Interesting times, indeed. Go ahead Sanusi, challenge it in court. Nigerians are behind you. Anonymous The President is making these times to be because he is taking a wrong decision at the right time and right one at the wrong time. Things are going wrong under him and he is happy about that. If actually the President is in charge, this is the right time for him to correct the wrong impression about him. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Lagos All the principal officers that encouraged Ms Stella Oduah to purchase the N255 million bulletproof cars should be dismissed too. Anonymous Interesting times indeed! Kudos; so comprehensive a piece. Cheers! From Yusuf Tukur For Tunji Adegboyega Re: “The crucifixion of truth.” What the happiest people on Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s removal/suspension fail to know is that as fair, strict, tough and honest to outsiders/public as Sanusi was, it was the same toughness, fairness, law-abiding and transparency tendencies that he exhibited at home – CBN. Again, if some people were happy at his removal, they need to remember that the cane previously used to deal with the senior wife is kept on the roof for a similar penalty for the new wife. Anonymous. I am at sea on why Sanusi’s sack is generating unnecessary press attention. Recently, Eze Festus Odimegwu revealed what had been going on at the National Population Commission as regards census figures. Some people went to the Presidential Villa and pressured President Jonathan to sack him. When President Jonathan agreed to their request, everyone had Odimegwu to blame for opening his mouth so wide. Sanusi should have learnt his lesson from what

•Sanusi happened to Odimegwu. For failing to do that, I have no tears to shed for him. In fact, his sack is a case of good riddance to bad rubbish of an employee who wanted to become more powerful than his employer. It is the case of the proverbial bird, Nza, that challenged its ‘chi’ after a sumptuous meal, according to the late Chinua Achebe. From Chukwuma Dioka, Owerri. The President has finally legalised corruption in the country by removing transparency and replacing it with lies. It is very unfortunate that lies and deceit have overpowered the truth in the country we all call our fatherland. The earlier all of us stood up to challenge Sanusi’s suspension, the better. Anonymous. Yours was a great job; precise. Second, you hit the nail on the head. Regards. From Igbogbahaka, Enugu. At what point did the Presidency and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) realise Sanusi’s imprudence? If those powers fail to at least restore Sanusi, they should at least condemn his suspension/sack, if only to stop such impunity. Today’s CBN population of about 9,000 from 6,000 was consequent upon many legislators, presidency, judiciary and traditional rulers lists of requests. Their quietness now is surprising. In 2009, after the promotionappointment mess of 2008 at the CBN, Sanusi took up the massive mess that nearly threw the bank into turmoil and did justice without knowing the aggrieved. From Lanre Oseni. Tunji, so Jonathan even has a platform known as FRCN yet the case of Diezani spending recklessly on private jets was swept under the carpet. In fact, out of Oduah, Sanusi and Diezani, who should have been fired first? Let GEJ tell us. Anonymous, Makurdi. Tunji, your one-sided judgement portrayed Sanusi as a saint by making un-appropriated spending; you found nothing wrong. It is unfortunate. Please, always try to balance issues. You did not hide your hatred at all. From C.U. Onor. You should first ask about the veracity of the FRCN which reported Sanusi’s financial recklessness before becoming an apostle of APC. That is the right thing to do if really you are writing as an unbiased commentator. Anonymous.

Of political thugs and elections By Ignatius Adegoke bring up new ideas. Apart from the preparations being put in place by the electoral umpire, INEC, where else needs better tender attention, whose neglect could make nonsense of INEC’s “fool-proof” strategies and spell doom for the poll and the soul of the nation? So, how are we planning in order not to fail? As I said, we must not restrict ourselves to what INEC or its state counterparts say regarding having worked out a good measure at ensuring an acceptable outing at the poll. We must put on our thinking cap to identify what can upturn the umpire’s “perfect” plans. A governor in one of the south west states, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo has done just that by coming up with the position that in the past, political thuggery involving the unholy alliance between governors and warring road transport union workers, was responsible for the violence that gave elections and campaign rallies a bad name. His claim is that armed with an understanding of this ruinous enterprise, his predecessors engaged in a battle to unleash sorrow on the people of Oyo state. But this Oyo state performing governor is tell whoever cares to listen that including, he all the warring road transport union workers that his government was not interested in making use of them for

election as was done in the past. He should know! He is governing the cradle of political thuggery, where one of his predecessors jettisoned the official security outfit and opted for a faction of the transport worker’s unions for protection. Members of this unofficial police killed and maimed during campaign rallies and elections as they “escorted” the governor across the state. It was the height of impunity. These hooligans engaged open and perceived political opponents of the then sitting governor. Since the governor of that era procured the weapons and cash for them, they could not be accountable to the law. They operated above the law and trashed any outcome of the ballot. They could raid homes and offices of those not on the side of government in power. They instilled fear in the society and therefore to fear them was the beginning of wisdom. Almost every week in the period that preceded Ajimobi’s advent, you had deadly clashes between the union on the side of the government and those on the opposite side. They were fatal encounters that led to casualties not only on the part of the thugs but alas, also on the part of innocent passers-by and motorists! Such heavy toll on the society all because of one man’s inordinate ambition to stay put in

power which he was not even wielding appropriately in the interest of those he claimed put him there! Ajimobi’s prompt and decisive rejection of these hirelings is what is responsible for the sanity and peace in Oyo in the past three years of his rule. Ibadan motor parks which used to be the hub of crime, violence and training ground of the ex-governor’s dogs of war have been tamed. There is no governor this time around to recruit and shield them. There is no governor to pump tax payers’ money into their bottomless war chest. There is no governor to fund their insatiable taste for extravagance and lust for drugs. What you do not feed starves and dies. The present governor has refused to feed political thuggery and so the union workers who were suborned for the devil’s work have been starved to death. They have been shoved off the scene to make way for tranquillity, not only during the poll in 2015, but also for all times. If other key political players’ nation wide follow the foot steps of Governor Ajimobi on this score, it is certain that we shall by the Grace of God enjoy a violence-free ballot in the country in the years ahead. Then the conversation will change, with critical observers reviewing their stand that there is nothing good to say about our politicians. • Adegoke is a political scientist in Lagos.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NATION SPORT

´Emotional´ Drogba admits Blues reunion will be difficult

ALATASARAY striker Didier Drogba admits he will be "emotional" when he comes up against Chelsea in the

UEFA Champions League tonight. The Ivorian is likely to feature when the teams meet in their last-16 first-leg clash

at the Turk Telekom Arena, coming up against his former club for the first time since leaving in 2012. Drogba expects it to be a

difficult reunion, but insists that he is fully focused on the task at hand. "It’s nice to play against your former team, but when

Ronaldo returns for Champions League clash

EAL Madrid welcomes back Cristiano Ronaldo for tonight’s Champions League last-16 first leg clash

•Ronaldo

Mourinho outlines importance of last-16 tie

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho believes that "anything is possible" for teams who reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Mourinho's side are in Turkey ahead of the first leg of their round-of-16 tie with Galatasaray, which takes place tonight. While Mourinho, who has persistently played down Chelsea's chances of winning the Premier League title, claimed that his club should not be considered one of the favourites for European glory, he is aware that the most fancied teams do not always prevail. "I think when a team reaches a quarter-final anything is possible, so this round is a very important round for every team," the Portuguese said. "Chelsea won it (in 2012) when it was not the favourite; I won it twice (with Porto and Inter) when I was not the favourite; I didn't win it when my team (Real Madrid) was one of the favourites, so this competition, because of the knockout, has space for a surprise." Mourinho faced Galatasaray in last season's Champions League, leading Real Madrid to a 5-3 aggregate triumph at the last-eight stage. He believes that the Turkish side are now even stronger and said: "If last season was very difficult for Real Madrid, I think this season for Chelsea is not going to be different.”

•Mourinho

against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen. The FIFA Ballon d'Or winner, who scored a competition-record nine goals in the group stage, returns after serving a three-match suspension in La Liga for his sending-off against Athletic Bilbao earlier this month. Ronaldo's availability is a further boost in confidence for the Spanish giants, who travel to the Veltins Arena in hugely impressive form. The nine-time European champions are unbeaten in

27 games in all competitions, of which they have won 23. Carlo Ancelotti's men have also kept 13 clean sheets in their last 15 games, helping them through to the final of the Copa del Rey and to open up a threepoint lead over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of the Primera Division standings. "We are where we want to be," Real captain Iker Casillas said to www.marca.com. "We are alive in three competitions

and we are fighting to win them all. "We know it's going to be difficult to win a treble but we will try. "The team is playing well and we are going through a good spell. "We are giving away few goals while we are solid in attack." UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TODAY’S FIXTURES Galatasaray v Chelsea Schalke 04 v Madrid

you are emotional, like me, it’s going to be difficult," he told the British press. "I have to be professional and respect the shirt I am wearing." The fixture will also be a chance for Drogba to catch up with the man who brought him to Stamford Bridge, with Jose Mourinho having returned to Chelsea from Real Madrid last year. "I took a risk to go and play for Jose when I left Marseille," he continued. "Three years before that I was in the second division. This guy comes and says: 'You have to come with me. You are a good player, but if you want to be the best like Thierry Henry then you have to come and play for me'. "I first saw Jose at a PortoMarseille game six or seven months before that. In the tunnel, he slapped me on the back and said: 'Do you have

some brothers who play like you?' I said: 'There’s a lot in Africa who are better than me'."

•Drogba

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

Forecasts Niger Insurance Gross Premium - N2.73b Profit after tax - N212.95m Mutual Benefits Gross Premium - N2b Profit - N885.633m Regency Alliance Gross Premium – N812.596m Profit after tax – N256.437m Learn Africa Turnover - N1.06b Profit after tax - N58.336m Total Nigeria Turnover - N46.676 b Profit after tax - N942.1m MRS Oil Nigeria Turnover - N51.20b Profit after tax - N712 m Eterna Turnover - N27.64b Profit after tax - N563.834m Okomu Oil Palm Turnover - N2.667b Profit after tax - N1.044b Stanbic/IBTC Bank Net operating income N16.805b Profit after tax - N2.737b ASL Turnover - N1.084b Profit after tax - N101.355m GT Assurance Gross Premium - N3.892b Profit after tax - N710.62m Cornerstone Insurance Gross Premium - N1.223b Profit after tax - N80.01m Oasis Insurance Gross Premium N562.500m Profit after tax - N79.868m African Alliance INS Gross Premium - N1.215b Profit after tax - N107.213m Berger Paints Turnover - N976.303m Profit after tax - N88.258m SCOA Nigeria Turnover - N835.0m Profit after tax - N18.200m Dangote Sugar Refinery Turnover - N38.251b Profit after tax - N3.49b Studio Press Nig. Turnover - N3.375b Profit after tax - N20.422m Julius Berger Nig. Turnover - N80.125b Profit after tax - N2.55b Intercontinental Wapic Ins Gross Premium - N1.41b Profit after tax - N250.450m Equity Assurance Gross Premium - N2.45b Profit after tax - N287.283m Standard Alliance Insurance Gross Premium - N2.142b Profit after tax - N475.964m Continental Reinsurance Gross Premium - N6.917b Profit after tax - N805m PRESCO Turnover - N2.60b Profit after tax - N800.9m RT Briscoe Turnover - N4.553b

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government. -Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Wema Bank gets April deadline to T restructure capital HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has given Wema Bank April 2014 deadline to restructure its capital to comply with the minimum requirement of 20 per cent free float of shares of companies listed on the main board of the NSE. Companies listed on the Exchange are required to maintain a minimum free float for the set standards under which they are listed to ensure that there is an orderly and liquid market in their securities. The free float requirement for firms on the main board is 20 per cent while companies on the second board, otherwise known as Alternative Securities Market (ASEM) are required to have 15 per cent free float. A report on free float de-

By Taofik Salako

ficiencies on the NSE obtained by The Nation indicated that Wema Bank is slightly under the 20 per cent free float with a free float of 19.64 per cent. According to the NSE, Wema Bank is expected to comply adjust its shareholding structure to free 20 per cent of its equities for unrelated shareholders by April 27. Free float, otherwise known as public float, refers to the number of shares of a quoted company held by ordinary shareholders other than those directly or indirectly held by its parent, subsidiary or associate companies or any subsid-

iaries or associates of its parent company; its directors who are holding office as directors of the entity and their close family members and any single individual or institutional shareholder holding a statutorily significant stake, which is five per cent and above in Nigeria. Thus, free float’s shares do not include shares held directly or indirectly by any officer, director, controlling shareholder or other concentrated, affiliated or family holdings. Stock markets maintain minimum public float to prevent undue concentration of securities in the hands of the core investors

and related interests, a situation that can make the stock to be susceptible to price manipulation. Besides, it provides the public with opportunity to reasonably partake in the wealth creation by private enterprises. The NSE acceded to the bank’s request for extension, however, Wema Bank is required to provide quarterly disclosure reports to the exchange on the efforts being made to fully comply by the deadline. By the expiration of the deadline, Wema Bank is mandatorily required to have completed partial divestments or dilution of the

•From left: Deputy Executive Director UN-Habitat; Aisha Kyacira, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Supervising Minister of Police Affairs, Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide and Nigerian High Commissioner in Kenya, Akin Oyateru during a collaborative meeting on affordable housing delivery for the masses in Abuja.

‘non-public’ shareholdings to free 20 per cent equity stake for public holding, unless the management of the NSE grants fresh waivers and extensions for the companies. In the extreme instance, a company with deficient public float may opt to delist its shares. Wema Bank said it is optimistic it will meet the deadline. Chief Financial Officer, Wema Bank, Mr. Tunde Mabawonku, said that the bank was expecting some of its existing investors to sell some of their holdings to free up additional float. “We expect some of our existing investors to free up some of their holdings as the market valuation improves; we believe we would achieve the minimum requirement for freefloating shares within an agreed timeline with the NSE,” Mabawonku stated in emailed response to The Nation. Other two companies with free float deficiencies included Dangote Cement and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. The Nation had earlier reported that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the core investor in Dangote Cement Plc and Union Global Partners Limited, the core investor in Union Bank of Nigeria Plc had been given deadlines to sell down their domineering equity stakes in the companies or issue new shares to the investing public to dilute their shareholdings. Dangote Cement(Dancem) has up till October, this year while Union Bank of Nigeria has up till June 2017 to comply with the free float. The updated free float record of the NSE indicated that Dancem has a free float of 4.93 per cent, 15.07 percentage points below the minimum required 20 per cent. Union Bank has a free float of 14.94 per cent, 5.06 per cent below the minimum standard.

‘Sanusi’s exit may deplete foreign reserves’

HE change of guard at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will take the foreign exchange reserves down to $35 billion, a report by an investment and research firm, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), has warned. The reserves dropped to $41 billion on Monday as against $41.17 billion last Thursday. The investment and research firm said the decision will put further downward pressure on reserves, implying the likelihood of year-end projection of $35

Banks lose N1.75tr to cash reserve policy - P 26

By Collins Nweze

billion. Analysis of foreign exchange utilised by sectors revealed that $7.83 billion was expended on the importation of visible goods into the country in the second quarter as against $6.63 billion and $7.74 billion in first quarter and second quarter of 2012, respectively. Also, a large part of the reserves were utilised in the importation of oil, industrial, food and manufactured products in the ratio

of 30.3, 28, 20.4 and 13.3 per cent of the total. Further analysis revealed that a total of $8.70 billion or 52.6 per cent of total foreign exchange was used for services as against $3.78 billion in first quarter. Of this amount, financial services (banking and other financial services, asset management and money transmission) constituted the bulk, $7.78 billion or 89.3 per cent of total, while the balance was accounted for by transportation, communications, business and

$360b infrastructure gap: Bonds, PPP too the rescue - P27

other services. The foreign reserves declined to $43.5 billion as at January 2, as petroleum and food imports soared. The reserves, which stood $45.4 billion last September 30, have maintained steady fall in recent months. The level of Nigeria’s external reserves has fallen precariously low to $43.63 billion as at December 30th, 2013. This is the lowest level since November, 2012 and a decline of 10.7 per cent from 2013’s Year to Date peak of $48.86 billion. The continuous use of the

external buffers to support the value of the naira, declining oil receipts are among the contributing factors to the depletion. However, this level of reserves is sufficient to fund an import bill of about seven months. With over 50 per cent of foreign exchange utilised for the importation of fuel and food, the CBN said policy should focus on a comprehensive backward integration production strategy, while fast-tracking the repair of the existing refineries.

Making a fortune from breeding small animals - P39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

Group faults Jonathan’s suspension of Sanusi T

HE Broom Initiative, a thinktank group of professionals, has condemned the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. It described the suspension as a misuse of executive power. In a statement in Abuja, the group leaders, Michael Ighoma and Ibrahim Mohammed, faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling

Stories by Collins Nweze

of Sanusi’s allegations that $20 billion oil revenue was unremitted to the Federation Account. The group said rather than address alleged corruption at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the government resorted to portraying the accuser as the accused. “We have watched with keen interest the various missteps and out-

right assaults targeted at our collective intelligence as a people, especially the handling of the Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu saga in Rivers State, the unremitted $20 billion oil revenue, owing to government’s ineptitude,” the statement said. The group described Sanusi’s suspension as an act of recklessness. It said: “Never mind the fact that this action is unconstitutional,

never mind that it calls into question the so-called fight against corruption, never mind that it reeks of the most petty of machinations, the removal of a patriotic officer for bringing to the nation’s attention, a matter of such significance as missing oil money, is just plain immoral. “Again, we ask: how sincere is a government that allocates N2 billion to the existential fight against the Boko Haram insurgency, whereas N70 billion was allocated to the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme. Jonathan’s financial commitment to security challenges in the Northeast pales into insignificance considering what is being spent on the Niger Delta

militants. “But the Jonathan administration has once again demonstrated to us where its priorities lie, pouring N70 billion down the amnesty drainpipe, while ignoring the immediacy of the problem in the Northeast by sending ill-equipped undermotivated service men to their death and abandoning helpless civilians to a life of uncertainty and fear.” The group described Nigerians as proud and defiant, saying: “As Nigerians, we must never make the mistake of attributing to malice that which can be easily explained by incompetence. We must remain resolutely vigilant in the face of impunity and underhand tactics.”

CBN issues card use rules

• From left: Group Head, Institutional Banking Group, FirstBank Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu; Director-General, Investment Promotion, Invest HK Mr. Simon Galpin; Group Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc Dr. Oba Otudeko; Consul-General, Chinese Embassy Mr. Guo Yulu and Group Managing Director, FirstBank Mr. Bisi Onasanya at the FirstBank, Invest HK meeting in Lagos.

Banks lose N1.75tr to cash reserve policy

EPOSIT Money Banks (DMBs) lost about N1.75 trillion to the increase in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on public sector deposits from 12 per cent to 75 per cent within six months, The Nation has leant. The policy, introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had seen the CRR first raised to 50 per cent in August, and 75 per cent last month during which the lenders lost N1 trillion and N750 billion. CRR is a portion of banks’ deposits kept with the CBN as reserves. This policy direction, analysts believe, represents a major challenge for the lenders, especially those that are heavy on term deposits. A market analyst, Biodun Ekundayo said the CBN may further raise the CRR to 100 per cent, because the naira has not fared better despite the initial hike. He said the stability of the naira is the most significant threat to the current CRR figure.

“We believe that even with the 75 per cent CRR on public sector deposits, a policy aimed at increasing the scarcity of the naira, the local currency still remains vulnerable. Market still hurts from the 75 per cent CRR on public sector deposits,” he said. Also, pressure on the naira will continue due to shortfall in government revenues, increased demand for dollars. “We believe the 75 per cent CRR on public sector deposit is a stopgap measure on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prescribed Single Treasury Account (STA). If the pressure on the naira persists, we believe the CBN can increase the CRR on public sector deposit even to 100 per cent which would ultimately mean it has achieved the objectives of the STA, a tool for consolidating and managing governments’ cash resources, thus minimising borrowing costs,” he said. Across our four Sub-Saharan Af-

rican countries, Nigeria’s banking sector has the highest CRR, at 12 per cent for private-sector customer deposits plus 75 per cent for public sector deposits, a report by Renaissance Capital (RenCap) has said. RenCap said it cannot rule out the possibility of further CRR hike as the regulator appears to be using the CRR as the primary monetary tool for mopping up excess liquidity. “Our reading of the above is that the risk of a further hike in the CRR cannot be ruled out if the Monetary Policy Committee sees renewed pressure on the naira. The worstcase scenario, we believe, is that the CRR on public-sector deposits could be raised as high as 100 per cent, increasing our estimate of the blended CRR in Nigeria to 23 per cent. On our numbers, the hit to interest income over a year would increase to three to 14 per cent,” it said.

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has 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 industry stakeholders who process transmit, and or store cardholder information should ensure 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.

MfB secures five million euros loan

ORTIS Microfinance Bank Plc has received a five million euro loan from the FMO, the Netherlands Development Finance Company. In a statement, the firm said the fund, which is a five-year unsecured term loan, would be applied for onlending to boost activities in the microfinance sector. Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kunle Oketikun said the facility would enable his organisation deliver on its core services of making funds available to small scale businesses at the least cost. He said: “This loan will ensure that our esteemed customers have access to finance at cheaper rates and longer tenors.” Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of FMO, Linda Broekhuizen said Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc is the first

Lemo to bank workers: be ethical, prudent

ORMER Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr Tunde Lemo has urged bankers to be ethical in their conduct. In an interview with reporters during a send off dinner for him at the CBN Lagos Office, Lemo advised banks not to maximise profit at the detriment of their customers, adding that banking should be based on trust. “When you are a banker, it is a position of trust and the public expects so much from you. It is not just for you to be honest, you must be seen to be honest and you must always bear in mind that the interest of the customers and the people you serve is important, much more important than the profit because it

is only when they are there, that your bank can be stronger. “But if you conduct banking in such a way that you maximise profit to the detriment of customers, when their businesses go down, it will only take time before your own business will go down,” he said. The former CBN chief called on banks to support their customers and the business community so that they can grow their businesses because it is only when such businesses grow, that banks could also grow. He insisted that the apex bank has played a key role in the development of the economy, citing the recent privatisation of the power assets as an example. According to him, the banks were able to contribute to the power sec-

tor reforms as a result of the reforms in the sector. “For the first time in the history of Nigeria, we saw Nigerian banks playing a key role in a major reform of that nature. It was because of the central bank policy that ensured that the banks are not only big, but strong,” he added. Lemo explained that with the anticipated rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it would become the biggest economy in Africa. The Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Zenith Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; and his counterpart at Union Bank, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, all commended Lemo for his contribution to the growth of the banking industry. Lemo had during his 10-year stay at

Fatokun said only banks licenced by the CBN with clearing capacity shall issue payment cards to consumers and corporations in the country. He said banks without clearing capacity can issue in conjunction with those with clearing capacity. Also, all banks should seek approval from the CBN for each card brand they wish to issue. 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. It 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.

• Lemo

the CBN served three successive governors namely, Joseph Sanusi, Charles Soludo and Lamido Sanusi who is due for retirement by June this year.

Microfinance that his organisation will be providing such support to in Nigeria. FMO is a Dutch development bank that supports sustainable private sector growth in developing and emerging markets by investing in ambitious entrepreneurs. FMO operates on the philosophy that a strong private sector leads to economic and social development, empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life. FMO focuses on three sectors that have high development impact. The sectors include the financial institutions, energy, and agribusi-nesses with emphasis on food & water. With an investment portfolio of 6.3 billion euro, FMO is one of the largest European bilateral private sector development banks. Broekhuizen said this unique loan to Fortis is being provided because the firm has positioned itself to provide microfinance banking services to support entrepreneurship and the empowerment of the large unbanked population with a focus on (mostly female) micro clients and small enterprises. The CIO further noted: “Fortis will receive a local currency senior loan equivalent to EUR 5.0 million. FMO supports Fortis as one of the leading MFI’s in the country to further implement the client protection principles (‘CPP’) with the aim to become CPP certified. The FMO facility will contribute to further financial inclusion and stimulate the further development of financial services.” Oketikun said his organisation is committed to the future growth of microfinancing noting that the only thing really micro about microfinancing is in the smallness of the loans and not that the entire operations would be small and confined to a room and parlour.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

MONEY

$360b infrastructure gap: Bonds, PPP to the rescue A combination of bond issuance and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) ofF fers strategic and operational choices to stakeholders in addressing Niger-

OR the Federal and state governments, bond seems the way to go to address certain problems. Many states and the Federal Government have been going to the Stock Market for bonds to take care of some of their projects, especially infrastructure development. The African Development Bank (AfDB) says Nigeria needs $360 billion to fix infrastructure and bond issuance remains a viable option for achieving it. Lagos State alone needs an estimated $50 billion to address its infrastructure needs in 10 years. This comes to $5 billion yearly, which is a far cry from its annual budget estimated at $3.1 billion (N497 billion). Lagos State Finance Commissioner Ayo Gbeleyi said the existence of such funding gap made Public-Private Partnership (PPP) a welcome strategy for the government to bridge the huge infrastructure deficit. He said the PPP option allowed the state to tap into the private sector’s capital and leverage on its managerial efficiency, technology, innovation, entrepreneurial approach and expertise. In the FDC Economic Report, Bismark Rewane said for an economy with an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $282 billion and a yearly GDP growth rate of about 6.8 per cent, fixing such gap would required a recourse to bond issuance (debts). The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 set a 40 per cent ceiling for Nigeria’s public debt to GDP and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised the threshold to 56 per cent in 2013. However, Rewane said the establishment of a debt ceiling is arbitrary at best since there are many variables that should determine optimal debt level that are not included in determining the ceiling. “Since the economic well-being of a country should be seen through the prism of a sound business entity, there ought to be a distinction between “bad debt run up” and “good debt build up,” he said.

AfDB’s perspective According to the AfDB, improving Nigeria’s infrastructure could boost the country’s GDP by about four per cent. Some of the sectors that require attention include power, road, rail, information communications technology (ICT) and transportation. However, access to finance, to fund the development of most of these critical sectors has remained a challenge. According to the continental bank, Nigeria has an infrastructure deficit of about $360 billion and Islamic finance can be of great help in fixing the gap. The bank said addressing these challenges will require a substantially larger annual level of investment in infrastructure, a significant increase in annual allocations for routine and periodic maintenance to ensure reliable infrastructure services, and increased attention to the institutional arrangements that support the infrastructure network of the country and the related services. The Islamic model uses money as a measuring tool for value and not as an asset in itself, so income is not received from money as this is seen as exploitative and usurious. Investment vehicles through the Islamic finance structure are based on shared business risk. The growth of Islamic finance globally also means there is an increasing demand for new ways of identifying Islamic-compliant business activities. Presently, the London Stock Exchange is working on the creation of new indices. This means the creation of a new way of identifying Islamic finance opportunities - a world-leading Islamic Market Index.

Bond option Many analysts think Islamic finance via bonds has shown resilience despite the slowdown in the global economy and the pressure on conventional banking in Western countries. Undeterred by the uncertain recovery elsewhere in the world’s financial markets, growth of the Islamic finance market globally has continued unabated this year. Shariah-compliant assets are estimated at upward of $1.4 trillion and are likely to sustain double-digit growth in the coming two to three years.

ia’s huge infrastructure gap. COLLINS NWEZE writes on the need for governments at the states and federal levels to explore either or both choices in fixing the infrastructure challenge.

• Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

• Acting CBN Governor Dr Sarah Alade

• Rewane

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines on non-interest banking put the minimum capital base of N10 billion ($63.1 million) for National Islamic Banks and $31.59 million for regional Islamic banks. However, the regulator allows deposit money banks to offer non-interest banking products, using existing structure such as the branches and manpower. The CBN said Islamic finance which has become household name in Europe and America should not be ignored. Aside, Nigeria, global acceptance for Islamic finance is increasing by the day despite initial hitches to its survival. According to Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Islamic finance remained a demand-driven market, with scarce supply, still hampered by a limited range of Islamic financial centres and their various regulatory frameworks. The rating agency said it believed that regulatory efforts to accommodate Islamic finance and the establishment of additional industry bodies at national levels will take center-stage starting, this year.

state while relatively small at $62 million, signaled the start of a trend. The sukuk is based on an ijara structure, a common leasing arrangement in Islamic finance, which bans payment of interest. Sukuk have become an increasingly popular investment globally, particularly among cash-rich funds in the Gulf and Southeast Asia. Also, the Islamic Development Bank is lending $150 million through Sharia-compliant facilities for the new Lekki Port in Lagos State, Nigeria. The CBN said Islamic finance products also have the capacity for ensuring financial inclusion of significant segment of the population. It stated that when properly harnessed, the system could contribute significantly in turning Nigeria into a major international financial hub. It said Islamic finance has shown its potential in achieving financial inclusion in many economies by bringing in large under banked populations, especially Muslims into the urbanised financial sector. According to the apex bank, “Nigeria has so far registered Jaiz bank, and has given a licence to Stanbic IBTC Bank to operate some window. Also, an approval was given to Sterling Bank to operate an Islamic window and a microfinance bank that has applied for Islamic banking licence. This is in addition to the work being done by National Insurance Commission to promote Takaful, an Islamic insurance product.” According to the CBN, many Islamic financial markets had established their presence in all the major financial centres and were playing key roles in deepening the financial markets with products across the globe. Chairman, Advisory Committee of Experts on Non-Interest Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Sheik Abdulkader Thomas said deposits from non-interest banking could be deployed into infrastructure funding and other developmental projects.

Thomas, who is an American living in Kuwait, described Nigeria as a huge market for non-interest banking given its large population base. He said the banking concept is a viable means of gathering huge deposits, adding that although Nigeria’s infrastructure is seen as weakness, deposits from non-interest banking could be used to fix it. He said: “We have to look at a country like Nigeria from a different perspective. Kuwait has small population, with very high wealth. But Nigeria has very large population. We believe that non-interest banking will be very important to gather savings from the grassroots population.” He said the billions of dollars in the noninterest banking accounts globally, cannot find its way into Nigeria, rather, the country should generate its own funds to finance key projects and create wealth for her citizens. President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Ariyo Olushekun said prospects for Islamic finance are very bright. He said the finance system has become necessary since a very significant proportion of the population strongly believe that based on the nature of the capital market and the dictates of their religion, they cannot invest in the market. He said there is therefore, need to develop products that are attractive to these set of investors to allow easy flow of their funds into the market. “The one that is popular is Islamic finance. Some Christians also do not like certain things, some do not like alcohol, some cannot put their money in companies producing arms and ammunitions some cannot put their money into companies that are gambling and all that. So, all these funds are outside the market, we need to bring them in, call them any name. “If traditional or idol worshippers need certain product, develop it and use it to bring their money into the market. The same thing applies to everybody,” he said. Olushekun said these products are limited to any religion adding that what is important is to improve the depth of the market by introducing products and instruments that will channel funds, savings into the market. This, he said would allow those who have projects to be able to raise limitless amount of money from the market to execute those projects. Analysts said there are a number of very good reasons for the public sector using PPP to assist state governments in developing infrastructure.

Nigeria’s new moves Nigeria’s profile as Africa’s most liquid debt market after South Africa has been rising since JP Morgan and Barclays last year, included its bonds in their sovereign bond indices, encouraging greater foreign participation in its debt market. The use of Islamic finance in Africa could grow further as several north and sub-Saharan African countries including Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa and Kenya are laying the legal groundwork to be able to issue sukuk, an Islamic finance bond. Osun State, last year floated the country’s first Islamic bond, taking a major step towards developing an Islamic finance industry in the country. Analysts said the Nigerian Sharia-compliant bond issued by the

‘Improving Nigeria’s infrastructure could boost the country’s GDP by about four per cent. Some of the sectors that require attention include power, road, rail, information communications technology (ICT) and transportation’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS

IHS Nigeria opts for voluntary delisting F

IVE years after it listed its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), IHS Nigeria Plc has decided to delist its shares from the NSE as the telecommunication infrastructure company struggles with declining incomes and profitability. Regulatory filing at the NSE obtained by The Nation showed that IHS Nigeria opted for voluntary delisting, implying that the decision to delist was entirely that of the directors of the company. Under the plan, the entire issued shares of IHS Nigeria will be delisted from the main board of the NSE. IHS Nigeria currently has paid up share capital of N2.2 billion, consisting of some 4.4 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each outstanding on the stock market. The request for delisting, The Nation’s check indicated, was considered and approved at the recent meeting of the quotation committee of the NSE. Trading on IHS was muted at the NSE on Monday with only one deal for 10,000 shares valued at

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

N38, 100. IHS has struggled since listing on the NSE and its recent reports have shown worrisome decline, in spite of substantial capital raising in recent period. Reliable market sources said IHS’s decision on voluntary was premised on efforts to restructure the operations of the company. Many other companies had cited similar rationale of tough operating situation to revert into privacy. IHS has been one of the companies tagged by the NSE for poor compliance with listing rules, especially timely submission of periodic operating reports and accounts. Incorporated as a private limited liability company on April 10, 2001, IHS converted to a public limited liability company on July 10, 2008 and was subsequently listed on the NSE on January 27, 2009. IHS Nigeria’s fundamental outlook had worsened in 2013 as sig-

nificant declines in profitability and balance sheet position raised concerns about the mounting losses over the past three years. While it grew the top-line commendably by 18.6 per cent, high operating costs and roof-top financial leverage substantially undermined the bottom-line and wiped off considerable equity capital. With net loss per share of N1.50 in 2013 as against 86 kobo in 2012 and decline in net assets per share from N1.69 in 2012 to 14 kobo in 2013, the latest audited report indicated a new low for investors. Audited report and accounts of IHS Nigeria for the year ended April 30, 2013 showed a generally negative performance outlook, which was highlighted by declining liquidity and productive efficiency, lower margins and returns and precarious financing structure. However, the company witnessed a strong recovery in its top-line position with higher sales and improved top-line profit. Both outward and underlying profit and loss items showed a

generally negative performance in 2013. Midline operating expenses and interest costs eroded modest top-line gain, pushing the group’s balance sheet to a more precarious position. For the fourth consecutive year, IHS Group suffered a major decline in profitability and built on a losing streak that had seen pre-tax loss rising from N1.84 billion in 2011 to N4.89 billion in 2012 and N7.51 billion in 2013. After taxes, net loss increased by 82 per cent from N3.62 billion in 2012 to N6.60 billion in 2013. Average pre-tax profit margin had worsened from -35 per cent in 2012 to -45.5 per cent in 2013, implying that while the group made a loss of N35 on every N100 unit of sales in 2012, this worsened to about N46 on similar unit in 2013. The bottom-line performance overshadowed appreciable improvement in turnover. Group turnover improved by 19 per cent from N13.92 billion in 2012 to N16.50 billion in 2013. With marginal decline in cost of sales from

N11.47 billion to N11.24 billion, gross profit doubled from N2.45 billion to N5.26 billion. The improved top-line profitability also reflected in the gross margin, which increased from 18 per cent to 32 per cent. However, total operating expenses, including provisions for impairments, doubled from N4.44 billion to N8.79 billion. While non-core business incomes dropped by 21 per cent from N285 million in 2012 to N225 million in 2013, a 32 per cent increase in finance expenses from N3.19 billion to N4.22 billion further compounded the bottom-line. Also, the financing position of the group worsened considerably in 2013 with less equity coverage and worrisome debt level. The proportion of debt to equity jumped to 2,839 per cent in 2013 as the group’s short-term loan ballooned to N17.1 billion. Also, while about 16 per cent of total assets were covered by equity funds in 2012, the proportion of equity funds to total assets dropped to a low of 1.1 per cent in 2013.

•From left: Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP - Nigeria), Mrs. Margaret Adeleke; Head, Corporate Services Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Bola Adeeko; Executive Secretary, CECP – Nigeria, Dr. Abia Nzelu and Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji at the bell ringing ceremony at the NSE to commemorate International Corporate Philanthropy Day ... on Monday.

IOSCO prepares new code of conduct for credit rating agencies

N T E R N A T I O N A L Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is proposing significant revisions and updates to its current code of conduct fundamentals for credit rating agencies, IOSCO CRA Code. IOSCO is the leading international policy forum for securities regulators and is recognised as the global standard setter for securities regulation. The organization’s membership regulates more than 95 per cent of the world’s securities markets in 115 jurisdictions and its membership continues to expand. Nigeria is a member of the board of IOSCO, the governing and standard-setting organ of IOSCO. IOSCO board consists of 32 securities regulators including securities regulatory authorities of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Ontario, Pakistan, Portugal, Quebec, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and the United States. IOSCO has sent the draft revisions and updates to stakeholders for their comments on or before March

28, 2014. According to IOSCO, the proposed revisions result, in part, from the experience of IOSCO members in supervising credit rating agencies (CRAs). “They also are informed by IOSCO´s previous work on CRAs, including a survey report describing the key risk controls established by CRAs to promote the integrity of the credit rating process and the procedures established to manage conflicts of interest,”

IOSCO stated. The global securities body outlined that the proposed revisions are designed to strengthen the IOSCO CRA Code by enhancing provisions regarding protecting the integrity of the credit rating process, managing conflicts of interest, providing transparency, and safeguarding non-public information; adding measures regarding governance, training, and risk management; and seeking to improve the clarity of the IOSCO CRA

Code. “The IOSCO CRA Code is intended to offer a set of robust, practical measures as a guide to and a framework for CRAs with respect to protecting the integrity of the rating process, ensuring that issuers and users of credit ratings, including investors, are treated fairly, and safeguarding confidential material information provided them by issuers,” IOSCO stated. The IOSCO CRA Code was first published in 2004 when few juris-

dictions had laws governing activities of CRAs. It was later revised in 2008 after the outbreak of the global financial crisis to include significant disclosure provisions that addressed concerns regarding the quality of information that CRAs relied on, suggestions that CRAs were too slow to review existing ratings and make downgrades as appropriate, and the possible conflict of interest arising from CRAs advising issuers on how to design structured finance products.

Stock Exchange to launch new alert system

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is concluding arrangement to launch a new trade notification alert system, which will provide investors with more details on transactions on their investment accounts at the stock market. The new trade alert system, to be known as X-Alert, will replace the current alert system, Trade Alert. The new alert system is scheduled for launch next month. Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the X-Alert

is a new and improved notification system which will provide investors with details of transactions on an investment account via a text message on the recipient’s mobile phone or via an e-mail to the recipient’s box. According to him, the new alert which will allow the investing public to know when a transaction has been made on their account, will be run in-house on behalf of the Exchange by the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) with reduced cost implications to both buyers and sellers.

“In addition to paying a lot less for transactions, customers will have updated positions of their accounts at any point in time as this new system offers convenient and easy monitoring of all accounts. There are also the added benefits of effective fraud alert in cases of unauthorized transactions on account, reduction in time spent confirming trades and an enhancement of transparency between the trader and its clients,” Onyema said. It should be recalled that, the NSE recently rolled out its new generation trading platform, X-

Gen, which is supporting the FIX protocol to drive the capital market to the next level. X-Gen is expected to open up an unprecedented level of innovative trading capabilities for the market, providing low latency trading, straight-through processing from broker order management systems to the Exchange and direct market access for the buyside and mobile access through smartphones to the retail investors, leveraging on the 120million mobile phone penetration already in the country.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

In search of the Queen of Sheba? INSIDE

Go to Oke-Eri in Ijebu where the locals believe the legendary woman was buried

Royal row rumbles on in Ijebu-Ode as princes fight over family head •PAGE 32

‘An independent local government system is recipe for confusion •PAGE 34

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

PAGE 29

She was mentioned in the Holy Bible, revered in the Holy Quran. Three thousand years after she reportedly died, the Queen of Sheba’s myth has refused to go away. Was she truly buried somewhere in Ijebu, Ogun State? SEUN AKIOYE provides possible answers. •Continued on Page 30

Alaba-Okiri community seeks help to fight flood •PAGE 36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

SOUTHWEST REPORT

HE road that leads to the mystical grave of the fabled Queen of Sheba - or Bilikisu Sungbo as the local residents of the village of Oke-Eri near Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State usually refer to her - is long with many winding turns. When one passes through the outer gate, which had a majestic look with a faded inscription Her Majesty, Bilikisu Sungbo, one will be required to remove the shoes. “From here, it is holy ground, so you cannot wear your shoes. Start making supplications in your heart, whatever you want, will be done for you,” Chief Ojulari Hamisu, the Chief Imam of Oke-Eri and one of the village griots told the visitor as he proceeded to remove his own shoes, setting the example. The grave of Queen of Sheba laid buried deep in the forest, from the gate the road formed into one long and tiny passage with deep forests on either side. At some points, the trees met overhead and formed a shade to give a protection to the traveller against the scorching sun. Walking in silence, one could hear the rustling of the trees overhead and the singing of the birds. A gentle breeze intermittently blew cold air to the face which provided a soothing and almost magical feeling. Soon a shed appeared; about 80 feet long, made of corrugated iron sheets, underneath had been swept clean and at the northern fringe of it was a sepulcher marked by white iron fence and about six feet in length. “This is the grave of Bilikisu Sungbo,” Hamisu said. A first time visitor may not know what to believe, there was nothing there except the fence which demarcated a part of the ground from the rest. The top of the grave was clean and neat as if it was swept every time. Hamisu pointed to the middle of the fence and declared that the body of the Queen lay inside that spot. It was his faith, a strong belief shared by 15,000 inhabitants of Oke-Eri and several thousands all over the world who make the yearly trip to the grave to worship the late Queen.

Who was Bilikisu Sugbon? It is difficult to discuss Bilikisu Sugbon without the historical appreciation of the Queen of Sheba or Bilqis as she was known in Arabia. The three oldest religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam had mentioned her existence and the role she played in the affairs of the Middle East around 10 century BC. The Jewish and Christian beliefs had a Biblical root in 1 Kings 10:1-13, where a certain Queen of Sheba had visited King Solomon of Israel to prove his wisdom with hard questions, she also bore gifts in much gold and incense. According to the Bible, she gave Solomon 120 talents of gold (worth $10 million), attesting to the wealth of her kingdom, Sheba. Solomon was said to have answered her queries and the queen left impressed and amazed at the splendor of the king. In the Quran, Surah a-n-Nami, (Chapter 27) gave an interesting detail of the Queen who came from Saba in present day Yemen. The Quran

In search of the Queen of Sheba? •Oke Eri town centre records that she was invited by King Suleiman to convert to Islam, while she contemplated the invitation in conference with her subjects; she decided to visit Suleiman and converted to Islam with her subjects. But there are more interesting records of the Queen. In the Ethiopian compilation Kebra Negast , the Queen visited Solomon for six months after which she was outwitted by the crafty King to become his lover. When she returned to her country, she was pregnant and bore a son, Menelik who became the first King of Ethiopia and founder of the Solomonic monarchy in Africa. At the age of 22, Menelik visited his father and brought back the Ark of the Covenant thereby founding the Jewish religion in Africa.

Resting place of a famous Queen In Oke- Eri, a sleepy community in Ijebu North Local Government area of Ogun State, the legend of the Queen of Sheba is known to everyone including children. Every year, during the Eid-el-Kabir and Boxing Day, the village plays host to thou-

‘

The white man discovered the grave and opened it. It was said that the spirit of Bilikisu appeared to him and he negotiated with his life. He spent three months inside the forest and when the grave was opened, they found the body intact and a picture was taken

‘

•The road to the grave

PHOTOS: SEUN AKIOYE

sands of tourists who have come to worship at the tomb of Bilikisu Sugbon. “We cannot say the exact number of people who come here, they even come from abroad, this village will be full of cars and everybody will go to the grave to pray,” Alhaji Kamorudeen Tijani, one of the elders of the village told The Nation. Apart from the little economic prosperity brought by the two days in the year dedicated to Bilikisu Sugbon, Oke-Eri remains poor with its bad and unmotorable roads. The people, predominantly farmers went about their work with abandon interests. In the middle of the village stood a cenotaph which pointed the road to the grave of Bilikisu. In the evenings, kids come and play by the foot of the cenotaph. There are more than 15 Christian denominations with their branches all over the village, mosques abound too as the people are divided between the two religions. Though according to some Christian pastors, many of those who profess both religions are also active traditional worshippers. The one trait of civilisation is the Pogil College of Health with its 3,000 students who also reside in the village. The grave of Bilikisu was located about two miles south of the village centre. To gain the entrance into the gravesite, one would have to pay a stipulated amount to one of the griots holding the keys to the groove. “The money is used to keep the area around the grave tidy, we do not use the money for ourselves,” Hamisu assured. There are fantastic tales told of Bilikisu in Oke-Eri, one which unsubstantiated by science remains only a fable. According to Hamisu, Bilikisu came from across the seas several thousand years ago and founded a city called Oke-Eki with her followers. Hamisu, who tended to belief the Islamic version of the story, said after she married Sulaiman, there was a dispute and she came to Oke- Eri with her followers where she founded a kingdom and built the Eredo walls. “Bilikisu was the favourite of Sulaiman, she had a seat of gold that even Sulaiman didn’t have. She was

very rich but when there was a quarrel, she came here and founded this place,” he said. But there are twists to the story. According to him, the villagers met the burial place and from oral history continued to revere and worship at the shrine. Then a certain white man came to the village about 100 years ago and insisted on opening the grave to prove its claims. The man was said to have arrived with his wife and dog while the people warned him it was a taboo for a woman and dog to visit the grave. The man was said to have ignored this warning and after breaching this protocol, his wife and dog died in Awa-Oru. “Since then, we have strictly enforced the ban on women and dogs entering this place,” Hamisu said. But the white man discovered the grave and opened it. It was said that the spirit of Bilikisu appeared to him and he negotiated with his life. He spent three months inside the forest and when the grave was opened, they found the body intact and a picture was taken. This picture - the custodian of the relics died last year and no one can get a copy any longer - had been circulating for some years and shown to high profile visitors including former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Hamisu claimed to have seen a copy of the picture and gave a vivid description: “I had a copy of the picture in 1958, she was a tall and slender woman, she wore a white dress and her face was partially covered with a veil. But the most amazing thing was that her body did not decompose, it was fresh like it was newly buried. Her complexion was light brown. She was not a black woman.” This narration was supported by another griot, Rufai Rauf who also claimed to have seen the picture of Bilikisu. “The white man himself died that year as he had exchanged his life with the power to exhume the Queen’s body,” he claimed.

The supernatural powers of Bilikisu Sugbon As fabulous as this story sounds, it has reinforced the belief of the locals

•Rev Ibikunle in the supernatural powers of the dead queen. Apart from the ban on women and dogs at the grave, it was also reputed that no dirt ever occupied Bilikisu’s resting place. But a recent visitor to the grave would not appreciate this fact as the original trees which provided a shade over the grave have been cut down and in its place a shed constructed. Hamisu explained: “There were four trees at the four corners of this grave which provided an arch over it. Beneath the trees was a huge spider net, woven over thousands of years and forming a thick covering over the grave. It was on this net all the dirt that would have gathered on the grave went to.” There is also the belief that whatever prayer offered at the grave would be answered. To Hamisu, this is an attestation to the powers of Bilikisu. “She was a powerful woman who still had powers even after she died,” he said. Standing before the grave gave one a feeling of standing before a great personality, there was a supernatural aura, probably fuelled by the superstition that left one with goose

‘ THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

SOUTHWEST REPORT

•Bilikisu's grave

•Pastor Omitogun pimples. On the zinc roof, the leaves rustled endlessly and intermittently the birds continued to coo. As the wind blew, it seemed to carry with it the spirit of the Queen of Sheba. Hamisu told the visitor to make his supplication, saying: “Whatever prayer you pray here will be answered.” The look in his eyes which wore such seriousness convinced the visitor this was an open cheque to also ask for the “impossible”. And pilgrims do come to make supplications at the grave. On the days assigned for her worship, many who had received the result of their petitions do come back for thanksgiving. Then the village wore a carnival look, with food and drinks supplied by the grateful pilgrims. But times have changed and very few come back for such festivities. “Though people still come around every year, it was not as it used to be in the past,” Rauf said.

Tourism potentials destroyed About 15 years ago, a group of archaeologists from the Bournemouth University led by Dr. Patrick Darling made the first ever recorded scientific attempt at uncovering the mysteries

behind the famed grave of the Queen of Sheba. Closely associated with Bilikisu was the Sungbo Eredo wall, remnants of which can be found in different places in Ijebu land. Reputed to be 100 miles in length and 70ft in height, it was a great archeological find dating several thousand years. Darling and his team made excavations at the wall but could not link it to Bilikisu Sugbon.This wall according to oral tradition was built by Bilikisu and if this claim is proven, Bilikisu’s grave may assume a more important potential in world tourism and even rival the great pyramids of Egypt. The tourism potential of the grave has only been scratched according to Tijani. Past administrations in Ogun state realising the potential of the site had attempted to build it to world standard. Several guest chalets were built around the area and the site was fenced round. New transformer supplied electricity and the road paved. But that has since become history. For some years now, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments had taken over the administration of the grave and since then its fortunes has dipped. When The Nation visited, all the chalets have been taken over by the forest and snakes, and are mostly inaccessible. The power transformer which once supplied electricity to the area was long broken down and the gate of the grave destroyed. Most of the buildings have been vandalised leaving empty bricks and the snakes. But there is also the knotty issue of the desecration of the grave. According to Tunde Odunlami, a lecturer in the department of History, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), the tourism potential was limited by the fact that the trees which fueled the myth of the supernatural have been cut down. He also queried the rationale behind the ban on women. “The tourism potential of the Sugbon shrine is limited by the fact that women are not allowed inside, if you look at world tourism, you will see women are more adventurous and when you cut that section off, you limit the potential. Also the cutting of the trees which provided a cover over the grave is a bad decision,” Odunlami said.

A divided community One may think the village hosting such world heritage would be united in its belief; this is not the case with Oke-Eri. While the Muslims, who re-

vered Bilikisu because she had converted to Islam play active part in fueling the Bilikisu myth, most of the Christians remain non-chalant. According to Rev. Canon Ibikunle Moses, the Vicar of Our Saviour Anglican Church and the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oke-Eri, the story of the grave of Bilikisu is nothing but a myth. “I never teach our members in that belief; I don’t know how the Queen came here all the way from Ethiopia. Although some white garment churches believe it, I can only revere one person and that is Jesus Christ.” He also debunks claims of answered prayers at the grave. “I have never been there and I can tell you that claim is a lie. My bible says wherever I pray, He answers not when I get to the shrine. What role did the Queen of Sheba play in the Bible? This place used to be a place of darkness but we broke it through prayers. I am sorry to say that you people from Lagos also believe in idolatry, we don’t believe in that here,” Moses said. But the secretary of CAN, Pastor Mogaji Omitogun had a slightly different opinion, he said while many Christians believe the Queen of Sheba may be buried there, the church does not believe in the rituals of worship to her. “I have personally been there before the shed was constructed and I can say there was no dirt on the grave. Some of our people believe in the story but unlike others, we don’t believe in praying at the grave.” Omitogun also claimed to have seen the picture of Bilikisu. “She was dressed in white and the body didn’t decompose, I didn’t see her complexion because there was a veil covering her, but she was tall and slender.”

Science vs. Myth But what is the truth of the myth of Bilikisu Sugbon or the Queen of Sheba? While there have been Biblical and historical references to the existence of such a rich and powerful ruler, there are no evidence of her travelling to Africa or being buried in Oke-Eri. So how did the people of Oke-Eri come about this story? According to Hamisu: “The story was handed over to us over several years before the white man came to do the excavations. Then we also saw the supernatural incidents and believe in it for example, that if a woman enters the place, she will die, it has happened. We believe this

‘ The story of the grave of Bilikisu is nothing but a myth. I never teach our members in that belief; I don’t know how the Queen came here all the way from Ethiopia. Although some white garment churches believe it, I can only revere one person and that is Jesus Christ

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is the Queen from Saba.” But researchers at the OOU are not impressed by whatever belief has held the villagers spell bound. According to Odunlami, there is no truth in the story of an excavation of the grave and the picture reportedly taken of the body was nothing but hoax. “I am telling you authoritatively that no excavations have been done at the grave site, the picture being circulated was nothing but sketches done by some artists. Even the so called complexion was nothing but colouring,” he said. Odunlami, who has done extensive work at some of the sites of Sugbon Eredo said it is important the timelines of event is placed side by side historical timelines and when done, many of the claims would fall flat on the face but said the truth about the grave is as far as the people believe. “The truth is what the people believe even though personally I tend to believe a powerful person was buried in that place because of the supernatural events that have occurred there. But was it the black woman that visited King Solomon, was it the woman who ruled Ethiopia, that has not been established.” Today as Bilikisu Sugbon stands, it remains a fabulous story told by eager adherents and promoted by the superstitious. In finding the truth, archeological evidence would have to prove it beyond doubt that indeed Sugbon’s body

lay in the tomb. But would anyone in Oke-Eri be willing to undertake this venture? Both Hamisu and Rauf shrieked away and shaking their heads vigorously said no indigene of the village would evacuate the grave. Odunlami had a more philosophical approach: “I can assure you no permission would be granted for the excavations on the site because with that you will destroy the people’s faith in it. What if you dig and nothing was found underneath, you make it useless. It will remain like that as long as the people believe in it. The best is to turn it to a religious destination,” he said. Darling did not claim to have found the grave of the Queen of Sheba but he alluded to a great civilisation as evident in the excavated Eredo walls. ”We are not linking what we found to a city, but to a vast kingdom boundary rampart. The vertical sided ditches go around the area for 100 miles and it is more than 1,000 years old. That makes it the earliest proof of a kingdom founded in the African rainforest,” he said. While the world awaits the truth about the Queen of Sheba, Bilikisu Sugbon would continue to rest under the mighty trees in the forest of Oke–Eri, while she continues to play host to thousands of tourists every year. So, sleep on Bilikisu Sugbon until the myth becomes the legend, told to several more generations.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

SOUTHWEST REPORT Princes and princesses of Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State are fighting over the headship of the large royal household. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports that the epic battle could take a long while to resolve N epic royal tussle rages at the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. When and how it would end or be resolved may remain a subject of conjecture by many and perhaps for a long time to come. The Fusengbuwa Family is one of the four Ruling Houses in IjebuOde that can legitimately provide a candidate, when it is their turn, to fill the stool of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland whenever it becomes vacant should a reigning Awujale grows old and joins his ancestors. In the ancient Ijebu-Ode town, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House appears to have had the rare fortune of being about the largest of the royal families and have equally had princes, who at different eras, later became the Awujales of Ijebuland and this is derived in part, from their ancestor, Oba Jadiara, who was the 25th Awujale to reign after Obanta - the heroic and first monarch of Ijebu. For a period spanning over 100 years, members have increased numerically and in stature with a good number of them not only attaining positions of repute in business, banking and industry, legal, engineering professions among others but also became first class serving Obas in some Ijebu communities. But the same numerical strength that ought to be a veritable advantage, seemed to have become a huge albatross. Not only is the Fusengbuwa Ruling House facing challenges of not immediately knowing how many they are, but also gravitate towards fragmentation with two of her prominent sons - founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Michael Subomi Balogun, and former President; Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Lateef Adebayo Owoyemi, claiming headship of the family – Olori-Ebi of Fusengbuwa Ruling House, at the same time. Today what looks real is the existence of a parallel Olori - Ebi for the Ruling House with each of the claimants Balogun and Owoyemi, commanding not small separate supporters to his side. Onlookers of the royal intrigues playing out in the family, say unless the issue is resolved quickly and amicably too, it has the potential to fester and then weaken the already fragile unity among their princes and princesses, and the by extension, the cohesion and oneness required to pick a candidate seamlessly in future for the exalted stool of the Awujale when the opportunity beckons. The Nation gathered that the rivalry had been brewing in the past, in a smouldering form as far back as 2004 when Otunba Subomi Balogun was accused of authoring a publication in an Ijebu - based community magazine where he claimed Fusengbuwa/Tunwase Ruling House where he belongs, is one of the official Royal families in Ijebuland and not

•Oba Sikiru Adetona, Awujale of Ijebuland

•Otunba Balogun Fusengbuwa Ruling House. Not done with just asserting that he is a member of the Fusengbuwa/Tunwase Ruling House, Balogun also expressed his conviction at the time that he was the most senior member of the House, whose opinion has always been respected by other members of the royal family. It was learnt that these claims of Balogun compelled the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of the Ile-Nla Compound Agunsebi, Ijebu-Ode, to quickly meet in August 2004 to distance themselves from Otunba Balogun’s claims. And the Fusengbuwa Ruling House anchoring their position on the Chieftaincy declaration of the then Western Region Government around 1957 to 1959, insisted that what was officially recognised was Fusengbuwa Ruling House and not Fusengbuwa/Tunwase Ruling House as claimed by Balogun. According to the said Western Region Government Chieftaincy declaration, the predecessor of Ogun State, the Ruling Houses in Ijebu-Ode are Gbelegbuwa Ruling House, Anikilaya Ruling House (where the reigning Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, belongs), Fusengbuwa Ruling House and Fidipote Ruling House. But what touched off the latest tussle in the Fusengbuwa Ruling House was the death of the Olori Ebi, Prince Fasasi Adebisi Adeyemi in February 19, 2013, and the intrigues on how to fill the vacuum left by his demise began to unfold. It was learnt that an Olori-Ebi is usually selected from proven descendants of direct children of previous Oba/King of the Ruling House, and such person must have shown interest in the affairs and welfare of the Ruling House, its members and is also expected to prove himself worthy of the position. The Nation gathered that after the death of Prince Adebisi Adeyemi, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House met, March 31, 2013, at the residence of the late Adeyemi where it unanimously appointed the then deputy Head of the Family (Igba keji Olori - Ebi), Otunba Lateef Adebayo Owoyemi, as the new

•Otunba Owoyemi

Royal row rumbles on in Ijebu-Ode as princes disagree over Olori-Ebi of Fusengbuwa Ruling House Olori-Ebi to succeed Adeyemi. It was further learnt that Owoyemi was later installed formally at a special meeting of the Ruling House at his late predecessor’s home on April 7, 2013, with former Minister, Senator Jubril Matrins Kuye, among other Princes in attendance and by April 8, 2013, letters were sent to the Secretary, Ijebu - Ode Local Government Council, Ogun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abeokuta, and Oba Sikiru Adetona, to formally announce Otunba Lateef Adebayo Owoyemi as the new Olori–Ebi of Fusengbuwa Ruling House. But a new twist crept into the matter last June 22 when Otunba Subomi Balogun was presented to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as the new OloriEbi of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. The Saderiren of Isonyin, Oba Funso Omo-Ogunkoya, Moyegeso of Itele, Oba Adesanya Kasali, Oru of Imoru, Oba Adeposi Bashorun, Chief Olu Adebanjo and 91 years old Prince Adedapo Adeniran, were among members of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House that presented Subomi Balogun to the Awujale as the new Olori-Ebi. Balogun was said to have emerged the new Head of the Ruling House in a meeting he jointly convened with Chief Olu Adebanjo, the Otunba Fusengbuwa of Ijebuland, at the Royal Pavilion, Otunba Tunwase Court, Ijebu-Ode last April 14. The Fusengbuwa Ruling House which was said to have been rattled by Balogun’s latest move, quickly wrote the Awujale, Oba Adetona, last November 12,

through its Counsel, Alhaji. Adesegun Adebayo, pointing out the anomaly and the alleged role of Otunba Timothy Olu Adebanjo in the whole matter. Lateef Owoyemi told The Nation that neither the meeting where Subomi Balogun emerged as the new Olori - Ebi was lawful and properly constituted nor Olu Adebanjo whom he alleged played a key role in the making of Balogun an Olori-Ebi, a member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. The former ICAN President who is also the Otunba Jadiara of Ijebuland, maintained that Olu Adebanjo who hails from IdowaIjebu, is not a member of any of the four Ruling Houses of Oba Dagburewe in Idowa or any of the Ruling Houses in Ijebu-Ode and so, lacked the competence to take the action he took in respect of Subomi Balogun. He recalled that in March 12, 1995, the representatives of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House led by the then Olori-Ebi, Prince Adebisi

Adeyemi(now late), had protested at the Palace of Awujale, IjebuOde, when Oba Adetona was to make Chief Olu Adebanjo the Otunba Fusengbuwa because the Ruling House alleged he was not a Prince. Owoyemi argued that Ogburo through whom Olu Adebanjo claimed to be a member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House was neither a Princess nor senior Olori (Queen) to the first Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Owa Otutubiosun. Oba Owa Otutubiosun is one of the sons of Oba Fusengbuwa, the Awujale of Ijebuland, who reigned between 1790-1891. Owoyemi said available record has shown that Ogburo whom Olu Adebanjo had continually claimed was his ancestors’ great grandmother was not a woman, Princess or Olori (Queen) but one of the Ilamurens(chiefs) in Idowa land. And sources close to the Palace of the Awujale also told our reporter that the said letter written by Counsel to the Fusengbuwa

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Ruling House and addressed to Oba Adetona last November 12 and which was equally acknowledged last December 16, explained the propriety and the need for the Paramount ruler to declare all actions taken by Olu Adebanjo “null” and “void” should Adebanjo’s claim to being a Prince, be found to be “false.” The letter reads in part: “we respectfully wish to refer your Majesty to the recent unfortunate events leading to the emergence of the unhappy and unusual experience of two Olori - Ebi in Fusengbuwa Ruling House, namely in the persons of Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, who was lawfully selected at a meeting of the Ruling House on March 30, 2013 and Otunba Subomi Balogun, whose emergence is said to have occurred at the Awujale Palace on June 22, 2013... “...Your Majesty reportedly publicly noted ‘the leadership role played by Otunba Olu Adebanjo

Unless the issue is resolved quickly and amicably too, it has the potential to fester and then weaken the already fragile unity among their princes and princesses, and by the extension, the cohesion and oneness required to pick a candidate seamlessly in future for the exalted stool of the Awujale when the opportunity beckons

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in the emergence of Otunba Subomi Balogun as Olori - Ebi’ and his presentation was done by a delegation widely reported to have been led by one of the prominent sons of the Ruling House, in the person of Otunba Olu Adebanjo... “We trust that your Majesty, as a highly principled and widely respected monarch, will readily agree that should Chief Olu Adebanjo’s claim to Royalty through Queen Ogburo and Fusengbuwa Ruling House, be found to be false, not only will all the actions so far taken by him as Otunba Fusengbuwa and a member of Fusengbuwa Ruling House or on behalf of the Ruling House, including his purported roles in the recent issue of Olori-Ebi, be declared null, void and of no lawful effects whatsoever, by your Majesty, but also your Majesty would not hesitate to take all other actions normally necessary in such circumstance, most especially in keeping with your Majesty’s sacred Oath of Office as Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.” When contacted, the Secretary of the Ruling House, Engr. Kayode Sote, in a telephone conversation, told The Nation that he had not gotten the mandate of the family to speak on the issue, stressing that he would rather keep mum. But Olu Adebanjo in an interview with our reporter said Owoyemi was in the meeting where Subomi Balogun was selected as the Olori Ebi, wrote his name and also signed same on the attendance register. Adebanjo insisted that he is a Prince through his great grandmother, Ogburo, and that his ancestors came to Idowa from Ijebu-

Ode. He admitted that Ogburo was a Chieftaincy title in Idowa but said it was created by the Dagburewe; Oba Owa Otutubiosun, in honour of his most senior wife, Olori Ogburo, and wondered why the likes of Owoyemi would think a woman could not become a Chief. According to him, the decision making Subomi Balogun Olori-Ebi was unanimous while names of people present at the meeting were also read out to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the day Subomi Balogun was formally presented to the Paramount ruler in line with the customs and tradition of the Ijebus nay Yoruba. Adebanjo said: “Our ancestors came to Idowa from Ijebu-Ode around 1540. Ogburo is a woman; she was the most senior wife of the first Dagburewe of Idowa. My mother also came from another royal line in Idowa. Her father, Prince Yesufu Ogunejo was the son of Adejo - daughter of Oba Dagburewe Anowoneyo. “It is in the original history book. This fellow (Owoyemi) is going to get himself into trouble. When he was the Local government Chairman, he borrowed the history book from the Oba and started tampering with it; it was when we told him that we have a photocopy of it that he stopped. “The meeting that made Owoyemi the Olori-Ebi was a sectional meeting and half of the people who were there are not from the royal family, they are not known and are not related to us. When we called the meeting that selected Subomi Balogun, Owoyemi was there and he signed the attendance (register) and the decision was taken unanimously

and that is what he will try to wriggle out of. “He was present I can show you the attendance book. When we went to Awujale to present Subomi Balogun, his name was mentioned as one of those present in the meeting where Balogun was selected and not only that, he signed the attendance book. “He (Subomi Balogun) has been selected as our Olori Ebi and he accepted it and we have presented him to the Awujale of Ijebuland. I don’t know what culture you (reporter) practice but in Yorubaland even if you make someone a Baale, he has to go and see the Oba. “In the meeting he (Owoyemi) claimed he was made the OloriEbi, ask him if he had been presented to the Awujale. It is an illegal body, a section of people who don’t belong to us. He can be secretary or anything. And that section is inhabited by people like Owoyemi who have nothing to do with our family. “My best advice to Owoyemi is to do like his father did and accept that they came to Idowa as aides to the Dagburewe of Idowa. I am telling you that Bayo Owoyemi and others who are fighting are not members of our family, they are pretenders.” “That is why I, Olu Adebanjo refused to go and sit with him in that section of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. I am the Otunba Fusengbuwa of the ruling house so I should know who and who members of the ruling house are. “I don’t know the reason for Owoyemi’s antagonism and bitterness towards me. His claim that I am not a member of the ruling house is not correct. You know Subomi Balogun very well, he is rich, if I am not a member of that house can I just go there and pick him and he will follow me? “His anger against me is because I am the one that knows his history that is his bitterness. Owoyemi knows that it is only my evidence that will do him all the damage because I have it.” Apparently reacting to insinuations doubting his royal ancestry Owoyemi said: “my father was Alhaji Prince Yinusa Adelowo Ayinde Owoyemi. His Mom was

Princess Onagbadeke, daughter of Prince Onamade Sikuloye. Onamade’s Mom was Princess and Queen Ushenbanke Onadi, Queen to Oba Sikuloye Dagburewe of Idowa. Princess Ushenbanke was the third Child and first Abidagba (Born on the Throne) daughter of Oba Awujale Fusengbuwa. “It was Princess Ushenbanke Fusengbuwa-Sikuloye that co-financed with her elder sister Princess Adekenu Fusengbuwa, the making of his junior brother, Prince Adesimbo Tunwase as an Oba Awujale in 1886. “Coincidentally, it was my late father Prince Yinusa Adelowo Owoyemi that solely played a vital role to the making of Prince Ephraim Olaneye (Sikuloye) as Oba Dagburrewe of Idowa in 1954. The Idowa Community also used my father’s personal house in Idowa as the town’s Oba Dagburewe Official Palace from 1954 till 1957. It was learnt that unwilling to accept the situation, the former ICAN president and four others on behalf themselves and the Fusengbuwa Ruling House filed a suit (HCJ/18/ 2014) against Subomi Balogun, Kayode Sote, Olu Adebanjo and also listed Oba Adetona as fourth respondent in the matter. They sought to “challenge Otunba Subomi Balogun’s attempt to forcefully impose himself,” as their “Olori-Ebi.” But the matter took a disturbing dimension when the Awujale Office, Ijebu - Ode, in a letter dated February 10, 2014 and signed by the monarch’s Secretary, Joseph Clement, suspended the head of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House; Otunba Lateef Owoyemi as an “Otunba of Awujale.” By the suspension order, he was restrained from further participation in activities at the Palace or any meeting of the Council of Otunbas. According to the Awujale Office, Owoyemi’s action against Oba Adetona is an “abomination and contrary to Ijebu culture, ancient custom and tradition.” However, Owoyemi told The Nation that the purpose of listing Awujale’s name initially was for a “judicial declaration for His Majesty not to further recognise or deal with Otunba Subomi Balogun” as their Olori Ebi but added that the said action against the Awujale would no longer be pursued. Owoyemi said: “Our joining His Majesty in the suit as the fourth defendant was only for a judicial declaration for His Majesty not to further recognise or deal with Otunba Subomi Balogun as our Olori-Ebi. “Our doing was so based on the strength of sound legal advice from a number of senior legal experts, who we consulted before our action was filed. “We did not mean harm or inconvenience for our Royal Father, who we continue to hold in the highest possible esteem at all times. “However, following the intervention of respected, community leaders of Ijebuland, the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Alhaji AbdulRasak Salaudeen, as well as the Ijebu-Ode Council of Oloritun, we have on February 14th, 2014, filed notice of discontinuance of our action against the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba S. K. Adetona, and duly brought same to the notice of the Palace.” Although, Oba Adetona’s name in the suit has been withdrawn by Owoyemi and others but the one they filed against Subomi Balogun, Olu Adebanjo and Kayode Sote still remains even though no date has yet been fixed for its mention in Court. Already Otunba Subomi Balogun is said to have started carrying on as the new Olori-Ebi of Fusengbuwa Ruling and has pledged to unite members but his rival, Owoyemi appeared determined to deploy all lawful means to wrest the Olori-Ebi Office from Balogun. The battle has just begun and who wins or loses; only time will tell.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

SOUTHWEST REPORT

BRIEF introduction of yourself. My name is Ayo Ogunlade, I am a thorough bred Ekiti man. My parents were from this local government area, Oye Local Government. I was accidentally born in Lagos on March 18, 1931. It means on March 18, you will be 84 years? Yes. At the age of two I sailed off to the Gold Coast, now called Ghana with my mother and I did not return to Nigeria until I was 17; that was in 1947. By the time my mother brought me home, I had started attending secondary school in Ghana. On coming back my mother took me to Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti where I met with the late Chief E. A. Babalola who was the first black Principal and the first university graduate in Ekiti land. What were your interests? My interests were in the literary arts. My mother wanted me to be a priest while my father wanted me to be a lawyer. Fortunately, neither of them got what they wanted through me. I was neither a priest nor a lawyer. My first degree was in English and Literature, which I got from where we all now know as the University of Ibadan. Then, it was the University College of London, Ibadan. After finishing, I set sail abroad to Indiana University where I did my Master in Mass Communication, specialising in the Electronic Media. How do you feel nowadays being an indigene of Ekiti State? If it were possible to come back to earth I will like to be an Ekiti man. Why? We have a heritage of personal integrity and honour. That is the way we were brought up, but unfortunately our children don’t see it that way now because of this general loss of value. So, the essence is reversed? Yes, the essential Ekiti man is no longer there. As an elder, would you say some of your unspoken dreams have been realised in this state lately, given the performance of Governor Kayode Fayemi? The Hausa has an adage the Yoruba equivalent of which is “iroyin ko to af’oju ba, meaning being told about a development is not as gripping as seeing same oneself.” There is no doubt at all that Fayemi is working and he is working well by endeavouring to make a difference upon what he met. That is the essence of progress. It is to make a difference on what you have met. So, as far as I am concerned, Fayemi has made progress. Look at the roads, the dualisation in Ado, the state capital; education, health. People may blame Ayo Fayose, as they normally do, but the fact is he built upon what he met on ground. It was the bush path which Ekiti people called “ese ko gbe’ji” that he met to link Ado and Afao. He, Fayose broadened it and tarred it as well. Although the tarred portion were removing before a year or two, but the fact remains that the roads were broadened and tarred and it served people for sometime Always let the next person strengthen whatever he meets on ground. No one is perfect. Even Christ. When somebody said perfect master, he (Jesus) replied that “no one is perfect except my father”. Now, the opposition party is blaming him (Fayemi) for taking a N25 billion bond from the capital market? Yoruba will say: “Owo la fi n’wa owo (You use money to seek money). When borrowings are judiciously applied on meaningful projects, in time it will begin to yield profits for the people; misapplied, they turn out to be a curse.

•Chief Ogunlade

‘An independent local government system is recipe for confusion’ Chief Ayo Ogunlade, 83, is an indigene of IlupejuEkiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State and a two-time former minister in the federal cabinet. In this interview with SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN, Pa Ogunlade contends that Nigeria runs a costly federal system and opposes financial independence for local governments. So, it is not wrong for government to borrow if it is meant for specific infrastructural projects? That is what I am saying. For an agrarian state like ours we have no industry, the only industries that we have are the old textile industry and the Ire burnt bricks. IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) was too paltry then to allow for meaningful development. Borrowing is very reasonable and good if used for developmental purposes as the Governor Kayode Fayemi has been doing. Politics seems to be the only way not just to get to power but also to affect society desirably, positively. What can we now say of politics of your time as against politics of today? Politics at that time was service rather than what do I stand to gain as an individual or as a group. Today, I am sorry to say, most of the politicians go into politics as a means of getting wealthy, so to say. Politics is used to be for service; it is to serve the people. But the nitty-gritty of it is that, it is the glamour of the office and the benefits that come from it that are the focus of participants nowadays. Maybe, that is a broad generalisation. When you look at it, the system has become so monetised; everything, money, money. Who is to blame? You cannot place the entire blame of that on the politicians. The people also have some blame. It is actually becoming a vicious cycle. The people have no means of livelihood. They look up to government to do everything for them. They see the politician living high up there and so they vote for you not because of your pedigree or

sincerity, but because of the pocket. What do you have to offer does not interest the people again. But there had been politics before the Europeans came. There was governance headed by people of integrity and honour, and there were certain families who were noted for their public services. In a way, it has been like that even up to today, those who have at one time or the other attained power are still the same set of people ruling, broadly and generally. Good. I’m glad you added broadly and generally to it. But somebody who is from a public spirited family, whose family is known to have served their community and their people selflessly, such can often be considered for public offices. Nowadays, however, if you come out to say I want to go to this place to represent you, I am the son of so and so, they will say yes, if you are from that family, your family has a record of public service already but they

will ask what have you brought for us in money terms. That is the final approach. Despite the family background, people will still need an accompaniment of cash? Yes. But, how can we have those who lack cash but have the heart of service in power? It may be an over simplification of the matter but it is by demonetising politics. There is no reason whatsoever to continue to do things the same way we are doing them now. Whoever nurses genuine intention to serve and affect society meaningfully must be able to attain power. Society must rise above such primordial penchant for cash. However, I must note the saying in Yoruba that: ”Bi eye ba ti mo beni ite re n’mo (the nest of the bird is the same as its size).” Our administration is costly. How do you mean? I mean our so-called presidential (federal) system of governance is too costly. There is nothing wrong with the American presidential system that we chose to follow but we should have moulded it according to our size as America did. You see, we adopted the American presidential system at the 19941995 constitution conference of which I had the opportunity of being a part. I was secretary of the parliamentary group with Alhaji Mahmud Atta as the chairman. We were then looking for a parliamentary system of government in which the party is supreme, but we chose to follow the presidential system which the army forced on us. I did a study of the cost of it – mindboggling! America’s land size is ten times that of Nigeria; the population of America is double that of Nigeria and her GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is 100 times ours (Nigeria’s). Also, they have 50 states and two senators per state. Are you proposing the American system? You are right. If America had wealth 100 times our own and a population that doubles our own, what is our logic for having more senators than they have? Is it because we have larger land or more money or more population? We should have tailored the American presidential system that we wanted to adopt to our size. But, we did not do that. We also talk now about equality of states, equality of local governments. The theory of the equality of man is supported neither by the creation theory nor Darwin’s Evolution theory which says all men are not equal; some are giants some are beetles. The trees are not equal, you have the grass, you have the shrubs and then you have the large Iroko trees. But we say all are equal. There will be hiccups. Whereas in the American system no state pays the same thing as the other state as remuneration to its political office holders. No governor earns the same thing with the other state. Go and find out, the Attorney-General of California earns more than the vice president of United States because California can afford to pay. This is fed-

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There had been politics before the Europeans came. There was governance headed by people of integrity and honour, and there were certain families who were noted for their public services

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eration working. But is Nigeria truly a federation? That is part of the problem. We are having the problem of all states being equal. We also have the policy of the Federal Government as the mother under which the entire chickens, the states, come. It is not like that in the American system. The states of America are not under the control of any federal arrangement. There is also nothing like exclusive preserve, apart from the military for the defense of the country. In America, if you find gold at your backyard you are at liberty to go to the banks, get expert to come and explore and confirm that it is available in commercial quantity and go on to tap it. I know of some local governments the annual internally generated revenue of which is less than N12 million which is about N1million per month, but they get N50, N60, N100 million from the so-called federation account every month. How can you say that the chairman of a local government that generates N1million every month should earn the same salary and allowances with the chairman of a state that generate N20, N30 million? The kind of thing that happened to Lagos when the Federal Government said it must not create additional local government could not have happen in many states. Such a state would have completely expired. Therein lies the proverb that a bird will not extend its nest beyond its size. What should be the relationship between the federal, state and local governments? The relationship between the federal, state and local government is like the relationship between Iroko tree and the palm tree and the casarina and the cashew tree and the grass, they are all plant kingdom that is all. Are you saying the local government should be left to the care of the state or should be scraped? No, I am just saying that you should recognise that the difference between the Federal Government and the state is not the same as the relationship between the state and the local government. While the federal and state are and should be at different autonomous levels of powers in a federation, the councils do not and should not have such a distinct autonomy with the states! What should the status of the local government be? The relationship between the state and the local government is the relationship between a tree, its root, its trunk, its branches, its flowers, its fruits. The relationship between your eyes, your nose, your hands and your whole body. You cannot say that the branch of a tree is independent of the tree, or the eyes should be independent of the body, or a hand independent of the body. If you are walking in the street and you see a hand just swinging without the body will you stand? Or can you sit down here and someone knocks at the door and you say the eyes should go and see who is at the door. So I don’t know what they are talking about. But the Federal Government once appeared to be in favour of taking the local government out of the control of states? No. You see a local government independent of the state is an anomaly. That cannot work. It will only lead to confusion, and disjointed, disrupted and unmanageable systems Will that not be reflective of the entire confusion which Nigeria has been become? It cannot work. Financial autonomy without plans of what to do with the finance will worsen the situation as being experienced at the local governments. Why our local •Continued on page 36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

SOUTHWEST REPORT Fayemi names Awelewa Special Adviser

•Solomon (middle) with officials of the ministry amid some of the beneficiaries

NABLE to withstand the ravaging pangs of hunger, which has become terror to many homes owing to the frightening unemployment in the country, the general run of female youths now ekes out daily living on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos and other suchlike flourishing “markets” of prostitution. Willy-nilly, their male counterparts - especially those that do not see a sense of pride in menial jobs like truck pushing - secure jobs for their idle hands in the underworld, though at their risk. Not a few among them embrace touting and hooliganism, just to keep body and soul intact, despite the inherent risks. However, about 1,000 of such deprived youths have now keyed into an ongoing effort by Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon of Lagos West Senatorial District to change their story through an intensive two-week training on various vocations aimed at making them economically self-reliant. The flag-off of the training was held same day at two different locations – the Senator’s Olateju, Mushin Constituency Office and Ojo. The training which began on February 17 will be rounded off on February 28. Besides Solomon, present at the kick-off included officials of the Ministry of Youths, Sports and Culture, which co-sponsors the project with the Senator; a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Kola Oseni; Chairman, Odi-Olowo/ Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Aremo Adeyemi Ali and his counterpart in Mushin Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Adepitan. Ali was said to have represented his colleagues in the district. An excited large crowd comprising the youth and APC supporters, especially women, welcomed Solomon and his entourage into the venue with various heart-warming songs. They commended the Senator’s philanthropy to high heavens. Members and beneficiaries of the Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon

Senator, ministry launch anti-poverty battle By Dada Aladelokun

Foundation, which was inaugurated by him over a decade ago to cater for the needy, were a cynosure of eyes in branded green T-Shirts, singing the praise of the lawmaker whom they roundly adjudged a “rare giver.” Through the programme, which is being handled by Stable Technology Limited, a consulting firm, the youth are being trained in tailoring, knitting, beads & wire works, dish installation, cakebaking and decorations, among others. The lucky beneficiaries were said to have applied through the internet, thus ensuring equitable selection. Oseni, who described Solomon as his very good son and a true representative of his people and constituency, urged the beneficiaries of the training to make good use of the opportunity to prepare good future for themselves.

Ali, who echoed his view, added that the programme “is in furtherance of the anti-poverty programmes of the APC,” adding: “What we are doing here today will further convince you all that APC is truly a people’s party which people must be loyal to in their best interest.” Declaring the training open, Solomon said: “Apart from the fact that it is my life to share in the plight of the less-privileged, this training is a response to the worrisome fallouts of rising unemployment in our country. After the training, the beneficiaries will have the opportunity not only to be selfemployed but be employers of labour. When a youth is jobless, he is frustrated and if the frustration is not promptly attended to, it easily leads to aggression and eventually, criminal tendencies that will suffocate the society as we have now.” “We will be strict on attendance

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When a youth is jobless, he is frustrated and if the frustration is not promptly attended to, it easily leads to aggression and eventually, criminal tendencies that will suffocate the society as we have now

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and discipline and we won’t condone unruly behaviour. Inspectors will be available to monitor the programme and there will be a feedback mechanism to ensure that the effort yield the desired fruits for the beneficiaries and the society at large,” he added. Within minutes after the brief flag-off ceremony, the enthusiastic trainees, armed with appropriate learning facilities, got seated in their various classes, listening to introductory instructions from their instructors. Solomon and his guests later inspected the classes, one after the other, with words of advice and encouragement for the trainees. A trainee in the disk installation class, Kamorudeen Animashaun, praised Solomon for the gesture, saying: “He is giving us our future by teaching us how to fish without collecting a kobo from us. Other leaders of ours in this country should emulate him.” An instructor in the cake-baking and decoration class, Mrs Funke Awofolaju, enjoined her students to be serious, adding that after the training, there would be a competition before their eventual graduation. It was praises galore for the Senator at Ojo, when he kicked-off the same exercise. An elder, Pa Bade Odetunde heaped prayers on the senator even as he urged government at all levels to draw a cue from the gesture as a way of fighting crimes in the land. When The Nation visited the Mushin centre last week, the trainees paid rapt attention to their respective trainings as some others were working with their tools under close watch by some inspectors. For them, it was about time to say final “bye” to idleness.

KITI State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has appointed Mr. Sina Awelewa as his Special Adviser on Rural Communications. A journalist, lawyer as well as businessman, Awelewa who was the immediate past Director General of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES), had also worked at various other media houses in the country, including The Punch newspapers, defunct The Mail newspapers and The Broadcaster magazine. His working experience cut across both the public and private sectors both within and outside the country and was once a full-time board member of Ekiti State public works. Awelewa attended Saint Mary’s Primary School, Ilawe-Ekiti and Corpus Christi College also in Ilawe-Ekiti for his secondary school educ-ation. He obtained B.SC (Hons) in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and another degree in Law (LLB) from the same university. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1995 after the completion of one year in Law School, Lagos. He also bagged a diploma certificate in Computer Science from the Long Island University, New York, USA. A prolific writer and a publisher, Awelewa has authored about four books and is engaged in philanthropy through his “Sina Awelewa Foundation”, which was inaugurated in 2001. Awelewa is well travelled and married with children.

•Shina Awelewa

Pilgrimage: Okoduwa wants leadership rotation By Adegunle Olugbamila

HE founder of Dispensational Gospel Missions Incorporated Worldwide, Archbishop Peter Okoduwa, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse his decision making the leadership of pilgrimage to holy lands a permanent position. Okodua who is the Rector of The Community Bible Institute and Seminary in Lagos noted that the development is silently brewing trouble especially among the Christian fold. Okodua, who led the Federal Government’s delegation to the Holy land in 2005, said in time past, prominent Nigerians were considered for the office without religious affiliations, noting that President Jonathan should not deviate from the norm. He said: “The leadership of the pilgrimage to the Holy lands should be rotated. That is how it has been done from the outset. But President Jonathan has now confined it to the leaders of the two religious bodies. In the past, it could be any prominent Nigeria such as the Senate President or even Speaker of the House of Representatives but not necessarily the clergy alone. So the president should follow the precedents.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

SOUTHWEST REPORT ‘Independent local government system is recipe for confusion’ •Continued from Page 34 governments are not functioning now is that they don’t make plans. It is when the money comes at the end of the month that they will now say they have this and that, what are we going to do with it. No, every local government, as soon as you are elected, must present a short term and medium term plan with the budget as to what you are going to draw for the short term programmes and the medium term programmes. So that when the money comes it is applied to what is already on ground as the vision and the mission of the local government. I had the opportunity of implementing that when I was the minister for national planning between 1995 and 1998. Do we have planning today at all? We don’t again. John Kennedy said they will land a man in the moon in ten years and they did. The answer is not in giving N100 million to a local government in a month that generates N15 million in a year. It is in focused and genuine planning. How can Nigeria regain her steps? We need a serious surgical operation of the system of governance. Take another instance of full time legislators. How can legislators, from national to state and councils, be on so-called full time? Most of the 50 states in America do not have full time legislators. That is why I said we need a major surgical operation on our system of administration: executive, legislature, and judiciary. Why do we have full time councilors at the local government placed on salary and allowances? What do we need them for? What do they do on daily basis? How many byelaws are passed by them? Let the university researchers in the social sciences do an analysis of how many legislations and bye laws emerge from national/state assemblies and the local governments. Why are they insisting that it should be a full-time engagement? Because that is the only industry that we have. Politics is the only industry that we have. We start to reverse the situation by massive de-monitisation of political offices; let those who don’t see it as their means of sustenance and living come in. That is when we begin to get it right. Is that possible? Yes. If we know what our objectives and goals are. Is there anything in this country that makes an elderly man like you happy? Yes, I am happy that anywhere in the world you go and you say I am a Nigerian, they will say “ah, the country with the largest concentration of blacks in the world”. I will still vote for one Nigeria any day because like Yoruba adage will say “agbajo owo la fi’n soya” (if you want to beat your chest and want the people to hear, you have to do it with clenched fist). It is preferable for Nigeria to remain one. In that is the hope for our eventual progress and development. Are those advocating that Nigeria should be sundered entirely wrong? I think they have the cause to think so. But, it is not entirely in the interest of Nigeria to scatter. There is no where you break the pattern after 100 years together.

•The Alaba-Okiri Road being filled with hard core through communal effort

Alaba-Okiri community seeks help to fight flood

ERHAPS, just perhaps your relation, who has been living up with you, has decided to take up an accommodation at Satellite Town in Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, advice him against being fascinated by the posh residential buildings at Alaba-Okiri, a continuation of Community Road, Ijegun-Egba, otherwise known as lagoon bus stop. This is an acquired name to reflect the ocean-like stagnant mass of water that has taken over the road even in dry season. This is because the road has been taken over by dark, malodorous stagnant water which resulted from a poorly executed job by Messrs Lopek Engineering Construction Company-a firm which members of the community allegedly said is inexperienced and incompetent. The last rain that fell further rendered the area more desolate, as no vehicle could go out of or into the street. There is great fear of epidemic because the ocean-erosion that has taken over the street has made the area become a hazardous ecological unit where dangerous animals, reptiles and mosquitoes breed in their large numbers. Those who hazard walking through the foul-smelling and murky water had been infected with one skin disease or the other. According to members of the community, construction of the road was a World Bank-assisted project undertaken by the Lagos State government. Work on the road and drainage system, they said, was terminated “at a point that will be of disastrous consequences to us…Satellite Town, being a low land with perennial water logging needs special attention…” But for what could be perceived as neglect, Alaba-Okiri would have been a very exciting and lively community. Any wonder members of this forgotten area are gnashing their teeth. As one ambles from Abule-Ado on the Lagos Badagry Expressway into Alaba-Okiri Street via Community Road, one begins to understand why members of this community are angry. Their fury was perceptible. Men, women, youths and even infants bore hatred of their forlorn situation on their face. No pretence about it. Members of Alaba-Okiri community were ready to tell their disgusting story. There used to be a road on which they walked, but now, they are seemingly living in an abyss caused by indescribable volume of erosion.

By Chinaka Okoro

During and after every rainfall; whether heavy or mild, babies are swept away as houses are submerged. For long, members of this community watched helplessly. But it is the resultant floods that made the people cry out most, because whatever pours down from the heavens finds no other outlet than the road to Alaba-Okiri. This is so because storm water from Union Bank sewage, the Central Bank sewage and all the adjoining streets in Satellite Town are channelled through Alaba-Okiri because it leads to the nearby lagoon. The community has resorted to self help by buying and pouring hard core on the road in an effort to get the appropriate level of the road. In a chat with our correspondent, the chairman of Alaba-Okiri Residents Association, Mr Nwakor Chukwudi said “the job Lopek Construction Company did on this our street helped in further messing it up. We were enjoying the road when construction work was not carried out on it than now. “When the firm was carrying out construction work on the road, instead of it to terminate the drainage system at the canal, it stopped it here. Our children are almost always hospitalised as a result of effects of mosquito bite.” On efforts his association has made to draw the attention of the authorities to the situation of the road and the suffering of the people, Mr Chukwudi disclosed that they had written several letters to both the local and state governments to draw their attention to the inhuman situation in which members of the com-

munity are living. “The inhabitants of this area are suffering horribly. We have written letters to Governor Babatunde Fashola, the Commissioner for Environment and chairman Oriade Local Council Development Area where we stated our problems about the road. “We are pleading that government should come and extend the drainage system to the canal so that the volume of water from all parts of Satellite Town that find its way here would find a free channel to the lagoon,” he said. Also speaking, Mr Anthony Ezenduka, a lawyer and secretary of the association said: “The AlabaOkiri road has great economic importance. It is the second most important road in Satellite Town apart from Marwa Road which is the main service road in the area. The AlabaOkiri Road is the only road capable of decongesting the over stretched Marwa Road. “Road is about development. Without roads, development would be a mirage. You may notice that because of the bad condition of this road, all properties in this area have been devalued as they are not as attractive to people as they should be. But for the bad condition of the road, economic activities would have been at their peak. Because of the incessant flood, people moved away from the area. “We have continued to do our best but the annoying part of it is after building the road through communal effort, the local government comes to collect what it called stacking permit. This is the same government that shows no concern to the plight of the people.” Mr Hyacinth A. Nwoye, Alfa Ajasa

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We have continued to do our best but the annoying part of it is after building the road through communal effort, the local government comes to collect what it called stacking permit. This is the same government that shows no concern to the plight of the people

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Tajudeen, Sebili Adigun, Navy Commodore Mufutau Ajibade (rtd) and Mr Ndubuisi G.O. Okocha and other members of the community stated the need for both the local and state governments to look into their suffering and rescue them. A letter Alaba-Okiri Axis/Otubu Estate/Kessington Residents’ Association wrote to Governor Babatunde Fashola which was copied to the Commissioner for Environment and chairman Oriade Local Council Development Area on September 28, 2012 was entitled: Urgent Appeal to Save Our Souls. The letter signed by Mr Nwakor Chukwudi and Barrister Anthony Ezenduka, chairman and secretary of the association respectively reads: “Your Excellency Sir, we wish to remind you of our cries to you for help concerning the flood disaster caused by Messrs Lopek Engineering Construction Company at the terminal point of the World Bank-assisted Community Road/Alaba-Okiri Street road construction in Satellite Town…We are totally helpless and hopeless. “For quite sometime now, the rains have been so magnanimous to us by ceasing to fall. We have been heaving a false sigh of relief. It was as if the extended break was especially for us. We wished it would remain so. “…Now, the dreaded period is back. The rains are here again. To whom do we run if not you, our father? You are the only one that can help us. We have no alternative. No amount of self effort will do. We have tried all we can (sic), to no avail. “Sir, please show us that you care, as we know you do. Please, visit this place; make a pronouncement; show us that we are your children, not orphans…” When contacted on phone, the chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area Hon. Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi said the local government is equally concerned about the plight of residents of the area, saying he had continually drawn the attention of Governor Fashola to Alaba-Okiri Road as one of the ecological problems facing the council. He promised to keep on reminding the state government of the need to fix the road. The inhabitants of this area maintained that they have been cut off from all neighbouring communities because Alaba-Okiri Road which is the only road that links them with the others has been taken over by flood, even as they called on the local and state governments to be of assistance.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

THE NATION INVESTORS Capital Market Editor, TAOFIK SALAKO, speaks to leading analysts and investment pundits on possible interplays in the financial markets in the days ahead

Hopes, uncertainties’ll blow the sail off markets Emerging market strategist, Standard Bank, Samir Gadio (London):

ESPITE a large current account surplus fuelled by the elevated oil price in recent years, the Nigerian authorities have been unable to accumulate any oil savings over the period. This paradox appears to reflect a combination of alleged oil revenue leakages, capital flight and a loose federally consolidated fiscal stance. Granted such imbalances were offset by sizeable portfolio flows into the fixed income and equity markets between 2012 and early 2013, but now that those have turned negative, the intrinsic distortions facing the Nigerian economy will come to the fore. The challenge for the next Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor will be to preserve macroeconomic stability amid alleged oil revenue leakages and the virtual absence of fiscal savings, but also a less favourable external environment as the US Fed continues to unwind its quantitative easing (QE) programme and foreign investors reduce their exposure to Nigeria. In this context, we suspect the policy dilemma will not really change for the top leadership of the apex bank: only a sharp tightening in monetary conditions can reverse or at least slow the slide in foreign (FX) reserves and prevent a further weakening of the currency. And while calls for letting the Naira find “its fair value” are gaining momentum, those advocating this approach will eventually realise that

the concept of currency overvaluation is almost irrelevant in an economy where oil accounts for 95 per cent of exports, but which is struggling to accrue any oil savings. Even if the exchange rate was moved to 200 or 250, the same upward pressure on Dollar/Naira will still re-emerge at those levels as long as the above mentioned fiscal and oil-revenue distortions are not addressed. Either way, the risks to market yields are to the upside unless there is a concerted push to lower policy rates in the meantime which would trigger a period of pronounced foreign exchange weakness and still subsequently force the CBN to tighten monetary policy afterwards. Meanwhile, the equity market is ironically likely to be more sensitive to the fortunes of the NGN rather than stock valuations for the time being.

Head, Research & Intelligence, BGL Plc, Femi Ademola (Lagos) The development at the Central Bank of Nigeria is a surprise and has therefore shocked the markets. Therefore the immediate impact on the financial markets is likely to be sharp and severe. There may be a risk of capital flight to the detriment of the exchange market while sell down pressure on equity and fixed income instruments could persist for some time as the markets grapple with uncertainties.

However, the quick move to announce an eventual successor to Mallam Sanusi may calm the uncertainties.

Foreign Exchange Market By this development, the uncertainty of investments in Nigeria is further heightened which may imply that the commitment of the CBN to protect the Naira exchange rate may be significantly threatened. Hence, an average foreign investor’s sentiment enters a flight mode. Within the hour following the announcement of the governor’s suspension, the Naira depreciated precipitously to N169/$ at the interbank market from N163.7/$ it closed the previous trading day. The Nigerian interbank foreign exchange market was reported suspended for the day following the volume of demand that hit the market in the following hours. Significant pressure is likely to mount up at the Bureau de Change (BDC) end of the market. The global foreign exchange market cannot be suspended and the constraining approach to managing the potential hemorrhaging of the Naira could only spell further doom for the currency because as investors find it hard to convert from the currency they get more panicked and the pressure is sustained longer than necessary. This could eventually result in the forced official depreciation of the exchange rate in the short to me-

dium term to N160/$- N165/$ range. To stem this tide, the interim leadership of the CBN would have to immediately deploy intervention measures into all segments of the market and supply the US Dollar in abundance which would come at costs of significant further erosion of the reserves.

The Money and Bond Market Indications are that the FGN bond market was immediately short down following the announcement to avoid disruptive sell offs in the market. Again, as investors move into flight mode on the back of the increased uncertainty on the Nigerian economy and the fortune of the Naira exchange rate as highlighted above, the sell offs are inevitable. In this regard, we are likely to see a total upward shift in the Nigerian yield curveincreases in yields across all maturities. It is also not unlikely for the yield curve to develop a hump with yield at the short end of the market rising disproportionately to the longer end of the yield curve. This trend may, however, not be sustained for long as higher yield become attractive to domestic large portfolio investors especially the pension funds who would find reprieve in the bond market. In this regard, the supplydemand dynamics that this situation may create for the fixed income market may see yields and short term rates rise to between 14 per cent-16 per cent on the aver-

age in the short term.

The stock market With 51.8 per cent foreign transaction content in the Nigerian stock market, this announcement could be damaging for the equities market. As a leading indicator of economic sentiments, the uncertainty that this development im-, plies is likely to support the bearish trend in the short term as portfolio investors rush to exit. The market which has sustained significant bearish performance since the beginning of the year turned round last week from a two-week long downward spiral that was signaled by the monetary policy action of increased cash reserve ratio of public sector deposits in banks, at a time the US tapering of quantitative easing was already impacting the market.

Appointment of a successor is apt Thankfully, the Federal Government has moved swiftly to propose Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the successor to the suspended CBN Governor. Emefiele is an economic and finance professional with strong experience in banking and academics. His calm demeanour soothes well for the role of an economic manager and bank regulator. Although, it is not clear yet what his policy focus would be if his appointment is confirmed by the Senate, his management style at Zenith Bank suggests that he makes decisions carefully to prevent unnecessary uncertainties and disruptions; something Nigeria needs at this time.

NSE approves N15b bonds for three states HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has ratified previous approvals-in-principle granted for the issuance of N15 billion bonds by three state governments. The ratifications were for N5b bond issue each by Nasarawa, Kogi and Ekiti states. According to the approvals, Nasarawa State received ratification or a N5 billion 15 per cent Fixed Rate Bonds Series 1 Due 2021 under its N20 Billion Medium Term Note (MTN) programme. Kogi State also secured approval for its N5 billion 15 per cent Fixed Rate Bonds Series 1 due 2020 under the government’s N20 Billion bonds issuance programme. Ekiti State received final approval for its N5 billion 14.5 per cent Fixed Rate Bonds Series II due 2020 under the state’s N25 Billion bonds issuance programme. The final ratification by the quotation committee of the NSE will enable the bonds to be listed for trade on the NSE. Ekiti State Government had, on the basis of the approval-in-principle, raised N5 billion from the capital market to finance five major projects as the government seeks to complete major developmental projects that would impact on the socio-economic and urban-rural integration. The N5 billion bond was the second and final tranche of the state’s N25 billion bond issuance programme. The new bond issue carries a fixed coupon of 14.5 per cent and will be due for redemption in 2020. However, coupon payment will be done twice a year while the government has made irrevocable commitment, which enables monthly deduction from its federal allocation. Ekiti State had raised N20 billion under the first tranche of the N25 billion issuance programme. The net proceeds of the N5 billion

bond issue, estimated at N4.80 billion, will be used to complete five major projects which are currently being financed by contractors under a contractor finance agreement. These projects include construction of the multi-purpose 10,000-capacity Ekiti-Kete pavilion, rehabilitation of Ire Burnt Bricks Limited, construction of River Ero bridge, construction of IlaweIgbaraodo-Iboji road and Ikole-Ijesa Isu-Iluomoba road. According to the estimates for the uses of the net proceeds, N1.58 billion would be spent on the multi-purpose pavilion, about N966.9 billion would be spent on the Ire Burnt Bricks Limited while N220.36 million, N894.7 million and N1.14 billion would be spent on the bridge and the two roads respectively. Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the approval and success of the second tranche of the bond programme reflected the market’s confidence in the state as evidenced in the judicious use of the proceeds of the previous issuance. According to him, the state had committed the proceeds of its first tranche to several laudable projects that continue to bear testimonies to efficient use of funds including the Ikogosi Warm Spring, school of agriculture and roads across the state. He pointed out that all the new projects identified under the new bond issue would have immense positive impact on the development of the state adding that all the projects would have been completed within the next one year. He noted that while his administration was desirous of fast-tracking the pace of development through additional funds from the capital market, it is committed to efficient debt management as N9.2 billion has already been paid from the initial N20 billion issue.

•From left: Deputy Managing Director, Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Mr. Ekow Afedzie; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema and Managing Director, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Mr. Bukar Kyari at the West African Capital Markets Integration Council (WACMIC) Sensitisation Workshop in Lagos.

Experts proffer ways to access small funding

MALL and medium scale enterprises can secure adequate funding from the financial markets if they prepare good operational and accounting records. Financial experts at International Finance Corporation (IFC), Meristem Wealth Management Limited and ABN Limited said small scale business owners would have better access to amenable finance if they have a good vision, high level of integrity and good structure. They spoke at the Lagos Island Business Exchange (LIBEX) organised by ABN Limited. Head, SME Management Training Solutions, International Finance Corporation, Mr. Chijioke Nworka said small business owners need to develop a visionary business development plan and then look for resources to achieve the vision. He noted that IFC has developed a free SME toolkit that small busi-

ness entrepreneurs can adapt to successfully run their businesses. Managing Director, Meristem Wealth Management Limited, Mr. Suleiman Adedokun, said while many small scale businesses complained about lack access to needed finance to fund their operations, getting financing is not something that is so difficult depending on how the businesses prepare themselves. According to him, accessing finance from banks or other investors demand that the company puts its house in order. “How attractive is your business. Do you have a feasibility report and business plan that will enable you do what you want to pursue. These are some of the factors financiers consider,” Adedokun said. He said funds are provided for some businesses only for them to fail due to absence of a good structure among other factors. “For a business to be attractive, it

must have a structure in place, accounting records must be solid. Many of the small businesses lack proper accounting records and have incomplete records. You cannot make right decision when you have incomplete records. “How do you know that you have made profit, how do you know the right amount of funds you need for the business. If you do not have all these in place, it will be very difficult for you to successfully access finance. The right skill and plan for future must be there. And again the integrity of those running the business must be of high level,”Adedokun said. Speaking on LIBEX, General Manager, Operations, ABN Limited, Ms. Afoma Uchendu said the platform was aimed at addressing some of the challenges being faced by SMEs by exposing participants to knowledge and information that would help them manage their businesses better.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS PENSION

‘There’s no feud between insurers, PFAs’ P ENSION Fund Administrators (PFAs) have said there is no feud between them and insurers, despite allegations of demarketing levelled against some members on the sale of Programme Withdrawal (PW) and Life Annuity sold by the duo. The Pension Managers, who spoke under the auspices of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PeNop) at a briefing in Lagos, said they are looking at areas of collaboration and work as partners, and not as competitors. Programme Withdrawal (PW) is a product offered by PFAs and regulated by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) while annuity is offered by life insurance firms regulated by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). Under the PW pension is paid over an expected lifespan until the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balance runs out. Whenever the retiree dies, the beneficiary under a will, or Letter of Administration, is paid enbloc the balance in the RSA. Life Annuity, on the other hand, pays pension for life with a minimum guaranteed payment period of 10 years. If the retiree dies within the guaranteed payment period of 10 years, the surrender value of the remaining amount within the period shall be paid as lump sum to the estate of the retiree or named beneficiary. The issue of de-marketing over the products has caused tension between the pension managers and insurers in the past. The insurers complained that PFAs were discouraging retirees and pensioners on their lists from buying life annuity products, alleging that some of them spread lies about an-

•From left: Executive Secretary, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Susan Oranye; Head, Legal Regulation, Wilson Ideva; Yola and Head Technical, Sadiq Mohammed at the event in Lagos. Stories by OmobolaTolu-Kusimo

nuity products and make wrongful insinuations about the safety of life annuity funds. On the other hand, the PFAs were, however, not happy that PenCom is collaborating with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to promote life annuity as an alternative to programmed withdrawals as prescribed by the Pension Act. Some also believe insurers do not act professionally in

their bid to make the retirees buy their product. PeNop Chairman, Mr. Misbau Yola, said at the event that insurance firms accused marketers of misinforming retirees about either procuring programme withdrawal or annuity. He explained that they are required to inform the retirees at the point of retirement on the option available to them, saying but it is up to the retiree to decide which option to take.

He said: “After we give this information to the retirees, they think about it and take their decision. Unfortunately, the insurance marketers believe that because we are the ones that interface with these retirees, we sell our own product rather than theirs. “But, of course, we are not to specifically sell their product, but we will not de-market their product and we actually do not do that. A lot of retirees have been moving from our own product which is the PW to life

annuity. Those who choose annuity and subsequently discovered they would be better off with Programme Withdrawal, cannot come back because they are not allowed to do so based on how the product is structured. PW withdrawal, on the other side, is flexible and retirees can decide they want to change to annuity. “As an association, we are fervently looking at possible ways of how we can understand ourselves better so that they can actually understand that we are partners in progress and not competitors in this regard. We, as an industry, do not de-market the annuity option. The relationship is cordial, all we do is advise the retiree on available options to think and make a choice.” Section 4 of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 provides that an employee can on retirement, make withdrawals from his Retirement Savings Account (RSA) in the form of a programmed monthly or quarterly withdrawal based on his life expectancy or buy life annuity from a life insurance firm. Yola said the retiring worker can withdraw a lump sum from the balance in his RSA provided that the amount left in the account after the withdrawal is enough to fund a life annuity, or programmed withdrawals of not less than 50 per cent of his annual remuneration at the date of retirement. Also, a retiree, who had opted for programmed withdrawal is free to change to life annuity, using the balance in his programmed withdrawal account to buy life annuity from a life insurer but he cannot change from life annuity to programmed withdrawal, he added.

81 firms implement Group Life for workers, says PenCom

IGHTY-ONE institutions have implemented the compulsory Group Life Insurance Policy (GLIP) in the country as at the end of the third quarter of last year, as against 54 in the second quarter, representing an increase of 50 per cent. According to a report made available by PenCom, financial institutions maintained their lead on compliance their number moved from 14 to 23. Acting Director-General of National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu said the Commission has intensified its compliance and enforcement activities with particular reference to the provisions of Section 9 (3) of PRA 2004, which requires employers to maintain life insurance policy in favour of their

employees for a minimum of three times the annual emoluments of the employees. She said: “The number of institutions that submitted evidence of compliance with the GLIP increased from 54 in the second quarter to 81 in the third quarter. “The number of institions that complied in Education is four, Construction is eight, Oil and Gas is five, Manufacturing is three, Hospitality is two, Government Agencies, two, Commercial is eight, while other institutions recorded 26.’’ She said the Commission received 467 applications for the issuance of compliance certificates, of which 401 were issued, while 66 applications were turned down due to various inadequacies. She listed these inadequacies as

issues bearing on non-remittance of pension contributions for the appropriate period and non-provision of Group Life Insurance Policy for their employees. She explained that Section 9 (3) of the Pension Reform Act 2004 requires every employer to which the Act applies, to maintain Life Insurance Policy in favour of the employee for a minimum of three times of the annual total emolument of the employee. Mrs Anohu-Amazu said: “For the purpose of establishing uniform set of rules, guidelines and standards in relation to the application of the provisions of Section 9 (3), the following minimum guidelines shall apply. The employer shall fully bear all costs in relation to procurement of this policy, and this shall be in addi-

TD’s Clark to get $2.2m Lifetime Pension

OMINION Bank (TD) Chief Executive Officer Ed Clark will get a lifetime yearly pension of C$2.49 million ($2.23 million) after stepping down as head of Canada’s largest lender by assets. According to Bloomberg, Clark, 66, is set to retire November 1 after leading the Toronto-based bank for almost 14 years. As part of his employment agreement, Clark’s pension payout will continue “unreduced” to his surviving spouse for her lifetime following his death, the firm said in a filing yesterday with Canadian regulators. The pension was determined using the yearly average of Clark’s highest consecutive 36 months’ salary and a percentage that became fixed in October 2010, when his

pension benefits were frozen with no further accruals, according to the filing. The firm’s “supplemental executive retirement plan” was closed to new members in 2009, the filing shows. “This is a compensation element that has been decreasing in prevalence,” said Joe Sorrentino, Managing Director at Steven Hall & Partners LLC, a New York-based consulting firm. “When it was put in place it was pretty common practice, but over time we’ve seen the decline in these types of programs.” Clark joined Toronto-Dominion in 2000 after it acquired Canada Trust’s parent CT Financial Services Inc., where he was president and CEO. Since taking over the top job in 2002, he’s spent more than $25

billion on U.S. acquisitions to build a network of branches stretching from Maine to Florida. Royal Bank of Canada (RY) CEO Gordon Nixon, the country’s highest-paid bank head, is entitled to a maximum annual pension of C$2 million at age 65, according to a January 31 filing by the Torontobased bank. Annual pension benefits payable as of year-end were C$1.68 million, the filing said, and disclosures don’t say if his pension is transferable to a spouse. Nixon, 57, will retire Aug. 1 after 13 years leading Royal Bank. Ali Duncan Martin, a Toronto-Dominion spokeswoman, and Royal Bank’s Jason Graham didn’t have an immediate response to questions about the CEO pensions.

tion to, and separate from, the contributions to be made by the employer to each employee’s Retirement Savings Account, as required by the Act. “The Life Insurance Policy shall be effected through the purchase of a Life Policy issued by a Nigerian Registered Insurance Company, licensed and authorised to conduct Life Insurance Business by National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) under the Insurance Act 2003.” She said for ease of administration, a consortium of eligible insurance firms, as determined in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 of this guideline, shall be constituted for providing life insurance cover for employees of the Federal Government. ‘’Employers in the private sector shall be at liberty to engage the

• Mrs Anohu-Amazu

service of any insurance company or group of insurance companies, which satisfies the eligibility criteria in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 of these guidelines,” she added.

California pension boosts rates

HE California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the largest in the United States public pension, will begin phasing in higher contribution rates to account for the increased costs of retirees living longer. The board of the $282.5 billion fund voted yesterday to boost the state’s annual allocation to $5 billion over three years, from $3.8 billion now. Local government increases were postponed for two years. The vote represents a partial victory for Governor Jerry Brown, a 75-year-old Democrat, who urged the board to reflect the increased costs of increased longevity in three

years. Cash-strapped local governments won a delay to help build a cushion before the higher payments kick in. “We have to be as aggressive as we possibly can without causing significant fiscal stress for our most challenged participants,” said Christopher McKenzie, executive director of the League of California Cities, who argued for a delay on behalf of municipalities. Local governments may see costs rise as much as five per cent of payroll for typical state employees and as much as nine per cent of payroll for those in public-safety jobs, such as police and firefighters, at the end of a five-year phase-in, Calpers said in a statement.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

‘African SMEs have boundless opportunities’ T HE growth in sub-Saharan Africa offers African small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) opportunities in 2014, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects economic growth in the region to be slightly higher than of that in 2013, at six per cent. This is coupled with more than one billion consumers on the continent who spend $600 billion yearly, with the fastest growing middle class in the world and the significant opportunities in connecting with the world. Managing Director, DHL Express SSA, Charles Brewer, said that SMEs are the

growth engine for Africa and the critical driver for sustainable economic growth. “According to Deloitte, Africa’s middle class has tripled over the last 30 years, and the current trajectory suggests that the African middle class will grow to 1.1 billion in 2060. As African economies are some of the fastest growing in the world, the outlook for the continent is very positive going forward. “Manufacturing, on a large scale, is still somewhat embryonic in Africa and as such, there is a definite opportunity for SMEs to fill the gaps which are not being

serviced by these large global companies. As important, a growing SME base will create hundreds and thousands of new jobs, which is an absolute must for this ever growing continent.” Brewer said other than the usual challenges that SMEs are likely to face in Africa, such as infrastructure challenges, customs regulations and controls, access to finance may be an obstacle going forward. “The Institute of International Finance reported that due to many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa struggling with controlling price pressures, central banks have tended to keep monetary

policy fairly tight. Despite this challenge, we expect SMEs to create growth opportunities through increased consumer spending power and expansion into untapped markets. “The growing internet user penetration in Africa also provides a sizeable opportunity for SMEs, and as Africa continues to adopt ecommerce as a way of life, businesses are able to leverage this online market, while reducing traditional customer acquisition costs.” World Wide Worx’s 2012 Internet Matters report reveals that the local e-commerce market is growing at a rate of about 30 per cent a year

and shows no signs of slowing down. The findings of the 2013 National Small Business Survey, conducted by the National Small Business Chamber (NSBC) revealed that the key need expressed by SMEs includes expanding customer base, increasing sales and going global. “Accessing new markets by trading across borders is the key to growth and competitiveness and the key driver for small and medium enterprises in South Africa,” says Mike Anderson, NSBC founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Brewer said the more an SME can tap into global opportunities and the more it can look

into global expansion, the better the chances for growth become. “When it comes to global opportunities the key to success for many SMEs is knowledge. Knowing which markets to target, how to market their product, how to identify customers, how to get paid and critically, how to ship globally. We have 25,000 SMEs who work with us across Africa and every day we work on understanding their needs better and help them to go global. DHL is well-positioned to partnering with African SMEs and helping them to connect with the world - so I ask you, what are you waiting for?” Brewer added.

Making fortune from breeding small animals Keeping small livestock can be profitable provided you have to choose the right species. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

able to care for. With more than 10 years in agriculture business, Onebunne has a wealth of experience which any one keen on making money from animal rearing can tap from and rake profit. But like every other businesses, small animal farming has its own challenges. These include climate change, breeding location, feed supplies and funding. “If you really desire success in this line of business, you have got to be passionate so that you can turn your challenges to opportunities for great achievement,” he advised. Jovana Farms organises sensitisation training and seminars nationawide on how to make it in small-scale animal farming. He advised enthusiasts to visit www.jovanafarms.com for more details.

F young people are going to be brought back into farming, it will be now. The opportunity to make money from small farming has never been better, especially with grass cutter and rabbits bringing returns that translate to higher net income for the owner. While other enterprises in agriculture look promising, keeping small animals is the best place to start. Prince Arinze Onebunne is a small livestock farmer. He rears rabbits, grasscutter, guinea pig, antelope and white rats, from which he earns enough to cater for his family including educating his children. He deployed his piece of land and some little resource in this venture, which he has grown into a multi-million enterprise. At his Jovana Farms, Onebunne breeds animals and also teaches people how to invest in grass cutter, mushroom, snail, fish, quail, geese and rabbit business. According to him, investing in grass cutter is a wise choice because it is a prolific animal. He explained that the female grasscutter litters twice a year and one female can litter as many as eight young ones at a time if well fed. “If a farmer, therefore, starts with say two colonies of eight females and two males, if the females litter twice a year, given an average of seven per female, you have 7x8x2, which gives 112 grasscutters in just one year,” he explained. For him, the capital requirement for grasscutter rearing is very low compared to the huge return on investment. With less than N70,000, you can kick start your grass cutter farming using cheap wooden cages and some space within your house. Feeding grasscutters is relatively cheap as they stay feed mainly on grass and vital supplements and give good return to the investor. Yet, the market is large, waiting for any intending farmer to start tapping from

•Grasscutter

•Antelope

it. “You can make up to N300,000 from one female grasscutter alone and when it has completed the breeding circle in four years, you can still sell it as a big bush meat. Grasscutters are weighed before being sold. When they get to table size, you can dispose one for between N5,000 and N10,000, depending on the size. One kilogramme of grasscutter is sold for N2,000. Other areas one can make money in grass cutter farming are by breeding and supplying breeding stocks to farmers, selling table size live or

smoked grass cutter to hotels, homes, schools, restaurants, relaxation centres, and so on,” he explained. Onebunne has become an authority in the sector, studying the animals’ behaviours and learning how to treat their illnesses. A lot of his

friends have bought small animals after seeing how his farms kickstarted his family’s climb out of poverty. For him, small animal farming is fascinating.The only thing is that it requires continuous hardwork and devotion without any distraction. The rabbit business, he said, is attractive, where a young person with ingenuity can get a start with a few rabbits and grow his stock within six months. He sees potential for an income that competes with the city job from a standard mini livestock farm. But managing grass, costs, and markets plays a key role in determining the level of profit producers can expect. If one decides to keep livestock on the farm, one needs to choose species that you are

Entrepreneur’s Quote “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” - Warren Buffett

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

EMPOWERMENT CLINIC with

Co-opetition BOOK REVIEW Author: Publisher: Reviewer:

GOKE ILESANMI

HE only thing that is constant in life is change. This means one needs to embrace it to avoid being swept away by its tide. The old concept of competition interpreted as enmity is now outdated. And one of the textual “evangelists” of the modern concept of competition is this book titled: “Coopetition”. It is written by Barry Nalebuff and Adam Brandenburger, who are professors at Yale and Harvard. Nalebuff and Brandenburger are pioneers in the practice of applying the science of game theory to the art of corporate strategy. Nalebuff graduated from Oxford University and is now the Milton Steinbach professor at Yale School of Management. He is also the co-author of the book “Thinking Strategically”, written with Avinash Dixit. Nalebuff is a principal of the Law and Economics Consulting Group. As regards Brandenburger, he graduated from Cambridge University and is now a professor at the Harvard Business School. He is the author of many of Harvard’s bestselling strategy cases. The authors say they have devised a practice-oriented model to help you break out of the traditional win-lose or lose-win situations and that many corporate organisations have been adopting the strategies of “co-opetition” to change their business approach and enjoy the benefits of win-win opportunities. Nalebuff and Brandenburger submit that this

Barry Nalebuff and Adam Brandenburger Profile Books Goke Ilesanmi

text is the first to adapt game theory to the needs of chief executive officers, managers and entrepreneurs. They add that the text offers you a new business mindset, a strategic way of thinking that combines competition and cooperation. This text is segmented into two parts of nine chapters. Part one is generically labelled “The game of business” and covers the first three chapters. Chapter one is titled: “War and peace”. According to the authors, the traditional concept of business and by implication, competition makes the whole thing look like a war manifesting in the form of “outsmarting the competition, capturing market share, making a killing, fighting brands, beating up suppliers, locking up customers”, etc. Nalebuff and Brandenburger educate that under business-as-war, there are the victors and the vanquished. Nalebuff and Brandenburger reflect that as regards a new mindset, business is cooperation when it comes to creating a pie and competition when it comes to dividing it up. The authors say, “In other words, business is War and Peace. But it’s not Tolstoy - endless cycles of war followed by peace followed by war. It’s simultaneously war and peace. As Ray Noorda, founder of the networking software company Novell, explains: ‘You have to compete and cooperate at the same time’. The combination makes for a more dynamic relationship than the words ‘competition’ and ‘cooperation’ suggest individually.” Chapter two of this text constitutes the title chapter, as it is titled: “Co-opetition”. Here, Nalebuff and Brandenburger submit that if business is a game, then who are the players and what are their roles? They explain that there are customers and suppliers, and you would not be in business without them. The authors add that naturally, there are competitors. Nalebuff and Brandenburger say there is one more group of players, often overlooked

but equally important, that is, those who provide complementary rather than competing products and services. Chapter three is based on the subject matter of the game theory. Here, Nalebuff and Brandenburger ask the question of how much you can hope to get in a game. They educate that the answer does not depend just on the size of the pie to be divided, notions of fairness nor how well you play. These business management experts submit that what you get depends on your power in the game as well as on the power of others who have competing claims on the pie. Part two is thematically woven together as “The parts of strategy” and contains six chapters, that is, chapters four to nine. Chapter four is entitled “Players”. According to

Nalebuff and Brandenburger here, the question of whether you want to be a player is the obvious question to ask yourself when you consider entering a game. They add that however, the answer is rarely obvious because it is easy to misjudge what it would really be like to be in the game. Nalebuff and Brandenburger explain that the reason is that anytime you enter a game, you change it. They assert that it is a new game because you have joined the cast of players. Nalebuff and Brandenburger say people often miss this effect and therefore fail to think through how their coming into a game will change it. As these experts put it, “They think that what they see is what they’re going to get... Generally, if you want to play, you have to pay. The cost of becoming a player can be cheap when, for example, it means quoting a price over the phone. It’s more expensive if you have to pitch an advertising or marketing campaign....” In chapters five to nine, Nalebuff and Brandenburger analytically X-ray concepts such as added values; rules; tactics; scope and readiness for change. Conceptually, this text is highly didactic. Stylistically, this text is an embodiment of uniqueness. For instance, the conceptually paradoxical and structurally blended title realised from the words “Cooperation” and “Competition” underscores the linguistic and conceptual creativity of the authors. The structurally blended nature of the title also arouses readers’ curiosity and interest to read the text. Though handling a very logically technical subject matter, Nalebuff and Brandenburger employ a simple choice of words (diction) embroidered with good word combination (syntax). There is also the use of graphics to achieve effective non-verbal communication that reinforces the textual communication of the book. Though the title of the book arouses curiosity, it would be better for an illuminating subtitle to be added to it to achieve immediate explanation or amplification of the major title which is a neologism, a new word. On the whole, the text is a classic. It is a must-read for those who want to achieve business success through knowledge of modern business flexibility, creativity and profitability.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Mastering dictionary abbreviations for literate communication

ESPITE the fact that dictionaries are a treasury of linguistic and extralinguistic information, most people believe that they are just meant for confirming meanings of words, and nothing more. In a bid to discuss a lot of things in the limited space of a dictionary, lexicographers (dictionary writers) often resort to the use of abbreviations and symbols, especially in the course of illustration. But a lot of dictionary users, especially those in the second-language environment, find it difficult using dictionaries effectively, especially the grammar aspect, as a result of lack of knowledge of most of the abbreviations and word-class labels used.

Essential knowledge The knowledge of these abbreviations is very essential when it comes to looking up the meanings of Homographs, that is, words written the same way but belong to different word classes, e.g. Address(verb) and Address(noun). It is basically as a result of this grammatical situation that I consider it urgent and necessary to discuss most of these abbreviations to ensure effective dictionary usage on the part of the teeming English language speakers, especially those in the second-language environment. Examples of these abbreviations are n, v, adv, adj, pron, etc., and we shall at this juncture discuss them and word-class labels one after the other.

Noun symbol n: This is the abbreviation of a noun in the dictionary, and when it is put against any headword, what it implies is that the word is to be used in the nominal sense, especially in the dictionary context. How-

By Goke Ilesanmi

ever, the fact that a word is labelled a noun in the dictionary does not mean that it cannot be used otherwise in other situations, more so that the name you give to a word is based on its function in a context. For example, the word Government is labelled a noun in the dictionary, yet it can be contextually used as an adjective in another situation, e.g. The government policy. Here, the word Government is qualifying the noun Policy and is therefore an adjective, more so that an apostrophe with an S (that is, ’s) is not used.

Extension The mastery of the grammatical behaviour of nouns is very essential as it ensures effective nominal usage. For instance, some nouns can be used in the plural form, while some cannot. Also, some nouns have elasticity of grammatical features. That is, they can be used in a countable way in some situations and also in an uncountable sense in other situations. Therefore, symbols such as [C], [U], and [C,U] are placed against nouns (represented by n) in the dictionary to reflect their grammatical behaviour. Thus, when [C] is placed against a noun, it means the noun is countable. When [U] is used, it means the noun is uncountable. However, if [C,U] symbol is placed against a noun that has a single meaning, it means it can be used both in a countable and uncountable sense. But if the symbol [C,U] is placed against one of the meanings of a word having more than a meaning, that is, a polysemous word, it means the word can be used either way in that situation. The examples of words having this grammatical attribute are disorder and dispensation. These two

words have meanings with [C] and [U] separately, in addition to [C, U].

Resultant errors Lack of knowledge of these symbols makes a lot of people pluralise uncountable nouns like potential, fallout, legislation, equipment, etc., despite the fact that the symbol [U] is placed against them in the dictionary. Therefore, endeavour to make it a habit when looking up for a noun in the dictionary to check if the symbol against it is [C], [U], or [C,U]. Or check the symbol put against the meaning that matches the one you are looking for if it is a word that has more than a meaning, so as to ensure correct usage.

Verbal symbol v: This abbreviation implies Verb. Apart from the abbreviation v representing the word Verb, verbs in the dictionary also take additional labels such as [vi] and [vt]. What [vi] means is Verb intransitive or Intransitive verb, while [vt] implies Verb transitive or Transitive verb. By notional simplification, an intransitive verb refers to a verb that does not need an object, e.g. Die, Weep, etc. In other words, it is possible to say The man died; The boy wept, etc. without actually mentioning two or more people. Therefore, we would see that in these expressions, we only have a subject and no object because of the nature of the verbs used, that is, intransitive verbs. That is, the action of dying or weeping can be done by just one person.

ples of these verbs are Push, Kill, Beat, etc. That is, Gbenga pushed Ojo; Mary killed a rat; Balton beat Terry, etc. (active voice). As far as passive voice is concerned, we have Ojo was pushed by Gbenga; A rat was killed by Mary; Terry was beaten by Balton, etc. We would see that all these actions require more than the involvement of just one person. Some verbs have the double label [vi,vt] meaning that they can be used both transitively and intransitively. Examples of these verbs are Distend, Distinguish, Doublepack, etc. Note that it is possible for a verb having more than a meaning, that is, a polysemous verb, to have [vi,vt] plus [vi] and/or [vt]. That is, one of the meanings of the verb may be used transitively and intransitively; another meaning may be used intransitively; while yet another one may be used transitively if it has about three meanings. • To be continued PS: For those making inquiries about our Public Speaking, Business Presentation and Professional Writing Skills programme, please visit the website indicated on this page for details. Till we meet on Monday. •GOKE ILESANMI, Managing Consultant/ CEO of Gokmar Communication Consulting, is an International Platinum Columnist, Certified Public Speaker/MC, Communication Specialist, Motivational Speaker and Career Management Coach. He is also a Book Reviewer, Biographer and Editorial Consultant.

Addition On the other hand, transitive verbs are verbs that require an object in active voice or an object/ doer in passive voice. Exam-

Tel: 08055068773; 08187499425 Email: gokeiles2010@gmail.com Website: www.gokeilesanmi.com

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

PAN set for Peugeot 301, 508 production

HE new Automotive Policy has received a boost with the consolidation of Technical and Commercial synergy between Automobile Peugeot (AP) France and Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) Nigeria Limited. To strengthen the Technical and Commercial agreement renewed with AP France last year, the management of PAN has received a team of auto manufacturing experts from AP France, who came in to inspect the company’s facilities in readiness for the production of Peugeot 301 and 508 vehicles scheduled for the second quarter of the year This development is coming barely three months after the Fed-

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

eral Government approved the new Automotive Development Plan aimed at developing Nigeria’s Automotive Industry (NIA), and place Nigeria in the league of autoproducing countries. AP France team expressed delight with the standard of the factory’s equipment, and expressed confidence that PAN is ready to commence production. PAN Nigeria Limited Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Boyi, who received the team, thanked the visitors. PAN, Boyi said, was ready to reestablish its position as the pioneer and leading auto manufacturer in Nigeria.

•From left: General Manager Industrial, PAN Nigeria, Augustine Okolo; A P France Nigerian Representative Eric Medieu; PAN Deputy Managing Director, Jaime Pena; Boyi; AP France Head, International Partnership, Daniel Gauer; Pierrepont Franck and others during the inspection.

Nissan introduces 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine

HE Nissan ZEOD RC will, in June, become the first entry at Le Mans to complete a lap of the Circuit de la Sarthe with an electric powered engine and thereafter switch to the new Nissan DIG-T R 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine. (A single lap of each stint lasts about one hour). The incredibly small engine weighs only 40 kilogrammes (88 pounds) but produces an astonishing 400 horsepower. Nissan says the base engine is only 500 mm tall x 400 mm long x 200 mm wide (19.68" x 15.74" x 7.78") and the engine could easily fit inside the luggage guides seen

at major airports around the world. Revving to 7,500 rpm, the Nissan DIG-T R produces 380 Nm of torque at a ratio of 10 horsepower per kilogramme. The new engine, the automaker said, has a better power-to-weight ratio than the new engines to be used in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship this year. With the entire concept of the Nissan ZEOD RC focusing heavily on downsizing and efficiency, Nissan turned to new lubricants partner Total to help develop the engine. The French lubricants manufacturer has worked closely with

Nissan engineers to develop fuel and lubricants to maximise the potential of the engine. The Nissan ZEOD RC will occupy “Garage 56” at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, an additional entry reserved by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest for new and ground breaking technologies never previously seen at the classic French endurance event. Lessons learned from the development of the revolutionary racecar will also be used in the development of Nissan’s planned entry into the LM P1 class of the FIA World Endurance championship in 2015.

Subaru redesigns Legacy

OOKING sleeker and more stylish, if somewhat derivative of various other midsize sedans, the new Legacy is going mainstream. And that may not be a bad thing. Subaru is promising a roomier, quieter and more refined Legacy, along with a much-needed connectivity and infotainment update, a deficiency that potentially has been giving some people a pause before buying a Subaru. The same 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine used in the current Legacy is used in the new car, now tweaked for greater efficiency and refinement. Available in all trim levels, it also gets a two-hp power boost to 175-hp.

Top-level Limited trim will also be available with the 256-hp, 3.5-liter boxer 6, but this time, that engine is also mated to a continuously variable transmission. Claimed overall fuel economy is 30 mpg for the fourcylinder and 23 mpg with the six— not bad for an all-wheel-drive car. Exterior dimensions are about the same as the outgoing model, but Subaru is claiming increases in shoulder, hip, and legroom. An available new infotainment system for base models includes a 6.2-inch touch screen and multifunction display, with the Subaru Starlink telematics system, Internet radio, rearview camera, and Bluetooth. Uplevel models add a larger seven-

inch screen, SMS text messaging, and upgraded audio. Models equipped with navigation get voice-command capability. New safety features include a standard rearview camera on all versions, and an available new rear radar system with blind spot, cross traffic, and lane change warnings. The current Legacy is a solid midsised sedan, and it remains among the limited, non-luxurybrand choices with all-wheel drive. But we found its electronics and connectivity behind the curve, and the CVT makes for too much engine revving and noise. The redesigned Legacy goes on sale this summer.

“Our engine team has done a truly remarkable job with the internal combustion engine,” said Darren Cox, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director. “We knew the electric component of the Nissan ZEOD RC was certainly going to turn heads at Le Mans, but our combined zero emission on demand electric/ petrol powerplant is quite a stunning piece of engineering. Nissan will become the first major manufacturer to use a three-cylinder engine in major international motorsport. We are aiming to maintain our position as industry leaders in focusing on downsising.

Lessons learned from the development of the engine will be seen in Nissan road cars of the future,” he said. Mr. Cox also said: “Our aim is to set new standards in efficiency in regards to every aspect of the car: powertrain, aerodynamics and handling. For the powertrain, we have worked closely with the team at Total to not only reduce friction inside the engine but within all components of the powertrain. Friction is the enemy of horsepower, and tackling that has been one of the efficiency targets we have concentrated on heavily.”

Volkswagen enhances Passat

OLKSWAGEN has reached a new realm in fuel efficiency, revealing a concept version of its midsize Passat sedan capable of making 42 mpg (67.59km) - the high mark for a car that size running a non-hybrid gasoline engine. The drive for inexpensive ways to boost the fuel economy of gasoline cars has led automakers to some strange places - from car shutters to transmissions and shrinking of engines and adding of turbos to regain lost power while a few automakers have experimented with tiny three-cylinder engines. Cylinder deactivation — using electronics to shut off fuel and close the valves to a few cylinders, turning them into air springs —

has been around for years in V-8s. Honda for instance uses cylinder deactivation in versions of the V-6 Accord sedan, boosting its efficiency to 34mpg (54.7km). Experts, however, said cutting off half of an inline four-cylinder could pose some technical challenges. In a V-engine, it is easier to balance the loads; here, VW shuts off the inside two pistons. The 1.4-litre engine also uses turbocharging, direct injection and a stop-start system to further save fuel. While VW calls it a concept, it is likely to see production as fuel economy standards rise.

SAFE DRIVING

ENCE the low functions Performance ratio which no arm of the government seems to be interested in analysing. Hence the need for an urgent review. •The judiciary should be more proactive in pronouncing appropriate judgments against drivers who kill people or destroy public/ private properties through avoidable errors. •Public and private sector organisations should be compelled to have and operate driver/safety policy, appraised and monitored regularly by appropriate agencies. •The Graduated Driver Licensing scheme must be thoroughly implemented without any form of bias or favouritism. A joint conference on this is needful. •The Highway Code has a list of errors and omissions. There are several traffic signs being used in various parts of Nigeria and in other countries which are not in the Highway Code. The Highway Code should, therefore, be updated to reflect the road traffic realities. Objective comparative analysis should be made with the Highway Codes of other countries. Many

High accident rate: Govt to blame (II) states governments use different shapes and colours for traffic signs. •In Britain, the Driving Standards Agency (which is the Regulatory Agency) produce and update every two years the official Theory Test, Practical Test and Hazard Perception DVD, which the driving schools use to train and prepare drivers for the processing of their Licence. No one obtains the Driver Licence without passing the rigorous Theory and Practical Tests. There is no room for shortcut no matter who you are in the United Kingdom. Candidates of compromising Driving Schools will fail the tests and be sent back for further training and studies. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) must realise their functions and be more proactive in this area. We cannot plant vegetable and be expecting to harvest orange. •It has become very expedient more than ever before, that the Federal Ministry of Transport in collaboration with other Federal and state government agencies should

package a result-oriented national conference to enable all the stakeholders make their input towards ensuring the accomplishment of the Nigeria's part of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020). Otherwise, in 2019, we shall be singing the song we are singing about the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The Presidency, the Executive Arm of Government, the Legislative Arm of Government and the Judicial Arm of Government at the Federal and state levels must come together to review the state of safety on Nigeria roads and Chart the way forward. FRSC and the various state driver institutes should totally relinquish the training and re-training of drivers to driving schools while they set standards, regulate and monitor the driving schools. Training and re-training of drivers should have a practical content which only the driving schools can provide. The FRSC, the VIOs and the Police should come together to

harmonise their roles for the safety of lives and valuable properties perishing on Nigeria roads every day. Income and ego must not be the motivating factors in their activities but the safety of irreparable lives and properties. Once again, I hereby re-iterate that the decrees or acts regulating the activities of all government agencies responsible for transportation and Road Safety must be objectively reviewed and updated to enhance safety on the roads. The governments and relevant government agencies should assist the driving schools with the road facilities to boost their standards for safety of lives and properties. There must be a standardised and uniform Theory and Practical Tests (covering the National Curriculum of Driving Schools), to be administered on all the novice (learner) drivers and those seeking the renewal of their Driver Licence with strict enforcement by the relevant agencies in collaboration with the driving

Jide Owatunmise Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

schools in all states and the Federal Capital Territory (a complete replica of what obtains in the United Kingdom), driving schools have an obligation for high standards and discipline. Once driving schools are wellpositioned to generate good income, they can then be tasked to maintain very high standards like their counterparts in the United Kingdom and the United States. A stitch in time saves nine.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

‘Cancer treatment needs O collaboration’ NCOLOGISTS and physicians at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) have called for more collaborative efforts to battle cancer. LUTH’s Chief Medical Director (CMD) Prof Akin Osibogun said the Federal Government could not handle health care alone, calling on individuals and organisations to support the sector, especially in cancer care. Osibogun spoke when Unilever and Ave Cenna School donated some cancer care equipment to the paediatric oncology ward. The CMD, represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Prof Chris Bode, said children living with cancer could be treated free in the hospital if every worker in Nigeria contributed N100 monthly to the cause. He said every contribution, no matter how small, could provide succour to the sick. Osibogun said most cancer patients often came late to the hospital after the disease had degenerated, thus making the hospital to engage in palliative care instead of curative.

By Wale Adepoju

“When the patients come in late for treatment there is often very little that we can do. In cancer, we only manage the disease until the time the patient has to live,” he added. He urged patients to seek care immediately they make any discovery, stressing that early diagnosis and prompt treatment with adequate equipment will make treatment easier for doctors and patients. He said there were challenges in the health sector, adding that “the cash and carry” mode of treatment complicates them. Some of the anomalies in the sector, he said,will change before the year ends. He said that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would be made to cover some ailments. Consultant haematologist and oncologist Prof Edamisan Temiye said cancer patients among others, who needed special care always suffered because the Federal Government was trying to solve diseases

such as pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB) and other infectious diseases. He said the cost of treating a cancer patient would treat many patients with minor diseases. Temiye said the government was willing to provide health care services, but it couldn’t do everything. He described cancer as a painful disease with painful treatment, adding: “It is very expensive to treat as it can make family economy to collapse.” He said children living with cancer were treated free at St Jude Research Children Hospital, Memphis, United States (US) with support of private individuals and organisations. He urged people to change their orientation, ”as the money you are making is just not for you alone, but for your neighbours.” Temiye said early detection and diagnosis were necessary, adding that treatment cost was high and drugs may

be administered for a long time. “To do a thorough investigation on a sick child is expensive with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fee costing N70,000 or more, it is difficult for the poor. This may be repeated. Some of the drugs are not even available because of the cost. “Parents can’t work and other children are displaced,” he said. Founder, Children Living With Cancer Foundation (CLWCF), Dr Nneka Nwobbi, said cancer equipment were expensive but that some were affordable and necessary. She said her organisation embarked on a drive to bring succour to children ravaged by cancer, especially at LUTH, which was why it met Ave Cenna School which donated oxygen panelling and points by each bedside worth N3.15 million. “Unilever donated 180 bone marrow aspiration needles, 20 central lines, 14 transfusion pumps and six pulse oximetre worth N3.55 million,” she said.

;•From right: Medical Director, Central Hospital, Warri, Dr. Kingsley Agholor; Governor, Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara cutting the tape to launch ambulance service for expectant mothers at the inauguration of the 100-bed Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCCC) at the hospital.

Lagos maternal, child centres doing fine, says govt

HE Maternal and Child Centres (MCCs) built by Lagos State government to address maternal and child deaths have started yielding results. According to the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Jide Idris, the centres were actually part of maternal and child mortality reduction (MCMR) strategies, aimed at addressing specific major causes of maternal and child mortality in the state. He said since the start of the MCMR programme over a year ago, there have been positive key indicators that the strategies adopted are yielding positive results as evident in the increase in ante-natal attendance, deliveries, patronage of child survival interventions such as immunisation against childhood killer diseases and women accessing family planning services. ”We have run the MCMR programme for over a year now and we have been collecting data to see how far we have gone, what else we need to do and if there is a need for us to amend or

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

change our strategies. But from what we have seen so far, there is no need for us to change our strategy,” he said. The Commissioner said the design of the strategy was geared towards addressing some delays in seeking assistance and accessing qualitative care for

pregnant women and children stressing that public enlightenment, infrastructure, quality of care have been identified as areas that need to be addressed in the MCMR design. “These strategies were developed to address three delays which are; delay in seeking appropriate medical help for obstetric emergencies for reasons of cost, lack of recognition of an emer-

gency and lack of access to information and gender inequity; delay in reaching an appropriate health facility for reasons of distance, infrastructure and transport; and delay in receiving adequate care when a facility is reached because of sub-optimal complement of human resources, inadequate utilities such as electricity, water and unavailability of medical supplies”, Idris said.

‘Equip yourself for dental emergencies’

DENTIST has identified adequate knowledge and preparation for a successful management of dental emergencies. President, Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr Olurotimi Olojede said medical emergencies usually occur during tooth extraction and root filling when an anaesthesiologist administers local anaesthesia on a patient. Olojede spoke during the briefing on NDA’s ordinary general meeting (OGM) slated for Abeokuta, Ogun State. He said a dental emergency referred to a condition causing

By Wale Adepoju

acute pain related to the teeth, guns and supporting bone, and structures in or around the mouth. Other dental emergencies, he said, are sudden loss of dental restoration, which causes concern or difficulty in eating, even if there was no pain. He said a dental emergency was not usually a type of medical emergency since there was no real threat to life. Though there were medical emergencies in dental practice, “Dental practitioners and other health care workers

need to have appropriate skills, training and equipment to deal with potentially life threatening conditions. “In the United States (US) and Canada, studies have shown that fainting is the most common medical emergency seen by dentists. This, represented approximately 50 per cent of all emergencies. The next is mild allergy which represented about eight per cent. “Other emergencies reported are allegic reactions, postural hypotension (low blood sugar) and seizures, and diabetic emergencies,” Olojede said.

DENTAL TALK with Dr Samuel Awosolu 08108155239 (SMS Only); email- samawosolu@yahoo.co.uk

Flu orosis

LUOROSIS is a condition that affects the teeth due to the presence of excessive fluoride in the tooth structure. The condition is also known as enamel mottling or mottling of the tooth. The cause of the condition as earlier stated is the excessive incorporation of fluoride, the same substance added in tooth pastes, mouth-rinses and dentifrices to make the teeth more resistant to dental caries/tooth decay. Fluoride is similarly available as supplements in the tablet form and in gels where they are used for topical application especially in children; fluoride is similarly available in its ionic forms in sources of water- spring water, borehole water, bottled water in various concentrations. Fluorosis itself is a developmental disturbance, i.e a result of a disturbance during the development of the tooth structure. Fluorosis is common in Nigeria, especially in North-central and North- eastern regions such as in Maiduguri, Adamawa and Yobe states. Fluorosis affects both sets of dentition that is the primary (deciduous ) and the permanent dentition, however the risks of it occurring in the deciduous dentition is higher because the danger of over exposure is higher in children during the developmental stages of their dentition. The general appearance of fluorosed teeth depends on the degree of severity and the concentration of fluoride in the drinking water. The appearance varies from specks to streaks of discoloration, stains and sometimes very severe brownish stains on the teeth. The tooth structure is made of layers of enamel- dentine and the nutritive part of the tooth, the pulp where the nerves and blood vessels run. The enamel which is the outer-most layer is made of hydroxyl apatite crystals of calcium. The substance fluoride is able to get incorporated into the enamel structure to make it stronger and less resistant to attack by acid produced by bacteria acting on the carbohydrate substance and debris in the mouth. So fluoride is a good application in the scheme of things. Fluoride makes it more difficult for the tooth to be dissolved by the acid, in this case lactic acid. The danger of teeth getting exposed is reduced by the time the teeth erupts into the mouth. Excessive fluoride will therefore lead to the staining of the teeth and ‘pitting’ of the enamel surfaces. Fluoride excess also affects other bones of the body especially the long bones. The severity of the condition depends on factors such as the amount of fluoride the affected individual is exposed to, age of the child, other individual variations like weight, nutrition and bone growth. The concentration of fluoride in toothpastes, mouth-rinses, bottled water, public water supplies, food types consumed, types of supplements and several other sources which have not undergone biochemical assays. It is the duty of the water boards and corporations to carry out these assays and monitor the ionic content of even packaged sachet water and make these findings available to the public. Government fluoridation programmes when carried out should be done with care to assess fluoride ion concentration in drinking water so as not to make the fluoride concentration higher than the optimum level of one part of fluoride per million of water. Fluoride is also available in tea, especially black tea and pollution from high fluoride coal, so societies with a high consumption of tea need to be aware of these. The columnist is not discouraging the consumption of tea or saying the consumption of tea causes fluorosis. There are conditions that mimic the appearance of fluorosed teeth, some are genetic and some are developmental, examples are enamel defects caused by environmental factors, amelogenesis imperfecta is an example. Drinking of water from shallow wells may likewise increase the incidence of fluorosis, similarly the use of hand pumping water machines. The risk of teeth fluorosis from the consumption of drinking water alone is minimal. It is the combination of drinking water fluoride ion concentration and fluoride ion concentration from other sources including children swallowing tooth-pastes, fluoride mouth-wash, mouth rinses, unassayed food supplements sold over the counter and high fluoride containing food that are most likely contributors to fluorosis. An individual with fluorosis has aesthetics as major concern, as experiences have shown that there is a higher number of female adult patients seeking treatment (most especially brides to be seeking new ‘shiners’ for their wedding day). I hope am not accused of gender bias, just saying it as I see it. Treatments via micro abrasion to remove stains, the use of tooth bleaching with various levels of satisfaction, veneers and crowns to improve aesthetics are options. Should an individual have fluorosis a visit to the dental for surgery will help as well. See you next week.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

POLITICS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi spoke with reporters in Port-Harcourt, the state capital, on the visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crises, the future of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the 2015 elections. Excerpts:

Why PDP can’t retain Rivers in 2015, by Amaechi W HY did you request former President Olusegun Obasanjo to commission your projects? He was a foremost Head of State and Government that we have had in the country. So, what is wrong in asking him to commission the projects. It was important that he came to have a look at what we have done. Like I told him in the public, we same a common friend and anytime and anytime common friends say what about these things, is Amaechi working, that can be assessed. It was important to bring him so that he can assess things for himself so that next time that question is put forward, he will give them an answer. Don’t you think that the President will be annoyed that Obasanjo has taken the shine off him by not being invited to commission the projects as the President and CommanderIn-Chief? Today, some governors commission for themselves. Would you take offence when they commission their projects by themselves? I saw Fashola recently as he was commissioning projects. I saw Akpabio as he was commissioning a General Hospital. Why will the President take offence about that? It depends on the choice that the governor makes. I can ask the President or governor to commission projects. My colleagues have invited me to commission projects before in Jigawa. I had an invitation from Yobe. Adamawa has invited me. I don’t think that the President will take offence with that. Will the commissioning by Obasanjo enhance your profile? Well, looking at Obasanjo’s status, you will certainly get some benefits by identifying with him. He is a man with this national clout. I was surprised by the kind of reception he got among the people that came out to receive him. There were those that were brought by the organisers. There were those that came on their own hailing him, shouting baba, calling him all sorts of name, baba iyabo, baba this, Olusegun. Some calling him without respect by calling the former President by such name. I can share this with you. He told us how he acquired the name, Mathew. He said that his parents said that he should have a Christian name and when he got to the secondary school, they looked at how long his names were and one has to be dropped and that he decided to drop Mathew and the reason he dropped Mathew was that Mathew was a tax collector. I think you can’t ignore the fact that identifying with such an important character will rub off on you, and I think positively. Does the likelihood exist that you will return to the PDP, which is the predominant party in Rivers? You should be careful with your choice of words. How do you know that the PDP is the predominant party? Why can you wait and see whether it is true? You have to be careful.

•Amaechi addressing a rally

What you assume to be the predominance of the PDP may be the predominance of the manipulation of the elite. It is now that we will source the votes from the down-trodden and then, you can say whether it is a predominantly PDP state or not. I think we should be careful in the choice of such words. What is likely to be the fate of the APC in Rivers in 2015? I am not God. Don’t give me such powers. How about your succession plan? I leave that to God. Don’t forget the way I was anointed as the governor. Even, the greatest of all Christians never thought that it will happen. There were occasions where I had sat down in Ghana and asked: how did it happen? I started thinking about these prophets who prophesised that you will be governor and I asked, how will it happen? We don’t know. We just wash and see how God does His things.

‘The PDP is now struggling to retain its status as the opposition party in Sokoto. It is the same in Kano. It is the same in Kaduna where the Vice President comes from. And the APC is rearing its head in Bayelsa. So, you can see we are the fastest growing party’

Accord Party nominates Ladoja for national conference

HE Accord Party has nominated its National Chairman and National Leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, and National Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Nalado, as delegates to the proposed national conference. The decision was taken at its stakeholders’ in Abuja. It was attended by the AP national officers and state chairmen. In a communique signed by the National Secretary, Mr. Adisa Nureni, the party explained that Ladoja and Nalado were selected as delegates because they have

You must take that into consideration. So, there is God’s elements. Then, you do your human planning. But, I am not focusing on human planning. I am focusing on building a party called the APC because there was none some few months ago. That is why we say, if the PDP says that they are the biggest party , the largest party in Africa, I will say APC is the fastest growing party in Africa. No party has grown at the rapid rate the APC is growing. Some few months ago, there was no opposition party in Sokoto. But, the PDP is now struggling to retain its status as the opposition party in Sokoto. It is the same in Kano. It is the same in Kaduna where the Vice President comes from. And the APC is rearing its head in Bayelsa. So, you can see we are the fastest growing party. Are you saying there is tension in the PDP? Honestly, the tension in the PDP over the

experience and integrity. The party reiterated its belief in the conference, saying that it offers opportunities for deliberating on the problems of the country. AP also alerted the electoral commission to the activities of some impostors macurading its national officers. The party said that Nalado is its national secretary, urging the commission and Nigerians to beware of impersonalisation. On the 2015 general elections, the party urged all its organs from wards to state levels to work for its victory.

sharing of the loot in Nigeria is enough to put it into crisis. But, look at here now, all of us are at peace with one another. What is your comment on the NNPC 20 billion dollar controversy? You heard Asiwaju saying that the NNPC is the ATM of Jonathan. We are not involved. We are not talking about it. We will allow the country to decide. What does the revelation about the missing oil money portends? Nigerians should react. The Governors’ Forum has taken a position that he dwindling revenue at he state level is not because of the oil theft, but because of financial diversion. Would all these your projects be completed before you leave or they would be abandoned, especially the mono-rail? Where you there when I was interviewing the contractor? Everything about that monorail is inside the city of Port-Harcourt. They say they will complete the terminus in October. We will start the power project very soon so that the train will have power to use. The train is built in such a way that, if there is no power, automatically, it will use diesel. You can see the cost. You have power and diesel.

Group urges Orji to conduct council poll

•Ladoja

HE President of the Abia Citizens Initiatives for Effective Development, Mr. Maxwell Nwadike, has urged Governor Thedore Orji to put in place the machinery for the conduct of local government elections. He lamented the absence of grassroots democracy in the state, adding that that the constitutional provisions have been set aside. Nwadike alleged that the governor has embarked on wasteful ventures, instead of concentrating developmental on projects. He said: “Government should focus on completing its acclaimed legacy projects, instead of playing to the gallery by embarking on illtimed airport project.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

“They should reposition the state toward industrial growth by reviving the Modern Ceramics, Aba Glass Industry, Golden Guinea Breweries, the Cashew Plantation in Isikwuato etc.” Nwadike enjoined the people to demand for the enthronment of elected governments at the local councils in the interest of democracy. He berated the administration for cosmetic youth empowerment, stressing that it is not the appro Nwadike added: “Government should stop using our youths and women as praise singers and provide jobs for the army of unemployed people in the state”.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

POLITICS

2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has held a rally to welcome defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owerri, capital of Imo State. Correspondent KINGSLEY NDIDI examines the implications of the defection for the ruling party in the Southeast state.

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the prowl in Imo State. At a rally in Owerri, the state capital, party leaders vowed to reclaim power from the All progressives Congress (APC) governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. But, the governor is not sleeping on guard. He said that the PDP chieftains were day dreaming. The rally took place at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. It was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP National Chairman Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) Chief Tony Anenih, Senate President David Mark, and some governors. . The rally was organised to welcome defectors from the APC. The defectors include former Governor Achike Udenwa, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume Imo East), Senator Chris Anyanwu, and Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN). President Jonathan urged party members to gird their loins, ahead of the 2015 polls. He said they should learn from the wrangling and discord, which permitted a crack on the wall in 2011.

The governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said that, with the return of the old members, the PDP will reclaim the state. He charged the party leaders to to promote unity in the fold. “We are not just here to receive the returnees, but their thousands of supporters and, with what we have seen so far. the PDP has recaptured Imo State. The will of God is that, in 2015, the PDP flag will fly again in Imo government House,” he said. The Senate President advised the PDP family to forget the past and forge ahead in the spirit of new understanding. His deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, assured that the party will bounce back next year after the polls. Anenih was more optimistic that the PDP will regain power in the state in 2015. He said: “With the return of our great members, the job is already done.” Mu’azu, who was impressed by the huge crowd, said: “The he journey to recapture Imo has just started and the new leadership of the PDP is committed to reclaiming all

•PDP leaders at the rally

the states we have lost as a result of internal problems”. He added: “Now, that we have found the answers to our problems and, with the returnees, I want to assure you that Imo State has fallen”. The national chairman however, appealed to the aspirants to thread softly. He said: “This is a brand new PDP and only our very best will be fielded during the 2015 election”. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, said: “Imo is a PDP state and today we have earnestly began the journey to take back the state. We made mistakes in the past, but we are back. We misunderstood ourselves and power slipped off our hands, but today, our brothers who strayed away are back and that is one of the things we need to return to Douglass House”. President Jonathan described the rally as a reunion that will strengthen the party. He said: “We are here for

unity rally because of our brothers that stepped out, but have stepped back. The PDP is the only stable party in Nigeria and we will continue to play a major role in the country”. However, observers contend that the PDP has some some hurdles to cross. Certain elements in the party are not comfortable with the return of the founding fathers. The governorship race is already crowded. No fewer than 10 strong members of the party are struggling for the ticket. They belong to the various caucuses. They cannot be ignored because they are party financiers. They Ihedioha, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Acting Minister of Aviation Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Ararume. A political analyst, Chief Stanley Egwudia, expressed doubt about the ability of the different factions to agree on a consensus ccandidate. He said: “The storm is brewing in the state chap-

ter of the PDP. The celebrated return of these heavy weights to the PDP will do more harm than good for the party. It will further break the rank of the party. All of them returning to the party have one ambition or the other they could not realize outside the party and they returned with the hope of getting retribution”. A clear pointer to this fact was the move by a faction of the party to concede the governorship slot to Ararume as a compensation for the injustice done him in 2007, which made him dump the party after the governorship election. Another challenge is that Okorocha has performed creditably to earn the people’s loyalty. In Imo State today, the feeling is that the PDP has ruled the state for 12 years without anything to show for it and the electorate are known to be resolute and cannot be easily swayed by political statements or monetary inducement.

Reforming local government for efficiency •Continued from yesterday

The functions of local government as spelt out in Section 7(5) of the constitution is as follows: • Consideration and making of recommendations to the state commission on economic planning or any similar body on economic development of the state, particularly sin so far as the area of authority of the council and of the state are affected; • Collection of rates, radio and television licenses; • Establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for the destitudes; • Licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks), canoes, wheel barrows and carts; • Establishment, maintenance and regulation of markets, motor parks and public conveniences; • Construction and maintenance of roads, streets, drains, and public highways, parks, open spaces, or such public facilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the House of Assembly of a state; • Naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses; • Provision and maintenance of public conveniences and refuse disposal; • Registration of births, deaths and marriages; • Assessment of privately-owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a state, and • Control and regulation of out-door advertising and hoarding, movement and keeping of pets of all dispensations, shops and kiosks, restaurants and other places for sale of food to the public and laundries. In addition, local governments are also expected to work hand in hand on the provision and maintenance of primary education, development of agriculture and natural resources and provision and maintenance of health services. Instead of performing these functions, many local government chairmen nowadays neglect them and engage in dubious empowerment programmes to cover up their non-performance of these constitutional roles. Questions have however, been raised about the economic viability of the councils. This is debatable. Some local governments in the urban centres have capacity to generate substantial internally generated revenue that can assist them in the discharge of their developmental functions. In the same vein, there are councils in remotest parts of the country with little or nothing to fall back to, except the federal allocation. Nigeria is a federal state. According to Prof. K. C. Wheare, federalism connotes “the method of

dividing powers so that “general” and “regional” governments are each, within a sphere, c0-ordinate and independent”. This universally accepted proposition presupposes that, in federalism, only two centres of authority; the central and state governments, are recognised. Therefore, labeling the council as another tier of government is contentious. It must be assumed that the abuse of the powers of control over the councils by the state and federal government compelled the agitation for an increased autonomy for councils. Crisis between state and local governments permeate the inter-governmental relationship. Across the federation, between 2007 and 2006, council chairmen and governors were at loggerheads over illegal deduction of council funds by the states, with governors threatening to sack chairmen who raised serious objection. For example, former Ekiti Central local government chairman, Hon. Taye Fasubaa, cried out that he was being victimised for objecting to the diversion of council funds and illegal deductions by the governor. In 2012, when President Jonathan suggested that the Joint State/Council Account (JAC) should be abrogated and local governments should receive its allocations directly from the federal purse without recourse to the governors, the suggestion did not go down well with the councils. In recent times, chairmen whose name have appeared in the black book of the governors forfeited their offices through the dissolution of the councils, in active connivance with the Houses of Assembly. In Ibarapa local government, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja delayed the swearing-in of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) council chairman, who defeated the candidate of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the poll. In fact, in some states in the Southeast, Southsouth, Southwest, and Northcentral, governors have resisted attempts to hold council elections, to the consternation of anxious aspirants. Local governments are also oppressed by the Federal Government. This suppression preceded the current democratic dispensation. In consonance with its centrist approach, the Abacha Administration dazed the country when he appointed a minister of local government. The 1999 Constitution, which is the legacy of Abdulsalami Administration, also created friction between the federal and state governments over the control of the local governments. The federal government insisted that states lacked

the power to create more councils belong to it, claiming that all the councils have already been listed in the constitution. Former Katsina State Governor Umaru Yar’Adua, who later became President of Nigeria, had to retrace his steps by axing the newly created councils in the state, out of fear. Actually, the power to create councils in Section 8(3) is vested in the House of Assembly. But Section 8(6) gives the power to ratify the creation and list newly created councils to the National Assembly. Many are clamouring for the review of the constitution to clear this area of friction. In Lagos State, Tinubu Administration created additional 37 local councils. Despite the fact that they were created by legitimate state authorities, the Federal Government disagreed. The allocations due to the pre-existing 20 local governments were seized by the Obasanjo Administration. Also, the Senate refused to list the new councils in the constitution, despite the referendum that gave their creation the nod. In fact, in a memo to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who had earlier directed that the withheld allocations should be released, the Ministry of Justice advised him to terminate the newly created councils, saying that they were undermining the judiciary and challenging the authority of the federal government. Irked by the incessant harassment, House of Representatives member, James Faleke, former chairman of one of the councils not listed; Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA); said: “The victimisation of Lagos councils by the federal government undermines the right of Lagosians to development”. How have the existing councils fared nationwide? Have they justified the people’s confidence? In Lagos, the House of Assembly members were still inundated with complaints during the town hall meetings that many chairmen showcased cosmetic achievements. One of the bane of the councils is the bloated bureaucracy. Many experts think that the councils should trim down so that money spent on maintaining gigantic structures could be deployed to capital expenditure. For example, it has been pointed out that the council cabinet is too large and burdensome. Council chairmen maintain extensive political structures. They appoint too numerous supervisory councillors, special advisers, special assistants, and personal assistants like the President and governors, making the recurrent expenditure to soar. This is at the expense of capital expenditure.

’Council chairmen appoint too numerous supervisory councillors, special advisers, special assistants, and personal assistants like the President and governors, making the recurrent expenditure to soar. This is at the expense of capital expenditure’

•Kuye

There is also the need for reforms in other areas of council administration, particularly in making sure that the trio of chairman, council manager and treasurer are closely monitored to prevent outright embezzlement and misappropriation of council funds. To improve efficient service delivery, stakeholders have offered the following suggestions: • Local governments should localise administration by implementing a formula for conducting need analysis through the involvement of Community Development Associations/ Committees • Chairmen and councillors should hold town hall meetings regularly to collate input into local policy formulation and implementation • Procedure for public accountability should be created and strengthened in the local government • The House of Assembly should closely monitor the financial activities of the councils to reduce corruption. • There is the need to maintain small political bureaucracy to avoid an upsurge in recurrent expenditure • The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs should evolve mechanism for proper monitoring and evaluation of council developmental projects • It is better to encourage retired men and women of integrity to serve as part-time councillors and supervisors, instead of young men who are in a hurry to make money. • Code of Conduct Bureau should vet the material acquisition of functionaries, based on their prior financial status as reflected in the asset declaration forms. • CDC should resist attempts to impose councillorship and chairmanship candidates on their wards and councils by godfathers and leaders of political parties.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Nigeria to fight malaria with e-tech

“I

T takes Nigerians to find solutions to our internal problems on whatever level it faces us,” were the opening remark of Mr. Chris Uwaje, Chairman, Mobile Software Solutions Limited, and President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), pioneer, ICT Policy for Nigeria. Speaking on why Nigeria has to nail malaria into extinction, Uwaje, said it was one “battle that had confronted us so much even in the days of the Colonial masters when they came to grant Nigeria independence as a nation, they were unable to grant us ‘freedom’ from malaria. Malaria has killed hundreds of thousands of Nigerians for many years. Current data on malaria in Africa, shows that one of the 300-500 million cases of malaria result in death. Also annually, Nigeria accounts for over 300,000 thousand deaths. As such, medical experts noted that Nigeria’s health profile is in grave danger. On the economic slate, malaria costs Africa an estimated N12billion in loss of productivity on an annual basis. The situation is so weighty that according to the Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, a child dies of malaria every second across Africa. “When you see these figures, one is forced to react. That is why in our company, we have been on a research for quite a long time. Our major concern is to save future generations of Nigerians. Our response to the eradication of mosquitoes and by extension, the destruction of the epidemic in our continent informed the creation of the game. “Permit me to say that our initial drive is not for profit. We have mostly around us today children and younger ones who are quite technology savvy. They like to play games and so, we came up with a game called Malaria Destroyer Game (MDG) which has the endorsement of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It is in line with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “Of the estimated over 100millions cases, which result in about 300thousand deaths annually, the urgency to do something novel cannot be over-emphasised. Coupled with the picture of urgency being painted in the twin evil of 215,000

By Joke Kujenya

PROGRAMME deaths yearly in Nigeria arising from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and its gradual descent into the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). “So what we are talking about, every little children, and not only adults, need to understand everything about malaria. This game would familiarise every Nigerian with the knowledge needed so that when parents are not close-by to help the children, the kids would amazingly help themselves to an extent. By playing the game, everyone would learn everything about how it could affect them to factors that could predispose them to it, what they can do to prevent themselves, and even help several others.” In the MDG game, Nigeria is depicted as a country at war against malaria as her number one enemy. The example was

portrayed after Syria, a country that had been at war for quite long. It is done so in the believe Syria does not fight more battles than Nigeria does for the fact that both countries have been battling to extinct their perceived foes for several years. Uwaje said, “We then decided that the fresh twist is to make Nigeria fight her war against malaria with high etech since technology is what drives our world now and it is a device the malaria parasites cannot decode. We all know that Syria, for about two years has been fighting war, which it has lost over 200 thousand people. Nigeria, with all arms battle, has had to combat malaria and lost over 600 people in the same two years. So, what are we talking about? “This is one of the beauties of the software environment which is made up of many facets with the most important aspect being research and development in the mobile-device driven world. Nigeria has about 120million mobile phones. And this is the first singular opportunity to showcase its creativity and tell its story. “So we designed the MDG mobile solution game focused on ensuring that at least about half of those who would have died in future would be equipped with all the knowledge needed to save their lives. And to ensure that mosquito is more dangerous than a gun in our lives because gun does not kill as much as the many people that mosquitoes kill, and we want to make sure that the mindset of Nigerians are changed. We want to get also our elderly ones who may not be in the educated class to join the ebattle against malaria. If everyone could use the WHO mosquito repellent soaked nets, everyone can play this game to send malaria off our soil.” The MDG, he said, will teach every Nigerian including children from about four years up, the knowledge hunt, just as when a person wants to kill malaria, they know that they have to go to the shop, buy ‘tools’ such as flits, nets, etc, then return home to battle malaria. The game is made with the mindset that after the older generation passes on, the younger would have the opportunity to live happier, healthier malaria-free lives. Similarly, in the game, you go to the shop buy the tools, but more importantly is the fact that you gain better knowledge of how malaria is birth through being bitten by a parasite carrying mosquito, the medical terminologies, preventive methods and better still, what it takes in the real life, to fight malaria as well as how to avert being knocked down by sickness due to malaria. The MDG in interactive and educative as there are questions that would be asked as the game is being.

The Hurricane: In memory of the late Murtala Muhammed

s the nation focuses on the centenary of its birth, it is pertinent to front view of Chesterfieldfront view of Chesterfieldfront view of Chesterfieldfront view of Chesterfieldfront view of Chesterfieldfront view of Chesterfieldfront view of Chesterfieldfront view of Chesterfieldfront view of Chesterfield highlight the personalities who played significant roles, some of them heroic, in shaping the destiny of the nation till date. A revised edition of The Hurricane is will soon be released worldwide through the Amazon publishing platform. The late General Murtala Muhammed is one of the few personalities, living or dead, widely regarded as real Nigerian heroes. He made a tremendous impression upon the minds of his countrymen. His life and activities in public office affected many lives and altered the course of history. His untimely death drew unprecedented outpouring of grief and stirred national outrage against those who brutally terminated his life. There was great anger against the act that sought to truncate a reinvigorated vision of a new Nigeria, which Murtala was generally believed to be pursuing with vigour and conviction. Like any human being, Murtala may have had his weaknesses. As a young military officer, he got embroiled in the cauldron that was Nigerian politics, in the fiery battle for sectional dominance. The resultant abortion of the republican democracy and the eventual outbreak of the civil war saw Murtala playing a leading role as a dogged warlord, with some of his actions being regarded as tactless and costly. After the war, Murtala did not just settle down into a quiet and routine military life, he made himself the conscience of the nation by constantly speaking out against societal ills and inept leadership. Even when he became a member of the ruling cabinet, he was relentless in his outspokenness against what he saw as the purposeless leadership. And when eventually the mantle of leadership was thrust on him as Head of State, he infused a new spirit of dynamism and patriotic fervour into governance. One commentator wrote about his tenure: “It will be remembered as the period of which Nigeria received a new lease of life. They were six months that gave a new orientation to national goals which revitalised public life and then set the nation on the path of true greatness.” His tragic assassination on the morning of February 13, 1976 made his era a painfully brief one. Like a fleeting

By Taiwo Ogundipe

hurricane, it nonetheless, left a sweeping impact on the psyche of the nation. His death was mourned far and wide and it generated copious media attention. And year after year afterwards, whenever Murtala’s assassination was commemorated, the media, especially the newspapers and magazines, usually devoted generous attention to this memory. In recent years, however, the attention seems to have declined considerably. The story of Murtala is increasingly appearing to be like a footnote in the annals of Nigeria’s history. The annual Murtala Muhammed lecture organised by a major newspaper house in the country is now a thing of the past. It seems that before long, if care is not taken, the annual commemoration of Murtala’s life and death will be reduced to a mere affair for his immediate family members. This now seems to be happening. And he does not deserve this. The late General can be cast in the same mould as President John F. Kennedy of the United States of America and the human rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., both of whom suffered the same fate as Murtala by being cut down at their prime by assassins’ bullets. The mesmerising lives and the tragic death of these two icons have generated not only numerous books and biographies, but scores of movies. The endless literary fairs highlight different aspects of the lives of these prominent personalities. The story of General Muhammed’s life deserves no less. To date, most of the books that have been written by some of the major participant–observers on the military’s involvement in Nigeria’s governance have only made passing references to Murtala. The other ones that have been specifically written on his tenure focus largely on his administrative policies and pronouncements. None gave detailed human angle accounts of his life and death, until The Hurricane written by Taiwo Ogundipe, a journalist, came on the scene 13 years ago. The Hurricane, which received raved reviews, traces the roots of the General and his progenitors. It also focuses on his birth, his growing-up years, his schooling days, his life as a young man as well as his military training and career. The book also highlights his marriage and family life, his performance as a soldier; his involvement in the post-independence crisis that engulfed the nation, his emergence as a national leader, his role as head of state, his tragic death and the after-effects.

A product of extensive research and interviews, the book paints a very intimate picture of General Muhammed. And because he is not alive to tell his own story, the author took the poetic license of living in the soul of the General and seeing most of the events through his eyes and those of the other major actors that are also dead. Murtala’s successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo wrote the foreword to the book and describes it as “a good research work on the person of the late General Murtala Muhammed. It is a well outlined piece of writing on the life and times of the late Head of State, who was indeed, a personal friend and a professional colleague in the Nigerian Army.” Obasanjo wrote further: “The Hurricane has effectively captured the historical perspectives of the work of the General, depicting his effort to bring about discipline and sanitisation of the military and the Nigerian civil society.” The late Major General J. J. Oluleye, a major participant during the military regime of Murtala, and the author of the book, Military Leadership in Nigeria: 1966 – 1979, wrote about The Hurricane thus: “I looked through the draft and concluded that you are dead on course.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

WAS supposed to have been at the public presentation of Dr Femi Olugbile’s new book Heroes and other short stories but could not make it. Yet, I have been endlessly fascinated by the six stories contained in this book of 142 pages. Dr Olugbile’s training as a psychiatrist shines through his prose. He probes through the very depths of the human soul. The Christian scriptures say that the human heart is wicked and desperately evil. The Yoruba say that the longest journey is that into the human mind. Dr Olugbile’s stories vividly portray the wickedness, avarice, greed, selfishness and yet generosity of spirit that can cohabit within the human mind. On receipt of the book, my first instinct was to look for the story titled ‘Heroes’. To my chagrin I found none. It therefore occurred to me that the heroes referred to in Dr Olugbile’s title must be embedded in each story. This reminds me of the late great Marxist historian, Eric Hobsbawn’s book titled Uncommon People. He contends that his book is “almost entirely about the sort of people whose names are usually unknown to anyone except their families and neighbours, and, in modern states, to the offices registering births, marriages and deaths”. Yet it is such lives of ‘uncommon people’, rich and poor, that comes to life under the expert hands of Dr Olugbile. Perhaps the hero(ine) of the first story was ‘Aje Ologe’. Married to Tomi at an early age shortly before the departure of the latter to Britain for further studies even though she hardly knew him, she is at the mercy of an intimidating mother in law and rigid cultural norms. The story is about her seventieth birthday, an occasion that allows her to reflect on her entire life – her husband marrying a second wife, her affair with a rich businessman for whom she has a son that she makes her husband believe is his and sundry other details. Deception. Guile. Camouflage. Is that not the fare of human life? But at seventy, her legitimate husband having died of stroke, she dances to the fluid music of Yinka Aiyefele with-

Segun Ayobolu

sms to 07032777778 segunayobolu2@yahoo.com

Femi Olugbile’s heroes of the human condition out a care in the world. At the end of the seventieth birthday celebration as the celebrant sees off the guests, “The music was still booming. She felt she could go on and on, not stopping, holding on to this moment”. But, of course, life goes on remorselessly. The next story, ‘Indian Notes’, transports us to India – Mumbai specifically. Tony, a successful businessman in the oil sector is on vacation to India with his adoring and adorable wife. But is it really a vacation? While Tony works at his oil business in Port Harcourt, his wife is a confidential secretary to a Permanent Secretary in Lagos. Rummaging through her wardrobe one day on instinct, he discovers in her handbag a note from her boss with the simple words “I enjoy you”. It is in India that Tony confronts his wife with his discovery and the fact that he was dying of cancer. What was her tearful explanation? “It was nothing. He- he had Hypertension. And he was going through a nasty divorce. I pitied him- he was a good boss. He wanted more – staying to work late and me being forced to stay with him. I wouldn’t – I won’t tell you I wasn’t tempted. I met the Head of Service and begged him to transfer me immediately or I would resign.

He did. It broke his heart. He died later”. Did this explanation satisfy the agonised husband? Did it help soothe his silent battle with cancer? Olugbile leaves us guessing. But then, like fiction, like life. Uncertainty. Unpredictability. Where exactly will it all end for any of us? Can any of us confidently say? Olugbile is adroit not just at sculpting in cryptic prose, the lives of the high, wealthy and mighty but also that of the poor, lowly and impoverished. In the story, “All for Love”, Olugbile graphically paints the picture of life in a typical ‘face me I face you’ building. The petty quarrels. The dangerous jealousies. The baseless suspicions. But, it is perhaps here that we find the greatest hero of all the stories. Popularly known as California because of his feats on the football field once upon a time, he is a poorly paid school games master. His days of football glory are behind him, no thanks to injury. Yet, he plods on. He drinks. He smokes. He plays ‘Ayo’ with other men in the neighbourhood. He brooks no nonsense in his house even though his son, Daniel, nicknamed ‘bomboy’ is leading a wayward life. His daughter is more disciplined and purposeful. She desires to further her education

and go on to university. Then the devastating news; she has a disease of the kidneys. She needs a kidney transplant. The seemingly irresponsible California offers to donate one of his kidneys to save his daughter’s life. This for me is the height of heroism. Yet, a passage in this story captures what Thoreau poignantly described as “lives of quiet desperation”. It was Christmas. Yet, California “saw his life starkly, stuck in a rut. There was no future, as there was no past. Nothing to regret. Nothing to look forward to. Just more of the same anywhere you turned”. Perhaps the most interesting story in the collection is the one titled Do The Right Thing. This story brings to mind Chinua Achebe’s No Longer At Ease, where Obi, a civil servant, trying to live up to his status resorts to collecting bribes. Here, Tejumade is a civil servant struggling to make ends meet. His wife is a school teacher aspiring to become a principal. Retirement stares Tejumade in the face, yet he has no house of his own. He thus involves himself in a complex fraud network in his Ministry by collecting the pay and allowances of ‘ghost workers’ on the pay roll. The new auditor deployed from the Ministry of Information to Tejumade’s Ministry of Works, Mr Salau, is known for his diligence and strictness. Salau admires Tejumade as a honest, competent and reliable civil servant. He regards him as his role model. Yet, it takes Salau little time to trace and unravel the trail of fraud with Tejumade at its head. When Salau confronts Tejumade with the evidence of his crime, the latter wondered: “How could he explain that even a man of God needed a roof over his head in his retirement”? That then is the human condition Olugbile confronts us with in this fascinating collection of short stories. What is right? What is wrong? What determines the choices we make as human beings? Even in our flawed nature as human beings, there is still a lot of heroism to celebrate.

Museum as agent of national unity and cultural integration (11)

HE communal nature of the Nigeria life with roles to be played by both the living and the dead. The acceptance of re-incarnation as a fact of life. That the conducts of the ancestors could act as a form of social control to regulate individual and societal moral life.

Fertility in traditional Nigerian societies

In our traditional settings involving the entire ethnic groups, some festivals are done essentially to celebrate the god/goddess behind either a high yield production of farm crops or fertility in either man, animals, or plants. These gods are sometimes represented in carved wooden figures. During the celebration of these festivals, some objects are either worn or carried by the devotees of this god/goddess as their emblem or symbol of office. Yoruba sacred art is the point of contact with the invisible world forces. The sacred arts serve to focus and intensify worship by attracting spiritual forces with their aesthetic power. They are not only objects of worship but also they help to intensify and add focus on deities. Thus the belief is that “deities do not come because of the images but images come because of the deities. The ideal of sacredness of the objects is upheld because of the belief that the spirit reside within the article/objects. In Yoruba mythology, some deities are directly related either t human fertility or farm yield. When there is a need for increase farm yield or a child is being sought for a barren woman, it is believed that these deities, when appease, they can give either children or bountiful harvest, these deities include the following: Orisa Oko: The actual staffs are made of hoes beaten together, the staff is strongly associated with the power of the hoe and protects the fruits of the farm in the sense that should a man rob the farm, the staff will curse him to cut himself with his own hoe, cutlass or instrument of him.

Sango Objects: Sango was the forth king of the Yoruba and was defied by his friends after his death. Sango ruled over all Yoruba including Benin, the Popos and Dahomey for the worship of him has continued in all these countries to this day. He was of very wild

From Onime O. Wilson

HERITAGE disposition, fiery temper and had a habit of emitting fire and smoke out of his mouth. Sango Double-Axe: The sculpture usually seems to suggest the union of worshippers with fire of the deity. The thunder god is usually believed by the devotee to grant the special gift of twins to the parents of the world. They also believed that Sango is the protector of the twins, thus the cult of the twins has an interpersonal relationship with the cult of Sango. Arugba Bowl Carrier: In the bowl carrier devotee keep Neolithic, Celts thought to be thunderbolts which Sango held’s in judgment upon who do not acknowledge his authority in their lives or are due for his righteous judgment.

The fertility related festivals of the Igbos

The fundamental element of action and value in the Igbo world is Ala or Ani who is the earth or land goddess. She is the basis of life. She is simultaneously, substance and spirit. The Centrality of Earth undoubtedly stems from the fact that agriculture is the economic mainstay while uncertain yields, dispute over farm lands and land tenure are resolved through her mediation which gives rise to her spiritual and legal sanctions. Agbogho-Mmanwu: The fame of Maiden “Udo Agbogho” A festival called the fame of maidens use Region of Eastern Nigeria. The festival is usually used in honoring important patron deity. During the festival adolescent female marks “Agbogho mmanwu” are featured. These male performances embody the ideals of youthful feminine beauty though in an exaggerated style. Ogbom – Headdresses: These are full figure headdresses worn in Ogbom dances. They are one of the finest Igbo works of Art. The Ogbom dance is known among many region of Eastern Nigeria. Ogbom displays honor “Ala” i.e. the earth. This projects her role in human and agricultural fertility and increase. The carvings are used to emphasize the connection of the ceremony with female productivity and nurture. The carvings are usually females with large full breasts; the absence of arm is to enhance the prominence of the breasts. Mostly often the Ogbom fig-

•Tsoede object ures are young females seated on stools with often protruding bellies to depict fecundity. The Ogbom carvings might be only heads or single heads with a bar. Around the cylindrical base basket work are woven which enabled the carving to be strapped to the dancer’s head. Ogbom dance are danced in some areas without these figure.

Fertility related object from the North: Mama (mangam) cap mask At the southern Jos Plateau near Wama line the Mama ethnic group people. They are good warriors with unique sculptural pieces. They have developed the most abstract sculpture of animal’s forms in Nigeria in form of Cap masks. They are mainly represented as bush cows used in fertility (Mangam) dance. The National Commission for Museums and Monuments established by Decree 79 of 1979 as the custodian of the nation’s cultural heritage has from its existence, champion the promotion of our cultural integration

through its numerous exhibitions, establishment of Museums, creating awareness and reaching out to the communities on the importance of preserving our cultural heritage. Presently, the Commission through the leadership of Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman Director General with the cooperation of the Directors, management team and staff have been trying their best to move the Museum to the next level in partnership with other International bodies. It organising exhibitions, training programs for staff in order to enhance professionalism. Also, efforts are being made to partner with other stake holders to establish more museums both privately and state owned. More importantly, as agent of cultural transformation of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, the commission is strategically positioned to propagate the cultural transformation of the government. However, more still need to be done if we must reach that international standard as both the privates, NGOs, cooperate organisations and Government at all levels must join hands together to assist the NCMM as it is practiced in other parts of the world. This paper has attempted to draw the attention of all to the fact that Nigeria is not only rich but share a common cultural belief as regards its ancestral beliefs and fertility in its traditional society. Even in accepting other religious beliefs, Nigerians have not by any means abandoned these beliefs. In fact, they constitute the pragmatic and spiritual foundations on which Nigerians build their acceptance and practice of the new faiths. The belief has become, the dynamics of cultural and religious adaptation for the converting religions to take root and become meaningful to Nigerians. Finally, it is safe that Nigerian traditional beliefs will continue to be relevant in our quest for cultural integration irrespective of whatever religious dispensation the Nigerians find themselves. The objectives of this lecture is to show that not only does indigenous religion have its own ancestral beliefs, that the beliefs and concepts are the same across the country Nation which served as products of a well grounded cultural integration amongst the ethnic groups. •Onime is of the National Museum, Lagos

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

A sculpture or meat stand? Life-size barbeque prepared as part of a party menu in Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

•Akerman (on the bicycle)

•A section of the swimming pool.

PHOTOS: OZOLUA UHAKHEME

Agodi Zoological Garden: ‘Paradise’ in the making Six months ago, Agodi Garden was a haven for reptiles and rodents. Despite its closeness to the state secretariat, its bushes were a threat to leisure seekers who ordinarily will throng the centre for relaxation, especially during festivities. Oyo State Government is transforming the old, bushy park into a world class resort, Assistant Editor Arts OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

RESSED in short and shirt, he is either walking smartly from one point to another or riding his bicycle. At another mo-

ment, he is without his shirt. His concern is to ensure that every aspect of the construction work at the Agodi Parks and Zoological Gardens, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, is executed to the letter and delivered on schedule. Outside the park, he is addressed as Oyinbo. Welcome to Mr. Paul Akerman, Project Manager Am & Sea Limited, a construction firm handling the rehabilitation of the park. Though seemingly under pressure to de-

LEISURE liver the first phase of the project to Oyo State government, Akerman said he is very happy to be working on the project adding that it is a pet project close to the heart of Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi. He disclosed that the first phase of the three phases, which comprises of restaurant and swimming pool, is expected to be completed by April while phase two and three will include construction of a new zool, aquarium and health farm. Already, landscaping and architectural works on the park have since begun.

Akerman noted that the third phase would require lots of investments from investors as the project would require lots of money. “To me Nigeria is the new Dubai because most of the people are showing strong desire to develop the country. Unlike South Africa, which is standstill is constantly improving. You got beautiful country where everybody is a trader and everything got a price,” he said. Akerman, a Briton who grew up in South Africa recalled that six months ago the Agodi Park was a jungle, saying it has become a Mecca of a sort for many Nigerians, who on a daily basis visit the park to appreciate the transformation.

On his impression of Nigeria before the start of the project, he said: “Though I have read and heard of Nigeria while in South Africa and when I returned to UK. But, I never thought I will ever be in Nigeria to work. However, I found that the country is a pleasant place. Unfortunately, the world got the wrong impression of Nigeria, which is the issue of scam. Unlike in Nigeria, there is a huge hatred towards some races in South Africa.” At the last Samodun Festival at Ibadan, Governor Ajimobi reassured that his administration would transform the Agodi Park to a world class tourists’ centre before the end of the year. He promised to bring in some boats for water sports.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

BUSINESS EXTRA

Fed Govt spends N125.3b on fish import yearly, says Adesina T HE Federal Government spends N125.38 billion on fish import yearly, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has said. According to the minister, the figure is unacceptable, adding that the Federal Government has started a fish production support programme for fishermen in fishing communities. Adesina, who spoke in Abuja at the Second Stakeholders Interactive Session on: “Re-positioning the fisheries sector,” blamed importers for not paying for their licences. He noted that the ministry would not allow such illegality to continue. The minister explained that the government would continue to close cold rooms of importers that bring in fish illegally while such operators will be subjected to stiffer penalties. He said: “Nigeria spends an estimated N125.38 billion importing fish every year. This is totally unacceptable. Fish does not grow on sand, it grows in water, and Nigeria has abundant water resources and marine ecosystems to produce high

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

quality fish. This is why, for the first time ever, Federal Government has started a fish production support program for fishermen and fishing communities. “The issue of licensing for fish imports is bedeviled with corruption, as importers corrupt public officials to give licenses away above their available cold room warehouse capacities. The figures given by the Nigerian Customs for fish imports to Nigeria is several times above the declared volumes by fish importers. Another fishy business. For example, between 2010 and 2012, fish importers declared that they imported 1.78 million MT of fish or annual import of 593,000 MT. The records in the Federal Department of Fisheries show 1.9 million MT of fish imports in the period or annual import of 635,000 MT. However, the Nigerian Customs figures shows that actual

total fish import by the importers during the period was 16.8 million MT or annual import of 5.9 million MT.” He continued: “It is very clear: fish importers are cheating and are not paying the amounts due to government for licenses. Even more worrisome is that there is no cold storage capacity in the country to keep 5.9 million MT of fish. So, what is being imported and declared as fish? Allegations are rife of dubiousness among some importers who declare fish for imports, but are actually importing other things, including cars. Fishy business. “The Ministry will not allow such illegality to continue, and therefore we have sealed off a few cold rooms. We will continue to close down cold rooms that bring in fish illegally and their operators will be subjected to stiff penalties. Repeat offenders will have their import licenses totally revoked. The new policy on import quota is directed

• Adesina

inland and marine fisheries. Our four-year target is to increase the production of fish fingerlings by 1.25 billion per year, the production of fish feed by 400,000 metric tons per year; and increase table size fish production by an additional 250,000 metric tons per year. “In addition, we will produce 100,000 metric tons of value added fish and fisheries products annually. We expect that within four years, we will add an additional 1 million MT of fish to our domestic production and reach 67 per cent self sufficiency,” he added.

‘Nigeria saves N735.57b from fuel subsidy in two years’

IGERIA saved N735.57billion from fuel subsidy between 2012 and last year, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has said. Its former Executive Secretary, Mr. Reginald Stanley, who made this known while handing over to his successor, Mr. Farouk Ahmed said the Federal Government

• Importers accused of illegality

at sanitizsing a terribly corrupt fish import licensing and import quota system. It will prevent the current practice where some large corporate importers simply stockpile fish and distort the market at will, driving small fish retailers out of business. Stock piling also leads to keeping fish way beyond acceptable sell-by dates, leading to sale of rancid fish to consumers. Rancidity is a major cause of cancers, especially liver and kidney cancers.” Mr. Adesina, who said the fisheries sector contributes four per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), added that the ministry’s target is to be self sufficient by increasing the production of fish fingerlings by 1.25 billion annually. “The fisheries sector is important, as it contributes four per cent of the GDP. The total demand for fish in the country is 2.7 million MT and we are producing locally about 800,000 MT. The deficit of 1.9 million MT is met by imports. Our goal is to be self sufficient in fish production. We will achieve this by promoting greater investments in aquaculture, improving artisanal,

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

saved N409billion in 2012 and N326.57billion in 2013. His words: “What is so spectacular about 2013 consumption is that it showed a modest increase of 5.5 per cent on 2012 figure in an economy growing at 6.9 per cent per annum. “Equally arising from this reduction in volume of PMS

Union to minister: reforms killing jobs

HE Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu was yesterday asked to inform the Federal Government and the African Union (AU) that the Public Service Reform programmes are killing jobs. Besides, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who spoke in Abuja, during the Sub-Regional Advisory Council of the Public Services International, told the minister that whenever any reform kills jobs, it also kills people. Ajaero also urged the the Deputy Director, Trade Union Services and Industrial Labour (TUSIR) of the minis-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

is the huge savings to the subsidy payment of N409billion in 2012 and N326.57billion in 2013. The agency has been refocused to deliver quality services and saving our nation billions of naira in the area of subsidy payments on PMS.” According to Stanley, the agency was able to reduce the daily consumption of fuel from 60.25 million litres per day in 2011 to 39.79 litres per day in 2012. He added that last year, the agency recorded 41.11 million litres per day, which was 18.14 million litres per day

less than what was recorded in 2011. Stanley noted that the agency pruned the subsidy on PMS in 2012 to N862.06billion, while the figure last year stood about N832.06billion. The former PPPRA boss said: “One of the most remarkable achievements of my time was the stability of fuel supply, which was driven by the issuance of laycans to marketers. During this period, queues became a thing of the past. Nigerians no longer kept vigil at filling stations in their bid to purchase fuel.

“Today, the downstream has been completely sanitised. PPPRA processes and procedures are all aligned to global best practice. This has engendered confidence, transparency and accountability in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda. “In the last 24 months, over N70billion has been invested in the downstream. So many depots and jetties have been built through private initiative, thereby generating thousands of jobs in our economy, with over 23.9 per cent unemployment.” The achievements, accord-

ing to him, were due to the many schemes such as global tracking of vessels, engagement of international independent inspectors along the line of global best practice and allowing only marketers, with investment in the downstream to participate in the supply and distribution of products. Stanley noted that he was leaving the agency “far much better” than he met it, and that the agency for the first time initiated annual stock taking of PMS which established that the daily national consumption of fuel was around 40 million litres.

try, Veronica Jemide, who represented Wogu at the event, to inform the government that the job losses in Nigeria and Africa have caused disquiet, militancy, civil unrest and other social vices across the globe. He said were there jobs, the Boko Haram sect would not have found the army of unemployed youths to engage for insurgency. According to him, the reforms which make people redundant also make them available tools in the hands of the the enemies of the states.

Dangote reduces cement price at Kaduna fair

HE Dangote Cement has slashed cement price in an ongoing promo at the Kaduna 35th International Trade Fair. Customers will have the opportunity of buying the discounted product at the company’s pavilion, Cement Regional Sales Manager Obasola Alo said. The promo liberalises the extant policy where customers who intend to buy directly at factory price could only do so if they are buying trucks of cement. ‘Two or more people can come together to buy 100 bags. We are partnering with Access Bank whose representatives are at the fair where customers can pay and get their product.’ he said. Director-General, Kaduna Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture

(KADCCIMA) Usman Salau applauded the partnership with Dangote, saying the promo will without doubt bolster the fair and increase participation. He said arrangements, which include security, electricity and water supply had been concluded. The Dangote Group is one the sponsors of the Trade Fair. At the opening, some people hailed the partnership with private investors which include Dangote Group, saying this year’s fair promises to be a success. They said participating countries include Egypt, Ukraine, India, Ghana, Niger and Senegal. When contacted spokesman of Dangote Group Anthony Chiejina said this was an opportunity for retailers and end users to leverage on at the fair.

• From left: Business Development Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Hand Held Products, Mr. Daesung Ra; Director, Hand Held Products, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas and Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim, at the Samsung Galaxy S5 Global Unpacked forum in Barcelona ... on Monday.

NPA declares zero tolerance for corruption at ports

HE Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Au thority (NPA) Mallam Habib Abdullahi has declared zero tolerance for corruption at the seaports. Speaking at the inauguration of members of NPA Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (NPA-ACTU) in Lagos, Abdullahi, who was represented by the General Manager Western Zone, Ms. Adenike Sonaike said for the ports to improve on efficiency and be the leading ports in the sub-region, corruption must be tackled, add-

By Oluwakemi Dauda

ing that the syndrome is inimical to the growth of the port and the economy. The NPA boss said if the country must take her pride of place among the commity of nations, all agencies at the ports must shun corruption. He said the management is prepared to stamp out the cankerworm, which informed his reason to establish branches across the ports. The representative of the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar, Mr. Kayode

Olajimi said NPA-ACTU is a pace setter, which other parastatals and the Ministry look up to, NPA as the first ACTU to be inaugurated among parastatals under the Ministry of Transport. Also, the Head of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Lagos office, Mr. Olufemi Nofiu said his office had a cordial relationship with NPAACTU in the past. He urged the management of NPA to give the new executive support so they can

continue the good work. He assured the new members of NPA-ACTUl that they would be given all the support they need to perform by the ICPC. The terms of reference of the unit include, among others, receive and investigate complaints of corruption and other sharp practices, educate staff on bribery, corruption and sharp practices, monitor the Authority for compliance with the AntiCorruption and Transparency crusade of the Federal Government.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT

25-2-14

Bullish rally gathers momentum

QUITIES sustained their rally yesterday at the stock market as all main indices at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed appreciable improvement. Both value of quoted firms and level of activities closed on the upside, sustaining the recovery mode that has characterised transactions this week. Average daily return stood at 1.17 per cent, indicating capital gains of about N146 billion. Volume, value and number of deals on the NSE increased by 21.4 per cent, 42 per cent and 7.3 per cent respectively. The upswing was as a result of increased demand for shares as investors anticipate impending release of audited reports and dividend recommendations of quoted companies. With 42 gainers to 18 losers, aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities rose from N12.433 trillion to N12.579 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI), which tracks prices of all eq-

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

uities on the NSE, also increased to 39,160.10 points as against its opening index of 38,707.14 points. Mobil Oil Nigeria topped the gainersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; list with a gain of N2.85 to close at N124.85. CAP followed with addition of N1.90 to close at N49. FBN Holdings added N1.22 to close at N13.80. Guinness Nigeria rose by 99 kobo to close at N163.60. Guaranty Trust Bank chalked up 88 kobo to close at N24.90. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated rose by 71 kobo to N14.91. Zenith Bank gained 70 kobo to close at N21.25. Dangote Cement rose by 57 kobo to N237.97. United Bank for Africa gathered 47 kobo to close at N7.75 while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria added 41 kobo to close at N8.66 per share. Aggregate turnover was above average at N409.51 million shares valued at

N4.42 billion in 5,844 deals. Banking stocks dominated the activity chart. Financial services stocks accounted for 328.59 million shares worth N2.87 billion in 3,514 deals. On stock-by-stock basis, FBN Holdings was the most active stock with a turnover of 34.36 million shares valued at N466.51 million in 813 deals. Guaranty Trust Bank trailed with 34.20 million shares valued at N852.41 million in 530 deals. Access Bank placed third with 34.07 million shares worth N272.66 million in 290 deals. On the downside, Unilever Nigeria topped the losersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; list with a loss of N2.40 to close at N45.60. PZ Cussons Nigeria followed with a drop of N1.12 to close at N38. Beta Glass slipped by N11.01 to close at N19.38. International Breweries lost 34 kobo to close at N29.11 while Evans Medical dropped by 12 kobo to close at N2.33 per share.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 25-2-14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

MONEYLINK

CBN okays Suntrust, Abbey, five other mortgage banks

EVEN mortgage institutions have been cleared by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to carry out mortgage banking business in the country. A CBN source said the institutions that emerged after meeting the N5 billion minimum capital base stipulated by the regulator are Suntrust Savings and Loans Limited, Kogi Savings and Loans Limited, Abbey Building Society Limited and Platinum Savings and Loans Limited. Others are Jubilee Life Savings and

Stories by Collins Nweze

2013 date set by the regulator. In a circular to directors and shareholders of primary mortgage banks from the CBN titled: “Extension of the deadline for compliance with the revised guidelines for primary mortgage banks”,said: “The extension would all affected firms sufficient time to exercise any of the options for capital raising, business combination and downscaling as demanded by the CBN in a December 14, 2012 circular.

Loans, Trustbond Mortgage Bank and Mayfresh Savings and Loans Limited. The CBN, in a letter dated February 20, said the firms met the recapitalisation deadline and are qualified to carry out mortgage business. The apex bank late last year, extended the deadline for Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) to December 31, to allow the firms to recapitalise. The new deadline, represented an eightmonth extension from initial April 30,

Reps praise CBN on remittances

HE House of Representative the House of Representatives Committee on Finance has commndeded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its timely remittances to the Federation Account. Speaking at the resumed session of the 2014 Budget Defence yesterday, the Chairman, Finance Committee, Dr. Abdul Mumin Jibril, said the apex bank, over the years, has been very consistent in its returns. He said: “The National Assembly will continue to commend the CBN for the fiscal discipline which it has been demonstrating and for the good work it has been doing for this country,” adding that the apex bank has not only been timely in its rendition, but also ensured that the amount it remitted into the Federation Account has been on the increase in the last four years. The Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, noted that the apex bank

• Naira strengthens on intervention be shifted to N170 per dollar, boosting inflationary pressures, according to Yvonne Mhango at Renaissance Capital.

has been able to increase its remittances to Federation Account from about N64.122 billion in 2011, to well over N80.0 billion in 2012. Meanwhile the naira, yesterday, gained 0.1 per cent to N164.35 per dollar, strengthening for a second day after the CBN auctioned $399.7 million to lenders. The CBN also sold dollars directly to banks, Kunle Ezun, an analyst at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, told Bloomberg. He projected that the naira is at risk of being devalued after President Goodluck Jonathan suspended the CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi last week, eroding confidence in monetary policy and sending the naira to a record low. However, the Acting CBN Governor, Dr. Sarah Alade has said there were no plans to devalue the currency. The apex bank will have to fight to keep the naira within its targeted range of three per cent above or below N155 at twice-weekly foreign-exchange auctions. The peg may

•Dr Sarah Alade, Acting CBN Governor

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

ercising any of the options and to conclude the processes before the new deadline in order to allow sufficient time for capital verification and necessary regulatory approvals. All directors, particularly the Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers of all PMBs are again reminded that prior approval of the CBN is required before the disposal of assets of the bank, as they will be held jointly and severally liable for any asset stripping.”

StanChart targets 16% revenue

TANDARD Chartered Plc’s about 16 per cent yearly increase in African revenue in the past five years is “sustainable” as the continent’s use of banking products rises amid surging economic growth. Bloomberg said the London-based bank, which has been operating in Africa for more than 150 years, has a presence in 15 sub-Saharan African nations after upgrading its representative office in Angola to a branch, Viswanathan Shankar, chief executive officer for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas said. The bank is considering entering markets in Mozambique and Ethiopia, he said. “There is huge interest in Africa; it is a continent of hope and of rising world interest,” Shankar said. “If you look at World Bank data 7 of the top 10 fastest-growing economies over the next 10 years are projected to be in Africa.” Banks, including Citigroup Inc. (C) and Barclays Plc (BARC) plan to expand in Africa as they seek growth opportunies amid slowerthan-average economic growth in developed nations. Gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa will increase 6.1 per cent this year up from a projected 5.6 per cent in

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 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

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

BANK (S/N)

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

149.7450

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

Bureau de Change 152.0000

SKYEBANK FBNH UBA REDSTAREX ETI ETERNA INTENEGINS CCNN FIDSON HONYFLOUR

O/PRICE 3.45 12.58 7.28 4.40 14.20 3.80 0.60 8.25 2.83 3.64

C/PRICE 3.80 13.80 7.75 4.62 14.91 3.99 0.63 8.66 2.97 3.82

Parallel Market

153.0000

CHANGE

O/PRICE 48.00 20.39 2.45 0.65 0.58 0.58 0.60 2.27 0.69 39.12

C/PRICE 45.60 19.38 2.33 0.62 0.56 0.56 0.58 2.20 0.67 38.00

-3.04

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

Feb. ’14

July ’11

Feb ’14

MPR

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate

8.50%

9.50%

4.50%

5.50%

Deposit Rate

Liquidity Ratio

30.00%

Cash Return Rate

1.00%

2.00%

Inflation Rate

7.8%

7.9%

LOSERS AS AT 25-02-14

SYMBOL UNILEVER BETAGLAS EVANSMED OASISINS UTC IPWA ROYALEX STERLNBANK IKEJAHOTEL PZ

154.3000

DISCOUNT WINDOWx

0.35 1.22 0.47 0.22 0.71 0.19 0.03 0.41 0.14 0.18

CHANGE -2.40 -1.01 -0.12 -0.03 -0.02 -0.02 -0.02 -0.07 -0.02 -1.12

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 25-02-14

SYMBOL

154.0000

(S/N)

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS)

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NIGERIA INTER OBB Rate Call Rate

2013, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Investment will rise to 23.2 per cent of gross domestic product from 22.8 per cent last year, IMF forecasts show. Standard Chartered was the biggest arranger of syndicated loans in sub-Saharan Africa in 2013, ahead of Standard Bank Group Ltd, Barclays and BNP Paribas SA, helping its clients borrow $1.96 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Standard Chartered’s operating profit from Africa grew 9.8 per cent in the first half of 2013 to $357 million, while revenue climbed 16 percent to $853 million, making up 8.7 per cent per cent of overall income. Growth in Africa will be led by Nigeria, Ghana, which has a history of good economic and political governance, Kenya and Angola and the increasing use of financial products like bonds, loans and mortgages, Shankar said.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

CBN Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision (OFIS), Olufemi Fabamwo said: “the decision of the Management of the Central Bank of Nigeria to extend the deadline for compliance with the Revised Guidelines for Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) from 30th April, 2013 to 31st December, 2013” to the mortgage institutions. According to Fabamwo, “all PMBs are once again strongly advised to conduct due diligence and seek professional advice in ex-

NIBOR 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

Current

04 July, 2012

07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

NEWS

Reps probe: Nigeria loses $8 billion yearly through NNPC swap arrangement

IGERIA is losing about $8 billion yearly through a swap agreement entered into by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), it was revealed yesterday. The revelation was sequel to the joint House of Representatives Committees of Petroleum (Upstream), Petroleum (Downstream) and Justice investigation on the allegation by a Swiss-based Non Governmental and Advocacy organisation called Berne Declaration, that two Swiss oil trading companies, Vitol and Trafigura, in connivance with NNPC, have skimmed the country off about $6.8 billion in two years. The hearing came about via a motion by a member, Abiodun Balogun (APC, Ogun). The joint committee yesterday said based on the information before it, the country was losing about $8 billion through the crude-for-product arrangement. The NNPC allocated 445,000 barrels of crude oil per day to 10 companies. They are:Vitol, Transfigura, Mercurial, Glencore, Taleveras Nigeria Limited, Sahara Energy Limited, Eternal Oil and Gas Limited, Aiteo Nigeria Limited, Ontario Oil and Gas and Rahmaniya Oil and Gas. In the deal, companies are allowed to lift crude oil in exchange for petroleum products, such as PMS (Petrol), DPK (Kerosene) and AGO (Diesel). But the joint committee said, in most cases, some of the companies in the deal lift crude oil without supplying products in exchange. Based on a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on domestic allocation for 2011 obtained by The Nation, products of both DPK (kerosene) and PMS (petrol) totalling over 500 million litres were undersupplied to the country in 2011 alone in a swap agreement contracted between Duke Oil, which is wholly

LP chieftains protest ‘hijack’ of party structure From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

EADERS of the Labour Party (LP) from three states in the Southwest yesterday stormed the party secretariat in Ibadan to protest the alleged hijacking of party structure by defectors from opposition parties. They announced that they have headed to court to reclaim their mandates. Party leaders from Ogun, Ekiti and Oyo said they had earlier passed their grievances to the national headquarters, where they alleged some people were been used to work against the interest of their party. They were unanimous in their rejection of the hijacking of the party’s structure by the defectors. The chieftains appealed to the leadership to follow the party constitution, which is clear on how leaders could emerge from the party. Comrade Onile Adams, the former treasurer from Ekiti State, said he has approached an Ado Ekiti High Court, which has granted him an injunction that the status quo be maintained, until the final determination of the case. Adams said in December 2011, he was given a letter to run the affairs of the party in Ekiti State but wondered why recently he heard of the new executive announced from the headquarters against the guideline of the party’s constitution. He added:” The same hijacking of the party’s constitution was also experienced in Oyo, Ekiti and Ogun states where new people were announced as the interim executives of the party.”

•Swap deal was transparently done, says NNPC From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi

owned by the NNPC in collaboration with the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and four oil trading firms. The companies are: Transfigura, Taliveras, Aiteo Nigeria Limited and Ontario Oil and Gas. In answering questions from a member of the Committee, Hon. Ali Ahmad, the Acting Managing Director of Duke Oil, Mr. Ahmed N. Bello, said Taleveras, Aiteo Nigeria Limited and Ontario Oil and Gas were contracted into the deal because of the national local content policy. The committee members, however, wondered how nationalistic such a policy was if all the owners of the three indigenous companies were from the Southsouth. The NEITI report chronicles how the country has been shortchanged through the crude- for- products. Transfigura got two swap exchanges within the period. It under-supplied with 173,786, 600 litres, in the first instance and 654, 440.7 litres, in the second instance. Taleveras under-supplied by 152, 308, 878 litres. Aiteo Nigeria Limited’s supplies were short by 193,046,590 litres and Ontario Oil and Gas shortchanged the nation by under supplying 180, 278,772 litres. In all, for the year 2011, the total under supplied by the four companies was 500,075,239.3 million litres. According to the NEITI report, the deal is a drain pipe for NNPC as Nigeria is losing a staggering amount in revenue. It was also alleged that some of the companies are owing NNPC products worth over $800 million. It was also alleged that some of the companies were still lifting crude

while the contract agreement signed had expired. But the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, making his presentation before the lawmakers, said the claims of the Bernes Declaration “are baseless and without material substance”. He requested that the committee members “set it aside in its entirety”. According to him, the claim by the “Bernes Declaration” that the NNPC is collaborating with Swiss Oil Trading Companies to dispose Federation Crude Oil at lower than market value is not true. “We submit that our pricing strategy is aligned to international best practice in the industry. Our prices are based on a reference to the bench mark crude Brent whose prices are published by Plaths for the international community,” the NNPC boss said. He said the selection of traders by the corporation “has standard criteria, which evaluate buyers’ facilities, volume of transactions, turnover and financial health of the companies, which is applicable to all, including Vitol and Transfigura.” Furthermore, the NNPC said that the crude oil- refined products exchange agreement with Duke Oil started February 1, 2011. “PPMC allocates 90,000 barrels of crude oil to Duke Oil Company in exchange for the delivery of refined products equivalent to value of the crude oil. “Duke Oil Company operates and manages the swap arrangement by loading three cargoes through its nominated operators Messrs Aiteo Energy Resources Ltd, Ontario Oil and Gas Ltd and Taleveras Group. Each company handles 30,000 barrels per day crude oil contract, which represents one cargo of about 950,000 barrels per month and delivers an equivalent value of refined

petroleum products in cargo sizes of 27,000MT to 38,000MT, or as may be agreed by both parties on behalf of Duke Oil. The NNPC said at the time of the contract to Duke Oil in 2011, the company did not have sufficient capacity to operate the contract. “It, therefore, subcontracted the 90,000bpd to the nominated operators, Messrs Aiteo Energy Resources Ltd, Ontario Oil and Gas Ltd and Taleveras Group to operate the contract at the rate of 30,000 barrels per day per company.” The committee members wondered how transparent the contract was, if Duke signed its contracts with Messrs Aiteo Energy Resources Ltd, Ontario Oil and Gas Ltd and Taleveras Group in January 2011. It signed with the NNPC on February 1, 2011. The committee said it also needed to know the pricing system of NNPC to see if it meets international best practices. It also wanted to know the current list of crude oil companies, as well as know why NNPC is selling to trading companies instead of refineries “Is it not curious that when you advertise, it’s only traders that come and not refineries?” It asked for the selling prices of the corporation monthly from 2008 to 2013 as well as its joint venture components The joint committee also wanted to know who runs Duke Oil, what NNPC pays to those who are running Duke Oil and the JV agreement with Transfigura and Vitol. The hearing continues today.

Suswam seeks new funding model for state varsities

ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam, yesterday canvassed fresh funding options for state universities if they must compete in the global knowledge arena as “world class universi-

ties”. Suswam spoke in Minna, the Niger State capital, as guest lecturer at the Third Biennial Conference of Pro- Chancellors of State Universities. He spoke on the topic “Politics of funding of state universities”. He said it was high time the funding challenges of state Universities were addressed as inadequate funding was one of the major factors bedeviling university education in Nigeria since the funding of universities, he argued was as tasking as running a government. “For Nigeria to achieve her national goals for development, our university system must be completely refocused” he stated, adding the university system should be insulated from politics for quality performance. Reeling out current data on global ranking of universities, the Governor regretted that in the most recent ranking of universities under the World Education Standards, the best ranked Nigerian university, the University of Benin was not among the best 1600 universities in the world since it was ranked a distant 1630 in the world and ranked 18th best in Africa, noting also that three of the nation’s first generation universities, the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Obafemi awolowo University and the University of Lagos were ranked 3, 228, 3,263, and 3,486 while the nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan reputed for many firsts in the country was not among the best 3000 universities in the world and ranked 53rd in Africa. He said the declining standard of university education had ushered in the unfortunate situation where Nigerians were sending their students and wards to universities in Ghana, Benin, Chad and Sudan. In orders to address the funding needs if the universities, Governor Suswam canvassed the enthronement of a Private Public Partnership (PPP) funding model for provision of critical infrastructure like hostels, shopping malls and sports complexes while the universities should imbibe entrepreneurial spirit by investing in such ventures as farms, gift items, water factories, bread factories among others to increase on internally generated revenue. He advised Pro- chancellors to explore the possibility of charging tuition fees as a source of improving of the funding needs of the universities while such fees should be charged within a national threshold to be agreed upon by the state universities for uniformity. The governor frowned at a situation where some states established universities out of pride and political expediency without recourse to the critical factor of funding and warned state universities against establishing new faculties and departments without much consideration for staffing and funding.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS

Zambia gay rights activist acquitted

ZAMBIAN court has acquitted a human rights activist on charges of promoting homosexuality, in a ruling hailed as a boost for gay rights in Africa. Paul Kasonkomona was charged with “soliciting for immoral purposes” after arguing for gay rights on a TV show in April 2013. But on yesterday a magistrate found that the state had failed to prove its case.

Israeli police, Palestinians clash on Temple Mount

SRAELI police have clashed with Palestinian protesters on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. A police spokesman said about 20 youths threw stones and fireworks at officers from the holy site, known to Muslims as the Haram alSharif (Noble Sanctuary). Police then entered the compound and arrested three people, he added. The unrest came as the Israeli parliament prepared to debate a motion calling on Israel to “realise its sovereignty over the Temple Mount”. Moshe Feiglin, a rightwing member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party who tabled the motion, wants restrictions on Jewish visitors to be lifted. They are currently barred from praying or engaging in other religious activities there.

NEWS NLC faults Sanusi’s suspension

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s defence of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s suspension seems to be unconvincing to its critics. To the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Jonathan did not follow due process in suspending Sanusi from office. According to the NLC President, Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar, Sanusi may not have finished his work on the missing fund before going public, but this is not enough justification for his suspension. The NLC issued a statement titled: “Sanusi’s removal failed litmus test of due process”, signed by Omar. He said: “While we hold Sanusi accountable for not doing his home work properly before going public on an issue as sensitive as this, especially considering the sum involved, we believe the process of his removal is patently flawed and ridicules due process as well as contemptuous of the Act establishing the CBN.” Omar added that the suspension was capable of discouraging whistle blowers in government as well as casting a pall on the government’s fight against corruption, neither of which is good for its image. The congress also noted that the “government’s action is negatively pre-emptive and malicious, by virtue of the fact that full investigations into the

Ukraine: Turchynov warns of ‘separatism’ risk

KRAINE’s interim President Olexander Turchynov has warned of the dangers of separatism following the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych. His comments came amid continuing opposition in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking regions to the new administration

in Kiev. The formation of a unity government has been delayed until Thursday. Meanwhile there are reports that one of Mr Yanukovych’s former aides, Andriy Kliuyev, has been shot and wounded. Mr Kliuyev’s car is said to have been attacked while he

was travelling back to Kiev from the Crimea after tendering his resignation to the former president. A spokesman was quoted on local media as saying his life was not in danger. Mr Kliuyev, the former head of the presidential administration, is said to have left Kiev with the president when he fled

Egypt: Mahlab to form new government

GYPT’s president has asked outgoing housing minister Ibrahim Mahlab to form a new government, a day after the interim cabinet resigned unexpectedly. Interim Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi did not give a clear reason for his government’s resignation on Monday. The surprise announcement came amid a series of public sector strikes and an acute shortage of cooking gas. Mr Beblawi was appointed in

July after the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi following mass protests. Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands of others detained in a crackdown by the security forces on the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement to which Mr Morsi belongs. Militants based in the Sinai peninsula have meanwhile stepped up attacks on government, police and the armed forces, killing hundreds.

•Mahlab

•Palestinians scuffled with Israeli police officers when denied entry to the site after the morning's PHOTO: REUTERS unrest...yesterday.

the capital at the weekend. Addressing parliament, Mr Turchynov said he would meet law enforcement agencies to discuss the risk of separatism in regions with large ethnic Russian populations. Separatism was a “serious threat”, he said. The delay in announcing a unity government was to allow further consultations, Mr Turchynov said, adding that “a coalition of national faith must be elected”. Anyone held responsible for separatist moves should be punished, his press service quoted Mr Turchynov as saying in a later statement, the Reuters news agency reports. Parliament has now voted in favour of trying Mr Yanukovych at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ex-president is accused of being behind the deaths of more than 100 protesters at the hands of the police, many of them shot by snipers. The ICC is a court of last resort, our correspondent says it will only try a case if the country concerned is genuinely unwilling or unable to do so. In its resolution on trying Mr Yanukovych at the ICC, parliament said he had been involved in “serious crimes”. MPs also want former Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko and former Prosecutor-General Viktor Pshonka tried. Mr Yanukovych has been missing since last week. He was last reportedly seen on Sunday in Balaklava, on the Crimean peninsula. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

his lawyers, including Kola Awodein (SAN), Sanusi is urging the court to, among others, restrain the President and two others from giving effect to his purported suspension, pending the determination of his suit. Also to be restrained are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), sued with the President. Sanusi is pleading for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from obstructing, disturbing, stopping or preventing him in any manner, from performing the functions of his office and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office of the governor of the CBN. He said the interlocutory application he filed with the suit was necessitated by the issues raised in the suit. Sanusi is of the view that delay could occasion irreparable, serious damage and mischief against him in the exercise of his statutory duties as the CBN Governor. He urged the court to grant the prayers contained in his interlocutory application, on the ground that the President’s alleged unlawful interference with the management and administration of the CBN, unless arrested, posed grave danger to the country’s economy. He argued that granting his application will encourage parties to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the substantive case. From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

allegations had not been concluded before it removed Sanusi and also the fact that it had sent in to the Senate for confirmation the name of his successor”. Omar recalled that the NLC has “watched with concern the exchanges between Sanusi and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the one hand and Sanusi and the Minister of Finance on the

In a supporting affidavit, Sanusi averred that in the course of his duties as the CBN Governor, that he discovered certain discrepancies in respect of amounts repatriated to the federation account from the proceed of crude oil sales between the period of January, 2012 and July, 2013 and that he expressed concern in respect of the said discrepancies and had cause to inform the National Assembly of the said discrepancies because they affect the revenue of the federation and the national economy. He stated that the President’s action, in purporting to suspend him from office, is aimed at punishing him for these disclosures. Sanusi stated that he is challenging the President’s power to suspend him from office, noting that the President did not approach nor obtain the support of the Senate, based on his discussions with several senators, including Senator Bukola Saraki. “I have been informed, and I verily believe the information given to me by Senator Bukola Saraki to be true and correct that the Senate did not give the President any support for my purported suspension and removal from office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.” Sanusi stated that the President’s actions in suspending him from office. Is contrary to provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act relating to the appointment and removal of the CBN Governor and that his purported suspension amounts to unlawful interference in the administration and management of the apex bank and is illegal, null and void. He urged the court, in the interest of justice, to grant his reliefs. The suit is yet to be assigned for hearing.

other, which sadly has culminated in the removal of Sanusi by way of a suspension from office.” These exchanges, he said, dwelled on allegedly unremitted billions of dollars into the Federation Account. Faulting the suspended CBN governor for what he called inconsistency, he said by the time the dust had settled, Sanusi had quoted three figures as the alleged sum not accounted for by NNPC, earning him a quiet re-

buke by the Senate, which is investigating the alleged fraud. He stated: “In saner climes, Sanusi was expected to have turned in his letter of resignation the next day for getting the figures wrong, for misleading the public and for embarrassing the government, his excuse of poor communication between the relevant institutions in question notwithstanding. The least expected of him was a public apology. “We are not sure if he did ei-

Obama to Karzai: U.S. planning full Afghan pullout

RESIDENT Barack Obama has warned his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai that the US may pull all of its troops out of his country by the year’s end. Mr Obama conveyed the message in a phone call to Mr Karzai, who has refused to sign a security agreement. The US insists this agreement must be in place before it commits to leaving some troops behind for counter-insurgent operations and training. The US has had troops in Afghanistan since 2001 when it toppled the Taliban. Its forces went into the country following the 9/11 attacks on the US. With Afghan and Western allies, they quickly overthrew the Taliban authorities, but have faced insurgent attacks since then. Correspondents say the disagreement over the BSA is the latest step in the long and deteriorating relationship between Washington and Mr Karzai, who was once seen as a key US ally.

Sanusi not a whistle blower, says minister

CBN Governor sues Jonathan Continued from page 1

•Obama

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

•Sanusi

ther of the two until his removal was announced in a typical Nigerian-government style.” The President of the congress was surprised that Sanusi and the government could part ways despite his anti-labour stance. He recalled that during the anti-fuel subsidy protest in 2012, Sanusi refused to apologise for the exposure of the scam. The statement reads in parts: “Sanusi’s sins notwithstanding, government must not only follow the law but must be seen to follow the law. Rather than dissipate energy on Sanusimania, government should focus on irrebuttable cases of corruption and bring the culprits to book. They are legion but we dare mention only the Sure-P missing funds, the BMW bulletproof cars, the Sanusi revelations at NNPC. “It is common knowledge that over the years NNPC has not come clean on the issue of remittances to the federation account, a fact responsible for the routine shunning of invitations by the National Assembly. “In our view, the most important thing is that government should not lose sight of its fight against corruption, which is the major issue here. Government’s commitment to this scourge should be demonstrable, clear and unambiguous.”

INISTER of Information Labaran Maku, yesterday said it is a misnomer to call suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi a whistle blower. Maku who spoke at the National Assembly after defending the 2014 budget of his ministry noted that no governor of any country’s apex bank could act as a whistle blower. The minister said President Goodluck Jonathan did not query Sanusi because he raised issues about alleged missing $20 billion in Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) He said: “I have not heard of any nation where the central bank governor is a whistle blower. He is the manager of the nation’s monetary policies as an adviser to the president on those issues. So the fact that he has moved from being the CBN governor to whistle blowing is a problem in itself. “No CBN governor make statement on his nation’s economy without verifying. Things were done and the president didn’t worry about it and his removal had nothing to do with that. “These days we see a lot of outlandish allegations. People just make allegations and turn the country into one huge investigation panel, every day the National Assembly is investigating.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘‘We must stop corruption at every level. Nigeria must fight but can it fight two battles on two separate fronts- corruption and the Boko Haram.’ VOL.9 NO.2,771

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

AST Thursday’s sack of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was a bombshell even though it was hardly surprising. From the moment the former CBN boss was issued a query three or so years ago by then National Security Adviser to the president, late General Andrew Owoye Azazi – a query he rightly ignored because it did not come directly from the president himself – for a remark he made abroad linking Boko Haram insurgency with what he said was the financial neglect of the North by Abuja, it was obvious that if the authorities had their way, they would’ve fired him long ago. What apparently stood in their way was the CBN Act which said its governor and his four deputies cannot be fired without the support of two-thirds of members of the Senate the president needs to hire them in the first place, something he could not be sure of, given the uncertain political terrain that has lately confronted his ruling party. From his defensive answers in his media chat two days ago over his firing of the governor, it is obvious that the president must have been advised, more like misadvised, that he could go round this obstacle by announcing that he was merely suspending the governor. Trouble is, the law is completely silent on whether or not the president can, short of firing them, suspend those he’d hired. I am told by some of my legal expert friends that a cardinal principle of law is to give the benefit of doubt to an accused where a law says nothing or is ambiguous about the issue in contention. A more satisfactory solution for everyone in such cases is to resort to the courts for interpretation. Obviously, this would’ve taken more than the four months or so Sanusi had left to serve out his five-year tenure. It seems the way the man started running his mouth about corruption in high places in the oil business foreclosed the option of allowing him to end his tenure quietly since there was no telling how much more damage he could do if he continued talking with the authority of a governor of the CBN. The President claimed in his media chat that he has “absolute” powers to suspend the governor. Perhaps he does. However, it remains no more than his opinion until the courts agree with him. Happily, Sanusi, as irrepressible as ever, has said he will go to court to challenge his suspension and has already gone to court successfully to stop the authorities from unleashing their law enforcement and intelligence forces to arrest or detain him. Try as he may the President and his team are highly unlikely to ever win the propaganda war between himself and Sanusi. And it’s not just because the former CBN governor, in sharp contrast to our generally inco-

RIPPLES JONATHAN ORDERS AUDIT OF CBN’S ACCOUNT–News

...and don’t FORGET NNPC too

People and Politics By

MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

GEJ vs Sanusi, the whistleblower

‘

Sanusi’s alleged transgressions as CBN governor notwithstanding, he clearly has the upper hand against the president in the war for public sympathy and support Dr Jonathan

•Sanusi

herent and bumbling president, is as eloquent in speech and in writing as they come from anywhere in the world. It’s also not because the President does not at all have a case against Sanusi. The President may have overstated it when he accused Sanusi’s CBN of being “characterised by various financial recklessness and misconduct” but it seems to me, at least, that in going to equity the former CBN governor did not do so with clean hands. In an interview with Metropole magazine after his sack which Daily Trust of last Monday reproduced, Sanusi rejected insinuations by the magazine’s editors that his latest accusations of corruption in the oil business against the authorities was like taking out an insurance against being fired for the charges of recklessness and mismanagement that had been levied against him. “You can never,” he said, “have any insurance in life. What is insurance? The only insurance you have in life is to try to do the right things.” As CBN governor, Sanusi did many right things. If nothing else, he, as I said on these page on August 26, 2009, barely a couple of months after taking over from Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, cleaned up the mess his predecessor created after he had done a good job of creating 25 mega-banks in place of the odd 80 that were in existence, most of them no better than glorified family automated teller machines. Soludo had virtually

NE of the most confounding ironies in politics is that budding politicians always desire to be associated with political heroes of yore but they never seem to be able to make the sacrifice or reenact the virtues that defined these great people. It is like wanting the crown while shunning the cross. The result of course, will remain ephemeral and dismal making the new age politician nothing but an upstart who huffs and puffs and soon fades away like the morning mists. Now why is Hardball speaking in so much riddles, spewing some roadside philosophy? Well the other day, President Goodluck Ebele ‘Azikiwe’ Jonathan was in Owerri, Imo State, to welcome some party renegades back into the PDP fold. The result was laughable; a colourful agglomeration of snakes, scorpions and stingrays in one small pond. Having ‘reconciled’ the Imo PDP, one of the most fractious, if not carnivorous, in the land in a gay ceremony, Jonathan on his return journey stopped over at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe. Why he chose Achebe over the Owerri monarch, Eze Emmanuel Njemanze, who is equally influential and a natural host beats Hardball but that is another story for another day. The gist

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ruined his good job by becoming too chummy with the bosses of the banks he was supposed to supervise and regulate. The result was a financial crisis which led to a near-collapse of the economy, and certainly of the stock market where you and I bought and sold shares of companies, including those of banks. By putting a stop to the casino capitalism which the new big banks had fostered while Soludo kept assuring us that all was well when it wasn’t, Sanusi brought back stability and integrity to the financial market. If that was all he did, the man deserved praise as CBN governor for his courage and competence. But that wasn’t all. His exposure a few years ago of the magnitude of the huge remunerations the federal legislators decreed for themselves in violation of our Constitution, and his refusal to back down from his charge in the face of intimidation by the law makers, if nothing else, served to underscore the public’s concern about how we’ve spent more, much more, of our annual budgets on recurrent items than we have on capital goods since the return of civilian rule in 1999. There are even more right things he’s done as CBN governor than these two, but even these alone suffice to show that his tenure has, on balance, done more good than bad to our political-economy. The trouble with Sanusi, however, was that

HARDBALL

The return of ‘Azikiwe’

of this winding piece is that at a reception in Achebe’s palace, Jonathan had food for thought to last him another four years. According to a Channels TV news clip from the Onitsha event, Igwe Achebe, tall, lanky, debonair and well spoken had the microphone and of course the floor. “Your Excellency,” he started in his learned and well culture voice, smiling: “In 2011, you came here and promised us a number of things one of which is the 2nd Niger Bridge. You told us that it would be completed before the end of four years— (the monarch stumbled here, he smiled some more and continued) or end of your tenure. But we have not seen any work going on there.” A din of approval rent the air. The microphone switched to President Jonathan in response to the Achebe’s remarks, to the effect that: your highness, yes I remember I made such a promise; a bridge is a complex engineering work, I assure you that work will soon start. “Remember I also told you that an Azikiwe built the first Niger Bridge,

TONY MARINHO

he did not measure up to what he had led the public to expect of him as someone who had consistently spoken truth to power before he became CBN governor, and which he continued to do even after. The report of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) which the president has relied upon to suspend the governor has listed his many alleged transgressions including the award of no-bid contracts in billions of Naira, the spending of billions on his own and his management’s creature comforts, overpaying legal and public relations consultants and donating hundreds of millions of Naira to victims of natural and man-made disasters without board approval, etc. His defence has been that he has the president’s approval for some of the expenditures he’d incurred and that with things like donations he was not the first governor to do so. He also says he has constantly reduced operating management costs since he became governor. The governor’s self-defence may well be tenable. But this is beside the point, which is that as a long standing social critic he should’ve known better than to give those in authority sufficient ammunition to impugn his integrity and credibility. And this is exactly what the FRC report has done, even if only a fraction of its charges are true. The specific nature of the FRC report means it cannot be easily dismissed with the wave of a hand. That he built a one billion Naira car park at his official residence, as is common knowledge, and the fact that he was always accompanied by a huge and expensive retinue of bank staff, friends and hangers-on alike, to receive awards and honours abroad and here at home, were enough to suggest he did not act with the degree of prudence and integrity his crusade for good governance and transparency demanded of him. Sanusi’s alleged transgressions as CBN governor notwithstanding, he clearly has the upper hand against the president in the war for public sympathy and support. The reason is obvious; his alleged transgressions are small beer compared to what the oil thieves and their partners in government have been stealing with impunity. So long as the president is seen to be incapable and/or unwilling to take on these megathieves, so long will anyone who poses as a whistleblower against corruption in governance win public sympathy, whether his own alleged transgressions are true or not. It is, of course, not realistic or even sensible to expect the authorities to fight all cases of corruption or none at all. But when they are seen to ignore cases more deserving of their attention than those they are pursuing, they will find it hard, if not impossible, to convince the public that a case like Sanusi’s is a fight against corruption not a witch-hunt. •For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above an Azikiwe will also build the second one.” Applause, applause; ceremony over and everyone dispersed. Now let us overlook Igwe Achebe’s confusion over the ‘small’ matter of tenure; we all are. But what is this Azikiwe gambit once again? Recall that during the 2011 electioneering, President Jonathan had told the world, particularly Ndigbo that his old father had been so enamored with the activities of the great Zik that he also named him Azikiwe. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was of course an Igbo and a foremost Nigerian politician of the First Republic who played an active role in Nigeria’s independence struggle from the British colonialists. He was a liberal nationalist, a charismatic speaker and master of the rostrum; he had a rich academic record and brought a deep philosophical bent to politics. Since Jonathan became president in 2011, the Azikiwe tag virtually varnished, perhaps for lack of space. Now that political campaigns are about to begin again, will ‘Azikiwe’ regain its prominence? Now how would the inimitable Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe feel seeing all this mimicry; how would he feel knowing that even his mausoleum in Onitsha, his resting place, is in utter dereliction nearly two decades after his demise?

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