February 06, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News ACN kicks as INEC declares PDP winner in Adamawa Sport Hodgson backs Osaze despite 71st minute miss Business Nigeria’s forex reserves hit $34.7b, says Central Bank

P4 P24 P11

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 2027 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

New security measures at airports

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

T

HERE will be stronger security at Nigeria’s 24 airports to prevent attacks by the deadly Boko Haram sect, it emerged at the weekend.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director George Uriesi spoke of the new security plan, which includes the procurement of sophisticated counter terrorism gadgets and effective collaboration among security agencies.

At the airports are State Security Services (SSS), Nigeria Air Force, Port Health Unit, Nigeria Customs Services and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The agencies, according to Uriesi, will share intelligence information for better policing of the airports.

Uriesi said the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has also unveiled a new template on how to secure the airports against attacks.

The office of the NSA provided funding to enable FAAN procure gadgets for its personnel to strengthen security around the airports with a view to ensuring that their vulnerability is analysed and proactive steps taken to stem trouble.

The new measures were designed after a summit by security stakeholders.

Ureisi said the strategy would bring about Continued on page 4

Y RETURNS: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola surrounded by old and current students of Akoko Anglican Grammar •AN OLD BO BOY School, Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State (the Alma Mata of the governor), during the school’s 50th Anniversary Celebration ... at the weekend. He donated an ICT Centre named after former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

SEE ALSO PAGES 9 & 59.

Bomb suspect’s escape: Trial of Biu, others begins ACP, others face five-man panel tomorrow

A

•Biu

LL is set for the trial of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and five others over the shocking escape of a Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, from custody.

Zakari Biu and the others will face the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) tomorrow, The Nation learnt.

The suspects, who are being kept by the military, are to tell the Committee why they should not be punished for allowing the Christmas Day bombing suspect to escape from custody.

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry Osayande, last Thursday, mandated the Force Headquarters to constitute the committee to try the suspects.

Although the FDC usually com-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

prises five Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, the Commission gave a waiver to the Acting InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, to allow Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to be on the panel.

The commission took the decision since most of the senior AIGs will soon be appointed DIGs. A source, who spoke in confidence, said the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) has been handling the investigation of Biu and five other policemen.

“The military has concluded investigation into the escape of the wanted Boko Haram suspect. And if anything is being done to re-arrest

Kabiru Sokoto, it is the military and the State Security Service (SSS) that are handling that,” the source said, adding: “Biu and other suspects have been in custody of the military since they were arrested. He is neither under house arrest or police custody as being insinuated. It is from the military custody that they will be brought to face the Force Disciplinary Committee.

“The chairman of the PSC has written the Force Headquarters to raise the FDC for the trial of all the suspects. In the absence of DIGs, the AIGs (led by the one in charge of Administration) will try these police officer and men.”

The panel, which ought to start sitting last Friday, is expected to begin

its work tomorrow. The Force Headquarters considered today’s public holiday in fixing the time, it was learnt.

Responding to a question, the source said: “There is nothing like court martial in the Police; the PSC will never allow the military to try any police officer.”

On the duration of the trial, he said it would not last for more than one week, “except there are some circumstances beyond the control of the FDC”.

A member of the Commission in charge of Publicity, Ms Comfort Obi, confirmed last night that the Chairman, DIG Parry Osayande (rtd), permitted the Force HeadContinued on page 4

•JOBS P17 •SPORTS P24 •POLITICS P25 •CITYBEATS P31 •CEO P50

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

2

NEWS FUEL PROBE NEWSUBSIDY YEAR MESSAGES

‘We ’ll compel authorities to When startling revelations started coming out of the Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee on Petrol Subsidy’s public hearing, many expressed scepticism about offenders getting punished. But the House of Representatives has said it would compel the authorities to act right, write VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI HEN the House of Representatives, sequel to an emergency session it held on January 8, set up an ad hoc committee to look into the subsidy regime, not many anticipated the astounding revelations that have come out of it.

The emergency sitting, the first ever by the House of Representatives, was in response to the removal of fuel subsidy on January 1 by the Federal Government.

The Farouk Lawan–headed committee, among other things, was to investigate the management of the subsidy payment by the Federal Government and also find out if subsidy was being paid on the daily consumption of fuel as claimed by the Federal Government.

Many personalities and organisations have appeared before the committee. They include: Minister for Finance and co-ordinating Minister for the Economy Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Austin Oniwon, Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Reginald Stanley, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana and former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Olisa Agbakoba.

Since the beginning of the investigations, Nigerians have been regaled with the glaring acts of corruption in the payment of subsidy as well as the inconsistencies and shenanigans in the oil and gas sector.

For instance, it was revealed that the Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the PPPRA, has paid billions of naira as subsidy for fuel not used by Nigerians since 2006 to 2011.

Since 2006, Nigeria, on a daily basis, has been paying for 24 million litres of fuel that it does not consume and which are smuggled to neighbouring countries.

According to PPPRA figures, while the country imports 59 million litres of fuel on a daily basis, only 35 million litres are consumed in the country.

Stanley said the country pays subsidy on the 59 million litres that is imported on a daily basis.

He said until he took over the PPPRA recently, the system he met on ground paid for all the fuel discharged.

He explained that though the discharged amount of fuel from vessels and the amount consumed are two different things, the country has always paid for everything. “In the past, what is discharged is what is paid for. That is what I met on ground,” he said.

Another mystery that still remains unsolved at the moment is who authorised the NNPC to deduct subsidy from the source before paying the balance into the Federation Account.

Oniwon said the organisation is not only empowered by the Act setting it up to make the deductions, but also had the approval of the Ministry of Finance. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala denied this.

W

Subsidy factsheet

N15t 245b 1.348t N10t Amount paid for subsidy in 2011

$196m 59m

Amount lost annually in the oil sector

Amount budgetted for subsidy in 2011

35m

N35b 250

N97

N65

N141

Litres of petrol consumed daily

Three years overdeductions on subsidy

New price of petrol after strike

The preJanuary 1 price of petrol

The amount petrol sold after subsidy was removed

The no of days NNPC delayed clearing of imported fuel

Amount that can be made through PIB

Amount paid by NNPC in two years for demurrage

Litres of petrol imported daily

Lawal (right) with other members of the commiittee during one of its sittings.

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

QUESTIONS THE PROBE MUST ANSWER •How much fuel is consumed by vehicles and so on in Nigeria daily?

•Who are the marketers that benefit unduly from subsidy payment?

•Who authorises NNPC to deduct subsidy payment at source before remitting money to the Federation Account?

•Why did NNPC delay clearance of petrol imported and pay so much on demurrage?

•Who are those who import petrol then export it after claiming subsidy?

•Why has it been difficult to implement the KPMG report on the fraud in NNPC? According to her, the Ministry of Finance never gave the NNPC the authority to deduct subsidy before remitting funds to the Federation Account. She said the Ministry was investigating where the authority to deduct the subsidy came from.

“This has been a practice that was kicked in rather than any authorisation. We have actually been looking into this issue to find out was there some authorising, we have not been able to come up with an answer, it was a practice that was developed. I am afraid I can’t go further than this except my colleagues will add something, I can’t give you that answer,” she said.

She said: “We always make clear and NNPC knows this: we prefer a system whereby the deductions were not made, amount due were remitted at international oil price and we could pay them for whatever the product. But things got out of hand for them when price of oil gets higher and higher and they started to deduct these. That is where we are.”

Oniwon, in his presentation before the committee, said the corporation never made subsidy payment illegally.

“I only deduct what is authorised

by PPPRA. Once they give me the certificate after checking with all authorised inspectors and auditors, it is that value that constitutes

what is deducted as per the Appropriation Act. “I don’t go outside that, so it is not for me to determine what is deducted from the crude’s value and before I deduct, I write to the Minister of Finance that the PPPRA has approved it for me.”

The committee tried to find out why subsidy payment figures rise without supporting empirical basis. Have the NNPC and the PPPRA been padding the subsidy payment balance sheet for whatever nebulous reasons over the years?

There is a quantum gulf between the amount of N245 billion budgeted as subsidy payment In the 2011 budget and the amount of

•Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

MINISTER of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said at no time did her ministry give the NNPC the authority to deduct subsidy before remitting funds to the Federation Account.

She said: “This has been a practice that was kicked in rather than any authorisation. We have actually been looking into this issue to find out was there some authorising, we have not been able to come up with an answer, it was a practice that was developed.

I am afraid I can’t go further than this except my colleagues will add something, I can’t give you that answer.

“We always make clear and NNPC knows this: we prefer a system whereby the deductions were not made, amount due were remitted at international oil price and we could pay them for whatever the product.”

N1.348 trillion claimed to have been paid out by the Executive.

Oniwon said the N1.348 trillion was the reconciled figure between NNPC, PPPRA and Ministry of Finance.

He said: “It was the arrears of N250 billion for kerosene that was responsible. In the component of N1.3t that was presented, N250b of that was for kerosene and there was kerosene arrears paid at different points not stated in that document with you. N1.09t was for PMS for the period under review, that is 2011.”

He further told the committee: “Nigeria was declared a war zone by other exporting countries that forced vessels to pay high premium on insurance as well as on the vessels too. And secondly, the exchange rate to the dollar whereby we buy in dollar and sell in naira.”

According to him, the amount paid as subsidy include the cost of five days demurrage and other cost elements on imported fuel based on the approval of the PPPRA Board.

Also, the question on the exact figures of fuel consumed could not be satisfactorily answered by the PPPRA boss when Lawan questioned him on the actual amount of fuel consumed on a daily basis in the country.

Stanley was evasive, saying the figures of consumed PMS since the beginning of subsidy were arrived at through two different approaches of actual or GDP growth.

He also agreed that there was “apparent confusion between what stock and consumption is.”

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

3

NEWS FUEL SUBSIDY PROBE

implement subsidy probe report’

•Oniwon

GROUP Managing Director of NNPC Austin Oniwon said the NNPC is not only empowered by the Act setting it up to make the deductions, but also had the blessing of the Ministry of Finance concerning the deductions, but promptly Okonjo-Iweala denied this.

He said: “I only deduct what is authorised by PPPRA. Once they give me the certificate after checking with all authorised inspectors and auditors, it is that value that constitutes what is deducted as per the Appropriation Act. “I don’t go outside that, so it is not for me to determine what is deducted from the crude’s value and before I deduct, I write to the Minister of Finance that the PPPRA has approved it for me.”

H

E reeled out fig ures to correct the con fusion. “In 2007, our GDP growth was 6.4; that was statistically sound while in actual fact, what was recorded as our consumption on PMS was 26 million litres per day as against 27 million litres per day. The variance was very minimal.

“For 2011, the figure quoted 35 million litres per day while GDP growth rate put it at 36.3 million litres per day, so the variance was also minimal. So the projection for 2012 was 39.2 million litres per day. These figures cannot be faulted.

“Even if our GDP growth is driven by high crude prices, it means there will be more revenue for government to power its activities of infrastructural development and more macro-economic activities in the land.

“The apparent confusion was between what stock and consumption is. But based on what we have done; I think there is not much difference of opinion as to actual consumption vis-à-vis the stock. This is why we are advocating for strategic stock in case of supply shock in the event of glut.”

Agbakoba told the committee Nigeria is losing about N15 trillion by the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the non-implementation of the KPMG audit report on the NNPC. According to him, Nigeria could generate N15 trillion annually from the oil sector, if the KPMG audit report on the NNPC was implemented fully and if the PIB was given accelerated pas-

•Agbakoba

•Falana

•Mrs. Omogui-Okauru

•Mohammed

FORMER NBA President Olisa Agbakoba believes the implementation of the oil and gas content law in the Petroleum Industry Bill will yield N10 trillion to the country’s coffers, while the implementation of the recommendations of the KPMG audit report if fully implemented, will bring in a revenue of about N5 trillion.

He said the KPMG audit report has exposed ‘embarrassing sharp practices’ in NNPC and has the antidote to revealing the “thieving elements” in the oil sector.

Agbakoba said: “The KPMG report is so embarrassing and a big disgrace.

A substantial part of the work of this committee had been done by the KPMG and it is very unfortunate that ever since that audit was done, nothing was done with the report. The KPMG report should be fully implemented.”

LAGOS lawyer Femi Falana said the NNPC is in the thick of the corruption.

In his words: “NNPC collected not less than 59 per cent of the total subsidy fund of over N4 trillion while 41 per cent was paid to other marketers from 2006 to 2011. Variations between NNPC claims and the verifications by PPPRA led to over deductions of several billions of naira. For instance, over deductions made in 2007, 2008 and 2009 were over N35 billion.

“The sum of $136 million at an average of $6.6 million per month was paid by NNPC for demurrage on imported fuel products from 2007 to 2009. Whereas payment for import of petroleum products was to be effected within 45 days of the submission of Notice of Readiness (NOR). This was deliberately delayed for upward of 250 days leading to payment of huge interests by the NNPC.”

THE Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omogui-Okauru, said the template being used by PPPRA was depriving the nation of huge revenues. She said such exemptions are detrimental to the growth of the economy.

Omogui-Okauru said: “PPPRA template in a deregulated regime would not have excluded tax on petroleum products. Issue of tax on Petroleum products is very sensitive and Federal Government has been extremely careful about it, though tax on petroleum products is supposed to be a major source of revenue but government has always been sympathetic to the masses, that is why government has been very careful about it as government doesn’t want much burden on the consumers.”

THE spokesman of the House of Representatives, Zakari Mohammed, has said the House will not bow to pressure to halt the probe.

Mohammed said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we want to place on record that the issues being raised by the publication are diversionary and lacks focus. It would seem that following the stream of stunning revelations at the committee’s public hearing, several individuals who have profited and (continue to benefit from the distortions in the management of Nigeria’s oil resources) have not only become jittery, but are now desperate to initiate moves aimed at aborting the findings of the committee.

He said: “We would compel the relevant authorities to implement without delay, the findings and recommendations of the committee,” he added.

sage.

Agbakoba said the implementation of the oil and gas content law in the PIB will yield N10 trillion to the country’s coffers, while the implementation of the recommendations of the KPMG audit report if fully implemented, will bring in a revenue of about N5 trillion.

He said the KPMG audit report has exposed ‘embarrassing sharp practices’ in NNPC and has the antidote to revealing the “thieving elements” in the oil sector.

Agbakoba insisted that if the corruption in the oil sector is to be revealed and stopped, the KPMG report must be fully implemented by the Federal Government.

His words: “The KPMG report is so embarrassing and a big disgrace. A substantial part of the work of this committee had been done by the KPMG and it is very unfortunate that ever since that audit was done, nothing was done with the report. The KPMG report should be fully implemented.”

Falana said the NNPC paid $196 million at an average of $6.6 million per month for demurrage on imported fuels between 2007 and 2009.

Falana said landing cost of imported petroleum product could be less than the PPPRA template. He said both NNPC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as other agencies have continually flouted the constitution by not subjecting their budget to the National Assembly.

Falana said the NNPC is in the thick of the corruption. He said: “NNPC collected not less than 59 per cent of the total subsidy fund

of over N4 trillion while 41 per cent was paid to other marketers from 2006 to 2011. Variations between NNPC claims and the verifications by PPPRA led to overdeductions of several billions of naira. For instance, over deductions made in 2007, 2008 and 2009 were over N35 billion.

“The sum of $136 million at an average of $6.6 million per month was paid by NNPC for demurrage on imported fuel products from 2007 to 2009. Whereas payment for import of petroleum products was to be effected within 45 days of the submission of Notice of Readiness (NOR). This was deliberately delayed for upward of 250 days leading to payment of huge interests by the NNPC.” KONJO-IWEALA agrees there is a lot of corrup tion in the subsidy administration. She said the entire system required a thorough clean up to free it from huge economic wastages. She said steps were being taken to block all areas of wastages of funds.

“We are going to be very aggressive in recovering money owed government, we will block all revenue leakages,” she said.

According to her, non-remittance of additional revenues generated by revenue-generating agencies to the Federation Account would no longer be condoned, adding that measures were being taken to force those revenue generating agencies to obey the laws regarding full remittances to the Federation Account.

Another revelation at the ad hoc committee’s public hearing was that

O

importers of refined petroleum products are exempted from any form of tax by the Federal Government.

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omogui-Okauru, said the template being used by PPPRA was depriving the nation of huge revenues. She said such exemptions are detrimental to the growth of the economy.

“PPPRA’s template in a deregulated regime would not have excluded tax on petroleum products.

Issue of tax on Petroleum products is very sensitive and the Federal Government has been extremely careful about it, though tax on petroleum products is supposed to be a major source of revenue but government has always been sympathetic to the masses, that is why government has been very careful about it as government doesn’t want much burden on the consumers,” she said.

However, it appears that not everyone is happy with the ongoing investigation. A group that has described itself as the G57 Transparency Group has kicked against the investigation by the ad hoc committee. The group took out space in the newspapers recently and in an advert titled: “The Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy: Enough of this legislative circus,” described the Farouk Lawan committee as a “legislative circus” and urged the House to face issues of security as well as pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Anti-terrorism Bill instead of probing the subsidy regime.

The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Zakari

Mohammed, in a statement responding to the G57 advertorial, said the House would not bow to pressure from any quarter.

He described the group as “attacking and discrediting the Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy and by extension the House of Representatives.”

He added: “For the avoidance of doubt, we want to place on record that the issues being raised by the publication are diversionary and lacks focus. It would seem that following the stream of stunning revelations at the committee’s public hearing, several individuals who have profited and (continue to benefit from the distortions in the management of Nigeria’s oil resources) have not only become jittery, but are now desperate to initiate moves aimed at aborting the findings of the committee.

Mohammed said no such group as G57 Transparency Group exists in the seventh Assembly of the House of Representatives.

He said the House would ensure that the findings and recommendations of the committee be made public.

“We would compel the relevant authorities to implement without delay, the findings and recommendations of the committee,” he added Though the House gave the committee two weeks to submit its report, from the spectrum of work before the panel, an extension seems inevitable. Nigerians, however, await what new secrets may unfold.

4

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

NEWS YOU, THE REPORTER Dear reader, here is an opportunity for you to join our team of reporters. You can send in stories and photographs, which you consider to be newsworthy. Our telephone number is 08082036515 (sms). The email is info@thenationonline.ng.net – Editor

Bomb suspect’s escape: All set for Biu’s trial Continued from page 1

quarters to allow a group of AIGs form the FDC to try Biu and others.

The panel is expected to send its recommendations to the Commission.

Section 30 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution says, “the Police Service Commission shall have power to (a) appoint persons to offices (other than the Office of the InspectorGeneral of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; and (b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.”

The Christmas Day bomb•Hon. Uche Ekwunife handing over the cheque of N1million on behalf of the Anambra State Government to Mrs. Perpetua Mgbemena, one of the widows of Boko Haram victims in Mubi, Adamawa State, at St Andrew’s Catholic Church Adazi-Nnukwu ... yesterday. Watching are Governor Peter Obi, his wife and the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Mike Egbebike.

the control of all unauthorised movement of persons at the airport.

There will be technology to tackle touting, which constitutes a threat to airport and aviation security.

Uriesi said the Federal Government would expand the scope of close circuit television coverage of the airports to monitor the movement of persons and goods.

On the invasion of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos car park by robbers, who looted some currency exchange shops, Uriesi said a new security strategy was being worked out to ensure

that the bureau de change operators, with offices at the park, are moved out to a safer place.

Others who carry out unauthorised businesses at the car park will be ejected to enable the police and FAAN security officials carry out surveillance.

Uriesi said FAAN would tackle the encroachment of government land around the airport. Besides, a new cargo terminal at the Lagos Airport is being considered.

The FAAN boss said: “The airport system is in a quandary and it has over the years been continuously run aground, due to many years of neglect. But to make the airport system work requires

many years of planning and implementation. For this reason, government has rolled out a roadmap that will now make the system work, provided the building blocks are available through sound financial sustainability, service and infrastructure as well as efficient administration.

“The change that government has put in place is the airport remodelling plan, which will assist to tackle the infrastructure challenge government has been grappling with.

“New terminals will come up in the next 24 to 48 months but, before then, we have created a buffer by upgrading existing terminals,” Uriesi said.

Ehiawaguan Peter; Uche Esiri; Sgt. Kadiri Danjuma; and five unidentified Persons.

Twenty days after the explosions, the Boko Haram member suspected to be the mastermind of the action, Sokoto, was arrested at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on January 14.

But, barely 48 hours in custody, Sokoto escaped in Abaji when policemen went to search his home.

National Security Adviser Gen. Owoye Azazi set up a panel of senior officials from different arms of the security agencies as well as officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs to probe the incident.

Mark decries exodus of Nigerians

New security measures at airports Continued from page 1

ings at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church killed 44 parishioners and others.

Of the 44 victims, 26 were parishioners. The dead are Anthony Okoronkwo; Comrade Dike A. Williams; Emmanuel Dike; Richard Dike; Lilian Dike; Lynda Chioma Ubiukwu; Uche Queen Obiukwu; Chidinma Cynthia Obiukwu; Linderlin Ifeoma Obiukwu; AnnChinedu Aigbadon; Chiemeri Nwachukwu; Cecilia Ebeku; Oluebube Faustina Pius; Chidera Sylvia Pius; Florence Nwachukwu and Eucharia Ewoh.

Others are Joseph Daniel; Inspector Titus Eze; Obasi Jonathan Onyebuchi;

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

•Mark

S

ENATE President David Mark is worried about insecurity in the country, which is the cause of the exodus of Nigerians from one end of the country to another.

He warned against disintegration of the country, saying: “We have toiled over the years to keep Nigeria one. We cannot afford to slip now”.

Mark said the National As-

sembly would stand firmly, always, to vote for the unity and continued corporate existence of Nigeria, no matter the challenges.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh in Abuja, to mark the celebration of eid-el-Maolud, Mark said: “Government at all levels and the security operatives must restore hope and peace that would engender confidence in our people to stop this drift. We have toiled over the years to keep Nigeria one. We cannot afford to slip now.”

He urged Nigerians, especially Muslims and Christians, to unite in prayer for the peace and unity of the nation, “in order to put our

detractors to shame”.

The Senate President noted that “the current security challenge which has truly tasked and threatened the nation, must be decisively confronted.

“This is no time to sit on the fence and engage in the blame game. The situation has degenerated to an intolerable level leading to the mass movement (exodus) of our people from one end of the country to the order. We must as a people rise up and halt this.”

Noting the scepticism of most Nigerians over deregulation, Mark said the government had demonstrated the political will to implement the market oriented reforms, pointing out that the Subsidy Re-investment (SURE) programme would be a testimony.

ACN kicks as INEC declares PDP winner in Adamawa

P

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Murtala Nyako was yesterday declared winner of the Adamawa State governorship election.

The returning officer, Prof.

Mohammed Hamisu Mohammed, said Nyako scored 302,953 votes to beat Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate Markus Gundiri who scored 241,023.

Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) candidate Mohammed Buba Marwa scored 107,546 to place third.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate Usman Belel, who pulled out three days to the election, scored 3,885 votes.

Mohammed, who is the Vice Chancellor of Abubabar Tafewa Balewa University, Bauchi, said Nyako won 44.22 per cent of the total votes cast, scoring above the mandatory 25 per cent in 21 local government areas.

The ACN scored 35.1 per cent; 25 per cent in seven local governments. Marwa scored 15 per cent of the votes; 25 per cent in three local governments.

The ACN Returning Officer rejected the results, saying the election was characterized with irregularities.

Alleging alteration on the result sheets, he said the party would challenge the

By Our Reporters

declaration of Nyako in court.

Adamawa PDP chairman, Alhaji Umaru Kugama thanked the people of the state for reposing their confidence in the PDP and Nyako’s administration by electing him for another tenure.

President Goodluck Jonathan urged Nyako to see his fresh mandate for a second term in office as a call to further duty in the service of his people.

He also advised him to use the opportunity to execute policies, projects and programmes initiated during his first term to promote development.

According to a statement by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan also congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for the peaceful and successful conduct of the election.

The statement reads: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan heartily congratulates Murtala Nyako of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election in Adamawa state.

“President Jonathan urges

Admiral Nyako to receive the fresh mandate given to him by the people of Adamawa State for a second term in office as a call to further duty in the service of his people and an immense opportunity to carry forward the policies, projects and programmes initiated during his first term to promote progress and development in Adamawa State.

“The President looks forward to continuing to work harmoniously with Nyako and the government of Adamawa State on the implementation of the federal government’s agenda for national transformation.

“He commends PDP National Executive Council members, members of the state executive of the party and all stakeholders of the party in Adamawa for working very hard to ensure that Nyako won convincingly on Saturday.

“President Jonathan also congratulates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the nation’s security agencies for the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections. He urges them to keep up the good work in other governorship elections scheduled to hold in Bayelsa State, Cross River State and Sokoto State this month.”

The PDP also congratulated

Nyako for retaining his seat.

A statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, said the Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, on behalf of members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the party, congratulates Nyako and his Deputy James Bala Ngilari on their “historic victory”.

“This significant victory in the keenly contested election, which has been adjudged free and fair by observers, confirms the people’s endorsement of Admiral Nyako’s gigantic achievements in his previous term in office.”

“It also puts a final seal on the PDP as the most accepted political party in Adamawa State and beyond,” it said.

House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, also congratulated Nyako.

He said Nyako’s election affirmed his popularity among the electorate and demonstrated faith in the PDP by the people of the state.

The Deputy Speaker praised the indigenes for a peaceful poll, noting that they displayed their belief in popular franchise and, by so doing, contributed to the growth of democracy.

Senate President David Mark congratulated Nyako.

Mark, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, noted that the result of the election reflected the yearnings and aspirations of the majority of Adamawa people.

He implored Nyako to reconcile all sections of the state.

He advised the governorelect to forget all political differences in the administration of the state “because you need the co-operation and support of all citizens to successfully govern the state”.

Marwa yesterday commended youths in the state for conducting themselves well during the election.

Addressing CPC youths in Yola on the outcome of the election, he urged them to remain calm and accept the result of the election in good fate.

“I want to commend you for your support and hard work because no aspirant had gone round the state as we did and you have been with us both day and night.

“We went everywhere peacefully and people received us. I believe that if people had come out en-masse to vote, we would have won.”

He urged them to continue contributing their quota to the development of the party, adding that change would come in 2015.

The former Military Administrator of Lagos State also called on other opposition par-

ties to strategise during subsequent elections if they were to wrestle power from the PDP. The party’s Youth Leader Mr Baba Jimeta assured Marwa of their continued support to CPC. A member of the State House of Assembly representing Girei Constituency, Alhaji Sani Yusuf, said he had lost confidence in the entire electoral process.

He said that the process lacked transparency and fairness, hence the votes of the electorate never mattered.

The Nigeria Civil Society Election Situation Room expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct and general improvement in the organisation of the election. It however noted a few areas of concern which should be addressed to foster better elections in the country.

The Situation Room hailed INEC for improving on its logistics arrangements during the election.

“Generally, voters’ turnout still remained below the 50% half mark, with only a 37 per cent turn out of registered voters.

It noted, that there were a few incidents of irregularities that resulted in cancellation of results in some areas, for example, Wagga ward in Madagali LGA, and Wado 1 ward in Toungo LGA.

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

5

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

NEWS Police deny custody of three LASTMA officials

By Jude Isiguzo

THE Lagos State Police Command has denied reports that three officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) who were responsible for the accident that killed a bus conductor last week are in its custody.

The state’s command spokesman, Mr Jayaioba Joseph said only an injured LASTMA official was brought to the police and has since been released.

He explained that the injured official was brought in on Friday but was almost immediately released so that he can get medical attention.

Trouble, broke out last Thursday at old toll gate along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, following a protest by commercial bus drivers over the alleged killing of a bus conductor by LASTMA officials.

Eye witnesses said LASTMA officials were chasing the bus for an alleged traffic offence and in the process; one of the officials dragged the conductor who was hanging on the bus.

However, the deceased commercial bus conductor was crushed by a fast moving vehicle, killing him on the spot.

Police sources at the Ketu division revealed that none of those in their custody was a LASTMA official.

“We are even planning to draw the attention of the commissioner of police to it, so that we would not be held responsible for any lapses at the end of the day. The only person that was brought to the station was an injured man. We had to release him on bail for medical treatment,” police sources hinted.

But a statement signed by the General Manager of LASTMA, Babatunde Edu said: “In order to ensure that justice prevails, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has handed over three of its officers whose action allegedly caused the accident that led to the death of a 24-year-old commercial bus conductor, Rasheed Alabi in Lagos last Thursday, to the Nigeria Police for further investigations.”

Mass retirement of senior Police officers looms

H

UNDREDS of senior police officer may be retired before the end of the month.

Though most of them have not served their mandatory 35 years in office or attain the retirement age of 60 but may have to leave to create room for the repackaging and repositioning of the force.

It was gathered that apart from the seven Deputy Inspector Generals who are expected to

By Jude Isiguzo

proceed on retirement with the former IGP, Mr Hafis Ringim, close to 100 officers within the ranks of Assistant Inspector General, Commissioners and Deputy Commissioner are due for retirement by next month. Their exit would now create vacancy for many officers who have been stagnated in a particular rank due

to non-existence of vacancy for their promotion.

Some of the affected officers are the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, Commissioner of Police in charge of Nigeria Police Cooperative Society, Mr Steven Ekpei Commissioner of Police in charge of Railway Mr Fabian Ojuri, and Commissioner of Police in charge of Kebbi State command Mr Lateef

Junaiad.

Sources said, ‘the exit of these old officers would create room for fresh eggs who have been waiting to be elevated.’

Some officers in the police have spent over one decade on one particular rank while many others get their promotion every three years due to the emphasis on quota system in the Nigerian Police.

Party withdraws from Bayelsa poll over candidate’s death

B

ARELY a week to the governorship election in Bayelsa State , the Mega Progressive People’s Party (MPPP) has withdrawn from the February 11 poll.

The withdrawal follows the death of its candidate, Chief Ebakumo Tuebi Oduduogwu Ogbetegbe, on January 23.

The party announced its pull out from the poll in a letter to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

In the January 30 letter by its National Secretary, Hamisu San Turaki, the party said: “We the above named party, hereby wish to inform the commission on non-interest to file another candidate for the governorship election coming up February 2012 in Bayelsa State chapter.”

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Its state chapter on January 31, 2012 notified the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bayelsa State .

The letter, signed by its state chairman, Isaac Eze, said: “Following the decision taken by the national body of this party hereby wishes to inform the commission on non-interest to file another candidate for the governorship election coming up on February 2012 in Bayelsa State chapter.“ On his part, the running mate to the deceased candidate, James Osian also wrote the Resident Electoral Commissioner to quit the race.

Osian’s February 1 letter reads:

“Due to the demise of my gubernatorial candidate, Chief Ebakumo Tuebi Oduduogwu Ogbetebe and the subsequent decision of my party not to file a candidate, I hereby voluntarily withdraw from the race as a running mate (deputy gubernatorial candidate).”

But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has been under pressure to shift the poll because of Ogbetegbe’s death, may make a pronouncement on the party’s application on Tuesday.

The electoral commission will be guided by sections 35 and 36 of the Electoral Act. Section 35 reads: “A candidate may

withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered by himself to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 45 days to the election.

Section 36 reads: “If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election within 14 days.”

Secret of success,

by Adeboye THE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday said for anyone to be successful, he must be focused.

He spoke at a special prayer session for sportsmen at its National Headquarters, Lagos.

Pastor Adeboye said people tended to lose in any race due to lack of self discipline, determination and lack of concentration.

He said:“You cannot succeed in any race without being focused; your focus should be your finishing line so as to get to the top.

“You must be determined to win, do not let anyone tell you that silver is not bad, there is a gap between silver and gold.

“Aim for gold, if there is anybody that can earn gold, why not you, you should ask why they call silver consolation prize.”

Director-General, Nigeria Institute of Advance Legal Studies, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, Justice Rhodes Vivour and former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehidero at the Rountable on Laws Response to Gangsterism by the Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies at the Supreme Court in Abuja.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

ICPC to establish private investigators’ academy

T

HE Acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Barrister Ekpo Nta has said that the commission will soon establish an academy to train private investigators.

He said the, which will soon take off, will be sited in Nasarawa state.

According to a statement by the Resident Media Consultant to the commission, Mr. Folu Olamiti, the ICPC chairman made the disclosure while receiving the Nigerian Presi-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

dent of the Computer Forensic Institute, Dr. Peter Olayiwola.

The statement said: “Nta said the ICPC academy would be different from other academies in the Country.

“The Academy will look into the need of training private investigators and that at the end of their training would be certified.

This is necessary because at present only the Nigeria Police

Force forms up to 90 percent of Nigerian Investigators”.

He also unfolded plans to put in place a Forensic Laboratory because biometrics and evidence reporting are all important to the Commission.

Barrister Nta also promised to set up a technical committee in ICPC to take care of bilateral relationship between the Commission and the Institute.

In his response Dr. Olayiwola explained that Computer Forensics “is the science of detection and investi-

gation of crimes committed on computers, computer network and other digital devices.”

He said he was delighted that Nigeria now “recognizes electronic evidence an approach in existence in the United States for a long time”.

Olayiwola disclosed that his Commission was coming up with a conference in March for anti-corruption agencies in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.

He therefore wants ICPC to collaborate with his association on the conference.

Nigeria Airways retirees petition EFCC over pension fraud

R

ETIREES of the defunct Nigeria Airways have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulent diversion of their pension and other benefits.

In February 1 petition, entitled: ‘Re: Unlawful removal of our clients’ names from the list of Nigeria Air-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

ways and fraudulent diversion of their pension and other benefits to payment of ghost retirees’, the retirees alleged that despite the fact that they have all their relevant documents, their names were dropped and replaced with ghost pension-

ers.

The petition reads: “Our clients’ are 2002 set of retirees of the defunct Nigeria Airways and they have relevant documents; appointment letters; retirement letters; pension number; identity cards and their pay slips.

“In 2002, our clients were paid some gratuities after due verification and confir-

mation of their names as authentic retirees of the erstwhile Nigeria Airways.

Kindly find annexed the comprehensive list of 2002 set of retirees which was used for the part payment of our client’s gratuities in 2002.”

The retirees who petitioned the anti-graft commission through their coun-

sel, Messrs Adegbite Adeniyi and Associates, added: “The government subsequently decided to pay our clients certain amount of money in full and final settlement of all their pension claims. Our clients initially thought that their former list will be used for this purpose until they discovered that a new and

fraudulent list had been compiled.

“To their chagrin, our clients discovered that their names were completely excluded from the newly complied list, sent to the Accountant General’s Office for payment of full and final pension claims which the government promised to pay upfront.”

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

6

NEWS Varsity workers threaten strike over Retirement Age Bill

Kogi ACN sues Wada for ‘illegal occupation’ of Govt House

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

UNIVERSITIES workers, under the aegis of the NonAcademic Staff Union (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technology (NAAT), yesterday threatened to begin an indefinite strike if President Goodluck Jonathan does not assent to the harmonised retirement bill by February 29.

In a statement yesterday

by SSANU President, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, and Public Relations Officer Comrade Nonyem Aboribo, the associations hailed the amendment of the Universities (Miscellaneous) Act 1993 by the National Assembly; kicked against non-abrogation of the 35 years service clause in the Act, as amended, and demands that the Federal Government initiate moves to remove the clause from the Bill.

They said the harmonised bill should be assented to

by Dr Jonathan not later than February 29, or else the union would be forced to proceed on an indefinite strike without further communication or notice to government.

•Echocho faults INEC chair over governor’s inauguration

T

HE Kogi State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has sued Governor Idris Wada for alleged illegal occupation of the Government House.

In the suit filed by the counsel to the claimants, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the party, its state chairman, Haddy Ametuo and Mr Isaac Ekpa are praying the court to interpret the Supreme Court judgment, which led to the sacking of five governors.

Also joined in the suit are: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wada, Yomi Awoniyi, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Shaibu Ibrahim, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The applicants are praying the court to, upon proper interpretation of Section 178 (2) of the Constitution, as amended, decide whether Wada and Awoniyi were validly elected as governor and deputy governor.

According to them, upon careful reading of the Constitution as amended, and the judgment of the apex court on the tenure of the affected governors, the court should decide whether or not Justice Ibrahim acted correctly when he swore in the first and second defendants based on last December governorship poll.

They are praying the court to decide whether or not the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bello, was the proper person to have been sworn in as acting governor.

Why we propose N10b loan, by Kwara

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

The party and its chieftains are asking the court to decide whether or not INEC was not bound to conduct election into the offices of governor and deputy governor within three months after the swearing-in of the Speaker as acting governor.

The claimants are praying the court to declare, based on the interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment, that Wada and Awoniyi were not validly elected as governor and deputy governor, in accordance with the Constitution.

The court is also asked to declare that the third defendants acted incorrectly when he swore in the first and second defendants, based on the poll conducted by the INEC. ACN and its chieftains want the court to declare that Bello was the proper person to have been sworn in as acting governor and that INEC was duty bound to conduct a fresh election into the offices of governor and deputy governor within three months after the swearing in of the Speaker.

The claimants want an order from the court nullifying the swearing-in of the first and second defendants by the President of the Customary Court of Appeal.

They are asking for an order compelling INEC to conduct a fresh election into the offices of the executive

governor and deputy governor, within three months after the swearing in of the Speaker.

The Jibrin Isah (Echocho) Campaign Organisation in Kogi State yesterday faulted the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, for approving the inauguration of Idris Wada as governor of the state.

The organisation alleged that Jega is becoming an apologist of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The campaign organisation made its position known on the political logjam in Kogi State in a statement by its Director of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Phrank Shuaibu.

The statement said: “The Jibrin Isah Campaign Organisation views with utter dismay, statements credited to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega on the political logjam in Kogi State.

“Rather than seek the correct interpretation of the Supreme Court’s verdict in a competent court of law, Jega audaciously arrogated to himself the powers of the court when, with an air of finality and impunity, ‘directed’ that captain Idris Wada be “immediately sworn in as the governor of Kogi State.

“By this statement, Jega confirmed to Nigerians and the international Community, perhaps unwittingly,

that he was an apologist of the Peoples Democratic Party and that he was a man ever willing to do the bidding of those that appointed him.

“It is disheartening, therefore, to see an institution that is financed by the Nigerian people to assail and flagrantly treat the constitution of Nigeria with disdain as well as arrogate to itself the powers of the apex Constitutional Court in the land.

“The Pertinent question is: What is INEC attempting to hide? Whose interest(s) is INEC trying to protect?

We assert, very strongly, that it is not the desire of the Nigerian People, to whom Sovereignty belongs.”

The organisation said it was wrong of INEC chairman to assume the power of a court.

It added: “We are shocked that the judgment of a constitutionally recognised and well constituted authority like the Supreme Court which was written in plain English language could be misinterpreted and flagrantly violated for alleged selfish purposes.

“Jega and his INEC should know that an electoral umpire is expected to be impartial unto death. He is like a judge, required to do justice and be fair to all concerned. He is a referee, expected to apply the rules and respect the rights of all parties.. He is the co-coordinator of an orchestra expected to ensure the best performance of the ensemble...”

•Denies EFCC probe From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

T

HE Kwara State Government yesterday said the N10billion loan it plans to take from a commercial bank is to enable it complete some projects and embark on new ones.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state had described the proposed loan as “fraud” and asked the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government for an explanation.

The opposition alleged that about N4.5billion of the N17billion bond obtained by the Bukola Saraki administration from the capital market was diverted for other projects other than those they were originally meant for.

Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development Tunde Adeoti and the Special Assistant (Investment, Policy and Strategies) to the governor, Yomi Ogunsola addressed reporters on the projects implemented with the bond and those planned to be completed with the proposed loan.

Ogunyomi, who was a part of the previous administration, said some of the projects were discontinued by the past administration because the foreign partners were not forthcoming on their counterpart funding.

He noted that after the state had taken the N17billion bond, there was a capital market crash which incapacitated the investing companies.

The governor’s aide, who said the cost of some of the projects increased tremendously from what had been estimated, added that affected projects include Kwara Truck Plaza, Commercial Agriculture Phase II, Asa Dam Mixed Up and construction of a new state secretariat.

He said this forced the government to seek approval of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to spend about N4.5billion of the bond on another project, after the projects they were meant for had been discontinued.

Ogunyomi said after the SEC had approved the fund, the government spent it on the renovation of the old secretariat (in place of the planned new one), Ilorin metropolitan street light, rural roads, construction of a shopping mall and renovation of the state’s stadium complex.

The governor’s aide said the present administration resolved to take the loan from a commercial bank, instead of accessing the N13billion bond balance of the N30billion from the capital market, because the processes and some other factors made the former easier than the latter.

He said besides funding fresh projects, the N10billion loan would also be spent on ongoing projects under the bond such as the ultra-modern diagnostic centre and Kwara State University (KWASU).

Ogunyomi noted that the repayment of the bond with its interest had been made to terminate under the present administration. He assured that it would not be inherited by future governments.

•Residents of Yola, the Adamawa State capital, jubilating after the announcement of the result of the Saturday governorship election result won by Nyako...yesterday

S

Mark, NGF congratulate Nyako over Adamawa poll victory

ENATE President David Mark yesterday congratulated Adamawa State governorelect Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) on his victory at Saturday’s governorship poll.

In a statement in Abuja by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President noted that the result of the election reflected the yearnings and aspirations of majority of Adamawa residents.

He urged Nyako to reconcile all sections of the state and carry the people along as the father of the state.

Mark appealed to the governor-elect to forget political differences “because you need the cooperation and sup-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

port of all residents to successfully govern the state”.

The Senate President told other parties and their candidates to accept the result in good faith and join hands with the new administration to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Mark praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders for ensuring the smooth conduct of the poll, saying it

showed that democracy is taking a firm root in Nigeria.

The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has also congratulated Nyako.

Through its Chairman and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, the forum described Nyako’s victory as a confirmation that the people of Adamawa were satisfied with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

They noted that it was for this the electorate re-elected him to consolidate on the administration’s good work.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Aliyu, Mallam Danladi Ndayebo, the

governors said NGF shared “this auspicious moment of joy with our brother, Governor Nyako, as we congratulate him for this well deserved re-election”.

They thanked PDP supporters in the state for believing in the party and its leadership, urging them to continue to keep faith with the ruling party.

The forum said the current administration in Adamawa would ensure the sustenance of democracy and good governance for the benefit of the electorate.

The governors urged losers in the election to cooperate with Nyako in the interest of the party and the development of the state.

7

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

NEWS Policy inconsistency slows down Nigeria’s growth, says Ahmed

K

WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said inconsistency in government policies is responsible for Nigeria’s slow growth and development.

The governor spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, at the closing ceremony of a twoday interactive session between the government and the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

He noted that with scarce resources available for competing demands, there must be a roadmap under which the resources would be allocated to projects in order of priority.

According to him, the present administration at inception in May, last year, recognised this and therefore convened a threeday retreat in Lagos to finetune a four-year rolling plan.

Ahmed said his administration organised the retreat to create an enabling environment for private sector participation.

The interactive session, which was organised by the Office of the Special Assistant on New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), has the theme: Understanding and Improving Public-Private Participation The Issues Arising.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abdulwahab Oba, said Ahmed told the participants that his administration had identified critical areas to evolve policies and emphasise human capital development, especially in the provision of primary and secondary health care services.

The government, according him, evolved policies under the medium-term sector strategy, such as the policy on water supply, to ensure that residents access water within 500 metres radius, education reform, resuscitation of vocational training centres and technical colleges.

• The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Philip Aduda (fith left) with members of the FCT Igbo Traditional Council of Ndi Eze during their condolence visit to the lawmaker in Abuja...yesterday PHOOT:NAN

Calls for SNC diversionary, says lawmaker T HE National Assembly at the weekend described the calls for Sovereign National Conference (SNC) as diversionary and unnecessary.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, said the lawmakers have offered quality representation to their constituencies.

Mohammed, who is representing Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency of Kwara State, addressed reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital.

He said: “Sovereign National Conference is unnecessary and diversionary and it is the thinking of some idle minds. We appreciate that the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) fought for democracy and it is here to stay. Military rule is an aberration; it can never come back to Nigeria.

“Convening SNC is about representation of Nigerians and you already have representation of Nigerians in us.

One of the most credible elections that INEC conducted was the election that

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

brought us to office. So, people in the National Assembly are representing the Nigerian people.

“Security matters have occupied the front burner of national discourse. We have been inviting the service chiefs for private meetings from time to time to find solutions to the problem.

“Loss of confidence in institutions has been like that over time, but it’s not fair for people to say they want to convene an SNC for now.

Are we going to conduct elections to bring on representations for the SNC? How many ethnic groups do we have in Nigeria? Is every ethnic nationality going to be represented? If they have a template for discussion, there are representatives to address such.”

The lawmaker noted that things have not gone out of hand in Nigeria, adding that the government only needs to build confidence in the governed so that the people

‘Security matters have occupied the front burner of national discourse. We have been inviting the service chiefs for private meetings from time to time to find solutions to the problem’ can have faith in their leaders.

Mohammed said: “Whether we like it or not, we’ve been married together with the amalgamation of 1914. There’s nothing we can do about it. We either float together or sink together.

“Those calling for a breakaway of Nigeria don’t mean well for us. We cannot reduce ourselves to tribal forces and begin to play local champions. Nigeria is a unique country of several

ethnic nationalities bonded together by nationality.”

According to him, Nigeria is blessed as 25 per cent of its potentials has not been tapped.

He noted that the only thing lacking is good leadership, saying: “With time, we’ll get to where we are going.”

On the purported division in the House over the subsidy probe, the lawmaker said the report was not true.

He said those who have benefited from the subsidy regime were just getting jittery because of the level of revelations.

Mohammed added that the House would protect the probe from being thwarted.

He said: “We will also ensure resolutions and recommendations on the revelations and standing laws, using our legislative powers, are carried on to the letter and made public and all institutions and individuals indicted will definitely be brought to book because the issue of fuel touches on the lives of the common man and it has knock on effect on all the sectors of our economy.”

Over 100 suspected sect members arrested in Benue VER 100 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect have been arrested in Benue State by the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) since the beginning of 2012, it was learnt yesterday.

Governor Gabriel Suswam made this known in Makurdi, the state capital, at the Club 1930 Patron’s Night held in his honour.

He said most of those arrested are foreigners from Chad, Niger and Mali.

According to him, the foreigners would be deported to their countries tomorrow.

The governor said he and the State Comptroller of Immigration, Yahaya Inuwa, met at the weekend in the Government House on security matters and the activities of the sect.

Two weeks ago at a function in the Government House, Suswam warned of a possible invasion by Boko Haram members.

The governor urged the residents to be security-con-

O

•Kano CAN praises Acting IGP for restoring peace From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

scious and report strange movements to security agencies.

Last week, Police Commissioner John Haruna had also of a possible invasion during a meeting with senior police officers.

Haruna spoke of his command’s plan to sensitise community leaders in the 23 local government areas on the modus operandi of the sect.

It was learnt that there are serious security checks, particularly in churches, where bomb detectors are used on worshippers before they are allowed entry into the premises.

The Kano State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has praised the Acting Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar in restoring security to the state.

CAN Chairman Bishop

Ransom Bello expressed satisfaction at the security situation in the state following the Boko Haram coordinated bombings of the city, a few weeks back.

Speaking with The Nation, the CAN chairman urged Abubakar to transform and redeem the image of the force.

The cleric noted that the huge security presence in the state could halt the exodus of Southerners, which the Boko Haram massacre caused.

He said the deployment of

additional policemen in the state was the best decision in the circumstance, “even though it is an interim measure”.

Bello added: “We have to commend him (Abubakar) for this security action in Kano. It has greatly doused the tension and fears that have gripped Kano residents since the deadly attacks.”

Normalcy is returning to the state as many churches yesterday recorded improved turnout following a heavier security presence all over the city.

Court sentences NNPC vandals to six months’ imprisonment

A

FEDERAL High Court, sitting in Bassa, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, has sentenced three of five vandals of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline at Tega village of the local government to six months’ imprisonment.

The court said the judgment would be a deterrent

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

to other vandals who may want to damage government property.

The judgment of the last two accused was postponed till January 13. They have been remanded in custody till the judgment is delivered.

Last week, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence

Corps (NSCDC) arrested the five suspects with 15 drums loaded with siphoned oil from the pipeline.

The Plateau State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, urged Nigerians to protect government’s property and prevent vandals from attacking them.

Agu noted that some Nigerians were sabotaging

government’s efforts at stopping vandalism, saying the organisation would prosecute anyone or group that attacks government property.

He said: “Daniel Adamu, Abbas Bawa, Mubarak Abubakar, Ya’u Isa and Ibrahim Adams were arrested at Tega village of Bassa Local Government Area.’

ANPP wins Borno Assembly’s run-off From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

THE All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Alhaji Ali Dalori, was yesterday declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Saturday’s run-off election into the Borno State House of Assembly.

Dalori, from Konduga State Constituency, polled 41,286 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mustapha Sadiq, who polled 5,094 votes.

Dalori was declared duly elected by the INEC Returning Officer at the collation centre in Konduga.

The run-off followed the death of Modu Bintube of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was assassinated by unknown gunmen last October.

Suntai promises to repair hospital roads From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

TARABA State Governor Danbaba Suntai has promised to repair the roads on the premises of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo, the state capital. They include a ring road and six feeder roads.

The governor spoke at the inauguration of a 500KVA generating set, two motorised boreholes and an overhead tank, donated by the government to the hospital.

He said: “This is part of my determination to encourage the FMC to render better services to Taraba residents.”

Suntai promised to engage the state Roads Construction and Maintenance Agency (TARCMA) to undertake the projects free.

The governor did not state when work would begin on the project.

He praised the new FMC Medical Director, Dr. Wiza Inusa, for his “tremendous achievements” since he assumed duty less than a year ago.

“I am proud to be associated with the FMC. Its workers are serving us, the people of Taraba State, very well. We must do everything possible to encourage them to serve us better,” Suntai said.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

8

NEWS Lawmaker preaches peace NIGERIANS have been enjoined to rededicate themselves to the peaceful co-existence of the country.

The lawmaker representing Eti-Osa, a Lagos Federal Constituency Babajide Akinloye made the urge in a chat with reporters on the significance of the celebration of Eid-el-Maulud.

Akinloye remarked that the solemn festival, marking the birth of Prophet Mohammed has given another opportunity to both the leader and their followers to be firm in the indivisibility of the nation, and shun any acts capable of creating chaos and divisions among the socioethnic groups.

He stressed the need for the Moslem Ummah to take the opportunity provided by the celebration of the birth of the revered prophet to reflect on the ideals espoused by Allah’s messenger. He listed such ideals as love for neighbours and peaceful coexistence within any society.

ACN seeks fresh governorship election in Kogi

F

OR the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the December 3 governorship election in Kogi State is null and void, having contravened the provision of Section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Citing the recent Supreme Court ruling on tenure elongation, the party called for fresh gover election in the Conflunce State.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said neither the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Capt. Idris Wada, its govership candidate in that election, has the constitutional benefit or right from the election.

The statement reads: ‘’The election into the Office of Governor in Kogi State ought to have been conducted in April 2011 in accordance with Section 30 of Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended). Since this was note done, December’s election cannot be said to have complied

•Party slams INEC

By Nneka Nwaneri

with the stipulations of the Act and the Constitution,’’ it “ACN said Section 178 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that ‘’An election into the office of Governor of a State shall be held on a date not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.’’

According to the party, the apex court has now held that the tenure of the incumbent of governor of Kogi expired in May 2011 and that the seat of governor had become vacant, even though no election was conducted before the expiration of that tenure contrary to Section 178(2) of the Constitution.

It blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), partly for the confusion that has now occurred in the state,

in which two persons are claiming the governorship seat in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

The statement reads: ‘’Though INEC issued a notice of election within the prescribed time sometime in January 2011, the election was conducted on December 3rd 2011, a period of six months after the expiration of the term of the last holder of the office. ‘’The election, however, cannot be deemed valid and constitutional, since an act or event will be valid and constitutional if it is done in accordance with the laid down procedure or law.

“That’s why the Supreme Court succinctly held, per Tobi J.S.C., in the case of the removal of Senator Ladoja as Governor of Oyo state by the State House of Assembly, thus: ‘It is good law that where the Constitution or a statute provides for a precondition to the attainment of a articular situation, the

pre-condition must be fulfilled or satisfied before the particular situation will be said to have been attained reached’.

“If INEC had lived up to its responsibility, it would not have proceeded to organize December’s election, especially as it had appealed the case on tenure elongation to the Supreme Court, following rulings by a Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in favour of then “INEC should have shown more diligence in pursuing the appeal at the apex court, instead of rushing to commit what has now turned out to be an illegality.

“Allowing people to occupy elective posts illegally - the hallmark of PDP since 1999 - is the biggest form of corruption. INEC, in shamelessly encouraging this trend in Kogi by organizing December’s election, is encouraging corruption of the highest order. Worse still, by its bizarre decision upholding the election of

‘Subsidy cash’ll create more jobs’

ACN aspirant begins mobilisation

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

RELIGIOUS leaders and youths in Rivers State have said that if well utilised, subsidy funds would create employment for Nigerian youths.

They tasked governors of the 36 states to judiciously utilise the removal of fuel subsidy for the benefit of the masses.

The position was reached at a well-attended Town Hall meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the weekend.

The meeting was aimed at sensitising the public on the policy and benefit of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Employment (SURE) programme.

Spokesman of the group, Victor Ogolo, said Nigerians should be patient with the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, adding that it was committed to transforming the country.

New Estate Baptist holds summit THE New Estate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos will hold its annual ‘Kingdom Life Summit’ from February 9 to 11.

The convener of the summit, Dr. Deji Bashorun, gave the theme of this year’s event as: ‘The Missing Link’.

It will feature speakers like Pastor Poju Oyemade of the Convent Christian Centre, Rev Uzodinma Obed, Rev Samual Morakinyo Leigh and Rev Amos Kunat.

Bashorun explained that the theme was chosen to bridge the gap between the old and young generation.

There will also be talks on entrepreneurship, sexuality, use of information technology tools and spirituality.

Capt. Idris Wada, instead of seeking the input of its legal department to advise it on the appropriate course of action, or in the alternative to approach a High Court to seek interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling, INEC has shown it is ever willing to go along with the lawless PDP in seeking a political situation to what is purely a legal and Constitutional issue, as if the electoral body is a member of the dysfunctional PDP family,’’ ACN said.

The ACN pointed has an option to go ahead and carry out a fresh election, to be contested only by the candidates whose names were submitted by their various political parties in January 2011, when INEC issued the original notice of election.

It said: ‘’The election conducted into the office of Governor of Kogi State in December 2011 is a patent violation and breach of section 178(2) of the Constitution.

“It is an abuse of the society and the entire citizens of the state are the victims and sufferer. The citizens of Kogi State therefore deserve good governance premised on rule of law.’’

By Emmanuel Oladesu

CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain Akinola Awodeyi-Akinsehinwa had begun the tour of local government areas in Ondo State to seek support for his governorship ambition.

Unfolding his ambition at the weekend in Akure, the state capital, the aspirant urged the people to reflect on their condition and support the push for change.

He told reporters that his participation in the race is to serve the people who suffer, despite the enormous resources available to the government.

The industrialist-turned politician said: “For Ondo State to move forward, Governor Olusegun Mimiko should not stay in office beyond 2013.”

The aspirant promised to tackle what he called infrastructural decay, provide employment, fight poverty and promote good governance.

His words: “I am a product of free education policy of the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin. That was 27 years ago.

Now, I want to serve the state in return. I have the vision, intellect and experience. I have the national and international connection to attract domestic and foreign investments.”

Other ACN aspirants in the state are ACN chairman Mrs Jumoke Anifowose, her predecessor, Sola Iji, former Commissioner Tayo Alasoadura, former Defence Minister Dr. Olu Agunloye, former House of Representatives member Jayeola Ajatta, former Finance Commissioners Segun Ojo and Wale Akinterinwa, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Senator Olorunnimbe Farunkanmi, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Dr Tunji Abayomi and Saka Lawal.

A

•Acting Chairman of the Independence Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Ekpo Nta, presenting a letter of commendation to the commission’s Chief Superintendent Investigation Garba Tukur Idris, on his outstanding performance as a member of the Pension Reform Task Team.

Political leaders, rights group meet in Lagos over security, other issues B

ARRING the unforeseen, elder statesmen, political leaders, rights activists and representatives of ethnic nationalities would today converge on Lagos today for a two-day National Summit.

The summit is being hosted by a group chaired by Prof.

Pat Utomi. Participants at the debate include the members of the National Action Coalition (NACO) led by Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, former Kaduna State Governor Balaraba Musa, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Dr. Kunle Olajide, former Information Minister John Nwodo, Niger Delta activist Ankio Briggs, Denzil Ketembe, and Dr. Lakin Akintola.

Also expected are: Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Mr. Ife Oyedele, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, representatives of the bar, rights groups and self-determination organisations.

The secretary of the Summit Group, Tony Uranta, said the meeting would discuss the pressing challenges confront-

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

ing the country and take decisions that would move the country forward.

However, skeptics doubted the sincerity of the group, thinking that it was motivated by the government. At a press briefing yesterday, Braithwaite spoke on the need to iron out some grey areas with the organisers before participation.

He said: “The National Consensus Group has just finished a pre-summit caucus strategy meeting. We need to sort out pre-conference issues”, adding that, until Utomi cleared the air on the origin, methodology, and other issues, NACO may withdraw interest. Around 3.45pm, Utomi stormed the Victoria Island resident of Braithwaite to explain the importance of the summit to the NACO leaders.

However, Braithwaite’s

colleagues described the summit as a pre-Sovereign National Conference (SNG) meeting aimed at finding solutions to the problems associated with the structural deficits, economy, security, power relations between states and federal government and revenue allocation.

Underscoring the import of national debate, Dr. Kalu said: “No Nigeria is in the dark as to the necessity for a Sovereign National Conference. The wailings of wives and mothers, the kind of bloodletting we have witnessed, disputation about distribution of natural resources, budget failure, insecurity and pervasive corruption make dialogue compelling”.

The former minister said, since the pro-national conference groups are concerned about the welfare of the country, it is important to also revisit the structures that make

corruption possible.

Olajide, a former Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), said despite the belief of stakeholders in the concept of one Nigeria, the national drift remained worrisome.

He added: “We are engineering a process that will lead to a movement of Nigeria. The centralisation of power must give way for decentralisation”.

Also speaking, Briggs said: “Nigeria is standing on two legs; corruption and injustice. We must rise up to destroy the spirit of corruption and injustice. We can live together, if we sit down and agree on methodology.”

Akintola said: “Nigeria needs restructuring. The colonial masters bequeathed to us a legacy of confusion. Nigeria nation is at a crossroad.

The present constitution is unworkable. There is overcentralisation of power at the centre. Local governments and states exist for window dressing. “

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

9

NEWS

Aregbesola renews call for national conference

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has reiterated the call for a sovereign national conference.

Aregbesola linked the insecurity in the country to bad leadership.

He said there is need to come together and find solutions to the nation’s challenges.

The governor spoke on Saturday at the Anglican Grammar School, ArigidiAkoko, Ondo State, his alma mater, during the 50th anniversary celebration of the school.

He donated an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Centre to the school.

The centre was named after the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Aregbesola said he named the centre after the former governor because Tinubu has become the face of the rule of law in Nigeria.

In a speech, entitled: “A

•Why I named ICT centre after Tinubu, by Osun Governor From Damisi Ojo and Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Great Future beckons”, Aregbesola said: “Tinubu is the face of the rule of law, true federalism, freedom, liberty and progress in Nigeria. In my assessment, nobody deserves the honour of having this centre named after him more than Tinubu.

“After the Almighty God and my parents, the next greatest influence in my life is Asiwaju. He is my mentor, role model, leader, motivator and benefactor. He is a dogged, courageous, irrepressible and indefatigable fighter for democracy and human rights.

“This is the cause for which he has committed his life and for which we all support him.

Need I add that he is a great philanthropist, who give of himself and substance liberally, without consideration for ethnic, religious and class affiliation? It is an honour richly deserved.”

On the importance of ICT to development, Aregbesola

‘I, therefore, urge teachers and pupils to make the best use of this facility. This centre will prepare you to face the challenges of a digital future’ said: “The computer has become the centre of the universe. Everything today is about the computer, whichever way it is presented, be it as a desktop, laptop, tablet and handheld device.

“These days, mechanics need the computer to diagnose problems with cars and find solutions to them, while architects and draughtsmen use it to design houses.

“Computers are now deployed in soil testing and analysis, planning, operating certain machinery, tracking farm animals, diagnosing dis-

eases in plants and animals, confirming bank balances, requisitioning farm input, such as seedlings, fertilisers and agro-chemicals, and coordinating harvest.

“The use of the computer is virtually limitless, depending on the imaginative capacity of the user.

“Employers of labour now demand computer literacy, irrespective of other competencies, and those without it are greatly disadvantaged.

The computer is a tool, just like the pen, which every adult must know how to use for documentation and expression.

“I, therefore, urge teachers and pupils to make the best use of this facility. This centre will prepare you to face the challenges of a digital future.”

Aregbesola said his administration is working towards providing computer tablets, tagged: “Opon Imo” to all senior secondary school pupils in Osun State.

He said the tablets would

contain lecture notes, text books on all subjects, past questions and answers for the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations.

The governor said with the tablet, pupils would not have to carry books around, adding that this would solve the problem of wear and tear.

Aregbesola said the school prepared him for the ideology, which has typified his struggles and person over the years. He urged the pupils to be honest and have the fear of God in all they do.

Aregbesola and seven others were honoured with Distinguished Old Student award.

Former Labour Party (LP) Chairman Dr. Olaiya Oni, former Finance Commissioner Wale Akinterinwa, State Executives of the ACN, Mr. Otito Atikase and Mr. Joseph Ajatta, among others, were at the event.

Ekiti condemns violence against women From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

T

HE Ekiti State Government has enacted a law against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Deputy Governor Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, who represented the governor, said violence against women would stop only when offenders are severely punished.

She spoke at the weekend during the 14th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development, held at Adetiloye Hall in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Mrs. Olayinka said: “Women and girls suffer disproportionately from conflicts and violent acts. Violence against women devastates lives, fracture communities and stalls development.

“It is, therefore, right to put in place severe penalties against perpetrators, protect victims and enhance public awareness on the danger of continuous silence due to fear of further attack.

“Ekiti State has enacted the GBV Prohibition Law to protect the rights of the citizens, especially women and other vulnerable groups. It is the first time in the history of this country.

“The hosting of this council meeting by Ekiti State reflects the commitment of the present administration to women development and the welfare of citizens.

“Although there are challenges, the determination of the state government remains strong.”

Minister for Women’s Affairs and Social Development Hajia Zainab Maina said: “As stakeholders, we are entrusted with the responsibilities of formulating policies, executing programmes, monitoring and evaluating performances to ensure that we adequately address this mandate.

“This calls for renewed efforts in awareness creation, sensitisation and advocacy to enlighten the public on projects and programmes that will improve the wellbeing of women, children, persons with disabilities and the aged.”

Akinjide, Folarin settle rift From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms Jumoke Akinjide and former Senate Majority Leader Teslim Folarin have resolved their differences.

The duo parted ways after the contest for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo Central Senatorial District.

At a reconciliatory meeting attended by party leaders at the weekend, Folarin urged members to forget their grievances and work together for the party’s progress.

Ms Akinjide, who facilitated the meeting, said: “We have all wronged ourselves, but the party is bigger than everybody. Now that we are at peace with one another, we must not allow anybody to come between us again.”

She urged them to support the party’s candidate in the rescheduled House of Representatives election in Irepo/Oorelope/Kajola Federal Constituency, Mr. Jimoh Hafees.

Senator Lekan Balogun said the “new, united and strong” Oyo PDP would open the gate for PDP’s re-entry into the Southwest.

Ilaje communities decry neglect of NDDC projects From Damisi Ojo, Akure

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (middle, wearing a blue fez cap) inspecting the Ifaki-Iworoko-Ado link-bridge... last week.

Activists hail Fayemi on shift of council polls

T

WO pro-democracy groups, Ekiti Democrats (ED) and Youth Alliance Network (YANE), have lauded the Ekiti State Government for abiding by the ruling of the State High Court and postponing the local government election scheduled for last Saturday.

Last Thursday, the court nullified the appointment of some board members of the State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) on grounds that they are politicians.

It also restrained the

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti commission from conducting any election until its board has been reconstituted.

The groups said by accepting the judgment, Governor Kayode Fayemi has shown that he is not only a democrat, but a firm believer in the rule of law.

In a statement by its coordinator, Dr. Funso Adekunle, ED said: “The government’s action of postponing the election is a clear departure from the

culture of impunity and lack of respect for the rule of law, which was the order of the day for some past administrations, both at the state and federal levels.

“By accepting the court verdict, while exploring the rights reserved for the state government by the constitution, the Fayemi administration has set a standard for all to follow in the bid to strengthen the nation’s democracy.”

It also praised the governor for not imposing any candidate on the people for the council polls.

The group urged stakeholders to support the government and ensure that the vacancies in EKSIEC are filled within a short time, so that the council polls can hold.

YANE coordinator Mr. Leye Ayorinde said though the judgment is a setback, the state government can challenge it at the Court of Appeal.

Ayorinde criticised the judge for delaying the judgment till 48 hours to the election and urged the Judiciary to be prompt in the dispensation of justice.

Oyo varsity students protest colleagues death

A

300-LEVEL student of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, died yesterday evening.

It was learnt that the deceased took ill and was taken to the institution’s health centre, where he died This resulted in a protest by the students, who accused the health workers of not attending to the deceased on time.

They barricaded the campus gate, made bonfire on the road and vandalised some property, including a lecturer’s vehicle.

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo The students told The Nation that they have complained about the poor service at the health centre on many occasions, but the university management failed to do anything about it.

Efforts to speak with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Jaiyeoba, failed, as he was busy trying to contain the protest.

As at press time, the protest was still on.

THE people of oil-rich Ilaje communities in Ondo State have decried the poor implementation of projects in the area by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Ugbo Kingdom Council of Chiefs’ Committee on NDDC projects spoke on behalf of Ilaje people at the weekend.

It said the people have not felt the impact of the commission since its creation in 2002.

Speaking with reporters at the headquarters of the local government in Igbokoda, Chairman of the Committee Chief Roberts Nana and Secretary Chief John Fagbiye said many NDDC projects are either poorly executed or abandoned.

Citing examples, they said the Ugbo-Oghoye road, which was awarded in 2010, and the Ayetoro shoreline protection project, awarded in 2009, have been abandoned.

The committee said no water project inaugurated

by NDDC is functional.

It urged the commission to query the former commissioner representing the state on the board, Benson Enikuemehin, on the handling of the UgboOghoye road project.

The committee said it would petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), if the NDDC fails to act promptly.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

10

NEWS Man allegedly flogs daughter to death From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

A

THIRTY-four year old driver has allegedly flogged his five-year old daughter to death.

The incident occurred in Warri, Warri South Local Government of Delta State on January 27.

The Nation gathered that the suspect is on the run.

It was learnt that the girl, Bethel, had gone to visit her mother at No 22 Numa Mejeyi Street, Iyara, Warri South Local Government.

Her mother and father are separated.

A source said: “Bethel was a kindergarten pupil of Holy Cross Schools, Warri. That day when she left school, she went to her mother's house instead of her father's.

“On getting home, her father flogged her. We pleaded for her but he refused.

“She died the next day at the Warri Central Hospital.

“Her father took her body to the mortuary and disappeared.”

Bethel's mother Esther Uremure alleged that her estranged husband was responsible for their daughter's death.

Her words: “I was not home that day when she came. It was someone who called me that my child was around, but before I rushed back her aunty had taken her back home.

“Later that day, they told me that my child was not feeling well that she was in the hospital.

“I informed some members of Iyara community about the situation. But before I got to the hospital, I was told my daughter had died and that her father had disappeared.

“Please help me find him. Let him at least come to tell me what exactly happened.”

Police spokesman Charles Muka confirmed the incident.

He said the suspect is yet to be arrested.

Council ‘re-elects’ Obong of Calabar

T

HE Etubom Traditional Council (ETC) of the palace of the Obong of Calabar at the weekend re-elected Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V as the Obong, despite a court judgment.

Justice Obgojor Ogar of the Calabar High Court had in a judgment on January 30 declared the process that brought Otu to the throne as null and void.

The court restrained Otu from participating in any selection for that purpose.

Justice Ogar had restrained Otu from parading himself as the Obong of Calabar until a proper election has been conducted.

He also restrained the ETC from excluding Etubom Anthony Ani and Mbiabo Ikoneto from any election or selection of an Obong.

•May face contempt From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

The Etuboms' conclave chaired by Etubom Cobham Mkpang Boco, at the weekend organised a fresh election between Otu and Ani, who in 2008 challenged the process of the selection that brought Otu to office.

A statement by the Chairman of the Conclave of Etuboms, Cobham Boco, said though the council disagreed and rejected the court verdict, it still had to comply with the order.

The statement reads: “Despite our total disagreement and absolute rejection of that judgment, the ETC took the painful step of promptly complying with the essence of that court order by convening the Con-

clave of Kingmakers for the purpose of conducting another selection.

“This carefully taken decision was made to acquit our body as a law-abiding one, without prejudice to our rights to explore further legal reliefs, and test the veracity of the result of the original selection exercise conducted in 2008.”

It explained that after the election, the Otu scored 15 votes and was re-elected while Ani scored zero.

“These results closely match those obtained on March 31, 2008, in which Otu scored 11 votes against Ani's and Esien Ekpenyong Efiok's one vote each.”

Reacting to the election, Ani’s counsel Joe Agi (SAN) said: "What they have done

is wrong and we will commence a contempt proceeding against the sacked Obong and the ETC. “Their action is a clear contempt of court and they should be committed to prison.

“If the judgment says he (Otu) cannot be Obong and he is elected and crowned the second time it is contempt and very unfortunate that such a highly revered office could brazenly and advertently run foul of the law.

“The judgment limited the contest to Ikoneto and my client (Ani) did not participate in this last election in which they scored him zero and Otu 15 votes.

“He couldn't have participated in such an arrangement because due procedure was not followed.”

Delta churches acquire metal detectors

S

OME churches in Delta State have acquired metal detectors to frisk members of their congregation.

The move followed increasing attacks by terrorist group Boko Haram on churches in the North.

It was gathered that many churches have either acquired metal detectors or have placed orders for some.

An orthodox church in Ibusa, Aniocha North Local Government, has acquired the metal detector.

It has engaged the help of private security personnel to frisk members of the congregation.

Another church in BojiBoji, Agbor, Ika South Local Government, it was gathered, has concluded plans to acquire the detectors.

A source in the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said: “The issue of security for our members is being taken seriously in the light of the Madalla Christmas Day bombing.

“As a result, churches are

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

encouraged to strengthen their security either by private arrangement or in concert with formal security agencies.”

However, the metal detectors are used only on Sundays when many people are expected in church.

A worshipper in Agbor said: “We are concluding our private arrangement to have experts use bomb detectors to frisk worshippers and visitors to discourage would-be bombers from targeting the church since our is a very large congregation.”

“We are expecting the experts to begin actual deployment of the security gadgets before the end of next month.

“As an interim measure, we now make everyone, especially those on motorcycles, to park several metres away from the church.”

Police spokesman Charles Muka said the command is unaware of such a development, which according to him, is a preventive measure.

Tribunal to sit tomorrow From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

I

N view of today's public holiday to mark Id-El Maulud, the sitting of the reconstituted Election Petitions Tribunal in Rivers State fixed for today has been postponed till tomorrow.

The tribunal will hear a suit involving Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sir Celestine Omehia of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

A source close to the Chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice Abdulahi Mohammed Liman, said the sitting would hold tomorrow at the State High Court Complex, Port Harcourt.

Candidate for Cross River ANPP

P

ATRICK Okomiso has been nominated to represent the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the February 25 governorship election in Cross River State.

Okomiso, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated Iheke Awa Solomon and Wabili Nyiam to clinch the ticket.

In the primary which was held at the weekend in

Calabar, Okomiso got 233 out of 354 votes.

Nyiam got 88 and Solomon 24. There were nine invalid votes.

Of the 18 local governments, 16 voted; two boycotted the elections.

Okomiso announced the appointment of Solomon and Nyiam into his campaign organisation, as Director-General and Director.

He promised to take the state higher, if elected.

•Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu (left); Abia State Governor Theodore Orji (second right); member representing Bende in the House of Assembly P.C Onyebgu and Orji’s wife, Mercy, at the thanksgiving service for the state’s Jerusalem pilgrims at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia...yesterday

Task Force parades 15 suspects in Delta

T

HE Joint Task Force (JTF) at the weekend paraded 15 suspects alleged to have committed various offences, ranging from kidnapping, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining of petroleum products at the Effurun Barracks, Uvwie Local Government of Delta State.

Over a hundred fuel tanks and drums, nine local boats, 12 fuel hoses were impounded in Asemuku community, Ndokwa East Local Government.

The suspects are Onyeka Owusu, Chenedu Oba, kidnap suspects in Asaba. Federal Johnson and Moses Orighoeyegha kidnap suspects in Sapele and Okpe local governments.

Others are Bayelsa Yola, Friday lkuawel, Abednago Salle and Timi Akobo suspected bunkerers from Ogbe ljaw.

Also paraded were Uweshi Samuel, Abbati Usman and Auwal Mohammed suspected bunkerers from Koko.

Others were Taimiyu Toheeb, Shaibu Abdul, Ovo Akprido and Kewe James suspected bunkers in Aladja, Udu Local Government.

JTF spokesman Lt. Col.

•Impounds 100 tanks Kidnap ‘kingpin’ arrested From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

A

SUSPECTED kidnap kingpin, simply known as Jackson, who allegedly terrorises the twin cities of Effurun and Warri, Delta State, has been arrested by the police.

The police, also at the weekend, shot dead a man suspected to have killed and snatched a rifle from a policeman.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Tsafe, broke the news when he met with banks executives in Warri to proffer solutions to the spate of robberies in the area.

Tsafe said the suspect was being held with another accomplice in Asaba.

The police chief said an attempt to kidnap Joseph Odjeni was foiled by men of the Ovwian police division and youths.

According to him, AK 47 rifle, 15 rounds of ammunition and a Toyota Camry were recovered.

It was learnt that Jackson had been on the wanted list of security agencies and was arrested through the combined efforts of youths and soldiers at the Effurun Barracks, Warri.

Tsafe said the police had been on Jackson’s trail over kidnap, murder and armed robbery cases in Warri and various parts of the state.

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

Timothy Anthigha said the suspects were arrested at various locations and would be handed over to the police for prosecution.

He said: “Up till Decem-

ber and early part of January, we were still operating on our old mandate which was that of fighting militants and we know that militancy has been reduced.

“The Federal Government now thought it wise to refocus the attention of the

JTF to the core area of economy sabotage and environmental degradation.

“The focus of the JTF now is to fight crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and illegal refining of petroleum product and we also have the mandate now to ensure that cases of piracy are completely eliminated and that is the new focus of the JTF. “As part of the restructure, the command of the task force still remains with MajGen. Johnson Ochorga and the headquarters still at Yenagoa.

“This restructuring has opened our area of operation to nine states: Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Imo, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Abia and Akwa lbom.”

Anthigha said the JTF has Sector 1, which is 4 Brigade in Benin, handling Edo and Ondo states.

Sector 2, which is 2 Brigade in Port Harcourt, handles Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Sector 3, which is 13 Brigade in Cross River, handles Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

Others are sector 4, which is 14 Brigade in Abia handling Abia State and Sector 5 which is 34 Brigade in Owerri, handling Owerri.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We started working out for partners to bring the type of technology that we require to work in the sector. We are very pleased with the swedish companies. They are leading manufacturers of some of the major mining equipment like drilling rigs.

- Mohammed Sada, Minister of Mines and Steel Development

Forex reserves hit $34.7b

Interbank rates ease on budgetary inflows

N

N

IGERIA’s interbank lending rates closed at an average of 13.50 per cent last week, easing from 15.50 per cent a fortnight ago, following the release of some of December’s budgetary allocation to government agencies, traders said on Friday.

The borrowing rate according to Reuters News opened the week at 12.25 per cent on large budgetary inflows, but rose back up to Friday’s close after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mopped up liquidity by selling treasury bills.

“A portion of December budget allocations to state and local governments finally hit the system on Monday, (last Monday) helping to boost liquidity level and this reflected in the cost of borrowing at the interbank,” one dealer said.

December budgetary allocation were delayed for over two weeks, causing a liquidity squeeze in the system, pushing up cost of borrowing in the interbank market two weeks ago.

Africa’s top crude-oil exporter shares proceeds from oil sales from a centrally held account every month to its three tiers of government federal, states and local - providing liquidity to the banking system and impacting on lending rates.

The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) eased to 14 per cent from 15 per cent last week, 200 basis points above the CBN’s 12.0 per cent benchmark rate, and four percentage points above the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate.

Overnight placement dropped to 13.50 per cent from 15.50 per cent, while call money traded at 14.0 per cent against 16 per cent penultimate week.

Market opened on Friday with a cash balance of N225 billion ($1.40 billion) compared with about N1billion cash balance a fortnight ago.

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

•From left: DCP Titi Busari, a representative, Police Cooperative Society Limited and Mr Adewale Sangowawa of Human Resources Globacom, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Globacom and Nigeria Police Cooperative Society in Lagos.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Subsidy: Govt may save $8b, says Rewane T

HE reduction of gov ernment spending on subsidy will add $8 billion to government’s coffers, the Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane, has said.

Speaking during the Lagos Business School (LBS) Executive Breakfast Meeting for this month, the expert said moving the fund from consumption to the government purse is expected to have greater multiplier effects on the economy.

He also said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rose from $6.1 billion in 2010 to $6.8 billion last year, indicating an increase of 12 per cent, which is a positive development for the country.

Rewane noted that the government took everybody by surprise when it increased the price of fuel in January from N65 per litre to N147 per litre before it was negotiated down to N97 per litre.

He said the response by Organised Labour and Civil Society was slow, deliberate but profound. “In six days they paralysed the economy forcing the government to succumb. In the end the gov-

• FDI rises to $6.8b

By Collins Nweze

ernment reduced the subsidy by 60 per cent to $3.2 billion and promised to downsize the cost of governance including a 25 per cent cut in pay and pruning international travel,” he said.

Rewane explained that the cuts are mainly symbolic and not material relative to the huge waste and leakages of the government. He said there was no fundamental change to petroleum industry structure by the reforms, as the industry is still made up of 110 players, six majors and other leading and fringe players.

According to him, the existing barriers to entry into the market still exist and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) will continue its dysfunctional role. “Import permits and allocation regime will remain even as sovereign debt notes will continue.

However, we expect greater

scrutiny and improved governance in the short-run,” he said.

Despite these changes, the sector still has “an imperfect industry structure” that is oligopolistic in nature, he said, stressing that the market is still a rent seeking dominated by regime related corporate and carpet baggers. According to him, subsidy administration template will remain unchanged while the system abuse, gaming the market and product smuggling will be relegated to fewer hands.

He said subsidies will have to be eliminated sooner rather than later and the trust deficit is higher than the fiscal deficit. “Industry deregulation is not subsidy removal. Subsidy reduction or removal shifts resources from household consumption to government revenue. Industry structure change means a fundamental shift of

the aggregate demand curve,” he said.

He explained that the outcome is a change in the number of players, as well as the average profitability but price determination, the level of competition, rivalry and productivity may not change. He said although $8 billion will move from consumption to government, but there will be no immediate change in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

However, expenditure will increase to $42 billion while private investment remains unchanged at $33 billion.

He explained that subsidy crisis was not all about economics, but more about politics and that it represents a test of the social contract between the governing and the governed.

“It is an elaborate scheme by the opposition to extinguish any hope of President Goodluck Jonathan contesting in 2015. The new political thinking is not only anti-dictatorship but anti-mediocrity and inefficiency,” he said.

IGERIA’s foreign ex change reserves rose to $34.67 billion on February 1, their highest level in four and half months, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data showed on Friday, raising hopes of a more stable exchange rate on the naira.

The figure was up on the $32.98 billion of forex reserves that Nigeria had at the start of last month, and also higher than the $33.16 billion it had at this time a year ago.

Strong demand for the dollar on the domestic market has piled pressure on local currency in the middle of last year, eating into the forex reserves of Africa’s second biggest economy as the CBN intervened to prop it up.

The bank said outlook for oil prices in the short-term suggested that forex reserves would continue to recover.

Forex reserves at current level could finance more than six months of imports of goods and services, the CBN said.

Naira gains at interbank

T

HE naira advanced for a fourth day, heading for a weekly gain, on increased dollar supply from oil companies to fund operations.

The local currency, according to Reuters News, climbed 0.1 per cent to N160.35 per dollar on the interbank market in Lagos, compared with last Thursday’s New York close.

The naira was up 0.4 per cent last week.

Oil company sales “increased supply of dollars” Jide Solanke, an analyst at First Securities Discount House Ltd., said by phone from Lagos last Friday. “There is ample supply, more than demand at the moment.”

Nigeria isn’t under pressure to devalue the naira again after lowering its band against the dollar last year, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi said February 1. The bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record high for a second consecutive meeting on January 31.

Ghana’s cedi was little changed at 1.685 per dollar, heading for a weekly decline of 0.1 per cent.

Nigeria Airways retirees petition EFCC over ‘pension fraud’

T

HE last may not have been heard about pen sion fraud as retired workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulent diversion of their pension and other benefits.

The retirees in a petition dated February 1, 2012, entitled: Re: Unlawful removal of our clients’names from the list of Nigeria Airways and fraudulent diversion of their pension and other benefits to payment of ghost retirees, claimed that despite the fact that they have all

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

their relevant documents, their names were dropped and replaced with that of ghost pensioners.

The petition reads: “Our clients are 2002 set of retirees of the defunct Nigeria Airways and they have relevant documents; appointment letters; retirement letters; pension number; identity cards and their pay slips.

“In 2002, our clients were paid some gratuities after due verification and confirmation of their names as authen-

tic retirees of the erstwhile Nigeria Airways. Kindly find annexed the comprehensive list of 2002 set of retirees which was used for the part payment of our client’s gratuities in 2002.”

The retirees, who petitioned the anti-graft commission through their lawyer, Adegbite Adeniyi and Associates, said: “The government subsequently decided to pay our clients certain amount of money in full and final settlement of all their pension claims. Our clients initially thought that their former list will be used for this purpose

until they discovered that a new and fraudulent list had been compiled.

“To their chagrin, our clients discovered that their names were completely excluded from the newly complied list sent to the Accountant General’s office for payment of full and final pension claims, which the government promised to pay upfront.”

They also alleged: “However, while going through the new list, our client discovered that Messrs Samuel Nzene and Uche Okoro, the self-acclaimed representatives of the defunct Nigeria Airways retirees and their

allies in crime had fraudulently replaced our clients’ names as well as names of some other bona fide retiree with ghost names to serve their selfish ends.”

They prayed the chairman of the commission to: “Urgently use your good offices to order a thorough investigation into this matter, as several billions of naira approved by the government for the payment of pension to authentic retirees of the defunct Nigeria Airways may end up in wrong hands of the fraudulent few who forwarded the concocted list to the authority for payment.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

12

BUSINESS NEWS

National Assembly to probe missing PTI vessel

T

HE National Assembly has expressed its determination to unravel the whereabouts of a multi-billion naira diving support vessel meant for the training of students of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

The Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Petroleum and Gas vowed to unearth the mystery surrounding the vessel.

Contract for the purchase of the training vessel was said to have been awarded and partly paid for in 2009.

The initial amount paid to purchase the vessel was not, however, stated.

Speaking at a joint budget defence session with the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Up Stream), Senator Emmanuel Paulker, noted that the Joint Committees would “embark on an exploration drive to secure the vessel no matter where it is located”.

He described the non-delivery of

From Onyedi Ojiabor (Asst. Editor) and Sanni Onogu (Abuja)

the vessel after yearly budgetary allocation for its payment as “worrisome.”

The lawmaker also lamented that relevant authorities have failed to furnish the joint committee with the exact amount so far spent on the yet to be delivered vessel.

He said: “Let me comment on the PTI. I was chairman of Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream for four years and the issue of that vessel was reflected in the annual budget every year.

“This committee lacks a comprehensive report on that vessel vis-avis the amount so far expended on it.

“You should also indicate whether the vessel we are about receiving is that very vessel we have been paying money for.

“It is good we set up a joint committee among ourselves to go and see that vessel because the investment was much.

“We will set up a committee to

go and see that vessel whether it is in England, or anywhere in this world”.

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources was said to have, through the PTI, released over N985 million to Netsach Limited to secure the vessel.

Despite the huge funds expended on the deal, the ship is yet to arrive the shore of the country.

A source said that a visit to Singapore by the Senate Committee on Petroleum in May, 2010, failed to secure the delivery of the vessel as it was said to have been in a “very bad shape.”

Our correspondent gathered that the Senate delegation recommended that the vessel be repaired in Singapore and brought to Nigeria .

The committee chairman noted that three years down the line, the Vessel has remained a recurring decimal in the federal budgets.

Our correspondents report that in 2010, N173 million was budgeted for the vessel but N142 million was released.

‘Arik Air to exploit Fly Nigeria Act’

A

RIK Air is set take advantage of the Fly Nigeria Act being canvassed by some stakeholders in the aviation sector, its Managing Director, Mr Chis Ndulue, has said.

Ndulue, who spoke to reporters in Lagos at the weekend, said the legislative draft will enhance the prospects of indigenous airlines on many international routes where foreign airlines milk Nigerians

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

through discriminatory and exorbitant fares.

He explained that the Fly Nigeria Act, if implemented, will enhance the capacity of Nigerian carriers. The Act is one of the steps taken by the government to protect its carriers from the predatory practices of dominant mega carriers from Europe and United States

of America.

Ndulue also explained that Arik Air will increase the stakes to enable it to take advantage of the legislation being packaged to the National Assembly as it will afford it another window to improve its service levels, focus on growth on its many intercontinental routes, where it is gathering experience to stand competition from the bigger carriers.

Workers threaten to shut MTN Jos call centre From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

• Drett Goeschen, CEO, MTN Nigeria

A

BOUT 2,000 workers of com munication giant, MTN, re cruited two years ago, have vowed to shut the company if the management continued what they described as their ‘organised exploitation’.

Many of the affected workers, who stormed The Nation office in Jos, alleged that the level of exploitation of the workers of MTN in Jos is too high.

MTN contracted a Lagos private firm known as CNSS Contact Centre Limited to recruit workers for the take-off of the Jos Call Centre in 2010. After the recruitment, the Jos call centre was opened in June 2010. The workers were trained by MTN. Though the employment were done in batches, over 2,000 were employed for the take-off of the centre.

According to the aggrieved staff, MTN describes us as ‘front line staff’ because we are the one that rectify customers complaints within the Jos zone.

They have similar call centres in

Kano, Lagos and Kano etc. But the call centre staff in these states are well paid. They are paid between N100, 000 and N120, 000, they claimed.

However, Funmilayo Omogbenigun, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Corporate Services Division of the MTN, said: “MTN Nigeria’s local outsourcing model is unique in the telecommunications industry as we have empowered a local Nigerian company to offer customer services to our teeming customers. ‘’Our partner, who has no association whatsoever with MTN or its Board, was selected further to a rigorous bidding process which ensured that the winner had demonstrable abilities in call centre management and that their policies are aligned to MTN’s best practice with respect to the ethical treatment of employees. ‘’We ensure that staff provided by our outsourced partners are remunerated in line with the current levels for their particular job profile and geographical area, and that they work in a conducive, nurturing environment. In addition, MTN provides certification for the skills learnt and training undertaken at the centre so that staff has transferable skills and official documentation to attest to it. Not only does this confer professional status on them, it makes them attractive potential employees in other customer focused industries.”

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

13

ISSUES

•Trading floor of the NSE

Some measures have been taken to revamp the capital market, all to no avail. It remains bearish. Against the backdrop of last year’s losses, operators are suggesting a way out, TONIA OSUNDOLIRE reports.

F

OR sometime now, all has not been well with the capital market. It has been losses all way each year. With more than 16 per cent average loss last year, stakeholders are looking up to the 2012 business year with high hopes. So, what will help the market to rebound and soothe the pains of investors?

Regulator's perspective Chief Executive of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Mr Oscar Onyema, at his maiden briefing, said government’s policy would boost the growth of the market.

He said the deregulation of the downstream sub-sector, which is expected to transform the economy in terms of growth, will impact on the capital market, when the Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB) is passed into law.

How to save the stock market

On yema explained that although the crisis in the Euro zone will affect major economies around the globe, "it provides concern for us at the capital market. It will, however, provide growth opportunity for Africa and other emerging markets."

Brokers’ position The Chief Executive Officer of Partner-

ship Investment Company Limited and a council member of the NSE, Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi, said, basically, the most important thing now is for the Federal Government to maintain its debt profile because the more debts pile up, the more they crowd out the private sector which will, ultimately, affect the capital market.

However, he said just as people clamoured for the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) which was

used for the banks, the government should also use the first investment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to bail out the capital market.

He explained that by buying equities at current prices, investors will get value for their money for a long time. Besides, he said the government has all it takes to bail out the capital market.

"They have the long-term perspective that is required; they have the resources to do it. That will give pep and understanding if the Federal Government demonstrates such confidence in the market. That will be a way to revive the confidence of investors quickly", he said.

Also, Ogiemwonyi said another policy to be considered is privatisation of key industries of the government, such as Ni• Continued on page 14

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

14

ISSUES

•DG, NSE Oscar Onyema

•Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala

•DG-SEC, Arunma-Oteh

How to save the stock market • Continued from page 13

geria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and various affiliates.

Besides considering government policies as a way for the market to return to profitability, Ogiemwonyi mentioned the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) as another alternative for the market to thrive.

OTC platform Ogiemwonyi, who is also the chairman of the technical committee of NASD, said it was incorporated in 1998 specifically to offer an over the counter trading (OTC) platform for the securities dealers of Nigeria.

He said the NASD is meant to compliment the NSE, adding that most of the securities that will be listed there are those that are unlisted on the floor of the NSE. "They are either not listed on the NSE or in the process but yet to meet the NSE requirements".

Shedding more light on NASD, he said what the organisers are doing in effect is trying to make the market bigger by attracting more securities that are not listed.

"It will also create a better business environment. We are getting more approvals because more entrepreneurs are starting businesses, but along the way they don't have the right capital to pursue. They have very good ideas, services, the market but no fund. We believe NASD will provide this kind of platform in addition to what the NSE is doing," he said.

Explaining the importance of the Exchange, he said there is no doubt that the banking and insurance consolidation would have been nowhere without the NSE, so NASD is another expansion of what the Exchange does.

As an OTC trading market, he

said NASD tends to have features that make it a little more flexible. For instance, he said NASD would be a multi-product platform trading all securities from bonds to equities, to fixed income and money market instruments such as commercial papers. The idea, according to him, is that what the market does generally is to create transparency for people who want to invest to buy and sell.

He said the NASD is very difficult to manipulate because the decision to pay for it is very transparent. For instance, he said right now, there are many securities that are trading outside the market, that one cannot really determine their prices.

Citing such companies that are doing very well in this category, he said WAMCO and MTN’s shares are trading in the off market and people buy at different prices because they have no way of knowing what the real price is.

But if they operate on a market platform where everybody bids and offers for it, he said what will be created is price discovery.

"Price discovery usually brings about a better investors' confidence because they know that they can buy something that has a market for it and at a reasonable price that it is most likely to trade in the market," Ogiemwonyi said. He said the aim is make NASD well situated to add to the canvass of securities trading in Nigeria.

Because of the fact that the NSE is a first-tier market, there are

‘

some organisations that have been there for a long time. There are some rules that have been since its existence. However, he said that is not to say there are going to be rules that are substandard. What NASD will try to do is probably to see where there are bureaucratic processes that can be reduced. For instance, don't forget that every security before it becomes a security whether it is listed on the NSE or -theCounter (OTC)has to be approved by SEC. NASD will also be committed to some of the best practices that the NSE is practicing. It is just expanding the canvass, especially now that business is so low. It will encourage more people to come. "We are going to create investors who are coming into the market for the first time maybe because NASD instruments and processes are newer. It will give an opportunity for a wider range of products to be invested in," he said.

Besides, Ogiemwonyi noted the NSE has tried to re-strategise. He said in terms of rules and operation, the NSE is different from what it used to be.

Furthermore, there are also new products, which have been giving people enough variety.

Recently, ETF was introduced even if it will take a long time for people to get used to. It is a virgin instrument that has gold behind it and some people will prefer it more than the equities that don't have a specific asset behind it.

However, he said the sanitation

exercise at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rid the industry of some of the bad elements and market has also done some cleansing.

These developments he said, has made some stock brokering firms to go back to the drawing board to trim their cost. "We call it adjusting to market changes, this affects everywhere. Cost for entering and trading in the market is a lot cheaper today, whether it is SEC or NSE cost or commission, they are a lot cheaper than they were a few years ago. All these are attempts to revive the market," he said.

Consequently, he said the stock market is still the most viable investment outlet for anybody who has the money to invest for a long term. "We are going to see it revive over some time. However, the only threats are insecurity, unemployment, inflation and large uncontrolled government expenditure. All these portend bad signal for the market. There is also fear of uncertainty," he said.

Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr Emeka Madubike, advocated the deregulation of all sectors of the economy. He said if properly done, it would open up the space for private people to invest provided there is a level playing ground.

According to him, one of the things that will hold the market down anywhere in the world is inconsistent policies; policies that are not investor-friendly and those that are not transparently

How do you look at the future? If I put my money down today, what happens tomorrow? But when you have a situation where you don't even understand what is going on, it looks like a group of violent people are more like an alternative government. They do whatever they want without anyone really taking charge. This is a problem

’

executed. With this kind of environment, he said local and foreign investors are not sure.

Besides, he mentioned insecurity, stressing that this would scare away investors.

"How do you look at the future?

If I put my money down today, what happens tomorrow? But when you have a situation where you don't even understand what is going on, it looks like a group of violent people are more like an alternative government. They do whatever they want without anyone really taking charge. This is a problem," Madubike said.

Noting that every economy is driven by small-scale enterprises, he said the government has to ensure the environment is conducive for small-scale enterprises to flourish.

Commenting, CEO, Lambeth Trust & Investment Company Limited, Mr David Adonri, said NASD is an OTC platform for trading in short-term and long term securities.

According to him, huge opportunities abound for the platform to be successful considering the large number of public companies that do not have their securities trading formally. Because the Nigerian capital market is still at its infancy, further room exists for expansion of products and services across the length and breadth of the market," he said.

Adonri said the efficiency of the capital market can be enhanced if competition is introduced into all areas. This, he said, is the basis of recommendation by the Dennis Odife panel for existence of multiple stock exchanges and capital trade points in Nigeria.

He added that for the equities market to become attractive to investors, domestic macroeconomic policies have to be reviewed to drive down interest and inflation rates to single digit.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

15

16

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

JOBS THE NATION

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

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

The army of the unemployed will soon have cause to smile. About 300,000 jobs are coming in the cashew subsector of the agriculture industry. DANIEL ESSIET reports on the efforts of Bank of Industry (BoI), African Cashew Alliance (ACA) and Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to optimise opportunities in the subsector to boost employment.

17

• Women peeling cashew nuts

300,000 jobs coming in cashew subsector S

OON, there will be job openings in the cashew subsector of the agriculture industry. About 300,000 jobs will be created in the subsector this year, says the President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Mr Tola Faseru. About 300,000 jobs are already in aexistence in the subsector.

The coming of these jobs raises hope of employment for the teeming population of the unemployed. Encouraging farmers to invest in more cashew plantations, Faseru said cashew nuts production is projected to increase to 400,000 tonnes per annum from 10,000 tonnes. This growth is expected to be actualised this year.

The boost is coming on the heels of a tripartite partnership between the Bank of Industry (BoI), African Cashew Alliance (ACA) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

This was made known when the Executive of African Cashew Alliance (ACA) paid a courtesy visit to the management of Bank of Industry (BoI) in Lagos.

ACA President, Mr Idrissi Kilangi, said Cote d’Ivoire has the highest production volume in Africa, with 350,000 tonnes per annum, but noted that with all the potential it has, Nigeria can produce 400,000 tonnes every year beginning from 2012.

He said ACA in partnership with BOI will

work together to ensure the country meets this record.

Kilangi said cashew nut is a major answer to the development of the non-oil sector, adding that the government has neglected the sector for so long. He said the development of the cashew industry needs to be included in the agenda of the existing international donor agencies committed to promoting agriculture and the Federal Government should also include the industry in its development and job-generating plans.

He said: “The African cashew industry has the potential to realise more than $300 million in raw nut sales by smallholder farmers and $300 million in added value from cashew processing, creating more than 200,000 new jobs for the poor in rural areas.”

The Executive Director, Operation, BOI, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, said BOI is ready to support the production of the product, adding that it would create adequate fund for the production.

His words: “We have been there from the beginning and we are ready to work with you so as to make it work. One of our mandates is to promote the non-oil export sector and we are expected to evolve strategies for addressing production, processing and marketing problems in the cashew business.”

Mohammed said the move was initiated not only to boost the foreign exchange earning capacity of the commodity, but because

cashew cultivation, processing and export has the potentials to create jobs, especially for poor rural women.

The NCAN chief said if the cashew crop was processed locally, new direct jobs would be created by more than 1,000 businesses that would arise from the industry and millions of naira would be realised. This possible outcome is what is driving the campaign of the association to boost cashew production nationwide.

Cashew farming, Faseru noted, could lead to increased employment opportunities in the rural areas and generate income for vulnerable small farmers and women. All these opportunities, he maintained, would result in an improvement in rural living conditions, and hence contribute to poverty reduction.

On the whole, he said there are job opportunities through processing and packaging activities. This follows the process of converting it into plain kernels which are then exported in bulk to markets in developed and emerging countries.

He said further processing takes place with regard to roasting, salting/seasoning, packaging and labeling/branding.

“If the market is expanded, it would contribute to pro-poor economic growth by generating permanent and seasonal jobs, particularly for farm labourers and intermediaries,” he said.

Faseru further said that marketing, distri-

bution and processing offer permanent and seasonal jobs annually in the cashew industry.

He said: “There are activities at different stages of the cashew value chain. This includes input suppliers providing producers with specific inputs such as seedlings, pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, processing equipment and packaging materials.

“Seed dealers/nurseries are found only in a few cashew producing areas. Value chain addition to cashews is mostly carried out at the processing and packaging stage. Consequently, our association is promoting the cashew value chain to improve the competitiveness of locally produced cashew in national and international markets.”

The NCAN boss said adding value to the cashew industry will generate substantial profit and employment along the chain and contribute to poverty alleviation. He said a large quantity of cashew produced are exported rather than processed locally or consumed in the country.

He said in most parts of the country, women have shown significant interest in working in cashew processing companies.

This type of employment is preferred to the hard labour associated with cashew production and other agricultural activities. By way • Continued on page 17

18

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

JOBS

300,000 jobs coming in cashew subsector • Continued from page 18

of exporting the raw nuts, Faseru said the country not only loses its wealth in terms of profit but also ignores the potential of generating huge employment opportunities people could have cashed in on to generate income.

For this reason, he said his association is working to create new jobs across the industry. He is encouraging farmers to invest in more cashew trees.

He said cashew factories have created a reliable local market for tens of thousands of small-scale cashew producers. He urged the processors to train farmers to improve quality and yields, adding Nigeria has enough land to develop new plantations.

According to Procom, a British Department for International Development(DFID) funded programme, based in Abuja, more than 50,000 farmers are directly engaged in this sector and receive an important income annually.

The programme said it provides seasonal employment to another 50,000 persons in harvesting and at different trading and transporting operations along the value chain. About 5,000 people are engaged in processing providing employment opportunities to more than 105,000 low-income persons connected to the sector.

“It is also a source of income to rural women. Women are mainly engaged in harvesting and drying of nuts, among others. Others in the villages who may not own cashew farms are engaged in picking or harvesting the nuts during seasons, for which they are paid daily wages ranging from N300 to N400 depending on the area and time of the season such as before or during the rains.

A female collector collects about 30 kilogrammes daily. The urban poor, particularly the women folk are engaged in factory processing work, such as shelling, peeling, grading and packing cashew kernels and earn a stable income. For example, shellers in a processing factory visited in Ikorodu, on the outskirts of Lagos, receives N40 per kg and can shell a minimum of 10 kg per day, making a monthly income of N12, 000 ($90).

Similarly, peelers, graders and packers in this factory earn between N9,000 and N12,000 monthly. This processor has a monthly wage of over N1.5million paid to about 100 workers, 80 per cent of whom are aged and illiterate women. “For watchers, developing a competitive private sector processing industry would create jobs and reduce dependence on India as the market for raw nuts.

These growth opportunities are

• Ogunwale

• Faseru

unlikely to happen without public-private sector roles.

Prof. Abel Ogunwale, a lecturer in Agricultural Extenstion and Rural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, said cashew has to meet national and international quality standards to be competitive in national and global markets.

According to him, training on quality standards is of crucial importance to project success.

He said there must be concerted

efforts by NCAN to implement training in order to ensure quality standards and norms are maintained. He said most farmers export their nuts raw, which is a missed opportunity to generate income and jobs locally. As longterm demand for cashews is growing worldwide, there is an opportunity for Nigeria to capitalise on this trend by doing more local processing instead of exporting most of its crop for processing in other countries.

Ogunwale said there is great po-

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Accident Investigative Bureau gets Chairman M

UHTAR Usman, an aviator of over three decades has been appointed Chairman of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). Until the new assignment, Usman was Director of Operations. He has been involved with the agency from inception.

The AIB was created through the Civil Aviation Act 2006 and became operational in April, 2007. The agency is charged with the responsibility of investigating aircraft accidents and serious incidents with a view to determining the causes and proffer safety recommendations that can prev His aviation career is dated back to 1981 at the Nigerian College of

Aviation Technology, Zaria where as a flying instructor he was involved in the training of student pilots from basic to attain commercial pilot license, multi-engine, and instrument ratings. Before then he had acquired his training from the same institution. He holds a diploma in Aeronautical Electronics and Telecommunication and a City and Guilds certificate in Radio, Television, Electronics and Telecommunication.

He later bagged a Commercial Pilot qualification with multi-en-

gine and instrument ratings from Burnside-Ott Aviation Training Centre, Miami, United States in 1978. Besides, he also qualified as a Boeing 727 Flight Engineers in Miami in 1980 and capped that with a Flying Instructors’ rating at Oxford Air Training School, United Kingdom in 1982. With an Airline Transport Pilot Licence from New York in 1992, the Kaduna State born pilot has successfully garnered all the professional qualifications needed for a successful career in aviation.

He is a B737 pilot and has acquired

over 8,000 hours in his professional career.

Between 1984 and 2004, Usman served the defunct Nigerian Airways as an airline pilot and Flight Safety Officer. He was involved in safety management, aviation security and aircraft acquisition among other responsibilities.

He has worked with Chanchangi Airlines as a pilot and nominated as company safety captain.

His professional training in accident investigation include an Aircraft Accident Investigation course

tential for increasing value for the sector. He said it was time Nigerians establish a competitive cashew-processing industry given firm demand and pricing on international markets. According to him, if local processors meet international health and safety standards, they can assure themselves of a reliable market and top prices, which will help expand the sector, create more jobs and considerably increase the incomes of cashew farmers.

He said selling raw cashew nut rather than processed ones represent a significant loss of potential wage and profit revenues.

Industry watchers said almost all raw cashew nuts are exported to Vietnam for processing at half the value of locally finished, processed nuts. Lack of processing knowhow means that the nation’s population and economy do not realise the immense employment benefit from processing cashew.

Ogunwale said training for farmers and processors would help promote proper harvest and post-harvest handling of raw cashew nuts.

The United States Aids Agency (USAID) through the West Africa Trade Hub is teaming up with African Cashew Alliance (ACA) to grow the processing industry in West Africa.

at the University of South California, US in 2006, Aircraft Accident Investigation course, Cranfield University, United Kingdom in 2009 and Aircraft Accident Investigation Course, National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, US, 2011.

Usman has also had training in Helicopter Accident Investigation from the University of Southern California, (USC) just as he has attended a lot of other workshops and seminars on accident investigation, safety, airspace management. He is a member International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI), which is the global umbrella body of accident investigators.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

O

N this page we shall be looking at issues that will enable you to make a better and successful attempt at job search in 2012. It is a promise.

The No. 1: Law of effective job search: Nobody owes you a job. If you desire a good job, you need to get up and go after the job you desire.

Invest your time, energy and money (even the little you have- you have a mobile telephone handset, don’t you?). Let me add further, most job seekers expect the job search to be easy, simple and quick; and when things are not going that way, they give up, often too soon.

The moral here is that though you may be unemployed, you still have a job to do: to get yourself a job.

You will need to put in all you have and be focused. To get a good job takes imagination, initiative and focus. It means that you must be committed to implementing the skills you will acquire reading this column, attending seminars, reading relevant books. You know what you want, and must be ready to work for it. Are you?

No. 2: Job-hunting success is directly proportional to the amount of intelligent job-hunting effort. The

Nobody owes you

By Olu Oyeniran

more you try, the more likely you will find the job you want, and quickly too. Even if you are a career/job changer, you need to schedule and make time out consistently to pursue your job search.

No. 3: Successful job-hunting requires a willingness to change tactics. If something is not working, move to another strategy. But do you have a job search strategy? These apply to everybody in the job market.

In your efforts to get a job, you will probably encounter some barriers and hurdles. Common barriers include: • I am not experienced/too experienced • I am too young/old • The economy is bad and so is unemployment • My course is not marketable • I don’t have connection • My skills are obsolete etc.

Think again, are these real barriers or excuses? It is often easy to blame external factors for failure to get what you want. The real barriers are generally internal doubts

and fear, resistance to change and our perception.

Perceptions, may be stronger than reality- it influcuces our altitude and actions towards a given object or situation, whether it is right or wrong.

The first point in your job search is to assess your job search skills.

Review the strategies and techniques listed below and rate your self (1 – poor; 5 = ok; 10 = excellent): • Analysing my skills, interest and qualities • Honestly looking at barriers • Identifying specific job target • Writing effective job applications • Performing at interview • Writing effective Resume/C.V • Networking skills • Selection Test skills • Evaluating job offers.

To look good, you need an average score above 75 per cent! If you did not do well enough, then do all you can to acquire job search skills: read books, attend relevant seminars, get help- from friends, family members, mentors, career and job search counselors, professional Re-

sume/C.V writers etc.

You need to acquire skills in the following areas: skill analysis, job search strategies formulation, career and job goal setting, identifying career achievement, writing winning Resume/C.V and application letter, conducting informational interview, job interview and follow up, job aptitude test, etc.

I am sure the question floating in your mind is “where are the jobs?

You are already on your way to uncovering the job market. The next step is to analyse the job and business environment.

There are opportunities in Education/Training, Agriculture, Accounting/Banking/Finance, Insurance, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Service, Government, Civil-society/Social/Professional organizations, oil/gas, Media/publishing sectors of the economy.

All you need to do is to develop special interest in specific job market/segment that holds promise and potential of a good job for you.

(We will discuss a more thorough method of choosing your career in future).

Now, get organised for job search.

The starting point is skill analysis.

Skills are the fundamental basis of job search. Employers are looking for certain skills, and the best jobs are those ones where your skills match the needs of the employer.

There are three types of skills job specific, self-management and transferable skills. You also need to put together an arsenal of accomplishments.

This is for those with fairly long working history, highlighting their career achievements. You need to understand your strength(s), weakness(es), interests, aptitude and potentials. What would you like to do with your life, all your life? Using the inputs from the above, you will determine and write your career/job objective statement.

It is a statement that describes or states what career or job (or a range of closely related occupations) you desire. A job/career objective statement must highlight what skills you have to offer the employer as well.

See you next Monday.

Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates.

Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Wonder judgment • The no-case judgment in favour of former Speaker Bankole and his deputy suggests a society in end-stage decay

I

S this any way to run a country? A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the number three citizen in the land would not heed the invitation of a properly constituted graft agency to account for his activities in office. The agency raided his abode in a gangland fashion and hijacked him at an indecent hour. He was interrogated, detained, and days later, granted bail. He was being questioned for using his position to raise a N38 billion bank loan which was in turn, applied to jacking up astronomically, the “running cost” of the members of the House, in negation of its Appropriation Act and approved budget, and in breach of the extant provisions of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

It was a high-octane case and the entire populace awaited its outcome as the House was already notorious for the wrong things.

After several months, the judge of the Federal High Court last week freed the two former top legislators, stating that there was no contravention of any known financial

‘Oladimeji Bankole and his sidekick, Usman Nafada, could go ahead and chant, ‘all is well that ends well,’ but this verdict (unless overturned by the appellate court) will for a long time, remain significant for the negative precedence it will set in the annals of the judiciary and the debilitating impact it will have on the polity’

regulations by the duo.

The foregoing is a narrative of Nigeria’s current situation and the debasement that has come upon every facet of our lives.

Oladimeji Bankole and his sidekick, Usman Nafada, could go ahead and chant, ‘all is well that ends well,’ but this verdict (unless overturned by the appellate court) will for a long time, remain significant for the negative precedence it will set in the annals of the judiciary and the debilitating impact it will have on the polity.

However, the graft body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must stick to due process and orderly procedures, even at the expense of losing one or two of its cases. The manner of raiding the residence of a former number three citizen was indecorous to say the least. We must always be wary of committing more wrongs in the bid to right a wrong.

But, could Bankole and Nafada had been freed because the EFCC’s legal team did not do its homework well and make its case water- tight? Could it be that the team could not establish the onus of its case, or that it did not understand the difference between a criminal and moral offence as the presiding judge tried to make clear? Perhaps there is more to it than meets the eye.

While we await the decision of the appellate court, we can only conjecture whether the high court has not sacrificed the overall good of the society on the altar of legalism?

The duo of Bankole and Nafada had led the House to fetch a hefty bank loan of at least N38billion which was used to raise the “running cost” of each House member from N27million to N42million per quarter.

This move violated the subsisting Appropriation Act passed by the same House; it breached the RMAFC rules and lastly, this

running cost is outlandish, spurious and out of tune with any financial guidelines existing in the country. Surprisingly, the court, in ruling, reasoned that being members of a different arm of government, the commission (RMAFC) cannot fix running costs for the members of the House of Representatives. “They are at liberty to increase their ‘running cost’ to whatever amount they so collectively wish.”

We ask: why do we go through the pains of drawing a budget and passing Appropriation Act if it is of no effect? Did the House not break its own law which it ought to have guarded jealously? If the legislature cannot live by this Act, why should other arms of government obey it?

One last point, the legislature in Nigeria, in its highly honed appetite for cash would also corrupt banking system and circumvent rules by corralling banks to disgorge cash to it. Pray, what is the interest on N38billion at current double digits? Perhaps the BankoleNafada House ran a huge manufacturing assembly line from which it would generate profit to offset such a huge loan? What manner of bank or consortium of banks would shell out such huge loans to legislators while factories are shutting down largely because they are starved of credit facilities?

Finally, though the judge acknowledged as he ruled, that it is morally wrong, morally indefensible and morally insensitive for the Bankole-Nafada House to have increased the “running cost”, cases such as these that have far-reaching significance to the polity must be viewed beyond their legalistic tenor.

The House led by Bankole-Nafada acted in a loose and licentious manner; they took undue liberties with the nation’s treasury. No nation grows when her leaders are ruinously opportunistic at every turn.

Avoidable embarrassment •More questions than answers on whether Jonathan was floored in contest for AU chairmanship

W

HETHER or not he was actually ever interested in emerging as the Chairman of the African Union (AU), in succession to outgoing President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equitorial Guinea, the widespread reports, both in the domestic and international media that President Goodluck Jonathan lost out to President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic, the new AU Chairman, in the manoeuvres for the position are hugely embarrassing. This is because of Nigeria’s size, resources, historic contribution to the continent and consequent perceived clout in Africa.

It should ordinarily be taken for granted, all things being equal, that if Nigeria was interested in a position zoned to West Africa, where she is a predominant regional power, the country should easily achieve her objective with proper planning and effective strategising. The picture that unfortunately emerged and gained widespread currency in the aftermath of the 18th AU Summit is that Nigeria, the fabled ‘giant of Africa’, was successfully upstaged by her diminutive neighbour in the quest for continental prestige.

It may not be improbable, as spokesman to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, has said that reports of President Jonathan being ‘defeated’ by President Yayi Boni in the bid for the continental organisation’s chairmanship for the next one year are false and mischievous. Abati contends that there was no contest in the first place and that President Jonathan was, in any case, never a candidate for the position. The presidential spokesman indeed insists that “President Jonathan, rather

than being “defeated” by President Yayi Boni of Benin actually facilitated his emergence as AU chairman via his unanimous adoption

by ECOWAS Heads of State as the subregion’s candidate”. What then went wrong?

How come that what ought to be seen as a diplomatic triumph on the part of Nigeria has turned out to be an acute embarrassment to which the Presidency’s reaction sounds so suspiciously like an afterthought?

In the run-up to the summit, there had been speculations that President Jonathan would enter the race for the AU leadership, particularly after Gambia’s President, Yahya Jammeh’s well publicised withdrawal. The Presidency was obviously very much aware of these speculations as Abati’s statement clearly indicates. According to him, “It is true, however, that in the last week, some newspapers have been speculating that President Jonathan may be adopted by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments to be the next Chairman of the AU since it was the turn of ECOWAS to produce the AU Chairman for 2012 – 2013”.

Belatedly debunking the widely published reports, Abati says that his boss actually declined entreaties by some fellow African leaders to take up the AU challenge, citing the country’s domestic crises and the fact that he was already preoccupied as Chairman of ECOWAS. If so, why was this not promptly made public before the summit, to dispel the pervasive notion that Jonathan was angling for the position? Again, when, as the Presidency claims, President Jonathan summoned a mini-summit of ECOWAS in Addis Ababa on the eve of the AU meeting “to

adopt the leader of another country in order to promote a sense of belonging among member-states”, why was this initiative not immediately put in the public domain? If well publicised, such rare diplomatic altruism would surely have earned the President and Nigeria plaudits – not this ridicule.

Furthermore, if the President’s mission in Addis Ababa was just to attend a routine AU meeting and participate in the inauguration of a new, foreign-built AU Headquarters, why an entourage of 35 aides at a time when he is preaching the gospel of sacrifice and cost-cutting to Nigerians? This needless blow to the country’s image was largely self-inflicted.

‘It should ordinarily be taken for granted, all things being equal, that if Nigeria was interested in a position zoned to West Africa, where she is a predominant regional power, the country should easily achieve her objective with proper planning and effective strategising. The picture that unfortunately emerged and gained widespread currency in the aftermath of the 18th AU Summit is that Nigeria, the fabled ‘giant of Africa’, was successfully upstaged by her diminutive neighbour in the quest for continental prestige’

They keep fighting back

B

ANKERS hate being told to set capital aside, even if it’s the best way to cushion against losses from high-risk investments. As many see it, not investing a chunk of money is tantamount to forgoing profit voluntarily. And each time regulators say banks must raise more capital, banks show up with dubious, self-serving studies insisting that bigger capital buffers could force banks to drastically curtail lending, slowing economic growth and destroying millions of jobs.

The banks are back at it, this time pushing against a proposal from banking regulators to replace the credit rating agencies — whose dismal evaluation of mortgage-backed securities fueled the credit bubble that led to the financial crisis — with objective criteria to determine the financial soundness of banks’ loans and investments. The move, mandated by the Dodd-Frank financial reform act of 2010, would also increase the size of the capital buffer demanded of many banks.

The deadline for submitting public comments is this week, and bankers have been arguing vehemently that the change would short-circuit any recovery in housing and permanently hamstring the mortgage market.

Bankers are particularly concerned about the criteria for capital buffers against securitized assets like mortgage-backed securities. On the safest varieties of these securities, the rules would require banks to set aside about the same amount of capital as under current rules, but that, as they loudly protest, is about three times as much as European banks are required. And if the underlying pool of mortgages or other assets took losses, the new rules would require banks to ratchet up capital steeply.

Banks also complain that the rules do not differentiate between different types of securitized assets. When they buy a security at, say, 90 cents on the dollar, they want regulators to let them book 10 cents as capital because the asset would have to lose more than 10 percent for them to experience a loss.

The rules may not take into account all of the subtle changes in the risk of an asset. But bankers’ warnings of economic doom from more regulation are exaggerated. American banks already faced higher capital requirements on mortgage-backed securities than European banks during the run-up to the financial crisis, and that didn’t deter them from piling into the market and taking unreasonable risk. It might not be so bad if banks stay away from some of these markets. Before the subprime boom, they did little mortgage securitization — leaving the bulk of it to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The new rules can be perfected. But banks’ persistent call for lower capital standards must be resisted. The cost of bigger capital buffers may not be zero, but it is surely less than the cost of another meltdown.

- New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

20

9EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: It was a great joy to hear that ASUU has called of its 58 day-old strike. On the other hand, my joy was cut short because since the ASUU palaver started some years back, academic activities in the universities have remained dormant, stagnant and unprogressive. The strikes have also taken away consistency from the ivory towers as it used to be in the past.

If the ASUU/FG Agreement is anything to go by; it was provided that there shall be a renegotiation of the agreement every three years in order to assess the impact of the intervention on the sector, review the implementation strategy, and to update the document to make it even more relevant towards achieving the original goal to revitalize the university system. Basically, the agreement can be traced back to 2001 and was due for re-

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

Now that ASUU has returned to work view by 2004. However, the renegotiation did not start until 2007 and was dragged up to 2009 before an agreement was reached.

FG has refused to honour the 2009 agreement, reason for which ASUU has been going on series of warning strikes, comprehensive, total and indefinite strikes.

Now ASUU has claimed that it was not embarking on incessant strike but protracted one. Either of the adjectives, the fact is that ASUU strike has been rampant in the recent years as hardly any session

passed without ASUU embarking on a strike.

My thought overtime about ASUU/FGN brawl is that, because we practice democracy, there should be an atmosphere where we tend to understand one another better. It should be a situation where both the employers and the employees sit down, reason and understand issues. Even during the military regimes, education did not become toys, why now?

ASUU consists of intellectuals.

Other sectors look forward to it in

order to learn from the models created by it. If the federal government could think it will continue to use appeals, blackmails and deceits to solve the ASUU problems always rather than using holistic and long-lasting approach, I don’t see the crises permanently resolved.

Federal Government needs to change tactics as ASUU should also make sure it continues to use all available strategies to get the citadels relevant rather than waiting for strike actions as resort to the

An ungentlemanly conduct

S

IR: Honestly, there are V. I. Ps in Nigeria and greater percentage of them are into politics because politics in Nigeria, for now, is a free for all vocation, unorganized, about the most lucrative job around. Once a politician is sworn in, and he or she knows his or her way, he or she can remain in office for the maximum period allowed by the constitution and with the help of his or her “people”.

The V. I. Ps in Nigerian politics are not the “godfathers”. There are godfathers in politics all over the world. These people show their enthusiasm by doling out money for the operation of a cause they believe in. They are desirous of having a candidate in a particular office or position and encourage him or her with what they can part with, usually connection, money, or both.

The question is, why can’t our politicians from different political divide keep their peace and exhibit the kind of “genuine bond of friendship between Republican Ted

Stevens and Democrat Daniel Inouye” as observed by President Barrack Obama when he was a Senator and expressed in his “Audacity of Hope”? Why can’t some governors in different parties show the kind of unfailing courtesy Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola showed Governor Aliyu Babangida of Niger State when he came to Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, to receive his honorary Doctoral award?

The “show of shame” at the Achievers University’s award in which Governor Olusegun Mimiko, through his Commissioner for Information, said Governor Rauf Aregbesola is “a fake progressive”, is unwarranted. Governor Mimiko

S

further said that, “the people of Ondo State will not serve any foreign god or worship on any foreign altar”. These words are unbecoming of an Omoluabi. To refer to one’s benefactor as “foreign god” or alien is sacrilege and forbidden the doctrine of Yoruba culture and tradition. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is for the emancipation of Yoruba and Nigeria as a whole.

He is one of the greatest financiers of projects for the development of the country, financing credible Nigerians into elective posts since he was the Treasurer at Mobil Oil Producing Nigeria.

If Ondo State electorates can believe in Late Obafemi Awolowo (a

foreign god from Ikenne), I don’t see any reason why they would not follow a leader from any other part of the Yoruba nation provided he means well for the state. All the rantings of the governor on a day he supposed to show decorum are political, misguided and unfortunate.

A good leader should be a good follower. Ondo State will be liberated and integrated into the main stream of Yoruba politics soon. The same forces that worked for the governor in 2007 when he left the PDP will work for the liberation of Ondo State in the next election.

All the state functionaries in Ondo State are crossing over to

already damaged system. We need to revive our university system this time around in order to reposition it for greater responsibilities in national development.

It is not good to enter into an agreement when you know you cannot fulfill it. Also, there is need to create more transparent atmosphere. Once this is done, there will be no need for ASUU to ask for what is not available.

The key to the survival of the country in the 21st Century lies in its ability to produce applied and theoretical knowledge in science, technology and the humanities therefore, the task of revitalizing and accelerating the development of the Nigerian university system to become globally competitive can no longer be delayed.

• Muritala Omikule, Agbologun, Ipokia Ogun State

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The Asiwaju of Akoko Land and Labour Party Senator in the National Assembly Senator (Professor¬) Ajayi Boroffice has cross-carpeted. The former chairman of Labour Party in the state, Dr. Oni Olaiya, is now part of the progressives and a chieftain of ACN. The barking of the governor on Saturday, January 28, was nothing but the groaning of a sinking man. Truly, the sun of progressive politics is rising in Yoruba land and there is no doubt in my mind that the sun will soon shine in Ondo State.

• Olufemi Oyedele.

Lagos

Cashless policy of confusion

IR: I wish to make a plea to Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to make a clear statement on what form the cashless society in Nigeria would

take.

Would it take effect in JUNE this year? In the scheme of things, are banks directed to reject certain Nigerian currencies any time they are presented for deposit? If answer is in the affirmative, what time would

this commence.

Then, what is the rationale behind that policy as it relates to this issues of rejecting certain currencies? A First Bank branch, here in Alagbaka, Akure has started rejecting N50 notes as deposit!

Grateful, if you can make your good offices to make some clarifications on the acceptability of currencies in these categories.

• Adedeji A.A. Oluwatuyi Quarters, Akure, Ondo State

21

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

al-Mustapha and the reward of evil

“T

HE light shines in darkness and darkness comprehends it not.” Justice Mojisola Dada last week firmly established the eternal settlement of the word of God. In this newspaper, it was reported that the sensational life of Major Hamza al-Mustapha crashed with a death sentence by hanging handed over to him for the murder of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola. An analyst put it that when the going was still good, “so powerful was he that even his superiors had to bow before him to have their way.” And of course, since the power was not of God, it was used to perpetrate evil - which was why it soon faded away and now ending in perishing.

I was a victim of al-Mustapha’s inflicted terror. But by the grace of God, my bitter experience in six-month solitary confinement under his tyrannical command has now been wiped off just as Alhaja Kudirat’s soul in the grave must have been appeased with al-Mustapha’s judicial condemnation.

Yes, he might have stepped out of the courtroom smiling and waving to give the impression that all is well; inside him was hellish agony and sorrow. A deserving terminal sentence pronounced on him by the judge is an ordained lesson to any man with understanding. It does not matter the position that one finds himself today – high or low, the concern of the Creator is how the race of life would end.

When al-Mustapha was serving as the Chief Security Officer to the despotic self-enthroned military Head of State General Sani Abacha, he was at the helm of power. Although he was merely a Major in rank, he ruled over generals and was in virtual practical control of the affairs of this nation. It was an opening for him to apply wisdom and make the best of the empowerment. Afterall, the Almighty has the ability and the willingness to pick a nobody from the dunghill and turn him to somebody on the throne. The Biblical stories of Joseph and David are classical examples. But since the foundation of the enthronement of the Abacha junta was evil, it was enveloped by darkness.

Clearly, the devil was in control, which was why innocent lives were terminated without wink, and atrocities committed to the detriment of the nation’s integrity and honour. In the comity of civilised nations, Nigeria’s reputation and status were at the ebb.

A

MERE glance at the draft ICT policy recently published by the Ministry of Communications Technology would reveal several gaps and inconsistencies.

These flaws cast serious doubts about its potency and efficacy to sustain the gains already recorded in the sector, let alone providing the launch pad for the future progress of the industry.

First, there is something dubious about the role of the committee set up by the Honourable Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, which produced the published draft policy document.

The terms of reference issued to the committee headed by Professor Raymond Akwule, and made up of members drawn from government institutions, was to harmonize all the policies in the different sectors of the ICT industry. The committee’s draft appeared to have gone beyond the terms of reference as it contained far reaching recommendations which undoubtedly, were very limited in scope, content and direction.

A draft policy for the ICT sector is expected to be produced by a broad-based committee comprising representatives of the various sectors of the industry, including the private sector which is currently driving the sector.

The ICT industry is too huge and sensitive to be guided by a policy drafted exclusively by civil servants who may pander to the wishes of their superiors while stakeholders like the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria , ATCON, Nigerian Computer Society, NCS, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, Nigerian Internet Group, NIG, Internet Service Provid-

‘Surely, the present democratic government of President Goodluck Jonathan would not preside over the decimation of the achievements already made in the sector, especially in the last 10 years through a retrogressive policy direction’

Abacha’s ultimate ambition was to rule over Nigeria, whether by crook or foul means. He was among those who pressurised the equally wrong-minded General Ibrahim Babangida to annul the June 12, 1993 will of the people. The plot that truncated late MKO Abiola’s mandate was an egocentric one for self-enthronement. The outcome was that Nigeria was dumped into crisis and calamity in which it is still reeking till date.

William Shakespeare’s inspired thought that the evil that men do will live after them is in the way of the Lord. It does not matter how long the delay, the day of judgement is inevitable. The manner Abacha was yanked off the throne in spite of the security protection purportedly offered by al-Mustapha and his gang was a critical lesson in the vanity of man’s self effort. Abacha scooped the common treasury and acquired almost everything of this world but eventually paid untimely with his life for the atrocities he committed. He was buried naked and empty the way he came into this world.

My violent arrest on October 25, 1997 on the street of Lagos by al-Mustapha’s Strike Force was aimed at terminating my life just because of a story published in the African Concord magazine I was editing then. It was a well-informed chronicle of the evil deeds of al-Mustapha written by my Abuja Bureau Chief, Mohammed Adamu, alive and well. After he was arrested, I was hunted around for about three months before a paid MKO Abiola aide gave me away. Brutalised in the public, I was yanked off to Abuja in chains to be dumped in a stinking cell where I encountered serial inhuman oppression. My survival was beyond the strength of man. It was the same grace that worked for the now departed Chief Abraham Adesanya and Mr. Alex Ibru who then survived the fatal shots of al-Mustapha’s slaughtering agents. Many encountered similar dehumanising treatment and they are no more.

Today, virtually everything written in our published story has been vindicated. It was beyond human calculation that things would turn around the way it happened. The arrest of the arrester was the beginning of the process of accounting for the evil works of darkness. For more than 12 years, alMustapha was on trial - caged in Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

The universal saying is that justice delayed is justice denied. But in this case, it was the criminal afraid of the consequence of evil payback who was playing all judicial tricks to prolong and frustrate efforts to bring him to judgement. At a stage, he even created stories on MKO’s death to divert attention from his case of murder complicity. It failed to work. In the word of Justice Dada, “those who shed blood are those who fear death most.” Together with his accomplice, Lateef Sofolahan, described by the judge as “a willing tool, a gold digger, a Judas Iscariot who sold his master,” the day of judgement came at last. It does not matter what becomes of their fate at the Court of Appeal or even at Supreme Court, they

are today experiencing the ultimate agony of hellfire.

If only the sponsors of the contemporary terrorising iniquity called Boko Haram would pick a lesson that no sinner would go unpunished, no matter how formidable they might appear today, they would allow their heart to be touched by God. It is clear that the demonic sect is not fighting any religious battle but a political war. Just as at the peak of alMustapha’s reign of terror, human life is meaningless to them. Explosives are thrown indiscriminately, not minding who the victims would be. They laugh when innocent souls are destroyed. That is the wicked work of the devil.

Let Boko Haram sponsors and financiers hear this: the day of their evil machinations and intrigues shall soon be over.

The situation shall go beyond their manipulations as the righteous are committing the fight to the hand of the Mighty Man of War who has never lost any battle. Security agents can only try to the limit of their capability and loyalty. But the same God that overpowered and conquered Al Qaeda’s Osama bin Laden is still on His throne. Abacha and alMustapha that once looked untouchable on the mountain top are pummelled down in the valley today.

It is a slip to consider the challenge as that of President Goodluck Jonathan. The enemy is fighting the Nigerian nation and the valuable creatures of God therein. The same way the soul of Kudirat that sought for vengeance got it through a judiciary led by the spirit of God beyond the wisdom of man, so also it would be for the numerous innocent souls being wasted by Boko Haram. God is ready to arise and fight for His own. But He often makes available opportunity for repentance and restitution. Only those who turn from their evil ways to righteousness are bound to end well.

Truly, the light will shine no matter the prolongation of darkness. When that happens, darkness will not have chance to be accommodated.

If only the sponsors of the contemporary terrorising iniquity called Boko Haram would pick a lesson that no sinner would go unpunished, no matter how formidable they might appear today, they would allow their heart to be touched by God.

Draft ICT policy: matters arising

By Maxwell Onoja ers Association of Nigeria , ISPAN, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON among other institutions and professionals, are left out.

There is also no linkage between the prescriptions in this document and the relevant policies that predate the draft policy document upon which it derived its recommendations. These policies like the National Telecommunications Policy 2000, National Mass Communications Policy, and National Information Technology Policy 2000, received mentions only as it affects convergence of regulations. Notwithstanding how trite or outdated these policies are, there must be a nexus between these extant policies and the draft policy to suggest items that are being updated or being discarded.

Policies are derived from existing ones except where none exists. The ICT industry has ample policy antecedents to serve as basis for further prescriptions.

Perhaps, the flaws in some of the recommendations on the draft document may be explained from the membership of the committee. This is why the content reveals a misplaced assumption by the committee that existing legislations like the National Broadcasting Commission Act 1992, Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1990, Nigerian Communications Act,2003, NITDA Act 2007, are mere documents that could be glossed over with policy review. In doing this, the committee’s recommendations appear to have completely ignored the extant status of these laws upon which the industry has thrived. In other words, policies have life spans while laws exist and can only be amended or scrapped.

Therefore, these laws supersede policies but could help in developing and advancing the course of policies based on practical experiences gathered in the course of implementation of the laws. Policies should be

seen as directional guidelines with life spans.

Policies should also focus on tangibles. For instance, it is desirable that given the volume of mobile phone handsets sold in Nigeria per annum, appropriate policy framework need to be put in place to achieve local manufacture or assembly of these handsets with the associated benefits. Such developments will not only contribute to the fulfilment of the local content objectives in the industry but will also create employment opportunities. There are no such tangibles in the draft policy document. Suffice to say that only a broad-based policy articulation can bring about tangibles in the sector.

There are key areas of the recommendations of the draft policy that conveyed an outright invitation to government to come back to a sector whose success is credited and attributed to its liberalization and deregulation. The recommendations that Nigerian Communications Satellite, NIGCOMSAT, and Galaxy Backbone, be retained as government-owned companies erode the very principles of liberalisation and deregulation in the sector. It also negates the earlier position of a more inclusive Presidential Committee headed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which recommended the transfer of ownership of these companies from government to the private sector. The experience with NITEL provides ample justification for this position. The recommendations in this draft policy document appear retrogressive in this direction.

Another flawed recommendation is the prescription of the management structure for the proposed converged regulator, including positions to be allocated to each component of the regulatory institution. This recommendation ignores the avowed independence of the regulator and the current outcry against increasing the cost of governance. In

converged regulatory environments as practiced by the Office of Communications, OFCOM in the UK , Federal Communications Commission, FCC, in USA , among others, there are no policy prescriptions about the positions to be occupied within the regulatory institutions. The available staff are made to fit into structures already designed for regulatory efficiency. It is a dangerous precedent for a policy to deviate from giving directions to prescribing the structures for the proposed converged regulator.

The erosion of the independence of the converged regulator is also conveyed in the recommendations of an independent Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF. The current structure as contained in the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, positions the fund under the purview of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, which also provides fund for its activities as provided by the act. The policy draft did not substantiate or justify the argument in support of creating an independent USPF, ostensibly, under the ministry. Apart from negating the provisions of the relevant laws, and the objectives set out for the fund, this recommendation is an indirect invitation to ministerial control of an independent converged regulator. How would this policy guarantee effective performance of the Fund under the political headship of the ministry as against the controls of a converged independent regulator which also provides the funds and human resources necessary for effective performance of the USPF? Several other recommendations of the committee are invitation for government’s control of a sector that is already fully liberalised in line with global trends. In effect, the current recommendations seek to reverse the achievements recorded in the sector since 20 years ago when the government of General Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime began the process of liberalization of the industry with the promulgation of Decree 72 of 1992. Surely, the present democratic government of President Goodluck Jonathan would not preside over the decimation of the achievements already made in the sector, especially in the last 10 years through a retrogressive policy direction.

• Onoja is a Lagos-based ICT Consultant and Analyst

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

N

O doubt, the death sentences passed on former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha and former protocol officer to late MKO Abiola, Lateef Shofolahan are bound to be as controversial as the trial itself.

There are many reasons for this. This is perhaps, the first time in recent memory a key aid of a former Head of state is made to face the laws on account of killings allegedly committed by his principal while in office. Secondly, the duration of the trial lasting more than 12 years is another point that is bound to divide opinion. The case is also sensitive and political given that it involved the killing of the wife of late Abiola arising from the disputations of the June 12 annulled presidential election.

For these reasons and more, it is not surprising that the conviction of the duo to death by hanging for the murder of Kudirat Abiola has divided opinion along predictable lines. In her verdict, Justice Mojisola Dada had found the accused persons guilty under section 219 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State punishable with death by hanging. The verdict has meant different things for different people depending on the divide from which it is being appraised.

Kudirat’s children and those who fought the Abacha regime have hailed the verdict. For NADECO Secretary, Ayo Opadokun, the judgement should serve as a deterrent to other wicked officers of state in occupation of temporary public offices. The President of the Campaign for

‘We hear that attempts are on top gear to re-start the case on the murder of former Minister of Justice during the regime of Obasanjo, late Bola Ige. Ige was murdered in his room even with the retinue of security personnel around him on that fateful day. It will be interesting to resolve this murder involving such a high profile serving minister in a civilian dispensation’.

C

HIEF Timipre Sylva has read with utter dismay some statements credited to the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally on Friday, 03 February in Yenagoa.

Two things stand out in the President’s speech. He talked about a stoning incident in Yenagoa that he watched with pleasure and the Tower Hotel project in Yenagoa that was conceptualised by the Government of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, which Jonathan took over as Governor of Bayelsa State and passed on to Sylva as Governor.

The stoning in Yenagoa happened during the president’s visit and it was widely believed to have been arranged by a few misguided elements, which with the backing of Mr. President, had used the presidential security to subvert the security of the state on purpose to embarrass Governor Sylva. Sponsors of the incident had tried to deny their involvement and present the event as indicative of the governor’s non-performance.

The world now knows better, of course.

Everyone is now perfectly well aware of the mastermind of that insult on the Ijaw nation.

But let us state that it was not the governor who was disgraced by the stoning.

Instead, it was the president himself.

Now, if stoning is a yardstick for nonperformance, are we also right to say that the burning down of Mr. President’s house in 2007, in the run-up to that year’s general elections, was also an act of rejection by the people of the state? A lot of people believed that the burning of his house and the action of militants in 2007

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Al-Mustapha’s death verdict Democracy, Jeo Okei-Odumakin said it has shown that the wheel of justice may grind slowly, but will gradually roll over eventually.

But former governor of Kaduna state, Balarabe Musa, ex-police commissioner Abubakar Tsav and former Niger Delta Militant leader Asari Dokubo saw the matter from a different angle. Musa said he was not surprised by the judgment because the issue was no longer of law and justice.

He said that the truth was that AlMustapha was moved out of the way by the powerful one in the corridor of power so that they would not be involved. Tsav said the sentences are atrocious and harsh while Dokubo saw them not only as the highest form of injustice but against the presidency of Jonathan.

These views represent the divide in the way the conviction of Al- Mustapha has been generally viewed. And for a very long time, they will continue to shape opinion on the heuristic value of that verdict which has already been challenged at the Appeal Court. That is why the conclusions of Opadokun that the judgment will serve as a deterrent to other wicked officers of state may have come too early. The truth of the matter is that from the way the trial was conduct, its stretch and the conduct of some of those who handled it earlier, not a few had come to read political motives into the matter. That is why Musa holds the opinion that the issue was no longer that of law and justice. For him Al- Mustapha was being sacrificed to protect some powerful people in the corridor of power. He may have been moved into this conclusion given that Barnabas Jabila (aka Sergeant Rogers) standing as a key prosecution witness in a case filed by the Lagos state government against former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, had told an

Ikeja High Court that he took orders to eliminate not less than five prominent Nigerians from his ‘superiors’ He also mentioned Bamaiyi, Al-Muatapha and an officer identified as Jubrin Yakubu as some of the superior officers. For law and justice to be seen to have taken their normal course, Musa would have loved to see all matters relating to this taken to their logical end. He would have loved to see a situation in which some other key officers of the Abacha junta are conclusively prosecuted and made to account for their misdeeds during that ignoble regime. The inability to do this has tended to whittle down whatever gains there is in this historic and sensitive trial.

Thus, it is remains a matter of hasty generalization to conclude that the conviction of Al-Mustapha has all it takes to deter public officers from the type of atrocious acts the duo have been convicted.

The question has also been raised as to the fate of Jabila who admitted to the killing only to recant same in court. If AlMustapha must die as a result of the killing of Kudirat, why should Barnabas Jabila walk out free one may ask?

Perhaps, the real issue that will engage the attention of the Court of Appeal in the days ahead is whether the lower court was in order to have relied on the testimony of Jabila to convict Al-Mustapha.

The family of Al-Mustapha is worried that the same prosecution witness in Justice Mojisola Dada’s Court had disowned his earlier testimony against AlMuatapha and said that he was coerced to implicate him for a handsome reward.

They also drew attention to the fact that Jabila broke down in court, wept openly and begged the defendants including AlMustapha to forgive him.

To them, the strength of evidence relied

The President lied

By Doifie Ola were an expression of rejection. Is Mr. President now confirming that wide belief?

In addition, can we also say that the stoning of President Jonathan in May last year in Uganda was a global act of rejection?

Besides, it was after the stoning incident in Yenagoa in late 2010 that Mr. President came back to Yenagoa, raised the hand of Sylva, and spoke glowingly about his achievements, saying he has performed excellently well and that the people of Bayelsa should vote him into office. It was after the stoning that he came back and voted in the January 2011 PDP governorship primaries and gave a glowing report of Sylva’s performance. So what suddenly changed from January 2011 to later that year when President Jonathan manipulated all the institutions of state, including the armed and security forces, the judiciary and critical organs of democracy like the political parties, in full cry, leaving the security and economic challenges which he faced, to embark on OPERATION REMOVE SYLVA as the sole mandate which the people of Nigeria gave to him?

Didn’t Jonathan know there was a stoning incident when he came to say Governor Sylva should be voted in January?

President Jonathan also in his speech described the Tower Hotel, Yenagoa, as

“a monument of disgrace,” insinuating that the edifice is still at the stage he left it as governor. This is a barefaced lie and a misrepresentation of open facts.

Sylva wishes to clarify that the hotel was at the second floor when he took over from Dr. Jonathan as governor. It is now at its 18th floor, as the whole world can see. Sylva agrees that the job has been delayed, but explains that the reason it has been delayed is because the contractor, whom Dr. Jonathan himself chose and awarded the contract to, asked for a variation of N5 billion.

Let Jonathan tell the world how much he paid this contractor and how much Sylva has paid the contractor. And we are aware that this same contractor is not building a house for Sylva in his village.

Far more than Jonathan’s tenure, Sylva has performed given the challenges he faced.

It is unfortunate that President Jonathan could have such a disgraceful outing last Friday. At a time when it was being widely suspected that he might be involved in the questionable acts around the Bayelsa State governorship contest, his outing on Friday, 03 February, has conclusively proven that all along, he has been behind all the shenanigans in Bayelsa State deliberately to destabilise the state for his own selfish interest.

Nigerians expected President Jonathan

upon by the court was contradictory to subsisting judgment in the same case.

They recalled that only recently, a court of competent jurisdiction in the case of the attempted murder of late Guardian publisher Alex Ibru, had dismissed the evidence given by two star witnesses (Rogers and Katako) as ‘unreliable’ and ‘inadmissible’ They could therefore not understand why such inadmissible and unreliable evidence would now form the basis for the conviction of their son. These are the planks on which the family intends to rest their appeal. These are matters to be decided by the Court of Appeal and the way they go, may point the future direction in the handling of similar cases. Then also, we shall be able to determine whether this singular case will act as a sufficient deterrent to observed excesses of occupiers of public office. By the way, we hear that attempts are on top gear to re-start the case on the murder of a former Minister of Justice during the regime of Obasanjo, late Bola Ige. Ige was murdered in his room even with the retinue of security personnel around him on that fateful day. It will be interesting to resolve this murder involving such a high profile serving minister in a civilian dispensation. Only then shall we be rest assured that the murderous impunity of the military era has not tainted our democratic order.

Reader’s views: I read your column in The Nation of January 30, and I agree with you. I only wish to add that it is time a leading and major segment of the Igbo elite came out and made their stand known on the national question, as the South West has since clearly indicated. Whether Nigeria will safely achieve true fiscal and political federalism or painfully go the way of Yugoslavia depends so much on where Ndigbo stand. The time for sitting on the fence has expired.08055663554 It is really sad that an enlightened person like you will look at national issues on tribal basis. Boko Haram bombs did not spare any tribe in Kano or elsewhere.

Thanks Ismaila 08029454299 Good piece of work, but not the entire north. Never mind the end of the rascality is in sight, Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is there. L.Y Kopsam 08073974798 I have been following your write ups.

Please keep them up. God bless you as you found my anger on Igbo elite timely.

07065438977 to tackle security, unemployment, power, critical infrastructure, etc. They never expected him to manipulate democracy for his strange motives. What all these show clearly is that the exclusion of Sylva from the primaries of November last year was based on nothing other than President Jonathan’s inordinate whims. The event of last Friday confirms once again that Sylva has not committed any offence known to the PDP constitution or the Nigerian constitution to warrant his exclusion.

The Bayelsa State governorship race was a critical democratic test case for President Jonathan; and we dare say that he has failed to prove himself as a believer in democracy and free choice. Chief Sylva is in court trying to put right the infractions because he believes our country may be doomed if this subversion of democracy in Bayelsa State is allowed to stand.

• Ola is Chief Press Secretary to former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva

‘Let Jonathan tell the world how much he paid this contractor and how much Sylva has paid the contractor. And we are aware that this same contractor is not building a house for Sylva in his village’

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

23

25

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Avoiding electoral pitfalls in Sokoto, Cross River, Bayelsa As governorship elections hold in Sokoto, Cross River, and Bayelsa states this month, Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the challenges that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must surmount to affirm the sanctity of the ballot box.

S

INCE the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chaired by Prof. Attahiru Jega announced plans to hold governorship elections in Bayelsa, Cross River, and Sokoto States, politicians across the main political parties have returned to the drawing board to perfect their strategies for success at the polls.

Unlike previous exercise, the governorship candidates need to make some adjustment to the emergency electoral time-table. They have to contend with the shortage of time for campaigns. Also, litigations arising from the primaries must be resolved to prevent the likelihood of inadvertent exclusion from the race. Moreover, security is a challenge, especially in the affected northern states fretting under the menace of Boko Haram terrorism.

Observers believe that it another litmus test for the umpire, which has shown an improved capacity for restoring public confidence in the electoral process, judging by its performance in the 2011 general elections and other supplementary elections in some districts, federal and state constituencies. An comparative analysis of the previous elections and recent exercise showed a marked difference as shown in the decreasing number of electoral cases arising from them.

Now, INEC has a historic duty to live to expectation, as it braces the odd again in the four states. To conduct a credible and transparent exercise, many believe that the commission should avoid the pitfalls of the past, tighten the loose end and correct the little mistakes that nearly discredited the National Assembly and presidential elections. It is noteworthy that INEC had to cancel the first leg of the general elections last year. If the polls were not abruptly stopped and postponed, it would have resulted into an avoidable electoral calamity.

To succeed, the stakeholders, including candidates, political leaders and voters, must cooperate with INEC because free and fair elections is a collective responsibility. Underscoring this, the leader of Transition Monitoring Group (TNG), Moshood Erubami, said that public support is critical, adding that this is possible, if there is awareness and development of patriotism.

Shortly after the last year’s general elections, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) vice presidential candidate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, distinguished between free and fair elections. He expressed the view that election can be free, and yet be fraudulent. He said, while election, as experience has shown in this dispensation, has been free at the level of voting and counting at the polling booths, it can be fraudulent at the level of collation of results at the collation centers.

The forth coming elections raise some questions about the environmental dimension of the exercise. The poll is to be held in Sokoto and Adamawa States at a tensed period. Security breaches had been recorded in Adamawa before, prompting the postponement of election. “Police have more work to do in those states to ensure a hitch-free exercise”, Erubami said. Also, since elections would be holding in the creeks of Cross River and Bayelsa, there is the need to rise to the challenge of movement of electoral men and materials on waterways.

Last year, voters raised objections to late accreditation and voting in many centers in many states. The sheer late arrival of polling officers and electoral materials was also worrisome to many people. Many voters returned home without voting because their names were not found in the voters’ register.

In few instances, there have been reported cases of malpractices and electoral hiccups.

But generally, the tempo of unruly behaviour at the polls drastically reduced.

Activities leading to the approaching polls tend to underscore the point that election has become a burden in Nigeria. Rather than being perceived as an opportunity for political choice and change, election periods are usu-

•Jega

•Dickson

ally dark moments when the polity is nearly been submerged in a tremor of wild politicking, do-or-die contest, thuggery and violence, which often make the critical contest a sort of war. In Bayelsa for example, the dominant party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost its peace, owing to alleged exclusion of former Governor Timpre Slyva from the primaries. INEC had to delay the inclusion of the candidate, Henry Dickson, on its electoral schedule, citing the litigation arising from the rancorous primaries.

Governorship election, more or less, is a higher local election posing greater challenge to the electoral commission than presidential and National Assembly elections. Incidentally, the fear of democratic election at the state level has contributed to the fragility democracy in the country.

From the onset, constitutional change of government and orderly transfer of power from one civilian authority to another across the states has been cumbersome, owing to lack of commitment to periodic elections as the premise for recruitment and validation of legitimate leadership. The guilt is to be shared by stakeholders.

Instructively, elections became scattered because of judicial intervention prompted by opposition’s complaints about rigging. In Sokoto, Cross River and Bayelsa, the a failed poll was held in 2007. The court asked the winners to quit office, but when the rerun was held, all of them were returned.

Voters retain the memory of the pollution of the ballot box, which could not guarantee one man one vote. The penchant for doctoring the results by the combined forces of unscrupulous politicians, unpatriotic security agents and electoral commissioners aptly captures the illusion of democracy.

“After 13 years of civil rule, all these malaise retarding the growth of democracy should be removed from our elections”, said rights lawyer, Lanre Suraj, who added: “Credible process will no more elude the country,

if electoral officers refuse to playe to the gallery as paid agents of the ruling class unwilling to abdicate power. We need to solidify the ethical foundation for electoral conduct to stem the mad race for political control by competing political parties. The various provisions in the constitution against electoral malpractices should be invocked. Electoral officers who may want to act in concert with police and electoral umpires to commit atrocities the ballot box should be prosecuted”.

Erubami warned that the expectation that the ruling party must always have upper hand at every democratic contest could spell doom.

He said, when it is evident that the ruling party is no more popular, INEC should not assist it to unnecessarily prolong its stay without legitimacy.

Judging by the tension that is heralding the polls in these states, there is the tendency that the states may slip into violence. Baring their fangs, ruling parties have often succeeded in perfecting plans to intimidate, victimise and oppress the opposition figures, thereby drowning their scattered followers in morbid fear ahead of the elections.

At the disposal of both ruling and opposition parties are muscle men-thugs and cultists-who are armed with sophisticated weapons beyond the reach of the police. For less popular contestants, this is an advantage. The briefs handed to the agents of destruction and violence is to create panic, molest voters, scare away electorate, invade the polling booths, snatch ballot boxes, inflict pain, maim and kill in the interest of the highest bidder, and in expectation of fat reward for unleashing terror. INEC and security agents should not sleep on guard in this regard to avoid the floodgate of litigations that trailed the 2007 electoral foul play.

A credible election is a panacea for violence.

In earlier dispensations, rigging provoked popular revolt. In the old wild wild Western Region, malpractices was perceived as a colossal rebellion against the people, leading

‘Jega inherited substantially the old staff left behind by Iwu. There were fears that these forces were bent on subverting the process and that the INEC boss was helpless. Skeptics were proved wrong in 2011. Now that the umpire is conducting the residual general elections in the four states, will he sustain the tempo of credibility’

•Gov Nyako

to the burning of houses and mass killings in the First Republic. The scenario was repeated in the Southwest States of Oyo and Ondo States. On the two occasions, when the military toppled civilian authorities, rigging was cited as reason for the Army putsch.

This months election must be a wide departure. For it not to be must a nightmare, Erubami and Suraj said that the electoral rules should not be compromised. “If INEC abides by its rule and people cooperate, there will be no problem”, said Erubami.

Domestic monitors and international observers described the 2007 governorship and House of Assembly polls as a national tragedy. The presidential threat of do-and-die was carried out and INEC gave its nod. Now that President Goodluck Jonathan is in control, there may be no relapse to the old order of do or die. “ But Suraj said that do or die may still resurface, if the exercise is characterised by late arrival of electoral officers and polling materials, shortage of ballot boxes and papers, ballot stuffing by thugs, violence, falsification of results, bribery and corruption.

After the 2007 polls, the rot stared the country in the face. Petitions flooded the election tribunals and courts. Many of the stolen mandates were retrieved back at the courts at greater costs to the opposition parties. The courts decried the electoral horror and terrorism.

The poll created a hollow in the record of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s record as a citizen of the world. It was the nation that suffered the debilitating effects. The country’s image was dented.

Prof. Attahiru Jega is still the man of the moment. Before he assumed the reins in INEC Office, he was a household name in the country. He was popular as a labour unionist, political scholar and member of the civil society . He was part of the electoral reform process.

His colleagues who served on the Uwais Committee said that Jega should have rejected the appointment because the federal government jettisoned the novel proposals by the Electoral Reforms Committee. His staying power has been his integrity. So far, he has proved his worth as the chief electoral servant of Nigeria.

Jega inherited substantially the old staff left behind by Iwu. There were fears that these forces were bent on subverting the process and that the INEC boss was helpless. Skeptics were proved wrong in 2011. Now that the umpire is conducting the residual general elections in the four states, will he sustain the tempo of credibility?

26

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

POLITICS Sokoto 2012 FORMER Governor Aliyu Wamako is making frantic efforts to return to office for a second term and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has embarked on the aggressive mobilisation of support for victory at the polls. Will he make it? Correspondent ADAMU SULEIMAN examines the hot race to the Sokoto Government House next week.

Tambuwal, Mallam Bashir Gidan

S

INCE the verdict of the Supreme Court drew the curtains on the tenure of Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been perfecting strategies to recapture power in the state.

The judicial deposition of the governor has been perceived as a collective threat to the party members. Following the judgments, the PDP factions closed ranks and resolved to pursue the second term ambition with vigour.

Last week, big wigs in the party rallied behind Wamakko, who rode on the streets of Sokoto, after a reception for him by the PDP. Observers described it as a popularity ride in the Caliphate. The reunion doused the tension triggered by the glaring disunity in the fold.

For the governor, it is a challenging moment. He had fought many battles in the past and survived. He had braced serious odds and triumphed. As deputy governor under former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, he was a puppet aide lacking influence. When he won the governorship poll in 2007, he had to wait for the long judicial process of validating his claim to power. His former colleagues in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), who now encamp in Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) are thorns in the flesh of his administration.

Now that he has been ousted by the court, he can only wield the power of incumbency in disguise.

As the PDP is determined to regain control, opposition parties are also strengthened by the turn of events in the state to thwart its bid.

Sources said that certain opposition leaders in the state have renewed their calls for Wamako’s probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The goal, observers argue, is to, at least, divert his ambition and scatter his support base with sheer blackmail and propaganda. However, the last week’s rally dented the scheming as it proved that the former governor has not been incarcerated by the anti-graft body.

According to analysts, the change of the election date from March 10 to February 18 has imposed time constraints on the party’s preparations for the critical poll. Across board, there is little time left for campaigns. In sharp reaction to this obstacle, opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has declined to participate in the exercise,

•Tambuwal and Wamako at the rally in Sokoto

How far can Wamakko go? pointing out that the preparation is not tidy.

For Wamakko, there is the advantage of leg men. Notable PDP leaders in the state are projecting him as the candidate of the Caliphate, making the pendulum of support to swing towards his direction from the three senatorial districts.

Now, PDP rallies are akin to carnivals, conveying the impression that its flag bearer is the candidate to beat.

However, tough times are not over yet. Many believe that Wamako can only sleep with two eyes open, if there is reconciliation with enemies within. The camps of former Minister of Sports Yusuf Suleiman and Senator Abubakar Umar Gada appear to be hostile to his second term ambition. Although Wamako is perceived as a stronger politician, no chance can be taken during electioneering.

Acting Governor Lawal Muhammad Zayyana underscored this point when he asked party leaders to see Wamako’s aspiration as

Abe: Senate will not condone corruption

Senator Magnus Ngei Abe is the Chairman, Senate Joint Committee investigating the management of the fuel subsidy scheme. He is also the chairman of Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). He spoke with reporters on the commitee’s work. Assistant Editor ONYEDI OJIABOR was there.

N

OT much has been heard about the investigation of your committee into the management of the fuel subsidy scheme.

How far have you gone?

It’s not correct to say that you have heard nothing from the committee.

We conducted public hearings and we’ve been holding series of meetings to try to clarify some of the issues that cropped up in the course of the public hearing. We intend to visit some of the facilities that we think the joint committee would need to see before we submit our report to the Senate. Depending on logistic arrangements that we are able to put in place,

the committee would probably visit Lagos to look at some of the facilities that you heard those we invited talk about in the course of the investigation. We have also decided that we would need to talk to some of the importers to hear their side of the story and put forward some of the concerns that have been expressed by not just members of the committee but also by the Nigerian public, to try and give them some opportunity to make their own case. We also have a few lingering issues that we want to clarify with the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency before we can conclude.

So, the Senate investigation is very

a collective challenge. He said it is the pride of PDP that he should return in the spirit of continuity, assuring that he will serve the state better. ’’Our choice candidate is Wamakko and our hope is to return him by Allah’s grace as governor.

His policies and programmes will be pursued and sustained to ensure continuity and even spread of development for the good people of the state, he said.’’

To the acting governor, the interest of PDP overrides other personal interests. He has therefore, decided to retain the cabinet constituted by Wamako, charging the commissioners and special advisers to remain committed to the agenda of the administration.

That singular move was a blow to the opposition, especially the anti-Wamako organisation, the Sokoto Group, which had expected that Zayyana would dissolve the cabinet on assumption of office, It is to the advantage of the PDP and Wamako that, the ANPP,

which revolves around the personality of Bafararwa, is in disarray.

For jumping from one party to another, the former governor is being derided as a desperate political harlot. Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, the chairman of the party has also been criticised by PDP for promoting thuggery in the state.

Yusha’u Ahmad, the party’s candidate, is also being challenged in the court by Bello Gazobi at the Federal High Court. He said he was the authentic candidate for the poll.

February 28 has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

The rally for Wamako may have sent the opposition jittery in some quarters. People trekked 15 kilometre distance to the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport to welcome Wamako back to Sokoto, following the court verdict. It took hours before the crowd could get to his personal residence at Nama area of the town, where he addressed the people.

With Wamako were House of Representatives Speaker Aminu

much on course and as soon as we finish with these few remaining issues and any other that may come up from some of our other members, we would be submitting our report to the Senate.

What are the likely issues that you would discuss with the PPPRA? There are some loose ends arising from the public hearing that members want to tidy up before we can draw conclusions on those issues and as we were working on our documents, we saw some loose ends and we also saw outstanding questions they promised to provide answers to and we are not satisfied with the answers they brought. So, those are the things we are planning to tidy up.

The meeting with PPPRA officials will be in camera or open to Nigerians?

Initially, we didn’t think it would be open but the meeting with the importers would be open. Those that would be invited because we think that it is important that whatever we discuss with them should be visible to the Nigerian people and the Nigerian public. The meeting would be open.

We have some companies that we

have concerns about which we have listed and we also have some we picked at random, not because we have any issues with them but because we want to give as many companies as possible an opportunity to have their say and to also have an opportunity to speak on the issue. So, we would be inviting them and it would be in the open.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has already moved in to probe deals in the management of fuel subsidy. Will the action of the EFCC not affect the investigation by the Senate?

I don’t think that the involvement of the security agencies or the EFCC in anyway takes away from the fact that as a country, if there are lessons to be learnt from this, we need to learn those lessons, we need to chart a way forward. If security agencies are investigating a matter that should not end a Senate investigation that has been ongoing since last year. If you would recall, we had invited EFCC to come for the public hearings. We actually sent letters, inviting them to be part of the public hearing. So, we expected that based on what they hear from the

Kanawa, the acting governor and other leaders. ‘’ I am once again here to identify with you, thank you and solicit your candid support for this journey we are embarking towards actualising our dream of continuity for the good of our people. ‘’ Our party and the people of Sokoto State are one and indivisible family destined to live and work together for ourselves and generations yet unborn, he said.’’

Wamako said the doors for realignments and reconciliations with those willing to join the party from the opposition are open. He added: ’’ I am urging those in the opposition as a matter of principle and ideaology to discard politics of hatred and bitterness to come forward and join us especially the candidates in ANPP, CPC, ACN, but not to distabilise the state’’ Wamakko, who is also the ‘Sarkin Yamman Sokoto’ reflected on how in the past he defeated his political foes; Dingyadi(DPP), Isah Bajini(ACN) and ANPP’s Yusha’u Ahmad. ‘’ You should shine your eyes. The era of use and dump is over. Don’t allow yourself to be used as done to others before you. I am calling on you to come to us, he stressed.’’

He noted that CPC’s candidate, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu Yabo was a man of respect and honour, urging him to return to the ruling PDP. ’’ We will accept you the doors are open’’, he said.

He said PDP in the state is united in the spirit of democracy, stressing that as a family, it should work for success at the polls. ‘’ That is why we are committed to all policies and programmes for the benefit of all across the state, he said.’’

Wamakko pointed out that, PDP was a law abiding party, adding: ‘’ We want to have an obedient and law abiding state worthy of emulation’’, he stressed.

Tambawal said PDP would not compromise its principle and regard for internal democracy. He lauded Wamako for his achievements, pointing out that he has not let the people down.

While reiterating his support for the former governor, he said: ’’ We are here in our numbers from the National Assembly in recognition of Wamakko as our candidate and to mobilise support for him. We will ensure his return as governor of Sokoto State come February 18th, 2012’.’

public hearing, if they wanted to invite people to ask questions, they are free to do so. We didn’t expect that at any time that would mean that our investigation must stop. No. What they are pursuing are criminal aspects of the matter. If we see things that the country ought to learn lessons from, we would also point them out so that we can make corrections to move the country forward.

•Abe

ADVOCACY

APPEAL

FEAT

Communities seek help from govt

Aregbesola fulfills campaign promises

Ogun

30

Oyo

MONDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2012

T

HE days of thirst are over for 15 communities in Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore Local Government Areas as the Rotary Club of Ijapo has concluded arrangements to solve their water problem.

Already, three rural communities including Oke-Odu, Ilere and Ikota have benefitted from the gesture.

The new President of Rotary Club Mr Kehinde Ige, a lawyer, who spoke during his investiture as the 28th president of the club in Akure, said: “We have

36

Women urged to be more assertive Lagos

38

Page 27

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Borehole water for 15 communities From Damisi Ojo, Akure

been able to solve part of the water problems of three communities in Akure area.

“Those communities are OkeOdu, Ilere and Ikota. Within the next six months or thereabouts, we would cover about 15 other rural communities in Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore local government areas.”

He said further that the club

will develop two plots of land at Ilekun for recreation and blood bank centres where indigent patients who cannot pay for blood

at about N6,000 will get it free.

“Blood will be made available for such people at our blood bank free of charge and it will be man-

Within the next six months or thereabouts, we would cover about 15 other rural communities in Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore local government areas

aged by qualified doctors, nurses and laboratory technologists,” he said.

Ige pledged to serve God and humanity, stressing that he will also donate a power generating set to the school for the deaf in Akure in addition to completing ongoing projects started by his predecessor.

The chairman of the occasion •Continued on Page 36

L

AGOS State government has organised a seminar for its workers to prepare them for life after retirement.

The aim was to give them tips on how to manage their funds and avoid gnashing their teeth in the agony of poverty upon retirement from service.

The turnout was overwhelming. But participants were not limited to those still in service.

Pensioners also found it worthwhile and turned up for good advice.

They were all tutored on how to make judicious use of their entitlements.

The Babatunde Fashola-led administration is also committed to the prompt payment of entitlements to retirees, bearing in mind that they dedicated their productive years to the development of the state.

The seminar focused on how the participants can utilise the benefits accruing from the new pension scheme.

The event, which held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium was organised by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) was well attended by intending retirees and stakeholders in the pension and insurance sub-sectors.

Addressing participants at the seminar, the Director-General of LASPEC, Mr. Adekunle Hussain, said the training was important as it would teach workers to come to terms with life in retirement.

Hussain explained that workers are still not conversant with the operations and importance of the contributory pension scheme despite several awareness and enlightenment programmes.

Continuing, he said: “The preretirement seminar has been designed to help workers prepare for their physical, emotional and financial well-being in retirement. Planning for retirement enables you to be in a better position and frame of mind to build a vibrant and rewarding life in retirement.”

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (inset) addressing retirees during the presentation of bond certificate

Lagos prepares workers for retirement Commission harps on good investment Government pledges commitment to scheme

By Miriam Ndikanwu

He said research has revealed that workers who attend pre-re-

tirement seminars are more prepared for the change from routine work life and are happier in re-

tirement than their colleagues who do not have the opportunity to attend such programmes.

“The Lagos State government has operated within the framework of the Pension Reform 2007, by ensuring that immediately salaries are paid, both the seven-and-half per cent contributions by the state government and the seven-and-half per cent deduction from the employees’ salaries are forwarded to the Retirement Savings Account of the employee with the PFA of their choice.”

The D-G stated that while the main objective of the scheme was to ensure that every employee receives his or her retire•Continued on Page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

28

Relatives of killed prophet demand justice

A

RELATIVE of a clergy, Prophet Omote Ovie, who was reportedly killed in mysterious circumstances by the Ughelli vigilance group, popularly called Ogor Bakassi, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, has petitioned the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar for an independent investigation into his death.

A sibling of the deceased, Madam Omotewu Ovie, in a petition authored by Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, to the IGP, accused a leader of the vigilance group (names withheld) of the crime, which occurred 10 days before the 2011 Christmas celebrations.

She said her brother, who hails from Ewu clan in Ughelli South Local Government Area was a prophet of God, who was killed by some members of the group while going about his lawful business along the Ughelli axis of the Warri–Port Harcourt Expressway on December 15, 2011.

According to the distraught Ovie, on the day he was murdered, Prophet Omote requested one Mr. Sunday Urhievweyere to take him on a motorcycle to Ogor town for a scheduled visit to an unnamed debtor, adding: “When they got to the Agofure Filling Station, along Ughelli/Port Harcourt Express Road, Ughelli, he (the deceased) told the said Sunday Urhievweyere to halt in order for him to make a telephone call.”

According to her account, the vigilance members stormed the

A

GROUP, Ilaje National Congress (INC) in Ondo State has commended the Federal Government over the setting up of amnesty programme which involved entrepreneurship training for repentant exmilitants.

According to the group, the amnesty programme has pro-

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

scene in a Toyota Hilux Van, allegedly belonging to the Ughelli North Security Patrol (Ogor clan) with about seven vigilance men led by their leader. “They dragged my brother into their van and sped off in the direction of Evwreni town (also in Ughelli North LGA) without disclosing the offence allegedly committed by him.”

Corroborating her claims, Mr Ikimi, Principal of Ikimi Oghenejabor and associate, said: “The motorcyclist who saw what transpired, followed the vigilance group at reasonable distance in order to see the events that would unfold and that after a distance close to the police checkpoint, they made a turn, driving backwards towards Ughelli town and halted the Van at AP Filling Station, Ughelli where the deceased was dragged down with both hands tied

backwards and was shot dead like a common criminal.”

He said Urhievweyere, who witnessed the ugly incident, immediately alerted the deceased’s relations, who proceeded to the palace of the Ovie of Ogor to report the matter. “They were advised to go to the “A” Division Police Station in Ughelli to lodge same (complaint),” Ikimi added.

Nevertheless, it was gathered that the drama took a further dangerous twist, when members of the vigilance group purportedly stormed the monarch’s palace and threatened the relations of the deceased that if they moved from the palace, they would be shot dead.

“The members of the vigilance group sped off and surreptitiously went to the “A” Division Police Station, Ughelli and reported that the deceased was a kidnapper shot in a shootout and thereafter went to deposit the corpse at the General Hospital Mortuary, Ughelli

When they got to the Agofure Filling Station, along Ughelli/Port Harcourt Express Road, Ughelli he (the deceased) told the said Sunday Urhievweyere to halt in order for him to make a telephone call…The vigilance members stormed the scene in a Toyota Hilux Van…They dragged my brother into their van and sped off

without any reference to the accomplice in the kidnap or exhibits recovered in the exchange of fire,” added Ikimi, who is also the National Coordinator of the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence.

Speaking further, he said by the time Urhievweyere and the other relations of the deceased got to “A” Division Police Station, Ughelli they were told the “concocted story of the vigilance men.”

Ironically, he said by the time the family members got to the morgue, the deceased’s body was about being set ablaze by the group. The police however intervened and prevented them from carrying out the planned incineration.

The petition to the IGP, which copy was made available to Newsextra, noted that “every Nigerian has a fundamental right to life, including the deceased and the law clearly spells out the circumstances in which a person may be lawfully deprived of this right and the scenario painted in this petition is certainly not one of the exceptions recognised by law because, assuming without conceding that the deceased was involved in kidnapping, the offence does not attract death penalty in Delta State and the deceased is presumed to be innocent until convicted by a court of law in a proceeding in accordance with the rules of fair trial.”

Madam Ovie, therefore, appealed to the IGP to order a comprehensive investigation of the

•The late Prophet Ovie extra-judicial killing of Prophet Omote Ovie so that those involved in his unfortunate end could be brought to justice.

The Area Police Commander in charge of Delta Central, which has jurisdiction over Ughelli, Mr Bassil Essien, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who was contacted, confirmed the incident, but said Prophet Ovie was killed in “a shootout between the vigilance group and some suspected armed robbers,” adding that the case was being investigated.

Pressed for clarification on whether the so-called vigilance group was permitted to bear arms, ACP Essien said: “They are not allowed by law. That is why I said an investigation is ongoing. I do not want to pre-empt the outcome of that investigation.”

Fed Govt hailed over amnesty programme From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

vided opportunities for the dynamic youths in the Niger Delta states, particularly those in Ilaje

Since the programme began, Kuku’s contribution has been significant in promoting public and human security through surrendering of ammunition, demobilisation and non-violence training of about 20,000 ex-militants in the Niger Delta

Local Government Area.

In a statement issued and signed by its National President, Foluso Ajimuda and General Secretary, Sola Ibinuolapo after an emergency meeting in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government, specifically lauded the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku.

They said: “Since the programme began, Kuku’s contribution has been significant in promoting public and human security through surrendering of ammunition, demobilisation and non-violence training of about 20,000 ex-militants in the Niger Delta.

“INC equally salutes his courage, commitment, passion and genuine dialogue where relevant stakeholders are carried along at every stage.

“The result of this,” the INC emphasised, “is the relative peace being experienced in the hitherto volatile Niger Delta region where mood of uncertainty, hopelessness have now given way to confidence, certainty, and hope.

“Furthermore the amnesty programme has provided opportu-

Workers prepared for retirement

•Continued from Page 27

ment benefits as and when due and to also assist employees to save towards a rewarding future.

“The commitment to full funding of the contributory pension scheme is its major edge over the defined benefit scheme otherwise known as Pay as You Go Scheme.”

He disclosed that the government has been the only state in the country to have shown the greatest commitment to the scheme, adding that it was on record that the state has so far redeemed retirement bond worth N5,824,325,892.42 into the retirement savings accounts of 1,121

•Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Commissioner, Hon. Musbau Oyefeso, his wife Fatmat (left) and wife of the President, The Companion, Lagos District during the graduation of his daughter Miss Lateefat Oyefeso who made First Class in Accounting/Finance in American University, Sharja, United Arab Emirates

nities for the dynamic youths in Ilaje Local Government Area who now explore their full potential in contributing towards the growth and development of the society. They learn new knowledge and skills for self-actualisation and development.”

The INC promised to continue to throw its weight behind the Federal Government for the success of the programme in the area, even as it urged more ex-militants to register and benefit from the Federal Government’s scheme.

retirees.

He urged participants to take the training seriously as they would be taught on the procedure for processing the retirement bond for past service benefit, ensure that their RSA is up to date with payment of their contributions as well as highlighting the two exit options of programmed withdrawal by the PFA and annuity for life by an insurance company.

Hussain added that the training will also focus on the healthy living at retirement and how to make good investment decisions.

THE NATION

29

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Obiakor honoured ENERAL Isaac Chukwukadibia Obiakor (rtd) has been honoured for his philanthropy in his home town Awka, capital of Anambra State.

The Awka Ambassadors Club honoured him for his excellence and named him Grand Patron of the club.

The honour came on a day the club welcomed the retired general home after severing his fatherland meritoriously in various capacities in the Nigerian Army for 35 years.

The Awka Ambassadors also used the occasion to raise funds for a new ultra-modern civic centre whose foundation has already been laid bu the club.

Obiakor was the first Nigerian/ African military adviser to the United Nations Department for Peacekeeping Operations and Assistance Secretary General of the United Nations.

He was conferred with the professional award for excellence as well as an investiture as Grand Patron of the Club.

Senator Ben Obi received the award of Ambassador Extraordinary/Plenipotentiary and investiture and also as grand patron.

Senator Hope Uzodima also got an honorary award of Nwannedinamba of Awka.

The reception which held at Barn Hills Hotel and Suites drew dignities from far and near, including the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Peter Obi who was the special guest of honour.

Senator Obi who was chairman of the occasion, described the Gen. Obiakor as a true Igbo man and a detribalised Nigerian whose achievements in the military remain a reference point in the Ni-

G

Y

OUTHS in Ido-Ani have protested the alleged attack on a councilor representing the area at the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Adewumi. Adewumi was allegedly beaten up by people suspected to be political hoodlums.

He was consequently rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

Some youths in the area who were enraged by the assault meted out to their representative described the development as retrogressive.

They called for the arrest of the perpetrators and consequent pros-

The general was honoured by the Awka Ambassador Club in recognition of his contributions to peace-keeping operations as former commander of the Artillery Brigade of ECOMOG in Liberia and later Chief Coordinator of Liberian elections

By Jude Isiguzo

geria Army and in Africa at large.

He stated that the general was honoured by the Awka Ambassador Club in recognition of his contributions to peace-keeping operations as former commander of the Artillery Brigade of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia and later Chief Coordinator of Liberian elections.

Obi noted that Gen. Obiakor’s humility and commitment to the service of his fatherland and humanity was outstanding.

He called on Ndigbo to emulate

•General Obiakor (left) and Senator Ben Obi at the event the sterling qualites of Gen. Obiakor whose selfless, unassuming hard work earned him laurels both home and abroad.

He asked: “Why are Ndigbo always linked to vices such as armed robbery, kidnapping, fraud and importation of fake and substandard items? It is not in our culture.

Ndigbo were known as hardworking people, but today everything evil is associated to the Igbo man.”

Also speaking at the event, the

Chairman of the club, Ambassador Okey Igbokwe thanked God for granting Gen. Obiakor the opportunity to attain the peak of his career and in the course of his international assignments.

Igbokwe described the General as a true hero.

“General,” he said, “the reason why we gathered here today is to accord you a rousing welcome; you are indeed a seasoned military administrator and an accomplished diplomat par excellence.”

In his response, Gen. Obiakor thanked the Awka Ambassadors Club for bestowing such honour on him.

“Today is the happiest day of my life, having successfully retired from the Army and that is the reason and that is why I accepted to be honoured because for a long time, so many organisations and groups have been coming with different awards but I have always turned them down because I was still serving.”

Youths protest assault on council official From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ecution to serve as deterrent to others.

Sources said the attack on Adewumi was not unconnected with the alleged friction between him and the local government caretaker chairman, Mr. Afolabi Mabogunje over the running of the council.

It was alleged that the hoodlums were led by a Special Assistant to the chairman, Mr. Lanre Adu who

reportedly accused the councilor of disloyalty to his boss.

A source from the council secretariat hinted that the local government council had been enmeshed in crises over leadership style of the council boss.

Mabogunje was said to have been challenged by his colleagues in the caretaker committee particularly the victim for allegedly executing projects without due consultation with representatives of the entire wards in the local government.

It was alleged that the council chairman singlehandedly recruited almost 200 new employees without the approval of the caretaker committee and majority leaders of the ruling Labour Party in the local government.

Other allegations levelled against Mabogunje were unilateral award of contracts worth over N100m, screening of senior staff of local government workers without payment of their salaries since October, 2011.

A top government official said: “The chairman, with his cabal, has also mismanaged the internallygenerated revenue (IGR) and when confronted by councilor Adewumi, he was summoned to a meeting

with leaders of the party where he was attacked by hired thugs. He became unconscious as a result of the beating before being rushed to the hospital.

The chairman denied any involvement in the attack of the supervisory councilor, stressing that the allegation was levelled against him by his political detractors.

Mabogunje, who emphasised that he was currently in Jos, Plateau State for a particular assignment however said the disagreement was between his Special Assistant (SA) and the assaulted supervisory councilor, who is also a member of the caretaker committee in the council.

The chairman, with his few cabals, has also mismanaged the internally-generated revenue (IGR) and when confronted by councilor Adewumi, he was summoned to a meeting with leaders of the party where he was attacked by hired thugs. He became unconscious as a result of the beating before being rushed to the hospital

•From left: Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adebayo Oyo; representative of Commissioner for Information, Mr Fatai Ogundare and branch controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Ibadan, Mr Ega Adebayo, at a seminar on War against African time, for national development

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

30

Best students, teachers for honour

T

•Governor Fashola

HE Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, has said the state government will award scholarships and bursaries to its best performing teachers and secondary school students.

Oladunjoye made this known at the third edition of Schools Debate Draw, involving 64 government-owned colleges.

She implored teachers to give their best to their students at all times because the result of their labour would be determined by their performance in examinations.

The commissioner said the schools‘ debate competition was intended to develop the students intellectually.

“This programme was developed three

Communities seek help from govt

T

HE residents of Agbologun, Ikefin and Ijofin communities in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State have appealed to the government to save them from deplorable road.

The people spoke to the news extra at different fora in the towns.

According to Fatai Asimi, the Community Development Association Chairman of Agbologun, the Ijofin-Agosasa road which is the link between Ipokia Local Government and Benin Republic on the west axis has not been motorable in the last few years particularly during the rainy seasons. This, he said, is gradually taking away their sense of belonging in Ogun State as well as killing business opportunities. ‘’As if the area is totally sidelined, the major road that links the local government and Benin Republic on the west axis, which is Agosasa-Ijofin road is no more motorable especially during the rainy seasons’’ Fatai said According to him, there was information that the road was signed into contract during various past administrations in the state. ‘‘We were told that the road was signed into contract during Chief Olusegun Osoba’s tenure as the governor of the state. We waited for Chief Osoba, nothing was done on the road.

Gbenga Daniel came with the same promise but nothing was done despite the fact that we had an indigene as deputy governor in his cabinet. Now, it is the turn of Senator Ibikunle Amosun whom our people

Ogun

By Muritala Omikunle

uncompromisingly voted for. We believe that he can help us” Mr Sewedo Sunday of Ikefin said the government used to make a lot of money from the place before the road became bad.

He lamented that the government is now leaving some benefits untapped in the area due to negligence.

Speaking further, he said there are some other things they are lacking from the government such as electricity and water. ‘’Another thing is the issue of electricity. I can remember way back between 1999 and 2003, we used to have uninterrupted power supply but now we hardly use electricity for a minute in a month. The reason for this I cannot say. The issue of water is worse as we only drink from open well which I know is not hygienic. Imagine! If we could use all our energy voting for political office holders and the result is that they pay us back with neglect what is then the purpose of our mandates. I believe in Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s promise but we deem it fit to remind him’’ he added.

In his own view, Mr Jelili Olaleye of Ijofin area of the local government lamented that the issue of the road is not the only issue. He lamented that the area lacks attention from the government.

Ogun to correct mistakes in land allocation O

Lagos years ago to help prepare our pupils to sharpen their brains and make them better leaders in future.

“You need to read very hard because money and intellect cannot be compared, education is the best thing you can have.

“Sixty-four schools from the six education districts will compete and the lucky 32 schools will move to the next stage of the competition, “ she said.

Oladunjoye advised pupils to be dedicated to their studies and read hard to ensure that they were successful in life.

Mr Ivor Ekpe, a grooming consultant, told journalists that the debate was to project the capabilities of the students and also breed generations that would stand out nationally and internationally.

He noted that schools‘ debate in the past was a thing of pride and urged the students to always live up to expectation.

“In Lagos at present, a lot have been committed to education and I am bold to say that public school students will match any private school students in debate and academics.

“I am grooming them on how to prepare for debate, and on their appearance and delivery, which are the most important things that matter most in debating,“ he said.

•From left: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Olajide Basorun; Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal and Managing Director Harmony Abattoir Managemetn Service Limited, Mr Moshood Adesegun Bello at the Inauguration of Task force on Lagos Abattoir and Lairage Oko-Oba, at Ministry of Agriculture Conference Room Alausa, Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

E

T

•Hon Adepitan (middle) presenting free UME/JAMB form to Master Afolabi Adedunmola at the event

Ekiti

• Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole (third left), Solicitor-General of the state Mr Lawal Pedro (fourth left) and other members of the newly constituted Committee for the Secretariat Central Mosque under the chairmanship of Mr Pedro at Alausa, Lagos.

‘Let Nigerians live in peace’ ORMER Minister of Aviation and the Publicity Secretary of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, Chief Ebenezer Babatope ,has called on Boko Haram sect leaders to stop their killings and allow Nigerians actualise the dream of the founding fathers of living together in a united Nigeria.

Babatope made the call while delivering a paper an event marking the anniversary of the death of late Chief S.L Akintola in his home town, Ogbomoso.

Babatope, who described late Chief Akintola and Chief Awolowo as great men who worked tirelessly till their death, said they ensured that Nigerians were liberated from the British colonialism and remained one.

According to him ‘We call on the Boko Haram sect to stop these murderous activities because of the determination of Nigerians to continue to live together in a united, democratic and federalist Nigeria as planned by our past leaders ‘The duo are true Yoruba sons who did everything in their power to advance the supreme interests of the country especially Yoruba nation within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The two of them had a vision of a country Nigeria liberated from British colonialism and ensuring the peaceful coexistence of all the tribes and regions that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The nationalistic postures of these two great sons of Nigeria can never be in doubt’.

completion stage when his administration came into office in October 2010.

Fayemi expressed optimism that once the contractor had successfully resolved some challenges that had been identified on the site, the March deadline for completion was attainable.

“We receive weekly report on the road, the consultant gives me his reports regularly, and I am on the neck of the contractor. They are

F

HE Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, will curb the increasing cases of violent crimes in the northern part of country if the government is ready to support him with the necessary logistics to fight crime.

A veteran crime and police affairs journalist, Folorunsho Atta, who disclosed this to Newsextra,said that Abubakar has the magic touch to reform and repackage the force to an enviable height.

Atta, who spoke while condoling the IGP over the death of his wife death, said that going

by Abubakar’s antecedents, the force will soon wear a new face.

“Abubakar is a hard working man and he is also an officer who detests corruption in all its forms. He is a disciplined officer and will clean up the mess which the force has been turned into. He is a man that has always left an indellible mark wherever he serves”, Atta

Boys Brigade seeks support

T

Ogun

individuals without due process, adding that others got land they did not adequately pay for.

“Records showed that many people paid less than N 2, 000 while their peers were made to pay N4 million for the same size of land. ‘’ A lot of land were granted free to many who have done nothing for the state while over 1,000 hectares of land were allocated to individuals at ridiculous prices without due process,’’ he said.

Amosun vowed that some portions of land, earlier allocated, would be revoked on grounds of overriding public interest.

He, however, gave an assurance that adequate compensation would be paid to those affected.

•Governor Amosun Earlier, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, the DirectorGeneral, Ogun Bureau of Lands and Survey, explained that the meeting would enable government to ensure a fair, equitable and sustainable land policy.

now really working to meet the deadline,” the governor said.

The governor also announced that almost all the contractors handling other road projects that were flagged off in November 2011 had been mobilised to site.

He said that while some of the contractors had reached the stage of earth works and drains, others were still clearing the roads, and warned that any contractor who was not ready to work faster enough to beat the rains and deliver the projects on schedule would have his contract revoked.

‘Govt should support Abubakar to perform’ T

Lagos dividends, three GCE coaching centres were equally created, and today many of our youths are anxious to gain admission into university. I am impressed, Mushin is not all about thuggery,something good is happening in Mushin, this, we intend to sustain,”the chairman said.

He appealed to the youth to begin to change the image of the local government.

“No society can grow with hooliganism, wanton destruction and touting.

“These ones here cannot exhibit bad traits, with the results they possess, the next level is to further their education, so that they can become responsible and reliable citizens of Mushin Local Government Area”.

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun said that the state government had concluded plans to correct the anomalies discovered in the allocation of land by the Gbenga Daniel administration.

Amosun made this known in Abeokuta at the town-hall meeting organised by the State Bureau of Lands and Survey for allottees on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

He said the town-hall meeting had become necessary due to deluge of petitions he had received since he assumed office.

The governor said he was ready to step on toes as all lands indiscriminately allocated under the immediate past administration would be revoked.

Amosun claimed that indiscriminate waivers and inconsistencies in land pricing as well as fraudulent allocation of land and properties were rife during the previous administration.

He said investigations revealed that 1,000 hectares of land were allocated to few

Fayemi to complete road projects

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has promised that the Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki Road project which began in December 2007, will be completed and made accessible to commuters by the end of March.

He told newsmen shortly after inspecting some ongoing road projects in the state that the dualised road only attained about 40 per cent

‘Education, the only sustainable legacy’ HE Chairman of Mushin Local Government Hon. Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan has revealed that the only sustainable legacy any government or organisation can bequeath to the youths is education.

He made this statement during the distribution of free JAMB forms to over 250 candidates in Mushin Local Government Area.

To ensure that only candidates in the council benefited from the gesture, they were directed to come with their tenancy receipts,voter’s cards, GCE, WAEC or NECO results with five credits, including Mathematics, English and any identification card.

Adepitan said he was impressed by the large crowd of candidates that appeared before the screening panel with over eight credits, including athematics and English Language.

“The effort of this administration to encourage youths to go to school is yielding

35

HE Chairman, Boys Brigade Nigeria, Wale Olakulehin, has appealed to the church to give incentive and support to members of the Boys Brigade in their various denominations.

Olakulehin said this in an interview with journalists at the Officers in Basic 1-1V Training Workshop, organised for the Lagos State Council of the Boys Brigade at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ipaja, Lagos.

The programme tagged The Gift of Love, had over 200 participants drawn from Lagos, Ogun and Osun states with training sessions in prayers, evangelism, discipleship, Boys Brigade History and Ethics, leadership, Christian citizenship Education among others.

According to him, the need to train today’s children with godly values that will help them become responsible adults becomes important for national transformation.

He said that the increasing spate of social miscreant in our society can be traced to negligence of all stakeholders including the church in child training and development.

He said: “The church has a moral responsibility to be involved and support every effort aimed at ridding our children of moral decadence which has been on the increase in recent times”.

Olakulehin added: “Boys Brigade is giving children across the country a bright future by laying a strong foundation in which they can build their lives and prosper mentally, physically and spiritually”.

He reinstated the commitment of the boys

Lagos

By Adeola Ogunlade

brigade in nurturing today’s children toward nation building, saying: “we have the capacity to find out street children and build into them virtue that would make them fit for life”.

Meanwhile, Olakulehin had lauded the effort of the church and Lagos State government in bringing back the Boys Brigade in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos state.

He said: “we appreciate their effort in promoting initiatives that would help re-mould today children to become responsive adults”.

Also speaking at the event, the Training and Extension Committee Secretary of the Boys Brigade, Nigeria, Mr. Olayinka Oresile, challenged members of the group to exhibit the virtue of obedience, perseverance, diligence, discipline and godly living which is the hallmark of a true Christian.

One of the participants,Ibirogba Olushola Abayomi, said: “ the training has been very instructive, engaging and enriching and I promse to make good use of the teachings I have gathered at this programme.”

Boys Brigade Nigeria is a groups vested with the responsibility of advancing Christ kingdom among boys and promotion of habits of obedience, relevance discipline, self respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.

By Muritala Omikunle

said.

He added: “I think Policemen/women who hitherto dress shabbily and those who collect 20 naira on our highways and roads are in for trouble”.

The veteran crime journalist equally warned the new IGP to be wary of fairweather friends and those he called permanent media consultants at the Loius Edet House, at Abuja. According to him, such persons are out to see what they can get from any IGP and not what they can do to help him.

Briefly

Council chief boosts healthcare THE Vice Chairman, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, IjaiyeOjokoro. Lagos State, Alhaja Fausat HassanOlajoku, has assured the people of the area that she would enhance healthcare in the area.

The council chief , who is also the council’s Supervisor for Health, said that as a two-time elected Vice Chairman, she and her boss, Hon. Benjamin Olabinjo were poised to ensure that drugs are made available to the people of the area at affordable prices.

She said that diseases such as malaria, polio, diabetes, hypertension and cancer would be reduced to the barest minimum, adding that the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, was fully ready to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the area.

Hassan- Olajoku said that she would soon embark on tour of the health centres in the area with a view to ascertaining their challenges and addressing them. She warned members of staff and other health workers to sit up and observe adequate sanitation so as to eradicate environmentalrelated diseases in the council area.

She promised to do her best during her tenure to uplift the standard of living of the people in line with the programmes of her party, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. “I want to state clearly that our administration will make the difference in the lives of our people in the next three years.”she said.

•Member, House of Reps Hon Moruf Akinderu-Fatai (middle) greeting Clerk of the House, Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, Lagos during a visit to the council. With them is the council Vice-Chairman Timothy Daisi.

Free cervical, breast cancer screening for residents T HE Lagos State Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Oshodi –Isolo Local Government has flagged off the free Cervical and Breast Cancer screening programme at the Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area .

The exercise was inauguraetd by the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola at the Kairo Market in Oshodi to educate market women on the need for them to avail themselves of the opportunity of getting tested or screened.

She flayed the neglect of market women to take proper care of their health but enjoined them to enjoy the free cervical and breast cancer screening provided.

The governor’s wife praised the efforts of the state’s Ministry of Health for the exercise, stating that it is meant to affect the life of an average woman in the community.

She reminded the market women of the importance of theexercise and the danger they may face if ignored.

The Chairman, Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area , Hon Bolaji Ariyoh thanked the state government for the initiative.

“I am extremely happy that this exercise is coming up in my local government, I also commend the foresight of the state government

Lagos

By Amidu Arije

for bringing up this laudable programme which is targeted at reducing the prevalence of preventable diseases such as cancer that could be averted if screening had been done early and regularly,” he said.

He promised to support the initiative as it is one of the cardinal points of his administration to transform the lives of the people of the council.

“I wish to state that on my part, I will continually give maximum support and priority to healthcare services as it is often said that ‘an healthy nation is a wealthy nation’,” he said.

He added: “My dream is to leave a mark on the sand of time, through good programmes that will benefit the common people, such as effective primary healthcare services, socio infrastructural development, security of lives and properties, access to qualitative functional and free universal basic education, women and youth empowerment and provision of socio welfare schemes,”.

•From left: Hon Ariyoh, Mrs Fashola, Dr Yewande Adeshina and Dr Nkeiruka Ubani during the programme

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

CITYBEATS THE NATION

31

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

•Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Bello (with mircrophone), with other officials inspecting the cleaning of Bishop/Fashoro Collector Drain, Mushin. Inset: Another on-going canal cleaning project in the state PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Ahead of rains, Lagos clears canals, drain E

LSEWHERE, people look forward with high hopes to the rainy season.

They even pray for the rains when it is late in coming. But in some parts of Lagos, the prayer of most residents is for the rains not to come. Why? The fear of flooding.

Among such residents is Angus Ibe, a vulcaniser living on Adebisi Street, a slum in Orile-Agege, a suburb of Lagos.

For him and his family, the countdown to the rainy season has begun. For people like him, the nursery ryhme is apposite: ‘Rain, rain, go away, come again another day...’

But the rain cannot be wished away, because it will come in due season.

Ibe’s experience since he packed into the area 10 years ago has been terrible, especially during the wet season. He dreads the rains which have always wrecked him yearin-year-out. He cannot recall the number of times he has replaced his mattress, clothes or his 14” television. He no longer has any prized possession. The floods which usually enter his room have taken care of that.

He could have changed location, but for the enormous cost of securing another accommodation. This has left him with no choice than to stay and continue to bear the pain.

By Yinka Aderibigbe

As the state prepares for the rains, many in Ibe’s shoes are apprehensive. Pupils of the Bishop Oluwole Memorial Primary School in Ifako-Ijaiye council area, are not left out.

The pupils are worried that the dry school compound will soon be turned into a swamp, denying them easy access into their classrooms. In fact, the school has perpetually been flooded. Generations of old pupils told CityBeats that flooding is second nature to the school.

“I’ve always known the school to be flooded, when we were younger and attended the school. We used to even play inside the pond, without any care in the world of being infected,” recalled Bidemi, who left the school in 1989.

For over 80 per cent of residents of Lagos living in Ogolonto, Ajegunle, Ketu, Ogba,

Orile-Agege, Somolu, Oshodi, Mafoluku, Alagbado, Egbeda, Ajegunle, Ijora-Badia, Obalende, and even the highbrow Lekki Phases 1 and 2, Victoria Garden City, (VGC), the rainy season comes with mixed feelings.

Each year, the government in order to alleviate the sufferings occasioned by flooding across the state, desilts all drainages and clean the canals around the city. Yet, when the rains come, with its attendant flood, everything is washed away, as if no preparations were made.

But, according to experts, if not for the preparations and priority placed on regular maintenance and cleaning, the state would have recorded huge casualties as a result of the incessant flooding in several parts of the city.

Since 2007, the Fashola administration has placed priority on desilting of drainage, and the cleaning of all collector drains and ca-

some parts of Lagos the prayer of most ‘ Inresidents is for rain not to fall because

'Let there be harmony' FORMER chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State Chapter, Alhaji Rafiu Olohunwa, has called on members of the union to close ranks, and continue to work in harmony.

The union chief, who is seeking re-election as the state chairman said members of the union should always be guided by the spirit of unity and ensure that the labours of the union’s founding fathers are not in vain. Olohunwa, who denied allegations of financial improprietary levelled against him during his tenure as chairman, said he has been vindicated as the sevenman committee headed by Mr Akin James, who is supervising affairs of the union, has not found him culpable.

of the fear of flood Copyright agency destroys N6.5b pirated materials THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has set ablaze pirated books, compact disks, films and other intellectual property worth N6.5 billion.

The event was held at the Lagos State Waste Management Authority Waste Disposal site at Epe, North Eastern axis of Lagos State. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), said the step was aimed at rendering the business of piracy unprofitable and to boost the growth of legitimate copyright industries in the country. The minister, who was represented by the assistant Director and Liaison Officer of the Federal Ministry of Justice in Lagos State, Mrs Anne Akwiwu, commended the commission for the bold step.

’

nals.

Over the last five years, the government has spent well over N20 billion to ensure that water channels are cleared to allow easy outflow of flash floods which usually attends the rains into the lagoon.

But for these efforts, the 16-hour rain in the state in July 10, last year, would have submerged the metropolis. Reliving the incident, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Olatunji Bello, said the reduction in the flooding casualty as recorded in the state last year, was a result of the holistic approach adopted by the government to address the challenge.

According to him, much of the success can be attributed to the all-year-round maintenance introduced by the government.

Bello, who spoke during an assessment tour of the ongoing upgrading and improvement of System Five drainage channel from Babs Animashaun to Sari Iganmu Bridge in Surulere, said the government has begun the dredging and construction of the trapezoidal Concrete channel between the end of the existing rectangular concrete channel at Babs Animashaun bridge with a proposed

•SEE PAGE 32

Lagos residents protest ‘neglect’ RESIDENTS of Mafowoku, Ibu owo, Temidire and Ayetoro communities in Gbagada, have appealed to the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, to accelerate the construction of a link bridge between their communities and Gbagada Phase Two. The residents, who staged a peaceful protest against what they called: "Isolation by our rich neighbours, during the governor's visit to the area, accused residents of the estate of frustrating plans to build a link bridge between them.

The governor, who was in the area to inspect ongoing reconstruction of the Gbagada Comprehensive Junior High School, promised to construct the link bridge. He also urged them to maintain the bridge when eventually constructed.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

32

CITYBEATS Ahead of rains, Lagos clears canals, drain •Continued from page 31

length of 300.00m, top width, 17.0m, bottom width, 10.00m and a depth of 2.00m.

He expressed satisfaction at the level of success attained by the contractor handling the project, noting that the dredging and lining of the channel have provided relief to people of the area.

System Five, according to him, is the longest channel among the six drainages identified in the Lagos Mainland 1974 master plan.

“It is a channel that stretches over 16 kilometres starting from Tejuosho along Jibowu cutting across Gbaja, Akerele, Alhaji Masha, Coker, Orile Iganmu, Ajegunle, Apapa up to Tin Can Island,” Bello added.

He assured that residents would feel the impact of the job done by the government when Govt rains start.

“We are conpromises fident that we to tackle have the capacity to contain flood and manage

whatever volume of water that might attend any rainfall in the state,” Bello said.

The commissioner urged the people to support the government by stopping the dumping of refuse in all collector channels and canals.

He promised to ensure the completion of all ongoing construction, dredging and maintenance of drainage projects across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas of the state as part of the holistic efforts to clean drain before the rainy season.

Part of the holistic approach is the school deflooding, dredging and beautification programme presently ongoing around Coker/ Aguda, Ijeshatedo, Apapa/ Iganmu, other parts of Surulere and the state, he said, adding that with the programme the problem associated with flooding which often sacks pupils from classrooms will be a thing of the past.

Bello said over 100 of the 300 identified schools have been deflooded, promising to intensify efforts to ensure that the remaining

• Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Dr. Taofeek Folami (right), Mr Tunji Bello (middle) and the Principal, Ijeshatedo Boys Secondary School, Sanya, Surulere, Mrs Margaret Fesojaye (left) during inspection tour of drainage construction projects in Lagos Schools.

PHOTO SOURCE: MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

schools get succour before the rainy season.

The Commissioner was also at the Binukonu Central Market in Surulere, directing that the market be sealed off following the environment nuisance constituted

by the traders. He reiterated government’s commitment to cleanliness, especially in all markets, promising that any market that does not meet approved standard will be shut down for a month, for a start.

•Church members protesting on the alleged enroached land beside the CPM

T

HE leadership of the Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM), Coker Orile, Lagos, has petitioned Governor Babatunde Fashola to mediate in a land tussle between it and the Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The church is also appealing to security agencies to avert what it perceives as potential crisis between its members and the local government officials. It accused the council officials of sandfilling the church’s land, despite being served a stay of action notice by the court.

Church members trooped to the streets after service, last Sunday, carrying placards warning the local government not to incur God's wrath.

Some of the placards bore inscriptions such as: “Ifelodun LCDA, do not battle with God, this land belongs to CPM'”; “Our Action Gov-

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 08023321770; 080-56374036.

Church, council bicker over land

By Adegunle Olugbamila

ernor Fashola, please come to our aid”; “CPM bought this land with God's money, and Ojora Royal family is a witness”; “Ifelodun Local Government, no nation ever fought God and prevailed''; “We are God's people. We don't want trouble. We are only fighting for

our rights”; and several others.

Head Pastor, CPM, Rev Dr Vitus Olumba, said the church acquired the land with valid documents from the Ojora royal family in 1994 and occupied it immediately.

The issue of encroaching on the church's land is not a new thing, according to Dr Olumba. In 2009, Olumba recalled, the government

‘

The road was a complete swamp and unkempt. From the junction, people waded through the swamp to get here. It was the church that cleared this land and opened up this road. Then, they didn't reckon with us. Now that we have cleared this place, they realised they have to come here

EMERGENCY LINES 2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No: 080-77690200; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-776909201; 01-2881304 FRSC Emergency No: 070-022553772

’

3. LASTMA Emergency Numbers: 080-75005411; 080-60152462 080-23111742; 080-29728371 080-23909364; 080-77551000, 01-7904983 4. KAI Brigade Phone Nos: 080-23036632; 0805-5284914 Head office Phone Nos: 01-4703325; 01-7743026

began dualising the Orile expressway, forcing traders most of who sell building materials and whose shops were either partly or wholly demolished to start relocating and in the process encroached on the church's land, a move which he said forced the church to seek Ojora's intervention.

In this particular case, Olumba said the church was disappointed that all efforts to dialogue with the council officials failed.

Nonetheless, the cleric vowed the church would not fold its arms on the alleged encroachment by the Ifelodun council. He recalled how shocked the church was when the council invaded another portion of the land in December.

Asked if the church got back to the Ojora family, Olumba said: "We

5. Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Phone Nos: 070-55350249; 070-35068242 080-79279349; 080-63299264 070-55462708; 080-65154338 767 or email: rapidresponsesquad@yahoo.com

He implored Lagosians to desist from dumping refuse into drainages, adding that drainages are public infrastructure which should be guarded jealously.

Bello promised that flood would not be a threat to anyone this year. have again reported the case to Ojora who said he did not sell the land to them. He even came here and put a signboard that the place belongs to the Ojora family and no one should trespass, but they didn't listen. But surprisingly, the Local Government chairman came the following day and removed the signboard.

Olumba wondered why the council never showed so much interest until after the church strived to open up the road which, according to him, was a swamp when it was then acquired.

"The road was a complete swamp and unkempt. From the junction, people waded through the swamp to get here. It was the church that cleared this land and opened up this road. Then, they didn't reckon with us. Now that we have cleared this place, they realised they have to come here. Their plan was to extend this mark across this place and we would not accept it," he said.

Olumba is, however, pleading: "Our major concern is that the council is part of the government's arm. We don't want to fight with them. We only want Governor Fashola to intervene by averting a potential breakdown of the rule of law and asking to council to hands off."

But the council has denied being served any injunction by the court.

"The court only served us a paper last Friday with Suit No M/ 28/2012 and we have five days to file our own reactions," said the council's counsel Babatunde Kehinde.

Kehinde added: "The land belongs to the council. The then Western Region of Nigeria in 1958; with Gazette No 28, Vol 7, dated 21st of April 1958 had acquired it.

It was about 500 acres then. The land was then known as the Olaniyonu Market, a part of which the church sits today.The Olaniyonu Market, which is a part of the land on which the church stands today, was established by Jakande's administration in 1980 and with a survey plan.”

6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

33

CITYBEATS FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Council chief stresses good governance

T

HE Chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, Oloruntoba Oke, has restated his administration’s commitment to good governance.

Oke stated this while addressing workers at the maiden Workers Forum/New Year special prayer, held at the council's old Akute Road, Iju area office.

The council chief said though he was barely three months in office, his administration has been able to change the face of the area.

He listed projects already executed to include the rehabilitation of Oluwasijibomi Street, Thomas Salako Street, Adekoya Street, Moyo Agoro/Fadare Street as well as the construction of Kajola Street, Other projects also mentioned are: Asabi and Taiwo Street on old Akute road. He added that a parcel of land has been secured for the construction of a public library and a customary court along old Akute road.

By Yinka Aderibigbe

He said the council would soon take delivery of a new caterpillar and roller with which to pursue aggressive rehabilitation and construction of roads.

Oke urged the revenue officers, to co-operate with his administration in the collection of levies and rates as the monthly federal allocation is inadequate. He implored them re-dedicate themselves to duty to enable him to fully implement the six-point agenda of his government.

The Council Manager, Mr Adbul Rafiu Fashola and the NULGE Chairman Comrade Morakinyo Mayowa, while thanking the chairman for his welfare programmes especially to the workers, pledged the workforce's unflinching loyalty and support to the administration at all time.

Highpoint of the event was the offering of special prayer by Christian and Muslim clerics for

• Oke, (3rd right) receiving a bouquet of flowers from a young girl, while 2nd left Council Manager, Fashola and other staff watch.

peace and progress of the administration, the state and Nigeria at large.

Among other personalities

present at the occasion are the vice chairman, Mr Babatunde Raj-Label, the Secretary to the Local Government Dr Oluyemisi Oke-

Osanyintolu, the leader of the House, Olaniyi Fadere, Councillors, Members of the Executive Committee and Heads of Departments and Units.

Fashola inaugurates four projects in Ejigbo

T

HE Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has called on council Chairmen to follow the footsteps of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area chairman, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, by deepening the contents of democracy and good governance in their various council areas.

Fashola spoke last week while declaring open four projects namely Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Primary School, Babatunde Fashola Primary Healthcare Centre, Prof.

Yemi Osibajo Court House, and a block of public toilet, delivered by the Ejigbo LCDA chief, all of which were located on Dauda Iloh Street, in Ejigbo.

The governor said the untiring work rate of the council chief has gone a long way in repositioning the LCDA and has further gone to validate arguments for the creation

By Yinka Aderibigbe and Duro Babayemi

of LCDAs in the state.

Fashola said: "The untiring efforts and service of love of your chairman have gone to revalidate arguments for the creation of LCDAs as windows of development for the grassroots. The chairman not only ensured the take-off of the Ajao-Oke-Afa link bridge, which when completed will also have jetties for water transportation that would link this community to Lagos Island and Festac, he has also completed four projects all of which would have positive impact on the people of this area."

The governor, who thereafter cut the ribbon declaring open the projects, however, declined having the Primary Healthcare Centre named after him, as he used his pre-

rogative to rename the facility as The January 27 Primary Health care Centre.

"I have to thank the chairman who thought it fit to spring a surprise on me by having the healthcare centre named after me. Let me use my prerogative as the governor to rename this facility the January 27 Primary Healthcare Centre.

“I also must thank him for naming a school after the national leader of our party Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as well as having a court house named after one of the nation's brightest legal minds. Let me say that Hon Bamigbetan has proved to be a very good student of history and one who is mindful of the place of these great men in the history and political evolution of the country," Fashola added.

He added that he has always challenged all local government coun-

cil chairmen to work for the people of their areas, adding; "when this happens it is the people that are going to be the gainers. Let all of them take a cue from what is happening here today, that the people deserves nothing less than what is happening here today, he said.

Bamigbetan had earlier described the projects as products of the collective efforts of all workers of the

Rep to power constituency with solar street lights

M

EMBER, House of Representatives, OshodiIsolo Federal Constituency 1 Hon Maruf Akinderu-Fatai has promised to influence bringing of solar street lights to his con-

Community gets free drugs, mosquito nets

T

HE concern for improved health care for the downtrodden has led the Papa Ajao branch of The Muslim Congress (TMC) to carry out free medical check up for the people of the area and distribute insecticide treated mosquito net for the prevention of malaria.

According to the group coordinator Mr Daoud Abdul Raheem the group embarked on the exercise as a way of giving back to the community.

He said: "We rendered free medical services to people every year to show people that Islam is all about care. We care for human life; one of our social responsibilities is to carry out free medical check up for our people." We also gave free drugs and treated mosquito nets to 200 participants," The coordinator urged the participants to maintain a healthy environment as a way of preventing the scourge of malaria through mosquito bites. The guest speaker on the occasion, a Resident Doctor in the Department of Microbiology Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Dr Abdul Wahab Ettu

•From left: Alhaji Adegbite, Mr Daoud Abdul Raheem and a beneficiary of the free mosquito net, Mr Abdul Kareem Mustapha.

By Amidu Arije

spoke on the topic: 'Malaria Scourge: What is the way out?'

He urged all present to work hard to prevent malaria scourge in their environment.

"Prevention is better than cure; so it is better for us to prevent malaria than to spend large amount of money to cure it", he said.

Dr Ettu said vector control and early diagnosis are better ways to

prevent the scourge of malaria through mosquito bites.

"Vector control and early diagnosis and treatment will help to detect quicker, easier, faster and less tedious ways of treating malaria," he said.

He said vector control include making the environment neat and tidy always and spraying of insecticides chemicals for the killing of mosquitoes and the use of treated mosquito net. He thanked the

council and pledged that his administration would continue to deepen the dividends of democracy in the LCDA. He said: "We have carefully selected these projects as part of our commitment to reposition Ejigbo LCDA. We have no doubt that these projects would add value to the lives of people of this LCDA in so many ways."

group for their initiative saying it is a right step in the right direction in the move to prevent malaria in the country.

A beneficiary Mr Abdul Kareem Mustapha was very grateful for the kind gesture of the group. He said the awareness campaign has given him new insight into how best he could keep himself safe from malaria attack. "Prevention is better and safer and cheaper than cure," he said.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

stituency.

Akinderu-Fatai said this during a meeting with members of his constituency.

He disclosed that efforts are on to get into the budget motorised bore hole, Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centres as well as provision of 500 9KVA) transformers.

"I ensure that the provision of solar street light at Enia Lonbinu Street, Oluwasanmi Street, Agboola Street, Owoseni Street, Afariogun Street Orile Oshodi, Arowojobe Street, Dawodu Street and Ayoola Seinde Street, Ewu Tuntun-Oshodi is put in the 2011 Appropriation Act for Execution.

We have founded an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centre in Wesley Primary School Oshodi. I have also contacted the ministry in charge to make sure that the contractors are working on them. This is in line with our commitment to the ideals that will bring development to our community," he said.

While recounting his achievements during the first tenure, Akinderu-Fatai said he has influenced construction of two wellequipped health centres to the constituency by the MDGs and monitored its development till now.

"These are located in Oshodi/ Isolo Local Government Secretariat and Methodist Primary School, Ewu Tuntun respectively.

The location of these health centres will bring qualitative health facilities close to our people and at an affordable price. My aim is to key into Millennium Development Goals to eradicate some sicknesses and reduce mortality rate in my constituency," he said.

34

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “As a people who have faith in God and in the efficacy of prayer, we, therefore, call on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to urgently initiate a national prayer and fasting programme involving all Nigerians.”

CITYBEATS

The Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, in a statement in Lagos last week, canvassing a national fasting and prayer as panacea to the high level of insecurity in the country.

Lagos goes tough as it re-opens Mile 12 market

F

OR the residents of Ikorodu and its environs,being trapped in traffic gridlock has become a daily nightmare. Those who could not cope were forced to relocate from the area.

The traffic situation is made worse by the activities of truck drivers and others, who either park indiscriminately on the service lane, or are busy carrying out their trading right on the access road, making the lanes inaccessible to road users.

Often, motorists and commuters plying Ikorodu road are usually held in the traffic for several hours, while traffic officers battle arduously to bring the situation under control.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, who led officials on an assessment tour of the situation last week directed officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) to arrest the situation.

Opeifa, who reminded the market leaders that the ban on street trading is still in force, urged them to stop parking and off-loading their trucks on the service lane or risk arrest.

But the government was to later wield the big stick last Tuesday when it ordered the market closed to traders following their failure to adhere to the directive.

The order, which was enforced by the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and other Offences, Bayo Sulaimon, a Superintendent of Police, saw the government closing all the gates against the harpless traders.

LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Babatunde Edu, said the traffic situation on the axis has continued to

•From left: Muhammed leading Mr Bello and other government officials into the Mile 12 market ... last Friday

By Miriam Ndikanwu

pose serious concern to the government.

Edu noted that the effect of the five-day strike on the marketers have resulted into the logjam of food-laden trucks which now obstructs traffic on the ever-busy Ikorodu road.

But the state government demontrated unequal magnanimity when it ordered the reopening of the market last Friday.

Giving the order the Commissioner for the Environment Mr Olatunji Bello, however, said the reopening is consequent upon a signed agreement between it and the traders to always comply with

its rules.

Among others, the government has banned traders from sleeping in the market, while it also insisted the market must be closed by 6pm everyday.

Bello, who reminded the traders that the market was closed five years ago on same issues, said the government would also no longer tolerate the level of filth in the market.

“The government has a responsibility to ensure that this market is clean, no one should sell any item inside muds any longer. We cannot afford an outbreak of cholera, or diarrhoea, in the state. That is why we are enforcing a minimum standard of cleanliness in all our

markets.

Bello said no truck should henceforth park outside the market, and all offloadings should be done in the night, even as he said it is an offence for anyone to patronise cart pushers in the market.

He said the government would permit the traders to police themselves and ensure strict compliance to these rules, adding that the government would not hesitate to wield the big stick if any of the rules are flouted.

Responding the Baba Oja/ founder of the market, Alhaji Malami Abdullahi, assured the government of Arewa community’s preparedness to comply with the regulations.

Also speaking the Chairman of

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

the Market Management Committee, Alhaji Haruna Mohammed, said the people and traders operating in the market are happy about the government’s policy to rescind its decision on the market.

He said the traders would work within the stipulations of the government even as he noted that the huge demand on the market had informed the decision by the leadership to approve the offloading of goods twice daily.

The Woman Leader of the market Alhaja Iyabo Ahmed, urged the Commissioner to ensure that the LAWMA officials come to the market more regularly to cart away the refuse.

Lawmaker lifts indigent students

L

AWMAKER representing Mushin 1 Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho, has distributed free University Matriculation Examination (UME) forms to indigent secondary school students in her constituency.

Speaking at occasion held at St. Paul Primary School, Ilupeju, Tejuosho said the gesture was informed by the need to help in the educational advancement of students who are brilliant but whose future is encumbered by financial incapability on the part of their parents.

"I feel that there is need to assist in propelling the educational pursuit of students in my constituency by assisting brilliant but indigent students to live their dream.

“I have been doing this for a while now and the number of the beneficiaries has increased in order to accommodate more students.

She promised that there would be significant improvement in the infrastructures in many of the schools in the area adding that she would

‘

I have been doing this for a while now and the number of the beneficiaries has increased in order to accommodate more students

’

By Kunle Akinrinade

do everything within her power to make life better for the people of her constituency.

"We will not relent in our effort to make case for improvement in some of the infrastructures in our schools. I will continue to contribute my quota with all my power toward ensuring that students and people of my constituency enjoy better life. However, I make bold to say that the Lagos State Government has been proactive in terms of seeing to the renovation of schools and the well being of the staff and pupils by providing enabling environment for unhindered learning. The school we are holding today's event is one of the many testimonies to the fact that Lagos State government is alive to its responsibilities in the education sector."

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Oluwayemisi Giwa, a student of Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, thanked Tejuosho, for her gesture adding that beneficiaries would not disappoint her.

"I want to thank Hon.Tejuosho for this great opportunity she has given to us today, we are impressed with her gesture and we promised that we will not disappoint her. On a personal note, I have benefitted from her remedial tutorial programme and it has helped me greatly in my studies. I want to study medicine in the university and I will forever remember Hon. Tejuosho's contributions to my academic pursuit."

•Hon Tejuosho presenting the UME form to the beneficiaries

T

P HOTO: KUNLE AKINRINADE

Association to assist council on road, security

HE President, Jakande Estate Landlord/Residents Association, Oke-Afa, Isolo Mr Abdul Ganiu Abiodun has promised to do all in his power to reduce traffic snarl in the estate.

Abiodun said this at the inauguration of the newly appointed executives of the association where he was elected as the President.

He said the association is working tirelessly to ensure that they bring in BRT buses that will ply their route.

He appealed to all relevant transport association in the estate to reduce transport fare from the people of the estate.

Abiodun appealed to the chairman of Ejigbo LCDA Kehinde Bamigbetan, to come to their aid.

By Medinat Kanabe

"As elders, we need empowerment for the teeming youth in the area, introducing local market where village people will bring their stuffs in wholesale every 15 days so that food can be bought cheap, making the annual youth carnival more attractive and making sure all zones pay their dues promptly," he said.

"Last year we got four new transformers and this year we hope to get more to reduce overloading," he added.

On security, the Landlords' chief said he is already discussing with top police officers concerning the

situation.

Already, he hinted that the community leaders have started mapping ways to fish out bad eggs in the community.

"There are a lot of black spots in the estate and we are making sure that we get rid of them. If we cannot totally eradicate them, we will reduce them drastically. We are also soliciting for the creation of Police Community Relation Committee," he added.

Bamigbetan challenged the new leadership to do better than their predecessors.

"You have to be radical because there are issues in the estate that needs radical approach," he said.

The council boss warned that there should be a zero tolerance to trucks in the area.

SEND YOUR STORIES AND PICTURES TO CITY BEATS at ynotcitybeats@gmail.com OR SEND AN SMS TO 08033054340

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

36

Aregbesola fulfills campaign promises

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been praised for making good his campaign promises.

In the campaign days, he had pledged to lift the standard of education in the state.

On January 30, 2012, his administration delivered on the promise by distributing instructional materials to pupils in public schools.

While delivering a keynote address, at the epoch-making event, the Deputy Governor Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, who also doubles as Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, explained why the state places great premium on education.

She reiterated the commitment of the state government to the provision of qualitative and functional education for the students of the state.

Her words: “Education is the pivot on which realistic and progressive development stand. Any nation without this in place is heading towards extinction and irrelevance in the comity of nations.”

The Deputy Governor further stated that the government is

•Laoye-Tomori distributes the materials to students

working assiduously not only to ensure that the Osun State becomes a citadel of functional education within the first four years of the present administration, but also to better other states in the

country in that regard.

Her adderess drew a thunderous applause from the crowd.

Otunba Laoye-Tomori pointed out that education received the second largest provision after agriculture

in the 2012 appropriation bill.

She enjoined the students to take their education seriously, so as to justify the huge investment the state making in their education.

The occasion was witnessed by

top government functionaries, political bigwigs, education administrators, hundreds of students, the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) corps and members of the public.

Church donates to orphanages

A

•Ben

church, the Divine Appointment Ministry International has donated various items to different orphanage homes in Lagos State.

The founder and Senior Pastor of the Ministry, Rev. Ben Eragbai said the gesture was borne out of the concern for the welfare of the children.

He further said the church is committed to fulfilling its social responsibility.

“Donations to orphanage homes

By Alidu Balogun

and the less-privileged ones have been on a regular basis. We do this in order to assist the people and to ameliorate the sufferings of orphans and the less-privileged ones in our society,” Rev. Eragbai said.

Also, a similar exercise took place in Jos, Plateau State during the recent crisis in the state, when donations of relief materials were made to churches and orphanage

homes. Items ranging from food stuff, toiletries, beverages, clothes and cash were donated to the orphanage homes.

Rev. Eragbai stated that “there is the need to show love to the orphans so that they too would have a sense of belonging in the society.”

He further disclosed that the ministry plans to extend the gesture to more orphanage homes within and outside the state because it is a continuous project.

One of the orphanage homes visited was the Little Saints Orphanage Home at Palmgrove Estate, Lagos.

The President of the orphanage

home, Rev. Dele George expressed delight and appreciation for the gesture. He thanked Rev. Eragbai and his team.

He, however, called on other religious bodies, individuals and corporate organisations to emulate such gesture and show love and kindness to orphans and the lessprivileged in our society. This, he said, will go a long way in improving the living condition of this category of people. Apart from the visit to the orphanage homes, Divine Appointment Ministry is into community development projects such as provision of potable water and electricity to better the lives of members of the host communy.

Borehole water for 15 communities •Continued from Page 27

•Items donated

who is also the chairman, caretaker committee of Akure South Local Government Area, Mr. Jide Adejuyigbe commended Rotary Club of Ijapo for its efforts at solving people’s problems.

He described the new president of the club, who is also the Director of Local Government Administration in Akure South as a credible person..

The outgoing president Alhaji Jola Mustapha Badmus reeled out his achievements in office to include increased membership from 32 to 40, payment of all club’s debts and leaving the club’s account viable.

Other achievements, he said, are purchase of two plots of land for the club, 13 members earned

Paul Harris Fellowship, members travelled to Johannesburg and America on self-sponsorship, among others..

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of Paul Harris Fellow to 15 members who were Dr. Dapo Iwala, Alhaji Jola Badmus, Alhaji Kas Busari, Prof.

S.O Falaki, S.O Ikuomola and Sunday Agbotoba among others.

The president also decorated the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), Alex Akande and Jide Adejuyigbe with Rotary pins.

Among personalities at the ceremony were Prof.

Olu Aderounmu, High Chief James Olusoga, Comrade Gbenga Jegede and Mr. Eyitayo Jegede.

THE NATION

37

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Foundation lifts 215 with N30m

F

RUSTRATED by his inability to secure an employment, Ibrahim Towolawi decided to learn a trade. He ended up a fashion designer. Though, he is doing well, attracting customers from various tribes but Towolawi, like other artisans, faced the challenge of meeting customers’ deadlines.

“I used to take clothes to embroidery designers,” he told Newsextra.

“I would have to queue up like other customers in their shops.

Sometimes, they disappointed me and refused to work on my clothes on time resulting in quarrels with my customers. These are the problems facing my work,” Towolawi explained.

Smiles took over his face when he got an embroidery machine from a humanitarian organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, on Sunday in Lagos.

“Now, I can say goodbye to disappointments and change completely the erroneous perception about the artisans because I will no longer rely on embroidery designers for my jobs. My destiny is now in my hands,” an elated Towolawi said.

Unlike Towolawi, Abdulrasheed Atanda, who runs a laundry service got a generating set.

Atanda said the item would improve his laundry and dry cleaning business.

He said prior to now, his business was being hampered by incessant epileptic power supply as a result of which he had lost some customers.

“I am very happy that the foundation donated a generator that can power my pressing iron; I have already hung a board notifying my customers that ‘No power failure’,” Atanda said.

The duo was among 218 people that benefitted from the N30m Zakat proceeds at an elaborate event held at the Multipurpose Hall, Lagos State Secretariat Central Mosque, Alausa, Lagos.

•Member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon AbdulBaqi Ladi-Balogun handing over the key of a tricycle to Saheed Raimi, one of the beneficiaries. With them are Imam Shuaib (second left), Senior lecturer, Fountain University, Osogbo Dr. AbdulHakeem Mobolaji (second right) and other guests He regretted that the beneficiarthe N34.95m realised this year was Mutiu Anthony called on wealthy

By Tajudeen Adebanjo ies might not be able to meet their an improvement on last year’s Muslims to ensure prompt payment needs as a result of the multiplier N21.8m, he urged more people to of Zakat. pay their Zakat to the foundation, Other items distributed included effects of the increment of petrol “I’m highly elated with what I saying “the foundation is committricycles, digging machines for from N65 to N97 per litre because witnessed today. If we all bring the allotment was done prior to the ted solely to improving the living packing, sealing machines for our Zakat to this foundation, you condition of the masses and that is making yoghurt, grinding ma- removal of oil subsidy. can imagine the multiplier effects “The foundation, he said, is why our focus has not shifted from chines, wheel chairs and sewing on the beneficiaries,” he said. deeply touched by the level of deincreasing Zakat allotment.” machines.

Alhaji Anthony, the Chairman, The Chairman of the foundation, There were presentation of pravity, diseases, ignorance and Easy and Quiet Nigeria Limited abject poverty in the country where Alhaji Sulayman Olagunju, told the cheques for accommodation, debt urged those who areyet to pay beneficiaries that the Zakat they rerelief, economic empowerment, an average Nigerian earns less than Zakat to engage in sadaqat. ceived was a trust from God taken educational supports, medical sup- $2 per day.

One of the beneficiaries, Ms Yemi “The social consequence arising from the trustee. ports and welfare.

Akinyemi, who got N100, 000, said Olgunju urged them to make juSpeaking before the presentation from this deplorable situation is her daughter’s school’s Vice-Prindicious use of it. of the items to the beneficiaries, Ex- that peaceful co-existence, harcipal told her about the foundation Chairman, Zakat and Endowecutive Director of the foundation, mony and sustainable developand she applied. ment Board in Zamfara State, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib explained ment will be elusive in the midst Ms Akinyemi, a single mother of Mallam Ibrahim Tundu, hailed the that Zakat payable (giving of alms of abundant human and natural three said it has been difficult cafoundation for its efforts. to the poor and needy) is two-and- resources God has blessed the countering for the children.

Tundun regretted that Zakat was half per cent of any amount equal try with.”

She thanked the foundation for Shuaib stated that the institution the most neglected pillar of Islam to or above N459, 000. the gesture. despite its importance.

Shuaib said the foundation was of Zakat is a potent panacea to re“There are lots of people at the “We need to take a portion of our able to raise the N30m through in- duce poverty and enhance the livgrass roots who need help, women wealth and give it to the poor,” he dividuals, corporate organisations ing standard of people for the overin particular. Women cannot forsaid. and governments for onward dis- all well-being of the society. sake their children no matter what Although he acknowledged that Chairman on the occasion, Alhaji tribution to the beneficiaries. happens,” she said.

Council seeks stakeholders’ input on budget

T

HE chairman of Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area, Lagos, Hon Abdul Fatai Oyesanya has sought the input of the people of the council on the preparation of this year’s budget.

Oyesanya stated this at the

By Hameed Yekini

stakeholders’ summit on budget held at the council’s secretariat.

The chairman reiterated that the decision to go to the people for ad-

vice is to know their needs in order to adequately plan for them.

“I wish to reiterate strongly that the era of preparing and foisting budgets on the people is over. We shall deliberate on what we want, what the government wants and

•Hon. Bosun Jeje (middle) and Hon. AbdulFatai Oyesanya with the entourage

what resources are available to undertake these programmes and projects,” he said.

While urging the people to show concern for the development of the council, Oyesanya assured themm of his administration’s determination to improve the welfare and human capacity.

“There is the popular saying, ‘think not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ I, however, want to say that my administration will do all that is humanly possible to improve the welfare of all,” he said.

The council chair reminded the people of the importance of the summit, saying it is a step to bring development to the people.

“This summit is a crucial part of the planning and agenda setting procedures for the development of our great council,” he said.

At the summit the people urged the council chairman to work hard to bring the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the people in the council.

Leader of the Ikosi Isheri Local Council Developemnt Area Community Development Association, Prince Owolabi Taiwo urged the chairman to rehabilitate the roads in the council and improve on the primary health centre.

Present at the event were the Lagos State Commissioner for Hous-

I wish to reiterate strongly that the era of preparing and foisting budgets on the people is over.

We shall deliberate on what we want, what the government wants and what resources are available to undertake these programmes and projects ing, Hon Bosun Jeje and the Divisional Police Officer of Ikosi Isheri, Kabiru Ekwarzo, among others.

Hon Jeje said the summit is a good one as it affords the people the opportunity to air their views and present their needs to the council chairman for action.

Hon Oyesanya assured the people that his administration will do more to make life meaningful to the people.

“Let me state that we have made a head start as showcased in the roads we have tarred within the short period of this administration, but I still promise to do more especially on health and security of lives and property of our people,” he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

38

In 2007, there was a marked improvement. Nine women emerged as senators, 28 as members of House of Representatives, 42 as state lawmakers, six as deputy governors, and eight as ministers

W

OMEN have been urged to assert themselves more in the political process of their

country.

A group, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARD) has assessed women’s participation in elective office and found them way below earlier projections.

WARDC said women still seem to settle for second fiddle. The group said 16.7 per cent, for instance, contested for deputy governorship. Even, that number, WARDC Coordinator Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi pointed out, still fell below the “Affirmative Action Demand”. Yet, it contrasted with the figure for governorship (3.7 per cent) and President (5 per cent).

Put succinctly, only 58 women contested for deputy governorship on the platforms of the registered parties during the primaries, relative to 289 men who aspired to occupy the same position. While 13 women aspired to be governor, 340 men picked governorship nomination forms. For the House of Representatives, 220 women showed intention. It was still a far cry from 2,188 men who declared their ambitions. Only a woman, Sarah Jubril, contested for the Presidency, while 19 men eyed Aso Rock Villa.

In the senatorial primaries, 90 women were in the fray. The figure paled into insignificance in the face of the 800 men jostling for seats in the Upper Chamber. A total of 524 women contested for the House of Assembly polls nationwide; still a far cry from 5,475 men who aspired to become state legislators. For the Vice Presidency, only three women were on the firing line. This figure was dwarfed by 20 for men.

Civil societies have contented that the parties gender-sensitive. It is an understatement.All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) fielded 640 candidates nationwide, with 12.2 percent of women representation. Labour Party (LP), which had 91 women aspirants out of 775, recorded 11.7 per cent female representation. All Nigeria Political Parties fielded 1,293 candidates, including 77 women, representing six percent of total candidates. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 1,510 candidates had 84 women, which was 5.6 per cent. Out of 1,167 candidates on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), 64 women, accounting for 5.5 per cent, made the list. In the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), 67 out of 1,347 candidates were women. This represented five per cent.

Out of 909 female candidates, there were 58 deputy governorship candidates. Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) presented five and APGA presented four. ADC and APN fielded two

•From left: Moji Caciver, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Mrs Moreen Onyeiwu and Dayo Gbajabiamila at the conference

Women urged to be more assertive

By Emmanuel Oladesu

female governorship candidates each out of the total 13 female candidates.

Out of 220 female House of Representatives candidates, ANPPpresented 25, PDP 21, and ACN 19. The lone female presidential candidate ran in United Nigeria Democratic Party (UNDP).

Three parties; ARP, BNPP and Fresh Party had female vice presidential candidates.

A woman activist, Hajiya Binta Bilkisu, recalled that, at independence, out of 36 members of the Senate, only a woman, the late Chief Wuraola Esan, Iyalode of Ibadan, was a member. The House of Representatives had 312 members. None was a woman. Also, the Federal Executive Council headed

by Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa had no woman as member. During the 1961 and 1963 elections, only four women legislators were elected in the East and Mid west Regions. They included Mrs. Margret Ekpo, Mrs Janet Mokelu and Mrs Ekpo Young. Later, Mrs. Bernice Kerry joined the Senate from the Midwest.

Between 1966 and 1979, when the military held sway, no woman was appointed as minister. In 1976, the Constitution Drafting Committee

(CDC) was set up to fashion out the 1979 Constitution. Out of the 50 members, none was a woman. Women protest later led to the inclusion of five women in the 250 member-Constituent Assembly.

When power shifted from soldiers to civilians in 1979, the 45-member Senate only had a seat for one woman.

Three women could only make it to the House of Representatives which had 450 members. Across the 19 states, there were five female legislators.

President Shehu Shagari also appointed three women as ministers, although women were appointed commissioners.

In the Third Republic, governorship and local government elections were held. 206 women out of 1,297 got slots.

In 1992, a woman made it to the Senate. The remaining 89 were males. 12 women were elected into the House of Representatives, which had 638 members. Under the Interim Government of Ernest Shonekan, two women served as ministers.

In 1998, the Senate had 109 members, out of which three women were members. Out of 360 members of House of Representatives, 12 were women. In addition, there were nine female ministers/advisers out of 44, one woman

•From left: Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Hon. Biyi Odunlade and Consultant on Training Workshop for Enumerators and Supervisors for the Elderly Persons Population Survey, Prof. Kunle Ogunbameru, at the opening ceremony of the workshop

x

deputy governor out of 36, one out of 36 House of Assembly Speakers and 12 state legislators out of 990.

More women contested for the 2003 elections. The number of women in the Senate rose to three. In the House of Representatives, women occupied 21 seats. Also, six women were appointed ministers out of 34; 10 women out of 35 special advisers and two women became deputy governors and another two were elected Speakers of House of Assembly.

In 2007, there was a marked improvement. Nine women emerged as senators, 28 as members of House of Representatives, 42 as state lawmakers, six as deputy governors, and eight as ministers. At the Nigeria Political Reform Conference in Abuja, only two governors out of 36 appointed women as delegates, although former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed 20 women delegates out of 50.

These figures suggest that the goal of the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women Participation and the 30 per-

cent affirmative action is far from being realised. This low representation has its root in the age-long barriers and prejudices against the weaker sex, closely associated with what WARDC aptly described as “entrenched cultural attitudes, which hinder women participation in public life as well as in politics”.

Many women activists perceived this as a negation of the “Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)”, “Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa” and “Nigeria Gender Policy”.

It is more confounding because many parties have provisions in their constitutions and manifestos which tend to support increased women participation through the 35 percent affirmative action. When parties introduced waiver of nomination fees for women, men employed it as a campaign issue, contending that the unwillingness to pay nomination fees translated into an evidence of lack of commitment by female politicians.

US diplomat hails Ahmed

U

NITED States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCulley has praised Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed for engaging with demonstrators during the recent fuel subsidy protests in the state.

On a visit to the governor, the diplomat applauded Ahmed’s strategy of talking with the protesters, rather than confronting or repressing them.

“I applaud your leadership during the strike,” McCulley said. “You took the initiative to go out and talk to them, to find out what is on their mind. This is an example of forwardlooking leadership this country needs. That, to me, demonstrates why Kwara is a model for other parts of this great country.”

The ambassador pledged his country’s support to the state government in the areas of agricultural development and policy implementation for the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He said the US will also explore other ways of assisting the government in its efforts to move the state forward.

Agriculture, he said, remains a vital weapon for driving the economy forward. McCulley commended the

•Ahmed governor for his agricultural policy, especially commercial agriculture.

The US ambassador also spoke on security, saying it is very important in the economy of any nation.

He added that it is only under a peaceful atmosphere that prospective investors will be willing to put their money into any project in a country.

MOTORING

39

THE NATION

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

The 2012 Acura MDX is a quiet challenger. It offers comfort, safety technology and satisfying driving dynamics in the class without relying on brand cachet to get attention, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

•Acura MDX

up to 5,000 pounds.

Acura MDX: Technology lover’s dream

M

UCH of the MDX’s dynamic enjoyment comes from its “Super Handling” all-wheel-drive system (SHAWD). Many luxury crossover shoppers will only consider a rear- or all-wheel-drive model, and the Acura uses its AWD system to apportion power automatically to outside wheels during cornering. While the MDX is still mostly driven by the front wheels in straightline cruising, the system kicks in undetected to all but the savviest drivers during spirited maneuvers on twisting sections of road. The net effect is a crossover with predictable driving dynamics in all kinds of weather conditions, plus communicative steering that makes this utility vehicle feel smaller than it is.

Inside its cabin, the MDX rivals Acura’s flagship RL sedan for quality. Soft leather, handsome wood trim, and buttons, switches and knobs with a precise action to them demonstrate Acura’s attention to detail. The base MDX comes with a wealth of standard features, but three available packages push the tech and luxury into territory more familiar to buyers of European models.

For the money, the 2012 Acura MDX makes a lot of sense. Crossovers, such as the Buick Enclave and Ford Flex are roomier, but lack the MDX’s refinement. The BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz M-Class offer slightly more premium environments, but in smaller, more expensive packages. The Lexus RX 350 is more

Safety

•Interior of the car

comfortable but lacks a third-row seat. Certainly, all have distinct benefits, but when it comes to a deft blend of luxury, technology and drivability, the MDX is peerless.

Body styles The 2012 Acura MDX is available in one trim level.

Standard equipment includes 18-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlamps, foglamps, heated side mirrors, a power liftgate, a sunroof, privacy glass, heated eightway power front seats, two-way adjustable driver lumbar, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated rearview camera, Bluetooth, and an eight-speaker sound system with six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.

The Technology package adds a multi-view parking camera, GPS-linked and solar-sensing climate control, upgraded leather upholstery, a navigation system with eight-inch display and dial controller, real-time traffic and weather,

voice controls and a 10-speaker Acura/ELS surround-sound audio system with digital music storage and an iPod/USB interface.

The Advance package includes all Technology package features and adds 19-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), autoleveling headlamps, a sport steering wheel and ventilated front seats. The Entertainment package, which can be added to the Technology or Advanced packages, adds a rear-seat entertainment system and heated second-row seats.

Powertrains and performance The MDX is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 that produces 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard.

In Edmunds, an auto expert’s performance testing, the MDX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. Estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. Properly equipped, the MDX can tow

Standard safety equipment for the 2012 Acura MDX includes antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints, traction control and stability control with a stabilising feature for trailer towing. The optional CMBS monitors following distance and closure rate, and uses visual and auditory warnings to alert the driver to a possible collision. If the system senses an imminent collision, it can apply hard braking and cinch up the front seatbelts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the MDX its top score of “Good” for occupant protection in frontal offset and side-impact crashes. In Edmunds brake testing, the MDX came to a stop from 60 mph in 123 feet, a solid result for this class of vehicle.

Interior design and special features The MDX’s cabin is a technology lover’s dream.

Thankfully, the MDX’s connected creature comforts are easy to use via a multipurpose knob and a selection of voice commands. As in most Acuras, the center stack is loaded with buttons for climate control and multimedia. It is an intimidating array at first, but the learning curve is short. The Panasonic/ELS surround-sound audio system is one of the best in the business, as is the navigation system.

The MDX is pretty spacious for a three-row midsize luxury crossover SUV. The rearmost seats are better suited to children, but adults can ride there for short journeys without complaint. Second-row seats recline for additional comfort, but if you need legitimate room for adults in the third row, the Buick Enclave and Ford Flex are better choices.

The MDX yields 83.5 cubic feet of cargo space with its second and third rows folded, which is above average for a midsize luxury crossover.

Overall, the MDX is one of the most rewarding luxury crossovers to drive.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

40

MOTORING

L

AGOS State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola has inaugurated the newly upgraded and rehabilitated 3.5kilometres road and a 110-bed Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCC) in Surulere with an appeal to residents to protect the properties against damages.The roads include Akerele Street; 1.4m, Adelabu; 960m and 1.2km Ogunlana Street.

Fashola accompanied by the State Executive Council members, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, described it as a fulfillment of the promise he made to residents of Surulere during his pre-election campaign.

He said the roads were con-

Fashola inaugurates 3.5km roads

By Miriam Ndikanwu

structed by local construction companies which employed about 738 people during the period thereby providing jobs for unemployed youths.

“We believe this is the way to grow the economy, this is the way to provide jobs, we can’t provide jobs by just speaking, you provide jobs by getting things done,” he said.

He cautioned residents against carrying out activities on the roads that could shorten the life span saying the roads were built

Reps pledge better legislation on road safety

I

MPRESSED by the level of investment on information and communication technology (ICT) by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Road Safety, Hon Nasiru Daura has pledged his committee’s commitment towards requisite legislations on road safety matters.

Speaking after a routine tour of facilities at the national headquarterS of the FRSC in company of other members of the House Committee on Road Safety, during an oversight visit, Daura hailed the FRSC management for embracing information and communication technology in its operational and administrative activities.

He said it has no doubt, impacted positively on last year’s status of road traffic crashes with a downward slide in comparison with previous years.

“We are absolutely breathless with what we saw in the FRSC which to a large extent will provide the required

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

boost for the Federal Government’s transformation agenda,” he said.

In his response, the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka presented the Corps’ 2011 fiscal budget performance which according to him, witnessed a 99.62 per cent performance in the face of N303,104,941.00 released out of N448,533,941.00 appropriated to the commission in last year’s budgetary allocation.

Chidoka stated that with the limited resources, the Corps had managed 42 Help Areas and 12 ambulance emergency centres, 224 field commands, 79 ambulances, 28 tow trucks and has remitted N1, 326 billion to the Federation Acount as fines generated from enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.

He said the FRSC has drawn a definite road map towards achieving optimal service delivery in ensuring safer road use in Nigeria.

‘We are absolutely breathless with what we saw in the FRSC which to a large extent will provide the required boost for the Federal Government’s transformation agenda’

with tax payers’ money.

“This is not Fashola’s road, this is our roads, it is for you and I, you have a duty to protect it and ensure it serves you the purpose for which it was built,” Fashola said.

He, however, noted that the state still had a long way to go in catering for the infrastructural deficit, which he said will cost the state about $50billion (N8trillion).

“Every year, the best we can ever manage to do is about $3billion (N480billion). The calculaHE General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Mr Babatunde Edu has warned motorists buying fuel at filling stations to maintain a single lane in order not to obstruct the free flow of vehicular movement along areas where petrol stations are situated.

Edu urged motorists to desist from panic buying.

He said officials of LASTMA have been mandated to ensure strict

T

tion of our budget is about that size and it includes all the taxes that you pay, so you can see what we are up against, he explained.

Fashola said the train of road construction will continue to move across the state to ensure that network of roads are constructed, urging for the cooperation of residents to ensure that the challenges of infrastructural development are surmounted.

He said the state was also embarking on other road projects in Surulere and environs including Agbebi, Imam Dauda and Bode

Thomas, adding that a block of four flats to house 36 families in Shitta is also under construction.

Commissioner for Works, Dr Femi Hamzat said the roads delivered in Surulere were to ensure more access roads for residents of the area as well as prevent flooding in the area.

“Surulere is gradually transmitting from a residential to commercial area and we are moving with the change. We want to assure you that as this happens, we would remain alive to our responsibilities,” Hamzat said.

LASTMA warns motorists against obstruction

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

compliance and filling stations found to have violated the directive will be appropriately sanctioned.

He urged the management of all filling stations to ensure that motorists in their attempt to buy fuel do not obstruct the free flow of traffic.

Firm plans 500 miles electric car battery

A

N auto firm, IBM is looking to address and solve the limited range issue by pioneering new battery technology that may allow for extended ranges of up to 500 miles – and compete with most gas-powered cars.

Currently, electric vehicles utilise lithium-ion batteries, which tend to be heavy and rarely exceed distances of 100 miles of driving before needing to be recharged.

IBM, however, is seeking to change that with the refinement of newer lithium-air batteries which offer higher density levels than virtually all rechargeable batteries available today.

Lithium-air batteries are lighter, weighing down a vehicle much less and providing more energy while driving.

And it isn’t a negligible difference either; the idea behind such batteries

•Motor battery

would (in theory) make its way to the consumer and cause batteries to cost less — since fewer batteries are likely cheaper.

While lithium-ion batteries do not

carry nearly as much energy density as their lithium-air counterparts, lithiumion is a much more stable beast because of lithium-air batteries tendency to demonstrate chemical instability.

Woman escapes rail crossing crash

A

DRIVER has narrowly escaped death after colliding with a freight train at a level crossing in southern Queensland, United Kingdom.

After hitting the lead engine, the woman’s car was wedged between the guard rail of the level crossing and the side of the train.

Queensland Rail Chief Martin Ryan said the collision at Dalby could have been far worse.

“I shudder to think what would have happened if she had tried to cross the track a split-second earlier,” he said.

The woman avoided serious injury and was taken to hospital badly shaken.

Queensland Rail said overall, a

level crossing safety campaign is having a positive effect on motorists, but the message was not reaching pedestrians as effectively.

The two people killed by trains in Queensland last year were both pedestrians.

Queensland Rail chief Jim Benstead said there has been a 21 per cent reduction in near-miss incidents at level crossings from 2009 to date.

“We are pleased to see a significant reduction in vehicle near misses, following a concerted campaign of education and enforcement measures,” Mr Benstead said.

“Unfortunately, pedestrians continue to make deliberate choices to take a risk and try and beat a train.”

•From left: Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer SCOA Motors Dr Mossad Boulos; President, Fadoul Group, Mr M.Z Fadoul and Executive Director, Commercial Banking and Public Sector, Skye Bank, Mr Gbenga Ademulegun, at the inauguration of the MAN truck and bus centre at SCOA office on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.

PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

DRIVING TIPS

T

HERE was another case of a Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) challenging the proprietor of a driving school that, why should he be compelling the licence applicants to undergo training. He said they should be issued with the driving school certificate without wasting the time of the applicants. Is it not better to waste their time in the driving schools than for their time to be waster in hospitals with pains?

I will not but mention the compromise on the part of some certified driving schools that usu-

Owners, drivers and overconfidence (2) ally skip the requisite training and before issuing certificates to the licence applicants.

The irony of life is that the perpetrator of unhealthy compromise could become the victim of the consequences of the compromise he perpetrated.

An adage says“a wise man can learn from a fool”. Overconfidence is a great enemy of knowledge acquisition. No matter your status and years of experience, surrender yourself for the man-

datory training at the certified driving schools to further enhance the safety of lives and properties on Nigeria roads.

In conclusion, I hereby plead with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other stakeholders not to shield anyone from going through the Mandatory training programme in the certified driving schools. Whether the application is for renewal or new national driver licence, everyone that does not hold a genuine cer-

tificate of certified driving school must be compelled to pass through the driving schools.

There should also be provision for a three-hour refresher course in certified driving schools every three-years before each drivers licence is renewed. Driver training is not and must not be a one-off affair.

It must be continuous and result-oriented. Every compromise in this regard will surely be counter-productive in the war against road crashes and fatalities.

Jide Owatunmise

42

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

43

44

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

45

46

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

47

PERSONAL FINANCE

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Your money in the new earnings season (1)

Investor’s Worth

F

High-tech investor

W

ITH the massive discovery attendant to the equity boom in the 2005-2008 ‘up-up’ period, the attractiveness of the stock market roused the interests of several entrepreneurs, whose listings opened up new investment opportunities.

This new era literally brought the the country’s silicon valley to the stock market, giving most investors first hand participation in the tech industry. One of the champions of the new horizons is Demola Aladekomo, founder and managing director of Chams Plc. Chams, with total outstanding ordinary shares of about 4.7 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each in the hands of more than 42,000 shareholders, is a quintessential example of the proverbial individual’s success that radiates on hundreds of others. Aladekomo built Chams, arguably Nigeria’s most innovative ICT solutions company, with more of his intellectual capital and ‘never-saydie’ entrepreneurial spirit before it turned the corner to become a multi-billion naira publicly quoted company.

After almost two decades of entrepreneurial metamorphosis that started with coconut candy production and marketing in the mid-1960s, Aladekomo was fully formed

by the mid 1980s.

Although virtually with no capital, Aladekomo, then 28 years old, set out in 1985 after his MBA programme to build a Nigerian company of world class standards. He was virtually everything to the companyvisionary, founder, chief strategist, chief executive and chief promoter and brand image of the company.

Under his untiring innovations, Chams became the pioneer of groundbreaking identity, transactional and payment solutions. It pioneered the concept of electronic purse in the Nigeria banking industry and was instrumental to the establishment of Valucard Nigeria Plc with a consortium of 48 Nigerian banks. Chams not only introduced PVC-based ID cards in Nigeria, it started the use of biometric and prometric identifications. It was also the first company to roll out Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and Point of sales (PoS) terminals.

The preeminence of Chams in the ICT sector is underscored by several licences under its kitty.

Chams is one of the four licencees for switching system, one of the three non-bank ATM licencees, one of the 16 mobile payments licensees and one of the two prepaid cards licencees.

With public quotation in 2008, Aladekomo got value for his

•Aladekomo

entrepreneurship. Although the shareholding of Chams is widely dispersed among lowstake investors, Aladekomo retains the largest and the only statutorily significant shareholding in the company.

Less than 300 shareholders out of the more than 42,000 shareholders of Chams hold equities above the range of 10 million shares. Majority of the shareholders hold between 1,000 and 100,000 shares. Aladekomo’s 12.01 per cent equity stake is the largest single shareholding in the company.

With many national projects, financial transaction licences and several innovative products, many analysts see Chams as a growth stock with potential for appreciable future returns. Aladekomo’s valuation rests on this optimism but much depends on him too.

Ask a Broker

N

OMINAL value, otherwise known as par value, refers to the face value or ordinary value of a security. Usually, a security is denominated by its par value and this serves as a differentiating factor from similar securities or other

What is nominal value? class of securities. The issued share capital of a company is denoted and expressed in its nominal value. The nominal value of each quoted

company is indicated on the official list of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as public quotation price immediately after the name of the company.

ROM this week, the Nigerian equity market will feel the intense tempo of activities that usually comes with announcement of audited reports and accounts and dividend recommendations by quoted companies.

With most companies-including all banks, now running the 12-month Gregorian calendar year that ends on December 31, corporate earnings reports and dividends for the 2011 business year are expected to trickle in this month and build up gradually in March and subsequently peak in early weeks of the second quarter. At the last count, two banks have had their board meetings on the 2011 earnings and dividends and are scheduled to make public their figures.

Earnings season-the period of the release of corporate earnings and dividends, is the most momentous period for investors. The twin inseparable objectives of investment are the protection of capital and attainment of appreciable return on investment. Both objectives rest on corporate earnings performance. Dividend is used in generic sense as well as specific sense to refer to return on investment. In generic sense, dividend refers to all gains that accrue on an investment including cash payouts, scrip or bonus shares and capital gain. But dividend is usually used in relation to cash dividend-the periodic distribution of net profit from the business to shareholders.

Cash dividend and the resultant cash flow are important elements of portfolio management. To long-term

By Taofik Salako

investors, dividend is the continuous stream of sustenance while it provides short-term investors and speculators additional means to increase their returns. A good understanding of the nature of dividend, the rights of shareholders with respect to dividend declaration and payment, the dividend payment process and institutional responsibilities and necessary rules and regulations guiding dividend payment would enhance the portfolio management capacity of the investor.

Besides, these will help to reduce the incidence of unclaimed dividends and frustrate some unscrupulous institutions and individuals who are exploiting poor understanding on the part of several investors to make huge gains on unpaid dividend.

One of the crucial roles of registrars is the distribution of cash dividends to shareholders. The board of the company recommends possible cash payout, closure date for register of members and payment date to shareholders who usually approve these recommendations at a general meeting and thereafter the gross value of the dividend is deposited with the registrar for onward distribution to shareholders. Unfortunately, the problem of unclaimed dividends has made the process of dividend payment not as straight as enunciated. Registrars especially have been at the receiving end of blames, whereas there are many reasons leading to unclaimed dividend.

Shareholders poor attitude to dividend generally encourages bad corporate practices which in many instances have

compounded failures of some companies. Companies have been alleged to borrow certain sum to pay dividend with mindset that certain percentage may not be claimed by their owners. One of the many reasons put forward by the Securities and Exchange and Commission (SEC), for the controversial unclaimed dividend Trust Fund is the unwholesome practice of diverting unclaimed dividend.

It could however not be denied that many unclaimed dividends resulted from inefficient public utility and the nature of dividend sometimes. Gone are those days when the post-office officials moved through the nooks and crannies of cities and towns to drop letters. The private couriers are not better and more importantly far too expensive. So, many companies are left with the public postal system which often performs below expectation.

Being a “cheque,” the requirement of a “current account” to convert dividend warrant into raw cash has been a major hurdle to many small investors who operate mostly “saving deposit account.” Another cause of the huge unclaimed dividend is the seeming intangibility of dividend especially by average and below average companies. For instance, a dividend per share of 10 kobo would result into a net sum of N90 on 1,000 ordinary shares.

With the cheque-like nature of dividend warrant and the intangibility of some dividends, many shareholders who received their warrant merely dump them somewhere.

•To be continued

Ways and Means

C

ONVENIENCE banking is almost as old as banking itself, but it had for several decades mostly been the exclusive preserve of the highnet worth customers. With changing technologies and emergence of do-it-yourself applications, convenience banking has virtually become commonplace in most advanced and leading emerging economies.

Known severally as ‘fingertip banking’, home banking, personal banking, office banking, virtual access and paperless banking among others, convenience banking is denoted mainly by the ease of transaction and personalisation of the transactional experience between the bank and the customer. Cost efficient, hassle-free, simple and more secured, convenience banking at the advanced mass stage thrives on state-of-the-art technology and innovations.

In the previous period, convenience banking in Nigeria was a laborious contraption of personal service involving banking officers who did everything from running round to collect cash to carrying cash to homes of selected customers. Compared to the pristine nature of the technology-driven convenience banking, it was a costly and risky service that not only limited the capacity of the bank but also corrupted several banks and bank officials. Rather than convenience, it was a one-way servitude.

But with the ongoing banking reforms, bank customers are set to enjoy the real convenience

New face of convenience banking banking with its many benefitscost efficiency, timeliness, simplicity, security and personalisation. The cashless policy of the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN), also known as cashlite project, is the new driving force for the new phase of convenience banking. Although the subtle undertone of sanctions implied by the stipulation of a cash handling charge on daily cash withdrawals or cash deposits that exceed N150, 000 for individuals and N1 million for corporate bodies may provoke the natural human contrariness to force and enforcement, the cash-lite project is the platform for Nigerian bank customers to enjoy the real sense of convenience banking.

With the pilot take-off of the policy in Lagos, banks are already displaying exciting boutique of products and services that promises to change financial transactions from official hours in banking halls to anywhere and anytime the customer wants. But the competitive edge of each bank in this new phase, like in several other initiatives too, will depend on the robustness of the technology platform, experience, stability, spread and financial capacity of the bank. United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is already taking the lead as a front runner in the new phase of banking. One of Africa’s most diversified financial services group with operations in 19 African countries and three global financial centers- London , New York and Paris, UBA’s N3

trillion asset base and unquestionable ranking as one of Nigeria’s first generation bank provide complementary platform for some of the most innovative-banking products.

UBA’s U-Direct- an internet banking platform, provides all customers all-hours access to their accounts-savings, current, loan etc. With U-Direct, customers are able to conduct most transactions available within UBA branches but without having to visit the branch. They can make payments, transfer funds to other bank accounts within and outside UBA, pay bills, remit money and several other personalized services.

In the same vein, U-Mobile, the phone-based money service, practically puts the bank in the pocket of the customer. With their mobile phones, customers can manage their bank accounts, savings or current, and carry out a wide range of financial transactions including instant funds transfer, bills payment, airtime top-up, payment for goods and services, balance enquiries amongst others. All financial transactions on U-Mobile are secured by pin and password that guarantee security of transactions. UBA already have most of the common billers on UMobile, making it very easy for customers to renew their satellite television subscription, pay utility bills and other scheduled payments.

With the new cashless policy discouraging bulk cash collec-

tion and transit, the UBA’s PayManager provides effective way to settle transactions. A web-based electronic payment solution, PayManager enables electronic payment to any third party including suppliers, vendors, customers, Government among others.With PayManager, UBA customers can make payments from their account into accounts with any bank in the world. PayManager also supports foreign currency payments and international transfers in the main global currencies including dollar, pound and euro. PayManager has multiple layers of security to ensure that transactions are secured, protected and encrypted from initiation through to completion of the transaction.

The UBA BankCollect is a multi-channel web-based collection solution which enables collection or payment on behalf of government or corporate customers. Payments such as Airline ticket payments, insurance premiums, subscription payments and utility bills among others can be hosted on the ‘BankCollect’. Paying customers can go into any of UBA branches to make payments while customers who own the collection account can view the collection amount online real time for easy cash management. ‘BankCollect’ provides UBA with the capability to undertake cross border collections as any UBA branch in Africa can receive payment into the collection account. This is particularly useful for multi-

nationals desirous of consolidated financial management.

Besides, ‘BankCollect’ supports cash payments, and payments using electronic channels such as PoS, ATM and web payment.

For private and public organisations, U-Pay enables automated upload of salary information of employees for payment directly into employees’ accounts in any bank. A webbased salary payment solution suitable for all companies, U-Pay performs automatic payment of salaries, remittance of statutory deductions such as Pay as You Earn (PAYE) tax, pension, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), loans repayment among others online. U-Pay is parameterised and as such flexible enough to meet client’s specific needs. With this, paper usage is reduced as employees can view their payslips online.

The Consolidated Internet Payment Gateway (CIPG) is UBA’s multi-system internet payment gateway developed to enable online payments on merchants’ websites. CIPG provides the simplest and quickest method of integrating e-commerce websites to a secure payment gateway for the purpose of receiving payment for goods and services. CIPG presents a combination of local and international payment options to merchant customers on a unified web interface and it currently accepts all major cards including Visa, Mastercard, Verve and ETranzact. Transaction reports on CIPG can be viewed by both the

•GMD, UBA, Phillips Oduoza

bank and the customer online and real-time.

In addition to all these, UBA provides businesses with Point of Sale Terminals that facilitate payments for goods and services. UBA PoS terminals accept all cards. UBA itself has a rich portfolio of cards including debit, credit and prepaid cards.

All UBA cards are EMV cards with Chip and PIN security. UBA ATMs also provide round-theclock services to customers including withdrawal, balance enquiry, funds transfer, phone airtime recharge, change of PIN, printing of mini-statement and bill payments. UBA ATMs accept all cards and also support cardless transactions whereby money can be sent to anyone in the form of an access code.

With guarantees of security by the CBN and banks, the new face of e-banking offers customers exciting opportunities

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

48

LABOUR

Workers write governors over living condition P UBLIC service employees have called on state governors to adopt the new minimum wage and improve the general condition of service to cushion the adverse effect of hike in fuel price.

Represented by the Trade Union side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, they called the attention of the governors to their living condition, which they described as deplorable.

In the letter with reference JNPSNC/TUC/NS/VOL.1/28, entitled “Increasing cost of living and public sector workers’ remuneration”, signed by National Secretary, Comrade Marcus Omokhuale, and dated January 25, 2012, the workers praised the governors for the “steps taken so far towards the amelioration of the living conditions of the common people in their states.”

The letter reads in part: “I am obliged to bring a pertinent issue of grave concern to the teeming workers in your state’s public sector for your kind attention and urgent action, please.

“This has to do with the astronomical rise in the cost of living consequent upon the recent hike in pump price of fuel and the dire impact on public servants, whose wages and purchasing power have been drastically undermined.

“It is a statement of fact that the growth of an economy depends on reasonable purchasing power for effective demand to be actualised in the market.

Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

The letter further said that workers productivity is motivated by their wages. ”Your Excellency is no doubt aware that the remuneration of workers has lagged far behind the inflation rate and this is being worsened by the steep increase in fuel pump prices. ”To us as Nigerians, this calls for necessary action to raise remuneration by government as state policies should be seen to impact on the living standards of the creators of the nation’s wealth,” Omokhuale said in the letter.

He argued that energy is central to production and consumption in a modern economy.

And that this is particularly so,” for the movement of prices in a country such as Nigeria, where the level of infrastructural development is abysmal.”

He listed workers needs as regards petrol to include, fuelling of power generators, at home, since there is no regular electricity supply, transportation of food commodities which are also thus affected by price movements of petroleum products. ”We, however, realise that there might be cause for succour, as your state government, as well as states across the federation, will benefit from the revenue accruing to the Nigerian state from the partial removal of fuel subsidy. ”We wish to point out, in the light of the foregoing, that, considering the change in the price regime of workers’ food basket costs,

in particular, and cost of living in general, compared to when the new minimum wage was negotiated, as well as its impact on the array of the 13 salary structures in the public sector, there is a very palpable need for the full implementation of the remuneration of workers in the public sector in line with the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act, for them to be able to make ends meet. ”We are confident that with your state’s increased income profile and your demonstrated commitment to improving the lot of working people in your state, you would find it needful to heed to our humble request, and now pay the full new minimum wage of N18,000 and other salary structures, such as CONHESS, CONMESS etc. (Consolidated Health Salary Structure and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure) The letter also called for urgent opening of a window of negotiations towards establishing a new wage regime for workers that will be in consonance with the current state of their cost of living as a motivator to higher productivity.

This is especially directed to states where the new minimum wage and other salary structures were whittled down, during the negotiation, “because of the hitherto lean purse of the various states.

“Now that the income of states have been improved, as a result of the increase of PMS pump price from N65 to N97, the governors are implored to fully adopt the new minimum wage in full to shore up

Govt urged to establish vocational centres for lepers

T

•Omokhuale

workers take-home-pay to enable them at least meet up with some of their immediate responsibilities and reduce the obvious restiveness, as a result of frustration in the society.

Further, this is imperative if the workers should continue to contribute their quota in your administration’s transformation agenda geared towards the provision of dividend of democracy to the generality of the citizenry of the state.”

The letter also dwelt on the issue of over –taxation. Omokhuale said this is a source of worry as it tends to paint a picture of giving with one hand and taking away with another. To avoid such situation, Omokhuale said there is “dire need for your government to take a serious look into it, with a view to reviewing the existing computation on the basis of which the PAYE is being made.”

Employee compensation takes off

• Olejeme

S

UCCOUR may start coming the way of injured workers and families of those who lose their lives on duty as the Employees Compensation Scheme (ESC) takes off with the Federal Government’s inauguration of

the newly reconstituted Board of Directors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The Mrs Ngozi Juliet Olejemeled Board of Directors was inaugurated by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu in Abuja last week.

The Board, which has tripartite representatives of government, organised Labour and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) is saddled with the responsibility of providing social security protection and safety net for Nigerian workers.

Mrs Olejeme was the Chairman of the former Board of NSITF which worked towards and ensured the passing of the Employees’ Compensation Act in 2010, after months of public debates by the upper and lower legislature making it one of the fastest bills passed by the National Assembly.

She said the ECS has formally started, following the assent of Mr President to the Scheme in

2010, adding that it is ‘significant to the transformation agenda of Mr President, especially the social safety nets aspect.’

According to her, the centrality of the ECS in the socio-economic matrix and the Industrial relations system to the well-being of the citizenry cannot be overemphasized. In this regard the ECS ‘which guarantees the welfare and wellbeing of the worker in the event of injury or death in the workplace or in the course of work, is a practical demonstration of Mr President’s commitment to the Decent Work Agenda.’

Describing the ECS as an integral part of the new contingencies of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 102, Mrs Olejeme expressed optimism that with the representation of the NLC and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) on the Board, the ‘buy-in of Employers and workers across the broad spectrum of the formal economy will enable successful

implementation of the scheme as Nigerian workers are part of a global working class network.’

Thanking Mr President for bringing her back to the helm of affairs of the NSITF and entrusting the team with this responsibility of managing the ECS which is very dear to Mr President’s heart ‘we promise to run an all inclusive and harmonious Board that will create a conducive atmosphere for effective and efficient implementation of the ECS. Mrs Olejeme’s boardroom experience spans twenty years. She was a member of the Board of Ajaokuta Steel Company, and Chairman Board of Trustfund Pensions Plc. She is also a member of the Justice Belgore Committee to Negotiate with organised Labour on the deregulation of the oil sector and also a member of the Dr Christopher Kolade-led SURE. She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, USA. and the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, US.

Minister seeks improved budget for job creation

L

ABOUR and productivity Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu is seeking more funds for his ministry to enable it execute major projects.

He said the Ministry’s budget should be restructured within the approved capital envelope that would accommodate skill development and certification projects.

The Minister also called for speedy passage of the four outstanding Labour Bills before the National Assembly, namely: Labour Standard Bill, Collective Labour Relations Bill, Labour Institutions Bill, and Occupational Safety and Health Bill.

Speaking about the ministry’s budget in Abuja, Wogu said: “Considering the need to fill the appar-

ent skill gaps and provide many unemployed youths with the requisite capacity for economic empowerment, I pray that the Ministry’s budget be restructured within the approved capital envelope which now accommodates skill development and certification projects.”

He said his Ministry’s 2012 budget is tailored towards achieving the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda, in the area of employment generation and industrial peace and harmony.

“These projects and programmes were carefully selected to enable the Ministry pursue its mandate and at the same time contribute towards the attainment of Mr. President’s Transformation

Agenda”.

While highlighting the achievements of the Ministry in 2011, the Minister emphasised that despite the meager fund at his disposal the Ministry was able to achieve the following among others: “Successful intervention in about 78 trade disputes, production of guidelines and regulations on employment of contract staff in the oil and gas sector, licensed 161 Employment Agencies (PEAs) through the issuance of Recruiters Licenses, graduated 2,860 from the Ministry’s Skills Upgrading Centres, Developed a draft National Labour Migration Policy with technical support from International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Organisation for Migration”.

•Wogu

HE National Association of People Affected by Leprosy (NAPAL) has identified dearth of vocational centres as the factor responsible for its members taking to street begging.

NAPAL, under the aegis of IDEANIGERIA, has, therefore, urged governments at all levels to create employment opportunities for the members, to enable them contribute their quota to the progress of the country.

The National Secretary of the association, Malam Tijani Abdu, called on the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to establish vocational centres, to encourage self reliance among its members.

“IDEA-NIGERIA calls on the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to establish vocational centres for the people affected by leprosy, to encourage self reliance among them.”

According to him, skills acquisition centres will empower such people to keep them away from street begging.

He urged the members to embrace dignfying jobs and cease from living in isolated settlements.

Abdu said leprosy was a curable disease, noting that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had developed several drugs for its treatment.

“Our members are faced with various forms of challenges and barriers in their day-to-day living, especially the issue of stigma and discrimination in education and work place and on the street.”

Abdu advised the ministry to embark on an enlightenment campaign to sensitise the public on the plight of victims, saying it would discourage stigmatisation and discrimination.

NLC set to monitor implementation of subsidy re-investment programme in Abia

T

HE Abia Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will monitor the implementation of the Federal Government’s subsidy reinvestment programme in the state.

Acting Chairman of the congress, Mr Christopher Ebeniro stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia.

It will be recalled that the Abia State government announced the sectors of the economy in which it will plough its share of the subsidy savings from the Federal Government.

Ebeniro warned that it would no longer be business as usual as Labour would ensure that the funds were used to uplift the living standard of the people.

“It’s easy to say something; another thing is to put it into practice. It is not today that we have heard how judiciously funds like that will be utilised and managed but at the end you find out that it’s like the windfall for the powers that be at the state level.”

He said the suspension of the strike against fuel subsidy removal was based on a social contract between NLC and the masses, noting that any slip in that oversight function might spell doom for all concerned.

“It is of a fact that the increase in the pump price of petroleum has short-changed the masses and any palliative measure that is being propounded you have to prove that it is there not just saying it.

“The result must reflect on the standard of living of the masses.”

Ebeniro, therefore, urged workers in the state to exhibit high standard of discipline and hard work, assuring them that their interests were being protected at all levels.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

49

LABOUR

Ogun adapts FoI Act T

HE Ogun State Attorney General, Mr Wemimo Ogunde (SAN) has said the state’s adaptation of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act will be made public before the end of this month.

Speaking at Mokland Hotel, Ota, venue of a workshop on Freedom of Information Act, organised by the Nigeria Press Council, he said the Act is nothing more than a good beginning, and Nigerians ought to encourage its implementation rather than see it as not perfect.

He, however, believes there is room for improvement in the Act before it can be described as perfect. That, according to him, is why he has ensured that his office requested the state House of Assembly to make a law that will establish an archive and records department. Ogunde said the FoI Act would be difficult to implement without a functional state archive and records department.

He said other states would emulate Ogun in its implementation of the Act. Personal Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media Matters, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, said how the media implements the FoI Act will determine how far it can hold the government accountable. He, however, said the workshop was commendable because “it tells what the FoI is all about and how to implement it.”

He believes the media profession should maintain a polished standard towards effective perfomance. This, according to him, includes good remuneration for journalists. He noted that some editors take any report from their organisation’s state correspondents and use without verifying how authentic the report is.

Adebiyi said some state correspondents hardly leave the state capital, and in the case of a state with about 40 local government councils, the correspondents are expected to

• From left: Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Mr Deji Elumoye, Garba and Atoyebi.

Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

go round to get stories, but since their organisations would not release for them, they stay at the state capital to cover 40 local government areas.

In his address, Mr Richard Ikiebe, Director, Centre for Journalism, School of Media & Communication, Pan African University, Lagos, said the media focuses more on government than the private sector. “We tend to overfocus on government, we can also focus on bankers and industrialists.”

He added that the chief executives of banks sacked by the Central Bank of Nigeria would not have gone so deep in malpractices had the media focussed on their activities, but

they (media) glorified them and splashed their photos on the covers of newspapers.

Ikiebe urged the media to put the FoI Act into good use because if used well, the Act will ensure good governance.

Earlier, Executive Secretary, NPC, Mr Mudashiru Bayo Atoyebi, said the objectives of the workshop was to sensitise the public, journalists as well as public institutions on the relevance and challenges of the FoI Act. Also to stimulate greater demand for public information under the FoI Act, and to provide suggestions for effective implementation of the Act for enhanced democratic governance and accountability.

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) President, Malam Mohammed Garba, said the

NUJ will continue to partner with other stakeholders towards effective implementation of the Act. One of the discussants, Mrs Funke Egbemode said until government officials learn to comply with the directives of the Act by giving necessary information on request to journalists, the FoI Act will be difficult to implement.

Another facilitator, Mr Edetaen Ojo, Director, Media Rights Agenda, said the FoI Act does not free the journalist from the duty to check and verify the facts of a story.

And that where journalists have obtained records or documents with the FoI Act, in all probability they still need to conduct some interviews.

Oshiomhole tasks commission on modern civil service

C

OMPETENCE, not length of service will henceforth be the yardstick for promotion in the Edo State civil service.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole made this known during the swearing-in of Dr Friday Eboreime, a former Rector of Auchi Polytechnic and Mr Matthew Esewe, a former SurveyorGeneral of the state, as members of the commission.

He said the civil service should always honour efficiency and not how long a civil servant has put into the service.

Oshiomhole charged the Edo State Civil Service Commission to re-invigorate the system and bring it in line with modern-day realities.He said competence rather than years of service should be the yardstick for determining those qualified for promotion.

“No one should be promoted just because he has been on a certain level for years; it is your lot to look at issues of promotion dispas-

M

R Michael Katbong, a pension manager in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, has advised civil servants to furnish their pension fund administrators with updated details of their service.

This, he said, would guarantee smooth pension retrieval.

Katbong, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) last Thursday in Abuja, said effective monitoring of pension procedures would curtail the trauma of pensioners.

“The new one is a good policy if things move the way they set it.

“The basic policy there is if the contributors will monitor the PFA and give them the acquired data that they need, especially if you have an increment in your salary, if you are promoted, try and meet your PFA and give them those information.

“They will be updating you regularly at

sionately.”

Oshiomhole said the appointment of Eboreime and Esewe was based purely on merit.

“In looking for men to head the commission, we felt your wealth of experience would add value to the state. Having passed through the system, you know what the challenges are.

“You should employ people not because they need jobs but because they are competent and will adequately fill a vacuum in the system.”

The governor noted that there were still vacant slots in the civil service which would be filled at the appropriate time.

Responding Eboreime thanked the governor for their appointments.

“With the development strides made by the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in the areas of infrastructure, roads, hospitals, schools, water, electricity and

others, we feel challenged to play our part in the ongoing radical transformation of the state.

“We are aware of the present developmental restraints in the state, such as the dwindling resources from the Federal Government, which may restrict the administration’s desire for mass employment and pose great challenges in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but we shall not allow this to deter us from doing our job.

“In support of the attractive plan for employment of youths by the state government; we intend to encourage entrepreneurial programmes that will motivate the youth for job creation and self-employment.

“On the whole, we promise to efficiently implement the state government’s policy on recruitment, promotion and discipline and others for civil servants in the employment of the state.”

• Governor Oshiomhole

Workers urged to update pension data the end of your exit, you have no problem but in some cases, you discover that the contributors did not care whether these PFAs exist, they didn’t go to them and check what the problem is.

“Some people may complain that for three months now I have not seen my data, what is my own contribution, the thing is either going up or going down.

“But I blame that thing on the civil servants because you need to know where they are, where they are located and go and formalise your documents with them. When those things are intact, it’s the best policy,” Katbong said.

He expressed concern over the difficulties civil servants are going through after service due to negligence, misinformation and

inadequate preparation.

He, therefore, advised civil servants to maintain a healthy lifestyle during and after service in order to live longer and enjoy their benefits.

“The lifestyle of a pensioner is you try to monitor the type of life you live, most cases in the civil service life, everybody thinks that unless you reach up before you start having a good life; no you plan it, even if N5 is your salary, if you plan it well, you live better.

“But the major problem with civil servants is that they don’t care.

“If you are at the point of entry, that is the point you have to plan, how long will I stay in the service and at the end what will I do.

“Once you have those things within you

as a civil servant, in fact your exit will not be a problem.

“But in most cases we don’t take cognisance of those things that we need to do when we are in the service. So if we plan our service very well, you will utilise it well.”

Katbong noted that lack of adequate planning often led workers to turn to corruption, a development, which he said could smear their images during service and thus lead to termination of their appointments.

He also urged them to utilise the various schemes of government to acquire loan for self-development purposes.

Katbong stated that with the health and housing schemes of government, no civil servant should complain about poor living standard or indulge in corrupt practices.

50

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

THE CEO To Mayowa Lawrence Afe, President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) holds the key to enhanced growth of the oil sector. In this interview with EMEKA UGWUANYI, he canvasses speedy passage of the bill by the National Assembly.

‘Passage of PIB will attract investors’ M

ULTINATIONAL oil firms are lementing the lack of investment in exploration and depletion of existing reserves. What is NAPE doing to bring the development under check?

The truth is that people discovered the oil we are producing today. To sustain oil and gas production for the future, we also must focus on exploration today and that is why we are appealing to the government to put the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in place. Last year, there was no investment directed towards Nigeria because there was so much uncertainty. There is no stable policy and legal framework for people to operate and because nobody knows where the government was going, people were skeptical. Nobody wants to put his money in an environment that is uncertain.

The PIB has been expected since 2008. That is why we are appealing to the government to do something quickly about it. We are hopeful that when the Petroleum Industry Law is in place, a lot of investors will be confident to come to Nigeria and exploration activities will be going on. The way things are now, it is dangerous for us and it is not good for us as a country. We are depleting our reserves and we need to add more reserves and we believe that if the PIB is fully in place, and every legal and statutory issue is cleared, every instruction is known, investors will have more confidence to put down their investment in our country but in the last two years, it has not been so.

What effort is NAPE making to remedy the situation?

At every opportunity that we have we let the government know that the delay is hurting business in Nigeria. Regardless of how we go out of the country to invite investors, it will not happen, because the necessary things are not in place. So, each time we invite the minister and other government officials, some who are members of NAPE, to our conference, we let them know the importance of investor-friendly policies and legal framework. The Director of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Austen Olorunsola and NAPE Presidentelect George Osahon have just been appointed members of the technical committee on PIB. So, we use these avenues to let the government know the importance of passing the PIB into law and generally creating an environment that is investment-friendly. Offshore operators, such as Shell and Total, are our members. At the recently held Offshore West Africa conference in Abuja, Chike Onyejekwe of SNEPCo spoke and Kingsley Ojoh spoke on behalf of

Total managing director, they are our members, and we made government know that lack of investment in exploration will hurt this country in future because every effort is on production. Every company now is producing what it has and not putting any investment in exploration. We let them know and even through this medium, I’m letting the government know that it needs to make conscious effort to encourage investment in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and particularly in exploration.

Operators say Nigerian graduates are not employable. What is NAPE doing to build and enhance capacity in this regard?

It is an irony to say Nigerian graduates are not employable.

From the statistics we have, everywhere we have Nigerian students abroad they are on top of their class. And we had an opportunity two years ago to take 10 of our students to the University of Indiana, United States, where they competed with other students from across the world. Some of the students were from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, young universities and not even the big ones that are old in the system. The university was embarrassed because 10 of our students beat their top 10. The same thing happened when Total took its new recruits including Nigerians to their office in Paris. Our Nigerian candidates came on top of everybody. So, when people say Nigerian graduates are not employable, it is the environment that is not good. Nigerian students are not exposed to the appropriate teaching and learning procedure. They are not taught what they are supposed to be taught and that is why our focus is on the university. Because of this concern, NAPE about 10 years ago, started a programme called University Assistant Programme (NAPE/UAP) where we encourage our corporate members to donate equipment to universities. And I want to put it on record that ExxonMobil, Shell and Total, have been doing so much in this area of university support, providing buses and teaching materials. For instance, five years ago, we said every com-

• Afe

pany that has experienced employees that have two years to go in the company, should please take them to the universities to go and teach and impart knowledge to the students in order not to waste the two years. Our corporate members would still be paying the salaries of those staff but

they will be teaching in the universities. We give them buses for field trips because universities can no longer afford to buy buses to go on such field trips. We buy brand new buses, equipment, manuals, among other things, for the universities. So we are supporting them in a huge way.

‘We believe that if the PIB is fully in place, and every legal and statutory issue is cleared, every instruction is known, investors will have more confidence to put down their investment in our country but in the last two years, it has not been so’

Again, the international conferences we hold, we created another student conference where the students can compete only among themselves. We spend several millions of naira in doing that. The next one will hold at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. We have done it at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, University of Calabar, and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). So, we are doing so much to assist the government because we know these are the people that will take over from us tomorrow. Besides, the future of the country will be in jeopardy if these ones are not properly trained to take over from us. We are already getting old and people are retiring. The young ones whether we like it or not • Continued on page 51

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

51

THE CEO •Continued from page 50

must come up to take over from us. So, we are doing so much to complement the effort of the government in enhancing the quality of education.

Is this capacity development limited to those studying petroleum engineering, geology and geosciences?

Yes. It is limited to them and we encourage other professional associations to do as much as we are doing in this area. For instance, if ICAN can help in accounting and NBA in law and other legal institutions, it will go round. Government cannot do everything. The government needs assistance in helping the universities to forge ahead.

How many universities have benefited from this programme?

Nearly all the 40 universities offering geosciences in Nigeria have benefited. In fact, we train their lecturers. We bring them to Lagos once a year and we rotate it. We have done it in Owerri and Calabar. We bring them and share updated knowledge that is going on in the oil and gas industry with them. In fact, I may address the Committee of Vice-Chancellors to let them know some of these things and I think I can take that lead to say please all the professional organisations should please help the universities to enhance the quality of education.

Nigeria has been investing huge money in Chad Basin without success. Some stakeholders say that government’s action is political. As a professional body with expertise in finding oil, do you support what government is doing?

One thing I should make clear is that even in the Niger Delta, there was a time prior to the discovery of Oloibiri field, some companies had been there and had given up hope in the Niger Delta, packed and went back to their countries. With improved technology, there is nothing that is impossible.

It is important that we satisfy all our curiosity. I believe it is not political. If scientifically there is no longer any possibility, we will know. But for now all available data must be studied. I don’t see anything wrong about that and I support it. But in Nigeria, we are suspicious of everything every government does. But scientifically at NAPE, we believe that we should exhaust every available research and come to a conclusion that based on this, we take a decision. Based on the available technology, early explorationists in the Niger Delta said there was no longer the possibility of discovery here but we went back there with new technology and we have gotten discoveries of heavy commercial crude. Let the government invest more and explore more and let us see what will come out of it. Let’s take politics out of it and drop the possibility scientifically. We support it, let’s conclude all the investigations and be able to scientifically say yes based on the result we have, there is possibility of not getting oil here.

Geologists are also proposing deeper play in some of the fields produced over the years and currently considered commercially unviable, what is your position on this?

We support that line of thought.

Are you saying more oil can be found through that application?

The oil business is probability but I can say yes, probably we can.

The oil industry is a volatile one considering what happened in the Gulf of Mexico last year, Bonga and Chevron in Nigeria.

What is NAPE doing to minimise the occurrence of incidents in the industry?

As an organisation we disseminate appropriate information. For example, when the one in Gulf of Mexico happened, appropriate information was disseminated here, what precautions could have been taken, and what lessons were learnt from there. It was shared among our members and they are all managers and technical personnel in most of the oil companies. A lot of lessons were learnt and the area I think we can be of utmost use to Nigeria is the dissemination of this appropriate information and we do that through our monthly technical meetings where we share information on issues and address some of these failures.

The industry is a risky one and a single blow up can cause a lot of lives and investment can go down the drain completely and that is why we share this information, take precaution and prevent some of these occurrences. For example, if it happens to Chevron and it keeps the information, Shell will not benefit from it but we share the information among our members. We have appropriate channels to disseminate this in-

‘Passage of PIB will attract investors’

• Afe

‘Lack of investment in exploration will hurt this country in future because every effort is on production. Every company now is producing what it has and not investing in exploration’

• Afe

formation and companies learn from other companies’ errors.

The industry said the year of cheap oil is gone and exploration is increasingly shifting to offshore and deep offshore prov-

inces, can you say we have the indigenous capacity and competence to meet the challenges?

I will not say whether we have the capacity or not but I can tell you that the technol-

ogy in the deep offshore is lacking for now though there are some Nigerian companies that are operating in the offshore. We have the human capacity but technology wise, we don’t have the technology. We are not the owner of the technology and cannot develop it in-country. Now, we are not there yet. In terms of human capacity, we have the capacity that is comparable to anywhere in the world.

The way forward?

If you look at the American government’s budget, they invest heavily in research and development and that is the greatest problem in Nigerian universities. In universities abroad, some of these software and technologies emanate from the universities because they have adequate conducive environment to be able to think well and come up with technology that can help the oil industry. But in Nigeria, it is the other way round, the industry sends the technology to the universities because the environment in the university is not conducive.

I went to a Nigerian university recently and the offices of the heads of departments of chemistry and physics and it was disappointing that there was no light and each office was using a generator, which was giving out different types of noise. In that kind of environment, every lecturer is disenchanted. With the academic union strike what the students are supposed to do in three months, they will end up doing in one month and still graduate. In that kind of environment you cannot develop skill that can match global standard and develop technology that can be used in deep plays.

We as a country have to invest in things that will help us in future. Presently, we are not getting it right and it is painful. The university must be properly funded. The way it is now, some people go to university for going sake. Some lecturers teach students with notes of 1940s, because they are not encouraged to go into more research.

What is your vision for NAPE? As you know NAPE’s idea is to find oil.

Every oil and gas Nigeria has produced for the past 50 years was with NAPE’s. I will project on our ideas to find oil but this year as the President of NAPE, we are going to build a Petroleum House in Lagos. We have acquired 20 plots of land around the Lekki area in Lagos for the construction of the Petroleum House. It will house our conference centre, offices and we will have accommodation for our conference attendees. That is the key focal part of my agenda for NAPE for this one year.

Our intention is to lay the foundation of the Petroleum House, and every other successive administration can build on that foundation. Second, globally everyone has gone digital and transactions and other communication processes are done online, so all our services this year, including payment of dues by our members and of submission of abstracts, among others will be done online. One does not have to come to our office to do so many things. The third, which is paramount to me, is that NAPE as an organisation disseminates information regarding the geosciences. We do training for oil and gas companies, so we will continue with this for mature people who work in oil and gas companies. We will facilitate training that will help us enhance the quality of Nigerians in the oil and gas sector.

Has the association started sourcing for fund for the Petroleum House?

We have 20 plots of land, which we have acquired very close to the Lagos Business School but our intention is to have a place within Victoria Island or very close to Victoria Island. We are in the process of achieving that now. We already have a plan for the land we have in Lekki but the Petroleum House will be in Lagos for the use of all stakeholders.

If the Petroleum House is accomplished, will NAPE stop holding its conferences outside Lagos?

Not really. But the key thing about the Petroleum House is that we have a place that can commercially sustain our organisation and give us financial independence. There is nothing wrong for us to have our conference in Abuja, Port Harcourt or any other place but whenever we are having it in Lagos, it should be there. The financial independence is important because the oil industry is getting tougher.

The companies that can afford to sponsor us about five years ago, because of the economic situation of the world, the sponsorship we used to get, is now going down, so we want an investment that is low risk and can continue to finance us in future.

52

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

53

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 3-2-12 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 1 5 24

Quotation(N) 0.78 24.25 8.50

Quantity Traded Value 1,896,468 5,000 8,000,000 9,901,468

of Shares (N) 1,452,815.68 115,200.00 67,989,920.00 69,557,935.68

Quotation(N) 2.07 7.87

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 7,500 16,125.00 1,709,378 13,366,478.00 1,716,878 13,382,603.00

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.15

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,435,500 1,717,750.00 457,976 534,314.75 3,893,476 2,252,064.75

Quotation(N) 5.52 2.67 4.19 1.56 10.51 14.65 7.20 3.50 0.84 2.00 8.65 0.50 0.55 12.40

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 16,266,621 91,014,219.65 2,458,770 6,670,160.30 1,511,089 6,137,314.90 15,009,868 23,469,714.13 26,186,971 272,944,002.16 7,871,170 113,958,652.98 391,471 2,813,629.69 10,878,231 37,937,872.15 918,698 809,129.78 224,909,713 449,784,832.85 11,771 96,757.62 1,688,200 844,100.00 1,925,953 1,030,522.44 6,879,174 84,124,053.57 316,907,700 1,091,634,962.22

Quotation(N) 4.03 220.00 5.58 94.01

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 100 383.00 804,500 177,027,277.80 7,488,086 43,819,506.48 3,984,940 374,849,536.64 12,277,626 595,696,703.92

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 116 117

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 22 25 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 111 50 27 92 619 347 24 92 23 212 7 10 29 205 1,848 BREWERIES

Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 62 30 129 222

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 27 17 18 17 79

Quotation(N) 10.50 4.90 115.96 45.17

Quantity Traded Value 281,431 312,453 684,357 88,755 1,366,996

of Shares (N) 2,957,088.17 1,503,550.41 79,282,355.23 4,024,105.52 87,767,099.33

Quotation(N) 9.30 14.50 1.02 0.50 4.86

Quantity Traded Value 7,525,518 193,191 6,000 1,826,000 1,000 9,551,709

of Shares (N) 63,617,236.74 2,808,676.46 6,070.00 913,000.00 4,620.00 67,349,603.20

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 13 16 2 4 1 36

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 1 7

Quotation(N) 2.37 3.45

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 213,039 505,402.43 875 2,870.00 213,914 508,272.43

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 2.94

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 366 1,024.80 366 1,024.80

Quotation(N) 1.39 5.60 28.51 0.54 29.50 29.85

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 923,390 1,216,013.74 284,746 1,594,577.60 1,063,031 30,312,917.69 9,548,666 5,155,992.54 3,947,307 116,895,871.35 2,760,407 82,376,635.53 18,527,547 237,552,008.45

Quotation(N) 29.11 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 286,507 8,493,050.50 1,950 975.00 288,457 8,494,025.50

Investors scramble for Nestle ahead of dividends

N

ESTLE Nigeria Plc chalked up the highest gain of N10 per share to lead the advancers at the stock market last week as increased demand put the food and beverages company in pole position to consolidate its ranking as the highest-priced equity on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The gain last week pushed Nestle Nigeria to N440 per share, some N5.66 below its 2012 high of N445.66. Nestle Nigeria had rallied to a high of N470 per share in 2011 and was one of the few stocks that made positive returns in the overtly bearish market.

The rally for Nestle Nigeria came on the heels of announcement by the board of directors of the food and beverage company that it would be meeting in two weeks to consider the firm’s audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2011. The meeting would also consider recommending the payment of final dividend to shareholders. This probably indicates possible dividend announcement this month.

Nestle Nigeria Plc had paid N1.19 billion, representing N1.50 per share, as interim dividends to shareholders after the third quarter results.

But with its 100 per cent payout policy through, which it distributes nearly all net earnings to shareholders as cash

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

dividends, shareholders could still expect to share some N11 billion as final dividends.

The interim cash payout had represented 13 per cent of the company’s net earnings of N9.14 billion by the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. Nestle Nigeria had grown sales by 23.8 per cent by third quarter to N70.90 billion as against N57.25 billion recorded in comparable period of 2010.

However, with significant increase in short-term borrowings and resultant interest expenses, profit before tax slipped marginally by 4.4 per cent to N12.70 billion compared with N13.28 billion.

Profit after tax was almost flat at N9.14 billion as against N9.11 billion in corresponding period of 2010.

As the highest-priced stock and one of the 10 most capitalised on the NSE, Nestle Nigeria’s performance holds significant influence on the overall market direction at the stock market.

However, with nearly two losers to a gainer, the overall market position closed on the negative last week as market indices slipped to lower levels. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities dropped to N6.580 trillion while the benchmark

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC JOHN HOLT PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 12 2 31 49 82 52 228 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 29 1 30

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 3-2-12

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 1 6

Quotation(N) 1.40 0.50

LEASING Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 159,500 223,240.00 700 336.00 160,200 223,576.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO 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 TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 68 43 65 40 26 21 72 2 2 347

Quotation(N) 46.00 9.14 4.90 4.80 61.00 3.15 3.98 440.00 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 5,546 244,301.30 1,279,174 11,777,728.02 2,602,998 12,896,545.01 3,765,829 18,517,411.82 147,752 8,932,359.50 3,132,057 9,586,351.78 1,249,265 4,844,095.00 116,295 52,305,317.84 10,500 5,250.00 46,500 23,250.00 12,355,916 119,132,610.27

Quotation(N) 5.05 0.67 0.79 22.70 2.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,076 5,164.80 3,644 2,332.16 191,120 152,364.80 134,170 3,019,120.50 193,048 577,168.44 523,058 3,756,150.70

Quotation(N) 1.42

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 251,000 356,420.00 251,000 356,420.00

HEALTHCARE Company Name EKOCORP PLC EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 2 9 10 16 38

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 3

No of Deals 9 9

No of Deals 52 52

Company Name DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

No of Deals 3 6 40 49 No of Deals 2 1 1 7 11

Quotation(N) 11.15 6.75 3.15

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,786,597 2,310,702.70 2,786,597 2,310,702.70

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 9,000 4,500.00 9,000 4,500.00

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name ASO SAVINGS AND LOAND PLC RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 60,000 30,000.00 5,000 2,500.00 65,000 32,500.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 1 3

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.12 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 50,000 25,000.00 800 856.00 12,501 6,250.50 63,301 32,106.50

Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 43 43

Quotation(N) 1.74

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,799,564 4,770,981.70 2,799,564 4,770,981.70

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,003 110,033.00 54,087 355,365.37 2,066,021 6,531,306.30 2,130,111 6,996,704.67

Quotation(N) 0.50 4.94 2.59 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,020 510.00 1,000 4,700.00 40,000 103,600.00 601,000 300,500.00 643,020 409,310.00

Quotation(N) 0.51 0.69 1.73 0.50 0.64 1.26 0.50 0.50 0.51 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.88 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 747,913 1,150,000 3,341,700 6,282 7,000,000 160,000 13,666 3,117,356 100,000 1,000,000 2,409,600 250 292,745 419,909 2,000 38,000 603,194 20,402,615

INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 19 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 16 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 38 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC 3 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 6 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 4 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 2 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 2 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 1 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 1 N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. 11 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 1 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. 6 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 2 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC 2 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 1 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 9 Sector Totals 124

Quotation(N) 0.82

PACKAGING

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC e-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC IHS NIGERIA PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 121,000 60,500.00 121,000 60,500.00

MEDIA

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 0.50

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

index, the All Share Index (ASI) also inched downward by 0.1 per cent to 20,877.64 points.

The negative overall market situation was fuelled by losses by oil and gas majors, cement stocks, breweries and several other small and mid-cap stocks.The NSE Insurance Index depreciated by 4.7 per cent to close at 119.78 points while the NSE Oil and Gas Index fell by 5.5 per cent to close at 212.75 points.

Meanwhile, the NSE 30 Index appreciated by 0.7 per cent to close at 942.24 points, reflecting gains by banks and consumer goods stocks. The NSE Consumer Goods Index had appreciated by 02 per cent to close at 1,676.71 points while the NSE Banking Index grew by 4.5 per cent to close at 283.45 points.

Nigerian Breweries Plc followed Nestle Nigeria on the gainers’ list with a gain of N1.93 to close at N120 per share while Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) added N1.23 to close at N7.87 per share.

On the downside, Guinness Nigeria Plc led the losers with a drop of N10 to close at N220 per share. MRS Oil Nigeria Plc followed with a loss of N7.98 to close at N48.07 per share while Dangote Cement lost N4.04 to close at N115.96 per share.

Total turnover stood at 1.613 billion shares worth N15.1 billion in 17,444 with banking subsector accounting for 948.21 million shares worth N4.3 billion through 9,312 deals. Insurance subsector occupied a distant second on the activity chart with a turnover of 250.311 million shares valued at N148.86 million in 607 deals.

of Shares (N) 381,348.35 793,500.00 5,932,353.40 3,141.00 4,450,000.00 201,600.00 6,833.00 1,558,678.00 51,000.00 500,000.00 1,215,000.00 125.00 255,905.80 209,954.50 1,000.00 19,000.00 301,597.00 15,881,036.05

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 12 18 7 15 19 307 11 389

Quotation(N) 48.07 28.00 2.70 12.18 133.00 17.10 190.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 160,189 7,700,285.23 26,918 716,018.80 26,200 69,928.50 24,675 285,736.50 53,328 7,075,932.25 6,655,840 110,736,296.99 6,656 1,201,461.50 6,953,806 127,785,659.77

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 4 5 11

Quotation(N) 2.09 2.95 3.09

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 1,990.00 44,625 137,891.25 132,000 410,550.00 177,625 550,431.25

Quotation(N) 12.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 34,612 421,550.64 34,612 421,550.64

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 7

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 30,404 15,780.08 30,404 15,780.08

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 35 35

Quotation(N) 10.47

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,235,585 12,892,694.28 1,235,585 12,892,694.28

3,754

425,388,551

2,469,829,517.89

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

Credit to private sector hits to N12tr, says CBN

B

ANKING system’s credit to the private sector has risen by 9.8 per cent to N12.2 tril-

lion.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) October Economic Report said the figure indicated an increase of 2.1 per cent compared with growth recorded in September and is projected to rise further going forward. It said the development reflected, wholly, the rise in the banks’ claims on the core private sector.

The apex bank also said that net foreign assets hit N6.7 billion in

Stories by Collins Nweze

October, in contrast to the decline of 4.4 per cent at the end of the preceding month. The development was attributed to the 0.7 and 1.3 increase in the CBN’s and banks’ holdings of foreign assets.

Also, the aggregate banking system credit to the domestic economy rose by 8.7 per cent to N10.8 trillion.

The development reflected, largely, the 9.8 per cent increase in claims on the core private sector.

The apex bank said banking system’s credit to the Federal Government, on month-on-month basis,

through the purchase of Asset Management Corporation (AMCON) Bonds significantly reduced the request for Standing Lending Facility (SLF) and Repurchase Transactions.

The suspension of the reserve averaging led to the re-emergence of the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF).

Provisional data indicated that the value of money market assets outstanding was N5.2 trillion, representing an increase of 0.4 per cent, compared with the increase of 2.4 per cent at the previous month.

The development was attributed to the 19.5 and 1.2 per cent rise in Bankers Acceptances and Commercial Paper, respectively.

fell by 19.2 per cent to negative N1 trillion, compared with the decline of 25.9 per cent at the end of the preceding month.

However, it said that Financial market indicators trended upward in all segments due to the tight monetary policy stance occasioned by the huge demand for foreign exchange. The apex bank’s policy action yielded the desired results as the demand for foreign exchange at the WDAS Spot window moderated, leading to the appreciation of the naira.

Also, the injection of funds

Card Schemes advocate rural banking

T

HE Card Schemes in the Nige rian payment system have reit erated the need to focus more on getting people in rural areas involved in banking services.

The two major card schemes in the country are Visa Incorporates and MasterCard.

The Country Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, VISA Incorporated, Ade Ashaye, said a lot of money in circulation is outside the banking system and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Cashless policy is simply targeted at encouraging people to make payments electronically rather than cash.

Financial inclusion is being widely pursued because there has always been problem on how to reach people that are far away from banks. This, he said will involve banks opening more branches and getting their customers into embracing mobile banking services.

The firm, he said is providing mobile banking through phone usage, to encourage more people get involved in banking services.

In an exclusive interview with The Nation, Ashaye, said by encouraging electronic payments, banks will have more money to lend to industries. “A

lot of cash is outside the banking system, a practice which will be reversed when more transactions are done electronically using cards,” he said.

He said VISA is also offering advisory services to the CBN and banks on how to ensure that the global best practices are achieved in the course of implementing the cash-less policy of the apex bank.

He said there is need to create awareness on how to make people understand how to use the electronic

banking products, adding that achieving financial inclusion will require the banks expanding their networks to remote areas to reach more people.

Ashaye said VISA has tried to improve banking technology in the country, adding that almost all the banks are members of Visa. He said that Nigeria has the right technology after many of the banks migrated to EMV, which is a more secured platform needed to prevent frauds.

Govt partners European bank to fund projects

T

HE National Planning Com mission is working closely with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to secure funding for Nigeria through the Africa- European Union Trust Fund to fund various projects that support economic growth for Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Hon Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, during a joint meeting, to put together draft proposals on two projects for possible funding from the Africa- EU Trust Fund, which his Commission is coordinating.

The meeting, which was held at the National Planning Office Complex, had two projects proposed for possible funding by the Africa – EU Trust Fund, The are the CalabarKano Gas pipeline and the Mambilla power projects under the Ministries of Petroleum Resources (NNPC) and Power respectively.

The Calabar- Kano Gas pipeline

Akpabio receives CBN award

T

HE Akwa Ibom State Gover nor, Chief Godswill Akpabio will tomorrow be awarded the Best State Government Award in recognition of the State’s giant strides in Infrastructural development and support for the Women Agro Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WAEPEP) in 2011.

In a release by the Central Bank of Nigeria, signed by Mr. Paul Eluahiwe, Director, Development Finance Department, the award will be conferred on Governor Akpabio on behalf of the State dur-

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

ing the 6th Annual Microfinance Conference and Entrepreneurships Awards of the apex bank.

The award will be presented by President Goodluck Jonathan on Governor Akpabio during the opening session of the conference at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.

The WAEPEP is an initiative of the state government in conjunction with the state ministry of agriculture, aimed at improving agricultural production of the state and boasting the state food production.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

project or the Trans- Nigeria Gas pipeline is the domestic segment of the proposed Trans- stream Gas pipeline for Gas supply from Nigeria to Europe . It was meant to diversify export route for marketing Nigerian natural gas and to also strengthen regional co-operation.

Representatives of the European Union led by Mr. Pere Philippe, those of the implementing agencies, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) officials led

by Engineer Farouk Sa’id and Mr. Gowalk Celestine; an Engineer working with the Mambilla power project attended the meeting and made presentations on the proposals.

Secretary to the National Planning Commission, Ntufam Fidel Ugbo, who presided over the meeting on behalf of the Minister of National Planning, said the two projects will add value to Nigeria.

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 3-2-12 SYMBOL OANDO BERGER AGLEVENT CUTIX GUARANTY NAHCO CCNN BAGCO DIAMONDBNK AIICO

O/PRICE 16.30 8.87 1.33 1.34 14.10 7.60 4.75 1.70 2.61 0.50

C/PRI CE 17.10 9.30 1.39 1.40 14.65 7.87 4.90 1.74 2.67 0.51

CHANGE 0.80 0.43 0.06 0.06 0.55 0.27 0.15 0.04 0.06 0.01

LOSER AS AT 3-2-12 SYMBOL CADBURY CHEVRON CUSTODYINS JOHNHOLT UPL VITAFOAM REDSTAREX INTBREW CAP IKEJAHOTEL

O/PRICE 9.62 50.59 1.82 5.89 3.25 3.31 2.49 5.86 15.22 1.49

C/PRICE 9.14 48.07 1.73 5.60 3.09 3.15 2.37 5.58 14.50 1.42

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 1.00 121.47 98.43 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,642.73 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,329.39 193.00

9.08 1.00 121.33 97.65 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,635.25 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,142.17 191.08

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

CHANGE 0.48 2.52 0.09 0.29 0.16 0.16 0.12 0.28 0.72 0.07

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

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

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

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

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

56

NEWS Tension in Anambra community

T

HERE is tension in Awka, Anambra State, over the N32million land compensation paid to four communities by Governor Peter Obi. It was gathered that the Obi-led administration paid the compensation on December 14, last year, to four villages in Awka.

Sources alleged that a cabal seized the funds and paid only N12million naira to the communities.

The beneficiaries are EziAwka, Umuokpu, AguluAwka and Amikwo.

It was gathered that after the compensation, the government returned 20 per cent of the land to Ezinano community, which the cabal did not disclose to the peo-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

ple.

The government returned 502 plots to the people, but the “cabal”102 plots were declared.

A youth leader and coordinator of Transform Nigeria Movement (TNM), Obi Ochije, said yesterday that the N32million must be accounted for He urged the youth not to take up arms as the best way to resolve the lingering crisis was to follow the due process.

Ochije said: “I have told them that violence was not the best option. But we are out to fight with our last blood in making sure that things are done in a proper way in Awka.”

Water for Abia community From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

T

HREE autonomous communities of Azuogwugwu, Avo and Mgboko-Oriaefula in Obingwa Local Government of Abia State have benefited from the poverty alleviation programme of Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA).

Pastor Maurice Oriaku, Associate Country Director of ADRA, an arm of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, told the Commissioner for Rural Development, Solomon Adaelu, during his visit to Umuahia that ADRA and the church were providing relief for distressed people.

Oriaku said the agency was committed to raising the spiritual and material standard of the down-trodden and was highly responsive in crises situations.

He said: “The Church emphasises the love of God and humanity and so we look at the plight of the less privileged and try to partner government to alleviate the sufferings of our people.”

Okorocha reassures Muslims

I

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has reassured Muslims of the government's protection.

He told them there will be no reprisal attack as a result of Boko Haram’s menace in the North.

The governor gave the assurance in Bauchi while on a peace tour of the North.

He condemned the threat messages being circulated that northerners should vacate the South and southerners from the North.

Okorocha said no one has the power to banish Nigerians from any part of the country.

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

He said the tour was aimed at reminding people on the need to live in peace and harmony with one another.

The governor urged religious and traditional leaders to preach peace and unity to their followers.

He urged government, security agencies and stakeholders to tackle the current insecurity bedevilling the nation with the same zeal and approach they confront HIV/AIDS. His Bauchi counterpart, Isa Yuguda, hailed the visit ,saying it was timely.

Activists fault Jonathan

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been accused by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) of undermining the rule of law and disrespecting the Electoral Act. The group faulted the statement made at a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally in Bayelsa State by the President and advised him to retrace his steps in the interest of the rule of law.

“We are amazed that Jonathan, who has sworn an oath of office and allegiance to the constitution, will publicly identify himself and his esteemed office with the willful violation of some sections of the constitution.

“Why then will he openly celebrate the political impunity and treachery committed by the PDP national hierarchy that has attempted to stifle and abridge the fundamental human right of Citizen Timipre Sylva?

“The President should stop subverting the rule of law by making politically inflammatory remarks, especially when the subject matter is validly before a competent court.”

•Some Igbo returnees from Kano State in Onitsha, Anambra State … at the weekend.

Obi redeems N14m pledge to widows

W

IDOWS and widower of the 12 slain Adazi-Nnukwu citizens in Anambra State yesterday received N1million each from Governor Peter Obi. Two other widows from Agulu and Azigbo, whose husbands were victims, also received N1million each.

The 14 victims were murdered by suspected Boko Haram group in Mubi, Adamawa State.

They were buried on Thursday.

Obi presented the cheques to them after a church service at St Andrew's Catholic Church, Adazi-Nnukwu where he counselled against people trying to make political gains out of the situation.

Obi, accompanied by his wife, Margaret and Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, said the Adamawa State Government also promised to pay compensation.

T

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has decried the wanton killing of Ndigbo in the North.

He described it as an act against God and humanity even as he called for the support of Ndigbo in managing the security situation in the country.

The President made the appeal while responding to a letter on the killing of Ndigbo by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, by the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Raph

P

He called on the people to remember the dead in their prayers and assist their families.

The governor thanked the people of Adazi-Nnukwu for remaining calm and counselled against revenge of any sort, saying vengeance is God’s.

One of the widows, Mrs Eugenia Okpala, thanked Obi for his gestures.

She said she had heard about how good and compassionate the governor was.

In his remarks, Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye said Obi was a special gift from God. He said: “His diplomacy is wonderful. I interacted with him throughout the period of agony for my town and

‘His diplomacy is wonderful. I interacted with him throughout the period of agony for my town and other towns in the state and I can tell you that we have a governor who is humane and godly’ other towns in the state and I can tell you that we have a governor who is humane and godly.

“He does not want it to be mentioned but I wish to go

From Okodili Ndidi, Onitsha

Uwechue.

The President wrote: "I wish to say that the Federal Government and all Nigerians found this situation unacceptable.

“We are united in the condemnation of wanton destruction that Boko Haram has perpetrated, especially in the North.

“I wish to assure you and every Nigerian that my administration will go to every length to secure the life and

property of every citizen wherever they may be.

“In this just and worthy cause, we call for unflinching support of all those, especially Ohaneze Ndigbo who believe in the unity of this country. “ I am pleased that Ohaneze Ndigbo has urged Igbo to remain where they are and go about their lawful business.”

Uwaechue, in a letter dated January 7, said: “Ohaneze Ndigbo has observed with concern the alarming dete-

rioration of security in the North, involving the wanton serial destruction of innocent lives, especially the Ndigbo.

“It is now clear that unpatriotic political and religious elements are bent on making our country ungovernable.

“Ohaneze Ndigbo is convinced that enough is enough and demand that the Federal Government arrests this dangerous development capable of destroying this nation.”

We’ve provided good roads, says Amaechi

R

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

had approved fund for clearing of the debris in the market, to start fencing immediately.

He said some palliative measures would also be put in place for the traders, pending the commencement of work at the market.

The council chairman apologised for the delay in reconstructing the burnt market, while giving assurance that conducive business environment would be ensured, when the market is fully completed.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

contrary to his wishes with apologies to him to tell the people of Adazi-Nnukwu and the world that he paid all the funeral expenses .

“He has today given them money and had already requested us to bring the names of the children of the deceased for their scholarship to start running immediately.”

The Senator representing Anambra Central, Chris Ngige, thanked Obi for his compassion , saying politics or no politics, whoever is doing good should be commended.

He said Obi was doing what he was elected to do and that if in Obi's shoes he, Ngige, would do the same.

Earlier, the President-General of Adazi-Nnukwu, Mr. Ben Enemouh said the governor remains the best since the state was created.

Boko Haram: Jonathan condemns killing of Igbo

Council to rebuild market HE Port Harcourt City Local Government of Rivers State is to rebuild the Marine Base Timber Market, gutted by fire last December.

The Chairman of the local government, Chimbiko Iche Akarolo, gave the assurance when the executive of Marine Base Timber Market Traders' Association visited him.

He said the modern market to be built would have adequate drainage system and fire fighting equipment, among others.

Akarolo said the council

•Ngige hails governor

•Amaechi

IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said his administration has constructed high quality roads.

Amaechi said his administration had spent funds to ensure that the roads in the state are durable.

Some of the completed roads in the Port Harcourt area include Elekahia/ Rumuomasi road, Ikwerre road, Oginigba/TransAmadi road, Rumuola road and Old Aba road.

“We have done well with roads. There is now

an improvement with the roads,” Amaechi said.

On Okporo Road, Amaechi said he had instructed the contractor handling the road project to expand and dualize the road.

“I was on Okporo road and I wasn’t satisfied with the width of the road, so I have asked the contractor to expand the road further and dualize it. It will cost us more money but we will expand the road. We want to do the roads in the State once and for all.”

Governor Amaechi further assured that the ongoing work on t Ada George road, a key artery road in Port Harcourt, would be completed before the rainy season.

On Rumuolumeni and Eliparanwo roads, Amaechi said the contract for those two roads would be awarded once the Due Process is completed.

He said the contract for Ogbogoro road has been awarded and work would soon commence on the road.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

57

NEWS 18-yr-old arrested for allegedly selling baby for N20, 000 From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

P

OLICE in Minna, Niger State, at the weekend arrested an 18-year-old girl, Blessing John, for allegedly selling her two-week-old baby-girl for N20, 000 to Mrs. Jude Chikodili, a 50-year-old widow.

Acting on a tip off, the police also arrested a 65-year-old woman, Mrs. Martha Obialor, who was accused of arranging the illegal sale of the baby.

The Nation learnt that the discussions on the alleged sale of the baby were perfected on January 20, less than 48 hours after Blessing was delivered of it at the General Hospital, Minna.

Blessing was alleged to have agreed to sell the baby following her poor financial condition and the refusal of Emmanuel Sunday, the father of the baby, to accept her paternity.

According to the police investigation, Mrs. Obialor facilitated the sale of the baby. It was alleged that she linked Blessing with Mrs. Chikodili.

It was learnt that the second suspect had engaged a Minnabased law firm (name withheld) to prepare an agreement that would legalise the act. With this document, Blessing gave up her right as the biological mother of the baby to Mrs. Chikodili.

Narrating her ordeal, Blessing said: “I met Sunday when I was working at Kateren Gwari mechanic village as an attendant in a restaurant. He wooed me and I accepted. He later impregnated me and when I told him, he quarrelled with me. Later, I did not see him again. Even when I was delivered of the baby at the General Hospital, Minna, on January 18, he did not show up.

“I gave my baby to Mrs. Chikodili to keep for me and she gave me N20, 000 for feeding and clothing because I did not have money to feed and take care of myself. I told her that as soon as I have money, I would pay her back and take my baby to my state, and she agreed.”

Blessing said Mrs. Chikodili then gave her a document to sign.

She said: “Madam brought a paper; I read the paper and signed it. I then told her that I would collect my baby after I might have paid the money she gave me.”

The Nation gathered that the police smelt rat when it was discovered that in the agreement, it was stated that Blessing lives in Suleja, whereas she has been living in Minna since 2009.

The document, which Blessing and Mrs. Chikodili signed, reads: “The disclaimer had a female child in the General Hospital, Minna and decided to do away with the child and that the claimant (Mrs. Chikodili) also gave the disclaimer a token of N20, 000.00 to enable her (Blessing) travel to her state.”

It added: “Both parties now desire that their oral agreement be reduced into writing to be legally binding and enforceable to avoid any controversy in future.”

Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, Mr. Richard A. Oguche (ASP), confirmed the incident and said the suspects would be taken to court tomorrow. He said the lawyer would also be prosecuted.

Eid-el-Maulud: Jonathan, governors, others urge peace

A

S Muslims all over the world commemorate the anniversary of the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that his administration will curb corruption and eliminate waste.

He said efforts would be geared towards redirecting national resources to identify priority areas such as public infrastructure, power supply, transportation, agricultural development and education.

The president’s pledge was contained in his Eid-elMaulud message to the nation.

He said Nigerians should reflect on the virtues and ideals which the prophet exemplified and taught.

He said: “The proper internalisation of these virtues and ideals will undoubtedly benefit our nation as we confront current security and developmental challenges.

“I sincerely believe that we will make faster progress towards the realisation of our shared vision of a strong, united and prosperous nation if our people imbibe the prophet’s lessons of peace, peaceful co-existence with others, tolerance, honesty, selflessness, sincerity, justice, equity and fairness to all.”

By Our Reporters The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, called on Nigerians to use the Eid-el-Maulud to rededicate themselves to the ideals of nationhood.

Ihedioha, in his message, urged Muslims to show love towards all citizens in the spirit of good neighbourliness.

Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi enjoined Nigerians to love one another in the spirit of the celebration.

The Governor also urged the Muslim Ummah to pray for the restoration of peace in the country.

He said it is important for Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, unity and tolerance which Islam preaches.

Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang told Muslims to use the Eid-elMaulud to reflect on their lives, using Prophet Muhammed’s standard.

Jang said : “Among the virtues of Muhammad are peace and love for one another; and all the major religions in the world propagate these virtues.”

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State urged Muslims to pray for peace and stability in the country.

He said peace is one of the major ingredients that

sustain development and democracy in any society.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) urged leaders to ensure that the insecurity in the country is reduced.

Its National Chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, advised those in authority to make sure that “we resolve to do it right and get it right. We urge those chosen to lead to do so with the fear of God and the conviction that they must serve with humility and the determination to check insecurity, provide jobs, improve power supply and above all, get Nigeria back on her feet as a leading nation.”

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji called on Muslims to live in peace to show that Islam is a religion of peace.

According to him, “as true Muslims, we must eschew chaos and promote peaceful coexistence with fellow Muslims and nonMuslims. Our conduct must radiate peace and love for fellow Nigerians at all times, irrespective of religion or ethnic background.”

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko said Nigerians should be tolerant and love one another as there are enough examples for mankind to learn from the life

•Jang

and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

He said tolerance and love for one another are essential components needed for the building of a peaceful and stable nation.

“With peace, tolerance and brotherly love, we can build a country of our dream,” Mimiko said, adding: “We should eschew all forms of vices as we continue our march towards unity, development and self-sustenance.”

Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi called on Muslims to see Eid-el-Maulud as a time to show love to their their neighbours irrespective of religion.

Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, said the season should be used to cultivate virtues that would promote unity and understanding.

58

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

59

NEWS

MEND threatens to bomb South African interest in Nigeria

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF AKOKO ANGLICAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL

•Claims responsibility for Bayelsa pipeline bombing

A

N Eni SpA oil pipeline ruptured and caught fire at the weekend.

Militant group Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the attack. It is their first alleged assault in months as its purported leader, Henry Okah, awaits trial on terrorism charges in South Africa.

MEND, in an email sent to reporters late Saturday night, also threatened to attack South African interests, as its alleged leader, Henry Okah, remains imprisoned there.

South African businesses “will pay a heavy price for the interference of (President) Jacob Zuma in the legitimate fight for justice in the Niger Delta by its people,” the statement said.

South African businesses, such as mobile giant MTN Group Ltd. and others operate in Nigeria. While other MEND threats have failed to materialize in the past, Saturday’s apparent attack could mean the militant group is willing to reopen its assaults.

The fire happened Saturday night near Brass River in Bayelsa State. Witnesses told a local environmental group

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

they heard the blast from their homes.

In its email, MEND said it “attacked and destroyed” the pipeline run by a Nigerian subsidiary of Eni. Officials of the Rome-based company declined to comment yesterday.

Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, Military Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman acknowledged “claims of a fire” on the pipeline but said soldiers could not independently verify it.

The attack, which took place at about 7.30pm on Saturday is a reminder that MEND is still around, noted Jomo Gbomo, who posted the online statement.

The JTF, in a statement, urged Niger Deltans to join security agencies to tract down those still masquerading as militants and described the MEND who claimed responsibility for the attack as fake.

“The JTF calls on the good people of the Niger Delta Region to rise up and join security agencies to defeat the evil that is rearing its head by giving timely and accurate information on these charlatans through the usual channels.

“However, the JTF warns

that there could be collateral damage, if individuals and communities decide to provide sanctuary to these enemies of the society,” the JTF statement by Lt.-Col. Antigha said.

The statement added: “Not too long ago, the Niger Delta Region was almost plunged into the abyss by agitation for the development of the region. The JTF observes further that the Federal Government reacted to this genuine aspiration by embarking on programmes that were aimed at addressing the human development and infrastructural deficits that existed. These programmes are ongoing and verifiable. Unfortunately, people who were never part of the agitation have emerged and want to claim amnesty and its benefits by force.

“It should be noted that it is not possible to run an inelastic amnesty programme. Consequently, the JTF advises Niger Deltans to be mindful of people who are out to swindle them by wrongfully appropriating the identity of the erstwhile leadership of MEND to scurry sympathy for their selfish and criminal interest.”

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from the old and new students of Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Ondo State (the Almer Mater of the governor), during the 50th anniversary celebration of the school in Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State and the opening of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ICT centre built by the governor...at the weekend

Nigerians in diaspora seek more role for Reps committee

•Mrs Dabiri-Erewa

E

FFORTS of the House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora have received a boost with a recommendation that the committee be integrated as an important component in Nigeria’s foreign policy.

The recommendation, made by Mr. Femi Odere, was based on the activities of the Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa-led Committee since it was created during the 6th Assembly.

“The way that the House Committee on Diaspora has been engaging Nigerians in Diaspora since its creation during the 6th National Assembly has not only boosted their hopes, but the Committee has also strengthened the confidence of Diasporic communities that a better Nigeria is possible if the right people are strategically placed”, Odere

said.

According to him, the committee has been outspoken on trafficking of Nigerians for prostitution in developed countries, execution of Nigerians in the Arab and Asian countries, and targeted killings of Nigerians in Cote d’Ivoire and Libya.

Odere urged the Federal Government to build on the gains of the visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Olugbenga Asiru to Mrs Dabiri-Erewa and members of her committee to integrate the committee to be part of foreign policy formulations and decisions.

In a statement, Odere sought more roles for the committte.

The statement reads: “The minister should go a step further by actively engaging the committee as an important component in the nation’s foreign policy.

“It makes perfect sense in a democracy that the Foreign Ministry engages the assistance of an institution such as the House Committee on the Diaspora for effective, goaloriented foreign policy decisions.

“A nation’s foreign policy is seen to be succeeding when it is crafted around the interests and advances the well-being of her nationals in their host

countries. The Committee on the Diaspora has earned not only the goodwill of Nigerians in Diaspora but also their trust in its relatively short period of its existence.

“The Nigerian government and its Foreign Affairs ministry should take advantage of this significant twin political capital, most especially because of the huge credibility gap that exists between the Nigerian people, at home and abroad, and their government.

“Establishing the Diaspora Commission should be of high priority in this 7th National Assembly as its creation is capable of fast-tracking growth in those critical sectors of the nation’s economy.”

Odere noted that with the right policy tools, the Diaspora Commission can be the “engine room” of specifically-targeted financial and knowledge-base investments of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

H e said: “The earlier this commission is brought on board the better it will be for the country. The Ministry of Trade and Investments of Mr. Olusegun Aganga can also have strategic partnership with the committee on how to channel the financial resources and know-how of Nigerians into job creating investments.

•The Onimoru of Imoru-Ijebu, Ogun State, Oba Munirudeen Adeposi (left), Aregbesola and the Principal, Akoko Anglical Grammar School, Mr Tunde Awe

•Olukare of Ikare, Oba Aka•Chairman, Akure chapter of the Old Boys Association, Mr diri Saliu Momoh speaking during Aregbesola’s visit Adewole Saba (left) and Mr Awe

Nigerians seeking health care in India warned

T

HE House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora has warned Nigerians seeking medical attention in India to stay off middlemen who parade themselves as facilitators.

In a statement at the weekend by its Chairperson, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the committee warned that the introduction of these middlemen as “so called health facilitators in both Nigeria and India has compounded

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

the plights of Nigerians.”

The statement reads: “The Nigerian Mission in India has in the past two years witnessed an upsurge in the number of Nigerians coming to India in search of medical care as they believe that medical care in India is comparatively cheaper and better.

“Recent experience by the

Nigerian Mission in India has shown that these middle men have become exploitative in their approach to delivery because of the great number of Nigerians seeking medicare in India.”

The mission said over 20 percent of every bill paid by the Nigerian patients goes to the middle men as commission and that they (middlemen) “also extort money from would-be travellers and make them pay double.”

•Ekiti State Governor’s wife and Founder, Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF), Mrs Bisi Fayemi presenting a cash gift to President of the state chapter of the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), Mrs. Nike Obatayo during the distribution of empowerment benefits to women groups in Ado-Ekiti Local Government by the EDF...at the weekend. With them is NCWS Secretary Mrs. Ebunoluwa Badmus

60

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

FOREIGN NEWS US Primary

Nevada Republicans favour Mitt Romney M ITT Romney has declared victory in Nevada’s Republican caucuses, cementing his frontrunner status in the race to be the party’s presidential candidate.

With just over 70% of the votes counted, he had secured 47.6% of the vote - well ahead of his nearest rival Newt Gingrich on 22.6%.

It is Mr Romney’s second victory in a week, following his success in Florida.

Mr Gingrich - a former house speaker - has vowed to fight on until the party’s convention in August.

“I’m not going to withdraw,” he said. “I’m actually pretty happy with where we are, and I think the contrast between Governor Romney and me is going to get wider and wider and clearer and clearer over the next few weeks.”

Earlier, Mr Gingrich said he expected Mr Romney to win in Nevada, partly due to the state’s high Mormon population. Mr Romney is a Mormon.

Mr Romney won Nevada in his previous bid to be the Re-

publican presidential candidate in 2008.

The former Massachusetts governor waited until only a fraction of the votes had been counted before declaring himself the run-away winner in Nevada, the BBC’s Alastair Leithead reports from Los Angeles.

With 70.4% of precincts reporting, Mr Romney had 47.6%, Mr Gingrich had 22.6%, Texas Representative Ron Paul had 18.6% and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum had 11.1%.

In his victory speech, Mr Romney made no comment on his fellow Republican rivals, instead turning his attention to US President Barack Obama.

“This president’s misguided policies made these tough times last longer,” he said.

“America needs a president who can fix the economy because he understands the economy, and I do, and I will.”

His win in Nevada follows a convincing victory in Flor-

ida last Tuesday, and gives him strong momentum going into next Tuesday’s contest for Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, our correspondent says.

Mr Romney scored a big win in New Hampshire, lost by a handful of votes to Mr Santorum in Iowa and suffered a significant loss to Mr Gingrich in South Carolina.

Mr Paul campaigned the hardest in Nevada and had hoped to win second place, but insisted he would continue in the race; Mr Santorum has now fallen even further behind since his win in Iowa.

Nevada has a population of 2.7m but only its 470,000 registered Republicans were eligible to vote in Saturday’s caucuses.

The votes are the latest stage in the state-by-state process of picking a Republican nominee to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama in November’s general election.

The Republican candidate will be formally selected by delegates at the party’s convention in Tampa, Florida, in August.

•Romney greets supporters following his Nevada caucus victory…. yesterday

Gingrich battles on after second defeat

N

EWT Gingrich scrambled on Sunday to keep his presidential bid alive after a heavy defeat in the Nevada caucus, vowing as a conservative to hound frontrunner Mitt Romney to the last.

But the exit polls in Nevada showed Gingrich’s support among the very conservative and among evangelicals bleeding away, as Republican voters of various shades latch on to Romney as the best prospect of beating Barack Obama.

Romney took 48% in Nevada, a more than twice Gingrich’s 23%. Ron Paul was not far behind with 18.5%, and Rick Santorum fourth with 11%.

Nevada establishes Romney as the clear favourite for the nomination, coming after his decisive win in Florida and taken with what is expected to be a run of wins in six other states scheduled to vote this month. He has now won three out of five opening contests.

Gingrich abandoned the usual post-results speech for a press conference during which he angrily accused Romney of running a ruthless and dishonest campaign, dismissing rumours he was about to quit. Gingrich said he would fight all the way to the nomination convention in Florida in August, arguing that his more conservative philosophy would ultimately appeal over Romney’s “moderate” policies.

Elaborating on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Gingrich said Romney’s record on abortion, gun control and taxes would disqualify him in the minds of conservatives.

“My goal over the next few weeks is to draw a very sharp distinction between Romney’s positions, which the Wall Street Journal described as timid and, in terms of tax policies, as being like Obama.”

“The challenge is to say: do you really want

to go in to a fall election with a moderate candidate? The last two times we nominated a moderate – 1996 and 2008 – we lost badly. A conservative candidate can offer a much greater contrast with President [Barack] Obama.”

Gingrich acknowledged that the coming votes would be difficult, but said that his goal is to keep the campaign alive until Super Tuesday on 6 March when several conservative states are among 10 having contests, and he is “in much more favourable territory”.

“We want to get to Georgia, to Alabama, to Tennessee, to Texas. We believe by the time Texas is over [in April], we’ll be very, very competitive in delegate count. The key from my standpoint is to make this a big choice campaign,” he said.

But Gingrich faces a struggle to reestablish himself as a credible candidate. Exit polls showed support falling away among conservatives, evangelicals and Tea Party supporters who delivered him victory in South Carolina and Florida; in Nevada they swung heavily towards Romney.

However, the polls also showed little enthusiasm for Romney. Four out of 10 Republican voters in Nevada said they were principally focused on getting Obama out of the White House, suggesting many are prepared to compromise some ideological beliefs to back the man they best believe can do that. Romney is also more trusted on the economy.

In Nevada, Gingrich painted himself as the anti-establishment candidate, taking on not just Washington but the leadership of his own party.

“I was surprised by the degree to which the establishment has closed ranks and made quite clear that they’re desperate over the prospect of a Gingrich presidency,” he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

61

FOREIGN NEWS ‘Libya’s Saif Gaddafi could be tried within weeks’

S

AIF al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of Libya’s deposed leader Moammar Gadhafi, could go on trial “within weeks or months,” the country’s interior minister said yesterday.

The investigations into the death of Moammar Gadhafi after his capture last year could also be completed soon, Fawzy Abdilal said.

Saif al-Islam’s case will be handed to the courts as soon as the prosecutor general completes his investigations, Abdilal told CNN in an exclusive interview.

Separately, military trials of those who “committed criminal acts under the Gadhafi regime” began Sunday in the city of Benghazi, National Transitional Council member Mohammed El Sayah said.

He did not name those who were being tried, but said “even civilians who had guns and fought under the Gadhafi regime” would be tried before military courts.

Trials elsewhere in the country will start later, he said. Benghazi was the center of resistance to the Gadhafi regime last year.

Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, once his father’s heir apparent, was captured in November and has been held in the Libyan city of Zintan since then.

When Saif al-Islam Gadhafi was captured Human Rights Watch said after visiting Saif al-Islam in custody last year that he should have a lawyer, but Abdilal implied he had not asked for one.

Thousands stranded in Australian floods

A

UTHORITIES were using military helicopters and a C-130 cargo

plane yesterday to evacuate thousands of residents stranded by rising floodwaters in the eastern Australian state of Queensland, the government said.

Heavy rains in recent weeks have swollen rivers beyond their banks, threatening a number of communities in Queensland and New South Wales.

Authorities were using the plane and helicopters to evacuate patients from a hospital in particularly hard-hit Queensland town of St. George, where officials were warning about 4,000 residents to get out of the path of what officials say will be a record-breaking flood.

“This is a very serious situation and I urge people to cooperate,’’ Queensland Premier Anna Bligh told CNN affiliate Nine Network.

The Balonne River is expected to crest Monday at 15 meters (49.2 feet), swamping the town of St. George.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said authorities were coordinating calls for assistance. “”Emergency Management Australia has liaison officers in flood-affected regions to ensure that requests for any further assistance can be actioned immediately,” Gillard said in a statement.

Residents flee Mali amid Tuareg rebellion

M

ORE than 15,000 people including Malian military personnel have fled to neighbouring countries since members of the Tuareg ethnic group launched a rebellion against the government last month, aid officials say.

Some civilians are fleeing violent areas, while others fear there could be revenge attacks against those believed to be Tuareg. At least one Tuareg family’s home has been attacked near the capital, Bamako.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says 10,000 people have crossed into Niger after fighting in towns across the border, and the humanitarian group is preparing to provide food and shelter. “Some of these people have been taken in by villagers, but the local capacity was very quickly overwhelmed,” said Juerg Eglin, head of ICRC

A group calling itself the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad (MNLA) was formed in October and seeks selfdetermination of the north of Mali. The government has accused the group of joining forces with al-Qaida’s North Africa branch, which is active in the region. The MNLA denies the accusation.

Among those fleeing to Niger were military personnel and their families, said Franck Kudzo Kuwonu of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the capital, Niamey.

Although there is no evidence that those with northern features are being systematically targeted in Mali on a wide-scale basis, there is a tangible sense of panic among Tuareg and those who feel they might be mistaken for Tuareg. Even people from countries such as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have been leaving Mali on

delegation for Niger and Mali.

Another 5,000 people have fled to Mauritania, according to an official who works at an international humanitarian organisation based in Mauritania’s capital. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorised to provide figures to the media.

The Tuaregs, a nomadic people dispersed across the Sahara desert, have risen up against the central government in Mali several times since the country’s independence from France in 1960.

The latest rebellion, launched in January, broke years of relative peace, and is being fuelled by the return of Tuaregs from Libya who had fought in Muammar Gaddafi’s army.

In the past two weeks, the Tuareg group has attacked six towns over more than 500 miles across Mali’s vast north.

such fears.

On Wednesday, Mali’s president addressed the nation and urged people not blame Tuareg and others with northern features for the acts of just a few rebels. “Those who attacked certain military bases and towns in the north should not be confused with our Tuareg, Arab, Fulani and Songhai compatriots who live with us,” Amadou Toumani Touré said in a speech carried on state television.

The president’s message did not stop the protests in the capital and other southern towns such as Segou and Sikasso on Thursday and Friday, and many in the south fear what might happen to them. “When you see so many people leaving, I wonder whether I’ve made the right decision to say,” said one Arab man who has lived in Bamako for many years and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Morocco king pardons jailed Islamist leaders MOROCCO’S King Mohammed issued pardons to several leading Islamists who rights groups say were unfairly jailed, signalling a less hard-line approach after moderate Islamists came to power in an election last year.

Royal pardons are customary each year to coincide with the Muslim holiday of Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad which fell this weekend, but it is unusual for the monarch to pardon such high-profile detainees.

The prisoners covered by the pardon included leading figures in an Islamist group called Salafia Jihadia. Morocco’s authorities say the group helped orchestrate a coordinated wave of suicide bombings in the commercial capital, Casablanca, in 2003 which killed 45 people.

But local and international human rights groups say after those attacks, Moroccan authorities jailed hundreds of Islamists on fabricated charges, sometimes torturing them to extract forced confessions.

Senegal opposition holds fresh rally

•Palestinians protesting against Syrian government...yesterday

Leaders vow to intensify pressure on Syria

A

RAB and Western leaders have pledged to continue attempts to end the violence in Syria, amid anger at China and Russia’s move to block a United Nations resolution on the crisis.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague agreed the two countries had “blood on their hands” and that their veto had emboldened President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The vote came a day after Syrian security forces bombarded the city of Homs - and are thought to have killed around 350 people in the worst night of bloodshed of the 11month uprising.

The Arab League should pursue their plan, they should intensify their own pressure on the Assad regime to stop the killing and allow a peaceful political transition.

Mr Hague told Sky News’

Murnaghan show that while military action was not being contemplated, a decision had not been made about whether diplomatic ties with Damascus would be cut.

He backed Arab League plans to press ahead with efforts to secure a peaceful political transition.

“This is a doomed regime as well as a murdering regime,” he said.

“There is no way it can get its credibility back, internationally or with its own people. It’s when you realise that you see what a mistake Russia is making by backing this regime to the very end.

“The main way forward now is for the Arab League to pursue their plan in any case,” he said.

“They do not need the permission of the United Nations, although it would have been good to have a clear mandate.

“They should pursue their plan, they should intensify their own pressure on the Assad regime to stop the killing and allow a peaceful political transition.

“Arab League foreign ministers are meeting in a few days’ time. We will be having discussions with some of them and will encourage them very much to intensify their own pressure.”

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show that Russia and China were “effectively giving the green light for a pretty bad regime to murder people”.

He added that the UN should spearhead moves to resolve the crisis through diplomatic means.

Colonel Riad al Asaad, commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army, said the failure of the UN Security Council

resolution meant “there is no other road” except military action by his fighters to topple President Assad.

He described the veto as a “strike against the Syrian people,” not just the opposition.

But the Arab League’s secretary-general Nabil Elaraby said in a statement that the veto “does not negate that there is clear international support for the resolutions of the Arab League”.

Meanwhile, video reportedly shot on Sunday in Homs appeared to show evidence that residential areas were being shelled, although Sky News has no way of verifying the footage.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit Syria on tomorrow, when his ministry said he would push for speedy democratic reforms.

Mubarak may be moved to prison hospital

E

GYPT’s interior minister has ordered Cairo’s Tora prison hospital to make preparations to receive former President Hosni Mubarak, who has till now been held in a military hospital while he has been standing trial, Al Jazeera television said yes-

terday.

Al Jazeera did not cite a source for the report that was carried in brief headline.

The move, if confirmed, would be a concession to protesters who have complained that Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for 30 years, has been given special treat-

ment by the military council, which took over when he was pushed out in February last year.

The army had no immediate comment on the report and officials at the Interior Ministry could not immediately be reached.

HUNDREDS of Senegalese protestors opposed to President Abdoulaye Wade’s bid for a third term gathered in Dakar yesterday, hoping to energise their protest movement on the first day of the election campaign.

The opposition protestors poured in to the capital’s Obelisk Square, the epicentre of the months-old protest movement against Wade, as anti-riot police looked on.

“The goal is to be united for the start of the electoral campaign,” Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, a leader with the June 23 Movement (M23) that called the rally, told AFP. “This is not your typical campaign... We are going to ramp up the struggle for the withdrawal of Wade’s candidacy,” he said.

Zimbabwe shuts out poll observers FOREIGN Affairs official Jonathan Wutawunashe told a United States embassy official that Zimbabwe only accepted invited election observers, so observers should not foist themselves onto the electoral process.

He was responding to queries from the embassy official on why a team from the United States’ International Foundation for Election Systems had been expelled.

The team had not notified the government of its visit.

Wutawunashe said there was a certain psychology and paranoia prevailing in the government that there was a connection between conferences in foreign capitals calling for President Robert Mugabe’s departure and the pressure from groups wanting to monitor elections.

62

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

63

SPORT EXTRA AFICAN CUP OF NATIONS

Ghana, Mali pick semi tickets G HANA advanced to the African Cup of Nations semi-finals by beating Tunisia 2-1 on Sunday following goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi’s dreadful mistake in extra time.

Ghana will now face Zambia.

Mathlouthi dropped a seemingly harmless cross to allow Andre Ayew to poke home the winner in the 101st minute and see Ghana through a tense quarterfinal and into a last-four meeting with Zambia.

Recalled Ghana captain John Mensah headed his team in front in the 10th minute at Stade de Franceville, but Saber Khalifa put Tunisia level in the 42nd with a header after a cross by Zouhaier Dhaouadi.

Tunisia defender Aymen Abdennour was sent off late on for an elbow on Ayew in a badtempered finish.

While host Gabon suffered penalty shoot-out heartbreak as Mali prevented it from reaching a first African Cup of Nations semi-final in Libreville.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed the only penalty of the shoot-out and the Gabon striker broke down in tears after Mali's Barcelona playmaker Seydou Keita netted the winning spotkick to seal a 5-4 shootout success.

It was cruel on Gabon which

had been on the verge of progressing thanks to Eric Mouloungui's 55th-minute opener only for Cheick Diabate to equalise with six minutes left in normal time.

Mali had Modibo Maiga sent off moments later but Gabon failed to make its one-man advantage count in extra-time before crashing out in the shoot-out.

Gabon had the best of a goalless first half with Aubameyang, who had scored in each of the group stage games, hitting a post from 12 yards after 29 minutes.

The hosts did deservedly go ahead on 55 minutes when Aubameyang cut a pass back for Mouloungui, who forced his shot in despite Keita's desperate effort to clear off the line.

That looked enough to secure the host an historic success until Maiga teed up Diabate to score with six minutes remaining.

The match took another turn a minute later when Maiga was given his marching orders for a second caution.

Gabon failed to capitalise on his absence in extra-time and was lucky even to reach the shoot-out as Diabate missed a header from six yards after he was picked out by Adama Tamboura's free-kick.

Ivory Coast will play Mali in the other semi-final.

2012 AFRICA NATIONS CUP MISS

Hold me responsible—Siasia

E

RSTWHILE Super Eagles’ Coach, Samson Siasia has reluctantly admitted that he should be held responsible for the inability of the country to fly its flag at the ongoing 2012 Africa Nations Cup holding in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea respectively.

Speaking on Sunday at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos venue of the MTN Football hub, Siasia also blamed some members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their excessive control on him.

The Bayelsa State born-coach claimed some NFF officials took it upon themselves to vet his team list while his non tolerance of some indiscipline players in the Eagles team contributed to team failure to participate in the 2012 Africa Nations Cup. Siasia said: “Some will say I am stubborn but I had to be very careful after I had sanctioned Osaze on indiscipline. Mikel came up with the story that his brother had a problem with visa. Enyeama had been suspended before the match. So many things contributed to our ouster from the Africa Nations Cup.” Recounting further the circumstances that led to Nigeria’s failure to berth a place at the ongoing AFCON, Sia one as he is fondly called

RESUL TS RESULT AFCON Gabon 1-1 (Pen.5-4) Ghana 1-1 Premier League Newcastle 2 - 1 Chelsea 3-3 Italy - Serie A Genoa 3-2 AC Milan 0 - 0 AS Roma 4 - 0 Chievo 1-2 Fiorentina 3 - 2 Juventus 0 - 0 Lecce 0-0 Novara 0-0 Palermo 2 - 1

Mali * Tunisia Aston.V Man U. Lazio Napoli Inter Parma Udinese Siena Bologna Cagliari Atalanta

By Stella Bamawo said the responsibility of monitoring the other matches in the group was not his: “It was also not my job to know the position of other countries.

I was giving a wrong analysis on how we would qualify.

There was a lost of communication. It is not my job to know what others were playing at that particular time.

I wouldn’t have allowed my boys to play an open game immediately we were a goal ahead of the Guineans. There wouldn’t have been any room for a draw if I knew we had qualified on the 2-1 score line.”

• Ghana's Emmanuel Badu, right, is challenged by Tunisia's Jamel Saihi, left, during their African Cup of Nations Group D soccer match at the Stade de Franceville

EPL STAR MATCH

Man United holds Chelsea to 3-3 draw

M

ANCHESTER UNITED produced quite an incredible comeback from three goals down to draw 3-3 at Chelsea on Sunday.

United arrived at Stamford Bridge attempting to close the gap once more to neighbouring rivals and league leaders Manchester City, but they were ambushed by a threegoal Chelsea salvo in a 14minute period either side of half-time. A Jonny Evans own goal was compounded by a Juan Mata cracker and a David Luiz header, at which point the Red Devils looked completely buried.

However, two penalty awards from referee Howard Webb allowed Wayne Rooney to reduce the deficit to 3-2 with 20 minutes still to

play, and then substitute Javier Hernandez rescued a point with a header six minutes from time.

Chelsea had thrown January signing Gary Cahill in at the deep end on his Blues debut, deputising for John Terry at the heart of the defence, and he was handed the job of silencing Rooney - back for United. The visitors made six changes in total, with Ashley Young also returning from injury while the much maligned David De Gea started in goal.

PUBLIC NOTICE AHAMEFULA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss JOY OLUFUMILAYO AHAMEFULA, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. JOY O L U F U M I L A Y O ODIGBOEGWU. All former documents remain valid.

Fashola to launch Adopt-A-Talent Sports Program Tuesday

T

HE stage is now set for the official launch of the Adopt-A-Talent Sports

Program by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) billed for the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos tomorrow.

The governor, had in November, 2009 granted the approval for the commencement of the programme designed to source for young athletes under the age of 18 years that are exceptional for sponsorships, both in academics and sports training to be developed into elite athletes in the shortest possible time without any restrictions.

Speaking to Journalists in Lagos at the weekend, with sponsors and parents present at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, initiator of the programme, Prince Wale Oladunjoye, who is also the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to the Governor, said that the Adopt-A-Talent Sports Program has experienced different levels of transformation since inception.

He said further that the first

By Innocent Amomoh phase has produced about 105 athletes, who are currently in camp undergoing rigorous training in Athletics, Soccer/ Beach Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball/Beach Volleyball, Boxing and Table Tennis.

"These athletes will be unveiled during the launching by Governor Fashola, who has graciously approved additional four sportsGymnastics, Swimming, Judo and Karate- for the second phase of the programme," he said.

The state's Commissioner of Sports, Barrister Enitan Oshodi, in his view, enjoined the lucky athletes to see the programme as a chance to build on their Godgiven talents with the rare opportunity given by Lagos State Government, the first of its kind in Nigeria.

"The governor has directed that the athletes' welfare and education should be focused of the handlers of this programme.

The athletes would have the opportunity of developing their talents under the watchful eyes of tested and experience coaches," he said.

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

www.thenationonlineng.net

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7, NO. 2028

‘A smart Jonathan would seize his seeming advantage over Boko Haram and its backers to set in motion processes that could re-negotiate and re-federalise Nigeria’ OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

I

WAS on my way from church and the issue of salvation danced around my lips. This was not a Pauline moment from Damascus. I was not contemplating the salvation of God. Neither was I in rebellion like Satan in John Milton’s Paradise Lost. Although I must confess that ethereal salvation played tangentially on my impish mind.

The salvation of God from the Christian perspective was less difficult a proposition than the more earthly challenge of saving the country. If Christ and the church provided the gateway to the kingdom, it was difficult for me to develop any slingshot to put away the devil on the cross, which was Nigeria.

My mind crawled to the last strike and how many saw revolution. I did not. Nigerians, in their naivety, thought the labour leaders would swim the country into the crimson tide of change. They were disappointed. The labour leaders are not revolutionaries, they learned later. They are an adjunct of the political class, ready to bargain away the sovereignty of the people’s trust.

They could not fight. The labour leaders did not suffer the deprivation of the poor.

They are leaders but they do not lead except for their parochial gains. They are reformists of self-interest. It was clear from the rhetoric of the National Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) top hierarchy that they were there for bargain, not change.

They restricted their grouse to oil subsidy, and in no way did they extend the power of their agitation to the larger agonies of failed infrastructure, hunger, corruption, lack of visionary policies, the structure of state and decay in education, the funeral air of hospitals, the occlusion of the future. When they did, it was perfunctory. It was seen as a matter of bargain, win some and lose some, while the entire country is not winsome. The people were ahead of their leaders.

When the fire of resistance was going fiery and the ordinary man was in full gear for the long haul, the labour leaders caved in.

They added another chapter of anticlimax to the history of struggles in Nigeria.

Labour agitation has always played the loyal opposition in our history. The only time labour was serious was when the resolution of the national cry was not left entirely in its hands. That was during the June 12 struggles. One section of the civil society had no power to frustrate the grace of the people. The labour leaders are coarse cretins and leeches of opportunity. They are out of sync with the cathedral dignity of human restoration in the face of a suffocating tyranny.

So if labour cannot save us, can the politicians? At best, the set of people most

RIPPLES

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009& 2010 (D.A.M.E)

No salvation on the horizon

•NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar

equipped for this task are what Antonio Gramsci called the political society. They are the elected people. They feel the pulse and hear the cries in the marketplace. They eat with the common folk in false humility. They play with them with deceptive bonhomie.

But they seek their support with guile and desperation. Once they get it, they act like the labour leaders, only worse. They descend on public patrimony and give tokens in terms of performance. They have the temerity to come again and seek the votes. The people come out and vote, they rig them, and often it is not the people’s choices that emerge.

That is why over a decade after the return to democracy, our universities are in the bottom ladder in the world, our people cannot live above a dollar a day, most roads are the way they were before the colonials came. We

HARDBALL

NIGERIANS’LL ASK JONATHAN TO CONTINUE AFTER 2015–PDP Chieftain

L

Yes... the SYCOPHANTS, PRAISE SINGERS and BOOTLICKERS

see a few flashes of development, but the overwhelming report is despair. The politicians cannot save us, and they have the greatest tool.

Hmm! So, if the politicians cannot save us, can the courts? Nay. Since the beginning of this dispensation, the courts have played the role of spoiler. Stories of bribe after bribes provide grist for novelists and playwrights. The courts hold on to technicalities and leave the substance of the matter, and when they get to the substance, they skirt it and look for a legal authority or two to justify a confounding verdict.

The last one was on tenure elongation, where the Supreme Court gave a verdict that left the society confused. In Kogi State, we have a stalemate. The excuse is that a court cannot give a consequential order because it was not sought. If the court where matters are supposed to be resolved leave the society in a tizzy, there must be something fundamentally obtuse about that institution.

The courts have not been adapted to the Nigerian politics and society. We keep relying on theories of foreign experts without adapting them to our peculiar woes and strengths.

The American Judiciary introduced what is now known as judicial review, which allows the judge to overturn a law passed by congress that contradicts the constitution. This is because the society understands that the law, like society, is a living and growing organism.

Nigeria has values and its politics lives on peculiar turbulence. The law has to take cognisance of our topsy-turvy and our justices must take off their colonial wigs and look straight to the streets, hear our accents, smell our odours, touch our textures and give verdicts that contain our foibles.

We are in an intellectually sterile place, and if debates thrive here, we should have come up with a sort of judicial practice that anticipates and obviates the Kogi situation. Our

ATE last year, this column warned of the possibility of civil war in Syria if the world did not prevail on Bashar alAssad to bow to popular pressure to democratise. The Arab Spring phenomenon was then at its height, sweeping through Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and even Bahrain. Apart from misreading the revolt mounting against his autocracy, Assad authorised a brutal crackdown on protesters campaigning for his abdication, and proceeded to supervise what many now describe as massacre of unarmed citizens and crimes against humanity. Even if he steps down today, the state-sanctioned murder of about 5,000 Syrians since the uprising began in January 2011 is certain to drag al-Assad before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

With Saturday’s failure of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to pass a watered-down resolution on Syria, there are fears the country might have passed the point of no return. Civil war, which may take sectarian shape, if care is not exercised, now seems inevitable. The original UN draft resolution is essentially the Arab League plan calling on Assad to cede power to his deputy. The deputy was expected to form a government of national unity, which would lead Syria to demo-

Too late to avert civil war in Syria cratic elections. Russia and China, either reflecting on the dynamics of their own internal politics or for fear that the Western nations-backed peace plan could lead to a reduction in the influence wielded by the two Security Council members, shot the plan down. They have been told to be prepared to bear responsibility for further bloodshed in Syria.

While the UNSC was preparing to vote on the draft resolution, al-Assad sent his forces into the restive city of Homs in central Syria. Some 200 people were estimated killed between Friday night and the wee hours of Saturday. It was the bloodiest few hours since the uprising began. In consequence, Syrian embassies are being vandalised in some Arab countries, while Tunisia had long expelled the Syrian ambassador. The Homs massacre is likened to the Hama massacre ordered by the current president’s father, Hafez al-Assad, who in 1982 ordered his troops into Hama to massacre over 10,000 people for revolting against his rule. If the senior Assad got away with massacre, it was because

politicians, ever fishing for turmoil, took advantage. Now, Echocho and Wada await the Supreme Court for answers.

Lawmakers? I don’t think so. They have not come up with any laws or any sense of personal example to help us. The lawmakers are like the courts. They stick to laws and not to conscience. The verdict about former Speaker Dimeji Bankole is a case in point. His act of signing off billions for the welfare of his fellow lawmakers was seen as legally watertight. It was, however, seen as a moral offence. The law does not punish morality. It only punishes illegality. Remember Thoreau? He said the law does not make one a whit more just.

That is the problem with our political class, labour, judges, lawmakers. They act without much sense of morality, so long as they are cleared of any wrongdoing. That is why the EFCC has become a clearing house for politicians who festoon their pockets, rather than an agency for justice.

Conscience, wrote Charles Dickens in The Great Expectation, is a dangerous thing if it accuses man or boy. But does it accuse our politicians or elite in general? In his powerful novel about Afghanistan, Khaled Hosseini focuses on an errant elite. One of the characters in the book, titled: The Kite Runner, says men without conscience do not suffer. That is the point with our elite.

The conscience does not accuse them, so they feel no guilt. Their conscience, as Paul says in the Bible, is seared with a hot iron.

The other institution is religion, or church and mosque. They have failed us mightily.

At no time in our history have we been so pious as a people, and at no time have we poked fun at God as we do today. We poke fun by the impunity with which we deny the tenets of faith. What makes the irony so potent is that this is the age of the law in Nigeria, where we always seek the face of the court.

But we have law without conscience, and we seek God without righteousness. So the church and the mosque have failed us. Yet, we have more churches and mosques today, and two extremes of worship with the Pentecostalism in the South and Boko Haram in the North, none of which has any effect except a soporific disdain for the basic principles of democratic values and progress.

The basic unit of a society is the family.

Even today, the family has failed. Parents continually fail their wards. Hence, we have the great army of wayward youths today.

Boys excel in violence and girls wallow in harlotry. Why will the family not fail when it cannot get education in the neighbourhood, or get a cure at the general hospital or get a job after school?

So, who will save us? We need to contemplate this before we wax glorious about revolution.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above world conditions and the nature of international politics at the time permitted it. World politics today is far different.

It is impossible for al-Assad, who took power in 2000, to win the struggle, though the failure of the resolution could encourage more heavy-handedness. Syrians have overcome their timidity and conquered fear. In addition, they have the moral upper hand in their campaign for freedom. It is indeed tragic that autocratic Syria actually got independence in April 1946 as a parliamentary republic, but a series of destabilising events and the defeat it suffered in the hands of Israel in the 1967 war created conditions that encouraged the 1970 coup by the senior al-Assad.

Given the current state of Syria, who would remember that the country produced three Roman Emperors, one of whom, Elagabalus, was even a sun god priest at Homs, the city now besieged by Assad’s forces?

Any hope of Russia and China relenting in their opposition to a strong UN resolution on Syria is unfounded. However, as al-Assad continues his murderous campaign, it will get to a point where either the world will overrule Russia and China, or the country itself will dissolve into a horrifying civil war.

Either way, Assad will be the loser.

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302.

E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO