The Nation February 01, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

N38b loan: Court frees Bankole, Nafada NEWS

Page 7

•Ex-speaker, deputy acquitted of fraud

N370b cut likely in Budget 2012

NEWS

Page 11

•Okonjo-Iweala tells Senate

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VOL. 7, NO. 2022 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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Lawyers fault INEC on Kogi governorship crisis

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HE muscle-flexing in Kogi State continued yesterday, with a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant urging the Federal High Court, Abuja, to quash the swearing-in of Captain

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja and Eric Ikhilae, Lagos

Idris Wada as the governor.

In court is Oyebode Makinde, whose counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN), filed the suit. The defendants are the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Wada and the acting governor, Abdullahi Bello, as first to fourth respondents.

Makinde is seeking a declaration that INEC’s order/ directive that Wada be sworn in is unconstitutional,

null, void and ultra vires. He said the first defendant’s order/directive that third defendant be sworn in when the fourth defendant is discharging same function pursuant to Section 191(2) of the Constitution is unconstitutional.

He is pleading with the court to declare that Wada cannot hold himself out/or parade himself as the governor and that INEC is bound to conduct a fresh election into the gubernatorial seat, based on fresh primaries by political parties.

No date has been fixed for the hearing.

Also yesterday, lawyers lashed out at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for backing Idris Wada to succeed Ibrahim Idris as Continued on page 4

ORS: Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (centre) with members of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAWD) during the association’s •AUGUST VISIT VISITORS visit to the Minister in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Boko Haram: SSS grills ex-Governor Shekarau

Former Kano helmsman denies link with deadly sect

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•Malam Shekarau

FORMER Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, was yesterday quizzed by the State Security Service (SSS) over alleged ties with the Boko Haram sect.

Some unnamed members of the sect claimed that they were on the payroll of Shekarau and the Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda.

They claimed that the stoppage of

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

their monthly stipends accounted for the upsurge in the sect’s insurgency.

The former governor and Yuguda denied the allegations. But the SSS said there was no way it could gloss over such “weighty allegations”.

A source in the security agency said: “Based on the claim of Boko Haram, we invited the ex-governor to ascer-

tain the extent of his relationship with the sect.

“We have been tracking his movement in the past few weeks but I think he was out of the country.

“The violence in the past two weeks in Kano where over 185 people died made the invitation of Shekarau necessary.

“He appeared before the SSS to answer some specific issues we high-

lighted for him and he denied any link with the sect.

“After preliminary questioning of the ex-governor, we have asked him to go, pending the time we may have cause to re-invite him - if necessary at all.”

Another source, who spoke in confidence, said security agencies were Continued on page 4

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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NEWS BOKO HARAM AND NATIONAL SECURITY NEW YEAR MESSAGES

Untold story of how Boko Haram Last August’s UN House, Abuja bomber, Mohammed Abul Barra used an ash-coloured 1996 Honda Accord station wagon for the operation; the car was packed with 125 kg of highly powerful and potent explosives, the type common in the quarrying industry; and the explosives were used in a ‘shaped charge’, which increases damage from a blast, reports Reuters’ JOE BROCK

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T about 10.40 one morning last August, Mohammed Abul Barra rammed his ashcoloured station wagon into a security gate outside the United Nations headquarters in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, knocking it off its hinges. Barra’s 1996 Honda Accord then crashed through the main building’s glass doors and slammed against the reception desk.

On security tapes of the incident seen by Reuters, a guard peers into the car, evidently unaware that it is packed with explosives. The grainy footage shows a dozen or so people in the reception edge towards the vehicle. Over 10 seconds pass in confusion before one man seemingly realises what is about to happen. He grabs the person next to him and darts towards the lift. But it’s too late. Barra steadies himself, leans forward and the security screens blur into white fuzz.

The suicide strike left 25 people dead and the U.N. headquarters in tatters. It also drew global attention to Boko Haram, the militant group from northern Nigeria which has claimed responsibility for the attack and a string of bombings since then that has killed hundreds.

As the bombings have grown in frequency in recent months, the Nigerian government and Western security officials have begun to grapple with the exact nature of the threat. Is Boko Haram just the latest in a long list of violent spasms in Nigeria, or is it the next battalion of global jihadists, capable of thrusting Africa’s most populous nation into civil war?

The answer to that is not simple.

There is evidence - some of it detailed in this story for the first time - that elements of Boko Haram have received training from foreign militant groups, including North Africa-based al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM). The August attack was far more sophisticated than anything linked to Boko Haram before.

President Goodluck Jonathan calls the group a terrorist organisation with global ambitions.

In an interview in his presidential villa last week, Jonathan said there was “no doubt” Boko Haram has links with jihadist groups outside Nigeria. General Carter Ham, the head of the U.S. military’s Africa Command, said last year Boko Haram posed a threat to U.S. and Western interests.

At the same time, Boko Haram remains firmly focused on domestic issues. When its secretive spokesman claims responsibility for attacks, he almost always lists local grievances that have little to do with the core ideologies of al Qaeda. The group’s name means “Western education is sinful” in Hausa, the language spoken in the North, the country’s Muslim heartland. But its anger is directed not at America or Europe but at Nigeria’s elites: at their perceived arrogance, their failure to deliver services, and

the brutality of their security forces.

Many Boko Haram members say their focus is on targeting officials who have locked up its members or misused state funds.

Even Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi, who sees a link between Boko Haram and AQIM, urges caution in defining the group.

“We need to tackle Boko Haram from several perspectives,” Azazi said in an interview. “If you go back to history, there are religious concerns, there are concerns about governance, and of course, political implications. It’s a combination of so many things.”

FORENSIC TRAIL U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrived in Abuja within days of last August’s attack to help with forensic analysis of the bomb site. A report authored by those agents, Nigerian authorities and independent security teams, paints a portrait of a sophisticated operation.

Barra was chosen because he was “low profile (and) well trained” and his attack was “well planned,” says the confidential report, seen

by Reuters. The car was packed with 125 kg (276 pounds) of manufactured explosives, including the plastic explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP) - both highly powerful and volatile, and more potent than easier-to-build fertiliser-based explosives.

The explosives were used in a “shaped charge,” which increases damage from a blast. Investigators believe the bomb probably consisted of both stolen factory-made explosives and home-made materials.

“The only form of PETN that is commonly available is the core explosive in detonating cord,” said Sidney Alford, a British explosives expert. “You can get detonating cord from the manufacturers, the army, or from blasting contractors in the demolition or quarrying industries.”

The failed ‘underpants’ bomber Farouq Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas Day 2009 in an al Qaeda-style attack, used TATP. Another wouldbe plane bomber, Richard Reid, had PETN in his shoe in his unsuccessful effort to blow up a flight between France and the United States in 2001.

President Jonathan said Nigeria has evidence that Boko Haram members have held meetings in North Africa. Azazi, the national security adviser, said the advancement in Boko Haram’s weaponry and tactics points to help and training from outside groups.

“We have evidence of meetings between Boko Haram leadership and outside groups,” Azazi said, declining to give details. “We have evidence that some Boko Haram leaders are trained outside of Nigeria. Their methods, their bombmaking technologies - who taught them?”

•Rescue workers helping out victims of the UN House after explosions last August MILITANT BEGINNINGS

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igeria, Africa’s top oil producer, survived a brutal civil war in the late 1960s in which more than 1 million people died. Repeated rounds of violence since then, often between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south, have killed thousands more.The violent spasms are often fueled by politics, and so it is with Boko Haram.

The group’s official name is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad, meaning “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad.” It earned its nickname from the teachings of its founder Mohammed Yusuf in the early 2000s, in the restive northeastern city of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

Yusuf argued that Western education, or “boko,” had brought nothing but poverty and suffering to the region and was therefore forbidden, or “haram,” in Islam. He began peacefully - mostly preaching - and quickly gained a following among disaffected young men in the northeast. But his anti-establishment rhetoric and hints that Boko Haram was building an arsenal of weapons also caught the attention of the authorities.

In 2009, the police clamped down on sect members who were ignoring a law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. That sparked a furious backlash. Police stations and government offices in Borno were burned to the ground, and hundreds of criminals released in a prison break, as the violence spread across northern Nigeria.

The government and army reacted with force; Yusuf was captured and shot dead in police cus-

tody. Five days of fighting left some 800 people dead.

Boko Haram leaders still cite Yusuf’s death as one of the main factors driving the insurgency. The group remains fiercely anti-government and anti-authority, and resentful of the decades of corrupt, poor governance that have impoverished its home region.

“You would never have believed the Boko Haram phenomenon came from these beginnings,” said Shettima Dikwa, a doctor at the University of Maiduguri. Dikwa is one of a number of professionals in the city frustrated at the way Nigeria’s government and military have allowed the insurgency to escalate. Like others, he says local politicians sponsored armed thugs to help disrupt the 2007 election and then abandoned them, creating a fertile recruitment field. The governor of Borno State has denied these allegations.

Boko Haram’s attacks have intensified since President Jonathan took power last April, in the country’s cleanest election since the end of military rule in 1999.

Jonathan pledged to fight graft and attract investment. But he is a Christian southerner, and in the eyes of many Muslim northerners it was a northerner’s turn to rule.

CATCH-ALL LABEL, LOCAL STRUGGLES

That backdrop doesn’t explain how the group went from driveby shootings and crude petrol bombs to shaping explosives for suicide missions against the United Nations.

A video posted on YouTube on January 11 suggests the group’s leadership would like to be seen as part of a global jihad. Abubakar Shekau, who has run the group

since Yusuf was killed, appears in the 15-minute tape wearing a camouflage bullet-proof jacket, sitting in front of two Kalashnikov rifles.

His beard, headscarf and hand gestures recall the style of video pronouncements made by the late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. But Shekau’s message hits local notes.

“The reason why I am giving this broadcast is the recent comments of Goodluck Jonathan about us and that of the leader of the Christians and other statements by others, describing us as a cancer to Nigeria.

We are neither a cancer nor a disease. If people don’t know us, God knows us,” Shekau says. He then goes on to cite common complaints about Nigerian politics.

Most of the public evidence about what Boko Haram wants and how it operates comes from its avowed spokesman, Abu Qaqa, a mysterious figure who often pops up after an attack to claim responsibility and explain the motives.

Speaking by phone to a handful of reporters in Maiduguri in November, Abu Qaqa spoke of the links between al Qaeda and Boko Haram. “We are together with al Qaeda,” he said. “They are promoting the cause of Islam, just as we are doing. Therefore, they help us in our struggle and we help them, too.”

But Qaqa offered no concrete details of those ties; the rest of the conversation focused on local issues. He said the group isn’t affiliated with Nigerian political parties and described the sect’s anger at the governor of Borno State. In claiming the recent Kano attacks, which killed at least 186 people, he cited the killing and arbitrary arrest and detention of Boko Haram members.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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NEWS BOKO HARAM AND NATIONAL SECURITY

bombed UN House

Soldier, policemen, two others killed in Maiduguri

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OLICE yesterday said suspected Boko Haram insurgents killed five people in attacks on security targets in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Borno State police spokesman Samuel Tizhe said Boko Haram gunmen attacked an air force barracks, a police station and an army checkpoint on Monday.

Tizhe said the dead include a soldier, two policemen and two civilians. An army official said a soldier was shot in the arm during the checkpoint attack.

‘How to tackle Boko Haram’

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•Workers at the UN House crying after the disaster GLOBAL OR LOCAL? igerian and Western secu rity experts believe a small, increasingly ambitious and sophisticated group of extremists controls the very top of the group. A handful of those members have received training outside Nigeria, including from AQIM. Nigeria-based security sources who track Boko Haram told Reuters that members of the group have been going to training camps with brigades of Algerian AQIM for the past six years. Small units of five or six members train at a time; no more than a few dozen have been trained in total, the sources said.

The foreign minister of neighboring Niger told Reuters last week that members of Boko Haram received explosives training at AQIM camps in the Sahel region, which runs along the southern edge of the Sahara desert. The U.N. Security Council said this month that it had been told that Boko Haram members had received training in AQIM camps in Mali.

Experts say the group has become a convenient cover for opportunists. Criminals, political thugs and gangs hide beneath the umbrella of Boko Haram, making it hard to judge its size and scope.

Most of its foot-soldiers are disillusioned young men who have only loose ties to religious ideology, and are easily drawn in because there are little or no opportunities elsewhere. Jonathan has begun to acknowledge this, telling Reuters last week that the government would “revitalise” northern agriculture to provide jobs for youths who might otherwise be

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“recruited” by Boko Haram.

Aisha Alkali, a human rights campaigner in Maiduguri, says young men in the North Nigeria feel forced to adopt violence to defend themselves. “If you push people to the wall, if you leave them with nothing and take everything, where will they go?” asks Alkali, shrouded in a traditional black abaya and burka with only her eyes and impeccably manicured hands showing. “You make people something they were not.”

GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN Soldiers patrol the streets of Maiduguri in large numbers these days. By day, they hunch in roadside bunkers; at night, they regularly fight with Boko Haram units.

Bomb blasts and gunshots punctuate the dark.

Amnesty International says the Joint Military Task force (JTF) in the city has been behind dozens of unlawful killings there, further stirring the unrest. A report by the human rights watchdog says houses have been raided and burned by the JTF. One of the JTF commanders in Maiduguri told Reuters there had been “excesses,” but said mostly the military were doing a good job under difficult conditions.

Yirami Bwala, a 42-year-old shop owner, lost his 18-year-old son Markus in a Boko Haram bomb attack in Maiduguri in January. “Most Boko Haram members are just a bunch of illiterates who have been misled about their religion and what tolerance is all about,” he said a day after the attack. “The military only make things worse by robbing people and attacking innocent, peaceful people.”

More than a quarter of Nigeria’s

2012 budget has been allocated to security spending. But with the number of attacks up - at least 250 people have been killed in the first three weeks of 2012 alone, according to Human Rights Watch - criticism of the way Jonathan has handled the violence is growing.

FACELESS ENEMY President Jonathan told Reuters that Boko Haram militants have infiltrated the military, police and his own government. He sacked the chief of police and his six deputies last week, after the key suspect in the Christmas Day bombings escaped less than 24 hours after being arrested, in what security sources said were “unusual and suspicious” circumstances. he leader of the nation of 160 million people has also said that tackling Boko Haram could be worse than Nigeria’s civil war, if only because the enemy is faceless and unknown. Some analysts believe Boko Haram may be targeting Christians to trigger a religious conflict.

Nigeria has been here before. In 2009 it ended a militant insurgency in the southeastern Niger Delta by offering an amnesty. The government hints that a new broad political settlement may be on the cards.

But dealing with a splintered and secretive group like Boko Haram will be difficult.

Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president and a southern Christian, visited the family of Boko Haram founder Yusuf last September for peace talks. Days later, gunmen killed Yusuf’s brother-in-law. Boko Haram denied involvement in the killing. But someone wanted the dialogue to end.

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HE Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr AbdulLateef Adegbite, has said the Federal Government must adopt a carrotand-stick policy to resolve the Boko Haram challenge.

Adegbite, in a statement, said: “The moderates among them can be accepted as the constitution and the law may permit. Those hard-line Boko Haram elements that are bent on pursuing violent agenda should be sought out and dealt with according to the law.

“The scourge of violence as perpetrated by Boko Haram has become dreadful and frightening and seemingly uncontrollable.

The need has obviously arisen to seek divine intervention.

“We call on peace -loving Nigerian Muslims to collaborate with their Christian counterparts in embracing peace and dialogue to enhance national security.”

He added: “NSCIA hereby expresses solidarity with President Goodluck Jonathan and his government in their effort to suppress Boko Haram’s violent rebellion.”

Adegbite urged agencies in charge of national security to be more alive to their responsibilities.

He said: “Religious leaders should educate their followers against negative preaching, practices and behaviour. Religious education should focus on authentic texts of every faith devoid of exaggeration that feed extremism.”

He condoled with Governor

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Emir of Kano and the people over the recent explosions.

Adegbite said: “The incident was on a scale that has not been seen before in this country. When added to the previous occurrences in other parts of the North in recent times, the magnitude of the loss to the nation is worrisome.

“We pray that Allah forgives the sins of the victims and admit them in Aljannah. May Allah grant the wounded speedy recovery and console the relations and dependant of the departed.

“We lament the unabated threats to the security of the nation posed by these mindless elements parading themselves as Boko Haram and whose menace continues to instil deep fear in Nigerians. Their destructive activities have also dented the image of Nigeria internationally and adversely affected the inflow of foreign investment into the country.

“It is now crystal clear that these hard–faced rebels have declared war on all Nigerians. This is why it is misguided for some Christian leaders to call for reprisal against Muslims just because Boko Haram targeted a Church near Abuja on Christmas Day last year, irresponsibly killing many worshippers. Is it not now evident that with the sad massacre in Kano, and killings elsewhere in the North, an over whelming number of Muslims have been wasted by Boko Haram?”

Cleric condemns killings

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HE Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, Elder L.A. Onyeleonu, yesterday blamed the failure of successive administrations to address social, ethnic and political problems for the rise of Boko Haram insurgent group.

Onyeleonu, in a statement, condemned the killings by the group.

The statement reads: “The failure of governments over the years to address our economic, ethnic, social and political problems squarely have thrown up certain agitation from many quarters. The latest is coming from the Boko Haram sect.

“I condemn in the strongest terms the indiscriminate and senseless bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians by this sect, especially, that of Christmas Day at Madalla, Suleija in Niger State and the latest blood bath in Kano, which claimed many lives as well as the call allegedly by the Boko Haram for all Southerners to leave the North.

“I learnt with dismay, the escape of the prime suspect in the Madalla bombing. The government should launch a fullscale investigation into the matter in order to bring the suspect and their accomplices to justice.

“I also advise Mr President to

By Wale Ajetunmobi

sift and overhaul relevant government agencies, especially, the country’s security apparatus now that he has noticed the infiltration of his government by the members and sponsors of this sect.

“I appreciate the efforts the government has put in so far, but urge them to put an immediate end to these anomalies. We cannot afford any further waste of innocent lives. Someone has to be held responsible. I urge all Nigerians to continue to pray for the President. I commiserate with the families of the victims of these dastardly acts. May God grant them the fortitude to bear the losses.

“I wish to use this medium also, to relish the collaborations by the Christians and Muslims in some parts of the North in which they guard each other during their prayer sessions as well as the move by the latter to reassure the Christians in the North of their safety. These have shown that those who perpetrate this evil in the name of religion are fake and are not Nigerians and so are out to destroy what our founding fathers worked hard to achieve.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

NEWS Continued from page 1

• Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle) flanked by his Deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and the Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Mr. Guo Kun (3rd left) with members of the Chinese Consul during a dinner in honour of the Chinese Consul General at Lagos House, Marina ... on Monday.

worried that the Kano incident coincided with Shekarau’s trip abroad. They worked on the speculation that there might have been a foreknowledge of the Boko Haram attacks.

“We are looking at all theories but we still presume the ex-governor guilty, until we reach a convenient bend of a prima facie case against him if any at all,” said the source.

Shekarau, who has since left Abuja for Kano, is the fourth highly-placed Northerner to be accused and quizzed over Boko Haram.

The SSS accused Senator Ali Ndume and the late Ambassador Saidu Pindar of being backers of the sect that has

18 Xmas Day bombing victims for mass burial today

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LL was set last night for the grim but inevitable duty – burial of victims of the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.

The burial of 18 people is billed for this morning at the church premises. The graves were dug last week.

Security was yesterday tightened around the church premises.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Of the 44 persons who died in the bombings, 26 were members of the church.

Eight bodies were claimed by their relations for burial.

Two were claimed last night.

As the mass burial holds today, the Police are still on the trail of Kabiru Sokoto, one of the suspected masterminds of the blast.

There are fears that Sokoto might have escaped to a neighbouring country.

A source said: “We have tightened security and the frisking of the church premises and the burial site will be done all through the night.”

About 200 policemen and soldiers, including those from anti-bomb units, have been drafted to Madalla to provide security during the burial.

A member of the Burial Committee, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have dug the graves for the burial of our parishioners who died in the explosions.

“We are expecting the Representative of the Pope in Nigeria and members of the Catholic Bishops Conference among other dignitaries at the burial.

“We have met with all security agencies to facilitate a hitch-

free burial.”

The mass burial service will be conducted by the representative of the Pope.

The ceremony, which was earlier slated for 9am, was shifted by an hour for the arrival of the College of Bishops of the church, who are being expected today from Bukina Faso, where they attended the just-concluded African Catholic Bishop Conference.

Boko Haram: SSS quizzes ex-Governor Shekarau claimed responsibility for the spate of bombings in the North, including the Christmas Day explosion which killed 44 at a Catholic church in Madalla, Niger State.

Besides, a judge with the Kano State judiciary was retired from service, following his alleged romance with the sect.

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

The judge, who was a member of the Borno State Election Petitions Tribunal, allegedly fostered a relationship with some Boko Haram members upon arrival in Maiduguri.

According to a recent survey by a national newspaper, Nigeria has witnessed over 30 explosions with more than 300 people killed.

Falana backs Supreme Court on acting governors

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OING by the order of the Supreme Court that the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly be sworn in as acting governor, the assumption of office by speakers in Kogi, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Cross River states was in order, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana said yesterday.

Falana argued that the apex court’s judgment in the tenure elongation case involving the governors of the five states cannot be implemented in only one state.

“The above orders applied mutatis mutandi to the four other cases,” the lawyer-activist stated.

The apex court’s directive had created confusion in Kogi where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had conducted a governorship election on December 11, last year and declared Captain Idris Wada, as a governor-elect.

Both Wada and the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly were simultaneously sworn-in, forcing the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) to endorse the Speaker as the acting governor in the confluence state.

But an advice from the electoral umpire that the governor-elect be sworn-in, brought in more confusion to the state.

The Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Dahiru Musdapher had last Friday, unanimously, held that the concept of tenure extension is alien to the constitution as the maximum term for an elected governor is eight years.

Accordingly, the seven justices set aside the concurrent judgments of the two lower courts and dismissed the originating summons filed by the ex-governors in the Federal High Court. “It is therefore illegal on the part of the INEC to have based any

Lawyers fault INEC on Kogi governorship crisis Continued from page 1

Governor of Kogi State.

They said INEC and other parties in the succession crisis ignited by the Supreme Court’s judgment ought to have returned to the court for clarification of the issues.

Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Niyi Akintola (SAN) and rights activist Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa faulted INEC’s position on the leadership crisis in Kogi, but Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN) sided with INEC. Akeredolu, Akintola and Adegboruwa said INEC ought to seek the court’s clarification on what should happen to the primaries and elections held during the nullified extension to Idris’s tenure.

Nwobike said it was more prudent to have Wada as the successor because as against the case of those who won the primary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before Wada, the process that produced him was a completed one as it ended in an election in which other political parties participated.

Akeredolu said: “I think what INEC did was to assume that it has judicial power. It cannot and should not have exercised any power outside what the Supreme Court has decided.

“The Supreme Court was very clear on who should be sworn in. INEC should have gone back to court to seek clarification as to what should happen primary on the illegal judgment of the Court of Appeal”, the apex court held.

Falana said in a statement: “It is pertinent to point out that the governors were specifically ordered to vacate office forthwith by the Supreme Court.

Since the leading judgment of the honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen did not contain consequental orders, it was the belief in some legal and political circles that has arisen a constitutional crisis in the country.

“In the circumstances, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Jus-

to the elections and primaries conducted before and after May 29, 2011.

“They should have left the issue for the Supreme Court to decide. It is not for INEC to have come up with a contrary decision. That is very contemptuous of INEC.” Akintola said: “INEC was wrong in recognising the election of Wada.

What was the platform on which the election was conducted? Which primary gave room for the election of Wada? Is it the primary that was knocked by virtue of the Supreme Court judgment?

“The Supreme Court held that Idris’ tenure ended on May 29, 2011. It means the primaries held after then were a nullity. There was a primary held in March of 2011 before Idris went to court to argue that his tenure should be extended.

“The winner of that primary is in court.

If the Supreme Court has held that Idris’ tenure ended on May 29, 2011, it means then that the primary that was held after the expiration of Idris’ tenure ought not to have been held.

“To my mind, it is the candidate that won the March 2011 primary that ought to have been considered. The election that produced Wada is not right. In any case, it is a mute point that the court has to clear.

“One would have thought that INEC and others should have returned to court to seek clarification. INEC ought not to have acted alone on this. It ought to have sought clarifications from the court.”

To Nwobike, “what is playing out in Kogi State is one of the clear contradictions thrown up by the judgment of the

tice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN) rightly directed that the Speakers of the Houses of Assembly of the affected states be sworn in as acting governors pursuant to section 191(2) of the Constitution.”

“Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN), a former Attorney-General of the Federation vehemently criticised the stand of Mr Adoke and contended, rather curiously, that the former governors should have been allowed to remain in office.

Even when the Supreme Court had ordered them to vacate office!

“Having carefully digest-

Supreme Court”.

He said: “It is true that primaries were conducted during Idris’ tenure, which was extended, but elections were never conducted. But in the case of Wada, election was conducted.

“What happened in the case of those that won primaries before May 29, 2011 was the parties’ internal affair. In the case of Wada, it was no longer an internal affair because other parties participated in the election.

“The process that produced Wada was a completed process and the primary was not a completed process. Wada should be allowed to assume office. He should be sworn in, if not already sworn in.”

Adegboruwa said: “INEC lacks the power, under the Constitution, to pick and choose who to support among the parties contesting to be made Acting Governor. Its responsibility is to conduct elections and it has done that.

“What the parties involved should do is to go back to the court and seek interpretation of the decision as regard the situation that have arisen.

“The court has asked that the governors should vacate office. Its decision did not affect elections and primaries duly held.

“Parties are required to first obey these unambiguous parts of the judgment and return to the court with these new issues that have arisen.

“These new issues as regard who is qualified to occupy the office of the governor in view of the primaries and election held while the case was in court, should be taken back to the court for it to pronounce on them.”

ed the leading judgment and the contributions of other members of the constitutional court the interpretation of the judgment by the Attorney-General cannot be impeached on any legal ground.

“This submission derives succour in the said judgment.

“Thus, in her contribution to the historic verdict of the court in the main appeal of Brig-Gen Buba Marwa v Admiral Murtala Nyako (SC 141/2011) the honourable justice Olufunlola said inter alia: “Consequently, with the outcome of these appeals; the 1st respondent in suit no s.c

141/2011 is ordered to vacate office immediately while the Speaker of the Adamawa House of Assembly shall be sworn in as Acting Governor of Adamawa State in line with section 191 (2) of the Constitution . The independent national electoral commission shall conduct an election within three months to fill the vacancy in the office of the Governor of Adamawa State now created”.

Going by the decisions of the apex court a supporting judgment edifies and strengthens the leading judgment.The authority for this submission is the case of

•Falana

Nwana v FCDA (2004) 13 NWLR (pt 889) 128 at 146 where the supreme court (per Tobi JSC) held: “A concurring judgment in my humble view, has equal weight with or as a leading judgment. A concurring judgment complements, edifies or adds to the leading judgment.

“It could at times be an improvement of the leading judgment when the justices add to its certain aspects which the writer of the leading judgment did not remember to deal with. In so far as a concurring judgment performs some or all the above functions, it has equal force with or as the leading judgment in so far as the principle of stare decisis are concerned.

“To the extent that the additional order of Adekeye JSC constitutes an integral part of the decision it is very dangerous to give the misleading impression that the supreme court did not make any consequential orders.

“Therefore, the “order” of the Inec that the swearing in of the so called Governorelect was proper is a gross subversion of the rule of law.

It is a contempt that should not go unchallenged in any democratic society. More so, that no institution or individual has ever been allowed to treat the judgment of the supreme court with such reckless disdain.”

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

NEWS ICPC seeks UN agency’s aid

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HE Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, yesterday urged the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to assist anti-corruption agencies.

The ICPC chief requested the UNODC to assist in eLibrary and exchange of facilities and development of curriculum.

Nta spoke when he received the UNODC Representative Mariam Sissoko.

He said: “You can as well help countries to do evaluation of their anti-corruption agencies’ need and advised on what government should be putting in the fight against corrupt practices.

“UNODC evaluation will be the best because nobody can accuse you of bias.”

Sissoko said UNODC was ready to collaborate with the ICPC to strengthen professional and operational capacity of officials.

al-Mustapha, Sofolahan urge Court of Appeal to void conviction C ONDEMNED exChief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Gen Sani Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha and aide to the late Kudirat Abiola, Lateef Sofolahan have appealed Monday’s judgment by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court sentencing them to death for hanging.

In their notices of appeal filed yesterday before the Court of Appeal, Lagos, the duo described the judgment as “unreasonable, unwarranted and cannot be supported, having regard to the totality of evidence before the trial court”.

Both raised five grounds of appeal and prayed the appellate court to set aside the lower court’s decision. They urged the court to discharge and acquit them on the two counts of conspiracy and murder on which they were convicted.

Sofolahan and alMustapha argued, in their first ground of appeal, that the judge erred in law by holding that the contradictions in the evidence by Barnabas Jabila Mshelia (Rogers) - the second pros-

‘It’s mockery of Judiciary’

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HE family of Hamza al-Mustapha, the condemned former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, yesterday described the Lagos High Court ruling that sentenced him to death by hanging as “a mockery of established judicial process”.

In a statement in Kano, the family’s spokesman, Hadi al-Mustapha, noted that “the strength of evidence relies upon by the learned judge for the conviction was contradictory to subsisting judgment on the same case”.

His kinsmen in Nguru, Yobe State yesterday described the judgement as unfair.

Alhaji Ibrahim Dan Masanin Nguru, who spoke “on behalf of the good people of Nguru” said they are not happy.

He said: “We are not happy with the way Major Hamza al-Mustapha was unnecessarily detained for 14 years and then ruled that he should be hanged. The whole thing has no element of fairness and we the people of Nguru will stand by him till he gets his freedom at the Court of Appeal”.

Hadi said: “What we have seen from the Lagos High Court was a desperate attempt to eliminate the former CSO.”

By Eric Ikhilae

ecution witness (PW1) and Mohammed Abdul (Katako)

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano and Joel Duku, Damaturu

Hadi said a competent court of jurisdiction had dismissed the evidence given by the two star witnesses - Sergeant Barnabas Jabilla, aka Sergeant Rogers and Mohammed Abdul, aka Katako on the attempted murder of the late publisher of The Guardian, Mr Alex Ibru, as “unreliable and inadmissible” in a high profile case.

He said: “All these facts and many more are available to the learned judge and yet ignore them for reasons best known to her. But the question remains why she has chosen to ignore these important chains of legal process in arriving at a decision on a crucial matter where the life is involved.

“Rogers on that fateful day broke down and cried in the open court, begged the entire defendants, including al-Mustapha for forgiveness. Rogers had stated that he and others had agreed to the prosecution’s plan because they were promised huge amounts of money.

“Up til now, no competent court in the land has found the testimony of Sergeant Rogers to be credible’.”

- the third prosecution witness (PW3) were immaterial.

They contended that the

said contradiction in both witnesses’ evidence, which resulted from their recanta-

‘How Jonathan saved AUC from leadership crisis’

CJN orders Appeal Court justice to respond to ACN’s petition

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HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman, National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, has instructed the Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, to respond within one month to a petition by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its candidate, Chief Lawrence Adewale.

The party and its candidate for the Oluyole Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives petitioned the NJC chairman over what they described as “miscarriage of justice” in the in the determination of the election appeal on the April 9, 2011 National Assembly election.”

They sought a retrial of the appeal on the grounds that the panel did not determine the case on merit.

In the petition, which was also sent to the President, Court of Appeal and the Justice, Court of Appeal, Ibadan, the petitioners decried the handling of the appeal.

They said the Electoral Act was not complied with in the election. The ACN candidate was defeated by 102 votes, according to the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The petition reads: “Briefs of arguments were adopted by parties on Monday, December 12, 2011 before their Lordships, Justice Adriza Gana Mtshelia, Hon. Justice Modupe Fasanmi and Justice Joseph Shagbor Ikyegh and the case was adjourned to Monday, December 19, 2011 for judgment.

“On December 19, 2011, the Court of Appeal sitting

tion, were manifestly a disparagement of their evidence.

Their second ground of appeal was that the judge erred when she relied on the evidence of the first prosecution witness, Ore Falomo, a medical doctor, to the effect that the bullet extracted from the late Kudirat was a special one, not commonly seen.

They queried the judge’s decision to rely on the information by Falomo, knowing that he (Falomo) is neither a Ballistician nor an expert in that field of science.

In ground three, the appellants accused the judge of bias against them by allegedly rejection portions of Rogers’ and Katako’s testimonies that favoured them, but accepted and relied the portions that were unfavourable to them.

They also, in ground four, argued that the judge erred in law by treating the contents of their extra-judicial statements as true without first, subjecting them to the necessary tests.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

From Vinvent Ikuomola, Abuja

in Ibadan sat around 11 am and adjourned most of the cases for the reason that members of the panel have to travel out of Ibadan to Sokoto State and elsewhere to sit over election appeals in those jurisdictions. It was also the complaint of the Court that they traveled out of Ibadan during the previous week, precisely on Wednesday, December 14, only to return on Saturday night, December 17, 2011. The court thereafter gave judgment to the effect that the appeal lacks merit and is dismissed.

“From what transpired in court on December 19, 2011 and from the information at hand that members of the panel could not gain access to the exhibit room of the Court of Appeal on Sunday evening and so could not examine the exhibits, it is more than obvious that the appeal has not been determined on merit. The appellants’ case is basically documentary and if the court pronounced judgment without seeing the exhibits so as to appropriate the appellants’ case, there is no doubt that there has been a miscarriage of justice.

“It is our humble observation that the appeal court did not have enough time to read/study the record of proceedings of over 2000 pages, the Notice/Grounds of Appeal and the brief of argument of the appellants and the respondents so as to appreciate the case of the appellants to determine the appeal on merit…

“It is our humble plea that the appeal of the appellants be heard on merit by another panel to be set up that will have the time and energy for it.”

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan prevented what could have turned into a leadership crisis in the African Union Commission (AUC), Minister of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru said yesterday.

The race for the top post in AUC ended in a deadlock as neither the incumbent, Jean Ping of Gabon, nor his main challenger, South Africa’s Home Minister, and ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, secured enough votes to win.

After the fourth round, the leading contender for the seat, Ping, was only able to pull 31 votes, four short of the required 35 votes to secure the mandatory two-third.

Jonathan brokered a deal which will see Ping retain the seat until June when a new election will be conducted.

Ashiru said:”There was a deadlock in the election of the African Union Commission.

Two candidates were contesting - Jean Ping of Gabon and Zuma’s wife from South Africa. There was deadlock in the first round after Zuma’s wife was dropped because she was the one trailing in the three previous elections.

“At the fourth round which was the final, Jean Ping from Gabon was expected to have two third majority, 35 votes but he only got 31. So, there was a deadlock and the organisation was going to be left without a head until when the next summit will take place.

“It was President Jonathan, who made a proposal, which was unanimously adopted.

He was the person who brokered the truce that paved the way for a unanimous resolution at the summit. He was the one that proposed that Jean Ping should be given an extension to be in office till June when the next election will take place.”

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•Minister of Youth Development Bolaji Abdullahi and Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu at the National Assembly to defend their ministries’ budgetary allocations... yesterday

Tambuwal threatens committees over budget defence •Suspends plenary session again From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

•Tambuwal

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PEAKER of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal has suspended plenary session for two days following the failure of the House Standing Committees to turn in their reports on budget defence to the Appropriation Committee.

He threatened to withdraw the powers of any Standing Committee, which failed to put in the budget estimate

defence report to the Appropriation Committee by Monday.

Tambuwal’s action was premised on the failure of the Standing Committees to turn in their reports on defence of budget estimates by Federal Government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) as mandated by the House.

He said the lawmakers have no right to keep Nigerians waiting on the passage of the 2012 budget.

Plenary was suspended on January 19 to enable the standing committees have enough time to work on the defense budget estimates by various MDAs. Tambuwal, who said he has conferred with Senate President David Mark, as the

issue was not peculiar to the House of Representatives, decried the attitude of the committees.

He said: “Plenary is hereby suspended for two days and the committees are hereby given till Monday to submit their reports to the Appropriation Committee.

“Any committee that fails to submit its report by Monday will lose its powers over the defence of such budget proposal to the Appropriation Committee.

“We cannot continue to keep Nigerians waiting over the passage because we have promised Nigerians to expedite action on the budget and it is our responsibility to live up to our promise”.

Members however accused some MDAs of thwarting the efforts of the committees in deliberately turning down their invitation.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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NEWS Bills to legalise varsities scale EVEN bills, which seek second reading

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to legalise the establishment of federal universities in seven states, scaled second reading yesterday in the Senate.

The second reading came as Senator Pius Ewherido called for a law to back up the establishment of Federal University of Petroleum, Efurun, Delta State.

The executive bills seek enabling Acts to back the establishment of federal universities in Dutsin-Ma, Kashere, Lafia, Lokoja, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Otuoke and Oye-Ekiti.

It was learnt that the bills for the establishment of four federal universities would soon be presented by the Executive for Senate’s consideration.

Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba noted that the universities would impact positively on the nation’s development by creating skilled manpower.

He said the financial implications for the new universities were captured in this year’s budget proposals.

Ndoma-Egba said: “The universities will provide quality infrastructure and facilities to encourage scholarship at the highest standard.

“They will also create more access to Nigerians, who are usually stranded due to the limited chances available for admission into universities.”

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Senator Benedict Ayade said attention should be focused on creating model universities that would be centres of excellence.

The country, he said, should set up universities based on specialised areas rather than for political consideration.

The Cross River Stateborn lawmaker insisted that universities should serve as models for academic excellence.

Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe State) urged the Federal Government to set up universities that would drive the nation’s infrastructural development.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu urged the Federal Government to encourage individuals and organisations to set up universities.

He noted that the government was finding it difficult funding existing higher institutions.

Senator Chris Ngige (Anambra State) lamented that existing universities are yet to justify why they were established.

He said emphasis should be on qualitative education rather than reckless establishment of new universities.

Protesting corps members from North get attention

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ROTESTING National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from the North, who besieged the headquarters of the corps in Abuja for redeployment, were yesterday transferred to the Abuja orientation camp in Kubwa.

The NYSC said it would attend to the corps members there.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions, such as Save Our Souls.

Some NYSC top officials, who attended to them, urged them to write down their names before proceeding to the orientation camp, where their case would be properly addressed.

The NYSC Deputy Director of Publication, Mr. Alao Olanipekun, noted that NYSC does not have the power to stop the redeployment of corps members from trouble spots.

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

He said the step was taken by the management to ensure the security of corps members in some volatile states.

The NYSC director added that the leadership of the scheme only asked those who felt they were not secure in the affected areas to apply for redeployment.

He criticised some corps members who, according to him, have started abusing the privilege.

Olanipekun said those serving in states such as Benue, Nasarawa, Edo and Ondo need not seek redeployment.

He said only corps members from the dangerous states would be redeployed.

The NYSC director urged the affected corps members to move to the FCT NYSC orientation camp in Kubwa, where he said they would be accommodated.

FCTA to perform ground breaking of three new districts tomorrow From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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O reduce the high cost of rents and provide affordable housing for Abuja residents, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, will tomorrow perform the ground-breaking of three new districts.

These are: Katampe, Maitama Extension and Kagini I. The districts have 777, 231, 798 hectares.

This ground breaking marks the official launch of engineering infrastructure, which will provide about 70,000 kilometres of road network of various classes including bridges and culverts; drainage, water, sewage, electricity and telecommunication dots.

To provide sustainable infrastructure for the FCT, the new districts will have more than 10,000 plots. This will ensure that there is adequate accommodation for the territory’s population as well as business and employment opportunities to decongest the city.

It was learnt that one of the new districts will be built under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) initiative that will save the government huge resources.

This ground breaking event, according to the FCTA, is in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Road Map of the FCT Administration.

• Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) welcoming Environment Commissioner Tunji Bello to the inspection of Gbagada Comprehensive Junior High School and Ayinke Primary School, Bariga...yesterday. With them are Works Commissioner Obafemi Hamzat (second right) and Commissioner for Education Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye. PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Boko Haram kills six in Borno

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OKO Haram insurgents have killed six persons, including two Air Force officers, at separate locations in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and environs.

It was learnt that one of the Air Force officers, who was in mufti, was returning home after the day’s work when he was shot dead at Ngomari, a few metres from the Maiduguri Air Force Base.

Eyewitnesses said some gunmen had earlier killed two brothers in their home in the area.

It was learnt that the incident occurred at 6.30pm on Monday. The gunmen reportedly asked after the brothers and made some de-

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

mands on them.

It was learnt that when the brothers could not meet the demands, the gunmen shot them dead.

The mother of the brothers was said to be present when the incident occurred.

The assailants reportedly stole her vehicle and other valuables.

The gunmen were said to have sighted the Air Force officer as they started the car.

Apparently thinking the officer was going to attack them, the gunmen reportedly opened fire on him, killing him instantly.

The Nation gathered that officials of the Joint Task

Force (JTF) chased the assailants until they had an accident with the car on Damboa Road, a distance of about two kilometres from the scene of the killing and robbery.

The gunmen left the vehicle on the road and escaped into the bush.

It was learnt that another Air Force officer was killed in Polo, about 150 kilometres from Maiduguri, when some gunmen invaded the neighbourhood.

The sect was said to have also killed another man during a shooting at the popular Monday market.

Eyewitnesses said they heard sporadic gunshots yesterday afternoon, adding that when the atmos-

phere was calm, they saw a body on the street.

The Fields Operations Officer of JTF, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, confirmed the killings on phone.

He said the military was on top of the situation.

Police Commissioner Simeon Midenda also confirmed the incident, but said he could not give details because he was on his way to Abuja for a meeting with the Acting Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.

Midenda said: “I can confirm the killing of a civilian in Gamboru, Ngala Local Government Area. He was shot dead in front of a mosque last night (Monday).”

Tinubu, Fayemi, Amosun, others condole with police chief Abubakar over wife’s death •Ex-Lagos governor commiserates with Enahoro family ORMER Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi; his Ogun and Delta states’ counterparts, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday commiserated with the Acting Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar on the death of his wife, Hajia Maryam, in Kano, on Monday.

The former governor described Maryam’s death as “a shock and a very sad development”. He prayed Allah to grant her soul repose.

In a statement by his media office in Lagos, Tinubu said: “The news of the sudden death of your wife came to me as a shock. I am indeed greatly saddened by this development as a father and husband myself, and I can only pray that Almighty Allah will grant her soul repose… May you find the courage and the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss of your wife.”

Expressing his sympathy and that of his family to the Abubakar family, the frontline politician urged

F

By Olamilekan Andu and Bukola Amusan, Abuja

the Acting IGP to take heart and stay focused.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader also condoled with the family of the late Chief Anthony Enahoro on the death of its matriarch, Mrs. Helen Imayuse Enahoro (nee Ediae).

Tinubu described her death as a “painful and a sad loss”, saying it is the “end of an era”.

He sympathised with the entire Enahoro family, praising her for her honesty and dedication.

Tinubu said: “We would never forget her commitment, honesty and dedication as she joined the struggle for a better Nigeria and stood by her husband in some of the darkest moments in the history of Nigeria.”

The former governor assured that though the nation would miss her, the legacy she and her husband left behind would endure.

The ACN Leader added that the sacrifices they made for the nation must not be in

vain.

“I urge all democracy-loving Nigerians to support democratic ideals and principles and work tirelessly for a leadership that is responsive and responsible and a country where all people and regions are treated fairly,” Tinubu said.

In a condolence letter addressed to the Acting IGP by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, the Ekiti State governor urged him to take solace in the fact that his wife lived a good life.

The governor’s letter reads: “I received with shock the news of the death of your dear wife, Hajia Mariam Muhammed Abubakar, who died on Monday.

“Her death, at this crucial time, is very unfortunate.

But I hope you will take consolation in the fact that she lived a good life. It is, therefore, my prayer that God will give you and the entire family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Ekiti State, please accept our deep condolence on this irreparable loss, and may her gentle souls rest in peace.”

Amosun, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (Media and Communication), Mrs Funmi Wakama, described the death of Mrs Abubakar as “shocking and coming at a time when IGP Abubakar would need her support and invaluable advice”.

The governor urged the Acting IGP to take solace in the fact that his wife led an exemplary life.

He prayed for the repose of her soul and for God to grant her entire family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Uduaghan expressed “deep sadness” over the death of Mrs Abubakar, noting that the nation would miss her motherly love and care.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sunny Ogefere, the governor said the late Maryam died at a time when her “emotional support” was most needed by her husband and Nigeria, especially against the backdrop of the difficult security challenges in the country, which led to the recent appointment of Abubakar as the new IGP.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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NEWS

N38b loan: Court frees Bankole, Nafada

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ORMER Speaker Dimeji Bankole and his erstwhile deputy, Alhaji Usman Bayero Nafada, were yesterday acquitted of complicity in the N38 billion loan taken from banks by the House of Representatives during their tenure.

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court freed the duo.

He discharged and acquitted them of the 17-count charge of criminal breach of trust and dishonest use of House of Representatives bank account to obtain loan slammed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

But counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Festus Keyamo hinted that the decision may be challenged.

In his ruling that lasted about three hours, Justice Belgore held that there was no contravention of known financial regulations by the duo to warrant them facing trial.

Besides, he said Bankole and Nafada cannot be held liable, in criminal law, for the action that was taken by the general House.

Although the court held that it is “morally wrong, morally indefensible and morally insensitive” for the Bankole/Nafada-led House to have increased their quarterly “running costs” from N27 million to N42 million each, the Judge held that it did not amount to a criminal offence but a moral offence.

Dismissing Keyamo’s argument, Justice Belgore held that “the House of Representatives does not need approval from the President to increase its running cost and

EFCC awaits judgment’s copy From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday said it would decide on what to do only after receiving the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, which discharged and acquitted a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole and his deputy, Mr. Bayero Nafada.

The anti-graft agency made its position known in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren.

The statement reads: “The attention of the commission has been drawn to reports of the discharge of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr.Dimeji Bankole and his erstwhile deputy, Mr. Usman Nafada by Justice Suleiman Belgore of the FCT High Court Abuja.

“The Commission wishes to state that it does not yet have the Certified True Copy of the referenced judgment.

“The Commission will decide the next line of action only after receiving and studying the Certified Copy of the said Judgment.”

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

also source for loans from a bank, as it is an independent arm of government, which is not in the category of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.” Keyamo had argued that the leadership of the House erred by not seeking presidential approval to source for loans to pay its members’ enhanced running cost.

But Justice Belgore held: “The two accused persons did not move any money with the intention of dishonestly taking it. How can borrowed money now somersault to a property that was dishonestly taken for personal use?”

He disagreed with the antigraft agency’s position that the accused persons breached the extant provisions of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) by not seek-

ing its approval.

The court reasoned that the legislature, being a different arm of government, the commission cannot fix the “running costs” for members of the House of Representatives. They are at liberty to increase their “running costs” to whatever amount they so collectively wish.

He asked: “Is the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission the owner of the money as to make their consents relevant?

“How can it be relevant that money approved by members’ need to get the approval of RMAFC before it is disbursed?

“There is, therefore, no evidence that the accused persons moved the money or gave such orders for the movement of the money, as no evidence of taking of any property dishonestly has been established.

“The accused persons were not among the beneficiaries of the loans. If anything, their running costs were drastically reduced.”

The court also clarified that the functions of the accused persons, as speaker and deputy speaker, were “purely legislative in nature” and did not include any dealings with the funds of the House.

It noted that it was the Clerk, not Bankole and Nafada, who should be charged for securing and disbursement of the loans.

“It is, therefore, my strong view that if accused persons had done anything on the funds of the House.”

“There was no contravention of any financial regulations by the two accused persons and no prima facie case has been established against them. I find considerable merit in this ‘no case submission’ by the defence.”

Reacting to the judgement, Keyamo, in a statement, said: “It is wrong for a judge to allow a public officer to take money from the public till under any guise without reference to RMAFC. Our respectful view is that other allowances as stated in the Constitution encompasses running costs as monies collected by public officers to offset expenses other than wages. The difference the judge tried to create is merely splitting of hairs.

“Since the court had arrived at a conclusion that Bankole usurped the powers of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, should he not be held accountable for misusing that power he usurped? We think he should.”

Tokyo loses bid to reclaim NURTW driver’s seat From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

•Akinsola

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FFORTS by the former chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, to reclaim the leadership of the crisis-ridden union has suffered a setback. State High Court 10, presided over by Justice Aderonke Adekemi Aderemi, yesterday, struck out Akinsola’s suit for lack of jurisdiction.

Akinsola, (also known as Tokyo), approached the court, seeking to validate the National Industrial Court (NIC) judgment which reinstated him.

But the administrations of former Governor Adebayo Ala-Akala and that of incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi stopped him, following series of unrests and killings of innocent cit-

izens by the rival factions of the union.

Shortly after his reinstatement, the crisis that erupted resulted in the disturbance of the peace of the state.

Alao-Akala banned the union. Another ban was imposed on the union by the incumbent governor last June.

In the suit, the National President of the union, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, opposed Akinsola’s move to exercise his fundamental human rights to claim the union’s leadership through the State High Court.

Represented by his counsel, Waheed Olajide, the union’s president contented that the State High Court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter, citing Section 254 sub-section (1d) of the 1999 Constitution.

The section, according to the union’s national headquarters, vested jurisdiction on matters relating to trade union disputes on the NIC and not on the State High Court, stressing that Akinsola’s argument that he was denied his right to occupy the seat after the NIC’s judgment was a mere exercise in futility.

Akinsola’s lawyer, Kareem Adekola, held a contrary view.

The judge awarded a N5, 000 cost against Akinsola and struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction.

SNG sues Jonathan for N1b

By Adebisi Onanuga

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HE Save Nigeria Group (SNG) has sued the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan over the deployment of soldiers to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park , Ojota to stop its protest against the withdrawal of the subsidy on petrol.

In a motion on notice filed at the Federal High Court, Ikeja, the group is asking for N1 billion as general, special and exemplary damages from the President for it what it described as unlawful, arbitrary and illegal violation of its fundamental rights as guaranteed in sections 34, 35(1(, 39(!), 40, 41(1) and 46(1) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria(as amended), Articles 5,6,9,10 and 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and People1s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, LFN 2004.

Joined as co-respondents are: the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Chief of Army Staff (CAS), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

The SNG urged the court to direct President Jonathan and other respondents to tender an unreserved public apology in terms and words acceptable to it and to be published in at least, three national dailies for the indignity and other breaches of its fundamental rights.

•National President, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Dr. Godswill Okara (left), Coordinator, Lisa Bassalla and National Vice President, Raheem Toyosi Yekeen at the association’s Online Continuing Professional Development Project in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

EFCC quizzes 15 suspects over illegal bunkering

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O fewer than 15 suspects are being detained over alleged illegal bunkering of about 30,000 litres of petroleum products, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday.

Besides, the commission has invited the director and manager of Winsco Services Limited Mr. Kingsley Chinedu Ozigbo and Mr. Ozigbo Uzoamaka for questioning over the arrest.

A statement by the commission’s spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects were arrested by soldiers and members of the Navy, who

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

handed them over to the EFCC for further interrogation and prosecution.

Uwujaren said the suspects are being investigated for alleged conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products.

The statement reads: “Six of the suspects are handed over to the EFCC by the Commanding Officer, NNS Pathfinder, Nigerian Navy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and they are: Elu’u Lawrence, Daniel Luke, Emmanuel Etim Akpan, Endurance Eleyi, Gift Sunday Udo and Raphael Godspower.

“They were arrested along Cawthorne Channel, Rivers State on board the Tug Boat “MV CHIJIOKE” by men of the Nigerian Navy. One of the suspects: Raphael Godspower was alleged to have bunkered 30,000 litres of petroleum product without any documentation at the time of arrest.

“The other nine suspects were handed over to the EFCC by men of the Nigerian Army in Benin-City, Edo State. They are: Sunday Emmanuel; Mike Joseph , Titus Okoebor , John Osagie , Iluobe Uzama , Destiny Ailaumah, Peter Adogun, Monday Ojemokhai and Nel-

son Airhuboyi . They were arrested at Upper Sakponba Road

by Ekpe River, Rivers State.

“Five tankers filled with products suspected to be petroleum products were confiscated from the suspects.

“Investigations showed that the tug boat which some of the suspects used for the operation was rented out to them by Winsco Services Limited.

“Both the Director of the company, Mr. Kingsley Chinedu Ozigbo and the Manager, Mr. Ozigbo Uzoamaka have been invited by the EFCC for questioning. The matter is still being investigated by the EFCC.”

Bayelsa acting governor debunks rumour of exco dissolution

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AYELSA State Acting Governor, Chief Nestor Binabo has debunked rumour that he would dissolve the state’s Executive Council.

He said this yesterday at an emergency Executive Council meeting held preparatory to the flag off of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s rally on Saturday.

The meeting which lasted for about two hours, held at the executive Chambers of the Banquet Hall, Government House, discussed the anticipated visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Nathan Egba told reporters after the meeting that they also discussed oth-

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

er issues including the acting governor’s visit to Koloama community where the Chevron gas explosion occurred few weeks ago.

Egba said the council discussed the best ways government could react to the Chevron explosion and the plight of the affected communities.

In addition, the rumours of the likely dissolution of the council were also debunked by the governor, who assured them of not having plans to sack the commissioners.

“The Acting Governor asked everyone to go about his or her duties as there are no plans to dissolve the exco”, Egba added.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

NEWS FCTA director sues developer over bribery allegation •Demands N500m compensation From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE Director, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Development Control, Yahaya Yusuf, has sued the developer of Sun Rise, Peter Omeluoha, at an Abuja High Court for alleged defamation of character.

The director is praying the court to award him N500million compensation.

The developer had alleged that the Yusuf demanded for 10 units of houses to spare his estate from demolition.

Addressing reporters yesterday after the case was brought up for hearing at the Abuja Court of Appeal, Court 12, Maitama, the director said his action became imperative to prove that he never demanded bribe from the developer.

He noted that as a director in a sensitive department where many people look up to him for inspiration, he needed to clear his name as well as his integrity.

Yusuf said: “My presence here is in pursuit of that case.

Even without the FCT Administration showing interest, I have my own integrity to protect. The popular feeling is that the moment you say you are working with the Department of Development Control, people would think you go there to cheat others or compromise yourself. To that extent, when that allegation was made, I made up my mind that I was going to sue to correct that impression. They cast aspersion on my integrity and it has to be corrected “I’m claiming damages for the dent on my image and my integrity because there are those who look up to me for inspiration especially those working with me who want to see that they have somebody they can depend upon. If I’m not able to defend the fact that there was no truth in the allegation they made then I don’t have any business leading those groups of people.”

The case was adjourned till February 28 as the defendant did not appear before the court.

It was the second time the case was adjourned due to nonappearance of the defendant in court.

North’s monarchs meet over RADITIONAL rulers Boko Haram in the North met be-

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hind closed doors yesterday in Kaduna over the growing insecurity in the country occasioned by the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

The tension in the region has been worsened following the Monday judgment of a Lagos High Court, which sentenced Major Hamza alMustapha, the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, to death by hanging.

The meeting, which took place at the Lugard Hall of the Government House for about three hours, however ended without a communiqué.

It had begun without any remarks by the conveners and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III. The Nation gathered that some prominent traditional

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

rulers from the Middle Belt stayed away from the meeting, which was also attended by few selected elders of the North.

Sources close to the meeting said the meeting discussed the implication of the death sentence on alMustapha and his co-conspirator, Lateef Sofolahan.

The monarchs avoided reporters at the end of the meeting.

It was not immediately clear whether or not a communiqué would be issued later.

It was learnt that Governor Patrick Yakowa did not send any representative to the meeting.

The Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, did not attend or send a representative.

Ndoma-Egba hails ‘new-born’ FERMA HRILLED by the

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rapid transformation of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has withdrawn his earlier call for the scrapping of the agency.

The senator, who spoke at the Kuje plant of the agency during the inauguration of 15 pothole patchers and other equipment, acknowledged the efforts of NERMA’s new managment.

He noted that his earlier stance was informed by the agency’s dismal performance before the appointment of a new management team, led by Mr, Gabriel Amuchi, came on board.

At the event was the Minister of Work, Mr. Mike Onolememem; the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda; the Chairman of the House Committee on Works,

From Yomi Odunuga, Abuja

Ayogu Eze; the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Sani Ibrahim and other dignitaries.

Ndoma-Egba said: “We are seeing a new FERMA. A few days ago, I was rightly quoted that FERMA should be scrapped. But I was talking about the old FERMA. Today, I feel what I see before me would give Nigerians hope that their struggles would be minimised.

“I can only advise that you deploy the equipment speedily. With this new spirit, the National Assembly will give every support for FERMA to realise its mandate. On behalf of the Senate, I congratulate this new FERMA and we will give you our support.”

•From right: Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard; Rev. Sam Adesua, Managing Director, Nigerian Tribune; Mr Nduka Obaigbena, President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Mr. Victor Ifijeh, Managing Director, The Nation, at NPAN’s interactive session with Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria in Lagos...yesterday

NPAN, advertising stakeholders collaborate on service improvement

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HE Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) is collaborating with key players in the advertising sector on how to improve services for the public.

The NPAN plans to commission a reputable international audit firm to conduct an audience and readership survey of newspapers published in the country.

A statement by NPAN’s Executive Secretary, Feyi Smith, quoted the association’s President, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, as saying the survey would analyse and collate values delivered by its constituent members.

Obaigbena spoke yesterday in Lagos at NPAN’s meeting with sectoral groups in the marketing communication industry, tagged: The 2012 Advert Summit.

He said the survey was informed by the demand by media buyers for data on segmentation and readership

By Eric Ikhilae

profile of newspapers and the insistence by the print industry that the figures being bandied by agencies as authentic do not reflect the realities in the market place as they affect the industry.

Noting the edge the print media has over other advertising platforms, Obaigbena said the print remains a media of choice in marketing communication because it is trusted, has historically identified - and still identifies - with the masses.

President of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mr Kola Oyeyemi, described advertising as a game of value and value perception. He cautioned that if value is not effectively appreciated, communicated or well defined, it would create a

gulf.

Such a situation, he said, is the reason data from the media side is important and strategic for any successful media campaign.

He urged the media to come up with necessary data to further enhance business.

Deputy President of the Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mrs Bunmi Oke, who stood in for the President, Mr Rufai Ladipo, noted that it is imperative to change how agencies and the print media do business. She hailed what she said were some positive changes in the industry.

Mrs Oke urged both sides to continue in that direction.

The event was hosted by Vanguard, senior media and advertising experts.

The former President of AAAN, Funmi Onabolu, Lanre Fasehun and Eki Adzufeh of Media Independ-

ent Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) also represented the advertising sector.

From the print industry were the publisher of the Vanguard, Mr Sam Amuka Pemu; publisher of BusinessDay, Mr Frank Aigbogun; renowned journalist, Ray Ekpu; past President, NPAN, Aliu Akoshile, who represented Aigbogun; Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, Chairman of Daily Trust and Deputy President of NPAN as well as Sam Adesua, Managing Director, African Newspapers Plc, publishers of Tribune tiltles.

Others are: Azubuike Ishekwene, Managing Director Leadership; Tony Onyima of The Sun; Victor Ifijeh, Managing Director of The Nation; Aliyu M. Ali, Managing Director of Peoples Daily; Ikpe Abang, publisher of IT and Telecoms Digest; as well as Akpandem James, Managing Director, Daily Independent.

Parents of slain 11 Boko Haram suspects seek govt probe P

ARENTS of 11 men killed last weekend by the military task force in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, have urged the Federal Government to investigate the killings. The men were alleged to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) had said the 11 men were members of the sect and were killed during a gun battle with security men at a checkpoint in the Maiduguri metropolis.

Addressing reporters in Maiduguri last Saturday, the Field Operations Officer of the JTF, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, had said: “I can confirm to you that the JTF has, at the early hours of this morning during a gun battle, shot dead 11 high profile Boko Haram members at the usual stopand-search operation.”

He added that “apart from the 11 shot dead, one of the sect members survived with bullet injuries and he is being attended to at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).”

But the parents of the deceased told reporters in Maiduguri that the JTF picked up their children and wards

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

from their homes in Shehuri, north of the capital city, and killed them at an unidentified location. They alleged that the military officials dumped the bodies of the suspects at the morgue.

One of the parents, Dala Abatcha, alleged that three of his children were killed by the JTF. He said: “We were sleeping on that fateful day, that is, around 1am of last Saturday, when the soldiers entered our home and demanded for my children. I came out with my three children and they collected my handset without saying anything.

“We were told to lie down.

This we did for more than one hour. Then, they told us the parents to go inside without our children. When we demanded explanation, they said they just wanted to go and interrogate them. They said they would come back.

“In the morning, I and my other neighbours, whose children were also picked up, went to Giwa Barracks. But we were not able to see the

Commander of the JTF because it was a weekend.

When I got home, I heard it on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that 11 Boko Haram members were killed by the JTF on the road during an encounter. When we went to the UMTH, we saw nine bodies of our sons, out of the 11 of them taken away.”

Abatcha denied that his sons were members of the sect, saying one of them was a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and not Boko Haram.

He said: “Two of them just finished secondary school, and one of them is helping someone to sell wares at Monday market. I do not allow my children to come out after Ishai (the Muslim evening prayer.”

Abatcha condemned the killing of his wards, saying every Nigerian has the right to a fair hearing.

According to him, the JTF should have investigated the suspects’ activities and, if found guilty, they should be punished.

Another parent, Adamu

Hassan Tella, said soldiers came into his home and compelled him to release his children.

He accused the task force of killing them without finding any incriminating thing on them.

Tella said four military officers scaled the fence of his house and picked up his children for interrogation.

According to him, he later heard on air that they had been killed by the JTF during a confrontation at a checkpoint.

The parents urged the federal and Borno State governments to set up a panel of enquiry into the alleged extra-judicial killing of their sons, saying justice must be done on the matter.

Another parent, whose son was killed, Alhaji Hassan Bukar said: “All we want is for the government to identify the killers of our children, who are innocent, and bring them to justice.”

The slain men are: Baba Kaka Dala, Ali Dala, Mamman Mustapha, Mamman Rosi, Hassan Mohammed, Mohammed Wakil Bala, Babangida Adamu, Baba Kaka Goni and Adam Konto.

They were aged 16 to 22 years.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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NEWS Oyo ACN accuses PDP of intimidating voters with soldiers THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using federal might to intimidate voters during last Saturday’s rerun in Irepo-OrelopeOlorunsogo Federal Constituency with the mass deployment of soldiers.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN asked why over 1,500 soldiers and about 2,000 policemen were deployed in the constituency for a by-election.

The party said: “It is unfortunate that PDP has not yet shed the toga of its do-or-die politics. It is also appalling that the reality has not yet dawned on the party that it has been rejected by the people as a result of its woeful performance and the pains it inflicted on them in the last eight years.

“It was the fear of losing that made them use federal might to get soldiers deployed in the area, so as to wage psychological war on our people, who have unanimously decided to team up with ACN in enthroning good governance in Oyo State.”

Alleging that security agents molested some voters and many eligible voters remained indoors out of fear, ACN said: “This is not too good for democracy. If the PDP is sure of its acclaimed popularity, it should allow people to come out freely to vote for their choice candidate in an atmosphere devoid of violence and brigandage.

“But PDP was scared of the credentials of the ACN candidate, who is a brilliant and articulate firstclass graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.” The party thanked residents for voting for its candidate.

Trader escapes from kidnappers From Damisiu Ojo, Akure

A trader, who was abducted last week in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Mr. Steven Eze, yesterday escaped from his captors.

Eze, a plumbing materials merchant, was abducted from his shop in Arakale.

The kidnappers demanded a N50 million ransom, which was later reduced to N5 million.

Narrating his ordeal, Eze said his abductors took him to an uncompleted bungalow on Oda road, in the outskirts of Akure.

He said he broke the ceiling and escaped through the roof, when his captors went out and forgot to handcuff him.

Eze said he went to the house of a friend who lives in the area and alerted the police, but the kidnappers had deserted the hide out.

Police spokesman Adeniran Aremu said the command is on the trail of the kidnappers.

Mimiko presents N150b budget for 2012

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday presented a N150 billion budget for this year to the House of Assembly.

The budget, tagged: “A Caring Heart Budget III”, is N7 billion higher than last year’s.

It earmarks N85.5 billion to capital expenditure and provides N64.5 billion for recurrent expenditure, which includes the N8.2 billion statutory grant to the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

The budget is to be funded by an expected N75 billion allocation from the Federation Account, the N12 billion

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) projection, N38 billion from the proposed bond and other external sources.

The sectoral breakdown of the budget is as follows: Road construction and maintenance, N16.025 billion; Education, N12.198 billion; Health, N8.2 billion; Agriculture, N3.7 billion; Trade and Industry N3.3 billion; Electricity, N0.8 billion; Social and Community Development, N6.6 billion; Water Supply, N3.6 billion; Housing and Environment N6.7 billion; and Judiciary, N1.3 billion.

Mimiko said: “The budget focuses on the completion of

‘At the workers’ level, a new Public Service Training Institute sited in Ifedore Local Government is nearing completion. The Institute has an International Governing Council and is set to produce worldclass graduates’ ongoing projects and only very important new initia-

tives would be undertaken.

“A total of N2.2 billion has been earmarked for the Legislature. The Judiciary received enormous support in the last fiscal year. The Court of Appeal and the Customary Court of Appeal effectively took off in the course of the year. Also, the National Industrial Court (NIC) will soon commence operation.

“At the workers’ level, a new Public Service Training Institute sited in Ifedore Local Government is nearing completion. The Institute has an International Governing Council and is set to produce world-class graduates.”

On the performance of last year’s budget, Mimiko said things started on a sluggish

note.

He said: “As at December, 2011, only N118.997 billion had been generated from all sources, as against the expected N143.500 billion, implying a shortfall of N24.997 billion.

“In spite of all these challenges, we recorded appreciable success in the implementation of the 2011 Budget.”

On the political situation in the state, the governor advised political leaders to guard their utterances.

He said: “As we approach the electioneering period, I implore the people to conduct themselves with decorum. This state belongs to all of us, hence, we should work together to improve it.”

Five feared dead in Lagos NURTW clashes

By Miriam Ndikanwu

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•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left) receiving a N50 million cheque in support of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O-YES) from the Executive Director (Public Sector) of First Bank Plc, Mr. Urum Kalu Eke, at the Governor’s Office in Osogbo...yesterday. With them is the Chairman, O-YES Implementing Committee , Mr. Femi Faturoti. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Customs officers ‘beat up’ teacher in Ibadan

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EN of the Nigeria Customs Service allegedly stormed the premises of Ibadan United Senior Secondary School in Ijokodo, Oyo State, on Monday and shot into the air.

They allegedly beat up a teacher, Mr. Gbenga Ogunleye, for punishing the son of a Customs officer, Allison Chukwuebuka, an SSS 3 pupil.

Speaking with reporters yesterday, Ogunleye said: “Last Friday, some boys who are fond of dressing indecently to school and assembling in an uncompleted building during odd hours were

•House summons parties From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

rounded up by teachers. Their indecent dresses, slippers and other things that the school does not allow were seized.

“We told them to form a queue and asked them to jump up and down. But Chukwuebuka refused do so.

I compelled him to do so with my cane, but he resisted and went home to call his parents.

“To my surprise on Monday, when he identified me, his father instructed him to beat me. The boy picked up a

wheel spanner and aimed at my head, but I protected my head with my hand. The father then called for reinforcement.

“Some men in Customs uniform drove into the school and started beating me.

“When other teachers and pupils tried to come to my aid, the men shot into the air and people ran for cover. I was later taken to Jericho Hospital.”

It was learnt that Chikwuebuka has been expelled by

the Ministry of Education.

Customs spokesman Mrs. Nkiru Nwala confirmed the incident, but said the command should not be dragged into the incident that happened between two individuals. She, however, said the matter is receiving adequate attention.

The Head teacher, Mrs. Titi Aponmode and Ogunleye petitioned the House of Assembly on the matter yesterday. Speaker Mrs. Monsurat Summonu directed the Clerk to summon the parties involved to appear before the House at its next sitting.

ABOUT five persons were feared dead in Lagos State yesterday following a bloody clash between two rival groups of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) over the leadership of the union.

The incident, which got violent on Monday at Idumota and Obalende, degenerated further yesterday as two men were killed with a machete and another shot dead on Adeniji Adele road.

Residents said the crisis started when supporters of a former treasurer of the union, M.C Musiliu Oluomo, and those of the outgoing state chairman, Alhaji Rafiu Olohunwa, clashed after a botched election.

According to a source, Olohunwa’s supporters suffered more casualty.

Yesterday, the crisis later spread to other parts of the Island, such as Campos Square, Obadina and Agarawu.

Policemen have been drafted to the troubled areas.

The state government called on NURTW to call its men to order.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba warned that government would take over the parks, if the crisis is not contained.

Why I dumped LP for ACN, by Akure North/South Rep

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HE member representing Akure North/South in the House of Representatives, Ifedayo Abegunde, has dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

In his letter of notification to the House of Representatives, Abegunde said he left LP because it has become factionalised.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who read the letter on the floor of the House yesterday, asked Abegunde to stand up for recognition.

The lawmaker stood up, waving two brooms, the symbol of the ACN. He then went to hug the ACN Caucus/Minority Leader,

•Ondo lawmakers seek Rep’s recall •Organisation slams Assembly From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja, and Damisi Ojo, Akure

Femi Gbajabiamila.

Speaking with The Nation after plenary, Abegunde said: “When I joined LP, I thought it would improve the lives of the people, but that expectation has not been met.

“The people are poor; they are suffering. They cannot put food on their tables, let alone pay school fees.

“Though markets have been built for the people, they have no money to

stock up their stalls. And for the few who do, sales are poor, because the purchasing power of the people is low.”

The lawmaker decried the alleged lopsidedness in the execution of projects and appointments, as well as the “governor’s failure” to listen to the people.

Also yesterday, the Ondo State House of Assembly passed a resolution, seeking Abegunde’s recall.

It urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to stop recognising Abegunde as the represent-

ative of Akure North/ Akure South.

The House sat shortly before the presentation of the 2012 budget by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The member representing Akure North, Mr. Adeniyi Akindele, said Abegunde had no reason to dump LP, because the party is not in any form of crisis.

But a group, Abena Campaign Organisation (ACO), condemned the Assembly’s resolution. It described it as “overzealousness,” explaining that the matter is pending before the Federal High Court, Akure.

ACO said: “We do not even know what section of the constitution empowers

the lawmakers to deviate from their constitutional roles.

“The House did not pass any resolution when the incumbent Speaker, Samuel Adesina, and three other lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to LP in 2010, even though there was no crisis in PDP. “There was no resolution against them from the House; there was no moral justification for it to embark on an assignment outside its oversight functions.

“Ondo people and the leadership of the National Assembly are not fools. We respect the fact that the matter is already in court.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Shell lifts force majeure on Bonny oil

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OYAL Dutch Shell’s Nigerian venture has lifted a force majeure on exports of Bonny crude after repairing a damaged pipeline, the company said yesterday.

Shell Petroleum Development Co: “Can confirm the lifting of force majeure on Bonny loadings with effect from...Monday, January 30 2012,” a Shell spokesman said in an emailed statement.

The company had declared force majeure on Bonny Light crude exports from Nigeria in early January.

Minister seeks funds for Ajaokuta From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE Minister of Mines and Steel Develop ment, Musa Sada, yesterday underlined the importance of additional capital investment in the Ajaokuta Steel Company to make the firm attractive to private investors.

Speaking while receiving the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Sada said it would be difficult for the government to attract investors to the steel plant without injecting initial funds to kick-start the company.

He also urged the National Assembly to consider a review of the law guiding the privatisation of the steel company since the laws have not yielded the expected results.

“I think the strategy will be for the government to create a role for itself. It will be very difficult for us to get private investors to get them to start working,”he said.

For the SURE programme, money has not really been provided for the housing sector but we are involved in vocational training and we just submitted our proposal for the building of vocational centers in each of the six geopolitical zones.

-Ms Amal Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

CBN leaves key interest rate at 12% T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday kept its benchmark interest rate – the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) - on hold at 12 per cent, saying it expects any upward impact on inflation from removing fuel import subsidies to be short-term.

Experts had expected rates to remain at 12 per cent.

Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the Governor of the CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said the decision to retain the MPR was based on “the clear impact of previous tightening on the rate of inflation and exchange rates up to December 2011.”

He said the Committee also decided to keep its 200 basis point corridor around the benchmark interest rate, so its recommended deposit

• Favours $70/bbl oil benchmark • GDP drops to 7.69% From Nduka Chiejina, Assit.

Editor (Abuja)

rate is 10 per cent and its lending rate is 14 per cent.

The cash reserve required to be held by banks was left at eight per cent of deposits.

The CBN governor also cautioned the National Assembly not to raise the benchmark oil price in the 2012 budget.

He, however, commended the fiscal authorities for setting the benchmark crude oil price at $70 per barrel as proposed in the 2012 budget and advocated its retention, stressing that any upward revision would tend to undermine macroeconomic stability.

Sanusi said the Committee noted that the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011 as estimated by the

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) was 7.69 per cent, marginally lower than the 7.87 per cent recorded in 2010.

He said the GDP grew by 8.68 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year up from 6.64, 7.72, and 7.40 per cent in the first, second and third quarters.

Sansui disclosed that the nation’s foreign exchange reserves stands at US$ 32.64 billion as at end of last December, “more or less flat relative to the US$32.34 billion as at end December 2010, despite the higher oil price in 2011.”

The naira traded at N161 to the dollar yesterday, slightly weaker than the CBN’s preferred trading band of N150-160 against the dollar, which was retained

yesterday’s meeting. The November move shifted the band from N145-155.

The Committee, he said, noted the pressure on the exchange rate emanating from the high demand, which it said reflected the import-dependent nature of the economy, which was probably compounded by speculators.

Sanusi said inflation eased to 10.3 per cent in December, down from 10.5 per cent in November, but the impact of removing fuel subsidies is likely to send that figure higher.

He said the CBN expects inflation to increase to around 14 -15 per cent in the first half of this year, before reducing towards single digits by the end of 2013.

“It (the Committee)

Envoy urges Nigerians to access $1b US fund From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $33.01b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

commended the Federal Government on the partial removal of subsidy on PMS (petrol), which it noted, will have salutary effect on the external reserves and exchange rates as well as on investments in oil and gas,” Sanusi said.

“The committee noted, historically, an upward adjustment in the price of PMS (petrol) has tended to have a short-term impact on the rate of inflation.”

The Committee raised the alarm that the announced increase in import duties on some food items by the end of June 2012 would exert further put pressure on food prices which would compound the effect of increased transportation costs induced by the partial removal of the fuel subsidy on the price level and the associated inflation expectation.

• From left: Head, Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, Mr Tony Chiejina; Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dangote Pasta, Chief Oladehinde Brown and General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Mr Yahaya Fufore, during the unveiling of Dangote Pasta’s television and radio commercials in Lagos.

Fed Govt proposes N370b cut in Budget 2012

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HE Federal Govern ment yesterday, pro posed a N370billion cut in the 2012 budget.

The Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who disclosed this during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Appropriation in Abuja, said the reduction was in line with government’s commitment to reduce recurrent expenditure.

She said the money would be taken from overheads and that the government does not want to tamper with the capital expenditure.

The minister also advised the legislators to reduce their statutory allocation to further give room for more capital projects.

By Collins Nweze

But the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmed Maccido said he doubts if his colleagues will agree to the proposed cut, but promised to take the message to them. He said the legislators had in 2011, cut about 40 per cent of their statutory allocations and might not want to do so this year.

The Appropriation Act originally empowered the Federal Government to spend N4.749 trillion, comprising: Security (N921.91 billion); Education (N400.15 billion); Health (N282.77 billion), Works (N180.8 billion) and Power (N161.42 billion), among others.

Also, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, advised members of the Standing Committees on Budget to submit their input to the 2012 budget to allow its easy passage.

He said the Committee members cannot keep the nation waiting as it appears that the country is lagging behind in passage of the budget.

The Senate had said it would adopt a $75 per barrel oil price benchmark in the 2012 budget, up from the $70 proposed by the Ministry of Finance. This is expected to make more money available for spending and decrease savings in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

• Mrs Okonjo-Iweala

The government said the inflation outlook in the short-term will be impacted by the anticipated fiscal injections in relation to the proposed 2012 budget, the recent partial deregulation of pump price of fuel, and new tariff regimes on certain food imports.

HE United States of American Envoy to Nigeria, Mr Terrence McCulley, yesterday challenged private sector operators who want to embark on power projects to access funding from his country’s Import-Export Bank.

Recently, US Import-Export Bank promised to expend $1 billion in funding power projects in the country.

McCulley said: “I want the private sector here to come forward with projects in the power sector and benefit from the $1.2 billion pledged by the Chief Executive Officer of the US EXIM Bank during his visit to Nigeria when he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Power.”

The ambassador described the state government’s initiatives in agriculture as commendable and also the drive

by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to involve communities in the process of governance.

McCulley spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

He described the private sector as the engine of growth for any economy and noted that the power sector plays a very significant role to enhance growth. The ambassador said given the population of Nigeria and with 42 percent of Nigeria’s GDP coming from agriculture, the country has enormous opportunities for growth.

In his response Governor Ahmed said his administration is partnering with the US-based Cornell University to develop an Agric City in the northern part of the state, saying when operational; the ‘city’ will become a haven for commercial farming and processing.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

12

BUSINESS NEWS

Nigeria rated 133 of 183 business friendly countries

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IGERIA ranked 133 out of 183 surveyed for business friendly environment in the World Bank Global Business Report 2012.

Worse still, it lagged behind at 15 among African countries.

The Doing Business Project provides objective measures of business regulations, their enforcement across 183 economies and selected cities at the sub-national and regional level.

At the presentation of the

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

report in Abuja, Mr Richard Montgomery of the Department of International Develop (DFID), said Nigeria needs to urgently improve its competiveness in the ease of doing business to attract much needed local and foreign investment.

According to him, Nigeria is either static or sleeping on a number of criteria, there is need for states to borrow from the reforms going on in Kano and Lagos

states and improve their investment climates.

“Overall, Nigeria is ranked 133 out of 183 countries in the world. That is an issue of concern. there is a number of good practice in Nigeria and if you were to look at the way reforms are being taken forward in places like Lagos, Kano, if you were to take all the best practices from all the states and put them together in one plate, Nigeria will properly go up to about 72 out of 183. One of the challenges in Nigeria is to

spread good practices also but from states which are doing good things, it will be easier to create jobs,” Montgomery said.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, who spoke at the event, stressed that the government was doing all it could to improve the doing business environment in Nigeria.

“You can see from the ranking that even in Africa, we rank number 15. If you look at the competiveness rank-

ing also, we have not done very well in the last three years. If you want to improve the investment climate and make it easier for investors to invest in this country, it is critical that we focus on our investment climate reform,” Aganga said.

He said Nigeria needs to first of all have the right investment policy that would make it a lot easier for businesses to register in the country and also address the concerns of existing businesses in the country.

PIB: NEITI calls for improvement in fiscal regime

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HE Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has urged stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to ensure that in reviewing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), efforts should be made to guarantee substantial improvement in the fiscal regime.

The Executive Secretary, NEITI, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja yester-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

day, said the document should also conform with the tenets of NEITI Act 2007.

She said NEITI is ready to provide any information and data that will ensure that the PIB meets international best practices.

She noted that the organisation is delighted that the country and the National Assembly have been

sensitised on the importance of the PIB. The NEITI chief also said the 2007 to 2010 solid minerals audit would cover the minerals receiving agent. She described the receiving agents as a group licensed by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, which sell the products mined by the artisanal miners.

Ahmed also disclosed that the solid minerals audit will

cover the cement factories that basically use the limestone in the country.

She said: “What we are doing is to cover a group called the receiving agents. They sell the products, which these miners sell to them. They are licensed by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

“We will also audit the cement producing companies because they basically mine limestone, which they use ba-

sically for cement. We will also audit the construction companies because a lot of them operate quarries.”

Amed, however, disclosed that NEITI would hold a national conference in February, which would be a forum for companies, civil society, investors and government to examine the potential and opportunities in the Nigeria oil and gas as well as the solid minerals sector.

Global food prices easing, volatility still high, says World Bank

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LOBAL food prices are set to decline fur ther in 2012 as a weaker world economy dampens consumer demand while food supplies rise, the World Bank yesterday, warning that a possible rise in oil prices could reverse the trend.

The World Bank in a statement said prices have de-

clined steadily but volatility has increased, including among staples like wheat, maize and rice. In some countries, domestic food prices are higher than levels in 2010, keeping pressure on poor households that spend the bulk of their income on food.

It increased its monitoring of global food prices in 2009

during a food and energy price crisis that hit food-importing countries the hardest and highlighted the chronic underinvestment in agriculture in developing countries.

The World Bank said its 2011 annual food price index shows prices are still 24 percent higher than in 2010 despite some decline. Global prices fell 8 percent in the

three months from September to December 2011, ending the year 7 percent below December 2010 levels.

“The worst food price increases may be over but we must remain vigilant,” said Otaviano Canuto, the World Bank Group’s vice president for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management.

“Prices of certain foods re-

main dangerously high in many countries, leaving millions of people at risk of malnutrition and hunger.”

The Bank warned, however, that the steady decline in global food prices could be halted if weather patterns change, or if world oil prices rise, pushing up price volatility and demand for biofuels.

Electrification agency seeks funds for 1,946 projects From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE Rural Electrifica tion Agency (REA) is seeking the assistance of the House Committee on Power for appropriation of funds to the agency to enable it to complete 1,946 rural electrification projects in the country.

The agency has also said the rural electrification master plan it wants to produce would be done in collaboration with Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).

The Managing Director, Mr Kenneth Achugbu, disclosed this when he received members of the House Committee on Power who were at the agency to perform their duties. Achugbu said plans are underway to ensure that headquarters of all local government areas are connected to the national grid.

He noted that the agency is liaising with the National Assembly and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on regulatory matters below 1MW power generation.

He pleaded with the committee to intervene to make provision for capital project for the agency in the 2012 appropriation.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

13

ISSUES

• Some Microfinance banks.

Are MfBs set for reforms?

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced measures to sanitise microfinance banks (MfBs). In this report, AKINOLA AJIBADE examines how effective the measures are.

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HE microfinance banking sub-sector is plagued by problems such as inadequate capital, bad debt, management ineptitude, weak corporate governance structures, faulty accounting procedures and corruption.

Others are poor skills, inability of the operators to properly understand the concept of microfinance banking, among others. These have eroded confidence in the sub-sector, making it a source of concern

to many, especially the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). To revive the operations of the 898 microfinance institutions, CBN introduced some far-reaching measures, which are part of its reforms agenda for the banking industry, aimed at putting the banks on the path of profitability.

Like what happened to commercial banks, the reforms in the microfinance banking were introduced, inter alia, to lay to rest the notion that the banks were no longer ca-

pable of recording growth.

The reforms Part of the reforms is the introduction of the electronic format of rendering returns to CBN against the manual method; categorisation of banks into unit, state or national level; the imposition of a new capital regime of N20 million, N100 million, and N2 billion on the banks; and granting the

banks a waiver not to participate in the microfinance programmes.

Others include examination of the books of the banks, and the directives on a uniform accounting year for them, among others.

Since the reforms were introduced, the banks have been making frantic efforts to improve their operations albeit at a • Continued on page 14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

14

ISSUES

Are MfBs set for reforms?

• Continued from page 13

greater cost. While many have adopted cost-cutting measures to stimulate growth, others are finetuning plans to get sizeable shares of the market. In all these, stakeholders have described the reforms as the best thing to have happened to the sub-sector. They see a brighter future ahead for the banks.

Uniform accounting year With the successful implementation of a uniform year-end for the commercial banks, the apex bank saw the need to do the same for microfinance banks.Consequently, it directed the microfinance banks and other companies in the Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) to adopt a common financial year-end with effect from December, 2012.

The directive, as contained in a circular issued on Tuesday last week, wants the companies under the umbrella of the OFIs to pass a resolution to that effect and further inform relevant agencies in line with Section 334 Sub Section 4 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

Speaking on the issue, the Chairman, National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMBs), Lagos Chapter, Mr Olufemi Babajide, said the decision of commercial banks to implement a common year-end in 2009 sent a signal to other operators in the industry.

Babajide said the operators were not surprised by the directive on common financial year-end, because they have been looking forward to CBN to introduce the policy.

He said: “As a matter of fact, the microfinance banks operators have been using a common year accounting policy before the CBN issued a circular last week. We have started using a common financial year as far back as 2009.

I’m talking in relation to the over 200 microfinance banks operating in Lagos. I think the banks in other parts of the country have been doing similar things. Now that the apex bank has compelled all the microfinance operators to adopt a uniform accounting year, the better for the sub-sector.”

He said the development would enable the CBN to do proper ratings of microfinance banks, and ascertain the liquidity positions of the banks.

“For instance, if my bank prepares its financial statement on December 1, and another bank does its own in July, there is no uniformity in that. That would not augur well for the system because the CBN would not be able to access enough information and further rate the banks. Now that the policy on common year-end has been put in place for the microfinance banks, it would be much more easier for CBN to get all the indices necessary for the growth of the banks,” he added.

The Managing Director, Havilla Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr Rufus Oluyole, toed a similar path.

Oluyole said microfinance institutions had since adopted a common year-end to stimulate growth. He said operators had no option than to adopt a common year-end policy, because the commercial banks had complied.

“Since the commercial banks have adopted the uniform financial year, it behoves on the operators of microfinance to adjust their financial statements in line with the

policy,” he said.

Cashless banking Following the implementation of the cashless banking policy in Lagos on January 1, industry observers thought the policy was an all-inclusive one involving stakeholders in the financial industry chain.

But it was not as if the CBN excluded microfinance banks from participating in the cashless banking initiatives. The development was attributed to issues such as illiteracy, lack of exposure and low adoption of electronic banking, among others.

According to Babajide, the exclusion of microfinance banks from cash-less banking implies that customers can now withdraw and deposit above the stipulated limit of N150,000 per individual and N1 million for a corporate entity. He said customers of MfBs have not embraced electronic banking such as Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions, adding that the development would pose a threat to the implementation of the cashless policy.

He said implementing the policy would not be an easy task in the sub-sector even though the banks have been persuading customers to pay in cheques and do other banking transactions electronically.

“Of course, we are now appealing to customers to pay with cheques and withdraw from ATM points with the aim to operate a cashless banking, but the compliance is not going to be immediate. It will take a gradual process before MfBs can join the initiative,” he said.

On his part, the Managing Director, Support Microfinance Bank, Mr Sunny Ahkamiokhor, said the microfinance market is not yet ripe for cashless operations. He said the banks would not be able to service its customers properly, if CBN insists on its cash limit for individual and corporate entities.

The Managing Director, Owotutu Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr Oladipupo Ajayi, said it would take time for customers to embrace cashless banking initiatives.

“The cash-less banking policy will give room for easy movement of cash, while it will also prohibit fraud, theft and armed robberies.

In spite of these, the microfinance market is not ready for this policy.

Microfinance banks are educating the masses on cash-less banking model, but it will take time because people don’t like change. My bank is sensitising the customers to key into this policy and we hope that the market will soon be ready for it,” he said.

New capital regime Prior to the introduction of new capital requirements for the microfinance banks in June last year, the banks were under-

• CBN Governor Mallam Lamido Sanusi

• Ajayi

funded. Most of them were operating partially, while others have closed shops. This made CBN to conduct a special examination of the banks in 2010. In the process, 224 microfinance banks were axed for poor performance. Subsequently, the apex bank imposed a new capital regime on the banks to strengthen their operations.

Industry observers said the imposition of a new capital base, was one of the major steps taken to reinvigorate the sub-sector. According to the Managing Director, Gold Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr Lanre Abiola, the development would improve the fortunes of the banks. Abiola said the operational capital of the banks were not only small, but incapable of sustaining them.

He said many of the banks were struggling to survive last year, because they were not unable to advance credits to their customers.

He added that the banks were finding it difficult attract more depos-

• CBN Deputy Governor Tunde Lemo

• Babajide

its, due to loss of confidence then.

“If you look the performance of some of the banks two years ago, it is nothing to write home about.

The banks were grappling with challenges such as poor risk management framework, capital, skills and energy. Also, many operators were coming from the commercial backgrounds to manage microfinance banks.

“They have forgotten that the two are not same. So, there was a misplaced priority. At the end, many banks fizzled out within a short time. But that era has gone as banks are recapitalsing their operations in line with the regulatory policy,” he said.

Abiola said once the banks are fully recapitalised, they would be able to record better growth.

“I think the reforms have helped in returning confidence into the sub-sector. As time goes on, the banks would effectively serve those in the low-income bracket of the economy. That has been the

‘The cashless banking policy will give room for easy movement of cash, while it will also prohibit fraud, theft and armed robberies. In spite of these, the microfinance market is not ready for this policy. Microfinance banks are educating the masses on cashless banking model, but it will take time because people don’t like change’

expectations of the operators since the reforms started two years ago,” he added.

Online rendition of returns Stakeholders have hailed the decision of CBN to introduce online rendition of returns for microfinance banks, describing it as a welcome development. They said electronic rendition of returns, was part of the efforts to make microfinance activities more attractive.

The Managing Director, MainStreet Microfinance Bank Limited, Mr Kashim Olanrewaju, said: “We have been rendering our returns both electronically and through hard copy. I think we have a system that is compliant. It is a very innovative measure that is capable of raising the standards of the banks. This is part of the reforms measures introduced to buoy activities in the sub-sector,” he said.

Responding to the development, the Managing Director, Accion Microfinance Bank Limited, Bunmi Lawson, said her bank has been rendering monthly returns in both hard copies and e-mails as the CBN required.

“You know that Accion is very keen on technology and, in fact, we use D 24, which is one of the most robust core banking platforms. We have been rendering our returns both in hard copies and e-mails,” she said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

17

MONEY

How N2.4tr pension fund will be used, by Sanusi

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O protect the N2.4 trillion pension funds with banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is to guarantee the use of the cash for intrasturcture development.

CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said such investment will boost the economy.

Already, a revised investment guideline for pension funds has been released by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM). It empowers the body to invest in infrastructure and foreign currency bonds issued by Multilateral Development Finance Organisations (MDFOs) such as the World Bank, African Finance Corporation (AFC), African Development Bank (ADB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), among others.

Stories by Collins Nweze Analysts see the guidelines as having the potential to change the structure of the Nigerian financial market, catalyse the development of infrastructure and resuscitate the new securities issues market in 2011. It will also mark the ascendancy of institutional investors in the capital market through the establishment of key funds to attract the huge pension fund assets under management. With pension fund in excess of N2 trillion, the potential market of the pension fund industry may be as much as N18 trillion.

Data obtained from PenCom said pension assets can also now invest in foreign currency denominated bonds issued by the

Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), or the CBN, or agencies and companies owned by the Federal Government “provided that the securities are fully guaranteed by the CBN or Federal Government.”

Infrastructure bonds issued by corporate entities are also allowable investments; along with bonds, debentures, redeemable and convertible preference shares, and other debt instruments including asset backed securities.

Infrastructure funds and private equity funds registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs/Notes) and Eurobonds “issued by listed

Nigerian companies for their operations within Nigeria, as certified and approved by SEC”, are also now allowable investments.

For infrastructure projects to attract investments of pension assets, the guidelines provide that the projects must have been awarded to a concessionaire through an open and transparent process; be not less than N5 billion in value; managed by a concessionaire with a good track record; meet the due process requirements of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Policy, “and of the nature of core infrastructure which includes roads, railways, airports, ports, power and gas pipelines and related facilities, and other projects that may be approved by the commission from time to time”.

For Specialist Infrastructure Funds seeking to attract pension fund investments, the guidelines say it must also have 75 per cent of its projects located in Nigeria.

Not more than five per cent of

pension fund assets can be invested in Infrastructure funds, but up to 35 per cent of pension fund assets can be invested in infrastructure bonds, mortgage and asset backed securities and corporate debt securities.

Benson Odia, an investment analyst said infrastructure serves as alternative investment classes for pension funds needed to balance out volatile equity investments with more secure asset classes. Infrastructure funding seems attractive to pension managers, as their public goods status makes them socially responsive investments.

The risks, however, remains that infrastructure investments are usually greatly impacted by rigorous regulations which seem been unpredictable. To ensure that pension funds have a stable and conducive regulatory climate to thrive, clarity and continuity in the regulatory and supervisory approach is essential to create comfort for conservative pension boards.

Protect public funds, Speaker tells auditors

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•From left: Executive Director, Central, Unity Bank, Ismaila Abdullahi Galadanchi; Managing Director, Ado Yakubu Wanka and President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCIMA), Alhaji Umar Yahaya, during his visit to the bank in Abuja.

POS: Merchants worry over 1.25% transaction fee

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ANK merchants will pay for the cost of using Point of Sale (PoS) machines by their customers, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

The CBN mandated merchants to pay 1.25 per cent of the transaction fee subject to a maximum of N2,000 per transaction. The fee is seen by merchants as too high.

A stock broker, who asked not to be named, told The Nation that he takes 2.8 per cent commission from his customers and after paying 1.25 per cent for PoS usage, he will be left with nothing. He said the cashless banking initiative is laudable but that the CBN has to consider reducing the fee to encourage wider usage.

But the Acting Managing Director, Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, Niyi Ajao, has assured the merchants that the 1.25 per cent stipulated in the POS guidelines is not final, but can be negotiated downwards, depending on volume of transactions.

He said the regulators are committed to making the cashless policy a success and would address any issues seen as hindrance to its implementation. The NIBSS boss said the body has put in place modern infrastructure for handling inter-bank payments in order to remove potential bottlenecks associated with inter-bank funds transfer and settlement, which are key components in cashless banking initiative.

Investigation showed that many businesses are getting

• NIBSS assures on possible reduction ready for the cashless banking initiative, because of the huge costs associated with cash. A statement from the Bankers’ Committee said the fees enable the parties to recover the cost of the PoS, the cost for support, maintenance, connectivity of the PoS system, among others.

It explained that where the merchants do not use the PoS, it will still be charged a penal fee of 1.25 per cent of cash transaction in excess of the cash limit policy. Merchants are also advised to recognise that there are other ways in which the PoS terminal can benefit them, such as selling other services and earning commissions.

For instance, mobile credit can be sold through the terminals, or it can used to collect bill payment for firms such as the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Also, training will be provided by the acquirer’s payment terminal service provider (PTSP). Part of the deployment is to ensure a practical training of how to use the PoS for the merchant and their staff.

“However, if the PoS or mobile phone is stolen, the money for the user is safe as the devices do not hold the money. In terms of infrastructure, the CBN is working with Nigeria Communication Commission and telecoms to ensure that there are dedicated communication links for the PoS sys-

tem. Also, all PoS must have a minimum of two SIMs such as MTN and Glo. However, this does not guarantee 100 per cent connectivity but does increase the uptime of PoS system. In terms of power, there is minimum of 24 hours battery life, and they can sometimes come with car charges,” the statement said.

However, in terms of security of platforms, it said ATM fraud was prevalent when Nigeria was using magnetic stripe cards. But last year, Nigeria migrated, all their cards to chip and pin which is more secured, and drastically reduced the fraud level. With chip and Pin, the chances of fraud are reduced provided a customer keeps his PIN secret.

Besides, the CBN ATM Fraud Prevention Committee comprising banks, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (IFCC), InterSwitch, ValuCard, among others, deliberate monthly to make e-payments more secured.

Besides, the Nigerian Electronic Payment Fraud Forum has been inaugurated to share strategy for fraud prevention.

The regulators have disclosed that the literacy required in operating the PoS is minimal as many Nigerians can use a mobile phone, needed to make mobile payments. Besides, biometrics is being installed in some ATMs and PoS to further check fraud in the industry.

UDITORS working with the Lagos State Government have been urged to be transparent to ensure the government accounts for its use of public funds.

Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji spoke during the second yearly auditors retreat held at the Peninsular Resort. Its theme was: Improving the audit for efficient performance.

Ikuforiji, represented his deputy, Hon Kolawole Taiwo, said regular auditing would put government officials on their toes. He re-emphasised the need for constant training and retraining of auditors to keep them in tune with current trends.

The state Auditor-General, Mr. David Sunmoni, explained that the crisis that followed the removal of fuel subsidy has created greater public awareness and the need for auditors to exhibit probity and transparency in their works.

According to him, “the demand on and expectations of auditors-general are more formidable, as they play a vital role in holding the government accountable for the use of public funds and in ensuring trans-

By Miriam Ndikanwu parency in government operations.”

He tasked them to work with integrity to enable them to meet and surpass the highest professional standard.

“This training affords us a golden opportunity to review and assess our performance in the year just ended and strategies and plan for improved performance this year,” he said.

He informed that the United Nations General Assembly had in December 2011 adopted Resolution A/66/209 promoting the efficiency, accountability, effectiveness and transparency of public administration by strengthening Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI).

Sunmoni noted that with the resolution, the General Assembly now recognises that SAI can accomplish their task objectively and effectively only if they are independent of the audited entity and are protected against outside influence. He said the Lagos State government enacted the Audit Law 2011 to strengthen auditors’ independence.

Bank strengthens unit

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TANBIC IBTC Bank has appointed Mr Kayode Solola Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), to strengthen the unit.

Until his new appointment, Solola was Head, Global Markets, and more recently, Head, Corporate and Investment Banking.

A statement from the bank said his appointment will help to bolster the bank’s investment banking capabilities. He will also focus on providing financial advisory and comprehensive financing solutions to corporate clients, to help them achieve their growth strategies.

Stanbic IBTC’s Chief Executive Officer, Sola David-Borha said his promotion will help accelerate Nigeria’s socio-economic development through the funding of critical projects and initiatives by the bank. “We believe that we will realise significant benefits

from this appointment as we remain focused on supporting growth and development of the Nigerian economy,” stated Mrs. David-Borha, noting that the group has adapted a business model that will effectively leverage on opportunities created by the ongoing changes in the banking industry and the economy at large.

Before this appointment, Solola has been actively involved in major sales and structuring transactions of the bank. He helped structure different derivatives and hedges for various clients most of which were novel in Nigeria.

He was head of the foreign exchange dealing team, which encouraged and pushed for the introduction and active trading on the ‘two way quote basis’ in the interbank foreign exchange market.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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MONEY

CBN exempts microfinance banks from cash-lite banking

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has exempted microfinance banks from participating in cash-lite banking system. By this, the customers of the 898 microfinance institutions can now continue to deposit and withdraw above the apex bank’s limit.

Confirming the development, the Chairman, National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), Lagos State Chapter, Mr Olufemi Babajide, said the apex bank has exempted the microfinance banks from participating in the cashless banking.

He said: “Microfinance banks nationwide have been exempted from taking part in the cashless banking programme. Based on this, the customers of the banks are free to withdraw and deposit money beyond the CBN’s limit. Already, customers of the banks have not been able to embrace the electronic banking payment such as Auto-

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

mated Teller Machines (ATMs) transactions. This made the customers to rely on cash for transactions. So, the implementation of the cash-lite programme will set the banking sub-sector aback.”

He said the banks have been persuading customers to pay in cheques and do other banking transactions electronically, but to no avail.

“Of course, we have been appealing to customers to pay with cheques and withdraw from ATM points with the aim to operate a cashless banking, but this is not going to be immediate. The reason is because there is high level of illiteracy in the sub sector. Many of the customers are not educated.

They do not even know what the cash-lite programme is all about, talk less of knowing how to conduct transactions through the electronic channels. It will take some

time before MfBs can join the cashless banking initiative. ‘’The high illiteracy level in the subsector make it difficult for cashless banking policy to work, with customers unwilling to buy into this initiative,” he added.

CBN had earlier pegged cash withdrawal and lodgement limits by individuals at N150, 000 and N1million for corporate bodies, as its implementation started within the Lagos metropolis earlier in the year.

Virtually, all banks in the state implement the cashless banking policy to the letter. In fact, the banks, from March, charge individual account holders and corporate organisations that violate the rules. While individuals that withdraw above N150,000 across the counters will pay a penalty of N100 for every N1,000 transaction, the corporate bodies will pay N200 for every N1,000.

CBN urges risk managers to imbibe global best practices

By Akinola Ajibade

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised risk managers of banks to comply with international best practices in discharging their functions.

Speaking during the Annual Conference of the Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) in Lagos, the Deputy Director, Risk Management Department, CBN, Mr Olawoyin Adebola listed the impediments to risk management.

These, he said, are macro-economic instability due largely to sudden capital outflows, major failures in corporate governance at banks, lack of investor and consumer sophistication, inadequate disclosure and transparency about financial position of banks, critical gaps in prudential guidelines and uneven supervision and enforcement.

He said the global financial crisis affected the gains during the 2005 banking sector consolidation, adding that a sound financial system can only be achieved when substantial and fundamental economic reforms are implemented.

Said Adebola: “Consumer confidence is also being tackled in the reform programme. It is hoped that the new macro-prudential rules would limit capital market lending to certain proportion of banks’ balance sheet, prohibiting banks from using depositors’ funds for propriety trading or venture capital investment, “The important thing is to learn from the past and avert the dangers of the past. We should all try to be vigilant risk managers ahead of any situation, so as to guide our institutions, our financial sector and economy as a whole.”

In his address titled: Recent Market Turmoil: Rethinking the Role of Risk Managers in a Changing Wold,” the President, RIMAN, Mr. Emmanuel Abolo, noted that failures of financial institutions was caused by failure to adhere to risk management principles.

According to Abolo, “In many cases, this is due to the pressure that firms face to increase market shares, combined with unrealistic expectations about growth and performance prospects. But no matter how much, risk exposures get sliced, diced and distributed among financial market participants, financial innovation cannot mask poor underwriting.

“Banks are not only participants, in the financial markets, participants cut across several sectors and industries and in a world of interconnectedness, we cannot remain blind to systemic dynamics.

Forum on e-fraud inaugurated

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• From left: Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Dr Mohammed Santuraki; Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr Sam Elibe and Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Mohammed Monguno, during the committee’s oversight visit to the bank in Kaduna.

Why debt recovery is slow, by NDIC

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HE Nigerian Deposit Insur-ance Corporation (NDIC) has identified data integrity as one of the problems affecting its debt recovery efforts.

In a paper submitted to the House Committee on Banking and Finance, NDIC said data submitted by banks to the regulatory and advisory authorities did not fully reflect their true financial condition.

The corporation observed that returns were either inaccurate or incomplete or outright misrepresentation, adding that there were incidences of understatement of deposit liabilities and as reporting of credit exposures as off-balance sheet engagements.

It said: “As part of the measures taken by the corporation to address some of the challenges posed by data integrity, it, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reviewed the banks’ reporting formats several times as well as computerised

the process of rendition of returns through the development of a bank analysis software, known as Bank Analysis System (BAS) in the first instance and later electronic Financial Analysis and Surveillance System (eFASS).”

On poor public awareness, it said that despite series of efforts made by the NDIC to reach out to the public, “the general public seems inadequately aware of the scheme. It is still common to find people confusing deposit insurance with the conventional insurance business.

“Public ignorance cuts across all sections of the populace including depositors, the primary beneficiary of the scheme. For the deposit insurance to be effective, it is important that the public is well and adequately informed of its benefits and limitations.” It added.

NDIC said litigation is another problem affecting its operations.

“In spite of the forbearance of the regulatory authorities, suits

have been brought by owners of banks against CBN/NDIC on the revocation of their banks’ licenses and appointment of liquidator. The trend if not checked, can threaten the stability of the banking system and erode confidence of the public in our banks.

The damage that is associated with protracted litigation is incalculable.” it said.

On recovery of debts owed failed banks, it stated: “The corporation is still faced with some constraints in its debt recovery efforts. Some of the constraints limiting against recoveries of debts include business failures, unwillingness to honour obligations and large volumes of unsecured/ fraudulently granted loans.

“It is important to stress that unless debts can be expeditiously recovered, uninsured depositors and creditors cannot be paid most of their claims. This has serious consequences for public confidence in, and stability of the banking industry.”

HE Deputy Governor, Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Tunde Lemo, said the bank apex bank has set up a forum to stem electronic fraud as the country is transforming into a cashless economy.

He said: “While striving to grow and develop the available channels for retail payments, the CBN is also mindful of the infrastructure and the security challenges posed by this ambitious programme.

“We have, therefore, progressed in forging effective partnership with telecommunication companies with the co-operation of the Nigerian Communications Commission while ensuring that structural impediments such as un-interoperability of payments networks of stakeholders are removed.”

Specifically, Lemo stated that in electronic fraud, “We have recently set up an industry wide Nigeria E-Fraud Forum, which will serve as an official body to represent the industry on fraud related issues, while enabling a forum for payment stakeholders to collaboratively share data on fraud attempts and proactively tackle these issues, with the objective of minimising fraud attempts and limiting losses.”

He noted that the Automated Teller Machine Fraud Prevention Group convened earlier this, has helped the industry in driving down ATM fraud incidences by 99 per cent, a development, he said, has also been enabled by the introduction of the more secure chip and PIN cards versus the magnetic stripe cards that were formerly used in the industry.

He said the success of the group demonstrated practically what can be achieved as an industry when stakeholders work together to address issues, for the good of the system and the public at large.

Lemo, however, explained that the CBN recognises that innovations in payments system require institutional support; hence, the issuance of relevant rules and regulations in order to provide a level-playing field for all stakeholders in the retail payments industry.

“Consequently, the CBN has commenced the review of the following guidelines: guidelines on Transactions Switching, regulatory framework for mobile payments, National Central Switch Operations Rules.

“Other guidelines which were earlier issued including the POS guidelines, guidelines on Stored Value Card and Prepaid Card Issuance and the regulatory and supervisory framework for the operations of credit bureau provide requisite regulatory support,” he said.

The CBN chief said the aim of the various guidelines is to foster consensus and cooperation among some payments service providers and increase public confidence in the system, among others.

Euro near 17-month low against dollar

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HE euro held near a 17-month low against the dollar and hit 11-year low versus the yen on concern a Standard & Poor’s downgrade of euro zone states and a Greek debt stand-off would aggravate the region’s debt crisis. As nine euro zone countries, including France, had their ratings cut, talks between Greece and private creditors on a debt swap deal broke down, raising the risk of a messy Greek default and dousing last week’s glimmers of optimism.

“All the signals from S&P were that the crisis will get worse before it gets better and I struggle to find an argument for not being short of euro/ dollar at the moment. It is difficult

to see that any event will ease fears about the euro zone debt crisis,” Niels Christensen, currency strategist at Nordea in Copenhagen told Bloomberg News.

The euro was last down 0.1 per cent against the dollar at $1.2671 and was vulnerable to a test of 17-month low of $1.2624, with stop loss orders said to be at $1.2600.

Analysts and traders said a lack of technical support meant a break below $1.25 could quickly see the euro falling towards $1.20 and the 2010 low around $1.1875. With euro short positions at extreme levels, the single currency may gain some respite from investors taking profit on those positions.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Egypt’s heavyhanded military

Biu must go •We wonder what an officer like him is still doing in the police force

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F the battered image of Nigeria Police must be revived, then, an officer like Zakari Biu, Commissioner of Police in charge of CID Zone 7 deserves no place in the top cadre of the force. Biu is one police officer that has inflicted serious blight on the Nigerian state.

Rather than protect the citizenry against harm, he had discharged his duties in a way that portrayed him as an improper and unfit person for the job the state is paying him to do.

Biu has deployed police powers in negligent and tyrannical manners that have brought to the fore his notoriety as a senior police officer. Indeed, his conduct has reduced the estimation of the force in the public domain. His latest act was the thespian escape of Kabir Sokoto, a Boko Haram leader and principal suspect in the Christmas Day bombing of St.

‘Biu deploys police powers in negligent and tyrannical manners that have brought to the fore his notoriety as a senior police officer.

His conduct has reduced the estimation of the force in the public domain. His latest act was the thespian escape of Kabir Sokoto, a Boko Haram leader and principal suspect in the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State. Not less than 40 lives were lost in that barbaric incident’

Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State. Not less than 40 lives were lost in that barbaric incident.

Sokoto was arrested after the police swooped on the Borno State Governor’s lodge in Abuja. On the instruction of Biu, four policemen were deployed to take this high profile suspected criminal to his house in the Abaji area of Abuja for search. They were ambushed and overpowered on the way by suspected Boko Haram members who eventually escaped with the Madalla bombing prime suspect.

Sokoto’s escape casts serious aspersion on the touted official efforts to put an end to the evil Boko Haram onslaught. It is laughable to think that Hafiz Ringim, the immediate past Inspector-General of Police (IGP), would desire anybody to take him seriously as a police officer.

Otherwise, he would not have handed such a sensitive matter to a frivolous officer like Biu who hails from Borno State that happens to be the centre-piece of Boko Haram activities in the country.

Sokoto, the prime suspect, is reportedly an indigene of Borno and hails from the same Biu Local Government Area as Zakari Biu. Biu town in southern Borno State is one of the five local governments in the state where President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in, on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, the late Ambassador Sa’idu Pindar that was implicated by the State Security Service (SSS) of complicity in the Boko Haram matter was from that town too.

Biu has been linked with notorious activities since the days of despotic Sani Abacha in power. Several deaths of responsible Nigerians perceived to be against Abacha’s tyrannical reign were suspectedly traced to him as the head of the anti-bomb squad then. Two of such notable deaths were those of Bagauda Kaltho, a journalist working for The NEWS magazine and Dr. Sola Omatsola, former Chief Security Officer of Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Both were erroneously accused of being agents of the anti-Abacha National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). Biu also stood trial for the Apo 6 killings, since he allegedly ordered his boys to kill six Igbo traders for making passes at the same girl with him.

It is scandalous that Biu who was dismissed from the police by the Olusegun Obasanjo government in 1999 was controversially reinstated and promoted Commissioner of Police by the Police Service Commission (PSC) under a suspicious claim of due process. Biu should not be in the police and even if returned, he should have been retired immediately following the due process, (if not following due process was actually the reason for his reinstatement).

If that had been done, Biu would not have had the opportunity of allowing Sokoto to escape. The current suspension placed on him is too mild. He should be thoroughly investigated and the outcome of such investigation made public. Biu should be arraigned in court if found wanting by the investigative panel that probed him and others.

Pension scam again!

•Government must go tough with the perpetrators

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HAIRMAN of the Pension Reform Task Force Team, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, has made a startling revelation that a whopping N151billion may have been fraudulently taken away from the Pension Fund Accounts across the country. Interestingly, the combined efforts of the task force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made the discovery of the fraud possible.

We note with delight the synergy and mutually beneficial relationship that exists between the EFCC and the task force.

This is commendable and worthy of emulation, especially by other government agencies, parastatals and departments.

However, the fraud alert does not in any way constitute good news. It is embarrassing that some members of staff of the Pension Fund Scheme could, at will, help themselves, individually or collectively, to the funds of the scheme without confronting a reasonable measure of an inbuilt restraint mechanism that serves to deter persons within or outside the scheme from fiddling with the funds in the custody of the pension scheme.

Who are the signatories to the accounts, and what did the account mandate say about withdrawal? Which of the banks allowed the improper opening of fictitious accounts with the intention to defraud? What does the statute say about possible investment of pension fund and the modalities for its implementation?

These and many more are the questions in the minds of many Nigerians. The government will do well to find answers to these questions and others that border on how to prevent fraudulent withdrawal

of pension scheme fund.

Regrettably, the stolen monies belong to the retired/senior citizens of the country. Daily, the media carry pathetic stories of pensioners in deplorable social conditions of living, waiting for stipends that may never come. Many have died while waiting for their entitlements, just as the serving civil servants watch the fate of retired persons with disbelief.

Many of them must have vowed never to be caught unawares by a system that does not take care of its senior citizens.

While we agree that there are no justifiable reasons for stealing (private or public) money, we cannot afford to shy away from the concrete reality of the specific social conditions of living of the people, even, within a given socio-cultural milieu. The point is that the attraction or temptation to defraud the system becomes intense if and where corruption has assumed the social status of class denominator, and impunity the path to ‘honour’.

Within the last 12 years alone, Nigerians have lost count of the number of public servants allegedly involved in one fraud or the other. Of the lot, the statistics of those in jail must have been insignificant. Without doubt, there is an ominous link between the debasement of high moral values that embrace the dignity of labour in our society and the level of corruption-cum outright stealing from public treasury.

The worrisome thing though, is that scary as the alleged pension fund scam may be, especially the implication it might portend for governance and public administration, it has become more of

a routine; one of those typical corruption stories being reported by the media. This is so because, as soon as the corruption allegation hits the newsstands, government goes to sleep. End of story. Little or nothing is heard afterwards, neither about those arrested and detained nor the course of justice seen to have been pursued to its logical conclusion.

Something fundamental is wrong with the structure and processes of justice in the country which deserves our collective and urgent attention. Often times, remedial opportunities are carelessly squandered. For instance, government misses the opportunity to establish deterrence when culprits of alleged criminal offences are left off the hook in unwholesome circumstances.

But the government owes the senior citizens the responsibility of ensuring that they access their entitlements without hassles when they fall due. We must frown at, and indeed punish people who have a different agenda from this.

‘But the government owes the senior citizens the responsibility of ensuring that they access their entitlements without hassles when they fall due. We must frown at, and indeed punish people who have a different agenda from this’

E

GYPTIAN military rulers’ harassment of nongovernmental agencies that promote democracy could jeopardize the nation’s

relationship with Washington.

When Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown last year, there was immediate concern in Washington about the future of U.S. relations with Egypt. Mubarak, though a tyrant, had been a reliable ally, which explained why the Obama administration temporized about whether he should step down. Once he was gone and a supposedly transitional military council promised elections, a new concern arose: that the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups would dominate a new elected government and — in the worst-case scenario — renounce the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli treaty.

A year later the treaty is intact and the political party linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which won the most seats in the parliament, is not agitating for its renunciation. But EgyptianAmerican relations are threatened from another quarter: military leaders who still seem wedded to the old ways. They have launched a campaign of harassment against nongovernmental agencies that promote democracy.

Police in December raided 17 such organizations, including the U.S.-funded International Republican Institute, Freedom House and the National Democratic Institute, as well as various foreign and local groups, confiscating records and computers. Last week it was reported that at least half a dozen Americans working for the NGOs, including the son of Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, had been prevented from leaving Egypt. Supposedly they are being detained as part of an investigation of whether NGOs failed to obtain required licenses from the government. More likely, the military objected to their contacts with democratic activists.

Military leaders have claimed that “foreign hands” are responsible for instability in the country.

The Obama administration has reacted with appropriate forcefulness to the crackdown. The president reminded Egypt’s military leader, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, that Congress has conditioned continued military aid on progress toward democracy; that warning was then reiterated publicly by a State Department official. Egypt receives $1.3 billion a year in military aid from the U.S., primarily to shore up its commitment to peace with Israel.

Notwithstanding that linkage, resentment against Egypt is growing in Congress.

It would be tempting but naive to think that the Egyptian military’s policies are temporary just because it has promised to transfer power to the parliament and a president to be elected in June. Even with elections and a new constitution, the military is expected to retain considerable power. If it wants to retain close — and lucrative — ties with the United States, it will allow space for democratic organizations to help build a new Egypt — or face the political consequences.

– Los Angeles Times

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: On January 5, Honourable Justice Michael Adeyinka Odesanya clocked 60 years as a lawyer. It is not everyday we see Nigerian lawyers marking the diamond jubilee anniversary of their call to bar. One may want to know why this writer wants to celebrate a man who he does not know so well.

The celebrator retired as a judge in 1975 while this writer was still in primary school. However, this writer had the privilege of visiting my Lord in his house in 1994. I was then a pupil counsel under Chief Shola Rhodes, SAN, of blessed memory. On arrival in chambers on that particular day, my master instructed me to accompany Chief (Mrs) Folake Solanke, SAN, round town. She had come down from her Ibadan station preparatory for her trip overseas to assume office as world president of the Soromptist International. It was in her company that I visited my Lord at home!

Then, on Friday January 6 this year, I was at the Lagos High Court Library, Ikeja, and suggested to the director of library services the need to celebrate retired judges on their birthdays and on their call date anniversaries. In the course of the discussion, she said the libraries usually give complimentary dairies, calendars and Christmas cards to the retired judges. She confirmed to me that Honourable Justice Michael Adeyinka Odesanya’s name was on the list December 2011. That incident excited my interest to pay tribute to a learned and distinguished judge who by God’s grace will turn 97 years old this year and pray I that he will live longer than the great Lord Denning of England who saw three centuries, having been born at the end of the 19th century and passing on at the beginning of the 21st century!

Honourable Justice Michael Odesanya was born on June 5, 1914 in Ikorodu, Lagos State. For his Primary School, he attended the Methodist School, Ikorodu, and did his Secondary School at Baptist High School, then on Broad Street, Lagos

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Celebrating justice Odesanya at 60 years post call Island. He was one of the earliest students of the then Yaba College, Yaba. After graduating from the Higher College, Yaba, he taught Latin, English and History to senior students at Kings College Lagos, C.M.S Grammar School, and Baptist Academy, all on Lagos Island.

He was one of the four Nigerian students who passed intermediate Bachelor of Arts degree in law as external students during the second world war (1939 to 1945). The other

three students who achieved this uncommon feat with him were also men who later played great roles in the history of this country. They were Dr. T.O. Elias, who had five degrees before his call to bar, including two doctorates, when one did not need a degree to become a lawyer!

The second was Dr. G.B.A Coker who retired as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The third and the last but not the least is Chief

G.N.A. Okafor, the pioneer general secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association at its formation in 1959. Coincidentally, Honourable Justice Michael Adeyinka Odesanya is the second General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos branch.

After teaching for sometime, the young Odesanya travelled to the United Kingdom for further studies. He took a degree in law from the great Oxford University and at-

tended the Inns of Court and was called to bar in 1952.

He practiced extensively and was appointed a judge of the Western Region onJune 1, 1967. At the creation of Lagos State, he transferred his service to the Lagos State Judiciary from where he retired in August 1975 at the age of 61. He is a member of the Nigerian Society of International Law, Island Club, and other learned societies.

His thoughts and ideas live on the pages of the Lagos High Court law reports and other law reports.

Here is wishing him happy diamond jubilee at the bar and many more years in good health and happiness.

• Ike Uko, former National Assistant Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association

Winners and losers in the fuel subsidy brouhaha

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IR: After the six-day strike and protests over the removal of subsidy on petrol, what may be called normalcy has returned as workers have gone back to work following labour’s suspension of the strike on Monday, January 16. That was after government’s reduction of petrol price from N141 to N97.

Irrespective of whether labour is satisfied with N97 instead of N65, and who was right or wrong, or what might eventually be in the minds of many Nigerians and that of government, the winner in the events is Nigeria.

Nigerians that are usually divided along ethnic and religious lines were united in anger. Christians and Muslims were seen doing things together, even in volatile states. Even more hope-inspiring was a scene in Kano where Muslims were praying and Christians held hands, forming a protection around them, in oneness. The lethargy that had held back Nigerians and indeed Nigeria in shaping its future gave way to energy.

It was a sign of greater things to come.

A second group of winners is the middle class. In every progressive society, it is the middle class that moves for progressiveness and change. They are in-between the self-satisfied and content rich and the poor suffering masses. It was believed that the present economic situation in the country has killed it and that it no longer exists as an entity and not to talk of it finding its voice. But the controversy found them moving the debate and being actively involved in the protests, and largely making the protests a robust and peaceful event. Kudos!

Next winner is democracy, of which without it perhaps there would not have been any platform for discussion. Nigerians, having experienced long years of military dictatorship, should congratulate themselves on now living democracy, and enjoying all the benefits inherent. That is what it should be and that is what it is all about.

When I think of the next group I am saddened, yet I am filled with

hope. I am talking about the people who died in the protests. Ademola Aderinto’s is most touching for me — and the most terrifying! He and others who died did not die in vain.

They may have lost their lives needlessly, but they have won themselves martyrdom. Their names will be remembered whenever the roll of those who died that Nigeria be saved is taken.

The losers are easy to see. President Goodluck Jonathan, though has bent backwards, has lost his popularity with the masses. Worse is his deployment of soldiers to stop peaceful protesters in a civilian government. Many now regret voting for him. You may have a good policy but the way you carry it out could spoil it. The only way to save his face is to find scapegoats and punish them. Hopefully, he still has time to make amends.

Other losers are the bad advisers and sycophants who surround the President. Some of them live double lives and speak from both sides of the mouth. It depends on

whether they are on television or in the confines of their homes.

Jonathan should do stock-taking, and discard the quislings in his cabinet, and look for better materials.

They are all around. Even in the opposition.

Other notable losers are those who sat on the fence. Such people in our midst do not contribute to discussions and ideas to move the country forward. They have constrained themselves on the wrong side of history.The next losers are those who have corruptibly enriched themselves from the oil money meant for all Nigerians, those who gave out dubious contracts for Turn Around Maintenance of the refineries, that were never maintained, and those who collected subsidy for petrol not procured or supplied and all others who have stolen the peoples’ wealth, who got us all in this mess in the first place. In time nemesis, that recoil of nature, will catch up with them.

• Dr. Cosmas Odoemena, Lagos

21

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

IGP and checkpoint corruption; NASS salaries; Japanese substitute for power losses

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HE new police IG must defend

himself against the allegations of serious p r o f e s s i o n a l misconduct and Tony religious bias. If true, Marinho no such officer should be retained in the police, especially at this sensitive time.

Nigeria cannot afford for its police to be adrift from the national goals any longer. If false, he should make the uniform proud by stopping police checkpoint and station corruption in a week or resign or be sacked.

Painfully, the so-called palliatives being shouted about by government are merely normal social infrastructure which should have been provided in the budget 30 years ago and continually updated. Unfortunately, they were subsumed by corruption, incompetence and neglect of everything except improving the lot of the political class and the judiciary through massive salaries, allowances and access to juicy contracts, often never executed but repeatedly awarded.

Have you noticed the deafening silence of all the NASS members, from all parties, on the question of giving up 75% of their huge ‘subsidised’ salaries and allowances?

Who is a politician? A politician is a former friend of someone. He makes a decision, puts on an agbada or babanriga or umbrella of power and using the toga of office as cover to become God. He or she then mutates and becomes selfish, unaccountable, socially arrogant, self-centred and desperate to exclude you and the citizenry from the goodies in the black hole called the budget. From then on, he shouts taxes, taxes and more taxes as he seeks to fill the hole of budget that he and his associates have left. He turns to the people and you and empties your pockets into the hole until you have nothing.

He creates ‘phantom subsidies’ and coats them in accounting wizardry and you pay.

This is the time for the National Question, the National Conference and a National Nigerian Agenda. Lest we forget, other countries are making progress. The origin of this problem is only the greed and injustice of successive governments and failure in security, power, transport, education, health et cetera.

Nigerians are paying heavily for serial bad government and a successively incompetent leadership. It does not take 13 years to get to 3,000Mw costing many billions anywhere else in the world. Japan has substituted for all its power losses, maybe 10,000Mw from its nuclear accident. Why did Nigeria not adopt ‘Japanese Emergency Power Methods’ to meet its needs?

Of course the State and LGAs have mostly nothing to write home about except for a few desks and chairs but as yet no real library books. Is there a political conspiracy against the library book and school literacy levels in Nigeria? Everyone should turn to their local politicians to ensure greater probity.

We still seem to think that politics is a joke. It is not a joke. Nigerians die every day from conditions that are treatable and from conditions that are preventable or avoidable. Our children suffer in poor schools needing a few billions to equip their classrooms nationwide while our politicians look the other way as they control trillions and hold education summits. There is an important but often forgotten or suppressed story about ‘it is better for a millstone to be put around the neck of the person and he be thrown into a river than he should harm the hair on a single child’. If you know a politician engrossed in himself and this foolery, remind him about this biblical injunction. God does not make mistakes, man does. And man will pay heavily for misleading the children through keeping them ignorance.

What is also bad is that government has failed to closely monitor pension funds to arrest theft before it reached a staggering N151b pension scam causing the unnecessary suffering of millions of legitimate pensioners. Does government not listen to its own slogan – prevention is

better than cure? Remember that a stitch in time saves nine. Similarly the lack of sophisticated government health facilities run at affordable prices by well trained staff is killing citizens so there is blood on the hands of those who refuse to produce health facilities matching not just the USA and UK and Europe and China but also South Africa, Ghana and of course India, the new ‘Medical Tourist Destination’ for Nigerians while the rest of us die.

Getting an electricity inverter will cut your generator use and fuel consumption by up to 50%. Name one positive area government is successfully doing anything.

Just imagine where Nigeria would be if we did not have oil? We would definitely be close to being the poorest country in the world. If you cannot get your wealth right you will be poor, no matter how rich you are on paper.

The problems with Iran may give us an opportunity to make more money from a higher export quota. Will this be the Third Gulf Windfall lost and never to be found?

Watch the NNPC enquiry.

Some fuel preservation tips. Okada will drop you on the main road and you trek to your house. Cut the use of your air conditioner at home and in the car to reduce generator and vehicle engine consumption by up to 50%.

Warn others not to use the AC unless necessary. Tell others to drive on or control speed using your accelerator and not the break. This will save 10-20% of your fuel.

Turn off the engine in traffic.

‘Name one positive area government is successfully doing anything. Just imagine where Nigeria would be if we did not have oil? We would definitely be close to being the poorest country in the world’

Fighting Crime a la Marwa

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ANO, the commercial nerve-centre of northern Nigeria, has earned its enviable status as a centre of commerce right from history, particularly during the glorious days of the Trans-Sahara trade between the north and western parts of Africa. That was centuries ago. Besides, its rich history and flourishing cultural heritage have attracted numerous tourists to the city. Religion also plays a pivotal role in the affairs of the ancient city.

It has a large population of Muslims and a sprinkle of Christians living happily side by side.

Perhaps, to underscore the need to ensure that the ancient city remains peaceful at all times, the headquarters of Zone 1 of the Nigeria Police is located in the city.

So, naturally on Friday, January 20, residents of the city went about their normal duties apparently oblivious of the danger lurking around the city. Suddenly, at about 5 pm or thereabout, the peace of the ancient city snapped as it came under multiple bomb attacks and gun fire from all directions. By the time the smoke from the explosions and booming guns subsided, scores of people lay dead in different parts of the city.

The whole nation was gripped with bewilderment, pains and anger because the attack took the country by surprise. It was one attack too many by insurgents of the Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram.

Condemnations poured in from Nigerians from all walks of life as well as the international community. It was probably the

magnitude of the destruction wrought on the ancient city that necessitated the appearance of Raphael Isah, a major-general and director of Army Public Relations, on the “Sunrise” programme of the Channels Television on Monday, January 23. That was four days after the gruesome massacre of innocent Nigerians, including Enenche Akogwu, a reporter with the television house.

Earlier in the morning of that day, the three presenters of the programme – Chamberlain Usoh, Sulaiman Alledeh and Maupe Ogun – in black attires, had opened the programme in a sobre mood with each of them clutching a burning candle. It was a lit candle ‘parade’ to express their sadness over the death of Akogwu, who was brutally cut down in Kano by the marauders’ bullets while carrying out his duties. The trio paid glowing tributes to their fallen colleague after which came the usual newspaper headlines. This was followed by the open forum, a segment that allows people to come in and air their views on topical issues.

Of course, the Kano massacre was the focus of the day. First was a lawyer who, by my own reckoning, just came over to blab and gloss over the burning issue at stake.

Next, came Isah, a youthful-looking military officer in smart uniform.

He spoke in impeccable English all through the programme. His arguments and presentation were very convincing and honest. He harped on the need for the civil society to cooperate with the

‘…The National Security Adviser should, as a matter of urgency, establish some toll-free phone lines and other free, less cumbersome communication services which people can use to reach security agents’

security agencies in ridding the country of the few bad eggs who are determined to make life unbearable for the populace. He enlightened the public on what the security agencies, especially the military, were doing to curb the menace of Boko Haram insurgents but emphasised that the civil society should help the security agents by volunteering information.

Isah gave an example of what the military operatives in the city recently stumbled on. He said a row of houses which were built in an unusual manner with their entrances facing the back walls as opposed to facing the road was discovered to be depots where Improvised Explosive Devices, otherwise referred to as IEDs, were being manufactured. He also gave an example of cans of soft drinks found to have been laden with explosive chemicals in the boot of some cars in the city shortly after the Kano massacre. He advised people to always watch out for unusual behaviour by people around them and promptly report to the authority for action. He talked about so many ways through which abnormal behaviour could be identified and urged people to cooperate with security agents. He assured the public that, though fighting terrorism is no tea party because of the unconventional nature of their attacks, he assured them that the Boko Haram insurgency that has gripped the jugular of the nation all this while would soon be a thing of the past.

The relationship between security agents in Nigeria, especially the police, has been less than cordial. People say that this is because the police are closer to the people. I quite agree. But I think that closeness should have engendered a better understanding between the police and the civil populace. But this is not so. And the reason is not far-fetched. Over the

years, the police have proved to be the ‘enemies’ of the people in many regards. At whatever opportunity they have, policemen, or let me say, a greater percentage of them, have always seen themselves as superior to the people who they are supposed to serve. Perhaps, this is why there is a move by the National Assembly to re-christen the police Nigeria Police Service, and no longer Nigeria Police Force.

If and when this is finally effected, perhaps, it will help to bring down the present acts of brutality always committed by policemen against the civil populace.

You don’t maltreat somebody and expect him or her to give you compliments when next he sees you. I am not saying that some of the policemen are not upright in their dealings with the public, but many a time, when people volunteer information to the police, they (the police) turn around to betray them. Many people have lost their lives needlessly as a result.

I sincerely suggest that the office of the National Security Adviser should, as a matter of urgency, establish some toll-free phone lines and other free, less cumbersome communication services which people can use to reach security agents. I remember there used to be a 999 during the NITEL analogue days. By now, I am sure the line is as dead as dodo. Though Isah gave some numbers on that day and said there is a standing force that can quickly move into action in the northern part of the country in the event of an emergency, such numbers should be toll-free and be made to cover the whole country.

People should also be encouraged to volunteer information about criminals and their movement without necessarily identifying themselves. Though this is prone to abuse by those who may use the avenue to seek vendetta against their business partners or political

Dele Agekameh opponents, my suggestion is that such report should be discreetly investigated before action is taken to avoid embarrassing innocent people. This is why I certainly recommend the model adopted by General Buba Marwa (rtd) through its famous “Operation Sweep” when he was the military administrator of Lagos State prior to 1999. This was brought about by the level of insecurity and crime in Lagos State before Marwa came in.

Surprisingly, few months after this programme was introduced, the level of violent crimes, including assassinations and violent robberies which had then assumed an alarming proportion, was significantly brought down. This earned the then new governor instant public support and admiration which subsists till date.

A vital aspect of this operation also involved what was codenamed “search and destroy”. I will not want to elaborate on this because this can be easily decoded, as it were, by security agents.

This is the first step to get out of the present logjam occasioned by the dearth of information from the civil populace to security agents in the fight against crime in Nigeria.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION FROM THE CELL PHONE ‘Former IGP (sorry) Hafiz Ringim is good riddance to bad rubbish! I am even ashamed of referring to him as a former IGP. Kudos to my beloved and courageous President Goodluck Jonathan!

We can now sleep with our two eyes closed, thank God for Acting IGP Abubakar. From Hon Anadimbuni Uchendu, PortHarcourt’

• Hafiz Ringim

For Olatunji Dare I have been an avid reader of this paper for close to five years. I do have a problem with some actions of the President but it is sickening and nauseating the way you guys have been going at him. Why will he not play the ethnic card with the venom being thrown at him? Why are the Yoruba not voicing the excesses of the useless North the way you are attacking the President? I am disappointed, and you will soon turn him to a hero. I am an Igbo man lest you feel I am supporting him because I am from Niger Delta. Anonymous It is unfortunate that Nigerians are so gullible; they cannot reason and realise that Jonathan is playing out a high wired Ijaw nation’s predetermined agenda to liquidate Nigeria. His blunder, spiritual and deliberate, has resource control as its driving force. Nigeria is being set up for a break-up in 2015 and Jonathan is the facilitator. I love his resolve to liberate his people from the prison of our ill-conceived ‘Niger Project’, but he should have done it the Mikel Gorbazev way, shedding less of innocent Nigerian blood. Goodluck to Nigerians and good-bye Nigeria. From Gbenga Ogunbeku, Abuja.

I am surprised Jonathan could “bite the finger that fed him.” He could not strategise to tame the Boko Haram menace, instead he was terrorising lawful and respecful statemen and law-abiding people of Lagos.

Lagos has been a reference point of development under the able leadership of Fashola. Anyway, posterity will judge.

Anonymous Let us give President Jonathan a chance, at least, he has four years to prove himself.

Meanwhile, let us offer suggestions that will move the country forward.

The President should live up to expectation, that is why we gave him mandate. From Ahmed Jalingo.

“The MRI of a nation” is the unfortunate reign of GEJ, from whom much is expected, but little is got. It is saddening to expect wisdom from a wizard; what he offers is abundance of foolishness.

From ADEYCorsim, Oshodi Lagos It is barbaric, demonic, illegal and unconstitutional when citizens can no longer protest peacefully without being tear-gassed by security personnel. it is really sad to see this happening in our dear country where eminent Nigerians were tear-gassed in Lagos. Also on security issues, all serving chiefs should please resign. We cannot afford to waste innocent souls again. I cry for this nation; I know God will save Nigeria and may God bless you sir. From Oluwamurewa Oluwafemi Thank you for ‘The road to regimentation” of January 24. From Igboyi in Makurdi.

From “The road to regimentation” it is crystal clear that Nigeria is being ruled by some hypocritical, arrogant and puissant ministers. The President is not effective.

His own state is in a big mess and there is ASUU’s problem, His mishandling of problems is sufficient ground for his recall. Nigeria is in wrong hands. From GNO

Oduns.

Indeed, impressed by your write-up, I comment as follows: Jonathan is the problem of Nigeria due to the falsehood in electoral processes and abuse of the rotational arrangement through the polls, to the sensorship of the judiciary. If Jonathan resigns today, the killings will end. If he does not resign willingly, the public should revolt and remove him to avoid losing more lives and property. From Noble Onoja, Kogi You would not have done better than Jonathan because you once lamented how Idris marginalised Kabba people. Pray for him because journalism is not worth dying for. Anonymous Your write-up of January 24 refers. Why did you not tell us how he used the ethnic card? From your write-up, I perceive that you are the one who is a tribalist not the President. Do not destroy this country. From Ben. For Segun Gbadegesin Thanks for your write-up. There has been no progress for the poor since1999. It has rather been retrogressive for the poor and needy of Nigeria. How can you honestly say to a nation that subsidy will benefit only 200,000 out of 140 million people.

Anonymous “All in the name of the poor” is a masterpiece that speaks all. If Mr President could not kill corruption he should not kill the poor masses with his clueless hard economic policy of IMF and World bank.

Afterall, “The key to successfull leadeship today is influence, not authority....’’(Keith Bellow). This dictatorship style of democratic government will lead us nowhere. Perhaps the political style in Bayelsa State is the “fresh air” Mr President promised Nigerians. ‘’A leader is the one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way...’’ (John Maxwell).

Mr President think...! From Timson Adedire, Ile-Ife Osun state Thank you for your write-up. I agree totally; and let me join you with this adage from my people: “When the wood insect gathers a heap, it carries it.” From Austin Ogbonnah Iweala, Sanusi, Jonathan and IMF are only interested in the development of geographical and not the human definition of Nigeria. From Babalola J. O., Ado Ekiti Fools perish in the midst of abundance.

The crises that greeted the withdrawal of fuel subsidy highlighted the plight of the “alaubis” social agitators, and the Olivers who always ask for more subsidy. The pump price of fuel will eventually crash down in Nigeria when there is organised production instead of organised riots, robbery, bombings and vandalism. The man dies in the super majority who die in silence instead of awakening from his slumber; recognise the burdens they bear and prosecute organised production.

Goodluck is okay, Ngozi is okay, Nigeria is on the right track! Let it storm, let it rage, before this spring morning, violent gale must blow! In the end Goodluck/Iweala will be vindicated, it will be restoration to health. From Dr Sundykesh, UI Ibadan.

Who are OBJ and IBB fooling? Are they more patriotic or love Nigeria more than the poor Nigerians? What can they point to as legacies of 19 years in government if not corruption and social insecurity? They should just leave us with our fate and keep their big mouths shout! From Olu

Falarungbon Please, permit me a space in your widely read newspaper, The Nation to make my litlle contribution to your well-treated article “All in the name of the poor” published on January 27. From available records, all policies and projects to better the lives of the poor only created more heartless and uncaring millionaires and billionaires who want us and our children as their gate/flower keepers and their car washers. I strongly condemn the fuel price increase for any reason. What are the tangible things we can see from the government after removing the subsidy on gas and kerosine? Deregulation of the downstream oil sector is another way to further increase Nigerians’ pains in addition to insecurity of lives and property, unemployment and other indices of bad governance. So, what we need is not removal of subsidy but appropriate utilisation of our resources to better our lives. From A. D. Your write-up, “All in the name of the poor”, made an interesting reading. But, can Nigerians receive long-lasting solution to break the vicious cycle of poverty? When human beings yearn for power, they quickly lay honesty aside, and train themselves in the art of concealing their intentions. This is why, today, all our political leaders have become masters and hardened in the game of deception. There is nothing they cannot say to get power.

There is nothing they cannot do to get power; both pleasant and unpleasant. At the end of the day, they will renege on their words and actions. The most vocal pronouncements had always been on alleviation of poverty among the poor masses. Yet, we are still among the poorest in the world, despite our abundance wealth and material resources. From the military regime of 1966 to 1999 when the present democratic government came on board, the fight against poverty is still raging. The poor masses are still battling with poverty yet, nobody knows when the battle will be won. The steps taken by some states in the Southwest, not controlled by the PDP government at the centre, to create, at least, 20,000 jobs to reduce unemployment in the country are in the right direction. If the Federal Government can do likewise to complement the states, the poverty level in the country will be reduced to the barest minimum and the rate of unemployment will be drastically reduced. From Prince Adewumi Agunloye.

For Gbenga Omotoso I am impressed with the back page comment on Ringim on January 25.

Nigeria is at a cross road. The truth is that the police have lost grip on security situation. There is, indeed, more “fire on the mountain.” The exit of Ringim is a hammer well deserved. It served him right!

The Acting IG should amend the security lapses of his predecessor. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria! From Solomon Olali-Igabo, Yenagoa.

Ringim’s exit is reminiscent of Kongi’s popular novel And the man died. Although it’s still new wine in old bottle, it’s better.

From Saheed Yussuf.

Farewell Ringim! It spells doom for the nation to send people with clear cases of incompetence, criminal negligence, complicity, disloyalty, subversion and corruption into quiet, happy retirement.

Ringim should have been dismissed. Will

•Jonathan

Zakari Biu also be retired honourably?

From Mike Edung, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Re:“Farewell Ringim”:You really suggested well. Imagine the number of lives lost during his tenure, the escape of the Boko Haram suspect, despite armed policemen. He actually lost his bearing. I only miss his name ‘RINGIM’ which has been RINGING a bell in all newspapers without a solution to insecurity. But now that power has changed hands, we expect a change of strategy in bringing insecurity to a halt for peace in Nigeria. Anonymous Re: “Farewell Ringim”: Nobody plans to fail but Ringim failed to plan against Boko Haram. How are the mighty fallen.

From Jao John “Farewell Ringim” is a nice one. I am consoled being the happiest Nigerian who had no trust in the police under Ringim untill his sack. Only God knows when they will share their booties with Biu, their erand boy, for freeing Sokoto. Anonymous Your editorial notebook of January 25, is a must read. The depth sold out your finesse as you “kiss it.” But did Ringim retire or was forced out of office? From BFA, Kaduna I read your “Farewell Ringim”. He is a Boko Haram himself. Anonymous May God protect you and your family.

Remember government does not want whosoever is saying the truth. God bless you. From Ladi “After the battle” gave us the opportunity of knowing government’s mind through its spokesman, Rueben Abati. The government has substantially lost ground after the battle of subsidy removal. From ADEYCorsim “Farewell Ringim” is a brilliant valedictory sermon for the former IGP. Let us pray his type never serve as IG again.

But, unfortunately, the system and the structure of the Nigeria Police do not promote excellence. Therefore, the new man may not be different from others before him. From ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos Is it not an irony that Ringim failed as AIG, yet he was made IG after Onovo.

Now, DIGs Okoronkwo and Udah have been sacrificed with him. Why? From Annie Kaine Ringim was not just the problem but the total system. Nigerians have not realised that a failed police system is the reason we have high corruption. No institution to checkmate it except the police or EFCC which is still made up of the police. He is simply a product of the system. From Emeka Oranye Former IGP (sorry) Hafiz Ringim is good riddance to bad rubbish! I am even ashamed of referring to him as a former IGP. Kudos to my beloved and courageous President Goodluck Jonathan! We can now sleep with our two eyes closed, thank God for Acting IGP Abubakar. From Hon Anadimbuni Uchendu, PortHarcourt Etim Inyang served as IGP under Buhari (84-85) not Babangida. From Adoka I am so grateful that Nigerians are getting more informed and enlightened about the state. Keep it up! Cheers! From Sanctus, Enugu

Nigeria now to tackle Liberia February 15 —NFF Pg. 24

FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

Oparanozie, Ordega others hit camp Pg. 24

Nation Wednesday, February 1, 2012

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WENESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS

Nigeria now to tackle Liberia February 15 -NFF

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HE proposed friendly tie between the Home-Based Super Eagles and the Lone Stars of Liberia will go ahead has planned on February 15 NationSport can exclusively report.

The acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Barrister Musa Amadu confirmed this development to SportingLife in a chat on Tuesday morning.

Kaduna’s Utd offsets Cooreman’s debts

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IGERIA Premier League (NPL) club, Kaduna United have cleared all debts owed to their Belgian trainer, Maurice Cooreman.

Cooreman had threatened to walk away from the club last month as he was owed salaries and other financial entitlements for nine months.

The coach has now told SuperSport.com that he has been paid his entitlements by the club.

“I have been paid by the club and I will stay on and respect my contract.

I was not happy that I was owed for so long but all that is over now,” Cooreman told SuperSport.com.

The former Enyimba coach also took some time to explain the reasons he has stayed so long in the Nigeria Premier League.

Cooreman has coached at Bendel Insurance, Lobi Stars, Gabros, NPA, Ocean Boys and Enyimba before proceeding to his present side Kaduna United at the start of the 2009 season.

The veteran trainer said he loves the Nigerian league because of the ‘many talents that abound here.'

"There are many talents that abound here and they are unbelievable. Nigeria has so many good players and I want to help them to improve,” he said.

Cooreman also coached Ghanaian club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the 2008/2009 season.

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri He averred that it was the wish of the NFF to keep the Home Based Eagles busy as much as possible ahead of the February 29th Africa Nations Cup Qualifier against the Wasp of Rwanda highlighting that modalities toward ensuring that the tie billed for Monrovia does not suffer hitches have almost been concluded.

Barrister Amadu opined that the Home Based Eagles would be resuming camp on Monday February 6 to instensify preparation for the match.

His words: “We are looking at February 15 for the international friendly with Liberia and for the NFF

ITH all the speculation surrounding Victor Moses and James McCarthy, Latics boss Roberto Martinez has

•Moses

•Okorodudu calls on National Sports Festival reforms HE National Stadium, Surulere was a beehive of activities on Monday as the National League of veteran journalists organised a town hall meeting to deliberate on the London 2012 Olympics and other sports related issues. Amongst dignitaries in

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IGERIA’s 2014 World Cup qualifying matches are to cost the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over N700m (about $5 million), MTNFootball.com can report.

This amount, N704,713,760, is contained in the 2012 budget summary summitted to the House of Representatives by the leadership of the NFF. The Eagles will kick off the qualifiers for Brazil 2014 at home against Nambia on June 1.

The other teams in their group are Kenya and Malawi.

The Super Eagles 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers will set the country back by another N270,147,180.

According to the budget proposal made available to MTNFootball.com, the Super Falcons African Women’s Championship qualifiers would gulp N262,813.040, while the federation would spend another 163,758,400 Naira to feature at the 2012 Africa Women’s Championship in Equatorial Guinea.

General secretary of the football federation, Musa Amadu, while presenting the figures at the House of Representatives’ budget defence, stated that the amount approved was grossly inadequate to run their activities for the year.

"A total of N2,176,796,827 was approved for the 2012 appropriation year. And I must confess this is grossly inadequate with regards to the competitions we would be participating in this year," he stated.

"At the congress in Kaduna, we had estimated a six billion Naira budget but with what is available to us we would have to do our best to ensure that Nigeria gets proper representation."

The football federation budget proposal for 2012 was put at N3,713,090,060 but was slashed to N2,176,796,827.

moved to confirm that both players will remain with the club.

Moses in particular has been linked with moves to QPR and Fulham over recent days but Latics boss Martinez says his star young duo are not for sale.

He said: “Victor Moses is not for sale. He is one of the biggest assets we have at the club.

“He is not on the market, he is not for sale and that is the end of the matter. “Victor and James are the two younger players in this football club and it would be wrong for us to sell these assets.”

Both players are expected to be in the Latics squad to face Tottenham at White Hart Lane this evening.

•Kalu Uche

Lazio can’t sell Makinwa

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AZIO are having problems finding a buyer for the former FC Ebedei wonder-kid Ayo Makinwa. The salary of Makinwa can't be afforded by clubs in Italy's lower cadre where he is attracting interest. ''I do not think its possible for a transfer to the Pro League. If there were difficulties with a Serie B club as Varese, in finding the economic agreement, I do not see how a Pro League club could succeed. ''The guy is willing to go, but Lazio wants to sell him on his own terms,'' Makinwa's agent told Lalaziosiamonoi.it.

Makinwa has not played an official game for the Biancocelesti this campaign.

Kalu Uche: I’m very happy Eguma assures good CAF outing for Dolphins to return to Espanyol

Oparanozie, Ordega, others hit camp From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

•Oparanozie

there is nothing like distraction to our work because all our activities lined up are going on as and when due.We want to keep the Home Based Eagles busy so as to give them a sense of belonging when the foreign based players come to camp. The only way by which this can be done is to ensure that they are always ready both mentally and physically to outshine those based abroad.”

The tie was supposed to hold last month but was postponed owing to the organized labour’s strike in the country which crippled all economic and travel activities. It was supposed to be a follow up to the goalless draw the team secured against 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finalists, the Palancas Negras of Angola in Abuja.

Moses, McCarthy going nowhere W

FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

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Eagles’ 2014 Lagos moves into ‘brain storm’ drive World Cup qualifiers to T gulp N700m

ESIRE Ugochi Oparanozie, Esther Sunday, Francesca Ordega and Ebere Orji are just few names of the players given fresh call up and had already reported to camp. With the experience garnered from these players from their outings at the Germany 2010 FIFA U20 Women’s Cup and their involvement with the senior national team, the Super Falcons, which placed them slightly above others, it is of the view that their places are assured.

But in a chat with a source in the team’s fold, it was revealed that the coaches have counseled the players against laxity since none of them would be given automatic berth as they strive to get the best legs for the country.

In a separate chat with one of the invited players, Desire Oparanozie who plies her trade with Delta Queens, she confirmed her call up to the female U20 side noting that her mission to camp would be to remain as competitive as ever as she seeks to grab one of the shirts to another berth at the World Cup finals billed for Japan in August later in the year.

Some of the experienced Falconets’ players whom were part of the set up to both the last U17 and U20 FIFA Women’s World Cups invited to beef the present squad, have been warned t o work harder if they really want to retain their places.

The technical crew of the country’s U20 Women’s national team led by Edwin Okon handed this caution to them while welcoming them to the team’s camp in Abuja as the mid February tie away to Sierra Leone draws closer.

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REE AGENT Kalu Uche after the bankruptcy of Neuchatel Xamax has joined La Liga side Espanyol.

Kalu has signed an 1month contract, until June 2013.

Espanyol saw off competition from a plethora of clubs in Qatar, Turkey, Greece, France, Germany and Switzerland for the former Almeria forward.

It's the second spell of 'Senegal' in Espanyol. Previously, the Nigeria international, who also has a Spanish Passport, played for the Barcelona

based club in the 2000-2001 season. ''I am very happy to return to this club.

I know you have a great squad with great players, very brilliant. I am very happy to be one of them,'' Kalu told the media.

After undergoing a medical, the offensive player who can play a variety of roles in attack was presented to the fans.

Espanyol, UEFA Cup finalists in 2007, are fifth in La Liga and only kept out of the Champions League places on goal difference by fourth-placed Levante.

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HE coach of Continental bound Dolphins of Port Harcourt has reassured their fans of good outing during their continental matches in this season's CAF Champions League.

Speaking after the difficult encounter with Rangers International of Enugu during the week five games of the Nigeria Premier League in which his side managed a dying minute victory, Stanley is sure he has a team good enough for the season. He noted that he was still in a building process and is quite sure that by the time the

Ex-T/Tennis ace Yomi Bankole, passes on at 52

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X-NATIONAL table tennis player, Yomi Bankole, has died at the age of 52.

The ace tennis player died on Sunday in Lagos and his corpse has been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Bankole, whose full name were Oluwayomi Bankole Wiekliffe, was also known as the Hawk as a result of his resilience and fighting spirit.

Bankole came to national reckoning in the 1980s and was an arch-rival of another Nigeria ace player, Atanda Musa. At a point, Musa was Africa’s number one while Bankole was the second. Their rivalry came to a head at the finals clash in the 1984 edition of the Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship, where Musa beat Bankole to win a Peugeot 504 Saloon car. Before his death, he was regarded as the oldest table tennis player in Nigeria. Bankole was an icon whom younger players looked up to.

But he was accused of involvement in an armed robbery case in 2004, where upon he was arrested and spent four years in prison. He was released on

By Paul Oluwakoya compassionate grounds by the then Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Adetula Alabi, and he worked hard to bounce back to national reckoning. He was so passionate about the game that he vowed to play table tennis for the rest of his life.

Two years ago, in an interview he said, “I will not say I regret not going to school because so many of the problems came from me. “During my playing days, even graduates didn’t earn what I was getting but I joined a bad gang and even got involved in drugs. So I squandered all my money, property and everything. Later on, my house got burnt; I lost a child, my mother and wife. There are players who came long after me and are better off and they didn’t even have half of the education I had.

“Maybe God allowed it because he wanted me to be close to him; I am a changed person now. I go to church; I may do any other thing but I don’t forget God. I am not employed, neither do I earn any form of income; some

people give me N200, N500, that’s how I survive.

“Where I am living now at Phase 2, Adeniji Adele is a Rehabilitation Centre. About three years ago, the government said after my rehabilitation, I will be empowered, which hasn’t happened yet but I know that by the grace of God, things will change.”

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt continental matches will be kicking off, he would have team that will stand the pressure in the highest football Clubs competition in Africa.

"You know the league has just started and we are still in the building process, its a gradual process but I know that by the time we will be going to the continent, we will be able to withstand pressure".

However, Eguma acknowledged the hard fight his team had to under go at home before securing victory against Enugu Rangers last weekend while agreeing that the result could have gone either way.

"It was a hard game, it was also a difficult game. Rangers is a good team: we had a very tough match and I really commend my players. The game could have gone either way with the way the two teams played. We also had to absorb a lot of pressure from Rangers but we also had an opportunity which we utilized. But Rangers gave us a good fight and I commend their efforts too".

•Makinwa

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only be by their co-favourite in the championship, Ivory Coast, and even that would be a very steep mountain to climb," Odegbami wrote on his SuperSport column.

"Ivory Coast have won their matches but have not shown a cohesiveness that convinces analysts they can go all the way. Ivory Coast still need their current best player, Yaya Toure, to lift his game and knit his attack into a consistent goalscoring machine in order to succeed.

So far, he is not showing enough of his true capability."

attendance were Rev. Moses Iloh, Chioma Ajunwa, Professor Lasun Emiola, Mitchel Obi and Gara Gombe.Each of the aforementioned all gave articulate positions on the way forward for sports in the country.

The event which had more than five hundred sports stakeholders in attendance was chaired by Bamanga Tukur who expressed delight at being invited by the organisers.

Tukur claimed his joy was however cut short when he requested for an update briefing on the happenings of Nigeria sports.

Bamanga said: " A very promising industry is being reduced to a crisis

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IGERIA Premier League (NPL) club, Enugu Rangers are in financial trouble.

The club which was founded in 1970 is considered one of Nigeria’s traditional clubs having recorded success on national and continental stages as well as producing great players for the Nigerian national team.

Things are, however, not going according to script for the club this season as players are owed signing-on fees by their sponsors.

The former Super Eagles’ winger is disappointed with the quality of football which he claims is partly because Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt and South Africa are absent.

"Afcon 2012, so far, has been disappointing. The championship has not lived up to my expectations in many ways," Odegbami said.

"The standard and quality of play have been relatively low. The high profile players (the superstars in several European clubs) have been subdued and unimpressive. The terraces in most matches have been full of empty seats.

platform occasioned by corruption litigation, doping scandal e.t.c. As President of African business Roundtable and chairman ,NEPAD Business Group , I always hold the view that sports, trade and tourism are key multi-billion naira industries that can take Africa to the next level of development and Nigeria has the potentials to be among the top 20 economies of the world by blending sports, trade and tourism."

Other discussants at the town hall meeting were objective during presentations while being focused in their solutions to sports problems which were all in line with the ideals of the National League of veteran journalists.

3SC hosts Dolphin in Abeokuta

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LL efforts by Shooting Stars to play their next league game at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan have proved abortive as they will now host champions Dolphin at Gateway Stadium in Abeokuta Wednesday.

The Ibadan club were ordered by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to move to another home ground because of the poor state of the pitch at the Awolowo Stadium.

However, ‘The Oluyole Warriors’ appealed against this decision, but it was turned down.

"We appealed to the NPL but they asked us to leave first before they know what to do next," an official told MTNFootball.com "So, we will travel to Abeokuta for our home game against Dolphin of Port Harcourt, which will be played on Wednesday.”

Meanwhile, 3SC striker Aaron Moses has promised the fans to expect a good result against league champions.

"We are not going to take anything for granted because we need this point so as to lift our morale after we lost away game to Niger Tornadoes at

Enugu Rangers in financial straits

Odegbami insists on Ghana-Ivory Coast final IGERIAN legend Segun Odegbami has slammed the standard of this year's Africa Cup of Nations and insists Ghana and Ivory Coast look like the most likely winners of the competition.

Odegbami says while Ghana may not have played well so far, they still look the most likely winners ahead of the Ivory Coast.

"Ghana may not have played very well, but they still look the most compact team in the championship.

If they will be beaten at all it can

By Stella Bamawo

Meanwhile former commonwealth boxing Champions, Jerry Okorodudu has called on the National Sports Commission(NSC) to review its limitations on elite athletes interested in taking part in the National Sports Festival.

Speaking at the town hall meeting on Monday, the former pugilist who spoke with the Nationsports said:" The idea of restricting sportsmen from taking part in sports festival, should be eliminated.. The National Sports Festival is our mini Olympic.

It is indeed sad when the NSC tells us that some athletes have outgrown sports festival so they cannot take part .Sports is going down. some will say that you should allow sports men to manage sport but not every sports man an manage sport. We need experienced hands, "he said.

Club captain, James Okwuosah said the players are been owed 70 percent of signing-on fees from last season.

“It has not been easy for us (players) as we are been owed 70 percent of their signing-on fees from last season. Most of us have families and without this money, it is extremely difficult for us to provide for them,” he said.

Okwuosah also praised the coach of the club, Okey Emordi for keeping the team united in the their moment of difficulty.

“I want to thank the coach who has kept us united and is always encouraging us.

He has been a father at this moment of our need,”he said.

Another player of the club, Ejike Uzoenyi also confirmed the situation to SuperSport.com.

“It’s true, they owe us our signing-on fees for last season but we are hoping they will pay so we will keep on playing,” he said.

Rangers have been champions of the Nigeria top flight on six occasions (1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982 and 1984) and winners of the cup on five occasions (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1983).

Rangers have also been successful on the continent with a win in the African Cup Winners Cup (now Caf Confederation Cup) in 1977.

the weekend,” he said.

Also, former 3SC right full back Sylvanus Ebiaku is expected to face

his former team, Shooting Stars in Abeokuta. Ebiaku left for Dolphin in the close season.

Nigerian duo impress at Maritimo

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WO Nigerian youngsters, Taiwo Hassan and Ibrahim Obayomi have been quietly but efficiently going about their business at Portuguese SuperLiga outfit, Maritimo.

The duo, largely unknown within Nigeria, is highly-rated at Maritimo as exemplified by the faith showed in them by coach of the club, Pedro Martins.

Born on January 29, 1989 Hassan joined Maritimo at the start of the current campaign from Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club, 3SC. A tricky attacker blessed with pace and power, Hassan made his debut for the Super Liga club in their 1-2 loss to SC Braga on Monday at the Estadio dos Barreiros.

His former coach at 3SC, Fatai Amoo believes the player is cut out for great things.

“I am not surprised that he is doing well. He is hard working, disciplined and very talented. If he keeps his head, he will go far in the game,” Amoo told SuperSport.com.

The other Nigerian on the books of Maritimo, Ibrahim Obayomi is 23 years old.

The forward weighs 72 kilogrammes and stands at 1.75 metres and has also been touted to succeed if he keeps his head.

SuperSport.com will be closely monitoring the progress of both

players in the coming days.

•Ibrahim Obayomi

Osaze not for sale, Hodgson insists

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EST BROM head coach Roy Hodgson is adamant striker Peter Odemwingie is not for sale amid speculation linking him with a move to Fulham.

Hodgson is determined to hold on to the Nigeria forward.

"There has been no approach for Odemwingie, I would not welcome an approach," he said.

"He is a valuable player who we want to keep. Our aim this transfer window was to make our squad stronger and there was never any suggestion we would have to sell a player.

"We have had no enquiries, and it sounds like a bit of mischief-making to me, but Odemwingie is not for sale."

•Osaze

INITIATIVE

POLICY

STRATEGY

Plateau residents trained on mediation

Shema tackles desert encroachment

How Fed Govt will tackle Almajiri challenge

Jos

27

Katsina

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

28

FCT

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Page 25

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OR two days, nursing mothers, their babies and children trooped to a primary school in Bare, a village about 15 minutes drive from Ibadan, Oyo State, to receive free health care.

The event was organised by Aramed Medical Centre Special Free Clinic owned by Chief Bode Akindele.

The women and their charges were diagnosed, given high quality drugs and medical advice. They were also treated to snacks and soft drinks.

There is no hospital, clinic or maternity centre in the village, said Alhaja Modinat Adeleke who brought four of her children to receive free medical treatment at the event held at Bare Community Primary School, Oluyole Local Government Area of the state.

As early as 7am, the village women including community heads had sensitised others on the special free clinic. This informed the large turnout. By 12pm, every space under the canopies had been filled, while women with their children continued to troop in.

Present at the ocassion were community leaders, health workers, officials of the Oluyole Local Government Area, members of the Board of Aramed Medical Centre including the chairman of the board, a retired Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ayo Ladigbolu, and an Associtate Professor of Paediatrics, University of Minnesota, USA. Professor Dr. Tina Slusher anchored the free medical services.

Assisted by some medical doctors from Nigeria Baptist Hospital, Ogbomoso, Professor Slusher gave treatment to the children under ages 0-5 who came with different health challenges ranging

•Prof. Slusher examines a child

Free health care for the needy Ibadan medical centre caters for nursing mothers, kids From Oseheye Okwuofu

from diarrhoea, manultrition, malaria, to infections of the chest and lungs. After seeing the doctors in the consulting rooms, they were led to the pharmacy corner carved out of one of the class-

rooms where prescribed drugs were handed over to the mothers without any cost.

“We thank Chief Bode Akindele and all those behind this project,” said Mrs. Christiana Adeogun, a mother of two who witnessed the event.

“Since I have been living in this

village for so many years, this is my first time I will see this happening. I don’t know how to thank him enough; I pray that God will continue to give him all his heart’s desires and protect in all his ways.”

Some of the women who bared their minds to Newsextra shortly

after their children were treated, expressed similar gratitude to members of Aramed Medical Centre for putting a smile on their faces.

They said Akindele and his medical centre showed deep •Continued on Page 26

Suswam urges collective action against Boko Haram

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•Suswam

ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam has urged indigenes of the state and all peace-loving people to confront the scourge of Boko Haram and defeat it.

He spoke at the funeral of the late Enenche Akogwu, the Channels Television reporter killed by the sect in Kano.

“I want to appeal to all the people of Benue State to remain vigilant and resolute in fighting the scourge of Boko Haram so that together we can defeat it,” he said.

The governor was represented by his Deputy, Chief Stephen Lawani.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

While appealing to friends of Nigeria and all God-fearing people to stand up to condemn the violent activities of the sect, Suswam cautioned that people must not be tempted to take the same path of violence as those he described as cowards.

The despicable act deserves to be condemned by all right-thinking Nigerians “because life is sacred and no human being has the right to take the life of another,” he said.

Governor Suswam described Boko Haram as made up of a few

misguided elements bent on keeping not just Christians and Muslims apart but the entire country under the guise of religion.

He said the late Akogwu who was a fine journalist, left behind a legacy of hard work, commitment, and dedication which should be a consolation to all.

“The qualities which he showed while alive are worthy of emulation particularly by the younger generation, “ he stressed.

National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr. Garba Mohammed, led a delegation of the media to the funeral

while Senior Manager, Human Resources, Mrs Maryanne Ude led staff of Channels Television.

Born on March 13, 1980, the late Akogwu graduated with a BSc Mass Communication from the Benue State University in 2004 and worked with Independent Television before joining Channels in 2008.

He is survived by a widowed mother and eight siblings.

His mother, Mrs Agnes Akogwu told reporters that the death of her son who was the breadwinner of the family has brought the entire family to its knees.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 1, 2012

26

Co-operative society improves community’s economy

M

R. Achia Agashi usually takes oranges from Benue State to northern Nigerian cities like Zaria and Kano for sale.

During such trips, he noticed that some communities in Kaduna State were mining and selling granite which was hewed from rocks in the area.

In 2000, Achia Agashi decided to introduce such business to Mbajen community Gbatse in Ushongo Local Government Area.

When his relation, the late Dr. Atoato Igirigi was appointed the Commissioner of Rural Development and Co-operatives in 2007, the deceased involved him in the registration of co-operative societies in Ushongo Local Government Area.

In the process, he also sought and obtained the registration of the Mbajen Multi-purpose Co-operative Society at both the state and federal levels.

Agashi told Newsextra that before the death of the commissioner, he had given him a form from the World Bank for assistance to establish a quarry.

The bank, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Mines and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) later conducted assessment visits to the community and decided to assist the society

•Quarry activity in the community From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

to establish a quarry worth over N16m.

According to Agashi, when the Director-General of the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, commenced the renovation of the primary school he had attended, he bought granite from the society.

The patronage, he said, coupled with subsequent ones from the

state government which used granite in the renovation of primary schools in Makurdi, Ukum, Guma and Logo local government areas enabled the society to pay the counterpart fund of close to N6m.

He commended Governor Suswam for his patronage and for appointing a native of the area, Miss Mnena Ikondo as a special assistant, adding that without her commitment and hard work, the project would not have been real-

ised.

Agashi said some equipment for the crushing the granite which have been installed are being test-run.

NGO proffers solution to climate change

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O address the challenge of climate change, a non-governmental organisation, Water Safety Initiative Foundation, has stressed the need for the government to adhere to the Kyoto Protocol of 1997.

The organisation said this would help to address the problems of intense flash-flooding, landslides, gully erosion, sea level rise, heat wave and other changes in weather variations which are currently causing green-house and depletion of ozone layer Addressing newsmen in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the Country Director of the organisation, Victor Matthew, stated that these and other problems have predisposed the earth and the entire humanity into one huge, vulnerable victim.

Matthew said that Water Safety Initiative Foundation is currently partnering with the Akwa Ibom

The bank, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Mines and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) later conducted assessment visits to the community and decided to assist the society to establish a quarry worth over N16m •Retired Archbishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ayo Ladigbolu (left) and health officers

Free health care for the needy •Continued from Page 25

concern for the welfare of their children. They called on government officials at all level, as well as well-meaning Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of giving and empathy for the poor.

The idea was borne out of the philanthropic gesture of Chief

Akindele and also the desire to to fulfil the centre’s Corporate Social Responsibility, said the Chairman of the Board, Archbishop Ladigbolu.

He said the free medical service has been an ongoing project of the medical centre to assist members of the various communities in the Southwest.

A similar exercise, he said took place at Oyo town, “where over 200 children received medical attention, while another one was done at Osogbo and Ogbomoso.

I can tell you that hundreds of lives were positively touched because many benefitted from the free medical services rendered by Aramed Medical Centre”.

He said the quarry has already been supplying granite and other related products to the construction industry within and outside the state.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

State government in order to mitigate the effects of climate change on the citizenry.

His words: “Our observation is that people are not aware of these problems. So we need to take the messages to them through awareness creation, sensitisation and empowerment of people on environmental issues.

“We have drawn up a comprehensive Marshall Plan for the year in our readiness to partner allied interest and every stakeholder in the sector, including the state’s ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, which we share a robust partnership mandate.

“On the whole, every collaboration we at Water safety Initiative Foundation envisage is aimed at building a virile and very effective capacity that would heighten the level of global policy advocacy beyond what presently obtains in the state.”

Matthew added that the theme of this year’s programme would be: Ibom Safe Environment Project.

He canvassed stringent legislations against bush burning, indiscriminate cutting down of trees, and some other dangerous practices which seem to put the environment in jeopardy.

The Country Director also said primary school pupils should be taught on how the environment could be conserved through planting of tress.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

•The participants HE Centre for the Advocacy of Justice and Rights (CAJR) in collaboration with the German Technical Corporation (GIZ) has trained 50 people in Plateau on peace mediation and conciliation. The trainees were also inducted into the Institute of Chartered Mediation and Conciliation (ICMC) for improved quality of conflict resolution in the society.

The participants were drawn from the three senatorial zones of Plateau State.

Speaking at the induction ceremony held in Jos, the Director of CAJR, Mr. Gad Peter urged the participants to ensure the training they received is not wasted. Rather, they should ensure that conflict in their immediate communities do not degenerate into violence.

He told them to intervene and make peace early enough in order to prevent crisis that might

T

27

Plateau residents trained on mediation From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

destabilise the community or even beyond.

According to him, the courts are saturated with cases and the African society is used to mediation, so instead of community members adding to the burden of the courts, we advocate mediation in conflict resolution.

Also, the Director of Training of ICMC, Mr, Segun Ogunyanwo reminded the participants that the essence of the training is to ensure alternate dispute resolution from the formal courts, promote peacebuilding strategies in all spheres of life hence they should proactively assist parties in disputes to resolve such disputes amicably and im-

prove communication between them.

Ogunyannwo added, “Terrorism, insecurity, violence, unemployment have become the order of the day, the mediation skills training imbues participants with practical life-skills for building and sustaining relationships and promote peace and harmonious co-existence in the society.

“The training is a rich blend of legal and therapeutic disciplines with mediators playing significant roles in reducing frictions which occur in daily living”.

The Registrar of ICMC, Mr. Agada John administered the oath and inducted the participants urging them not to take sides in the mediation process but be true to their calling by helping conflicting

The training is a rich blend of legal and therapeutic disciplines with mediators playing significant roles in reducing frictions which occur in daily living

parties to amicably resolve their differences.

Meanwhile, a participant, Mr. Victor Labesa said he is delighted getting the training because, “this training is very vital to everyone who desires a peaceful society”.

Labesa maintained, “We have been equipped with knowledge on how to resolve conflict without violence. We should not also run to the already concentrated courts but ensure that at the community level, issues are discussed and frayed nerves calm by dialogue and healthy communication. If everyone imbibes this principle and practice it, there would be no need for neighbours to war against one another”.

The participants were awarded certificates.

Council chief inaugurates team

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EWLY sworn-in executive committee members of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos have been told to work hard in order to meet the expectation of the people.

The advice came from the council chairman Hon. Olorunkemi Surakat.

“You are tested and trusted and that is why you were chosen among the thousands outside there,” he told them.

The council chief urged the newly sworn-in supervisors and special advisers to live up to the expectation of the Ibeju-Lekki people. He was speaking during the inauguration of the executive committee.

“Most of you members of my cabinet are familiar with the working of government,” he said. “No man is an island; you are to assist me to achieve the promise that we made during the election period to our people of Ibeju-Lekki because we can’t afford to fail them. So your responsibilities are to your government, country leaders and our people and to affect lives positively. If you do this correctly our people and leaders of our great Party Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) are good rewarders, but if otherwise, you remain at people’s court and left to your fate.”

Present at the occasion were party leaders, members of Lagos State House of Assembly, traditional rul-

•Legal officer of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Lagos administering the oath of office on the new executive committee members PHOTO DAYO ADEWUNMI

By Dayo Adewunmi

ers from the area.

Prominent among the dignitaries were Dr. Kola Kasalu, Hon. Tunde Isaiq, Hon Mojeed Adebola, Hon. Aliu Adesanya, Hon. Kazeem Adewale members.

Oba Tajudeen Ade Elemoro of Oke Odo; Oba Oba A. Hamzat Onimedo of Imedo, were also there.

Among the newly sworn-in members of the executive committee were Hon. Adebowale Elemoro,

Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Akobada Tunji Arashi, Dayo Sadiq, Aliyu Eletu, Hon. A. Busari, Mrs. Adesewa Adeboren and Hon. Mutiu Oluwasunkanmi.

Responding on behalf of the new appointees, Hon. Elemoro assured the ACN leaders and the chairman of the council as well as members of the council management team that they will live up to the expectation of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, and that they will support the council chairman.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

28

Katsina tackles desert encroachment

K

• Governor Shema

ATSINA State government has evolved a more determined effort towards fighting desert encroachment by establishing a one-kilometer stretch of shelter belt in each of the 34 local government areas in the state.

The Environment Commissioner, Alhaji Aminu Safana said, the sum of N85 million has been voted for the programme tagged: ‘Katsina Green Initiative’ expected to employ 240 youths to maintain the shelter belt for a period of three years.

While briefing newsmen on the programme

Two suspected ritualists arrested

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WO persons suspected to be ritual killers have been arrested by the Niger State Police Command for being in possession of the head of a baby girl in a polythene bag at Erena in Shiroro Local Government Area.

One of the suspects, Tanko Haruna, was arrested by policemen on the highway while the other, Mohammed Yusuf was arrested during the investigation by the police. They are believed to be part of a syndicate engaged in ritual killings in some parts of the state.

It was gathered that Tanko was arrested with a bag containing fresh human head when he attempted to board a commercial vehicle from Erena by one of the policemen on the highway who noticed blood dripping from the sack.

When Tanko was asked about the content of the bag, he said the bag contained tomatoes but when he was instructed to show the contents he engaged in a struggle with the policeman.

Tanko was immediately taken to the police station in Erena and then transferred to the Police Headquarters in Minna for further investigations.

Niger From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

A source at the Homicide section of the Niger State Criminals Investigations Department, Minna, who spoke in confidence told our Correspondent that after thorough investigation, it was discovered that the suspects were taking the head of the baby for ritual.

Tanko confessed to the crime but stated that the head was given to him by someone which led the police to arrest his accomplice.

Confirming the arrest of the suspected ritualists, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Richard Adamu Oguche (ASP, said that the two suspects have confessed to the crime, adding that they have promised to take the police to the hideout of the remaining members of the gang.

According to him, “We will deliberately keep some of the details so that it will not jeopardise police’s further investigation of the case but the two suspects are in our custody I can assure you that we will bring all those involved to face the law.”

Borno compensates Boko Haram victims B

Katsina From Isah Idris, Katsina

in Katsina, the state capital, Alhaji Safana said the Shelter Belt will be managed by non governmental organisations (NGOs) under the supervision of the state Ministry of Environment.

The commissioner said that establishing shelter belts has become indispensable as the state presently faces grave danger of extinction through desertification and land degradation.

Safana said, “We have serious problem of desertification in all the local government areas in the state,” “My ministry had introduced a programme ‘Katsina Initiative for clean Environment’ to clear the refuse in the state.

“We engaged ad-hoc staff last year for clearing of drainages and we will adopt the same method this year to avoid repeated flooding during the rainy season”.

He, however, called on the farmers and people of the state to support government in preserving the agricultural land mass of the state.

The commissioner further urged the people to complement government effort by clearing the drains in their surrounding to avoid blockage to free flow of rain water.

Vehicle owners warned THE Lagos Police Command has urged owners of vehicles parked at the Ajah Division to remove them immediately or forfeit same through auction.

They are: 1. Mercedes Benz 190 -CG 556ABJ 2. Mercedes Benz V/Boot – unregistered 3. Ford – BM 71EPE 4. Mitsubishi – TY 593KJA 5. Vanagon Bus- KD 666AGL 6. Toyota Camry – LF 614EKY 7. Mazda 626 LW 59LSD 8. Golf – GP 954LND

•Company Secretary and Vice President, First Bank Nigeria Plc Alhaji Tijjani Borodo (second right) presenting embroidery machine to Mr Ibrahim Towolawi (second left), one of the beneficiaries of the N30 million Zakat presentation organised by Zakat and Sadakat Foundation (ZSF) at Multipurpose Hall, Lagos State Secretariat Central Mosque, Alausa, Lagos. With them are Executive Director ZSF Imam Abdullahi Shuaib (right) and ZSF Admin Secretary Mr Ahmed Ma'aruf (left) PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

Yakowa inaugurates peace committee

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S part of efforts to restore peace in Kaduna State, the state governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa has inaugurated a high-powered peace and reconciliation committee with a pledge to develop the state.

Speaking while inaugurating the committee, the governor said his government was aware of the current security challenges in the state in particular and the country in general, and that it was doing its utmost to address the challenges for the overall development of the state.

Yakowa said that inspite of the challenges, Kaduna State has remained one of the few states attractive to investors, adding that the inauguration of the committee is a demonstration of the government’s

Gombe awards N4.3b contracts

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OMBE State government has awarded contracts worth over N4.3 billion The state Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Rev. Habu Dawaki who addressed newsmen shortly after a meeting of the state executive council, said all the contracts were awarded after due consideration of their significance towards improving the lives of the people of the state.

A breakdown of the contracts include the rehabilitation and construction of Gombe township pipeline network to be executed at sum of N4.1bn to ensure effective water distribution within the township and environs.

The Commissioner also revealed that N 201 million naira has been approved for the control of the gully erosion from Shango to Central Bank area while that of Pantami market and environs to Doma is to cost N58.6 million.

Gombe From: Vincent Ekhoragbon, Gombe

Areas to benefit from the water project according to him are Kwami, Gadam and Bojude villages as well as Bagadaza, Tunfure, Riyal, Madaki, Hammadu Kafi, BCJ, Nasarawa, Gabukka, Yelenguza, Barunde and London Maidorowa in the metropolis.

Other contracts awarded by the council were the completion of the civil work and consultancy services on Balanga Dam Hydro power Project in Balanga Local Government Area of the state as well a recycling plant and its access road for over N58 million.

Rev. Dawaki explained that the power project is aimed at supplying power to Balanga and Kaltungo Local Government Areas in18 months.

Church to seek way forward on Boko Haram

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•Secretary to the Lagos State Government Mrs Oluranti Adebule flanked by Commissioner for special Duties Dr Wale Ahmed (right) and Major Gen. Henry Ayoola and Dr. Wale Ahmed who led Course 24 students of Armed Forces Command staff college, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State during the visit to SSG's office.

By Jude Isiguzo

extensively discussed. This is with a view of proffering solutions to the security problems.

He noted that apart from the Boko Haram issue, the country is also experiencing the challenges of massive unemployment, unstable power supply which is responsible for the non-optimal performance of our industries, crippled economy, bad road network which has become eyesore.

Adeuja explained that Christians should continue to pray against those who are behind Boko Haram so that God will make them understand that they can never make any point by destroying human lives.

He noted that the church is not happy with the development, especially now that the sponsors are making it appear like a religious war.

The spiritual leader called on all those who are involved in the bombing of churches and other government facilities to embrace peace.

Borno

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

asked to submit the names of Christians lost to the crisis.

It was further gathered that the Christian body in the rush to meet the deadline submitted 39 names, the list which was immediately approved to be paid .

The subsequent 129 names submitted could not be approved by the governor who was outside the state before the commencement of payment.

This set, according to the deputy governor, who insist that the payment was not compensation to the families of the deceased

commitment to purswing genuine reconciliation amongst all inhabitants of the state.

According to him, “Government recognises the pains its citizens and Nigerians in general are passing through because of these challenges. No stone will be left unturned to address them. Therefore, it behoves on us to explore platforms that will identify and genuinely proffer lasting solutions to all issues that have been contributing to recurring crises in our dear state.

“This constitutes the singular, all encompassing assignment that this committee, made up of distinguished Nigerians, is being called upon to do for this state and Nigeria. The horrors of past crises on us and the heavy toll they have exerted on our resources, communal harmony, existence, development and oneness should shake us out of our lethargy as a people so that we can direct our hopes and intentions to the coming of an era in which genuine and abiding peace will have a permanent abode in our state.

“This is only achievable through a new orientation and a change in spirit that emphasises the superiority of reasoning and dialogue on all contentious issues rather than resorting to lawlessness. It is also attainable through a deliberate and concerted effort of security agencies, religious bodies, traditional institutions, Non Governmental Organisations, peace groups and all citizens of Kaduna State.

CHAIRMAN of Epe Local Government Jamiu Agbaje has sworn in nine Supervisors and Special Advisers as members of the executive.

Agbaje congratulated the newly appointees, reminding them that it is a call to service.

He said hard work and commitment to duty is the yardstick for growth and development of the council.

He appealed to them to show decorum in their duties. He urged them to shun all acts insensibility.

“You have been chosen to hold one of the political offices in our country today.

I urge you to be diligently in discharging your duties and justify your place in the Executive Council,” he said.

“It may not be a spectacular pay but the opportunity for 12 persons is a rare privilege and a lifetime opportunity in a densely population,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the appointees, the Supervisor for Education, Akoja Taiwo, thanked the chairman and the party for giving them the opportunity to serve. Taiwo promised to put in his best for the development of the council.

• Governor Shettima but assistance and milk of kindness, has to wait for the approval of the governor.

Fed Govt targets women, youths in agric transformation T HE Federal Government has promised to give top priority to women and youths in the agricultural sector in terms of access to government support under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, said this action would ensure that

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Council chair inaugurates exco ,the Oba of Lagos and Muner Bankole Managing Director Medview Airlings at the 2012 Olympic countdow held in Lagos PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

ORNO State government has given N250,000 each to the families of Christians that lost their loved ones during the incessant attacks by the Boko Haram sect in the state.

During the presentation of money to the next of kin of the deceased, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha who is also the chairman of the Disbursement of Assistance Committee, said the government acting on the list submitted by CAN gave out money to 39 persons, insisting that the assistance was not foreclosed.

The deputy governor while revealing that other Christian names were equally given, said 39 persons which list were first submitted by the Christian body got the approval of the governor to be paid.

He, however, said the other names submitted would be presented to the governor for approval and called on the families of those on the list to exercise patience.

He equally said the committee would continue payment to the other groups of people whenever approval was given.

It was learnt that CAN after complaining that it’s dead members were left out of the names submitted by the committee established to make inquiry into the loss was

Kaduna

Briefly

EMBERS of the Cherubim and Seraphim unification church worldwide will assemble in Lagos to discuss the way forward in tackling the challenges of Boko Haram insurgence which Christians are currently experiencing in the northern part of the country.

The faithful will gather at Eko Club in Surulere for their 2012 annual general conference which is expected to kick off tomorrow. The conference will end on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at Ore-Ofe Parish in Ijeshatedo area of the metropolis.

It was learnt that the conference, which is entitled “We Shall be Judged,” will be declared open by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola and will draw faithful from all over the world.

Dr Bola Adeuja, the spiritual leader of OkeSuna Parish, who spoke with Newsextra, said that since the church is part of the country, topical issues confronting the country will be

37

•Member, House of Representatives Hon Moruf Akinderu-Fatai flanked by Chairman, • Community Development Committee (CDC), Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Alhaji Rasheed Alamutu (left) and Council's Vice-Chairman Timothy Daisi during a meeting between the Reps member and CDC at the council secretariat, Oshodi, Lagos.

Abuja

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

women who constitute over 70 percent workforce in the sector are empowered to make meaningful contribution to the sector.

He spoke at the Interactive Workshop for Mainstreaming Women and Youths in the agricultural sector.

He said:“Under this programme, we are focused on putting the interest of the farmers’ first. Women and youths contribute over 70 percent of agric products, 60 percent in agric processing and 50 percent animal husbandry and related activities.”

Oyemomi said those that suffer most from the decline of the sector are mainly women and youths. In order to address this, he said the sector would create over 3.5 million jobs under the transformation agenda through the various value chains that have been identified.

According to him, giving priority to this group in the areas of access to input and other agric support would discourage rural to urban migration among the youth and promote the replacement of older generation of farmers with young ones.

Explaining the various components of the transformation agenda, Special Assistant (technical) to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe said from the experiences of other nations, it has been proven that support and programmes targeted at rural farmers has a greater potential to yield result.

Church holds programme

Lawmaker seeks review of water policy

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HE House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources has called for a review of the Federal Government’s water policy in order to develop a sound and workable water supply arrangement with the states and local governments.

The Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Hon Aliyu Ahman- Pategi, said this in a press statement made available to newsmen after the three-day Budget Defence of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Basins, agencies and commissions under the ministry. He said it was time for the Federal Government to review its water policy.

While the committee observed that the state governments could not meet the large fund required to construct large dams , it demanded a workable arrangement from the the Federal Government where state and local governments can pay for water being supplied to them.

Besides, the committee said the 12 river basin authorities in the country needed to be fully empowered so that they can generate sufficient funds to meet their recurrent expenditure and in future apply the surplus funds to cater for some of their capital projects.

The committee said dam assets owed by the Federal Government should not be concessioned to private organisations without comprehensive agreement on operations, maintenance, management and proper pricing mechanism for raw water.

The committee which also noted a wide capacity gap within the River Basins and other MDA’s, advised that they are given necessary approvals to engage professional staff critical in their operations.

Hon Ahman-Pategi also advised the

Federal Government to look at how contracts are awarded in the water sector so that funds are made available before the projects are brought forward.

He said a system where contracts are awarded without proper capital outlay and consideration for potential funding profile must stop.

The committee also directed that all Internally Generated Revenue of the parastatals and agencies of the Ministry of Water Resources should be brought to the notice of the National Assembly on quarterly basis

B

REAKTHROUGH Anointing Solution Church, at Breakthrough Camp, Iyana Ilogbo, Abeokuta Expressway, Ibusi Road, Modupe-Temi, Estate, Ogun State, will hold a prayer and fasting programme on February 3 at its premises from 6am to 3pm.

Speaking on the programme, the host Pastor who doubles as the Senior Pastor, Prophet Olalekan Akin Joseph said: “This programme is set apart to hold as a result of God’s command in every second month. It is to transform lives of everyone that steps into the venue of the programme.”

•Master Ridwan Abiola Idri (middle) receiving a copy of free UME JAMB form from the Executive Chairman, Apapa Local Government, Hon Ayodeji Joseph during the year 2012 Apapa Free JAMB distribution. On the left is Hon Kawaldeen Olasode, the Supervisor for Education

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

29

Life

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Text only: 08023058761

Why illict trade in African artefacts thrives – Page 31

Maggots of Naija’s Naija ’s rotten flesh

•Omotoso

– Page 35

Ero festival: Where age is a barrier – Page 36

‘In Nigeria, it’s still before dawn’

– SEE PAGE 31

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The Life House on Victoria Island, Lagos, was alive that night. It was a Saturday. Some writers, publishers and art reporters gathered to interact with South Africa-based Prof Kole Omotoso, author of Just Before Dawn. He spoke on leadership, good governance, African literature and the contient’s development. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME was there.

‘In Nigeria, it’s still before dawn’

K

OLE Omotoso, a professor, is a well known writer and dramatist. He was teaching at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State before he felt the pull to go abroad in search of greener pastures. Nigeria’s loss then became South Africa’s gain. Since he left Nigeria over 20 years ago, he has remained in South Africa where he is a professor of Drama at the Stellenbosch University.

Does Omotoso miss home? Of course, he does. But through dress, food, music, newspapers and magazines, he has recreated home in a foreign land.

To him, the northern elite should be blamed for the bombing in parts of the region by Boko Haram. The bombings, according to him, are not religiously motivated but reactions to the loss of leadership position. He said the Boko Haram sect is being used to punish the rest of Nigerians for what the northern elite have lost.

“Each time we have crisis in this country is when northern elite are being challenged. This is what we are witnessing today. Boko Haram is not about Islamic religion. But a way of flogging the country for what they have lost,” he said.

Omotoso described the development as seemingly hopeless because there has been a continuous breaking of promises in the past. He likened the country to a host to many parasites capable of destroying it should the parasites live on.

“Nigeria is a host to parasites and if the parasites succeed, then Nigeria will die,” he added.

Omotoso said his book, Just Before Dawn, is a fallout of the darkest moments in the nation’s history, but with a hope for the better, which unfortunately was never realised. According to him, the book is a chronicle of his experiences - problems he thought should be resolved, but, at the end of the book, nothing changed.

He noted that following current socio-political happenings, there is a need for space to talk about the unique situation the country finds itself as well as how to deal with attendant issues.

On the influences of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on the nation’s economic policies, he said Nigeria must have the intellectual capacity to discuss and argue what it needs. He said most countries that embraced the policies of these bodies never blossomed economically, citing Europe that was plunged into recession.

Omotoso, who was educated at King’s College, Lagos and the University of Ibadan before undertaking a doctoral thesis on the modern Arabic writer, Ahmad Ba Kathir, at the University of Edinburgh, said there are two major blocks in South Africa’s literature, representing the perceptions of black and white writers. This unfortunate dichotomy, he said, threw up some ‘no go areas’ as well as opposing extremes.

He added: “In South Africa, books by white writers are pessimistic in their process of interpreting the post-apartheid period in South Africa. If you read books by black writers, the idea about post-apartheid South Africa is always positive. Again, there are some issues you can’t touch in South Africa. There are no-go-areas which are sensitive, just like issues on the northern elite in Nigeria.”

On his non-fiction book, Achebe or Soyinka: A Study in Contrasts, Omotoso said unlike Nigeria, South Africa has two Nobel laureates in literature and that did not change anything. “Yet, bookshops are continually closed in Johannesburg,” he noted.

Asked if he left Nigeria decades ago for greener pastures, he said: “The real reason I left Nigeria with all my education then was because I could not give my children the same education my mother gave me…But there are the other sides, which are losses. In exile, a sense of belonging is denied you. That is what exile does to you.

“But you can make up for all these. However, your real home environment cannot be replicated in exile. I have been able to counter it through dress, food, music, newspapers and magazines.”

Omotoso, whose daughter has published a book, said he is not impressed by the contents of most Nigerian young writers, saying the writers are not engaging political issues enough in their books. He said there are no relationships between arts and life any more in stories of most books.

He took a swipe at the press, which he blamed for not doing enough analysis of developing events in the polity.

He hinted that his forthcoming memoir, Witness to Possi-

•Omotoso

PROFILE

O

MOTOSO was educated at King’s College, Lagos and the University of Ibadan before undertaking a doctoral thesis on the modern Arabic writer, Ahmad Ba Kathir, at the University of Edinburgh. He returned to Ibadan to lecture on Arabic Studies (1972–1976), then moved to the University of Ife to work in drama (1976–88).

His 1988 historical novel about Nigeria, Just Before Dawn turned out to be controversial, prompting Omotoso to leave the country. After visiting professorships in English at the University of Stirling and the National University of Lesotho and a spell at the Tawala Theatre, London, he became a professor of English at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa (1991–2000). From 2001, he has been a

LITERATURE bilities, will capture many of those fascinating experiences of his childhood, which he described as crazy.

“Some of these images of the periods remain with me, especially the mobile movie-man in the community who collects money from children to watch pictures of foreign

professor in the Drama Department at Stellenbosch University. He has also appeared as the Yebo Gogo man in television advertisements for Vodacom mobile phones. His fiction works include The Edifice (1971), The Combat (1972), Miracles (short stories) (1973), Fella’s Choice (1974), Sacrifice (1974, 1978), The Scales (1976), To Borrow a Wandering Leaf (1978), Memories of Our Recent Boom (1982) and Just Before Dawn (1988).

His Non-fiction includes The Form of the African Novel (1979), The Theatrical Into Theatre: a study of the drama and theatre of the English-speaking Caribbean (1982), Season of Migration to the South: Africa’s crises reconsidered (1994),Achebe or Soyinka? A study in contrasts (1995) and Woza Africa (1997). cities like London and New York,” he recalled with nostalgia.

Omotoso did not disappoint his audience on his grasp of the Yoruba language, despite his decades of self-exile. He read one of his poems written in Yoruba fluently amid a thunderous applause for the beautiful rendition which was the parting shot for the night.

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Why illicit trad trade in African artefacts thrives thrive

U

NITED States-based Nigerian scholar and professor of Art History, University of California, Prof. Sylvester Okwunodu Ogbechie, has decried the continued self colonisation of Nigerians by some churches, which perceive African artworks as fetish. The churches, he said, are continuing the colonialism by the Western powers, which, he said, is most retrogressive. He called on government to enact laws that would forbid churches from tagging African art as fetish.

Ogbechie, who spoke at a preview of his book, Making History, in Lagos, said given the returns on the illicit trade in African artefacts, there would be no end to the trade.

“Artefact trafficking is a global malaise and not peculiar to Nigeria. But here in Nigeria, there are tons of laws on this illegal trade. But these laws are being abused,” he added.

He said African collectors and their collections have been marginalised in the global art community, adding that Nigerian collectors in particular are unknown because their collections have not been exhibited, researched, photographed, authenticated and written about. He noted that between 1970 and 2005, the journal African Arts, one of the world’s leading scholarly publications on the arts of Africa, documented over 2,000 exhibitions that promoted collections of African artworks owned by European and American collectors.

“None of the exhibitions highlighted any artwork owned by an African or located on the continent, despite that there are many impressive collections of African arts in Africa…Making History, therefore, sheds light on a neglected constituency of African collectors who are currently marginalised in discourses about their own cultural heritage,” he said.

The book refutes the misconception that since Africa’s richest cultural treasures were pillaged during colonialism, nothing of much value is in Africa. Making History also shows that African artworks were not only exported to the West, but their intrinsic equity and economic value was also transferred from its African producers to the Western collectors promoted in most publications on the subject to date.

Ogbechie believes that the book and salon exhibition would expand awareness in Nigeria of the importance of professionalising art collections management process, which is still in its infancy, despite the large and growing number of Nigerian collectors who collect various aspects of traditional and modern Nigerian art.

Commending the efforts of the founder of Femi Akinsanya African Arts Collection (FAAAC), Mr Femi Akinsanya, he said no publisher in the West would have published the book except a museum.

On the title of the book, the author said: “Making History speaks on shifts in methodology and discursive practices that map the changing historiography of African art studies. It also speaks more directly to the production and validation of artworks and collections in Africa art studies, which in this instance uses the process of documenting the Akinsanya collection to foreground a valid yet neglected context of African arts collecting.”

But worried by the obsolete nature of laws protecting the nation’s heritage, Akinsanya called for the review of the laws, adding that “there is the need for more transparency in the mechanics of the market of African arts.

“We need to reform our archaic laws and work towards enabling the transfer of legal rights of title for current holders of artworks. Making History also provides an important platform for art dealers who source artworks for collectors, by recognising their important contributions to the development of Africa art collections, which will hopefully help move the trade of traditional African art out of the shadows,” Akinsanya said.

Continuing, he said: “Government should show leadership in this direction through the enactment of policies and actions, especially in the preservation and protection of our heritage…It should also encourage sponsorship of arts through tax relief. Publication of books like this is another lift in enlightening the people.”

According to Mrs Sandra Obiago, coordinator of Collectors’ Series II, Making History not only demonstrates that “we have world-class collections, which can rival any in the British Museum or Louvre in Paris, it also challenges patrons to professionalise the arts management process by investing more in researching, documenting and exhibiting their private collections locally

•A 20 th century bronze of Head of an Oba of Benin acquired from Art dealer, Marufu Olalere

•Ogbechie

•Crest mask

•Beaded cape

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

HERITAGE and internationally.’

Last Thursday, history was, indeed, made when the

‘We have world-class collections, which can rival any in the British Museum or Louvre in Paris, it also challenges patrons to professionalise the arts management process by investing more in researching, documenting and exhibiting their private collections locally and internationally’

278-page book Making History, written by Ogbechie, was launched in Lagos. It is a critical analysis of African arts collection practices in Lagos containing quality traditional art pieces.

Apart from the book presentation, the event witnessed a salon exhibition of 23 pieces from the FAAAC at the Wheatbaker, Ikoyi Lagos. The exhibition will end today.

The book is a celebration of over 200 unique masks, sculptures and other important artworks of Yoruba, Igbo, Urhobo, Cross River, Benin and Benue River Valley origins, which were collected by Akinsanya in the last 30 years. The presentation was in collaboration with The Collectors’ Series, a new Nigerian art initiative led by Sandra Mbanefo Obiago.

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Eleven-year-old Sunday Akinwunmi’s feat as winner of the maiden mountain climbing race at the Mare Festival 2009 in Idanre, Ondo State, has opened a fresh window of opportunities for youths. The consultant on climbing sport at the festival, Mr Tunde Balogun, spoke with Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME on the prospects and status of the event.

‘Openings for youths in climbing sport’

T

HE lead consultant that coordinated the mountain climbing competition at the recently concluded Mare festival in Idanre, Ondo State, a UK-based Nigerian, Mr Tunde Balogun, says the yearly festival has the potential of becoming an international competition in the future. He said if the event could be run for more years and basic facilities such as safety devices (climbing shoes, hand gloves, helmet etc) and artificial walls for training and competition provided, the event would attract global attention.

Balogun said in Nigeria, climbing sport is a new event that could provide many opportunities for the youths who are already enthusiastic about the event. He disclosed that by 2018, the sport would be part of the Olympic Games, adding that time is now to develop the necessary infrastructure that would engender its popularity among the people. On February 12, 2010, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted the definitive recognition to the International Federation of Sports Climbing (FSC), as part of the Olympic family.

Considering the performance rating of Nigeria in other sporting events, such as football and athletics, he said the prospect of climbing sport is equally high in the country just as it is in other sports.

Already, climbing initiations were held at the first winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck held between January 13 and 22, thus making climbing part of the culture and education programmes, to “initiate” young athletes of other sports in the frame of the youth Olympic festival.

“But for international competition to hold at Idanre, there must be artificial rocks for practice and competition. The granite rocks are harsh and tough for practising and competition. In other countries, artificial walls are being built in different sizes and shapes because not many countries are blessed with natural rocks like Idanre,” he said.

Balogun urged the organisers of the festival to commence the planning of the event early to improve on the success recorded in last year’s edition. He noted that, hopefully, climbers from Spain, Norway and Britain would be involved to the event. On the cost implication of building artificial walls, Balogun disclosed that currently, it would cost between $30,000 and $40,000, after which the organisers could begin to source for sponsors from ICFS, the world body in Spain in which is equivalent of FIFA.

In the beginning Today’s climbers of all ages can enjoy sport climbing all around the world, challenging gravity and themselves in safety on nature’s beautiful rocks. The natural human desire is for more commitment, excellence and challenge.

Organised competitions started in the former USSR in the late 40s, when speed events were organised. These contests were mostly reserved to Soviet climbers until the 80s.

In 1985, in Bardonecchia, an Olympic town not far from Torino, Italy, a group led by Andrea Mellano, member of the Academic Group of CAI, and Emanuele Cassara, well known Italian sport journalist, convened the best climbers to Sportroccia, the first official difficulty contest ever, on a natural crag in Valle Stretta. Thousands of spectators were amazed by the victory of German Stefan Glowacz.

The success was repeated the following year (1986), when Arco di Trento joined Bardonecchia for a combined final ranking, won by French superstar Patrick Edlinger and his compatriot Catherine Destivelle. More than 10,000 people attended the finals; seven European televisions plus many media operators were present. In the same year, 1986, the French organised the first indoor event in a suburb of Lyon, Vaulx-en-Velin, in a gymnasium, opening the way for the future. In that occasion it was clear that all the climbers were interested in this new branch of their activity, also those who appeared reluctant in the beginning.

On the International level, the French tried to convince

•A young climber at Idanre hill during Mare Festival 2011

TOURISM the UIAA to recognise the circuit, things that happened in 1988, with the World Series, and in 1989 with the first World Cup, in speed and difficulty. Leader of this movement was Paul Brasset, who created a real new organisation inside the UIAA (formed by CEC and CICE), including training for officials (judges and forerunners) and setting of the competition rules.

In the early 90’s, great events were organised in the main arenas in Europe, with some visits to Japan and the US. In these years it was decided to run International events on artificial walls only, in order to eliminate any environmental impact. In 1991, the 1st World Championship was organised in Frankfurt, Germany, an event that, from then on, happens every two years.

In 1992, the 1st World Youth Championship took place in Basel, Switzerland, immediately showing - with its large participation - the attraction sport climbing has on young generations and becoming an annual event.

In 1997, a new structure, the ICC - International Council for Competition Climbing, was created inside the UIAA, in order to guarantee a sufficient autonomy to the sport and to provide it with the tools for its development.

In 1998 the new discipline of bouldering was officially introduced. As a test, it was organised the Top Rock Challenge, becoming World Cup in 1999.

The development brought a rich calendar such as it has happened since 2001 until now. More than 45 countries regularly participated in the official calendar, that includes not only World, Youth, Continental Championships, World Cups, Continental circuits, but also many other high profile international competitions, plus promotional events for under age kids (spiderkids) and amateurs. Well developed all around the world, today more than 75 countries participated in climbing competitions, with peaks in the World senior and youth events.

In 2005, competition climbing successfully participated in the Duisburg World Games, as well as in the Asian Indoor Games.

In 2006, the UIAA decided to cease governance of competition climbing and to support the creation of an independent international federation to govern this sport.

On January 27, 2007, in Frankfurt, 48 federations convened to found the IFSC - International Federation of Sport Climbing. The Statutes and Bye-laws, as well as the regulations, of the new IF were unanimously adopted, and a new challenge began.

On April 28th, 2007, the AGFIS General Meeting accepted the IFSC as a new member. A few weeks later, also the IWGA did the same, confirming climbing in the 2009 Kaoshiung World Games. On December 10th, 2007, the IOC granted the provisional recognition to the IFSC, wel-

•Balogun

coming sport climbing into the Olympic Movement.

The number of members is now 76, over the five continents.

The sport has gained credibility not only because of its spectacular competitions, but also for its social values, witnessed by its introduction as a curricular-scholar sport in many countries, and special programmes that are under study for disables and other disadvantaged individuals. The quick development and growth, now also registered in many developing countries, prove that this sport can be proposed as an alternative, young, spectacular activity to people of all ages, everywhere.

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Jos festival of theatre opens

T

•Some of Ogunbiyi’s works on display in Berlin

Ogunbiyi dazzles arts enthusiasts in Berlin

L

ASt Sunday, for two hours, Temitayo Ogunbiyi held a crowd of artists and arts enthusiasts spellbound at an incisive talk at the Freies Museum, Potsdamer Strasse, Berlin, Germany. Her talk was on her ongoing solo art exhibition, Are we thieves? curated

by Anastasia Stein, which was part of her two weeks residency at the museum.

Ogunbiyi’s first European solo exhibition is in the form of a question, Am I a Thief? It is relevant to every citizen of the contemporary world. At the artist talk, she urged fellow travellers to find out whether “we are all criminals on some level.”

Ogunbiyi is an artist who produces works that are fabric collages. Intricately drawn with pencil and pen, her body of work incorporates elements that are conceptual and representative, and translates her ideas and research into patterns which are printed digitally as textiles, thereby creating handcrafted mixed media murals and masterful drawings.

Her first German solo focused on her new work created between 2011 and 2012. The overwhelming aspect of the artist’s research of recent years has been analysing contemporary ways in which communication affects individuals, communities and the wider scope of society.

The internet and digital technology turn the contemporary world into a playground of information, which is uniquely inclusive. Ones virtual, electronic identity is an essential part of our contemporary identities.

Ogunbiyi’s work insightfully questions how we as humans evolve in the information age. How does this affect our con-

cept of relationships, of privacy, self determination, sexuality, consciousness, hope and the sustainability of the human specie.

In comprehending her work comes with it the recognition of art being an extended form of human ability and intelligence rather than as pure profession. The mélange of the figurative and the abstract, the painterly and the sculptural, the digital and the artisan present in her work is deliberate and conscious. Ogunbiyi’s work embraces the conceptual, in a manner that is self aware whilst utilising the digital mediums harmoniously and in concert with more traditional methods and media such as pencil drawing. The patterns created from appropriated media streams, social networks, instant messaging, traditional Nigerian fabrics and artist s personal clothes are combined in her work to create an infused symbolism.

Most of her art works are site specific. The artistic methodology requires the artist to be onsite for the duration of the show and transforms the exhibition itself into a performative and interactive piece, transmuting the exhibition space into a temporary, transitory artists residence which enables the works to grow and develop organically during the show.

The entire project will be digitally documented in collaboration with Ogunbiyi, the curators, photographers, musicians and filmmakers and released in a form of a short film for virtual posterity. This year, the exhibition will evolve into thematically connected projects for the Havanna Biennale and the Contemporary Art Festival in Perm, Russia.

Shonibare in New York

U

K based Nigerian artist, Yinka Shonibare is currently showing at James Cohan Gallery, New York, United States. The show Addio Del Passato, which opened on January 16 will run till March 24. It is a multi-part exhibition of new sculptures, photo works, and the premiere of a new film, Shonibare Through the package, is exploring the concept of destiny as it relates to themes of desire, yearning, love, power and sexual repression.

The artist’s famous conceptual work continues to draw viewers’ attention to patterns of history and how they are repeated in our own time. Following the installation of his widely acclaimed work, Nelson in a Bottle on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, London, Shonibare has etched a foot print in the explorations of Lord Nelson, the figurehead of British Empire at its apotheosis.

Nelson’s destiny was to fall a hero at the battle of Trafalgar just as the British Empire’s ultimate destiny become its inevitable demise.

Shonibare sees a similar fate reflected on the front pages of today newspapers; “The imperial West is in decline at the time of great economic challenges as we see the rise of the East. The old world is in decline and new worlds are emerging through the economic successes of China and India and the revolutions in the Arab world. We are experiencing a new age of the decline and fall of Roman Empire. The main gallery will feature a series of five new photo works entitled, Fake death pictures. The artist refers to this series as ‘a re-enactment of suicide through the history of death in painting.

Shonibare imagines a dramatised vision of the tragic event of Nelson’s death as played out over a series of five photographic allegories based on classic scenes in painting.

The series brings together painting, stage design and

•Shonibare

photography to create works in the manner of the suicide

by Leonardo Alenzay Nieto (1839) and Edouard Manet (1977).

The death of Chatterton by Henry Wallis (1856), Death of St. Francis by Bar-tolome Cardio (1593) and Death of Leonado da Vinci by Francois Guillaume Menageot (1781).

HE Jos Repertory Theatre will begin the sixth Jos festival of theatre on February 25.

It will end on March 2. The last edition of the annual festival was held in 2009. The 2012 edition has as its theme The Theatre As A Communal Meeting Place.

It is hoped that the theatre would provide a platform for discussing some of the issues that plagued the city. Five plays have been scheduled for the one week festival.

Events for the theatre festival include on the opening day, dances by the Dance Afrique choreographed by Kevin Paradang and the opening revival performance of Emeka Nwabueze’s When The Arrow Rebounds, a stage adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s Arrow Of God to be directed by Patrick-Jude Oteh. The play was earlier performed at the MUSON Festival 2011.

On Sunday, there will be a performance of the revival of Emeka Nwabueze’s When the arrow rebounds, while on Monday Lonne Elder’s Ceremonies in dark old men directed by Osasogie Efe Guobadia. On Tuesday it is the turn of Adinoyi Ojo-Onukaba’s Bargain Hunting by a group from Port Harcourt, Rivers State directed

by Dr. Emman Emeasealu. This will be followed by Dipo Agboluaje’s For One Night Only – A Migration Fantasy directed by Leon Echa on Wednesday.

On Thursday Barrie Stavis’ The Man Who Never Died directed by Patrick-Jude Oteh will mount the stage while closing ceremonies featuring modern dances and final performance of Barrie Stavis’ The Man Who Never Died will wrap up the event.

The festival is expected to feature workshops in Arts Management, Directing, Make-Up and a group from Port Harcourt is offering free Salsa dances and training for the duration of the festival. All the workshops will take place during the day while the performances will feature every evening starting from 5.00pm.

There will be post-performance discussions between the audiences and the cast after each performance, which will provide platform for participants to contribute to the on-going discourse on the city of Jos. The workshops will provide alternative career prospects for young people and aspiring actors to look deeply into the arts of the theatre as another viable means of work and a further challenge to their talents.

The festival is receiving support from the Embassy of the United States , Nigeria and the Alliance Francaise, Jos who are providing logistic support alongside an array of other local supporters and individuals.

Artists gather for Harmattan

T

HE annual Harmattan arts workshop will flag off next month. It will be divided into two sessions.

The first session will run till March 3, while the second will run between March 4 and 17. The yearly workshop will hold at the Niger Delta Cultural Centre, Agbarha-Ottor, Delta State.

According to the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation, organisers of the workshop, the event will feature painting, water colour, mixed media, textiles, photography, wood carving, stone carving, printmaking, breads and jewellery, ceramics, among other courses.

Interestingly, the master printmaker, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya will turn 80 this year.

The coordinating team has promised a loaded outing this year building on the success of previous edition with emphasis on lifting the workshop in the areas of organisation, attendance and variety eminent academics, scholars and outstanding personalities have been penciled down to give talks on various aspects of the visual arts during seminars that will feature throughout the workshop duration.

There will also be film shows on masters and their works and participants will have the opportunity to meet colleagues from within and outside the country.

Participants will be provided with basic materials needed but they are advised to come with their materials to augment what will be given them. Accommodation and feeding would be provided to all participants as well.

The workshop has become the longest running forum of informal education for visual artists of all backgrounds in Nigeria.

Institutional participation will attract N35,000 per participant.This amount covers materials, accommodation and feeding, other categories of participants are as follows; practicing artists, N25,000; students, N15,000 .

As usual, in August 2012, the workshop will feature the August retreat for practicing artists only. This also will be for two weeks.

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Two decades ...In the of Imoke’s service spiritinof print

Christmas

BOOK REVIEW Title:

Born To Serve

Author:

Enuma Chigbo and Ejiro Barrett

Publisher:

Africangenda Publications

Pagination:

212

“I

COULD not write my story without mentioning him in chapters; my political life has been associated with him.” These were the words of former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke. Duke’s comment is contained along other people, who in a book, Born to Serve, on the immediate past Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke.

Published by Africagenda Publications, Born to Serve is a 212- page book, written by Enuma Chigbo and Ejiro Barrett. The book, which has its foreword by President Goodluck Jonathan, takes the reader through Imoke’s various journeys in the public sector.

“It will definitely make a fine collector’s item,” said Chigbo. “It’s also interesting to learn about some critical elements of Nigeria, simply from what people have to say about the service of one man.”

“Liyel’s commitment to challenging the limitations placed in areas that a handful of us believed fell under the famous ‘no go areas’ was laudable. He managed to put out the issues very clearly, working across party lines.

However, one singular and remarkable – what we called a ‘missed opportunity’

was the issue of June 12,” said Senator Aniete Okon, in his comments.

Mallam Nasir El Rufai who spoke on

Memoir on migration scholar

W

HEN the authors of Migration in the Service of African Development came up with the idea to write the book, the motive was very clear. It was to chronicle the immense contributions of Professor Aderanti Adepoju and also produce an invaluable reference material for scholars in the field of migration studies.

The fourteen-chapter book edited by John Oucho, which portrays the protagonist as a scholar who changes vocations – from being a university don to an international diplomat and an adviser of governments – was published in 2011. It will be launched on February 9, alongside another publication titled Seeking Greener Pastures Abroad: A migration profile of Nigeria.

It speaks about Adepoju’s distinguished and pioneering career in the international development field, and an expert who in the past thirty-six years, assisted several African countries in capacity-building and formulation and implementation of labour, population and development programmes.

“His knowledge and expertise as economist, demographer and development specialist have been used by many international development organisations – he has served as a consultant or team leader across a wide variety of missions and research activities.” said the editor, who also noted that the book is a dedication, by a number of colleagues, to Professor Aderanti Adepoju who has been in a variety of vocations without abandoning his

BOOK REVIEW Title:

Migration in the Service of African Development

Reviewer

Miriam Nidkanwu

Edited:

John Oucho

Publisher:

Safari Books

Pagination:

587

standing as a renown migration scholar.

“The idea of producing it evolved from a plea made at the inaugural conference of the Network of Migration Research on

Imoke’s contributions in Nigeria’s power sector said, “Yes, some foundations were laid and things were looking optimistic. If the successive government had built on those foundations the country would be in a much better place.”

“I see Cross River State as a state with great potential,” said Bishop David Oyedepo, General Overseer, Living Faith Church. “I pray that whoever takes over from Liyel will have the same good heart and passion of taking the State to another level.”

It is envisaged that the book will reach out to all strata of society, and will be of immense benefit to the youth, whom Imoke is very passionate about. Part of this passion formed the launch of the Bridge Leadership Foundation, to mark his 50th birthday last year. “I believe that if every person or every youth follows Imoke’s ways, Cross River State would be a haven for all. Right from his youth, he has always been a hard worker; that’s why he was already a senator at the age of 30, so he has a lot to tell the youth,” said former Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Anthony Anenih.

Interviews with over 90 people across the country from different tribes and races formed the content of the book, and majority of them shared common ground on the subject matter.

“In the writing of this book, one theme ran through it all, time, astuteness, compassion and to do good for the majority of the people so that life to them becomes more meaningful. The National award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) bestowed on Governor Imoke, is a vindication of that theme of service to nation and humanity,” said Blossom Ubani, who was part of the team that put the book together.

Africa (NOMRA) in January 2009 for a book to be compiled in honour of Adepoju as a way of immortalising him while still alive and encouraging younger scholars to emulate his immense contribution to migration scholarship. The contributing authors come from Latin America, Canada, USA, Europe and Africa, and from diverse disciplinary backgrounds – economics, geography, demography, sociology and law – but share one thing in common: migration work; and so the fourteen chapters of the book cover internal and international migration in Africa from a rich variety of perspectives.” Divided into two components, the book chronicles Adepoju’s plunge into migration study in the early 70s as a rare feat at a time when it commanded little respect – and funding – among demographers of the day.

The first chapter is authored by the editor of the book, John Oucho. In a moving account of Adepoju’s work, this author gives a convincing argument on how Adepoju transformed migration from the periphery to the core of development agenda in Africa. It explains how Adepoju’s steadfast focus on and commitment to migration work saw his influence shift migration training, research and dialogue from the narrow perspective of population dynamics to become its rightful place as the core of development agenda – globally, and particularly in Africa. The rest of the book demonstrates what a dedicated scholar can do in sustained scholarship, charting a course for the cooperation of the academic community, planners, policymakers and development partners.

The authors conclude that as a migration doyen, Adepoju’s work and his rare dedication has successfully raised a prominent African voice in debates that are dominated mostly by European agendas and that Africa should treasure, conserve and build upon his enviable legacy.

POEM

Next Sunday I’ll Go

By Uche Nwosu

The memories are here Of those years gone by We had a little church In our little old town Next Sunday I’ll go Back to sing their songs And hear the preacher again Talk of the end of time Next Sunday I’ll go Back to sing again Those songs of love Sung with hearts of praise And hear the words of the book That told me I needed love Something there is calling me Next Sunday I’ll go

Where I Belong I belong to a golden age To the golden side Of a golden city I live on the silvern shore Of the glassy sea On a crystal valley And a Voice Tells me that the world Is a fading shadow Of the place where I belong Of the place where I belong Where the waters ever flow And life is worth a living Of the place where I belong Where the truest flowers bloom And fantasies come true

MAIKONTRI (As the fuel subsidy removal protests rail)

By Habib Akewusola

Maikontri is steeped in fortune Surging with polished tyrants Who nibble at her citizens’ comfort, Who flash their lights of blank enlightenment On the darkness of our “ignorance” And stretch our patience With ropes of greed Maikontri is cursed with fortune Trains trudge through tarmacs And litter, like goats’ excrements, The putrid scent of foreign civilisation.

The voices of the masses strike strikes At our tyrants’ immunity shells And rain liquid sufferings On the flesh of Maikontri’s map Maikontri is cursed with fortune The price of rumpled subsidies Hover at labour markets, Hovering beyond the reach of our stretched palms: “Oh Lord, may your subsidy Never desert us!” we are chanting Maikontri is cursed with fortune Our tyrants store our tears In their gold boxes for the Luxury of their unborn bastards; Limbs of memory of our founding fathers Are clenched between their teeth Maikontri is a wilderness flowing With milk and oil And camels die of thirst on its soil Maikontri is cursed with fortune But we shall hide under the Umbrella of hope As this wind of change rails behind And wait for Thunder’s second coming!

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•The Matyr

•A living dead

Maggots of Naija’s rotten flesh

‘It was announced in the Daily Times, the New Nigerian,the television, radio, and other acclaimed megaphones.Today, we launch our Community Development Fund to complete the project the government abandoned from start for lack of funds; the treasury was looted overnight by those elected to generate national wealth. Dancers are back again from their holes, gyrating in front of the chairman and the chief launcher, millionaires. The booths are painted bright in national colours.’—Tanure Ojaide,

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HE wedding of the artist to the Nigerian politician has grimly birthed monstrosities, miscarriages, and stillbirths. The rotten fetus inside the uterus of power in Nigeria stinks with the pugnacity of utterly decayed flesh, as the work of Bob-Nosa Uwagboe, A Living Dead, indicates. His paintings, typically oil on canvas, are confrontations with frightening and disgusting beauties.

With the distance of a morbid anatomist, and the passion of an elegiac poet, Uwagboe’s palette knives and scratched lines dissect the national monstrosities, miscarriages, and stillbirths of Nigeria. When the weeping poet embraces the wet blood of a dying country, even music cannot sooth the pains of a grieving nation. Uwagboe is the portrait artist whose pictures mirror “Naija,” Nigeria’s pathological alter ego, which, like a twisted soul, consumes the scabs of its own putrid boils, even as the painter watches with utter disgust.

Uwagboe’s work visualises the music of three poets from two different generations in Nigeria’s portrait art. Tanure Ojaide, whose stanza above is excerpted from a poem dated within the 1980s, is from the older period that witnessed the transition of Nigeria from the colonial to an independent era. Much younger are Emmanuel Samson with poetic avatar of Abdalmasih, and Gimba Kakanda, an “Occupy Nigeria” activist. While Ojaide’s engagement is concretely located in the realm of writing and teaching, Abdalmasih and Kakanda extend their concern for the soul of Nigeria beyond the writing of letters. During the Occupy Nigeria protests, Kakanda played the crucial role in Minna of leading groups of Moslems to protect embattled Christians from the horrific and murderous acts of Islamic fundamentalists in northern Nigeria. In Dream Chase, Kakanda writes, “We cry blood/For the ripe wind in tomorrow/Tomorrow that never comes/When our cries ambush the draped moat/Our beaten contingency gets bandaged by salads/There’s tomorrow/And when the tomorrow never comes/They toast/In a parliamentary breath….”

Physically-dislocated, Ojaide is part of the Nigerian diasporic minds washed abroad during the academic brain drain of the eighties and nineties. Above, his poem teases out the choreography of the Nigerian artist’s dance with and for power, as a critique of the collusion between the poor and the wealthy in the looting of the nation’s treasury.

It is clear to many Nigerians that the dance of the Nigerian masses for and with corrupt power is a major facility in the decimation of Nigeria’s wealth.

The notorious Cabal that loots without relent or respect cannot function in a clean country. Maggots cannot exist where there is no dead body. Because the body of Nigerian masses has decayed, maggots that have wormed their ways into political arena crawl out and feed on the putrid flesh.

The reeking odor of political death that wafts in the air in Nigeria is traceable to corruption, not just within the political oligarchy in Nigeria, but also among the peasantry and the middle class whose ranks and files have become decimated in the history of defrauding the nation. Tunde Adewusi, a Lagos resident who witnessed the Occupy Ni-

•The road

By Moyo Okediji

DISCOURSE geria activities, agrees. He says, “Everything about the Nigerian economic and political life is corruption driven. The process of moving budgets proposal through to the Appropriation Committee of the House for Presidential approval and implementation is through the vehicle of ‘settlement.’

As you dream up a proposal, your primary worries will be how to settle the people that will approve its passage, otherwise your ideas may be snatched from you and re-presented in the House.”

Many citizens, from the well-known television reporter Enenche Akogwu to the obscure Lagosian character of Ademola Aderinto, were martyred during the “Occupy Nigeria” protests. Uwagboe’s painting, “The Martyr,” painted just before the protests, is therefore nothing less than prophetic. He depicts two mourning porters conveying on their heads the body of a fallen martyr. They march through the streets, with a throng of people covering their rear. Relying on the contrasts between the complementary colors of red and green for the composition, Uwagboe uses navy blue hue to draw out depth into the picture, while daubing white and yellow highlights to accent the colors. To give prominence and emphasis to the martyr’s carcass, he scratches out the outlines of the horizontal body, which rests like an architectural lintel on the polar figures of the corpse carriers.

Red, the color of blood, soaks the canvas, washing over the green and white national colors of the Nigerian flag.

The national insignia of Nigeria is soiled with blood, starting with the political chaos and riots of 1965 in the then Western region, and the pogrom in the Northern region in 1966. The Nigerian civil war from 1967 to 1970, in which an estimated number of one million people perished, was the climax of the reddening of the Nigerian flag. Rather than bring any solution to the national problems of ethnic disunity, religious division, and cultural antagonisms, the civil war ended without providing any form of closure or benefit.

The economic and political life of Nigeria has drastically deteriorated since the end of the civil war. Armed robbery

‘The notorious Cabal that loots without relent or respect cannot function in a clean country. Maggots cannot exist where there is no dead body. Because the body of Nigerian masses has decayed, maggots that have wormed their ways into political arena crawl out and feed on the putrid flesh’

became a deadly game of blatant terrorism and mayhem played between the police, thieves, and the embattled Nigerian populace. The country’s infrastructures of roads, public schools, medical facilities, and security have collapsed. Basic amenities including portable water, electricity, and affordable public housing are unavailable. And recently, the poverty that has defined the lives of the masses of Nigerians has worsened. The wretchedness of Nigerian people was amplified when the government announced the removal of petroleum subsidies, the only benefit that many Nigerians believe they derive from living in one of the biggest oilproducing nations on earth. It is therefore understandable that many Nigerians point to the politicians and presidency of Goodluck Jonathan as the bane of Nigerians’ difficulties.

But the Nigerian president is not the problem with Nigeria. He is only a symptom of the problem—CORRUPTION. This is the cancer that has eaten deep into the bones, flesh, and vital organs of Nigeria. Remove Jonathan today, and the problem persists.

The cancer of corruption cuts across ethnic groups, religion, class, kin, and kith. From the messenger in the office up to the CEO, corruption is the umbilical cord that connects Nigerians into a vast army of weaklings. It will be easy to remove the politicians. But are Nigerians really willing to fight corruption? Are we willing to start with ourselves, before we ask President Jonathan to give up his evil ways?

The corrupt condition of the nation fabric interest Uwagboe, in the mixed-media painting titled “The Road.”

He does not perceive an easy way out. The work depicts Naija engaged in a game of life along a difficult road that, despite its clarity, Naija is unable to follow. The central figure is refracted and fragmented by the myriads of distraction invested in the miens of the peasants, with which the protagonist must negotiate along the passage of life. They seem confused and corrupted by the wretchedness of their conditions. Many Nigerians have proposed prayers as the miracle-working device that will save Nigerians from the culture of corruption.

If a Christian or Moslem in Nigeria must pray, let him/ her fall on his/her knees and pray to God to clean him/her personally from within, and release him/her from Lucifer’s grip of corruption. S/he must do this even as people pray for the salvation of Nigeria. Are we willing to take a mirror and look at ourselves dispassionately? The poet, Abdalmasih, on January 22, 2012, wrote, “Halt/before a fractured mirror/the stranger you’ll meet/is our nation’s image….”

Is everybody on the Occupy Nigeria protest rallies willing to occupy himself or herself, to ensure that he or she personally shuns corruption? If this self-occupying happens, we don’t need anything else. Nigeria will join the ranks of one of the greatest nations in the world within six months. Otherwise Nigeria will remain Naija, the putrid flesh riddled with fetid eggs laid by maggot feeding on the national lesion.

• Okediji writes from Texas, US

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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The ancient town of Owo, in Ondo State was agog as it celebrated the Ero festival during which there should not be body contact with clothes, reports TAIWO ABIODUN who witnessed the festival.

Ero festival: Where age is a barrier

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HEIR ages are between 65 and 70. They were all dressed in embroidered aso oke (sanyan), Yoruba attire (agbada). It was a colourful occasion. Some of them are chiefs. As they danced, clapped, and wriggled their waists, the beads on their necks swung sideways. Not minding their status, they all danced along with their colleagues. Local musicians rendered songs such as A rogbo o koko, ene ro sorire , arogbo o koko, iba wa mee ro, A rogbo o koko Awa panmi panmi, awa yena yena (we are rejoicing as we have joined the elders club, whoever celebrates with us is lucky, rejoice with us. We have toiled and paid our dues.)

As the drums and gong beats got louder, the shouts of joy rent the air while the celebrators increased their dancing steps. As they approached the gate of the Olowo Palace, they went into frenzy; they danced and displayed acrobatic skills, despite their ages. They showed love, faithfulness and paid obeisance to the monarch.

In return, the royal father came out with his royal traditional sword to rejoice and dance with them. He prayed for them: “May you all live long. May your shadow and glory never diminish.” A thunderous “amen” followed. He later presented kolanuts, cash gifts and drinks, among other things.

Ero festival is observed every seven years. But this time it was different because it was observed after nine years. Reason: Olowo of Owo, Oba David Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III celebrated his age grade nine years ago and it is customary that if the monarch observed his age grade, two years must be added to it making nine years before another Ero festival is held. It is a sign of respect, honour and culture for the monarch.

To attain the Ero grade, according to Chief Babatunde Emmanuel Olugbade, special clothes are woven for the occasion, and there are some clothes woven by the first daughter of the celebrator.

The native clothes woven for the Ero festival are: Seghosen, Iketa, Panmeta, Igbero, Ipanmeru and Kirijo, said one of the celebrators, Chief Ayodele Obajuaye.

Obajuaye described the clothes as special and uncommon.

The Christian celebrators among them took their clothes and danced round the town, ending up in the church to offer prayers.The Muslims were not left out as they took theirs to the mosque and offered prayers ditto for African traditional religion worshippers who called on the traditional priests to pray for them. ‘’No man born of a woman must have personal contact with the weaver. In a nutshell, no man should even get close to where it is woven. The woven cloth is always given to the first female child and it must not be used as a girdle or strap belt for the baby boy. Whoever uses it for a male child will blame herself,’’ Obajuaye said.

Olugbade, who spoke about the preparation of the festival, said: “It is like graduation. You must complete the necessary rites and fulfil all righteousness. One will have to spend seven years in Ugbamo alegho and graduate to Ugbakeji Ugbamo where you are to participate in the town’s activities like repairing roads, clearing the bush path and fetching water from the stream for the town’s usage. Thus, it is the stage of building the town and contributing one’s quota to the development of the town. The third step is Ugbama, where one reaches the age of 50 years plus and the last stage is Ugbama Agba.

“Many prepared meals for friends and relations. It is not compulsory for the celebrators to do this. But this is the period everybody knows how popular and important he is in the community as it is an opportunity to showcase affluence and fame,’’ Olugbade added.

Chief Banji Aralepo said it is another way of thanking God for sparing one’s life. “Yes, it is a birthday celebration but it is another way of getting closer to your community and participating in whatever they are doing. I love it, for it is another way of bringing the sons of the soil together” Aralepo said.

In Owo, only the males celebrate age grade festival while other neighbouring towns involve women in age grade festival.

•Oba David Folagbade Olateru-Oagbegi III, the Olowo of Owo (CFR) pose with Chief Olugbade, Arakepo and other celebrators.

•Drummers at the occasion.

FESTIVAL In his remark, the Olowo of Owo said ‘’the festival is not fetish, as it is like birthday. The people rejoiced that they have joined the age of wisdom and the stage where they will no longer work or run around.They have become the town leaders and they are the ones solving problems and contributing to the community’s development. It is a blessing. It is here one retires to eat from the fruit of his labour, This is the age of living to one’s fulfilment. They become the wise acre of the community.’’

But one interesting personlaity at the feast is a 50 year -old man who also celebrated along with the old men in the age grade. Many wondered what he was doing among the old men in their 60s and 70s? That was the question posed to one of the celebrators, Olanrewaju Fajolu. However, Fajolu

PHOTOS: TAIWO ABIODUN

said he participated in the age grade festival because he occupies the high position meant for the elders. He said: ‘’ I am a chief , and I am occupying the chieftaincy title of my late father . I am Chief Oja of Ehin –Ogbe, my age notwithstanding , it is mandated that I must observe what the position requires. And it is a big privilege for me. I thank the Olowo of Owo for accepting a young man like me. I believe it is destiny.”

Honourable Olanipekun Adebeye described the festival as a beautiful thing other towns will soon emulate.’’When I got to the palace and saw the sea of heads of my people celebrating Ero festival , I was elated because it is the sign of love and unity. Irrespective of quarters and religious affiliation they all turned up with drums and gongs to celebrate and made the ancient town in Yoruba Kingdom to be agog again. It is wonderful and the beauty radiates seeing the clothes they wore. It is fantastic,’’ Adebeye added.

‘When I got to the palace and saw the sea of heads of my people celebrating Ero festival , I was elated because it is the sign of love and unity. Irrespective of quarters and religious affiliation they all turned up with drum and gongs to celebrate and made the ancient town in Yoruba Kingdom to be agog again. It is wonderful and the beauty radiates seeing the clothes they wore. It is fantastic’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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D

ozens of professional photographers from across towns and cities of the Niger Delta gathered, with great expectations, in an open field in front of a nondescript bungalow that is the headquarters of a photographic services company, BabyLove Nigeria Limited in Warri, Delta State.

On the background of the assemblage, a lovely yellow 2011 Kia Picanto car gleamed as if aware that it is the cynosure of over a 100 pair of eyes. Every once in a while one or two of the ogling lens man would walk over and run their fingers through the curves of the brand new car, which only one lucky person would drive off with it into the New Year.

As they waited uneasily for the draw at the premises of the company, located off Westend Hospital Road on that auspicious December 29 afternoon, each of the photographers said their prayers privately and hoped that their names would be the one on the one lottery ticket that would be pulled out of a bag containing several thousands.

Among the guest, was one Mr. Wilson Ogini, a masters degree student from the popular Ogini Photo family. Ogini was an inspiration of sort as he, against all odds, drove home a similar car, on a day like that in December 2010 at the inaugural edition of the event, which Creative Director of the company, Mr. Aoiri Obaigbo had vowed would be a yearly event.

Besides setting up arguably the most technologically advanced photo services company in the South-south and investing heavily on equipment and staff training, Obaigbo promised to give out a car every year to improve the lot of his clients. A professional photographer himself, the former employee of Anglo Dutch oil giant, Shell Nigeria Limited, said his dream was to prove that photographers can make decent living like other professionals.

Although the promise sounded rather hollow at first, the sight of Ogini cruising around the university town of Abraka and other towns in the state in the sky-blue Kia Picanto car he won in the 1st edition in December 2010, inspired others who gathered on that beautiful Thursday afternoon.

The promotion tagged ‘Babylove Lucky Photographer’ is also a reward gesture for loyal

•The photographers with their winning colleague (in glasses)

Photographers celebrate colleague’s car prize From Shola O’Neil and Wilson Yafugborhi, Warri

clients. Clients received a raffle ticket when they grossed a certain number of patronage. But

Obaigbo emphasised that the motivation to give out a brand new car was not actually driven by some exceptional profits being derived from the business.

He said it was rather more about giving back to a profession that

The announcement of ticket number 999 by the supervisor of the draw, unleashed a flurry of activities as ticket holders searched frantically through their records to see if they were the lucky winner

has given him the most rewarding opportunities.

For Obaigbo, the Babylove lucky photographer promo is the company’s way of raising societal recognition for the photographer, himself being one. He then emphasized that the draw was not for all Babylove’s pateon, but strictly for professional photographer who does business with the company. This, he said, is to ensure that only a career photographer wins the car.

Tension rose to an unbearable level when the time came for the draw, which was supervised by a section of the press in Delta State. The exercise was held to be fair and credible.

A four-year-old boy, Tolu Abolade was saddled with the task of picking out one lucky

ticket from a sea of thousands.

The announcement of ticket number 999 by the supervisor of the draw, unleashed a flurry of activities as ticket holders searched frantically through their records to see if they were the lucky winner. The action did not last for too long before a shrill voice rose above the cacophony of voices. It belonged to one Oghenekaro Fidelis Oghenevwede, a final year student of Political Science from the Delta State University, Abraka.

“I have it”, he screamed as he ran forward with the other half of the winning ticket.

It was indeed poetic justice of a sort for the proprietor of Fikaro Photos, one of the pioneer customers of BabyLove, established •Continued on Page 39

Council chief donates freezers, generators to women

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•Member, Imegbon Youth League (IYL) Saheed Baker; IYL Chairman Adekunle Agbabiaka; Councillor ‘Ward F’ Mushin Local Government Fatai Oyewuwo and his ‘Ward B’ counterpart Sile Ogunniran during the Fumigation exercise organised by IYL at Palm Avenue, Mushin… last Saturday

ARETAKER chairman of Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State, Hon.Oladeinde Okunade, has pledged continued support for women in the council because of their importance to socio-economic development in the communities.

Okunade made the pledge while giving out 60 deep freezers, 60 generators, 120 crates of soft drinks and 120 packs of table water to empower and eradicate poverty among women in the council area.

The chairman maintained that women need to be encouraged to participate actively in economic activities in order to better the lot of the families, which he described as vital integral parts of the nation.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

He admonished men not to faithful women and reduces the chances of advancing the fortunes of their families in the overall interest of the children.

Also, the Supervisor for Social Youths and Women Affairs in the council, Mr. Wasiu Abiona, who called on the women to always engage themselves in economic activities, advised them to form cooperative groups and societies to enhance their capabilities in business ventures.

Mr. Abiona urges the beneficiaries, who are mostly Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) party faithful and women leaders in the council area to make judicious use of the materials giving to them.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

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•Representative of the Alaafin, High Chief Ayoola Layinka (fourth right); State Police Commissioner, Moses Onireti; the state Chief Judge, Justice Adeniji Badejoko, and the Officer in Charge, Oyo/Ogbomoso SARS, Olusola Aremu ARE praise has come the way of the police. In Oyo town, Oyo State, residents have spoken warmly of the efforts of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, confidence in the anti-robbery of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola bery in front of my house, as there (SARS) in curbing vice in the comsquad, but voluntarily offer their Adeyemi III, at the commissionwere sporadic gunshots. Residents From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo munity. cooperation whenever the need ing of a new office complex for the panicked and trembled with fear.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi arises. anti-robbery squad in Oyo town.

I summoned the courage and trust between them and the citiOlayiwola Adeyemi III, and the This is due to the commitment of Acknowledging their effectivecalled SARS men on the phone. zens, which further worsens their state Chief Judge, Justice Adeniji the men to duty and willingness to ness, Justice Badejoko noted that as You can’t believe it, some of the capacity to secure the people.

Badejoko praised the police for deliver the best possible service, a public servants, success of SARS robbers were gunned down on the But in Oyo and other towns in the being alert to their duties. readiness to seek information and men can only be determined by the spot, while the few others were apstate, the picture appears to be difThey said the law enforcement act upon such information, as well cooperation they receive and reprehended later in the day. They ferent. The police there are said to agents have frequently prevented as proper accountability whereby spect they get from the public. are indeed hard-working, commitbe working, and the people also criminals, even armed robbers the anti-robbery squad men are “My association with SARS was ted, and determined. What is cooperative, maintaining a cordial from terrorising and robbing resiheld accountable for what they do. dated back to 1977 when I was needed is for the government to relationship with the uniformed dents.

Also, people with genuine grievworking in the Department of Pubprovide devices and enabling enpersonnel.

Such commendation is rare. Usuances against the police are encourlic Prosecution,” he said. “My vironment for the anti-robbery The good rapport between resially, the force is castigated for apaged to articulate such grievances. driver used my car for kabukabu (or squad, in order to perform dents in Oyo, Ogbomoso and Okeparently failing to curb criminality.

The effectiveness, impartiality, taxi) and was snatched by robbers optimally.”

Ogun areas of the state, and men of Its men are often accused of comtact and tolerance of these SARS at gun point. I immediately While extolling the virtue of ofthe Oyo/Ogbomoso Annexe of promising their jobs and are thus men were appraised recently by phoned SARS men, and the stolen ficer in charge of SARS, Deputy SARS is unimaginable. perceived to be ineffectual. Bethe state Chief Judge, Justice vehicle was recovered in less than Superintendent Olusola Aremu, The people not only have implicit sides, there appears not to be much Adeniji Badejoko, and the Alaafin 24 hours. Again, there was a robwho she described as a role model to be emulated, the Chief Judge also lauded his initiative and sense of commitment which resulted in the building of a new office complex.

The representative of the Alaafin, and the Basorun of Oyo, high chief Ayoola Layinka I, expressed satisfaction at the performance of SARS men, saying that “their unalloyed sense of devotion resulted in the overwhelming support by the people, hence the need to sustain the •Continued from Page 38 tempo.”

In his address, the state Police on February 14, 2009. The enterCommissioner, Moses Onireti, prising photographer, who is commended the SARS chief for his also a student activist, grossed uprightness and openness in ensurthe highest number of tickets in ing the construction of the new ofthe inaugural edition. He was fice. also the 2nd highest ticket holder Onireti, while urging other offor the 2011 draw. ficers of the command to emulate Speaking with Nation Evening the exemplary conduct of O/C Express afterwards, the lucky SARS, warned officers and men winner said, “I thought of buyagainst misconduct and highing a car this year, but I told myhandedness in dealing with memself it has to be a brand new car; bers of the public. not a Belgium stuff. And to that “Our country is passing through end I worked tirelessly and a critical period and the police passbacked it by faith that the ing through trying times, as a result of serious challenges facing the babylove car is an opportunity country. So, there is need for supthat will not pass me by. I thank port and cooperation between the God my prayers have been an•The car public and the police, in order to swered.” ensure mutual understanding and Oghenekaro explained that he and other working tools to three highest number of tickets from keys, documents and licence of the harmonious relationship”. became photographer as an ama- top customers including Mrs. 2010 to 2012 would automativehicle to the winner by rising In his speech, the O/C SARS, teur when he was a student at Angel Natufe of Angel Photos, cally be given a car. model and a staff of the company, Olusola Aremu, acknowledged the the Yaba College of Technology, who emerged the highest grossHowever, it is now clear that Tarere Obaigbo. Tarere, of the Ford contribution of his late predecesLagos. From that small begin- ing female photographer. that contest would be a straight World Model Nigeria, thanked the sor, Bayeh Ayuba, towards the conning, he explained, he had Looking ahead, towards third fight between the current 3rd cuscompany’s customers for keeping struction of the new complex. grown to a professional with two year of the promo, tagged ‘Sea- tomer in the all time list as the faith with it.

While appreciating the support studios in Warri and Effurun as son 3’ the company annouced a last two winners, who also top In spite of their disappoint- and cooperation of the people towell as outlets in leading fast break away from the lucky draw the bill have been disqualified as ments, colleagues of Oghenekaro wards fighting crime, DSP Aremu food places in the twin cities. norm. Instead, Managing Direc- past winners. later joined in a toast to the new- assured that his squad would alAside the star prize, Babylove tor, Mrs. Osayi Obaigbo disThe high point of the ceremony est car owner in the city, cour- ways fight crime and descourage also gave out laptops, back-ups closed that the client with the was the presentation of the car criminals from terrorising the pubtesy of BABYLOVE. lic.

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Photographers celebrate colleague’s car prize

Alaafin, Oyo residents hail police

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

The minister of state has developed a synergy with institutions in United Kingdom, Taiwan and South Korea for the purpose of developing the capacity of technical and vocational education teachers across the nation to help in setting up training infrastructure

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INISTER of State for Education Nyesom Wike has unveiled the Federal Government’s plans to tackle the Almajiri problem in the North.

Wike said this challenge would be tackled through giving them basic education. The minister said classrooms would be built for the almajiri.

He also said the ministry also plans to develop facilities for girlchild education in the North and out-of-school boy-child in the Southeast and the improve facilities for nomadic education for the children of Fulani herdsmen and those of the itinerant fishermen in the Southsouth.

Wike, at a meeting with all the directors and executive secretaries superintending basic education in the country, including principals of Federal Unity Colleges, said there was need for a feasible time-table to drive basic education.

The meeting took stock of the last six months of basic education.

The principals said Wike has put them on their toes, with his surprise and unscheduled visits.

One principal, whose school is yet to be visited by the minister of state for education, said since she started watching the visits on television, she has been working hard to improve the school in order not to be caught unawares. The minister said his constant visits to schools and agencies were to ensure that resources available to officials were used judiciously for the development of the nation.

According to him, his objective is to ensure that it would no longer be business as usual in the basic education sub-sector because of its importance to the overall development of education in the country.

He noted that once the basic education sector is revived, other levels of education would naturally follow suit.

Indeed, the meeting was an avenue to access the action plans that all the principals and agencies had submitted to the minister of state for education for implementation this year. The assessment was frank and realistic, with credible inputs made on critical areas that must be strengthened for more results to be achieved in the course of the year.

The minister told the meeting that the phased rehabilitation of unity colleges would begin this year across the six geo-political

•Wike (third left) with officials of Highbury College, Portsmouth

Fed Govt to take Almajiris off the streets

By Olukorede Yishau

zones. Besides infrastructure , the minister said he has initiated the process of employing teachers for all the 104 colleges.

Working in concert with experts at the National Educational Research Development Council, the minister of state has worked out modalities to ensure that the curriculum of Federal Technical and Science Colleges are such that they are relevant to the needs of the respective industries, while graduands of the schools who are not unable to find job, should themselves be employers of labour.

These technical schools have been a shadow of themselves in recent years, unable to deliver on their mandate to train the requisite manpower to drive the economy. The minister of state for education said in the next few months, with the complete turn-

around expected in this sub-sector, a million direct and indirect jobs will be created for youths.

To achieve this objective, the minister of state has developed a synergy with institutions in United Kingdom, Taiwan and South Korea for the purpose of developing the capacity of technical and vocational education teachers across the nation to help in setting up training infrastructure and also linking up with different industrialists to help drive the revival.

Principals of Federal and Science and Technical Colleges have been part of the entire process as they were involved in the negotiation and planning to ensure that they implement the plan with their teachers for faster success rates.

Last week, the minister was at Highbury College, Portsmouth in the United Kingdom where he led officials of National Educational Research Development Council, the

Universal Basic Education Commission, the Federal Ministry of Education Directorate of Basic and Secondary Education, Representative of the Forum of State Commissioners of Education and selected principals of Federal Science and Technical Schools. Several areas of cooperation to urgently drive vocational and technical education in Nigeria were reached with the leading vocational training college in Britain.

Similar cooperation agreement had been reached with institutions in Canada and South Korea. At present, some teachers are being trained in Canada due to past recent efforts of the ministry.

The objective of the renewed drive is to grow a new generation of Nigerian youths who will be gainfully employed in different trades such as

Council appointees urged to deliver selfless service

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•Participants at a one-day Town Hall meeting tagged, “Nigerian youth advocacy on deregulation of the oil downstream sector” in Gombe

carpentry, welding, automobile engineering, vulcanizing, electrical technology, fabrication and boat repairs. These tradesmen and women will be supported by a recognized certificate framework that would enable them further their education up to university level whenever they desire to do so.

Wike and other supporting officials have commenced advocacy to ensure an end to the stigma associated with youths who have embraced technical vocations. He believes that once youths are engaged, they would not be readily available to be used by unscrupulous elements to foment insecurity across the nation.

The next few months promise to be an interesting in the basic education sector.

OLITICAL office holders in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State have been advised to develop the right attitude necessary for achieving excellence as they discharge their responsibilities to the people.

This advice was given by the chairman, Lagos State Pilgrims Board, Hon. Abdul-Lateef Abdul Hakeem, at a one-day induction workshop for newly appointed supervisors and special advisers in the LCDA. Hon. Abdul-Lateef said: “You must be responsible to the people who elected you into office by developing the right attitude towards achieving excellence.”

The Pilgrims Board chief urged the council chairman, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, councilors and supervisors as well as the management officers to be positive in the ir speech in the administration of the people of the local government.

Hon. Abdul Hakeem, who delivered a paper titled ‘Towards an effective, efficient and diligent legislative process at the local government, warned the councilors against forming caucuses in the

By Duro Babayemi

house business, as the council chairman is also a member of the Chamber.

“Your business in the House is endorsed with the proclamation by the chairman and ends with his ascent of the bill passed into law,” he said.

Welcoming the participants and facilitators, the LCDA chairman Mr Bamigbetan, said the purpose of the workshop was to orientate and re-orientate the participants on peaceful co-existence necessary for the development of the local government.

Bamigbetan said the workshop was necessary to tutor the participants on the purpose and procedure required to achieve good governance.

In the paper, the Lagos State Auditor-General for Local Government, Alhaji Musiliu Hassan, represented by Director of Accounts, Mr. Mudashiru Olugbile, said budget tracking by the state has helped the local government in the area of better budget performance.

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Nine months after last April’s polls, nothing is settled in Anambra North. The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the legislative seats in the zone are still subjects of litigation or controversy. Correspondent OKODILI NDIDI writes on the tussle between Senators Alphonsus Igbeke and Margery Okadigbo over the true winner of the senatorial seat.

The waiting game in Anambra North A NAMBRA North senatorial zone is the only one without a representative ten months after the inauguration of the 7th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a situation that elicited widespread condemnation from within and outside the zone.

Although the flurry of petitions and media war may appear to have died down, the people of the zone have been gravely short-changed and denied quality representation, which had begun to take its toll on the socio-economic fortunes of the people of that zone.

Painfully, too, time lost in the tenure of lawmakers unlike the Executive arm of government are not re-awarded, implying that if the seventh Senate runs its full course without swearing-in any Senator from Anambra North, the zone will go down in history as a zone that never produced a Senator during the seventh Senate.

Although the Court of Appeal in a judgment that was wrapped in controversy at the end of 2011, ordered the leadership of the Senate to swear-in wife of late Senate president, Majery Okadigbo as winner of the Senatorial election in that zone.

The judgment did not only throw politicians in the zone into chaos, it proved political pundits wrong. Everyone had expected that one of the two major contenders, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke and Prince John Emeka will emerge the representative in the zone.

The question on the lips of observers are, what formed the basis for the Appeal Court judgment, did the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) conduct more than one Primary election in the zone and how many candidates were presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s flag bearer?

Was there an election in the zone? Did the umpire in the election, INEC, acknowledge any winner and issue same with a Certificate of Return? Answers to these

nagging questions, which are bare to all followers of the political puzzle that has come to define the Senatorial election in Anambra North, will help resolve the lingering issues and ensure that the people of the zone will have a representative in the Senate and give credibility to the electoral process and secure our fledgling democracy.

At the first instance, after the January 2011 primary of the PDP, which was keenly contested between Alphonsus Igbeke and Prince John Emeka, a former minister, there was confusion as to who was the authentic candidate a situation that almost polarized the party in Anambra state.

The issue was however laid to rest on March 17 2011 after an Abuja High Court declared Igbeke the authentic candidate of the PDP, having polled the highes vote during the primary.

Igbeke, who was at that time a serving Senator having regained his mandate from Senator Joy Emordi was, after a dramatic delay by INEC, declared the winner of the Senatorial election and consequently issued with a Certificate of Return.

In what appeared like an orchestrated drama that had a semblance of Igbeke’s ordeal before he was sworn-in during the 6th Senate after a Court ruling to that effect, the leadership of the Senate during the inauguration of the 7th Senate, on the strength of a letter from INEC that the Certificate of Return was given to Igbeke without considering a Notice of Appeal and Stay of Execution on the matter, reversed itself in a controversial manner.

The burden of credibility on the refusal to swear-in Igbeke by the leadership of the Senate rests on an alleged disregard for a subsisting judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court which declared Igbeke the authentic candidate, without setting aside the judgment.

The fact remains that since INEC

•Mrs Okadigbo

has not reversed itself on the truth that the PDP won the Senatorial election in that zone, it behoves the relevant body to determine who actually the party’s standardbearer in the election was.

The game plan that culminated in the refusal to swear-in Igbeke as the duly elected senator was a build up of internal crisis by a splinter group in the Anambra PDP, led by one Benji Udeozor who had in a most controversial manner extricated a judgment from an Abuja High Court as the authentic PDP leadership in Anambra state. It was on the strength of this judgment that he went in contravention of the directives of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and conducted a purported primary election in Anambra state for the 2011 elections.

It was the outcome of the illegal primary that the Udeozor-led Exco declared that Igbeke was not the duly elected PDP candidate. But for emphasis and clarity, it should be mentioned that Igbeke never participated in the primary purportedly conducted by the splinter executive committee and could not have been elected on that illegal platform.

•Gov. Obi (middle) flanked by Obi Benneth Okafor, the Obi of Nnewichi (left) and Igwe Kenneth Orizu III of Nnewi (right), who led Nnewi people to thank Gov. Obi for caring for the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

•Igbeke

Another development that nullifies the claims and actions of the Udeozor-led executive council is the manner with which they secured the Court verdict. In 2006 the NWC of the PDP under Vincent Ogbulafor suspended the Anambra state Chairman of the party, Mr. Uchenna Emordi and seven members of his Exco committee which Udeozor was a member.

In August 2008 Udeozor filed a suit at an Onitsha High Court challenging their suspension. In the Suit with Suit no 0/3231/2008, Udeozor prayed the Court to declare as null and void their suspension and declare them the authentic executive committee of the PDP in Anambra State.

In another twist that was said to amount to abuse of Court process, Udeozor and Chuks Okoye in Suit No. CV/24/09 approached an Abuja High Court in 2009 with the same subject matter praying the Court to declare them the authentic PDP exco in the state, a matter that was still pending in a similar Court.

Recognising the consequence of the double filling of the Suit, which was outright dismissal, Udeozor purportedly filed a Notice of Discontinuance at the Onitsha High Court and purportedly signed and stamped by the Assistant Chief Registrar, C. O. Ugolo.

While the battle for the Anambra North continues, some facts have been presented that the Notice of Discontinuance in Suit No 0/23/ 2008 pending at the Onitsha High Court that stopped the dismissal of the Suit No CV/42/09 before Abuja High Court might have been forged.

It was, therefore, contended that the High Court in Abuja gave the judgment in error and since in law something cannot stand on nothing, the Udeozor–led executive committee is said to remain suspended and does not have the legal and constitutional backing to conduct congress or act in any capacity on behalf of the PDP in Anambra State.

The question of how long the non-representation of Anambra North will continue is the prerequisite of the leadership of the Senate which has watched while the seat for the Anambra North Sena-

torial Zone remains vacant five months after Inauguration.

According to Igbeke who described as unconstitutional and gross injustice the continuous delay of his swearing-in as a Senator by the leadership of the Senate, his ordeal is believed to be connected to the disapproval of his person by “the god fathers of Anambra politics.

“In my case, INEC issued me with a Certificate of Return after the elections”, based on the declaration of the Abuja High Court that he won the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary in Anambra North.

According to the Electoral Act in Section (87), at the end of the primaries those who are aggrieved should seek redress from Court of competent jurisdiction, implying that the result that emanated from the primaries is not final.

“Because if it is final, that section (87) won’t have created that room for those who were aggrieved to seek redress from the Court. And as a civilized person, that was exactly what I did because I was aggrieved the way and manner that primary was conducted. And I believe I won that primary. And I have all the evidence to prove that I won that primary that was why I headed to the Court for the interpretation of section (87) of the Electoral Act”, Igbeke submitted.

Igbeke said he went to Court through the originating summons and his opponents were duly served and well represented in the Court, including INEC and the PDP, stating that the process took about two months before the Court in its wisdom declared him the authentic PDP candidate for Anambra North Senatorial zone.

He said that after the election, INEC, based on the Court judgment, issued him with a Certificate of Return but the same INEC wrote a “fraudulent letter” to the leadership of the Senate alleging that he forged the result of the primaries.

As the people wait breathlessly for the judgment of the Supreme Court which will finally decide who represents the zone at the 7th Senate, one won’t but say that the outcome of the drama will go a long way to stabilize or truncate internal democracy in the country’s political party.

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POLITICS

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New helmsman in Adamawa

ATE has placed on the shoulders of a 43-year-old the task of running the affairs of Adamawa State at a momentous point in the history of the state.

Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri who arrived the scene as an elected member of the House of Assembly in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria representing Madagali constituency was little known before internal wrangling in the ruling party led to a change of the Speaker last month. The minority party thus pushed up Fintiri.

Prior to his assumption of office as Speaker, Fintiri was the Minority Whip.

Fintiri who was the Procurement Manager of Mamchi Industries Limited before setting up his own Oil and Gas and estate development, business. Thereafter, he formed a group of youths to oversee the affairs of Madagali Local Government it was that same group that he used to spring surprises during the election.

He moved to Jimeta when he was elected and brought vigour, dynamism and robust intellectual debate in the House. Soon, the young Fintiri was noticed by political heavyweights like Dr. Bamanga Tukur, Admiral Murtala Nyako, Alhaji

By Barnabas Manyam, Yola

Atiku Abubakar, Dr Hassan Adamu, Prof Jibril Aminu, Dr. Jonathan Zwingina and Chief Joel Madaki, who began to take interest in him because of his brilliance and unique ability to carry on from the opposition side. He began playing high profile roles in the House after the end of 2008 when he moved to the PDP and was elected the Deputy Speaker after the change that brought Hon James Barka as the Speaker.

His roles in the House drew him closer to power brokers like Admiral Murtala Nyako who backed him for a second term on the PDP platform.

During the primary elections in Madagali 2011 Fintiri encountered trouble from the original PDP people but Governor Nyako then mandated the then deputy Governor Bala James Nggilari to ensure that Fintiri got elected and he rode to victory in the April elections in a landslide victory beating CAN,CPC, ANPP,UPGA and MRDD candidates.

He was born in 1967 at Gulak and went to Gulak Central Primary School. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Maiduguri in 1992.

Controversies trail Kwara N10b credit facility

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HE express approval granted Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed by the state House of Assembly to access a credit facility of N10billion from a new generation bank has continued to generate mixed reactions. While the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state backed the state government’s move, the opposition parties’ leaders are kicking.

The House had, last week, approved the request of Ahmed to draw N10billion credit facility from the bank.

Projects to be financed by the loans according to the letter read on the floor of the House, include a Vocational Centre at Ajase Ipo, Kwara State University, Malete, Cargo Terminal, Metropolitan Square, Ilorin Metropolis Water Reticulation Projects, Ultra Modern Diagnostic Centre and International Aviation College, Ilorin.

“How can anyone question the importance of the rehabilitation of hospitals, the establishment of an international vocation centre to empower our youths for employment as well as the completion of the Ilorin Metropolis Water Reticulation Project Phase One of which has been completed and is being enjoyed by the people of Kwara State? asked the party’s publicity secretary Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe.

The Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state opposed the idea coming at a time huge allocations from the Federation accrue to the state government.

The duo of AD chairman and secretary, Buliaminu Aliu and Michael Ologunde said there was no need for the loan and, if indeed there was a need, the government must indicate a practical breakdown of how it would be expended in order to secure public support for the move.

They said: “The news that Governor Ahmed wants to borrow N10 billion on behalf of Kwarans came to us as a rude shock. The governor’s step to borrow such a huge amount of money is premature because the Federal Government had recently announced the release of N559.1 billion as December 2011 monthly allocation to both states and local government areas in Nigeria.

“Certainly over N10 billion will be Kwara State’s after sharing. We also

•Ahmed From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

learnt that Kwara state government got about N9 billion as November 2011 allocation which means that the state government is richer by N20 billion or so within two months. Then, why should our governor want to borrow N10 billion?

“We remember that the former governor borrowed N9 billion towards the tail end of his tenure to execute certain projects. We believe Ahmed is not borrowing the N10 billion to complete or execute the same as his predecessor had earlier done. This is because the projects are still new and covered by guarantee. The AD Kwara chapter urges the governor to stop the idea of borrowing N10 billion on behalf of the good people of the state.

“We also appeal to members of the Kwara state House of Assembly to reject, instantly, such proposal from the governor.”

Reacting to the development, the state Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), through its chair, Kayode Olawepo, said a resounding no to the loan.

Olawepo said: “We wish to dismiss as dubious, sheer profligacy and mindless disrespect for the Kwara public the decision of the illegitimate PDP government in the state to borrow N10billion to, as they claim, sponsor some phoney developmental projects.

The hurried manner with which the PDP-dominated House of Assembly rushed to approve the request, without any thorough debate or committee works, raises many questions.

Minister of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike believes that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is heading towards transforming Nigeria to the benefit of Nigerians. In this interview, Wike says the administration will surmount security challenges. OLUKOREDE YISHAU met him.

Jonathan will resolve security challenges, says Wike

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HAT hope do we have for national development this year, especially in view of growing insecurity?

The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is heading towards ensuring that Nigerians from all walks of life completely benefit from the transformation agenda. All the plans of the government are geared towards developing a nation that all Nigerians will be proud of. The President is providing the right leadership and all the ministers and key government officials are providing the needed support for the goals of the administration to be attained. One thing is absolutely clear, the government of the day has commenced the total revival of the nation and this is a known fact.

In addition to security challenges, there was the recent strike on fuel subsidy removal...

You will agree with me that all nations of the world have different levels of security challenges and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

However, in our case, the government is on top of the situation and concrete steps have been taken to resolve the security challenges that now face the nation. With the steps that President Jonathan and the security agencies have taken, these security issues will be totally resolved in a no distant future. Our advantage as a nation is that the President has the capacity to drive the process towards the return to peace in the nation. He has proven to be a calm and calculative leader with the instinct for the right and futuristic leadership needed by the nation at this critical period in its history. For the complete deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, it has been agreed by all that it is the right thing to do.

Nobody has spoken against the need for this policy shift because of the benefits that will accrue to the nation’s economy. What people have talked about is the methodology. That being the case, it is in the best interest of the nation that this policy is implemented to its conclusion so that all sections of the population will benefit from the investments of government that will arise from the complete deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum sector. Indeed, key sectors of the economy like education and infrastructure will benefit, leading to the overall development of the nation. The deregulation of the downstream sector of the economy will help the nation far better than the present state of affairs.

For education, what are specific areas that you think Nigerians will benefit?

The administration is working towards making education very functional and a means of empowering the people, especially the less privileged. You will agree that education is the best way to empower a large percentage of the population.

The government of President Jonathan is concerned with the creation of jobs and that is what we intend to do with education. The government has started the process of developing technical and vocational education in a manner to create millions of jobs for Nigerian youths. What we are doing is to ensure that the curriculum of the vocational and technical colleges is aligned with the respective industries and realities of the economy to create the needed jobs for graduands of these schools. The

• Wike

government has deliberately worked out a scheme to depart from the past when technical and vocational schools did not serve the purpose for which they were set up. We are moving towards a well trained workforce skilled in different trades who will be self reliant and also in position to work in industries, medium scale organisations and factories to earn a respectable living for themselves. The government is deemphasising the over reliance on certificates, rather than the capabilities of skilled tradesmen. Technical and Vocational Centres will be established across all the six geo-political zones, while the existing technical colleges will be fully strengthened this year to provide functional technical and vocational education to Nigerian youths.

How can these colleges that have failed to deliver quality education in the past start to develop now?

Like I said earlier, we are taking a fundamental look at the curriculum of these schools and ensure that the curriculum is in a state that graduands of these schools can be employable and employers of labour. Furthermore, the government will work in the coming months to build the capacity of teachers in vocational and technical schools to make them deliver the kind of education needed to generate the nature of employment that the administration is interested in. Also, we will have a fundamental shift in the quality of teachers in these vocational and technical colleges. We intend to attract teachers with industry and practical experience to help in training the students to be practical oriented against the current situation where training is theoretical in nature. Some of our technical colleges are not equipped with the right equipment to train our students, but we will remedy that in selected schools in the course of this year.

You visited Highbury College, Portsmouth, a renowned technical and vocational institution in the United Kingdom, what is responsible for this?

My visit to this reputable institution is at the instance of the school’s management. They wrote to the ministry seeking partnership to help in developing the nation’s technical and vocational education. After necessary investigation, we accepted the invitation. I visited the school with the Executive Secretary of National Educational Research Development Council, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, the chair-

man of the Forum of State Education Commissioners, the director of Basic and Secondary Education and two principals of technical colleges.

The aim was to drive home the complete transformation of the nation’s technical and vocational education. Our desire is to build a strong international network which will assist us make our vocational and technical education truly functional. We have involved the states, the schools and different implementing agencies to ensure that we get it right. We are interested in creating millions of jobs by providing the right training to our youths and this we will drive to its logical conclusion. At Highbury College, Portsmouth, which incidentally is administered by a Nigerian, we saw a down to earth system of vocational and technical education that helps to uplift less privileged members of their community, without robbing them of their dignity. We will tap from the positives of the programmes of this school as we have started to build areas of possible collaboration, especially in the capacity building of our vocational and technical teachers. We are also reaching our to different schools and experts in Asia and Europe to ensure that our technical education becomes functional in all ramifications.

Beyond this renewed drive on vocational and technical education, what next for basic education generally?

Remember that at the close of last year, I met with all the major stakeholders driving the nation’s basic education. I received the different action plans for 2012, which I demanded from them in the fourth quarter of 2011 and we extensively discussed the implementation of these plans. We have set in motion the implementation of aspects of the distilled plans with the intention to ensure that all Nigerian children of school age have access to quality education. This is the dream of President Goodluck Jonathan that Nigerian children should have access to quality education and he has already made the situation right with the budget of 2012 geared towards that direction. This year, we also hope that we will uplift a reasonable number of Federal Unity Colleges to centres of excellence to be emulated by states, private owners and non governmental organizations. Before the end of the first quarter, all stakeholders of universal basic education at the federal, state and local councils will meet to chart a better way to improve access to basic education, especially by encouraging the states and local councils to play their respective roles.

Last year, you conducted two governorship primaries, what is your impression of democracy at the party level?

Indeed, democracy at the party levels exists only in the Peoples Democratic Party. Like you said, I organised the primary election for PDP in Adamawa and Sokoto States to elect the party’s candidates. These were transparently done and the party in these states waxed stronger. We hope from the unity that these primaries generated for the PDP, it will head into the elections stronger and will expectedly win.

The other parties did not live up to the standard of transparency set by the PDP in electing its candidates and that is why the PDP will continue to be Nigeria’s strongest party by a long distance.

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SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

‘How low cost machines can boost industrial growth’ C HINA has been the envy of the developed world, because of its ability to copy technology. Chinese products are seen in many industries, from kitchen-ware and car tyres to electronic circuit boards.

According to Anietie Mandela, Technical Manager, Emedion Technical Company, a local machine fabrication outfit, the feat of China can also be replicated here. He belongs to the local club of talents in fabrication.

Mandela believes China will no longer be the “default location” for low-cost plants to supply the nation’s market.

He provides fabricated parts for manufacture of complex components and assembly of agricultural machines. The fabrication sector is bursting with potential, as there is a wide gap between resources and production, he said.

He further said his company is fabricating machines to reduce poverty and provide an important source of employment to unemployed Nigerians. Mandela is a big help for plastic-molding and machine-tool industries.

With N50, 000, he said he can fabricate a manually operated pop ma-

By Daniel Essiet

chine that is gas operated.

The package will include 12.5 kg cylinder with gas, 1x25 kg of imported popcorn raw material, one gallon of groundnut oil, a kg of sugar and a sealing machine.

He said a school leaver can make a living selling pop corn.

For him, there is hope for Nigerians planning to start small businesses as fabrication technologies are becoming smarter and evolving in a way that makes machines more stable and accurate, making the production of parts more consistent.

His dream is to create fabrication centres throughout the nation, develop true solutions, tailored to specific manufacturing requirements.

With his works, Mandela believes he has something to lift more families out of poverty.

He is proud of being part of an evolving industry laying the foundation for long-term growth of the manufacturing industry.

Mandela builds machinery to customers’ specifications, such as conveyers, hoppers, wall coverings, extraction units, all built to health

• Mandela testing a yoghurt machine.

and safety specifications.

He specialises in production machinery modification, fitting, overhauls and repairs - all of which are to the highest standards.

For him, metal workmanship requires years of experience to deliver the right type of performance.

Mandela wants Nigerians to use locally fabricated machines to make more money and profit.

Even if it’s a small idea, imple-

menting it into the fabrication process can make a significant difference. Technology is developing daily and new inventions in manufacturing equipment present challenges to fabricators.

The industry is booming as new tactics are found, which help in mass production. Mandela is ready to fabricate machine moulds that will reduce work load and tension in the manufacturing process.

Polish with high-end coatings that stop corrosion and keep the equipment free from rusting.

He wants to use metal fabrication to help the food industry to come up with long lasting equipment for its manufacturing and caters to the requirements of today’s growing food industry.

He is targeting low income Nigerians who need cheap machines to start their businesses.

Govt urged to create opportunities for SMEs

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• The Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Airport Hotel, Mr James Adenigba and the best staff of the year 2011, Mr Oluwole Olatunji, at a forum in the hotel.

HE Federal Government has been urged to create more business opportunities for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and encourage measures to enhance their participation in high-growth sectors.

President, Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN), Prince Saviour Iche, said small enterprises can generate local wealth, promote creativity and preserve market niches.

He underscored the importance of SMEs to economic growth and employment through a variety of directives.

Also, Iche said the development of SMEs is constrained by some factors.

He said entrepreneurs face many problems, such as lack of access to credit, too much bureaucracy, unstable policies and regulations, insecure land rights and so on. In addition to high interest rates, he said there is the

Expert advocates impact investment

• Boer

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HIEF Executive Officer, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Dr Wiebe Boer, has advocated impact investing to support poverty alleviation.

Boer spoke at Lagos Business

School (LBS) on Impact Investing during a career session organised by the MBA Career Office.

He said the industry’s challenge is translating new investment into successful ones that will tackle community poverty.

This, he expained, require a collective commitment across the industry to develop a system that includes impact measurement systems, platforms for learning and collaboration, and support mechanisms, so that the most effective enterprises receive the capital they need to grow.

He defined impact investing as the use of for-profit investment to address social and environmental challenges. Unlike with corporate social responsibility (CSR) where a portion of profits is used to ‘give back’ in an effort to create social

impact, he explained that impact investing creates social impact while making a profit. This investment represents a paradigm shift for philanthropy in Africa. He said the Tony Elumelu Foundation aims to use it to drive African economic growth from within.

With global problems growing faster than solutions and fewer charities able to support CSR projects, he said more organisations need to focus on impact Investing

With global problems growing faster than solutions and fewer charities able to support CSR projects, he said more organisations need to focus on impact Investing.

The foundation in partnership with an African investment has firm set up Mtanga Farms Limited in Tanzania to deliver both commercial and social returns. It also intends to use this as a signal to other African investors for how they can deploy capital to achieve direct economic and social value, he said.

He added that the Tony Elumelu Foundation is an Africa-based and African-funded not-for-profit institution dedicated to the promotion and celebration of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa.

• Iche

challenge of non-availability of medium and long-term loans.

For micro and small businesses, he noted that their own funds remain the main financial source.

Access to financing, he said, is critical for SMEs. While the number of new enterprises is high, he noted that sustaining them is a major challenge.

Iche said the association’s reason for collaborating with the government is to make the sector more visible, interconnected and competitive.

He said micro entrepreneurs are suffering harassments from the police, while moving their raw materials on the road. This, Iche explained, contributes to high transportation and other related costs.

Iche called on the government to support SMEs’ development of high-value added products, increased access to markets, and address barriers that impact the ability of SMEs to do business.

He said many small firms are bringing innovations to the market place and that they have to be recognised as the engines through which the growth objectives of the nation can be achieved.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRURARY 1, 2012

48

INSURANCE

Operators stall insurance database take-off F

OR fear of the competition, some operators are shying away from the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database (NIID) proposed by the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA).

The centralised database, expected to be a repository of the industry’s data, was scheduled to take off last year, but it did not because of the inability to secure data from operators.

Although the Chairman, NIA Mr Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, said the association has got some of the data required to start a pilot project, investigations revealed that most firms are yet to upload

Stories by Chuks Udo Okonta

the data.

It was gathered from sources close to the governing council of the NIA that many insurance companies are not ready to submit information on their business for fear of losing out to competitors.

The operators argued that since the NIA failed to make the market agreement of ratings work, its ability to coordinate the database project is doubtful.

They expressed fears that disclosing information on their business to other insurers will

amount to giving their competitors opportunity to hijack their businesses.

The industry had in the last quarter of 2010 set out to develop and implement a centralised database system, which will be repository of all insurance policies.

While the NIA had at the beginning of 2011, said the association would be focusing on setting up the consolidated data base during the year and that this would be operational before June 2011, almost seven months after, the association has nothing to show for its promises.

Courteville Investment, listed in the Commercial/Services Sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is partnering the NIA to provide the database solution.

Courteville’s Executive Director, Strategy and Projects, Femi Niyi, said: “Courteville Investment Plc has been contracted as an Information Technology (IT) solutions provider to design, develop and manage a centralised database solution for NIA.” Apart from serving as authentic repository of the insurance industry data, the system supports the production of insurance certificates (initially for motor and marine) that are verifiable and traceable at the point of issuance and also at any point during its life cycle to the centralised database.

Another aim of the centralised database is to provide mecha-

nisms for the verification of insurance certificates issued or presented as evidence of insurance for motor and marine at the first instance and other classes of insurance.

Besides, it is expected that the solution will help in providing qualitative analysis of industry performance and serve as a source of historical data for benchmarking, while also enabling the financial information of NIA members to be rendered electronically for ease of analysis.

By the time the centralised Insurance Database Solution becomes fully operational, it is expected that it will help in eradicating fake insurance, minimise multiple fraudulent claims and most importantly provide authentic, qualitative and comprehensive data on insurance for national policy formulation.

‘Insurers under performing despite huge capital’

I

• The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel flanked by Group Chairman Cornerstone, Insurance Plc, Mr Adedotun Sulaiman (right) and the Managing Director, Livingstone Magorimbo at an event in Lagos

NAICOM settles for last year’s industry operational guidelines

T

HE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) will adopt last year’s insurance operational guidelines to ensure continuity in the industry’s reform, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel, has said.

Daniel said change of guidelines will not aid the desired reform of the industry. He said the adoption will strengthen most of the policies being implemented by operators.

Every policy stated in the guidelines will be strictly implemented this year to help promote the ongoing reform in the industry, he said.

Daniel said the industry has moved very slowly, as it has been walking in the past years, with an attempt to jog. The industry will no longer jog but run to meet public expectations, he said.

In the guideline, NAICOM mandated insurance and re-insurance companies to submit three copies each of duly audited financial statements and annual returns in prescribed forms on or before June 30, this year.It noted that in rendering annual returns, composite insurers will adhere strictly to the provision of Section 19 of the Insurance Act 2003 regarding separation of accounts and reserve funds. NAICOM said

late filing of annual returns shall in accordance with section 26(3) of the Insurance Act, 2003 attracts a fine of N5,000 per day for each day of default.

It said: “Failure to file annual returns as prescribed by Section 26 of the Insurance Act, 2003 constitutes a ground for cancellation of operating licence. An insurer shall be deemed to have failed to file its annual returns if the provisions of S.26 of the Insurance Act 2003 are not met 12 months after the end of the financial year.”

It said cash flow statements shall be prepared and presented on direct method basis, adding that each company shall at the time of submission of annual returns and audited financial statements pay the following filing fees:- Composite insurers N200,000, life or general N100,000 and reinsurers N200,000.

It noted that all insurers and reinsurers shall obtain approval of their annual returns and accounts from it before consideration by the shareholders at the companies’ annual general meeting (AGM) and distribution of dividends to shareholders.

It noted that in calculating the solvency status of insurance andreinsurance companies, the

admissible assets and liabilities shall be as prescribed in Section 24 of the Insurance Act, 2003 and shall include: deferred acquisition cost and prepaid reinsurance cost.

It said in computing the solvency margin of reinsurance companies, the minimum capital base applicable to general business shall be N6 billion.

NAICOM noted that all insurers and reinsurers shall have investment policies duly approved by the board, adding that such policies shall recognise the nature and differences between funds available to the insurers/ reinsurers.

It said all insurers/reinsurers shall structure their investment portfolio to meet the minimum requirements of the Insurance Act 2003 and minimise risk that could arise from over-concentration of assets in terms of security issued, type and maturity as follows: not more than 20 per cent of the current accounts balances and bank placements shall be placed in any one bank, subject to the liquidity required for relevant obligations of the insurers/reinsurers, the following limits should be observed with regards to investment-type decision on insurance funds.

NSURERS are not doing enough business with the huge capital in their coffers, the President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Dr Wole Adetimehin, has said.

Adetimehin said the industry has a large capital base, which exceeds those of most companies in Africa and across the globe. He said unfortunately the capital is not fully deployed to create more businesses.

He said: “The capital base of companies in Nigeria is reasonably large, more than what you will find on this continent. Even in Europe and America, our capital base is larger than most firms.

The facts remain that we are not doing enough business with it.”

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), he said has through the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) created an opportunity that would enable the sector contribute more to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Adetimehin called on operators to leverage on the initiative to boost their operations, adding that operators must not wait for an Act of parliament before they begin exploration of opportunities provided by the initiative.

He said it is left to the operators to develop marketing strategies, while NAICOM supports them.

“I believe NAICOM has created the path for everybody to fall in

line and take advantage of this good initiative. I want to praise NAICOM for that bold initiative.

A lot more is expected from the operators. Because, by doing this, the insuring public would benefit as their lives and properties would be covered. From our institute, we have been canvassing for people to take advantage of the initiative,” he added.

Adetimehin said the low insurance in the country calls for collaborative effort to reposition the profession and the industry. He noted that despite the perception of insurance profession by the public, insurance practitioners and the industry regulation should be committed to changing the face of the industry.

“No doubt, the insurance profession is not immune from the vagaries of economic and political challenges in Nigeria and harsh business environment that has become a big threat to business and professionals. Going by the developments, it is high time all practitioners rose up to this common challenge by charting a common destiny,” he said.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel, urged the operators to redouble their effort to deploy the over N500bilion capital in their coffers. He berated insurers over their N200billion premium income, which he said is far below the industry’s capital base of about N500billion.

Sovereign Trust partners firm on medical travel

S

OVEREIGN Trust Insurance Plc said it is partnering a London-based underwriting firm to provide adequate medical travel insurance cover for travellers.

It said the product is designed to provide cover for an intending traveller for a period of time while the inidividual is away from his/her home or business to a foreign country Its Divisional Head, Technical, Mr Tajudeen Rufai, said: “The need to include the medical travel insurance to the list of products under the stable of the company cannot be overemphasised at this point in time. We have carefully studied and watched the growing demand for this particular product before accepting to underwrite it. Management wanted to be sure of the kind of collaboration that

will benefit and add value to the class of the insuring public that the product will address before launching out.

“Our choice of partnership with one of the foremost insurance companies in the United Kingdom is to ensure that our customers get real value and service for their money whenever they go to any of the company’s branches nationwide.”

He urged travellers who might want to take the cover for their trips to make clarifications if they are in doubt when applying to get the cover for their journey.

Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management, Mr Segun Bankole said, the company is poised to delight Nigerian travellers with its own brand of medical travel insurance that has fully taken off.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

49

THE NATION

INVESTORS Banks can’t get investors for subsidiaries S

OME banks are still finding it difficult to get investors for their non-core banking functions, five months to the expiration of the deadline for doing to so.

In the new regime introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the ongoing banking reform, banks are required to concentrate on core banking functions. The model requires banks to either sell all non-core banking businesses or form a holding company to hold such non-core banking businesses such as insurance, asset management and capital market operations. The deadline for the exercise is June 30.

Five banks - First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, and Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc have opted to keep their subsidiaries. Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Zenith Bank and Wema Bank, among others, are pursuing divestments from nonbanking subsidiaries.

Reliable sources close to the divestment processes said the continuing slowdown and investors’ apathy at the stock market have hindered banks’ abilities to secure firm buy bids from indigeneous investors.

Investment banking sources said the escalation in the recent spate of bombings and perceived sociopolitical and economic instability in Nigeria have adversely affected foreign investors’ interests in the market.

The sources added that the economic crisis in several advanced and emerging economies and uncertainties about the prospects of the global economic recovery have also hampered the sales bids.

The sources said the sluggish market does not provide enough capacity for the realisation of fair values for those assets, thus banks are caught now between meeting deadline and securing good values for their investments in the subsidiaries.

The sources said disposal of the subsidiaries under a declining market situation might further negatively impact the balance sheets of most banks, which have had to make provisions for the subsidiaries, many of whose book values were higher than their market values.

Spokesman for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammed Abdullahi, said the banks could

I

Stories by Taofik Salako

still find amenable deals before the deadline noting that the apex bank was not considering extension of the deadline yet.

According to him, it’s too early to start talking of extension of the deadline as banks still have ‘months’ to sell their subsidiaries and comply with the new regime within the stipulated timeline.

Some 80 subsidiaries of banks including three quoted companies are up for sale in what promises to be the largest divestment activities within the same time frame.

These include Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI), Law Union and Rock Insurance and Intercontinental Wapic Insurance, which are all quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and valued at more than N6.5 billion.

At the last count, only two banks have been able to complete the sale of two subsidiaries. GTB had completed the sale of its 67.68 per cent majority equity stake in Guaranty Trust Assurance (GTAssur) Plc to

Assur Africa Holding (AAH). The shares were sold at N1.76 per share for a total consideration of N11.910 billion, approximately $76 million. GTAssur thus ceased to be a subsidiary of GTB. Diamond Bank had earlier sold its insurance subsidiary-ADIC Insurance Limited to new core investors.

According to The Nation check, GTB still has four subsidiaries to sell including its share registration company- GTB Registrars Limited.

Diamond Bank still has six subsidiaries to sell while Wema Bank and Skye Bank will sell seven subsidiaries each. Wema Bank owns majority shareholding in GNI while Skye Bank owns major equity stake in Law Union and Rock Insurance.

With the acquisition of Intercontinental Bank, Access Bank Plc is expected to sell some 11 subsidiaries including two of its own subsidiaries and nine subsidiaries of Intercontinental Bank, which owns Intercontinental Wapic Insurance.

Sterling Bank is also expected to sell five subsidiaries including its

high-profile capital market subsidiary- Sterling Capital Markets Limited and share registration company- Sterling Registrars Limited.

Also, Zenith Bank may offer eight subsidiaries for sale including Zenith Registrars Limited while Fidelity Bank is expected to sell a subsidiary.

Ecobank Nigeria Plc, which acquired Oceanic Bank International, may offer 14 subsidiaries for sale including six subsidiaries taken over from Oceanic Bank.

Besides, where the new core investors for the nationalised banks decide to divest from non-core banking activities, MainStreet Bank, formerly Afribank Nigeria Plc, may offer for sale its flagship share registration companyAfribank Registrars and four other subsidiaries. Keystone Bank, previously known as Bank PHB, will sell four subsidiaries.

Market analysts said the option of consolidating the subsidiaries into group holding structure does not appeal to many banks because the subsidiaries contribute less to

the overall performance of the group. Non-bank subsidiaries contribute less than 25 per cent to total performance in nearly all the banks that have opted to divest from the subsidiaries. In many instances, they were sources of huge provisions that adversely affected group performance.

Analysts noted that many of the subsidiaries, especially share registration companies, were created to service the interests of the parent company during the stock market boom of 2004 and 2007 when banks were awash with money from new issues.

Market analysts said the divestments, especially from insurance companies, may lead to mergers and acquisitions as some core investors might explore opportunities of buying two medium-size companies to form a major operator.

A source said AAH, which just completed purchase of GTAssur, might be interested in buying another insurance company to create a relatively large company in line with its commitment to play big in the Nigerian insurance industry.

•From left: Country Manager, West Africa, Bhatia Anand, Director, Kennedy Anyiam-Osigwe, both of Honeywell Automation Control and Solutions; Computer Teacher, SOS Children’s Village School, Oluwakemi Aina and Head of School, Dada Olusanya during the presentation of computers to the school in Lagos

Sovereign bonds hit N278b in January

NVESTORS staked about N278 billion on Nigerian sovereign bonds at the secondary market last month as most investors sought security in the fixed-income and risk-free securities.

Turnover at the Over-the-Counter (OTC) bond market, where bonds issued by the Federal Government are traded, stood at a weekly average of N69.4 billion as investors gradually built up stakes on sovereign bonds amidst uncertain recovery of the equity market.

Bonds issued by the government, otherwise known as sovereign bonds, are regarded as the highest

grade of fixed-income securities and they are technically without any risk. However, national failures, especially with the European crisis, have seen a downgrade of sovereign bonds as almost risk-free instruments.

Turnover at the OTC bond market totalled 305.96 million units valued at N277.71 billion in 1,350 deals, representing an average weekly turnover of 76.49 million units worth N69.43 billion in 338 deals.

Investors were focused on sovereign bonds, with short-term maturity period, showing cautious bal-

ance between locking into fixed income and tying down of capital in relatively low-yield securities should the equity market rebound.

There are 27 outstanding sovereign bonds on the secondary market with a nominal value of N3.54 trillion.

The most active bond during the month was the eight FGN Bond 2014 Series 1, a N300 billion shortterm three-year bond which carries a coupon rate of 10.5 per cent and is due for redemption by March 18, 2014. The bond was issued in March 18, 2011.

Interests, or coupons, due on eight

FGN Bond 2014 Series 1 are payable twice a year on March 18 and September 18, which partly explained investors’ appetites for the short-tenored bond.

Week-by-week analysis showed that the investors staked N10.87 billion on 10.91 million units in 23 deals in the first week of the month.

The eight FGN Bond 2014 Series 1 was the most active bond then with a turnover of 1.9 million units valued at N1.90 billion in three deals.

This was followed by the 6th FGN Bond 2012 Series 2, a 10.5 per cent coupon bond, with a turnover of 1.82 million units valued at N1.82

billion.

Turnover picked up in the second week to 96 million units worth N90.76 billion in 218 deals. The most active bond during the week was the seventh FGN Bond 2013 Series 1, a 5.5 per cent coupon bond due for redemption in February 2013, with a turnover of 38.14 million units valued at N37.71 billion in 21 deals. This was followed by the eight FGN Bond 2014 Series 1 with a turnover of 26.1 million units valued at N26.41 billion in 19 deals.

In the third week, turnover con•Continued on page 50

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

50

THE NATION INVESTORS

IHS targets N161b turnover by 2015 I

HS Nigeria Plc, Nigeria’s most capitalised telecommunication services company, has projected that it could hit a turnover of about N161 billion by 2015.

General Manager, Corporate Services, IHS Nigeria Plc, Jimoh Umoru, said the company was on the path towards achieving a revenue target of $1 billion by 2015 as it consolidates its clientele and leadership in the telecom infrastructure subsector.

He said the company has the potential to attain its growth targets citing the growth trend of the company and evolving capacity of the telecom industry.

He, however, called on the government to provide amenable environment for the development of telecoms, noting that adequate power supply would significantly reduce cost and enhance quality of

telecommunication services.

“If we can rectify our power problem, we will not need to deploy power generating sets to various base stations across the country. As a result, the cost of providing telecommunication services will drastically reduce. This would automatically translate into making calls at cheaper rates,” Umoru said.

According to him, inadequate electricity is a major contributor to the high tariffs customers are paying today because service providers as well as infrastructure providers, such as IHS would need to put generating sets on each of their sites which costs run into millions of Naira monthly.

He added that the government should come up with regulations that will improve quality of services by ensuring that only the best operators are licensed to op-

ing business has become easier because of telecommunication services.

“Let me give you a simple illustration of how telecom has made business transactions a lot easier in Nigeria. If, for instance, you deposit money in a bank and you have already subscribed to SMS alert service, you immediately get alerts on transactions relating to your account. With a service like this courtesy the advent of telecoms, you no longer have to take a trip to the bank to confirm cash deposits, mobile banking services are now available, which make it possible for businesses to operate without the movement of physical cash,” Umoru cited.

According to him, today, people now make huge transactions and get credit alerts as payment confirmation without the risks and delays associated with waiting for

erate in the industry.

Umoru, who doubles as the company secretary, said telecom operators have been looking at ways to make telecoms services available to people with disabilities.

“We are looking at that direction towards ensuring that telecommunication services are designed in ways that will be beneficial to all humans. Even though the company I work for is not one of the licensed GSM operators, we believe we can still champion the cause in order to add value to that segment of the society through our clients that are operators. It is my hope that telecommunication services will be designed in the nearest future to help physically challenged people,” Umoru said.

He emphasised that telecoms has appreciablygiven a boost to economic growth, noting that do-

cash transfer confirmations. This simple illustration shows the extent to which telecommunications can hasten economic growth, and that is what is happening in Nigeria today.

“In terms of instant help services, we have online medical services. In case of emergencies, you can access easy medical services where you can call a doctor via particular services on your phone even if you don’t have the number of any particular doctor. This applies to getting instant help from the Police, fire service Ambulance Services among others,” Umoru noted.

He pointed out that telecoms has enhanced security services as security enforcement agencies have used phone services to track kidnappers, recover stolen vehicles and also call for help during armed robbery operations.

Sovereign bonds hit N278b in January •Continued from page 49

tracted to 64.25 million units worth N55.57 billion in 239 deals with the 8th FGN Bond 2014 Series 1 regaining the lead as the most active bond with a turnover of 19.64 million units valued at N19.98 billion in 47 deals. The seventh FGN Bond 2013 Series 1 placed second with a turnover of 11.95 million units valued

at N9.31 billion in 92 deals.

Investors more than double their stakes on sovereign bonds in the last week with a turnover of 134.8 million units worth N120.50 billion in 870 deals. The most active bond was the seventh FGN Bond 2013 Series 1 with a turnover of 45.2 million units valued at N41.57 billion in 395 deals. The eighth FGN Bond 2014 Series 1 followed with a

ment banking arm of Sterling Bank Plc, Sewa Wusu, said sovereign bonds usually secure value even in the event of economic depression.

According to him, the only alternative investment outlets in the period of rapid selling pressure in the stock market are the fixed income instruments.

“These types of instruments preserve capital and yield fixed

turnover of 37.75 million units valued at N35.54 billion in 315 deals.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema, said investors have showed stronger preference for bonds as against equities due to the assurance of double-digit returns inherent in many bonds.

Economist and investment adviser, Sterling Capital, the invest-

FACTS

TO

amount of interest. This explains why the bond market is a veritable haven for investors. That is why most investors are fleeing from the capital market to pitch tents in the bond market.

This scenario so created in financial parlance is that of flight to safety or flight to quality. Capital must be preserved,” Wusu said.

FACTS

RT Briscoe vs DN Tyre & Rubber: Running on flat tyres

T

HE automobile sector has undergone tremendous changes in recent years, bringing the six-decade old industry into almost a comma. Faced with inclement manufacturing environment, unfavourable fiscal policies and almost uncontrollable dumping of often-substandard products, the recent economic slowdown has further compounded the challenges of automobile companies. While private automobile-related companies such as Michelin Tyre entirely closed down their Nigerian operations, the quoted companies have struggled to remain afloat.

RT Briscoe Plc and DN Tyre & Rubber Plc are the only surviving automobile companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). RT Briscoe, a 55-year-old company, mainly engages in sales and service of automobiles. DN Tyre, which was incorporated in 1961, engages in sales of automobile tyres. The two companies bear the tell-tale signs of the deterioration in the automobile sector, but there are marked differences in their performances over the years.

Sales Generation Both RT Briscoe and DN Tyre have witnessed continuous decline in sales in recent years. RT Briscoe’s turnover dropped by 24 per cent in 2009 and further contracted by one per cent, indicating average decline of 12.5 per cent over the years. DN Tyre has fared worse with average annual decline of about 44 per cent in recent years. Turnover dropped by 60 per cent in 2010, worse than 28 per cent decline recorded in 2009.

Profitability DN Tyre’s operations have only been generating losses over the years. Both actual and underlying profit items have remained in the red with average annual pre-tax loss margin of 144 per cent. Average profit per unit of sale was 264 per cent and -24 per cent in 2009 and 2010.

RT Briscoe has maintained posi-

FACTS TO FACTS

Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth 314.45 Return on Assets Return on Equity

Facts to Facts 2010 % -1 -17.3 -56 10.1 1.3 -47 1.6 4.4

RT Briscoe 2009 Average % % -24 -12.5 -8.65 -83.2 -69.6 12.1 11.1 1.0 1.15 -31.1 -39.05 3.8 8.8

2.7 6.6

Pre-tax profit margin (RT Briscoe)

DN Tyre & Rubber

Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth Return on Assets Return on Equity

2010 % -59.6 -96 -24.4 -96.5

12

2009 % -28

Average % -43.8 0.00 -550 -323 0 -264 -144.2 -532.4 -

380

0 196

Pre-tax profit margin (DN Tyre)

By Taofik Salako

tive underlying profitability, although actual profit has been on the downtrend. Gross profit margin stood at 12.1 per cent and 10.1 per cent in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Pre-tax profit margin improved from 1.0 per cent in 2009 to 1.3 per cent in 2010. But actual profits before and after tax have dropped consistently over years.

Actual Returns With positive net earnings, RT Briscoe has sustained positive returns, albeit at declining values.

Return on total assets dropped from 3.8 per cent in 2009 to 1.6 per cent in 2010. Return on equity also halved from 8.8 per cent in 2009 to 4.4 per cent in 2010. On the other hand, DN Tyre posted a return of

12 per cent on negative equity funds in 2010 as against 380 per cent in 2009.

The Bottom-line While the grand plan to diversify into tyre manufacturing by DN Tyre was frustrated, allegedly by unfavourable tariff structure that encouraged importation, RT Briscoe has managed to diversify

its operations and minimize the adverse impact of the slowdown in purchase of vehicles. RT Briscoe has thus managed to sustain profitable operations and positive returns to shareholders, although these have continued to dwindle.

DN Tyre writhes in mounting losses, negative equity funds and negative returns to shareholders.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

51

THE NATION INVESTORS CORPORATE SCORE BOARD

Presco: Strong growths

P

RESCO Plc witnessed significant growths across key performance indices in the immediate audited business year as increasingly efficient internal cost management and improved capacity utilisation impacted positively on overall performance.

Audited report and accounts of Presco for the year ended December 31, 2010 showed that average profit per unit of sales tripled, enabling the agricultural company to increase cash payouts by 150 per cent. With 35 per cent growth in sales and 33 per cent decrease in operating expenses, net earnings leapt by 357 per cent.

The report indicated a wellrounded performance with actual profit and loss and underlying profit and balance sheet indices showing marked improvements in profit-making capacity, efficiency, liquidity and balance sheet structure. In spite of the 150 per cent increase in cash payouts, dividend outlook was almost twice than the previous year while the company’s financial leverage was zero in 2010 as against 14 per cent in 2009.

However, there was less working capital in the immediate past year as the proportion of net available capital to the size of the business dropped from 21 per cent to 17 per cent.

Financing structure Presco’s shareholders’ funds increased from N2.62 billion to N3.52 billion. Paid up share capital however remained unchanged at N500 million, representing one billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

Total assets dropped from N7.59 billion to N7.38 billion while total liabilities reduced by 22 per cent from N4.97 billion to N3.86 billion.

With these, the company achieved appreciable improvement in its financing structure with a more amenable proportionate allocation of equity resources and other assets. With no short term bank loans and 34 per cent increase in equity funds, financial leverage dropped from 14 per cent in 2009

Fiscal Year Ended December 31 Nmillion Profit and Loss Statement Main Business Segment Total turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Operating expenses Interest and other incomes Finance expenses Pre-tax profit(loss) Post-tax profit (loss) Basic earnings per share(kobo) Gross dividend Cash dividend per share (kobo) Net Assets per share (kobo) Balance Sheet Assets: Fixed assets Total long term assets Trade debtors Current assets Total assets Liabilities: Trade creditors Bank loans Current liabilities Long-term liabilities Total liabilities Equity Funds Share capital Total Equity Funds

• MD, Presco Plc, Mr Uday Pilani

By Taofik Salako

to zero in 2010. The proportion of shareholders’ funds to total assets improved from 35 per cent to 48 per cent. Long-term liabilities/total assets ratio stood at 52 per cent as against 65 per cent while the proportion of current liabilities to total assets improved from 26 per cent to N7.2 per cent.

Efficiency Presco witnessed substantial reduction in cost of business alongside significant improvement in employee productivity. Total cost

2010 12 months

% change

of business, excluding financing charges, reduced to 74 per cent of total sales compared with 90 per cent in previous year. Employee productivity improved tremendously with average pre-tax profit per employee increasing from N1 million to N4 million. Average number of employees increased marginally from 329 persons in 2009 to 333 persons. Total staff costs meanwhile inched up to N364.43 million as against N351.46 million, indicating that average staff cost per employee remained almost

2009 12 months

5,382 5,386 3,089 2,297 908 109 165 1,334 1,095 110 500 50 352

34.4 34.5 37.2 31.0 -33.2 114.9 54.5 294.6 357.4 358.3 150.0 150.0 34.4

4,005 4,005 2,252 1,753 1,359 51 107 338 239 24 200 20 262

5,914 5,914 172 1,467 7,381

24.7 24.4 -47.4 -48.3 -2.8

4,741 4,754 328 2,836 7,590

137 0 534 3,328 3,862

-87.9 -100.0 -73.0 11.5 -22.2

1,132 379 1,980 2,986 4,966

500 3,518

0.0 34.1

500 2,623

unchanged at N1.1 million.

Profitability Presco showed a robust profit outlook with both actual and underlying profitability measures indicating a well-rounded performance. Profit before tax margin increased from 8.4 per cent to about 25 per cent. Gross margin had dropped marginally from about 44 per cent to 43 per cent. Return on equity rose from 9.1 per cent to 31 per cent while return on total assets increased from 4.5 per cent to 18 per cent.

Total sales had increased by 35 per cent from N4 billion to N5.4 billion due solely to improved local demand and market share.

Presco, which engages in development of pal m oil plantations and milling and processing of derivable products, currently sells all its products in Nigeria. Cost of sales stood at N3.1 billion in 2010 as against N2.25 billion in 2009, representing an increase of 37 per cent.

Gross profit thus rose by 31 per cent from N1.75 billion to N2.3 billion.

With 33 per cent decline in administrative expenses from N1.36 billion to N908 million as well as a double in non-core incomes, operating profit jumped from N444.9 million to N1.50 billion. Interest expenses however rose by about 55 per cent from N107 million to N165 million. With these, profit before tax jumped by 295 per cent from N338 million to N1.33 billion while profit after tax leapt by 357 per cent from N239 million to about N1.1 billion.

With net earnings on the high side, the company increased gross dividend from N200 million to N500 million, indicating a dividend per share of 50 kobo for 2010 as against 20 kobo for 2009. Basic net earnings per share had increased from 24 kobo to N1.10, which indicated a dividend cover of 2.2 times in 2010 as against 1.2 times in 2009. Net assets per share also improved from N2.62 to N3.52.

Liquidity The company’s ability to meet

emerging financing obligations improved markedly in 2010. Current ratio, which relates current assets to relative liabilities, improved from 1.43 times in 2009 to 2.75 times in 2010. This technically implies that should all the shortterm financing obligations cumulate within the same period, the existing easily convertible assets are thrice such liabilities. Debtors/ creditors ratio stood at about 126 per cent in 2010 as against about 29 per cent in 2009. However, the proportion of working capital to turnover dropped from 21 per cent to 17 per cent.

Governance and structures Presco, a fully integrated palm oil company, is owned majorly by the Societe d’investment pour l’Agriculture Tropicale anonyme (Siat), a Belgian company which holds 60 per cent equity stake. First Inland Bank/Fidelity Finance Company also hold 8.11 per cent equity stake. Altogether, Presco is owned by nearly 10,000 shareholders. The company’s board and management have been largely stable.

Mr. Pierre Vandebeeck, a Belgian, still chairs the board. However, Mr. Christophe Minguy resigned as managing director and was replaced with the former chief financial officer, Mr Uday Pilani. Presco broadly complies with code of corporate governance.

Analyst’ opinion The performance of Presco in the immediate past year is commendable. It shows, on one hand, how untiring tilling of the ground can produce bounteous harvest while good operating environment, on the other hand, can give strong fillip to corporate performance. Presco had benefited from the N200 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s agricultural intervention programme.

With recent expansions that doubled the milling and processing capacities of the company as well as continuing planting of new hectares, recent investments appeared to have put Presco in good stead for sustainable growth.

Debt/Equity ratio

0.0

14.4

Profitability Gross profit margin Pre-tax profit margin Return on total assets Return on equity Dividend cover (times)

42.6 24.8 18.1 31.1 2.2

43.8 8.4 4.5 9.1 1.2

Efficiency Pre-tax profit per employee (Nm) Staff cost per employee (Nm) Cost of sales, operating exp/Turnover

4.0 1.10 74.2

1.0 1.10 90.2

Liquidity Current ratio Working capital/Turnover Debtors/Creditors

2.75 17.3 125.9

1.43 21.4 28.9

52

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

53

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

54

EQUITIES

Banks, breweries lift stock market

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-1-12 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 12 2 2 19

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.79 24.25 8.65

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 210,000 105,000.00 505,317 399,244.77 9,000 207,360.00 1,200 10,380.00 725,517 721,984.77

Quotation(N) 7.26

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 994,667 7,081,461.60 994,667 7,081,461.60

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.20

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 52,000 26,000.00 110,119 137,215.27 162,119 163,215.27

Quotation(N) 5.03 2.43 4.10 1.50 9.95 13.99 7.00 3.49 0.93 2.00 8.65 0.50 0.53 12.45

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,799,455 14,038,477.59 20,525,735 48,526,514.25 9,822,921 40,002,634.00 27,826,926 40,433,740.77 20,156,387 198,106,203.26 17,711,796 247,479,246.24 1,509,646 10,617,123.42 6,964,591 23,776,320.74 3,019,221 2,787,465.15 42,960,836 86,010,792.13 27,369 224,973.18 680,990 340,495.00 1,293,742 685,773.26 24,200,741 294,676,466.29 179,500,356 1,007,706,225.28

Quotation(N) 230.00 5.34 92.45

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 662,731 150,825,917.68 2,779,900 15,225,940.00 1,205,641 111,775,971.95 4,648,272 277,827,829.63

AIR SERVICES Company Name NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 44 44

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 23 26 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 246 47 24 93 575 425 34 114 20 159 13 12 19 258 2,039 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 84 59 232 375

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 49 7 22 45 123

Quotation(N) 10.90 5.24 119.00 45.23

Quantity Traded Value 825,971 25,025 270,461 534,981 1,656,438

of Shares (N) 8,968,698.73 127,531.00 32,161,486.50 24,205,120.06 65,462,836.29

Quotation(N) 8.45 15.22 1.07 0.91

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,200 17,690.00 122,231 1,903,562.52 20,160 20,563.20 1,000 870.00 145,591 1,942,685.72

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC I. P. W. A. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 28 3 1 34

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 18

Quotation(N) 2.42

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 491,083 1,185,035.76 491,083 1,185,035.76

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

Quotation(N) 9.29

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 54,000 500,120.00 54,000 500,120.00

Quotation(N) 1.47 6.43 5.89 28.37 5.52 0.60 29.21 29.51

Quantity Traded Value 13,083 10,000 6,050 571,813 2,957 7,500,783 277,615 375,338 8,757,639

Quotation(N) 31.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 120,207,475 4,806,540,141.00 120,207,475 4,806,540,141.00

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC CHELLARAMS PLC JOHN HOLT PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 3 5 81 2 71 58 58 282

T

HE Nigerian stock market recovered yesterday as major banks and breweries rallied against the downers and firmly placed the market on a positive return for the first month of the year.

All key broad indices and most sectoral indices trended upward as gains of highly capitalised banking and breweries stocks neutralised losses suffered by petroleum-marketing and manufacturing stocks.

The All Share Index (ASI), the common value index that tracks all quoted equities, improved from 20,731.72 points to 20,875.83 points. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted companies rose by N45 billion to N6.579 trillion as against its opening value of N6.534 trillion.

With the uptrend yesterday, the stock market closed the first month with a yearto-date return of 0.70 per cent, a marginal but positive return that the market could build on in the second month.

The NSE 30 Index, which gauges the 30 most capitalised companies, appreciated to 936.78 points as against its opening index of 928.22 points. The NSE Banking Index improved from 268.16 points to 273.98 points while the NSE Food and Beverages Index closed higher at 1,675.42 points compared with its opening index of 1,663.09 points.

However, the NSE Oil

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

and Gas Index slipped from 219.90 points to 215.03 points as investors dumped oil majors’ shares. The NSE Insurance Index also inched downward from 124.47 points to 122.82 points.

Guinness Nigeria led the bullish stocks with a gain of N9.50 to close at N230.

Lafarge Wapco Cement followed with a gain of 88 kobo to close at N45.23.

First Bank of Nigeria rallied 47 kobo to close at N9.95 per share. Zenith Bank and NCR Nigeria added 44 kobo each to close at N12.45 and N9.29 respectively.

Nigerian Breweries rose by 37 kobo to N92.45 while Guaranty Trust Bank added 15 kobo to close at N13.99 per share.

Oil majors topped the losers’ list with MRS Oil and Gas leading the slackers with a loss of N2.66 to close at N50.59 per share. Conoil followed with a loss of N1.47 to close at N27.98.

Oando dropped by 94 kobo to close at N17.97.

Unilever Nigeria lost 39 kobo to close at N29.51.

Cadbury Nigeria and BOC Gases dropped by 32 kobo each to close at N29.51 and N6.51 respectively. International Breweries slipped by 25 kobo to close at N5.34.

Vitafoam Nigeria lost 19 kobo to close at N3.66 while PZ Cussons Nigeria dropped by 13 kobo to close

of Shares (N) 19,377.86 61,100.00 33,880.00 16,293,887.75 15,524.25 4,334,472.35 8,278,122.79 11,124,091.21 40,160,456.21

CONSTRUCTION Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 20 20

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 1.34

Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 40 59 84 56 26 14 98 385

Quotation(N) 46.00 10.20 5.05 5.05 60.10 3.22 4.11 430.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 22,808 1,007,161.50 320,495 3,300,419.72 843,028 4,244,648.39 13,927,380 70,426,373.21 299,421 18,152,532.83 1,638,000 5,220,440.00 422,505 1,756,687.20 207,834 91,271,247.70 17,681,471 195,379,510.55

HEALTHCARE Company Name EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 6 7 16 1 6 1 40

Quotation(N) 0.67 0.80 22.70 2.87 8.17 1.03 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 14,200 9,088.00 144,491 114,383.07 53,753 1,234,646.03 94,812 264,884.76 11,808 91,748.16 47,593 46,641.14 1,000 500.00 367,657 1,761,891.16

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 7 13

Quotation(N) 6.51 3.66

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 251,000 1,636,834.00 133,000 486,780.00 384,000 2,123,614.00

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC e-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC IHS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 5 2 8

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-1-12

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 700.00 500 700.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO

Quotation(N) 0.50 4.94 2.59

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 40,000 20,000.00 200,000 940,000.00 30,000 77,700.00 270,000 1,037,700.00

Quotation(N) 0.54 0.75 1.99 0.59 1.20 0.50 0.50 0.55 0.50 0.50 0.88 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 556,806 1,415,010 564,934 1,402,223 227,049 35,000 523,222 190,400 5,000 46,443,300 241,800 120,000 7,334 28,928 3,300 51,764,306

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 33 33

No of Deals 30 14 8 7 8 1 1 2 1 29 3 2 1 1 2 110

No of Deals 5 5

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 936,407 756,046.77 936,407 756,046.77

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 1,000 500.00

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 3 5

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 30,000 15,000.00 200,000 100,000.00 230,000 115,000.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 28,437 14,218.50 28,437 14,218.50

Quotation(N) 1.69

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,186,466 5,392,294.48 3,186,466 5,392,294.48

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 57 57

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 11 7 4 13 86 12 140

Quotation(N) 50.59 27.98 2.81 12.18 133.00 17.97 190.00

Quantity Traded Value 108,870 301,751 162,260 2,650 9,107 1,273,117 5,972 1,863,727

of Shares (N) 5,510,067.50 8,442,992.98 453,573.00 30,687.00 1,162,330.90 22,896,086.09 1,134,695.55 39,630,433.02

PRINTING & PUBLISHING of Shares (N) 294,602.31 1,055,257.50 1,124,218.66 814,222.65 269,178.80 17,500.00 261,611.00 104,720.00 2,500.00 23,221,650.00 212,784.00 60,000.00 3,667.00 14,464.00 1,650.00 27,458,025.92

LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.81

MEDIA Company Name DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

at N28.37 per share.

Turnover stood at 394.92 million shares valued at N6.50 billion in 3,837 deals.

The turnover was largely driven by transactions on Julius Berger Nigeria, which were probably due to the planned divestment by the foreign core investor.

Julius Berger accounted for 120.21 million shares valued at N4.81 billion in 20 deals. Bilfinger Berger AG, the majority core investor in Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, had last year indicated plan to substantially reduce its shareholding in the Nigerian company.

Bilfinger Berger AG holds 49.87 per cent equity stake in Julius Berger Nigeria. Julius Berger Nigeria has 1.2 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each with market capitalisation of N37.8 billion out of which Bilfinger Berger holds 598.4 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

Other substantial shareholders include the Lagos State and Benue State, which hold 6.99 per cent and 5.27 per cent respectively through their investment companies.

Although details of the divestment were not yet available, there were indications that other substantial shareholders and directors of the company might be interested in acquiring the divested equities.

Banking subsector meanwhile remained the most active with a turnover of 180.04 million shares worth N1.01 billion in 2,073 deals.

Insurance subgroup recorded turnover of 51.76 million shares valued at N27.46 million in 110 deals.

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 48,000 24,000.00 48,000 24,000.00

Company Name LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 1 4

Quotation(N) 2.95 3.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 150,000 442,500.00 500 1,550.00 150,500 444,050.00

Quotation(N) 12.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,825 69,729.25 5,825 69,729.25

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 7

Quotation(N) 0.52

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 125,000 64,500.00 125,000 64,500.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 34 34

Quotation(N) 10.25

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 535,585 5,483,068.27 535,585 5,483,068.27

3,835

394,922,038

6,489,047,273.45

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

N

IGERIA’s foreign re serves rose to $34.3 bil lion by January 26, netting over $1.4 billion in two weeks, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The reserve, which stood at $33.9 billion on January 13, increased to $34.2 billion in January 25 and closed the next day at $34.3 billion. Before then, it had shuttled between $31 billion and $32 billion on September 26 and October 6, 2011 respec-

Foreign reserves hit $34.3b Stories by Collins Nweze

tively.

CBN statistics indicated that the reserves was $37 billion as at July 4, 2010, and rose to $68 billion in August 2008 before the global financial crises impacted negatively on it.

The apex bank said it is concerned about the sustained low level of the reserves in the face of

RenCap backs fuel subsidy removal

T

HE Renaissance Capital (RenCap) has said that Fed eral Government’s removal of fuel subsidy makes economic sense.

The investment and finance company said in most African countries, subsidised or free resources are not used efficiently, adding that the reduced fuel subsidy is ‘economically sensible reform’.

The firm recalled in a statement that since 2000, the authorities have announced seven petrol price hikes, and each time the price hike was negotiated down following strike action.

It said that government will remain committed to the reforms and is expected to deploy the saved funds for more productive expenditure. Also, the analyst said it expected inflation to rise to the midteens in 2012, from a projected average of 11 per cent in 2011, if the petrol subsidy is completely removed.

“The impact of the petrol price hikes could go beyond simply pushing up transport costs. It is also expected to affect the cost of producing goods and services. In particular, the prices of food, clothing and footwear, furnishings, as well as housing and utility costs may

tick up on the back of the scrapping of the petrol price subsidy. In addition to higher petrol prices, the cost of producing electricity from petrolpowered generators is also expected to rise,” RenCap said.

According to firm, the impact of the higher petrol price on food will resonate with most Nigerians, as it makes up half of the cost of the average Nigerian consumer’s shopping basket.

“Our back-of-the-envelope estimates, which account for petrol’s and power’s share of the total cost of production and the share of the population directly impacted, suggest to us that transport costs make up about 10 per cent of the total cost of producing food.

“As only a fraction of Nigeria’s food produce is processed, we think the cost of electricity used to process food is likely about five per cent of the total cost of production. The next big cost in the consumer basket is that of housing and utilities, including electricity, which constitutes almost 20 per cent of the consumer basket, RenCap said.

Analysts said that with a backdrop of recent forex market pressure, and still-elevated government spending, the risk of secondary price increases is substantial, even given the

•Nets $1.4b in two weeks

oil prices and the reserves.

Besides it noted that there are also concerns about the delay in implementing fundamental economic decisions such as the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will shore up reserves. It is estimated that simply passing the PIB and removing subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will add at least $10 billion to national reserves annually.

According to the CBN, the petroleum subsidy for 2011 alone is estimated at over $16 billion. A substantial part of oil production

higher oil output, higher oil exports volume and higher oil prices.

Given that the current oil price level may not be sustained in the event of a slowdown in global economic recovery, the CBN said there is urgent need to pursue policies that would foster macroeconomic stability, economic diversification as well as encouraging foreign capital inflows.

The apex bank noted that there are concerns about the likely impact of a double dip recession on

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

(about 40 per cent) is currently in deep offshore wells.

‘Nigeria’s $41b public debt tied to developmental projects’

N

The loans, he explained come from multilateral, international and domestic borrowings.

Rewane said: “I think that Nigeria now has a phobia for borrowing, both in their personal life, corporate life, public life and even in their speculative life like going to the stock market.

“No country has been able to develop without debt. We have to understand that we cannot develop without borrowing.”

The DMO said in a statement that out of $41 billion debt, foreign borrowing accounted for $5.63 billion, while the domestic debt accounted for the remaining balance running into about $35.5 billion (N5.317 trillion).

Prior to this, the debt was about $39 billion, which the agency said was sustainable since it fell short of the international threshold of 40 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic

IGERIA debt, which cur rently stands at $41 bil lion, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO) is tied to developmental projects.

The Managing Director, Partnership Investment Company Plc, Victor Ogiemwonyi said unlike in the past when Nigeria’s debts were tied to consumption, the majority of the debt are now committed to infrastructure funding, especially power.

However, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said that Nigeria’s debt level is too low for its economic expansion. He said that the country’s 17 per cent debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), ‘is a disaster.” He said that other countries including the United States of America has a 100 per cent debt to GDP ratio.

Product (GDP), which must not be surpassed.

The Director-General of the DMO, Abraham Nwankwo explained that the current level of Nigeria’s debt is sustainable.

However, the $41 billion debt if higher than the nation’s current budget of N4.9 trillion (about $32 billion) and the foreign reserves of $33 billion. Nigeria exited the Paris Club debt in 2006 after paying $18 billion.

There is worry that debt profile is accumulating again, but the authority says it is not.

Nwankwo said the Federal Government was making conscious efforts to ensure the country did not relapse into unrealistic and unsustainable debts, stating that the DMO had made giant steps in the democratisation of public debt in the country.

DATA BANK Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

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

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

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

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 31-1-12 SYMBOL NCR FIRSTBANK REDSTAREX DIAMONDBNK BAGCO GUINNESS NAHCO ABCTRANS AIICO ZENITHBANK

O/PRICE 8.85 9.48 2.31 2.32 1.62 220.50 6.97 0.50 0.52 11.01

C/PRI CE 9.29 6.95 2.42 2.43 1.69 230.00 7.26 0.52 0.54 12.45

CHANGE 0.44 0.47 0.11 0.11 0.07 9.50 0.29 0.02 0.02 0.44

LOSER AS AT 31-1-12 SYMBOL CHEVRON CONOIL OANDO VITAFOAM LIVESTOCK CUSTODYINS UBA BOCGAS INTBREW PRESTIGE

O/PRICE 53.25 29.45 18.91 3.86 0.83 2.09 2.10 6.83 5.59 0.92

C/PRICE 50.59 27.98 17.97 3.66 0.79 1.99 2.00 6.51 5.34 0.88

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

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

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

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

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

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

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

CHANGE 2.66 1.47 0.94 0.19 0.04 0.10 0.10 0.32 0.25 0.04

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

56

NEWS Two killed in Delta From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

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MEMBER of the Udu Central Vigilance group and a security man attached to Okuku Layout were yesterday killed by suspected robbers in Udu Local Government of Delta State.

The leader of the vigilance group, Prosper Erhinyore, said at about 2:15 am, he got a call from a resident of Okuku Layout that some hoodlums were operating in the area.

“I sent four men to the scene but before they got there , the gunmen shot Oghenetejiri Kupa , who hailed from Ujewu in Udu Local Government. He died on the spot.

“Three other members were injured. They have been taken to the hospital.”

Police spokesman Charles Muka said he has not been briefed. But a police source at the Ovwian/Aladja Police Station confirmed the incident.

‘No religious crisis in Edo’

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ELIGIOUS leaders and monarchs in Edo State have said the partial torching of a school near a mosque in Benin City, the state capital, was instigated by political hoodlums.

At a meeting with Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the stakeholders agreed that the violence recorded during the fuel subsidy removal protests had no religious undertone.

The Serikin Hausawa of Benin, Alhaji Isa, said: “The Hausa community has been protected by the host community as though we were

indigenes.

“It is unfortunate that the nationwide strike was taken over by street urchins.”

The Otaru of Auchi, Haliru Momoh, called for tan Inter-Religious and Inter-Ethnic Group Council.

President of Benin Catholic Archdiocesan Laity Council Rev. Humphrey Iriabe, the Enogie of Evbuobanosa/Abudu, Prof Gregory Akenzua, and the Isekhure of Benin, Nosakhare Isekhure, said faith teaching should be included in the nation's academic curriculum

Pure water now N20 in Cross River From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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ACHET water, popularly known as pure water, now sells for N20 in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

A statement obtained by The Nation yesterday entitled: “Notice of increase in sachet water" by the state secretary of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Prince Eldred Offiong, reads: “As a result of the withdrawal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government, there has been a sharp increase in the production cost of sachet water nationwide.

“To continue to be in business, the association is compelled to increase the price of sachet water by only 50 per cent. Thus from N5 per sachet to N7.50 per sachet.

“A bag of 20 will now cost N150 ,with effect from today .”

Following this development, retailers have already started selling for N20 per sachet since Monday.

It was learnt that a sachet was supposed to sell for N15, but a visit to many shops in Calabar showed they were selling it for N20. But two sachets sell for N30.

'Obong stool still within our authority'

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HE Etubom's Traditional Council (ETC) of the Obong of Calabar has said the Obong's stool is within its authority.

The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, was sac ked by the High Court in Calabar on Monday.

The Chairman of the council, Etubom Bassey Okor Bassey Duke, on behalf of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, said: ”We appeal for calm and urge that no one should take matters into their own hands, for this interesting episode shall pass away.

“We also reaffirm that the

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

Obong's stool is within the authority of the Etuboms' Traditional Council of Efik Kingdom.

"You will recall that Calabar was the host of the first Supreme and Appeal Courts in Nigeria, and following in this tradition, we are firm believers in the Rule of Law, the right to fair hearing, transparency, due process, equity, fairness, truth and adherence to peaceable conduct.

“We therefore await the full text of that ruling before deciding on the appropriate course of action.”

Don't plead for Igbinedion, Oba warns From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa, has warned friends of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, to desist from seeking the palace's forgiveness on his behalf.

Igbinedion was ostracised from the palace in 2008 for giving beads to some visiting dignitaries and engaging in what was regarded as “anti-palace activities”.

He was stopped from participating in all palace activities.

The monarch, in a statement by Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, said the Esama has been advised on what to do to seek the palace's forgiveness.

The statement reads: “The Oba of Benin has directed that this statement be issued to advise the individuals who claim to be friends of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion that he was told long ago that he knows what to do to seek forgiveness and not to send individuals to plead for him.

“We would like to call on all the friends of the Esama to advise him to go and do what he has been advised to do.”

•Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (second left); Deputy Governor, Alli Olanusi (right); Speaker Samuel Adesina (second right) and Deputy Speaker Dare Emiola at the presentation of the 2012 budget by the governor to the Assembly in Akure…yesterday

Soldiers arrest four suspected pipeline vandals M EN of the Operation Thunderstorm in Edo State have arrested four persons suspected to have vandalised pipelines at Ikpeshi in Akoko-Edo Local Government.

The suspects were arrested when they were loading crude oil from a broken down tanker into another tanker at about 12:30am last Friday.

Commander of the Operation Thunderstorm Lt Col. Mustapha Bashir said the security outfit impounded 17 tankers used by vandals in the last six months.

Items recovered included one generator, one locally made single barrel gun and a dagger.

A Toyota Sienna, a Toyota Hiace bus, and two tankers

•Five held in Delta

From Osagie Otabor, Benin and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

marked XS 311-LND and XD 453-MAP were also recovered.

The suspects, Jimoh Abu, Moses Audu, Elamah Idris and Benedict Momoh, denied being members of a syndicate.

Momoh and Idris said they were members of the State Pipeline Protection Committee and that they went out that night to investigate activities of the suspects when the soldiers swooped on them.

Audu said he was a member of local vigilance group

and that he went there to collect money from the suspects for securing the broken down tanker when he was arrested.

Abu claimed that his vehicle broke down near where the vandals were operating.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a chief and four others for possession of illegal petroleum products.

The Delta State Commandant, Amos Andekin, yesterday in Asaba said Chief Akpochi Solomon (from Otukpo in Benue State), Mallam Abubakar Ishaiaku, Agbobu Innocent, Benjamin

Umukoro and Mallam Yusuf Ibrahim were arrested on January 28 at Olua Ossissa, Ndokwa East Local Government by the corps anti-vandalism squad.

Andekin said the suspects confessed that the product was loaded in Bayelsa State enroute Kano or Benue states for sale.

The NSCDC boss said the illegal products were loaded in a 33,000 litre tanker with registration number XA 695 KJM. According to him, the suspects had no waybill and other documents necessary to convey such products.

Solomon claimed he was going to sell the product to a construction company.

Andekin said the suspects would be charged to court.

Tension over moves to dissolve local councils in Edo

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HERE is anxiety among executives of the 18 local governments in Edo State over moves by the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state to prevail on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to dissolve them.

The decision for the dissolution of the local councils, according to sources, was reached at a state executive meeting of the ACN. However, the party's State Chairman, Thomas Okosun, confirmed that the dissolution of the council chairmen

From Osagie Otabor,Benin

was discussed but that they are yet to write the governor on the matter.

The sources said a letter signed by officials of the ACN has been written but it could not be confirmed whether it has been sent to Oshiomhole.

The transition committee chairmen were inaugurated after Oshiomhole dissolved the council executives in 2010.

Among reasons for the dissolution was non-fund-

‘The sources said Ize-Iyamu wants to remove the Odubu loyalists. But the transition committee chairmen are also fighting back.’ ing of party activities by the councils.

Sources said there is a power tussle between Deputy Governor Pius Odubu and the ACN Southsouth National Vice-

Chairman, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on the choice of Oshiomhole's running mate in the July governorship election.

The sources said IzeIyamu wants to remove the Odubu loyalists.

But the transition committee chairmen are also fighting back as they vowed that the party leaders would not succeed.

It was learnt that attempts by the Chairmen to meet with the governor at his Iyamho hometown at the weekend was unsuccessful.

Amaechi, Omehia know fate in 48 days

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HE reconstituted Election Petitions Tribunal will conclude its sittings and rule in 48 days, in the petition involving Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Celestine Omehia of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Abdulahi Mohammed Liman, yesterday, assured that the petition would be given accelerated hearing.

The sitting was held amid tight security provided by policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

Amaechi (first respondent); his deputy, Tele Ikuru, (second respondent); the PDP (third respondent) and the In-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

dependent National Electoral Commission, INEC (fourth respondent) were sued by Omehia (first petitioner) and APGA (second petitioner).

The tribunal was reconstituted as a result of the judgment of the appellate court, which ordered that Omehia's and APGA's petition must be retried on its merit.

At yesterday's pre-trial sitting, Justice Liman said the final report of the pre-trial session would be made available to the counsel on Monday.

He also said the trial would begin on Monday.

The tribunal Chairman said each counsel would be given 15 minutes to cross-examine witnesses.

Omehia and APGA were represented by James Ezike; Amaechi and Ikuru by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); PDP was represented by Ighodalo Imapegbelo (SAN); and INEC had Dike Udenna as lead counsel.

Ezike told the tribunal that he would no longer inspect voting materials at INEC office.

He said he would call 13 witnesses in four days.

Fagbemi said he had listed 70 witnesses and might call 30 or less in five days.

There will be interpreters as well as forensic examination of ballot papers and other voting materials.

Imapegbelo told the tribunal that he had listed 69 witnesses, with 14 to be called in four days, but without interpreters.

A “single independent ex-

pert” would also be called, with forensic examination of ballot papers and other electoral materials used in the 4441 polling units across the state.

Udenna said he would call seven witnesses in four days, without interpreters.

Liman ordered that INEC should allow counsel to the first, second and third respondents to inspect ballot papers and other electoral materials used during the April 2011 governorship election.

The tribunal's order, which Liman assured, would be ready yesterday, must be served on INEC, today, with the electoral commission granted two days to make the required documents available, while the inspection would be done on February 3 and 4.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

57

NEWS ‘Commissioner still in prison’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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DO State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice Osagie Obayuwana is still remanded at the Benin prison on Sapele road.

This was confirmed by an official of the Nigerian Prisons Service yesterday.

The official said Obayuwana was being kept in one of its cells.

Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court in Benin on Monday ordered that Obayuwana be remanded for alleged contempt of court.

The order was given following the government’s non-compliance of an interlocutory injunction the court gave in a suit involving the government and a private investor, Churchgate Industries Limited.

Justice Hobon said Obayuwana would remain in custody until the government is able to provide an affidavit of compliance with an order the court earlier issued.

The judge adjourned the matter till March 20.

The National Conscience Party (NCP) has described the order as ‘judicial rascality and politicisation of the judicial system.’

It said Obayuwana was remanded on account of no wrong traceable to him.

The party, in a statement by its state chairman, Ogba Edward Victor, said the order was made in 2003 when Obayuwana was not the AttorneyGeneral and that no record existed that the legal processes were served on him when he assumed office in 2009.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Obayuwana to resign from office.

It said it was no longer proper for him to continue in office, following his remand in custody.

Uwazuruike to Igbo leaders: you are callous L

EADER of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Ralph Uwazuruike has lambasted Igbo political leaders for asking Ndigbo to stay back in the North.

Igbo leaders, comprising the five Southeast governors, deputy Senate president, deputy speaker, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, among others, met last weekend and resolved that Ndigbo should not evacuate the North.

Reacting to the resolution which has caused heated debate among Ndigbo, Uwazuruike described it as “wicked, insensitive and borne out of selfish political interest”.

He said it is “sacrilegious” for the leaders to ask Ndigbo to stay back in the North when they are being killed daily.

Uwazuruike challenged the Igbo political leaders to show evidence of the security provided for their kinsmen in the North.

The MASSOB leader said the group would provide transportation and security to ensure that Ndigbo who are trapped in the North are evacuated safely to the East.

He said he has opened a refugee camp in Okwe, Imo State, for those who do not have a place to immediately

•Urges Ndigbo to leave North •Opens refugee camp in Imo

‘We'll not avenge killings’ From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

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BONYI State Governor Martin Elechi has said the Ndigbo would not avenge the killings of their kinsmen in the North.

Elechi said the calls by some Igbo leaders for Igbo to avenge the killings would lead to the disintegration of the country.

He said the Igbo can live anywhere in the country. The governor spoke during a Town Hall meeting by the government.

“Not even in the most civilised society do you have an environment totally free of crime but I want to remind you that the number of Ndigbo who have died in the North are not as many as the number of Ebonyians who died in Ezillo. So, where do you run to that you will never have another crisis?

“Asking Igbo to retaliate or come home because of the killings in the North is a retrogressive step. That call is to put to an end the nation, I say no to that. Nigeria is for all of us and not for some of us.

“The only solution is to embrace peace and cultivate the habit of peace. Retaliation is not in our dictionary and we must wipe from our memory the issue of retaliating.”

Elechi announced the ban on street trading and hawking on some roads within the capital, adding that plans have been concluded to relocate the Abakaliki rice mill and the timber market to new designated sites.

From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

relocate to.

His words: “To say that Ndigbo should stay in the

North to show that North is a free zone is sacrilegious.

“If you say that, relocate your family to the North.

“I believe in leadership by example, it is not people who want to trade with the lives of Ndigbo because they want to stay in Government.

“Some of them have been in government for 40 years and have nothing to show for Ndigbo.

“It is sacrilege for Ndigbo to be buried in mass graves daily. Nigeria is no longer safe for us.

“They want to impress President Jonathan but the lives of Ndigbo are more important than any position.

“I cannot support anybody at the expense of Ndigbo. I am the only person who can say it, apart from Ojukwu.”

The MASSOB leader said all Ndigbo in Nigeria and Diaspora will observe a sitat-home during the funeral for the late Biafran leader, Emeka Ojukwu.

He said Ojukwu will be jointly buried by the Nigerian government and Biafran veterans having served in "both states" as a military officer and Head of State.

Uwazuruike dismissed the reported threat by Boko Haram members to bomb Ojukwu's funeral, saying MASSOB will provide adequate security.

We’re growing, says Amaechi

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said major developments are spreading to other areas outside Port Harcourt, debunking the impression that Rivers State is a one-city state.

Amaechi said this during an inspection of the new Greater Port Harcourt City.

The governor said: “Port Harcourt is sprawling and we want to control development and build a new city and we decided to call it the City Greater Port Harcourt City.

“There is a need to have discipline, law and order in developing the city.

“We will not allow anyone to recklessly develop anything he wants in the city anymore.”

The new Greater Port Harcourt City, according to the governor, traverses a vast expanse of land which the government obtained from eight local government s: Port Harcourt City, Obio/ Akpor, Ikwerre, Etche, Eleme, Oyigbo, Okrika and Ogu/Bolo.

•From left: Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Commissioner for Works, Callistus Ilozumba, Chief Executive Officer, Inter Bau Construction Company, Nath Okechukwu and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili during the inspection of Odekpe-Atani-Ossomala- Ogwuikpele road

PDP local govt aspirants sue Obi, ANSIEC

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OLLOWING the delay in the conduct of local government election in Anambra State, the chairmen and councillorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have sued Governor Peter Obi and the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).

Also joined in the suit are the Federal Government and the ANSIEC Chairman, Prof. Titus Ezeh, who is also in court to contest his removal as the chairman of the commission.

They are asking the court to compel the government and ANSIEC to conduct local government elections in the state within three months.

The applicants also requested the court to give an

•Court adjourns till Feb 22 ANSIEC budgets N624m for council polls From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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HE Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has budgeted N624 million for local government elections in the state.

ANSIEC Commissioner (Logistics and Operations) Sylvester Okonkwo said the commission was alive and not dead as being speculated.

He said an arrangement was in top gear for the local government elections which he said had eluded the state for the past 14 years.

According to Okonkwo, “election is a process that requires a lot of things to be done and that is what we are doing internally now.

“We are having a three-day workshop for the workers on basic electoral process, the resource persons are drawn from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

order compelling the Federal Government and the

state to stop spending local government funds accruing from the Federation Account, until democrati-

cally elected councillors and chairmen take over local government administration.

The case could not be heard due to the absence of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Chukwuma and the ANSIEC Chairman.

Counsel to the applicant Izuchukwu Nsofor told the court that a notice of hearing had been served to parties and could not understand why anybody would be absent from court.

But the state's counsel, Christian Agali, pleaded with the court to extend the hearing to enable other parties involved to appear.

Justice Peter Olayiwola adjourned the case till February 22.

17 new buses for Abia From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

ABIA State Governor Theodore Orji has inagurated 17 buses as part of the palliative measures to cushion the effects of the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The buses were handed over to the General Manager of the Abia Line Network Company, Ikechukwu Apugo.

He directed that the company should ensure that the cost of transportation is reduced.

Orji said the buses are not the only palliative measures the government is putting in place, adding that he has also directed that 4,500 jobs be created for youths.

He said: “All we are asking them to do for us is to reciprocate by behaving well and praying for those in authority, because without their prayers things will not work for us.”

SSS parades 10 suspects From Osagie Otabor, Benin

THE Edo State Command of the State Security Services (SSS) has paraded nine kidnap suspects and one suspected cultist.

The kidnap suspects were involved in various kidnappings, including that of a businessman at Ekpoma, who paid N45million as ransom.

Doris Sebertie (18) and Queen Sunday (22) were paraded as part of a kidnap gang that collected N5million from their victim.

State Director of SSS Bakori Bello-Tukur said Sebertie’s phone was used to negotiate the payment but the suspect said her sim card was stolen.

Another kidnap gang was said to have abducted and raped an 18-year-old girl.

The gang collected N50,000 as ransom when it discovered that its victim was from a poor family.

The gang leader, who gave his name as Emmanuel, said the victim, who was his girlfriend, arranged the kidnapping to dupe her mother.

He said the victim got a large part of the ransom and N2,000 was given to another member.

The suspected cultist, Emmanuel Ighobo, said he was a student of Business Administration at the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu State.

He said the guns found on him were given to him to keep by his friend.

Rivers ACN hails governor From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

RIVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been hailed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for reinstating the 11 suspended local government chairmen.

It said Amaechi had “for once” done well to reverse his order, after realising that he acted beyond his powers, in the suspension of the council chairmen.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

58

NEWS Govt to stop importation of software

By Adline Atili

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HE Federal Government has restated its resolve to stop capital flight from the country. To this end, it plans to stop the importation of software.

Speaking in Lagos at an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) software training, President Goodluck Jonathan said with the right training and capacity building, youths in Nigeria could create software applications.

This, according to him, will help the administration in its battle to stop importation of software and develop the economy.

The President, who was represented at the event by the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, noted that a study conducted by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) showed that the nation loses millions of dollars annually by purchasing software from foreign firms.

Minister seeks investment security HE Minister of Mines for Ajaokuta and Steel Development,

T

Musa Sada, yesterday urged the Federal Government to consider injecting fund into the Ajaokuta Steel Company as investment security to attract private investors.

Speaking with the House Committee on Solid Minerals, the minister said that it would be difficult for the government to attract investors to the steel plant without such fund to kick-start the company.

He also urged the lawmakers to consider a review of the law guiding the privatisation of the steel company.

A

Witness admits irregularities in Benue election

WITNESS, Dr. Moses Chiawa, yesterday told the State and National Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi that he could not explain how the name of a voter, Adewale Abiodun, appeared on the voters register for Nagi camp polling unit more than 20 times.

He said this when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was being cross examined after the evidence of the respondent\defendants by Andrew Wombo, counsel to the Action Congress of Ni-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

geria (ACN) candidate for Gwer\Gwer Federal Constituency, Asema Achado. Achado is challenging the election of Mrs. Christy Alaaga.

Chiawa of the Department of Mathematics and Computer, Benue State University, Makurdi also said though the guidelines for a voter to be accredited specified that his or her name must be ticked and his voter’s card marked, the guidelines were not ad-

hered to in the conduct of the Gwer\Gwer West Federal Constituency election.

He said it was difficult for him to explain why Abiodun’s name appeared on the voters’ register more that 20 times and was not ticked in some places where he voted.

The witness admitted under cross examination that some voters were accredited once during the elections in April last year, as against INEC’s guidelines that voters should be accredited for all

the elections. He attributed this to the pressure of work.

“My lord, INEC’s manual specifies that every voter’s card must be ticked as a sign that he or she was accredited, but it was difficult to observe this rule because there was pressure on INEC staff,” said the witness.

Earlier, the first respondent, Alaaga, had testified for herself and called Chiawa as her only witness before closing her defence.

Justice M.A. Abimbola adjourned till February 7 to enable the second respondent (PDP) open its defence.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

According to him, even as the Ajaokuta Steel Company is comatose, the Delta Steel Company is also at a crossroads.

His words: “I think the strategy will be for the government to create a role for itself.

It will be very difficult for us to get private investors to start working. Government must do something to show that there is security of investment in it. And one of the best ways we can ensure the security of investment is for government itself to invest there.

NCP man accepts Amosun’s offer

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FORMER governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Ogun State, Mr. Lanre Banjo, has accepted to serve in the Senator Ibikunle Amosun administration as a Director of Glanvill Enthoven Company (GEC) of Nigeria, one of the companies in the Oodua Investment Group.

Banjo contested the governorship seat in 2003, 2007 and

2011. He became a Certified Public (Chartered) Accountant in the United States of America in 1986. He obtained a master’s degree in Finance from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland in 1987 and Bachelor of Business Administration with concentration in Accounting from the University of the District of Columbia in 1984.

Students to honour Afe Babalola

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LL Africa Students Union (AASU), the umbrella body for all students’ associations in Africa, has resolved to honour Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for his roles in educational development.

Secretary-General of AASU, Olufemi Lawson, said in Osogbo, Osun State that Babalola who is the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) was unanimously chosen for the award at the headquarters of the union in Ghana.

He said the body wants to appreciate the significant role of Babalola towards educational development by joining other individuals and organisations from different parts of the globe to celebrate the 2012 Founder’s Day of Afe Babalola University.

According to a statement issued by Lawson, “The award, which was ratified at the executive session of the union in Johannesburg in September last year, is an attestation to the unequalled commitment of Chief Babalola as the founder of the university and his untiring support for educational development both in private and public sectors in Africa.”

C

Consumers laud Viju milk

ONSUMERS in Lagos have commended the management of Viju Milk Plc for not increasing the prices of their products despite the prevailing economic situation.

The consumers, who spoke at a forum in Lagos, said:”The good thing about Viju Milk Plc and a few other companies is that they have refused to increase the prices of their commodities as they sympathise with the masses who may not have the means to buy costly products.

Yobe CAN lied, alleges Gaidam

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OVERNOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has said the claim by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Garba Idi, that the state government is not in touch with the association is untrue.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Information and Press Affairs to the Governor, Abdullahi Bego, and made available to our correspondent, he called on the leadership of CAN in Yobe State to be “above board by addressing issues more dispas-

From Duku JOEL, Damaturu

sionately and speaking to the humanity that binds all people together in a way that inspires trust and builds bridges.”

The statement also noted that the state government had constituted a committee after the November 4, 2011 attacks.

It was headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Aji Jumbam, who met and commiserated with the Christian community affected by the incident.

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (middle), Secretary to the Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa (left), Mr. Kim Scling, Mr. Lee Soi Tee and Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle, when the Korean and Chinese urban planners and developers visited the governor in Abeokuta…yesterday

Civil servants urged not to falsify records

T

HE Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Isa Bello Sali, has enjoined civil servants, who have reached retirement age, to stop changing their dates of birth so that they will leave the service when due, to create opportunities for young graduates and school-leavers.

The HOCSF was speaking in Abuja. He said: “Civil servants keep complaining of overtime payment. This

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

should be earned, what are they doing to earn this overtime? Most times when top management officers are going for a meeting that is when most of them are coming to work, and they leave as early as 3:30pm.

“The government can only listen to you when you really do overtime. When I was a Permanent Secretary, I paid my staff that did overtime. If

the attitude to work is changed, then we can go to government and say these people need to be paid overtime. But as long as their attitude is lackadaisical, overtime cannot be paid.

“We know that we are not addressing the issue of vacancy now. But I want to say that government is not sleeping.

We would work round the clock until this issue is addressed.

“To date, we have trained

14,124 federal officers and 8,756 state level officers. The programme was initiated due to the observed skills and knowledge gaps in the nation’s public service.

“The objective of the training is to build and strengthen the ability of officers to efficiently and effectively deliver service and contribute significantly to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other national development agenda.”

Applicants now to get US non-immigrant visas in 60 days

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HE United States (US) Consulate General in Nigeria has assured applicants willing to travel to the US of prompt service.

According to the Consular Chief, Carl Cockburn, the usual 120 days wait time for procurement of Non-Immigrant Visa to the US has been reduced to 60 days due to the provision of facilities and assistance from other embassies and missions.

Cockburn, who spoke in Lagos yesterday on NonImmigrant Visa, said no fewer than 100,000 Nigerians apply for the US NonImmigrant Visa yearly.

T

By Wale Adepoju

“More than half of the applicants last year were issued entry visas,” he added.

Cockburn said an average of 500 people show up at the consulate daily, adding that applicants could apply on line by themselves instead of through touts who would mess up their chances by not responding to e-mail when they are sent one.

He said travel agencies or agents were not affiliated to the US consulate or authorised to process visas.

Non-immigrant Visa Chief, Susanne Grantham,

said the major problem often faced by the visa officers during interview was people not putting down their names in the right order in which they appeared on their passport.

The process of procuring visa, she said, has been simplified due to the provision of necessary logistics, adding that those with genuine reasons for application would be issued visa.

Grantham said criteria such as the use of visa for intended purpose, suitability of applicant as a non-immigrant, credibility, good job or landed property were applied before a visa was issued.

She said the US didn’t charge visa fee for non-immigrant, adding that the $140 charged was for the cost of processing the visa.

“There is nothing like visa fee. What we have is application fee which is used to settle logistics such as security guards, among others,” she noted.

She said the US consulate through its online application process trickled up to reduce the wait time. “Some applicants may withdraw their applications, those behind can be moved up to the spaces available, thereby having appointments before the scheduled date,” Grantham said.

Police kill six suspected robbers

HE Benue State Police Command has killed six suspected robbers during a gun battle and arrested 500 suspects over their alleged involvement in various crimes in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Haruna, while

•500 arrested in Benue From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

parading suspected gun manufacturers and robbers at the officers’ mess in Makurdi yesterday, said the arrest was made possible

through information by some patriotic Nigerians.

According to the police commissioner, his men have foiled many crimes, noting that if such cooperation is sustained, crime rate in the

state would be reduced.

He said no case of Boko Haram threat has been recorded in the state, but added that members of the sect may flee to safer areas like Benue State. He called on the residents to be on the alert.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

59

NEWS Ado-Iworoko road’ll be ready by March, says Fayemi

Fed Govt requires N1.3tr to fix roads H OPE appears dim for repair of major roads in the country this year, it emerged yesterday.

The Federal Government’s budget for the Ministry of Works is a far cry from what is required, Minister of Works Mike Onolememen, told the Senate Committee on Works in Abuja while defending his ministry’s budget.

He said N1.3trillion is required in the next three years to fix roads across the country.

Onolememen said given the Ministry’s proposed 2012 budget of N180,799,815,245.00, the state of Nigerian roads may not receive any significant improvement this year because of the lean capital budget proposed for the ministry.

According to the Minister, while N138billion is proposed for capital projects, N41billion which is part of the 2011 capital budget, was yet to be released to the Ministry.

He said the ministry has outstanding job certificates of N51billion to settle.

He said while the ministry requires N420 billion yearly amounting to N1.3trillion in the next three years to tackle the rot on our roads, the Ministry has only the N75billion to do the job.

He said the N75billion can fund the completion of only one of the on-going road projects like the Lagos-ApapaOworoshoki road, Kano-Maiduguri road, Abuja-Lokoja road or the Onitsha-EnuguPort Harcourt road.

“This is not possible but ours being a plural society, we have

‘The Ministry is currently faced with a dilemma. It is going to be a tough time this year. As it is, 2011 is far better than 2012. The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is being allocated N32billion this year. What are they going to do with it’ From Onyedi Ojiabor, Asst. Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

to prioritise our projects to ensure spread. We just believe that something has to happen because some of the roads awaiting completion have been listed under the Subsidy Reinvestment (SURE) programme of the Federal Government.

“The Ministry is currently faced with a dilemma. It is going to be a tough time this year. As it is, 2011 is far better than 2012. The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is being allocated N32billion this year. What are they going to do with it?”

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayogu Eze, said the committee was under pres-

sure from Nigerians to ensure that the roads are put in proper shape.

He challenged the Minister to deliver on the expectations of the people.

He asked the Federal Government to create an emergency fund for roads construction and rehabilitation as it has done in the power and agricultural sectors.

Eze said: “The money budgeted for roads this year is like a drop of salt into a mighty ocean and we would be deceiving ourselves to think that that is what is required to give Nigerians the type of roads they desire.

“The N138billion proposed would not go anywhere. As at today, the Ministry has outstanding and unpaid job certificates of about N800billion.

We are disturbed and very worried about the situation.

“If small countries like Ghana and Ethiopia have very good roads, Nigeria should be able to fund her road projects.

“That is why we are repeating our call that the Federal Government should declare an emergency on roads. There should be a special fund for roads just like what has been done in the power and agricultural sectors.

“As it is, we are under pressure to give Nigerians a road network that they deserve.”

Members of the Committee suggested that the Federal government should embrace the option of road concessioning to meet up with the delivery of good roads.

Also, the Senator Commit-

E

•President Goodluck Jonathan

tee on Employment Labour and Productivity has flayed the federal government for not taking steps to arrest the rising tide of unemployment in the country.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Wilson Ake, who spoke when Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu defended his 2012 budget said because senators go to their constituencies often they feel the pains unemployment has inflicted on the populace the more.

He lamented the poor budget proposed for the ministry, and wondered why N50billion meant for job creation by the Federal Government is domiciled in the Presidency.

“I don’t know why the Executive don’t seem to know that unemployment is a great problem in this country. Power is important but without jobs some unemployed persons may resort to stealing the power cables.”

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said the Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki dual carriage road will be completed by March.

Fayemi spoke with reporters on Monday after inspecting ongoing road projects across the state.

He said: “We get weekly reports on the road. The consultant is working to meet the deadline. The major problems are the rocks to be blasted. Between Ifaki and Iworoko, two major rocks have been blasted.

“At Ori Apata, the bulk of the rock has been blasted, but at Adehun, nothing has been touched. The project manager said everything will be

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

ready by the end of March.”

On other road projects that were flagged off last November, Fayemi said many have reached the stage of earth works and drains.

He warned that the contract of any contractor who fails to deliver the project as scheduled would be revoked.

Fayemi said: “Many professional contractors can still do asphalt over-lay during the raining season, the one that is difficult is the drains. That is why we are putting pressure on the contractors. For most of the contracts, the deadline is October, so there’s still reasonable.”

EFCC loses bid to transfer Akingbola’s trial

By Eric Ikhilae

A

MOVE by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to transfer the trial of former Group Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Erastus Akingbola to another judge has failed.

In a ruling yesterday, Justice Dan Achibong held that the commission’s application to that effect was frivolous and lacked merit.

The judge upheld Akingbola’s argument in his counter affidavit and dismissed the EFCC’s application.

He fixed February 9 for the trial of the commission’s last amended charge.

The EFCC had filed the application, on September 28, which sought the transfer of the case to another judge.

It had accused the trial judge of exhibiting element of bias in an earlier fundamental rights enforcement suit by Akingbola.

The commission argued that, “having allegedly showed element of bias in the earlier case, there was the possibility that he could replicate same in the criminal case”.

It prayed the court to return the file to the chief judge for reassignment to a another judge.

But in his counter affidavit, Akingbola urged the court to disregard the EFCC’s prayer.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

FOREIGN NEWS Libyan govt orders probe into Gaddafi’s death

Egypt to reduce president’s powers

L

IBYA’s interim government, under mounting international pressure, said that it will request an investigation of the death of Moammar Gaddafi, but authorities continued to insist that the former leader was not executed by revolutionary forces.

Because Gaddafi’s death was so popular in Libya, an impartial investigation of it is considered highly unlikely. Abdel Jalil did not give any details about who will conduct the inquiry.

Abdel Jalil, a justice minister under Gaddafi who is now effectively Libya’s interim president, also assured the international community on Monday that “we are moderate Muslims.” But he refused to back down from his surprise announcement Sunday that the country’s new laws will permit polygamy and ban the charging of interest on loans.

That declaration signaled that the anti-Gaddafi forces may steer their new democracy toward stricter Islamic rule. Such a move may cause concern in the NATO countries whose air campaign crippled Gaddafi’s forces and facilitated the revolutionaries’ victory. Confusion reigned Monday over exactly what kind of laws might be adopted, and the country appeared set for an extended debate on the issue.

PUBLIC NOTICE NNAEMENA

I,formerly known and addressed as Mr Nnaemena Chukwudi Henry Sunday, now wish to be known and be addressed as Mr Nebeife Chukwudi Henry Sunday. All former documents remains valid.

General public should take note.

THE Muslim Brotherhood is devising a blueprint for a parliamentary democracy that would overturn Egypt’s tradition of strong heads of state, flexing its muscles after emerging as the country’s dominant political force.

The plan has emerged since the Islamist movement took the biggest share of seats in parliament, allowing it to challenge the generals ruling Egypt.

The Brotherhood has decided not to field a candidate for the presidency but was free to deploy its formidable grassroots campaign machine unhindered in the parliamentary vote and won almost half of the seats on offer in the lower house.

•Egyptian anti-government protesters in Cairo…yesterday

PHOTO: AFP

US airstrikes kill al-Qaeda militants in Yemen U

NITED States airstrikes targeting leaders from Yemen’s active al-Qaeda branch killed four suspected militants, including a man suspected of involvement in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, officials said yesterday.

Yemeni security and military officials said missiles struck a school and a car late Monday in the southern Abyan province, which has seen large swaths fall under the influence of al-Qaeda as the militants seek to exploit the security vacuum since an uprising against President Ali Abdullah Saleh began last year.

Tribal officials in the area said the strike hit the militants late Monday as they were holding an important meeting at the school.

Yemeni security officials had originally put the death toll at 15 people but later lowered that figure. They also said 12 militants were wounded in the strikes.

They said one of the suspected militants killed was named Abdel-Monem alFathani who was involved in the bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 American sailors and injured 39 others. The attack on the U.S. destroyer occurred while it was in the Yemeni port of Aden for refueling.

A Western official in

Washington confirmed the U.S. carried out a strike against suspected leaders from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, saying initial indications were that five people were killed. The official did not say where the strike occurred or specify whether it was carried out by a drone or a warplane.

Yemeni security officials in Abyan province said second car carrying important leaders to the meeting at the school, which was in an area between the towns of Lauder and Moudia.

All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information.

Security across Yemen, the

Arab world’s poorest country, has largely collapsed during the nearly year-old popular uprising against Saleh. The militants have taken advantage of the political instability to step up operations across weakly governed remote provinces while authorities focused their resources on putting down the protests that were inspired by other Arab Spring revolts.

Also yesterday, armed tribesmen from the alMahweet province kidnapped six United Nations workers — an Iraqi woman, a Palestinian woman, a Colombian man, a German man and two Yemeni men.

The assailants demanded that the government release fellow tribesmen from prison.

Cold weather kills dozens in Eastern Europe A PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the following ongoing restructuring.

Leadership initiative for transformation and Empowerment (LTE) with coporate Affairs commission regisration Number: CAC/IT/ 47473 hereby assumes all the contractual obligations and liabilitiers of Niger Delta Professionals forDevelopment (NIDPRODEV). NIPRODEV will remain a project of LITE. Signed: Joel Bisina 1. Executive Director/ Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Leadership Initiative for Empowerment (LITE) 2. Executive Director, Niger Delta Professionals for Development (NIDPRODEV) Both of: PLOT 211 PTI ROAD EFFURUN, WARRI, DELTA STATE

TOKUBO FOR SALE 1. Range Rover HSE--N9.5Million 2. levis GX-----N4Million 3. Toyota Land Cruiser -4.7 ltr (used)-----N1.5Million.

Contact Oyin on 08075515224

T least 60 people have died due to freezing conditions caused by a cold snap in eastern and central Europe.

The drop in temperatures, forcing some countries to deploy the army and set up emergency shelters, is set to continue to Friday, forecasters say.

At least 30 people - mostly homeless - have died in Ukraine. Deaths have also been reported in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, among others.

Temperatures plunged to 20C (-4F) on Monday.

Health officials in Ukraine say nearly 24,000 people have sought refuge in some 1,590 shelters over the past three days.

More than 600 people have sought treatment for frostbite and hypothermia during this time.

The authorities say they are planning to set up 150 more centres, as heavy snow was forecast in the region on Wednesday.

The death toll in Poland over recent days rose to 21

on Tuesday. The Interior Affairs Ministry said some had suffered carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty heaters, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Poland had been having a relatively mild winter, until temperatures dropped last Friday from just below freezing to -26C (-15F).

Malgorzata Wozniak of Poland’s interior ministry said elderly people and the homeless were among the dead, AP reports.

Lagos to introduce solar powered traffic lights

T

HE Lagos State Government has said more solar-powered street and traffic lights would be erected in most parts of the state before the end of the year.

It said providers would henceforth be made to maintain the facilities.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofiq Ajibade Tijani, spoke with The Nation yesterday in his office ahead of a two-day seminar and exhibition slated for the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, next

By Yinka Aderibigbe

week.

Tijani, who was in company of the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, Dr Fouad Animashaun, said the event has the theme: Achieving a Sustainable Energy Programme for Lagos State.

He noted that it would enable the state government to prequalify providers who would handle its projects and set standards for those that would erect solar-powered projects across the state.

Tijani described government’s past experience with solar energy providers as “not palatable”.

The commissioner added that the seminar would develop a workable policy framework that could be recommended to the governor for implementation.

Tijani said: “The forum is to inform all stakeholders of the standards expected by the government and to deliberate on a policy framework that can be recommended to the government for implementation.”

NEWS Reps grill minister over N3b employment programme From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

T

HE House of Representatives Committee on Youth Development yesterday grilled the Minister of Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullai, over the ministry’s proposed N3 billion Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP).

Members of the Kamil Akinlabi-led committee queried the minister during the proposed N76 billion appropriation proposal of the Ministry for this year.

The minister said the Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) would train 250,000 youths in the first year with the capacity to enlarge the figure to a million by the end of next year.

Abdullai said the pilot programme would begin with the selection of 1000 youths from each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for training in different vocations.

He said the programme is to be implemented in partnership with the private sectors that are expected to provide the technical expertise.

Abdullahi said: “We are tired of erecting buildings across the country without impacting of the nation’s youths. What our youths actually needed is empowerment and this is to give them the requisite skills to survive in the society.”

The minister told the committee that the programme would be demand-driven, adding that each state would be treated on its own merit and also according to their peculiarities.

Abdullai said participants would be taken to private organizations to be trained and that the outline for Abuja trainees may differ from those of other states.

He said begining from corps members, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) would be posting corps members to rural areas and sectors including Agriculture, Rural Health, Infrastructure and Education.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

61

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

62

SPORT EXTRA

Adesina demands discpline, dedication from Eagles F

ORMER International Ademola Adesina has insisted that for the Super Eagles to return to its former winning state, that the players must be disciplined, dedicated and committed to national duties.

According to the former Shooting Stars of Ibadan ace

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja midfielder, discipline and dedication was the major secret behind their success in the old Super Eagles. The former NEPA Osogbo player said "during our time, we were committed and

dedicated. But this time, there are only very few players that are committed to the country.

The players need to be disciplined, and dedicated.

What we see today are players who are only interested in the money they make. Many of us are been held in highesteem where ever we go in

Gombe United gets new bus ...As govt approves payment of sign on fees

G

OMBE UNITED Football Club has gotten a boost from the Gombe state government to ensure a continued impressive run this season.

The club was given a coaster bus yesterday afternoon by the state government and also an approval to pay the outstanding two and half seasons sign-on fees owed the players by installments.

Speaking in a phone chat after the bus was donated to the club, the chief coach of the club, Manu Garba, told NationSport that the present administration is doing everything possible to ensure that nothing will stop the club's dreams this time.

"As I’m talking now, the executive governor of Gombe state gave us a brand new bus today. He also gave an approval for our outstanding sign-on fees to be paid. The last government administration left an outstanding fees of two and half seasons and the new governor hasgiven an approval for us to be paid installmentaly.

He has already lifted one installment two months ago already and with what he has done for us today, nothing will stop us this season from gunning for the trophy", he said.

On the club's current form, the coach said: "If you look at the league table, from week one we've been on top and God's willing, we don't see any thing that can drag us back, we are already on top."

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt Comparing their stand now with that of early last season when the club was also very much impressive, the coach said: "Throughout last season we

did not win an away match but this time, we won an away match in the second away game after an away draw in the first one, which is a good development for the team", he concluded.

Gombe Utd tops the Nigeria Premier League table with ten points from four games.

the country today, because of the selfless service we rendered to the country. We never allowed money to be the topmost priority, because out of millions of people in the country, it should be a privilege for one to be called upon to wear the green white green colour of the country".

He also identified the lack of the basic knowledge of the game as another problem confronting the players "many of our players does not have the basic knowledge of the game before they decides to move overseas. In the process, when they gets there, they starts struggling, and at the ends up in frustration. But if they are very grounded at home before they left, they would be able to weather whatever condition they meet over there" he advised.

•L-R: Austin Ufomba, Marketing Director, Coca Cola Nigeria Limited with Ade Ojeikere who receiving an award for execellence, yesterday.

PHOTO: John Ebhota

•Andre Villas-Boas

Chelsea lost £67.7m in 2011 P

REMIER League giants Chelsea announced on Tuesday a total loss of £67.7 million ($106.6m, •81.6m) for the financial year ending June 30, 2011.

But for Chelsea, bankrolled

by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, this represented a reduction on a previous operating loss of £70.9m as the London club tried to comply with UEFA's new financial fair play rules.

Failure to fall in line with the European football governing body's regulations, designed to ensure a more level playing field for the continent's leading clubs, could see sides barred from lucrative tournaments such as the Champions League.

Transfer fees were a major factor in the loss but Chelsea were able to declare a record group turnover of £222.3m.

This was an improvement on last year's £205.8m, with increased revenues from the Champions League and a rise in the Stamford Bridge side's income from the central Premier League television contract boosting turnover.

"The club is focused on

complying with the requirements of Uefa's financial fair play regulations while maintaining its ability to challenge for major trophies," Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck told the club's website on Tuesday.

"We would expect this to be reflected in our results for the current financial year."

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay added: "Achieving a record level of turnover is satisfying given the economic background against which we are operating."

The Blues are currently fourth in the Premier League, 13 points behind leaders Manchester City, and find themselves in the unusual position of not being the bestplaced top-flight club in London, with Tottenham Hotspur five points in front of them in third position.

However, Chelsea are through to the last 16 of the FA Cup, where they will face second-tier Birmingham.

Their next match se

Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball •10 states signify intention

A

S the date for the commencement of the maiden of the Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball Championship draws nearer, ten states have so far signified intention to participate at the championship scheduled for the Indoor Sports Hall of the Asaba Township between 18th - 25th February,2012.

In a chat with Nationsport, Secretary General, Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria, Wasilat Aliyu Abass disclosed that the federation are still expecting more entries apart from those that have confirmed their participation.

The states are; Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Bornu, Benue, Imo, Edo, and Adamawa.

'So far so good, about ten states have confirmed participation in the championship and hope that many more will participate having called the secretariat to inform of their interest' ,she said.

63

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

SPORT EXTRA

Taiwo may debut for QPR today N

IGERIA international Taye Taiwo may make his debut for Queens Park Rangers (QPR) today against Aston Villa at Villa Park as the club has secured his international clearance and work permit.

The AC Milan left-back's loan move to Loftus Road was last Tuesday confirmed by the Premier League club and he is now in Mark Hughes' squad as the No.34.

QPR required a work permit for Nigerian Taiwo and that has been granted to mean he could on Wednesday feature at Villa Park.

Hughes has been a long admirer of the 26-year-old and was delighted to have completed the signing.

"I have known of him for a long time and admired him from afar," said the QPR boss at the time of the deal. To get him now is a fantastic coup

and a real statement of intent that we can attract the quality of player that he is.

"He has got great ability, a good reputation in the game

and a great personality."

The left-back - who has been handed the number 34 shirt has received international clearance and is now eligible

to feature in Mark Hughes's squad. Also in for his debut is Nedum Ohuoha who also joined QPR last week from Manchester City.

Osaze leads West Brom against Fulham •SaysHodgson won’t sell me

A

S West Brom boss Roy Hodgson shut the door against Fulham in their bid to buy Nigeria striker Osaze Odemwingie, he will unleash him against Mark Hughes men today at Craven Cottage.

Hodgson noted that Fulham link was mischief-making as such will ensure that the Osaze wreck havoc on them as they clash in

the English Premier League.

"I would be very happy for a club like Fulham, knowing how they work, suddenly decide that their major target is a Peter Odemwingie knowing full well that their chances of getting him, for the price they would have to pay, is near enough non existent.

So the story amuses me. It was purely an invented story to add

to the excitement. I know how Fulham work - this is not how Fulham work," said Hodgson.

But in a swift reaction, Osaze noted that moving the Craven Cottage was an option for him but when he approaches West Brom leadership, they bluntly rejected his request.

Osun FA board meet tomorrow

O

•Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, Miss Augusta Omene, Miss Uchenna Kanu and Miss Lucky Andy during a reception organised by state government for the U-17 Female Team (Flamingoes) in Abeokuta…Monday

''The truth is Fulham is an option. And not only Fulham.

To clarify the situation, I turned to the leadership of the club. They told me they do not want to sell me. Anyway, all will be resolved soon,'' said Odemwingie.

The ex Bendel Insurance ace scored 15 goals in his debut season with West Brom, but has managed only four goals in 17 games this term.

SUN State Football Association will have its first executive board meeting in the year 2012 tomorrow Thursday February 2, 2012 at the Oshogbo Township Stadium by 11.am. Chairman of the association Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, and is members are expected to fashion out blueprint for the development of the game in the state in the year 2012 having recorded Matters relating to the development of football in Osun State are expected to be discuss, top on the meeting sketch will be 2012 Osun State Federation Cup (Male/Female) and Osun State League, staging of Local Football Councils, Street Soccer Competition and Seminars for

coaches in the state, and a send fort party for the former state F.A secretary Akin Adio who’s now the acting general manager Osun State Sports Council.

Osun F.A was given a pass mark in the year 2011 with remarkable feat recorded by clubs in the state clinching promotion ticket from different league categories. Grays, ILA and Ajiroba secured promotion from the Nigeria Nationwide League to the Nigeria National League; Olorunda United too secured promotion from the Nationwide League II to Nationwide League I, while Police FC of Oshogbo clinches promotion from non-league division to Nationwide League III.

Imoh Ezekiel joins Standard Liege on loan

A

FTER impressing at trials, little known Nigerian striker Imoh Ezekiel has penned a deal with Belgian outfit Standard Liege, informs the club on its official website.

The 18-year-old arrives Standard on a loan deal from Nigerian National League outfit 36 Lions FC, with the Belgian club having the right of redemption at the end of the 2011-2012 season. ''This is a temporary transfer with an option for a permanent transfer. Imoh Ezekiel appeared several times in the youth team of Nigeria and operates as a striker. The test to which the club had invited him since early last week was positive. ''He will complete in the Reserve Team but Imoh is committed to quickly convince management of his abilities gradually integrate in the nucleus of the team A. We wish to welcome the young Nigerian to Standard Liege, '' the club said in a press release.

•Imoh Ezekiel

Babel sure of Euro berth

R

YAN Babel does not believe Hoffenheim's inconsistent Bundesliga form will affect his chances of making the Netherlands' Euro 2012 squad.

Hoffenheim have won only one of their last nine Bundesliga games, dropping to eighth on the table, but Babel does not think this poor run of form could harm his chances with Bert van Marwijk's Netherlands set-up.

Babel, 25, returned the international scene in September 2011 after an absence of 10 months, and the forward is confident that he will make the 23-man roster for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

"I don't fear that Hoffenheim's poor results will cost me my place in the Dutch squad," Babel said.

"That shouldn't be a problem as long as I deliver the goods, and I have plenty of confidence."

"Things are not looking very good at the moment at the national side regarding the fitness of some players. A number of players are being plagued by injury.

"I don't think that the national team coach will experiment and test new players. There's not enough time for that."

The former Ajax and Liverpool man went to claim the departure of regulars Vedad Ibisevic and Chinedu Obasi from Hoffenheim is not necessarily a bad thing.

Babel feels the team still have plenty of options up front, and hopes the squad changes will

give him more freedom on the pitch.

"We still have plenty of optionsm," he said.

"The players we have can all play in more than one position.

Ibisevic could only play as a centre forward, and that limited the freedom of the other attackers."

"I now had the freedom to move from the wing to the

position of striker, while Roberto Firmino could drift wide."

Hoffenheim meet Augsburg at home in the Bundesliga on February 4.

W h y Candreva snubs Inter —Agent

I

•Babel

NTER made an initial move to sign Antonio Candreva from Cesena this month, his representative has revealed.

“Inter were interested in Candreva, but the hesitation of Luc Castaignos in joining Cesena as part of the deal saw the switch collapse,” agent Federico Pastorello told SportItalia.

The Nerazzurri have spent this month looking for some new midfield options and they are expected to confirm at least one fresh arrival before the transfer window closes this evening.

Colombian international Frey Guarin has touched down in Italy ahead of his move from Porto.

Meanwhile, there are also suggestions that Juraj Kucka – who Inter part own – could join the Nerazzurri on loan for the rest of the season from Genoa.

Candreva, meanwhile, is still a target for Napoli.

•Podolski

Podolski not planning too far ahead

G

ERMANY forward Lukas Podolski is not setting himself any targets after being sidelined with a ligament injury.

Podolski, 26, has been ruled out by his club Cologne for up to a month after a previous injury flared up during Saturday's 4-1 Bundesliga loss to Schalke.

While a club statement said he would be unavailable for "three to four weeks'', doubts have been raised as to whether Podolski will make a full enough recovery to be considered for Euro 2012.

He told Bild: "It is bitter

enough that it is the same injury all over again and that I am going to miss the coming games.

"I have got to be professional and deal with it and then see to it that I get really fit again quickly. I am not setting myself any targets.''

Podolski is certain to miss games against Kaiserslautern, Hamburg, Nurnberg and he is also likely to be absent the derby with Bayer Leverkusen.

His loss is a major blow to Cologne, who slipped to within three points of the relegation zone at the weekend.

www.thenationonlineng.net

WHO SAID WHAT

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7 NO.2022

‘I think what INEC did was to assume that it has judicial power. It cannot and should not have exercised any power outside what the Supreme Court has decided

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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S is to be expected, my two-part column on fuel subsidy removal (FSR) which ended last week attracted mixed reactions, a substantial number of them hostile. Most of the hostile respondents said I should have concerned myself more with Boko Haram (BH) than with fuel subsidy removal, because of the threat the Islamic sect’s activities have posed to the security of Nigerians, indeed to the very existence of the country itself.

No doubt FSR poses no immediate and present danger to Nigerians and to Nigeria in a way that Boko Haram does. However, the underlying issues of FSR – poor governance, incompetence, inefficiency, inequity, the lot – pose a much greater danger to Nigerians and to their country than BH in the long run. Indeed it has almost become a cliché to say these underlying issues are the root causes of BH. And to the extent that BH poses a clear and present danger to Nigerians and to Nigeria, eliminating that danger must count among our top priorities, for, as Lord Maynard Keynes, the late renowned economist, once said, in the long run we are all dead.

To eliminate the danger BH poses to Nigerians and to their country, the first requirement is that those in charge of the country’s security must be people whose antecedents make them trustworthy to the plurality of Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe or religion. The second requirement is that Journalism as the profession which mirrors society must make sure the mirror it holds is as perfect as is humanly possible.

These, of course, are not the only requirements. But to me, they are arguably the most important. And on both counts, those in charge of the two institutions have been dismal failures.

To start with my profession, Journalism, in 2001, I tried on two occasions to draw public attention to the bias against Muslims of most of the country’s media, first in January and then in October. That would not be the first time I tried, but these two were some of the most glaring examples of the general anti-Muslim bias of Nigeria’s media.

The first occasion was in response to an excellent piece my friend, Dr. Emman Usman Shehu, wrote in his column in the now rested PostExpress (December 21, 2000) on what he described as “The Dilemma of Northern Christians.” The dilemma, he said, arose because the Northern Christians, who voted for President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 because they felt as a Christian, especially a self-proclaimed bornagain, he will protect their interest, felt betrayed by his apparent do-nothing policy on the “political sharia” several predominantly Muslim states in the North introduced shortly after he assumed power in 1999.

The dilemma of the Northern Christians, he said, lied in the fact that even though they felt betrayed by Obasanjo, they seemed to have no alternative to voting for him again as the presidential elections of 2003 approached.

Shehu’s dilemma, I said, on these pages (January 10, 2001) was similar to that of one, Barrister Abdulaziz Ogbui, an Igbo Muslim, who wrote about what he said was the terrible plight

People and Politics By MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Boko Haram, Azazi, America and the rest of us

•Azazi

of the Muslim minority in Igboland in an article, “Ohaneze and Igbo Muslims” in The Comet (November 23, 2000), also since rested.

When the supreme Igbo cultural association organised events, he said, it often called for church services, but never talked about prayers in mosques. “They contemptuously ignore the minority Muslims or pretend they do not exist,” he said.

Muslim Igbos are hardly substantial in size.

Certainly they are nowhere as large as Northern Christians. But even in parts of the country where the indigenous Muslim population is large, as in Edo State, or where they are almost head to head with the Christian population as in the West, they often suffer no less discrimination than the Muslim Igbo.

The difference between the religious minorities in the two regions, I said, was that whereas the one in the North can depend on the Nigerian media to “bark” in their support “at the drop of the hat,” to use Ogbui’s words, the one in the South can hardly depend on anyone to come to their defence.

To buttress my point, I gave the example of how, at least, three newspapers, Punch, Tribune and Vanguard, reported, quite rightly in my view, the plight of an Igbo beer seller who was subjected to lashes of the cane for allegedly selling his stuff by some residents who decided to take the law into their hands in his

neighbourhood in Kano City. Punch and Tribune actually led with the story, casting the usual sensational headlines.

At about the same time, a delegation of the indigenous Muslim population of Edo State, who are a majority in three of its 18 local governments, on a courtesy call on the governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, on Sallah Day, petitioned him about the deliberate omission of Islamic Religious Knowledge in the curriculum of public schools in the state. He ignored their petition. Yet, not one of the newspapers that played up the plight of one individual in Kano State saw it fit to report the human right concerns of hundreds of thousands of indigenes of Edo. The second time I tried to draw attention to media bias against Muslims was in my article of October 31, 2001, again on these pages. This time, I simply pointed out that even though the historic wars among the minority tribes in the MiddleBelt, giving the specific example of those between Tivs and Jukuns, have claimed more lives and limbs than those ostensibly between Muslims and Christians in the region, the latter has received a disproportionate attention of the Nigerian media.

The reason, I argued, was simple; the historic wars among the minority tribes in the region whose majority are Christians, did not fit your typical Nigerian Journalist’s stereo-type of the majority Muslim Northerner loading it over his Christian poor cousin, a stereotype which, needless to say, is an echo of the global media antiMuslim bias.

Just last Monday, I had a personal experience of this bias. Over the weekend, I received a call from one Jeremie Drieu, who said he worked for TF1, a French television station. He would be arriving on Monday, he said, to cover the killing of Christians and the bombing of their churches by Muslims in Kano, Jos and near Abuja. One of his briefs, he said, was to film yesterday’s scheduled mass burial of victims of the Madalla Christmas bombing. Listening to Drieu you will never guess that Muslims too have been killed by Christians and their mosques burnt.

He has since arrived and we’ve interacted briefly.

During that brief encounter, I could see the incredulous look on his face when I told him that more Muslims have been killed by Boko Haram than Christians since its declaration of war on the

HARDBALL

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N Monday, Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court sentenced Major Hamza al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late strongman and Nigerian Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha, to death for the 1996 murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, a wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.

The case lasted for about 12 years. An aide of Kudirat, Lateef Shofolahan, was also condemned to death by hanging for the same crime. Though execution will not be carried out until all appeals are disposed of, it is a relief to many that this is an important step in the struggle to curb impunity, especially in the executive branch, in Nigeria.

It is a tragedy that the case lasted for so long. But the longevity of the trial was only partly the fault of the judicial system. It seemed to have been more a clever ploy by the accused to delay or even subvert justice.

Others like Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd) and CSP Rabo Lawal, who were detained with alMustapha, opted to dispense with legal rig-

The al-Mustapha verdict marole to embrace speedy trial. They were obliged and their trials ended a long time ago. After this case, and not withstanding the impending appeals, it may be time for the judiciary to sit down and examine how justice could be dispensed much more speedily, even where suspects erect nefarious obstacles to obstruct trials.

The al-Mustapha verdict may be some sort of closure to most Nigerians and the Abiola family in particular. Perhaps so. But it will not be a closure until this case becomes a watershed in the fight against impunity of any type in Nigeria. For Nigeria to belong to the civilised comity of nations, it is important that transgressors must get the message that no matter how late or delayed before justice is dispensed, one day they would be called to account for their ignoble and criminal actions.

Al-Mustapha, like many public officers,

thought he was too powerful to be touched, and his office too important to be probed on the grounds of national security. This probably explained why he acted with reckless abandon, undermining both the very basis of our humanity as a people and the values we have cherished, if not shared, for many decades. Even the military institution that trained him and gave him pride, and whose cohesion and professionalism depended on fidelity to rigid rules and regulations, was inordinately abused by him and subverted with unquantifiable relish. He made generals to bow and kneel before him, even as he and his cohorts abused and terrorised the public. AlMustapha and his late master took Nigeria to its lowest levels ever.

Yet, he was not on trial for the general abuse he subjected the entire country to. He was on trial for conspiring to kill a woman who did her wifely best to defend her husband, protect her family and project the values of democracy, which she

OLUWAROTIMI AKEREDOLU

Nigerian State.

The point of all this is that until the Nigerian media begin to report ostensibly religious and ethnic conflicts with some measure of objectivity, we will be a long, long way away from solving the threat posed to the Nigerian entity

by BH and similar groups.

All of which takes me to the more serious antiMuslim bias of those in charge of the security of the country for the obvious reason that they are the ones entrusted with the instruments of State violence.

The epitome of this group right now is the National Security Adviser of the President, the four-star general, Andrew Owoye Azazi. As the President’s adviser on national security, Azazi has never bothered to hide his anti-Muslim bias.

One clear evidence of this was his assertion in July, last year, that “Terrorism is a new phenomenon in Nigeria.”

Anyone who has lived in Nigeria since Isaac Adaka Borro presaged the lately departed Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu’s Biafra by trying to curve out a Niger Delta Republic by force of arms, knows that Azazi is not speaking the truth. In any case, if the unprecedented bombing by the Movement for the Emancipation of Delta (MEND) of Nigeria’s capital on the very day the country was celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its independence on October 1, 2010, a bombing which claimed several lives, or even the less dramatic one of the bombing of Atlas Cove in Lagos, which also claimed lives, are not acts of terror, then we do really need to redefine the word.

There are, of course, those who argue that there is a difference between Niger Delta militants and Boko Haram because the one was pursuing legitimate socio-economic grievances, while the other has been pursuing extreme, if not unrealisable, religious goals. The simple answer to this argument is that few ends, if any, do justify any means.

At any rate, it has since become as clear as daylight that those who claim to be fighting for the emancipation of their people have merely used it as a cover to acquire and sustain their lavish lifestyles.

Azazi, however, has not only made the incredible claim that Boko Haram introduced terrorism in Nigeria. He has gone on to invite America to solve the BH problem, in spite of the dismal record of the world’s only superpower as its self-chosen global cop; everywhere they’ve been, they’ve left behind only strife pain and anguish.

Boko Haram, Azazi said, in what clearly amounted to turning logic on its head, poses more threat to America than it does to Nigeria.

America, therefore, he said, needs Nigeria more than Nigeria needs it to fight terror.

Except for blind prejudice, I do not see why our President’s national security adviser will be more concerned about the safety of people in foreign lands than the security of his own people. And until those who advise the President, not just on security, but also on other issues, purge themselves of their prejudices and of their self-interests, we will never solve the problems of our country.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above nobly acquired along the way. He was on trial for simple and common murder, the inescapable culmination of diseased thinking, unfathomable hubris and deep-seated personal and psychological insecurity. The country must count itself lucky that Lagos State stayed true to the case and pursued it to its logical conclusion.

Democracy must be applauded.

Whenever this case is discussed, we must remember that there was a brief and unwholesome period when many high-ranking Nigerians, north and south, east and west, including former heads of state who should know better, shamefully tried to subvert justice by campaigning for the release of al-Mustapha and Shofolahan. Their excuse was that the trial seemed interminable. How the release of the accused would have served the cause of justice for the living and the dead was not explained, nor how it would remedy the anomalies that obstruct the speedy dispensation of justice. Let us hope everyone has learnt a lesson that life is sacrosanct and that there are inviolable rules for its forfeiture.

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