The Nation February 07 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Govt imposes 10 per cent duty on rice NEWS

Page 4

•Aircraft, buses to come in free

Yoruba allege marginalisation

NEWS

Page 10

•‘We’re not in top 12 federal posts’

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VOL. 8, NO. 2393 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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‘Leave politics out of Southwest integration’

•From right: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; former Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola and former Oyo State Governor Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, at the ceremony at the Centre for Black Culture & International Understanding in Osogbo ...yesterday

From Adesoji Adeniyi and Oseheye Okwuofu, Osogbo

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EADERS of the Southwest states yesterday called on the governments and people to join hands in building a prosperous zone.

It was at the opening ceremony of the regional Grassroots Business and Investment Forum (Expo 2013) in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Prince Bola Ajibola, who was chairman at the ceremony, said political tendencies should be de-emphasised in plotting the road to the future.

Continued on page 5

Four parties form APC ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA merge to tackle PDP PDP: they can’t beat us

Eagles maul Mali to make final •Jonathan: bring the cup home

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IGERIA mauled Mali 4-1 yesterday to ease through to their first African Cup of Nations final in 13 years.

The Super Eagles are now set for an epic final on Sunday against fellow group C team Stallions of Burkina Faso.

The Burkinabes beat Ghana after penalty shoot-out in the second semi final last night.

Both sides ended their group match in a 1-1 draw.

Defender Elderson Echiejile opened the scoring, heading home Victor Moses’ cross, before Brown Ideye bundled past Mali keeper Mamadou Samassa.

The Super Eagles made it three with Emmanuel Emenike’s shot deflecting in off Mali midfielder Momo Sissoko.

Right winger Ahmed Musa, who replaced injured Victor Moses, stroked home Nigeria’s fourth, before Cheick Diarra grabbed a consolation for the Malians.

Three of Nigeria’s goals came in the first half, overwhelming a Malian side, who would be forced to settle for a place in the thirdplace play-off for the second year in a row.

Nigeria last played in the final at home in Lagos in

From Yusuf Alli, Gbade Ogunwale and John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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OUR giants have given birth to a big baby.

Four major political parties announced their merger into one party — the All Progressives Congress (APC) — yesterday in Abuja.

The parties are Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

The merger was announced by a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi.

Ikimi, Chairman of the ACN’s Merger Committee, read a one-page statement, stating the new party’s mission to restore hope to Nigeria .

The statement was signed by the chairmen of the merger committees of the four political parties.

The signatories are Ikimi (ACN), ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (Chairman, Merger Committee, ANPP), Senator Annie Okonkwo (representative of APGA) and ex-Deputy Governor Garba Mohammed Gadi (Chairman, Merger Committee of CPC).

SEE Ikimi said: “At no time in our ALSO national life has radical change PAGES become more urgent. And to meet the challenge of that

2&3

Continued on page 4

•First goal scorer Elderson Echiejile (left) celebrating with Brown Ideye and Ogienyi Onazi…yesterday

PHOTO: AFP

Continued on page 4

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS SOUTHWEST GRASSROOTS BUSINESS FORUM

MERGER OF PARTIES

Opposition p •Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Hon Wale Osun (left) and Prince Segun Laoye

•Dr Kemi Adekanbi flanked on the left by Mrs Modupe Adeolu-Akande (left) and Olori Abimbola Adele

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OR 13 unbroken years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has maintained its control of the Federal Government.

Thrice, national elections had been held, thrice, the party had won the presidency and the highest number of states. Another general election is due in two years. The PDP is not in a hurry to let go but opposition parties are not sleeping.

In fact, the plan of the ruling party, which prides itself as the largest party in Africa, is to maintain that hold for a 60-year run. Even if the country and Nigerians as a people have nothing to show in terms of dividends of democracy.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the immediate past Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), has not hidden his preference for a one-party state. He pushed for the adoption of a oneparty system in one of the books he wrote while he was in the saddle.

The rating of the ruling party is has been on the free fall. This was expressed through the ballot in the 2011 general polls when the PDP lost 11 of the 32 states under its control.

Using the federal might and latching on to the exodus of fair-weather politicians into its fold, the PDP had dealt the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) a blow in their strongholds during the 2003 general elections.

The number of the states under its control shot from 26 in 1999 to 31 in 2003.

But the outcome of the 2011 general elections reflected the resentment of Nigerians toward the PDP, which has failed in the past 13 years, to proffer solution to the fundamental issues of state police, devolution of power and restructuring of the polity, among others that could strengthen the country’s unity.

Without a united front, dislodging the PDP from Aso Rock and offering Nigerians a pro-Nigerians government, may remain a dream for generations. Hence, the new ambush for the PDP.

• From left: Chief Tom Ikimi, Alhaji Ibrahim the formation of the All Progressives Congre

•Buhari

•Akande

By Bunmi Ogunmodede

Up in arms against the PDP are: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Three of the parties have named their negotiating teams and Tuesday’s meeting of 10 governors in Lagos to further cement the merger deal underscored the

Can opposition p

O •Director-General, Regional Integration Commission (left), Mr Dipo Famakinwa (left), Mr.Tosin Ayoade (middle) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Cooperative, Oyo State, Mr Soji Eniade

• Alhaji Oduola Baruwa (left) and Dr Adewole Adetoro PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

PPOSITION parties are back on the drawing board. Many people believe that, without a formidable alliance or collaboration, it is doubtful, if they can dislodge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power. Obviously, they are gradually waking up to the reality that there is strength in unity.

But can they get it right in 2015? To observers, the lessons of past botched alliances are confounding. Collaborations, alliances and mergers collapsed in earlier dispensations because politicians differed on the distributions of the political offices and pecks of office. It was also evident that some of them thought that fusion may rob them of the relevance conferred by their feather-weight parties.

Currently, many challenges are confronting the opposition camps.

Top on the list is how to agree on a popular presidential candidate and running mate. If they are to merge, as it is being contemplated, then, they also have to agree on critical issues, including party name, logo, manifestos, constitution, symbol and composition of leadership at the federal and state levels. In the past, they were unable to properly resolve these challenges.

Ahead of 2011 polls, talks between the ACN, led by Chief Bisi Akande and the CPC, led by Maj-Gen Buhari (rtd) broke down; no thanks to irreconcilable perceptions. Indeed, their inability to harmonise their slight dif-

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

ferences, approaches and strategies underlined the failure of the planned accord.

Thirteen years after the first military rule in 1979, the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP), which was an incarnate of the banned NCNC, led by Zik, teamed up with the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in an uneasy accord, following the 12 two-third controversy. When the relationship broke down in 1981, NPP ministers held on to their portfolios in the NPNcontrolled Federal Government. Some even defected from the NPP to the ruling party. In 1999, PDP and All Nigeria Peoples Party (APP) formed a controversial Government of National Unity (GNU). Ironically, the APP and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) fielded a joint candiate against the PDP’s. APP chair, Senator Mahmud Waziri, later abandoned his party when he was appointed Special Adviser by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2003, the AD National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Abudulkadir, was rewarded by Obasanjo with the position of Special Adviser on Manufacturing, following the inexplicable cooperation between selected AD leaders and PDP-controlled federal government. In 2011, ANPP led by the late Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, isolated itself and teamed up with the PDP to form an inexplicable GNU. The terms baffled Nigerians. The party also became polarised.

Since 2007, when the country witnessed the worst elections, opposition groups have been holding discussions on possibility of an alliance. But the Southwest,

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS MERGER OF PARTIES

n parties plot PDP’s fall with APC WHAT THE LAW SAYS

rahim, Mallam Ibrahim Sekarau, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Ahmed Sanni and Senator Annie Okonkwo at the a press briefing on PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN •Tinubu ongress (APC) party in Maitama, Abuja... yesterday.

•Chris Ngige

•Onu

seriousness attached to the ‘rescue Nigeria project.’

The options available Should the parties involved in the merger talks satisfy the conditions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as contained in Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2010, the coast will be cleared for them to sail in one boat in the 2015, especially at the

•Rochas Okorocha

presidential poll.

Merger, accord, alliance and fusion are the options on the card for consideration by the party of like minds.

Merger This arrangement would make the parties in the deal to lose their individual identies as they would apply to electoral umpire for the registra-

•Abba Buka Ibrahim

•Audu Ogbeh

tion of a new political party, under a new name.

The four parties rose from a meeting in Abuja yesterday and announced that they have merged into one party - the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Accord Under this arrangement, the parties will not only field candidates in

n parties learn from history? which was perceived as the main pilot in the venture, has been politically divided. Opposition figures outside the zone were in regular contacts with a faction of the entrenched establishment, which had regrouped as Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), following the eclipse of the AD. But the old men lack mobilisation prowess like their old colleagues, who are in AC N, the widely accepted party in the zone.

The alliance talks supported by the men of the old order later collapsed. From its ashes rose two parties, MPPP, led by Sikiru Shita-Bey and another mega party sponsored by Prof Pat Utomi, Chiefs Olu Falae, Ayo Adebanjo and Olaniwun Ajayi. Although former governor of

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HE oak tree that will offer shades to the progressives, ahead of 2015 was planted yesterday. It is the All Progressives Party (APC); the product of a determined effort at forging unity and cohesion among the scattered leftist politicians canvassing an alternative route to federal power. The platform will test its strength during the forthcoming general elections.

Reality had dawned on the arrowheads of the four parties in the alliance; the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite the poor performance of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, can only be dislodged by the combined forces.

Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, also tried to bring some groups together for the purpose of rallying progressives for a better defence, the effort did not see the light of the day.

Analysts are of the opinion that 2015 is another opportunity. The options are also plausible; merger, accord, alliances and fusion. The ANPP chairman, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, has demonstrated seriousness and commitment like Akande and Buhari. Already meetings are being held regularly to concretise the idea. But Buhari faces personal hurdles within his former party (ANPP) and his present CPC camp. While the CPC chairman and former Information Minister,

Prince Tony Momoh, and former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Mallam Nasir el-Rufai are said to be enthusiastic, it is not certain that Buhari’s former running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, are teeming up with him in the alliance talks. Besides, some ANPP leaders have said that they could not work with Buhari. It is a carry-over of the deepseated crisis in the ANPP, which forced Buhari out of the party.

In 1964, 1979, 1999, 2007 and 2011, collaborations among oppositional parties failed. Proposed alliance, fusion and accord crumbled. Will they succeed in 2015? Time will tell.

A new party is born ANALYSIS

By Emmanuel Oladesu

The birth of the new party has ultimately rekindled the hope that the opposition can overcome the weakness imposed by their slight differences. In unison, they should now be in a position, not only to bark, but to also bite their common enemy, the PDP. However, the emergence of the APC has implications. If the four parties are to now wind up, as the tone of the alliance, merger or fusion suggests, the first challenge is that of collective migration to the new fold and adjustment to change. Then, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registration hurdles. This will

be followed by the setting up of a party leadership at the federal and state levels, presentation of the party to Nigerians and mobilisation for 2015.

It is still a delicate moment. The ruling party will not be aloof to the threat.

The PDP will definitely turn the heat on the new party through intimidation and blackmail. Pockets of dissention should be properly managed within the parties in the new deal, to prevent their gravitation to the party in power at the centre. What will sustain the young platform is the commitment of the merger drivers. To reach the promise land, principle, dedication, sense of purpose and commitment to the vision and goals underlying the merger must not be in short supply at this critical stage.

•Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

areas where they are politically weak but urge their members to support the candidates of the strongest party. The arrangement may not be applied to all categories of election.

Alliance In an alliance, parties involved would sit down to work out the terms of alliance, including the sharing of political offices and party positions. Such offices are shared on the strength of the parties.

Fusion The parties under this arrangement agree to drop their identities and collapse their structures and roll everything into the new party, platform of which they have agreed to use to contest elections.

Electoral Act 2010, Section 84 (1) Any two or more registered political parties may merge on approval by the Commission (INEC) following a formal request presented to the Commission by the political parties for that purpose.

(2) Political parties intending to merge shall each give to the Commission 90 days notice of their intention to do so before a general election. Retained as in Bill (3) The written request for merger shall be sent to the chairman of the Commission and shall be signed jointly by the national chairman, secretary and treasurer for the time being of the different political Parties proposing the merger and shall be accompanied by:(a) A special resolution passed by the national convention of each of the political parties proposing to merge, approving the merger; (b) The proposed full name and acronym, Constitution, manifesto, symbol or logo of the party together with the addresses of the National Office of the party resulting from the merger; and (c) Evidence of payment of administrative costs of N100,000 or as may be fixed from time to time by an Act of the National Assembly.

(4) On receipt of the request for merger of political parties the Commission shall consider the request; and if the parties have fulfilled the requirements of the Constitution and this Act, approve the proposed merger and communicate its decision to the parties concerned before the expiration of thirty (30) days from the date of the receipt of the formal request.

PROVIDED that if the Commission fails to communicate its decision with 30 days the merger shall be deemed to be effective.

(5) Where the request for the proposed merger is approved, the Commission shall forthwith withdraw and cancel the certificates of registration of all the political parties opting for the merger and substitute therefore, a single certificate of registration in the name of the party resulting from the merger.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sub-section (2) of this Section, no merger of political parties received by the Commission less than 90 days before any general election in the country shall be considered by the Commission.

Alliance leaders:

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UHARI The former military Head of State is critical to the success of the alliance. Eyes are on him. Many Nigerians perceive him as a man of integrity, incorruptible, forthright and modest. His strength lies, not in any financial muscle, but his vision for the country and antecedent as a disciplined leader who has not soiled his reputation in public life. Buhari is the founder and leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which has produced a governor and some federal and state legislatures.

He is a popular presidential material in the North.

Tinubu Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu is the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He is a political wizard and master strategist. Under his leadership, the states under his party’s control, rose from one to six. It has also made in-roads into other geopolitical zones. Today, the ACN has become the official opposition party in the National Assembly.

The Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator George Akume, former governor of Benue State, is from

ACN. It can be said that the entire Southwest, of which Tinubu is the indisputable political leader, is rooting for the merger.

Onu The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) National Chairman and former Abia State governor, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, is a man of honour, credibility and integrity. He is perceived as a consistent politician, who will never back out in the face of difficulties.

Momoh The Prince of Auchi Kingdom, Tony Momoh, is the national chairman of the CPC. A journalist and lawyer, he is a former Information Minister. He is devoted to value and principle.

Akande The ACN National Chairman belongs to the old order. For his long sojourn in politics, he has experience and good name as compensation. As governor of Osun State, he presided over a prudent administration. It is evident that, with the likes of Akande and his colleagues on board, the envisaged platform will adopt the evergreen progressive cardinal manifestos.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7 , 2013

NEWS Govt imposes 10% duty on rice •Aircraft, buses to come in free

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•Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar, exchanging pleasantaries with Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi during the Centre for Values and Leadership (CVL)’s 10th annual lecture at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos…yesterday.

With them are: Chairman of occasion, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei (left) and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. Story on page 8

Eagles maul Mali to make final Continued from page 1

2000. The competition was hosted jointly by Nigeria and Ghana. The Eagles lost in the final to Cameroon after a penalty shoot-out. Nigeria last won the cup 19 years in Tunis when Coach Stephen Keshi was team captain.

Yesterday, the confidentlooking Super Eagles moved the ball around well from start, with Moses unleashing the first shot from 25 yards, which flew well wide.

Mali’s first attacking threat came through Adama Tamboura, who burst forward well into the box, before his pullback was cut out by Godfrey Oboabona. Defender Molla Wague then headed well over from the resulting corner from 10 yards, when he should have done better.

Mali enjoyed some good pressure, with Kalilou Traore heading wide from Mahamane Traore’s in-swinging corner. Former Liverpool midfielder Sissoko followed that miss with a long-range effort which flew over Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama’s bar.

Nigeria’s first real chance of the game came from a John Obi Mikel ball over the top, which

Jonathan watches match aboard aircraft

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan watched the Nigeria versus Mali semi final match aboard Presidential aircraft ‘Nigeria Air Force 1.’

The President and First Lady Patience were travelling to London from Cairo, Egypt when the match was being played.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati in a tweet last night said the first family and members of the delegation celebrated the Eagles win aboard the plane.

He said Dr. Jonathan went round the aircraft to congratulate everyone on board, saying, “We are on course, up Nigeria.”

Abati quoted the President as saying “the Super Eagles must go ahead and bring the trophy home. This is what all Nigerians want.”

In a statement after the match, the President was quoted as saying: “Again, coach (Stephen) Keshi and our skillful and patriotic players have shown the world the indomitable Nigerian spirit.

“It is this spirit that Nigeria’s leading lights came together to celebrate on Monday the 4th of February 2013 as we began our centenary celebrations.

“The Super Eagles have done us proud, the

striker Brown Ideye attempted to slip past keeper Samassa, only for the reinstated Malian keeper to deny him with an outstretched boot.

Mikel then lashed in a dangerous shot from 25 yards, which flew just past Samassa’s

Cup is within reach and Nigeria is indeed grateful and expectant of a special centenary gift from our players.”

Senate President David Mark also showered encomium on the victorious national team.

Mark said the victory of the Eagles against the Malian team has restored the pride and dignity of Nigerians in global affairs.

Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh quoted Mark as saying: “This victory is well deserved. You have brought pride to the nation. We shall do our own part to honour you.

“The nation is proud of you. Please do more to bring the trophy back home. We are anxiously waiting like an expectant mother.

“Let me reiterate that the National Assembly will do the needful to reward you”.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said the qualification of the Super Eagles for the final of the 2013 AFCON tournament is a delight to every Nigerian.

Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President on media, Uche Anichukwu, quoted Ekweremadu as describing the victory as “an elixir for national renewal and unity.”

He urged the team to go all out to “bring the trophy home as a centenary gift to fatherland.”

post.

It served as a warning sign for what was to come, as Nigeria broke the deadlock with a goal created by the influential Moses.

The Chelsea midfielder turned the Malian defence in-

side out with some good skill to cross brilliantly for Echiejile, who stooped to head home unmarked at the far post.

The Super Eagles made it two just minutes later, with Emenike breaking forward Continued on page 62

HE Federal Government has imposed a 10 per cent import duty on rice. It also imposed a 100 per cent levy on the commodity.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a circular released yesterday said the measure will take immediate effect.

The decision is believed to have been taken as government’s way to drive Nigerians to eat locally produced rice and discourage the mass importation of rice into the country.

The circular signed by CBN Director, Trade and Exchange, W.D Gotring, said: “Husked brown rice, semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed will attract an import duty rate of 10 per cent plus a levy of 100 per cent”.

It said all commercial aircraft, aircraft spare parts, solid minerals equipment imported into the country, will henceforth, attract zero per cent import duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) rates.

The circular titled: Fiscal Policy Measure 2013 also approved a zero per cent import duty for sugar machinery and spare parts.

Gotring said the policy which took effect on January 1, 2013 stipulates that sugar

By Collins Nweze

cane to sugar value chain investors’ will enjoy five-year tax holiday while raw sugar will attract an import duty rate of 10 per cent plus levy of 50 per cent. Refined sugar will however, attract an import duty rate of 20 per cent plus a levy of 60 per cent.

According to the report, husked brown rice, semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed will attract an import duty rate of 10 per cent plus a levy of 100 per cent.

The Federal Government also reduced import duty rate on Completely Knocked Down (CKD) components for Mass Transit Buses of at least 40-seater capacity from five per cent to zero to encourage the production of mass transit vehicles in Nigeria.

Gotring said Polymers of polyethylene and polypropylene will attract an import duty rate of five per cent and a levy to encourage import substitution.

However, amorphous polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) chips which are raw material will attract an import duty rate of zero per cent and zero per cent import VAT, and should be reclassified by the Nigerian Customs Service to differentiate it from PET resin.

I’ll continue to do good, says Obasanjo

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ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has pledged to continue doing good as long as he has the capacity to do so.

Obasanjo in an interview monitored on Arise Television, urged the international community to mobilise funds to help the international coalition forces in Mali, affirming that the intervention was launched for the benefit of the global community.

The interview was recorded in London when the former president arrived for the launch of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation scheduled for tomorrow.

Speaking on when he would retire from the international stage, the former president said: “There is no retirement in doing good in life and so

long as you have breadth you should continue to do good.”

He commended the international coalition forces in Mali, saying the Malian troops must be bolstered through increased training to be able to handle the critical situation.

“The point is that if we have a situation anywhere in the world that affects the whole world, the world must be able to raise the needed money in order to deal with the situation,” adding: “if the will is there, it would be done.”

The former president said his efforts which were also being channeled through his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, were in the line of American presidents who set up presidential libraries after leaving office.

ACN, CPC, APGA, ANPP form APC in Abuja They can’t beat us, says PDP chair Tukur

Continued from page 1

change, we, the following progressive political parties, namely ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC, have resolved to merge forthwith and become the ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS and offer to our beleaguered people a recipe for prosperity.

“We resolve to form a political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on serious issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth etc and stop the increasing mood of despair and hopelessness among our people.

“The resolution of these issues, the restoration of hope, the enthronement of true democratic values for peace, democracy and justice, are those concerns which propel us.

“We believe that by these measures only shall we restore

A

MERGER of opposition parties cannot defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections, PDP national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur said yesterday.

Reacting to the merging of four opposition parties yesterday, Tukur said the merger does not constitute any threat to the ruling party in future elections.

With palpably feigned enthusiasm, the PDP chairman described the merger as “beautiful”, adding “the more the merrier”.

Apparently trying to make light of the threat, the chairman said the PDP remained unfazed by the merger, inferring that the ruling party would always have its way.

Tukur said: “We are the only party.

That shows the acceptance. It is the party in government now that is in the majority. It does not mean that we want to be one party without opposition. In

our dignity and position of pre-eminence in the comity of nations. This is our pledge.”

During the question and answer session, Ikimi said the

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja fact, opposition is a charge to action.

“Let me tell you this. There is no polling booth in the whole of Nigeria where you do not have one member of the PDP. PDP is the only party in the country that fields candidate in every polling booth in the country.

“People tend to believe there is a threat when they see people (opposition parties) coming together. If they have the strength, why do they come together.

“When we came to form PDP, we did not tell anybody we wanted a one party state. It all depends on the Nigerian people. Nigerians should really be allowed to decide their fate.

“It is the electorate that will decide. Our party is a grassroots party. My job is to handover this party to the owners, they are there. They are the ones to decide from the ward, local government, the state, the zone up to the centre. PDP is the party that is steering the national government”.

Tukur likened the 2015 general elections

merger would take effect immediately and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be informed.

to a football contest between the PDP on one hand and the coalition of opposition parties on the other.

He likened the performances of the PDP to the exploits of international football star and Barcelona Football Club striker and prolific goal scorer, Lionel Messi.

“If you go for a football contest, you have the top striker. You know Lionel Messi? PDP is Messi in that contest.

They (opposition parties) are not a threat at all. It (merger) is better. It inspires the PDP to action. In that contest, tell them (opposition parties) that I said PDP is Lionel Messi” The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Labour Party Chairman, Mr Adejobi Peter yesterday said only purposeful leadership could ensure Nigeria’s progress not the merger of opposition parties.

He made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said more parties might join the merger very soon.

His words: “The decision we have taken today, we are going to immediately commu-

Continued on page 62

nicate to the appropriate authority (INEC) so that the process of registration will commence.

“As you can see, our posi-

•Ikimi

tion is very clear, that this is a meeting of all the progressive parties. And there are other parties that have indicated their willingness to particiContinued on page 62

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NEWS GRASSROOTS BUSINESS AND INVESTMENTS FORUM

‘Regional Integration should be devoid of politics’ •Ajimobi, Aregbesola to Mimiko: come on board •Continued from page 1 Ajibola, a former Attorney General of the Federation and ex-Judge at the International Court of Justice, The Hague, was supported by a former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, who called on the governors to close ranks and return the region to the glorious days of the old Western Region.

The zone could be said to have spoken with one voice as the two governors in attendance, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo toed the same lines in the thought-provoking speeches they delivered. Aregbesola extended a hand of fellowship to Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who was elected on the platform of Labour Party at a well-fought electoral battle last October.

Aregbesola said: “Elections are over now and its time for us all to come together in the interest of our people. It is about the protection and development of our territory.”

Ajimobi said: “This is not about party politics. It is about governance. It is about the region. Each of the states has an area of strength. What we need is develop areas of comparative advantage for the overall interest of our people.” Ajimobi listed the benefits acruable from regional integration and appealed to his Ondo State counterpart to embrace the idea for the benefit of the people of the region .

Some of the benefits, he said, are consensus based decision making processes, elimination of conflict and unhealthy rivalry, holistic articulation and effective mobilisation of varieties of resources, and utilisation of community resources to facilitate optimal delineation of development roles among the integrating units amongst others.

He said the need for the Southwest, which used to be a hub of the defunct Western Region and her people to be united under one economic umbrella has been on the front burner.

“It is on this note I want to urge my brother governor in Ondo to join in this unique effort by participating in the regional integration for the economic empowerment of our people. He (Mimiko) should not see it as politics because it goes beyond it”, Ajimobi stressed.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi who delivered the keynote address, was represented by the Seretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi. He challenged the people to brace for a new era when the people would cooperate rather than see themselves as unhealthy competitors.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State was represented by the Special Adviser on Agriculture, Mrs. Tinu Shopeju. Special Adviser on Integration to Lagos State Government Rev Tunji Adebiyi stood in for Governor Babatunde Fasho-

la.

Ajibola, who chaired the programme organised by Vintage Press Ltd., publishers of The Nation and Ceedee Resources, said the achievements of governors in the zone were good enough to attract investments.

Ajibola gave kudos to Aregbesola for progressive steps taken since he took ver the reins of government in the state, describing him as the Omoluabi of Oodualand.

Olunloyo said regional integration would correct many things that had been done wrong in the past, advising that politics should be de-emphasised in the agenda because “politics is a waste of valuable time.”

Aregbesola, said the theme of the programme: “Actualising Economic Development for Regional Growth” was apt, noting that regional integration was meant to harness abundant resources within the Southwest to promote well being of the people and for socio-economic advancement of the people under responsive and responsible governments.

He said: “We (new set of governments in the Southwest) inherited very bad situation. Because many good legacies were lacking, on assumption of office, we have to begin to work round the clock to make amends where necessary. In many situations we have to evolve strategic planning with strong involvement of the private sector and social groups.”

However, he advised that people should not despair because the new leadership in the Southwest is regaining the ground, disclosing that on May 27, Osun State would host a youth conference where the young Yoruba people would receive re-orientation.

“We have for some time now been harping on the need for regionalism in the country in order to realise our dream of accelerated economic growth and development.

This is far from being a mere politically correct advocacy. It is a well-conceived idea that is grounded in the strong conviction on our part that regional integration holds the key to rapid economic and political development for the country.

He said: “Our gathering here today is yet another forum for exploring the promises and possibilities of regional economic growth, with particular focus on the Southwest. It comes as no surprise therefore that the list of invitees to this Expo is a rollcall of eminent names in the region’s politics and academia. May I therefore thank the organisers of this Grassroots Business and Investment Forum, the Vintage Press Limited and CEEDEE Resources, for their thoughtfulness in convening a gathering of this sort which I believe will be worth every bit of the effort put into it.

“The fundamental objective of, and philosophy behind,

•From right: Mrs Olupitan Caroline, Alhaja Ramota Akande, Mrs Irena Fajana and Mrs Adeola Abolarinwa

•Mr Bashiru (left) and Alhaji Adeoti

‘Our gathering here today is yet another forum for exploring the promises and possibilities of regional economic growth, with particular focus on the Southwest’ regional integration is to harness, effectively and efficiently, the abundant resources of the region and unleash its collective enterprise towards promoting the wellbeing and quality of lives of the people living in the region.

In other words, it is meant to ensure the socio-economic advancement of the people of the region under responsive, responsible and accountable governments. This has to be done by adopting a wellguided policy and strategic plan that would create appropriate and enabling environment for individuals, groups, corporate organisations and private sector development.

“Against this background, we have also consistently drawn the attention of the public to the fact that the idea of regional integration is neither an imported fad, nor is it just a ride on the wave of an international trend, but something that has a substantive basis in our own history as a country. Indeed, in the Southwest in particular, we have never hesitated to point out that the best period in our de-

•Alhaji Oyetola...yesterday.

velopment since Nigeria was created as a modern nation was the era of regionalism in the build-up to our flag-independence and up to the demise of the First Republic.

“It was also the time when Nigeria as a whole enjoyed the most rapid advancement in economic growth and prosperity.

This was the time we had the best in most areas of our lives in the Southwest, or the Western Region, as it was then known. That was the time when the foundation for our leading position in education was laid. It was also in the same period that the industrial estates were planted across the region, including those of Lagos which are now the major industrial base of the country’s economy.”

Ajimobi said “effective popular participation is a necessary feature of any regional economic decision process.

This is manifested through open-minded and regular dialogue among all participating states. This is to foster a sense of belonging and collective ownership, as well as mutual respect among all member states”.

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

Praising Aregbesola for his transformation effort since becoming governor, Ajimobi described him as a man that epitomises humility and a true son of Odua.

He expressed gratitude to God for the grace to be part of history making event and thanked Aregbesola for deeming it fit to invite Mimiko to participate in the four-day programme, even though the governor did attend nor send a representative.

On the problem arising from clearing of main roads in the city of Ibadan, Ajimobi said that “Our people have been used to culture of impunity, nevertheless, he maintained that the effort was yielding positive result in the environmental health of the state.

He called for a template and blueprint as bedrock for uniformed development for regional integration in the Southwest.

The Southwest, he said has resolved to embrace the frame work for integration, while also advocating for a uniformed development plan for the Southwest for economic development which he said was essential for regional integration.

He announced that the Oyo state government would host the 1st Southwest Economic Summit in an effort to contribute to regional integration, while proposing that such Summit be held tri-annually and rotated among the integrating states.

In his welcome address, Managing Director of The Nation, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, said the regional integration would be a catalyst for economic development of the Southwest.

He said the question to ask is “how far have we gone in the mplementation of the objectives of this agenda (regional Integration). Ifijeh said the Southwest Expo, featur-

ing workshop and exhibition of farm produce and products from the zone would re-appraise the activities and provide solutions to challenges within the zone.

He said: “We are aware of steps being taken towards the actualisation of this noble goal. In the different states in the Southwest , there is either a ministry or department saddled with the implementation of programs and policies geared towards the realisation of a vibrant Southwest economic zone. We are aware that a regional secretariat has been established in Ibadan to drive the process.

“As a newspaper with a mission to champion a fundamental return to federalism, believing that it is the best arrangement in a multiethnic nation like ours, we cannot but totally embrace this laudable initiative. This explains why we organised a three- day legislative summit on regional integration in February last year in Ibadan.

A wide range of issues that will accelerate the development of the Southwest were considered and captured in a 24-point communique.

“It was resolved at the Ibadan summit that states in the Southwest should push for regional investment in research,innovation, access to land and training of young farmers as a way of boosting agriculture in the zone. The states were also enjoined to invest in agricultural extension services to boost improved crops and seedlings . “ “The need for a regional commodity exchange to protect farmers and guarantee good prices to them , thereby making farming profitable and sustainable was stressed.

We consider these suggestions of utmost importance in the quest to turn the Southwest into the food basket of the country and restoring agriculture to its pride of place as a major revenue earner, Ifijeh added. “ In attendance was the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, Oyo State Governor’s wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, Osun State Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor, Dr. Adeolu Akande, Ekiti SSG, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, Osun State Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr Ajiblola Bashiru, commissioners from Oyo and Osun states, and council chairmen.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

6

CITYBEATS T FRSC seeks sanity on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

07059022999

O give passngers and commuters relief, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has mapped out strategies for tackling traffic bottlenecks on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other routes in the country.

Besides the patrol, the Corps has moved to combat the increasing challenges on some critical roads, especially the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Expressway, which was constructed over 30 years ago, witnesses a high volume of traffic daily. This has increased geometrically over the years.

The Corps initiated an intervention project on the expressway in May, last year. The project is aimed at improving the Corps' activities along this corridor through prompt emergency/rescue services and provision of effective and regular operations, to reduce accidents.

The project is being supervised by the Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone RS2 Lagos, Ademola Lawal. It is being coordinated by the Unit Commander, Ojota, Leye Adegboyega. Officers and men of the Lagos Sector Command, with seven of its component Commands including three unit Commands (along the corridor) in Ogun State Sector Command (Mowe, Shagamu and Ogere Commands) take part in the patrol.

About 12 patrol teams are daily deployed on the expressway between the old Toll Gate, Ojota, and the Onigari boundary between Ogun and Oyo states.

The patrol, it was learnt, is segmented into three: Patrol teams from Lagos carry out motorised patrol from Lagos to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) camp. The teams from Ogun take over and subsequently hand over convoy of motorists at Onigari to the Oyo Sector Patrol teams which in turn lead the convoy to the terminal point, former Toll Gate, Oluyole, Ibadan.

The synergy, accrding to the Corps, is to ensure restriction of the motorists to the prescribed

By Dada Aladelokun Assistant Editor

speed limit of 100km/hour along the expressway. Patrol teams are positioned in such a way that all vehicles queue up behind them and remain so till they get to the terminal point.

To adequately monitor traffic on the expressway, the Corps also introduced 'Passenger Watch'. Under this initiative, a regular Marshal in mufti, boards commercial vehicles to monitor the driving behaviour of drivers

and passengers. He cautions the driver and/or passenger on basic traffic rules which, if violated, can result in a crash. Should the driver persists, the Marshal 'passenger' reports the erring driver to the next patrol team on standby.

The Marshal demands to alight while the awaiting team apprehends the driver. This was

introduced to ensure sustainable good driving habit and safety.

The project has enabled the Corps and the public (through Facebook and Twitter) to monitor traffic real time. Commander Adegboyega, while briefing his men before the begining of patrol on Tuesday, said the project is a continuous exercise aimed at actualising 30 per cent

•FRSC vehicles in action during one of the agency’s operations on the Expressway last week.

Mystery over missing corps member deepens

Council boss lauds Fashola for projects

•Four-year search yields no result

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HE was about completing her Youth Service when she disappeared. Four years after, her whereabouts remain unknown.

Her family is worried and has not stopped asking: “Where is Antonia Ogechukwu Okeke?”

She was serving in Ilawe, a community in Ekiti State, when she disappeared.

Her octogenarian father, Raphael Okeke, who spoke with The Nation yesterday from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, appealed to Ekiti State government, the police, his community and Nigerians to join in the search for his daughter.

In 2008, Anthonia was deployed in Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti South West Local Government Area Ekiti for her primary assignment, but a few weeks to the end of the one-year service, she disappeared. Her colleagues concluded their service in February 2009.

Anthonia with registration number EK/08A/1046 studied Chemical Engineering at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

She belonged to the Batch 'A' set of the 2008/2009 service year.

Lamenting what he described as "inexplicable slowness in prosecuting my daughter's supposed kidnappers despite clean and clear evidence", Okeke said: "The thought of missing my daughter in such a mysterious circumstance has kept

reduction in crashes and 20 per cent reduction in crash-related fatalities.

This development, he said, is in line with the external strategic corporate goals of the Corps, the Year 2010 United Nations' Decade of Action, and the Accra Declaration on Road Safety.

A motorist, Mallam Tajudeen Ishola, who lauded the initiative, told The Nation yesterday that it would bear fruits if the effort is sustained with motorists’ cooperation.

T

From Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

killing me by the day.

"I just want to wish everyone well that no father will suffer what I am suffering now. I want to appeal to all to join the search for my daughter.

There is nothing I can do again. Four years after the disappearance of Antonia and after spending everything I had without getting anywhere, I don't have any option than to appeal that those behind my daughter's disappearance be made to produce her."

Antonia's elder brother, Obinna, expressed frustration at the "perceived slowness of the court in prosecuting the culprits."

"May I say that although the prime suspect, Theophilus Pius, is still at the Federal Prisons, the entire handling of the case by the courts leaves much to be desired as the other suspect in the case, a herbalist, has been released.

"We are all aware of some other cases in this country and we know what treatments were given to them.

Why can't the courts be equally expeditious and concerned about this case? Should better treatment be given to those who are higher on social standing all the time? Why should we not be frustrated when such undeniable evidence were found in the room of the suspect when it was searched? I was with the team

•Antonia and we found my sister's telephone battery, corps member’s stockings and battery charger hidden under a Ghana-must-go bag. All these are undeniable."

The family’s hope is on the outcome of the case which, The Nation learnt, is pending in court. But the case could not reopen yesterday at the Ekiti State High Court, Ikere Ekiti because of the prosecutor’s absence. The defence, led by Miss Ekianinima Okoyin, had noted its preparedness to file an application for bail in respect of the accused person, Mr. Theophilus Pius.

Justice Adekunle Adeleye, who adjourned the case till February 20, noted his awareness that recent postings in the Department of Public Prosecution might explain the prosecutor’s absence.

HE Chairman, Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mr. Oladele Adekanye, has expressed gratitude to the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola for the construction of some roads in the council area.

Adekanye, who spoke with The Nation yesterday, heaped praises on the governor as he did publicly during the flag-off ceremony of this year's National Immunisation Plus Days, which was hosted at the council's secretariat recently.

He, however, demanded on behalf of the market men and women that preferences should be given to them on allocation of stalls at the Oyingbo Market, which construction is nearing completion.

He also sought relocation and provision of logistic support for fire victims of Bola/Okobaba Streets in the council area.

The chairman also commended the state's significant efforts at reducing maternal and child mortality rate, assuring that his local government will leave no stone unturned in contributing its quota to increasing the herd immunity of the people of the area in particular and Lagos State in general, thereby maintaining the polio-free status of the state.

Echoing the views of Dr. Jide Idris, the state Commissioner for Health at the flag-off of the immunisation, the council boss said that it remained the most cost-effective

and efficient child survival strategy for children who are the nation's future.

Idris, who represented Fashola on the occasion, had explained that the state had been consistent, over the years, in the implementation of child survival programmes, especially in the area of strengthening routine immunisation activities.

According to him, the state has remained polio-free since April 2009, adding: "We cannot, however, afford to rest on our oars till the entire nation is certified as being polio-free."

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

7

CITYBEATS

07059022999

South Africa-based Nigerian barber nabbed with cocaine

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Nigerian barber living in South Africa, Ozoh Hycenth Chukwuemeka, was yesterday arrested for carrying 6.1 kilogramme of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Chukwuemeka was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during an outward clearance of South Africa-bound Arik Air passengers. The substance has an estimated street value of N50 million.

NDLEA’s Airport Commander Hamza Umar said the arrest was made at the baggage checking desk at the Departure Hall. "The suspect is Ozoh Hycenth Chukwuemeka. The drug, which was neatly hidden in a false compartment of his luggage, was discovered during routine check on passengers," Umar said.

The 45-year-old suspect who has lived in South Africa for 10 years told narcotic investigators that he was made to believe the bag contained chemicals.

He said: "A friend of mine in South Africa requested that I bring a bag containing chemicals from Nigeria to South Africa for $3,000. I asked him if it was drug but he said it was just chemicals.

He paid for my return ticket and came to Nigeria. I am only struggling to take care of myself with my barbing business. If I had known that things would turn out this way, I would have rejected

ALHAJI Ganiyu Mohammed, elder brother of the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, will host relations and well-wishers across the country as he celebrates his 70th birthday on Sunday, February 10.

The event, according to family sources, will hold at his residence on Kewulere Street, Aguda, Surulere in Lagos State.

Mohammed doubles as the Financial Secretary of the Itire Ikate Community Development Committee and the Otun Turaki Adinni of Nawar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Mushin Chapter.

‘A friend of mine in South Africa requested that I bring a bag containing chemicals from Nigeria to South Africa for 3,000 dollars. I asked him if it was drug but he said it was just chemicals... If I had known that things would turn out this way, I would have rejected the proposal’

By Jude Isiguzo

the proposal."

Ozoh, who hails from Aba-tete in Idemili, Anambra State, said: "I have a daughter, but I am separated from my wife."

NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said: "The suspect's excuse is unacceptable. At 45, he should know better. Ignorance is not an excuse in law. He will soon be arraigned under the NDLEA Act for unlawful exportation of cocaine when investigations are concluded." He urged the public to shun drug trafficking and related crimes.

It’s not my fault, says man who slept with his daughter

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HE Lagos State government has arrested a 39-year-old bricklayer, Olanrewaju Wasiu, for allegedly raping his 14-year-old daughter.

He was arrested by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development at his residence in Awoyaya, Ajah, Lagos.

Wasiu, who is in custody, was accused of sleeping with his daughter twice weekly. He allegedly threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

Luck ran out on him when the girl went to school, weeping. The school authorities summoned her and she opened up.

The case was reported to the government and Wasiu was arrested. The girl was said to have confessed to the task force officials that her father beat her up once when she refused his advances.

The task force chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, said Wasiu would be charged to court.

Wasiu admitted that he

Lai Mohammed’s brother Ganiyu is 70

•Mohammed

Porno material hawkers arrested

By Miriam Ekene- Okoro

•Uzoh...with the substance yesterday

Slain bus driver’s family demands justice

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•Wasiu

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

committed the crime, adding that he only did it twice.

"I did not know what came over me; it is not my fault. I don't know how it happened. It is the devil's work. I only slept with her twice weekly."

He alleged that his daughter tempted him by always sitting on his lap and asking for fun.

"The reason why I beat her was that she stole my money. They should forgive me,” Wasiu said.

RE the police dragging their foot in trying the alleged killers of a commercial bus driver, Isaac Popoola, in Lagos on December 24, last year?

The question remained unanswered yesterday, more than one month after his death.

Hours after Popoola’s death, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) General Manager, Babatunde Edu, released a statement in which he identified two of his officials, Adesanya Olatunde and Oludele Ogunrinde, as the suspects.

Adesanya was handed over to the police but Ogunrinde escaped. Over one month after his disappearance, Ogunrinde is still at large. "There is nothing new for now. They only told us that Ogunrinde will soon be declared wanted," said Ibukun, the late Popoola's first son. The Nation's enquiries showed no sign of progress on investigation.

LASTMA's public relations officer (PRO), Bola Ajao, declined to comment and referred our reporter to the commissioner for information.

Sources said "the seeming delay in

By Segun Balogun

the case is caused by the police" adding that LASTMA has been cooperating with the police.

"The police have been writing to request that different LASTMA officials be provided for investigation and they have been doing that. The police will only detain them and later free them," said the source, who declined to mention his name.

Police PRO Ngozi Braide said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), promising to provide further information on the matter.

Ibukun said the family is in trauma over the handling of their father's death. He said all his mother, Modupe, wants is justice.

"Our mother has said she is not interested in any case because what has happened cannot be reversed.

Also, so many things are involved in going to courts, apart from the long time it takes," he said.

Ibukun said the family is shocked by what is happening.

THE Task force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has arrested some distributors and sellers of pornographic materials in Lagos State.

Yinka Dada, 25; Udoh Nne, 29; Sylvester Obodoe, 18 and Poopola Bamidele, 18 were arrested at Cele Bus Stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway during a raid.

The arrested dealers would be arraigned before the Special Offences Court and tried for selling obscene materials.

Obodoe said he was hawking the items for a living and pleaded for mercy.

•The late Madam Odunnuga

Monarch seeks improved warders' welfare

Funeral rites for Madam Odunuga

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THE funeral rites for late Mrs. Sidikatu Abeni Odunuga, mother of The Nation’s Deputy Editor, Yomi Odunuga, will commence on February 8, with a Christian Wake Keep.

In a statement issued yesterday, the family said interment will hold at the family's guest house at 5, Temitayo Oguntade Street, by Express Junction, Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State.

Entertainment of guests is scheduled for 12 noon on Saturday, February 9, at the same venue.

Mrs. Odunuga, a loyal wife and devout Christian, died aged 75 on December 26, last year after a brief illness.

She is survived by children and grand children.

O achieve the aim of prison services, the Federal Government has been asked to be more concerned about staff welfare.

The Ojora of Ijora land, Oba Abdulfatai Oyeyinka Aromire said prison staff, especially warders, must be well paid to do their jobs.

"It is a pity that the prisons' workers are not well remunerated despite playing prominent role in reforming convicts," said Oba Aromire, a former prison welfare.

The monarch, who spoke with The Nation in his palace, added: "Warders in the past were made to enjoy a lot of things in the service.

They were provided with excess boots and uniforms; though the salary was small, we could

By Dada Aladelokun

conveniently save from what we earned. It is so bad now that the workers are not committed and that is among reasons inmates break jail every time."

He listed congestion, lack of good care for inmates and location of prisons around residential areas as other reasons for said break.

"The location of prisons where people live is not good; it is dangerous because these convicts have been made to be too close to the people and from what I have observed, when they are mixed with people through the connivance of the warders, they get a lot of harmful things like Indian hemps and saw blades smuggled

to them," Ojora said, adding: "Imagine prison inmates using cell phones. That alone has made it very easy to plan their escape with contacts outside the prison."

He also spoke on efforts being made by his traditional council to reduce crime in his domain, saying: "Before I ascended the throne, Ijora was a 'no go' area, but now, criminals have been sent packing.

That is why we have a police station in Badiya and today, we have peace in this place."

The monarch praised Governor Babatunde Fashola for what he called "fast development of the state," adding: "Fashola is working; before his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into office, Lagos was at a standstill but

• Oba Aromire when he came, he created more Local Council Development Authorities that have really helped Fashola to move the state forward."

8

THE NATION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2013

NEWS Falana blames judges, lawyers for corruption in judiciary •‘Stop ridiculing justice system’

By Adebisi Onanuga

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AGOS lawyer and human rights’ advocate, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday blamed lawyers and judges for corruption and subversion of the judiciary and rule of law.

He said: “The situation has got to a level of anarchy and if nothing is done to halt this decline, Nigeria may collapse.”

Falana spoke at the Eighth Chief Olusola Babatunde Benson (SAN) Annual Public Lecture, entitled: ‘Nigeria, a failing nation? : Where are the lawyers’. It was organised as part of the programmes for the 2013 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu branch.

The lecture was chaired by a former chairman and secretary of the Ikeja branch of the NBA, Deacon Dele Adesina.

Falana, who noted the high rate at which the rule of law was being subverted, said lawyers have joined the reactionary forces pulling down the country through unethical practices.

The human rights activist, who sang the late Fela Anikulapo’s Authority Stealing, said it is regrettable that members of the bar are assisting in pushing the country to the precipice of self annihilation, which may lead to chaos.

He said: “Our laws have been manipulated to favour the rich. What exists in the courts today is a sham.”

Falana noted that the systemic decline and rot in the judiciary have become so endemic that it is almost impossible to get justice in the country.

“Judges and lawyers oftentimes exploit the complexity in the Nigerian legal system to abuse the court process, thereby inhibiting justice,” he added.

Nigerian judges have been warned to desist from treating corruption cases with kid gloves by defending the sanctity of equity and the nation’s justice system. The warning was issued in a statement by a group of anti-corruption civil society groups under the aegis of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL).

The coalition in the statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran, said its intervention has become imperative following recent developments in the nation’s judicial system where cases that border on fraud and diversion of public funds are handled in less than transparent manner and with levity.

We must fix Nigeria, say Sultan, Fayemi, Obi, Anyaoku

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ELIGIOUS and political leaders yesterday in Lagos canvassed the need to fix Nigeria and raise a successor generation that would put it back on the track of progress.

They spoke at the 10th annual lecture of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

The leaders included Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi; former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; and former Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat, Rev Father George Ehusani.

They agreed that the worrisome situation of the country was not unconnected to

the leadership failure that had impacted negatively on the nation.

Governor Fayemi stressed that the country needs a collective rescue mission that goes beyond political or ethno-religious divides.

The governor said politicians, in such times as this, should shift attention from just winning elections to being statesmen who are concerned with raising a successor generation from the present younger generation.

While noting that leadership should be about competence and search for a society, Fayemi said power is the bane of good governance in Nigeria.

He said many politicians seek power without knowing how to use it.

On the high cost of running government, he said he maintains the lowest number of

vehicles in his convoy and doesn’t fancy the pomp people attach to power.

He said some of the money expended on trivial things could be channelled into funding social security for elderly citizens.

Governor Obi blamed the state of the nation on all Nigerians. He said everybody has contributed to the decay in the various sections of the country.

Obi, who lamented the high cost of governance and the nonchalance of people to the transformation of Nigeria, said corruption has bedevilled the country and is grounding it.

The governor made several references to his two-time impeachment; saying each of the times he was impeached, it was on the grounds of doing the right thing.

The Sultan of Sokoto,

Alhaji Abubakar, said the nation is blessed with human and material resources, but corruption and failed leadership have contributed to the stagnation being witnessed.

While querying reasons why a candidate is spending huge money to win election and even maim those who don’t vote for him, Abubakar said the wealth of a leader is the welfare of the citizens.

The Sultan, however, charged all and sundry to stand together regardless of religious or political affiliation and rescue the nation from the direction it is headed, to prevent the efforts of the founding fathers from being wasted.

Chief Anyaoku said the country is not making any progress and efforts must be geared towards rescuing and fixing it.

•Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State (left), supported by Chief Raymond Dokpesi during the inauguration of Africa Independent Television (AIT) station in Gombe State.

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From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni

Onogu, Abuja

Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido (Delta Central).

It seeks to create offences of corporate manslaughter to make corporate bodies, entities and agencies culpable for their acts of negligence, dereliction of duty and or gross

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HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting could not hold yesterday.

The meeting is usually held every Wednesday at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A source in the State House, who pleaded anonymity, said most of the ministers, whose memos were to be treated at the meeting, had travelled with President Goodluck Jonathan to London and Paris. Jonathan is to confer with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron and the President of France, Francois Hollande, on matters of vital interests to Nigeria, Britain and France.

Being the highest decisionmaking body, FEC is presided over by the President with the Vice-President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the ministers in attendance.

According to the source, the memos to be treated were mere notes to the Council that did not warrant meeting.

Some ministers, who were not aware of the development, arrived at the Villa before 10 am, the usual commencement time of the meeting, but were turned back by protocol officials.

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

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By Adebisi Onanuga

allegedly obtaining N4, 460, 130, 797. 94 from the Federal Government under false pretence.

The money is alleged to have been fraudulently obtained as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 30.5million litres of Premium Motor Spirit from SEATAC Petroleum Limited of British Virgin Islands.

Sanusi, of the Petroleum Products and Price Regula-

tory Agency (PPPRA), and first prosecution witness told the court that he only knew Nasaman Oil and Gas. The company is the first defendant in the case.

Sanusi, while being led in evidence by Francis Usani, counsel to the EFCC, said it was true that Nasaman Oil and Gas applied and was given six allocations of petrol import, but participated in four.

Sanusi said when his agency grants permit for a marketer to import fuel, they are also expected to get another one

from the Department of Petroleum Resources.

He said the marketer would then be required to obtain a letter of credit from a bank or provide a Bill for collection (a document stating the willingness of the marketer to sell the product).

He, however, said the Bill for collection was no longer accepted because of the issue of transparency on the part of marketers.

Justice Onigbanjo adjourned further hearing till February 13.

Corporate manslaughter bill divides Senate HE Senate was yesterday divided on a bill to make corporate bodies culpable for their willful acts of negligence or dereliction of duty, which lead to the death of a person.

The bill, entitled: ‘A Bill for an Act to make provisions for the offence of corporate manslaughter’, was sponsored by

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

Suleja bombing: Court rules Feb 11

Subsidy fraud: Prosecution witness denies knowing Nasir Alli, three others PROSECUTION witness, Victor Sanusi, yesterday told a Lagos High Court, Ikeja that he does not know an oil marketer, Mamman Nasir Alli, son of Ahmadu Alli, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman and three other defendants.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Nasaman Oil and Gas, Alli, Christian Taylor and Seun Ogunbambo before Mr. Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo for

‘Why FEC didn’t hold’

incompetence, which lead to the death of a person.

The bill also makes provision for accessory to corporate manslaughter for persons, who, while working with corporate agencies, fail negligently to perform and or sabotage their employers, which results in any event causing the death of a per-

son.

Ewherido noted that it is his contention that the provisions of the bill fall within the definition of killing in Section 308 of the Criminal Code, which provides that: “Except as hereinafter set forth, any person who causes the death of another directly or indirectly by any means

whatsoever, is deemed to have killed that other person.”

He argued that the provision of sections 316 and 317, which created the offences of murder and manslaughter relevant to Section 308, only addressed one arm of the definition of killing in the section.

FEDERAL High Court, Abuja, yesterday fixed February 11 for ruling on the no-case submission of the six accused charged with bombing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Suleja, Niger State on April 8, 2011.

Sixteen persons died in the blast.

The accused, who are facing a five-count charge of terrorism, are: Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana Umar, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adam and Umar Ibrahim.

Justice Bilkisu Aliyu fixed the date after the counsel to the accused adopted their written addresses, which were opposed by the prosecution.

Counsel to Abubakar, Umar and Ali, Mr. Kelvin Okoro, argued that the evidence against the accused did not support the charge.

He said there is no sufficient evidence to support the charge.

Counsel to Ahmed, Adam and Ibrahim, Nureini Suleiman, said the evidence against his clients were hearsay. “This is inadmissible in law,” he added.

But the prosecution counsel, Thompson Olatigbe, urged the court to disregard the argument and dismissed the no-case submission because the evidence against the accused were weighty.

At the last sitting, Olatigbe called his last witness, Mr. Olaoye Obafemi Kehinde, a State Security Service (SSS) exhibit keeper, who tendered a black Honda Civic car with registration number AG94MNG Borno, as an exhibit before the court.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

9

NEWS

Ondo tribunal rules on presentation of facts

T

HE Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, the state capital, yesterday ruled on the number of witnesses and documents to be tendered as evidences by parties at the hearing.

The Chairman of the threeman panel, Justice A. Kaka’n, said it is imperative for lawyers and parties to reduce the number of their witnesses to save time.

Justice Kaka’n urged lawyers not to engage in unnecessary arguments as the pretrial continues.

After 145 minutes of consultation with his colleagues, counsel to the first respondent (Labour Party (LP)) Adebayo Adenipekun said in petition number two, the petitioner has agreed to reduce the number of witnesses to 80.

LP agreed to reduce the

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

number of witnesses from 1,700 to 850.

The second respondent also agreed to reduce his witnesses from 2,023 to 600 and the third respondent from 147 to 130.

In petition number four, the petitioner agreed to reduce its witnesses from 271 to 130 and the first respondent from 2,500 to 1,200.

The second respondent reduced its witnesses from 2,024 to 1,000 and the third from 160 to 130.

The lawyers agreed to accept certified newspaper evidences and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) documents.

They agreed that each party will submit a schedule of the listed documents to the third respondent and that such INEC documents would be verified by parties.

The lawyers agreed that the schedule will get to INEC yesterday afternoon and the documents would start coming to the tribunal today.

They suggested that a representative of the court registry and two lawyers from each party should witness the sorting of documents.

Some facts were agreed on and presented by Mr. Yinka Orokoto, counsel to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Mr. Olusola Oke. The facts stated that there are 18 local governments in the state with 203 wards and 3,009 polling units, but voter registration did not take place in two polling units.

Justice Kaka’n directed lawyers to sort the documents and file issues for determination.

The tribunal adjourned till tomorrow.

Louis Odion for honour

T

HE Police Secondary School, Akure, Ondo State, will, on Tuesday, honour seasoned journalist Mr. Louis Odion with its Grand Patron award.

The ceremony will hold at the school compound in Ita-Ogbolu by 10am.

It is part of activities marking the Third Annual Press Week of the school's Press Club.

The school's management said Odion has not only made his mark in the media, but has also inspired young writers.

In a statement, the school's Commandant, Francis Bissong, said: "As part of activities marking the Third Annual Press Week of the

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Press Club and in recognition of your contribution to improving the society, the school has deemed it fit to confer Louis Odion an award of Grand Patron."

Odion, a former Commissioner for Information in Edo State, is a two-time winner of the Columnist of the Year award of the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA).

He was named Environment Ambassador by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola n 2009 and Celebrity Special Marshall (CSM) by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in 2010.

ACN chieftain: Ladoja’s criticism of Ajimobi childish ‘Stop inciting people against governor’ From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

T •Ajimobi

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CHIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State, Alhaji Abass Oloko, has described former Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s comments on the performance of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration as “childish”.

He was reacting to a statement credited to Ladoja on Tuesday in a national newspaper, where the Accord leader said Ajimobi was afraid to conduct council polls because of his “underperformance in office”.

Ladoja said Accord would sweep the polls in the 33 councils, adding that ACN is dead with the demise of the late Alhaji Lam Adesina.

Yesterday, Oloko described the criticism as “ignorant and childish”. He said the party remains united and alive, adding that the late Adesina left it in capable hands.

The ACN chieftain said Ladoja was living in denial of the great things happening in the state.

He said: “In an interview some months ago, Ladoja was

HE Transition Committee Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government, Mr. Wasiu Olatubosun, has accused an opposition party of circulating a Compact Disc (CD) capable of inciting the people against Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

In a statement yesterday, Olatunbosun said the “provocative CD” is aimed at causing chaos, disharmony and security breach in the state.

He said the CD was produced by a party being bank-rolled by a former governor, adding that it contained “unfounded rumours, lies and propaganda, which the perpetrators intend to use to deceive the people by portraying the Ajimobi administration as anti-people”.

Olatunbosun urged the public to disregard the CD and report anyone found circulating it to the nearest police station.

He said: “The opposition party feels highly threatened by the transformation, reformation and restoration agenda of the Ajimobi administration, hence its resolve to turn the public against the government via the inactive CD.” From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

singing the governor’s praises, but suddenly he started saying the opposite. Ladoja has nothing to point to as his achievement during his over three years’ tenure as governor.

“I advise him to retire from politics and sort out his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He should not think of running for governorship again because he will fail and should stop making ignorant statements.

“Ajimobi is not afraid to conduct council polls because our performance shall speak to the electorate for us. Conducting council polls involves huge money and the government is busy repositioning the state.

We shall ensure that we con-

duct council poll before the end of this year.

“I want all opposition parties to know that Ajimobi will continue to celebrate milestones that will make the people remember his tenure as a golden era in the state’s history. ACN is not like the Accord and its so-called members, who are seized with unending profligacy.

Oloko urged Accord to busy itself with something productive, instead of “wasting its time on campaigns of calumny against a performing administration”.

He urged the people to continue to support the government and ignore the Accord and other groups that are “keen on distracting the government”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

10

NEWS Rep empowers 500 with N40m

‘Yoruba marginalised

by Jonathan administration’

•‘Empowerment is ACN’s business’ From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

T

A

YORUBA group, the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), has decried the alleged neglect of the Southwest by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Urging the President not to see it as another baseless cry, it reeled out data to support its claim.

Chief Olu Falae, Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Senator Femi Okunrohunmu, Dr. Kunle Olajide and Senator Tony Adefuye spoke with reporters at the Premier Hotel in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday.

They said no Yoruba person occupies any of the top 12 political offices in Nigeria.

The positions are the president; vice president; Senate president; House of Representatives’ speaker; chief judge of the federation; deputy senate president; deputy speaker, House of Representatives; acting president of the Court of Appeal; secretary to the government of the federation; chief of staff to the president; national security adviser and the head of service of the federation.

They said Jonathan should have appointed, at least, one Yoruba person of his choice into one of the positions to reflect the federal character.

YUF said only three of the 36 principal economic and financial agencies, including key ministries, departments and agencies, are headed by Yoruba persons.

In the Judiciary and anticorruption sectors, they said

•From left: Adefuye, Falae and Bishop Gbonigi...yesterday.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

none of the 11 agencies is headed by a Yoruba person. The positions/agencies include: the Chief Justice of the Federation; Judicial Service Commission; National Judicial Council; Code of Conduct Bureau; Attorney-General of the Federation; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

YUF said the Yoruba head only two of the 17 education management agencies; one of the 10 security agencies; one of the four bureaucracy agencies; none out of three government broadcasting agencies and none of the three election management-related agencies.

It said the Yoruba occupy few federal positions in spite of the fact that they account for about 22 per cent of the country’s population.

The group alleged “ethnic cleansing and discriminatory acts” against the Yoruba in agencies and ministries.

‘ we should Perhaps remind him that when a Yoruba man, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was president, he led as a detribalised Nigerian, even refusing to identify with the Yoruba and frequently shortchanging them

’

For instance, they alleged that the pioneer Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Dr. Samuel Oduselu, was unjustly relieved of his appointment in 2011 despite his great achievements in the agency.

It also alleged that the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, sacked eight general managers at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) last year, six of whom were Yoruba.

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI.

The Yoruba elders said shortly after, the minister employed 75 workers, 40 of whom were from the Southeast, her geo-political zone.

They said the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), another agency under the minister, has recruited about 107 workers since last August, with 68 per cent hailing from the Southeast, according to the report of a news magazine.

YUF said the minister sacked the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Captain Adebayo Araba and replaced him with Captain Chinyere Kalu from the Southeast.

Besides the sack of the former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mrs. Ola Onagoruwa, for “undisclosed reasons”, the Yoruba elders condemned the recent recruitment in the Nigeria Customs Service, alleging that only 45 cadets were recruited from the Southwest as against 68 from the Southeast and 91 from the Southsouth.

They said they had made fruitless efforts to discuss the issue with the President privately in the last two years before bringing it to the public.

The Yoruba elders urged Jonathan to correct the imbalance, saying: “Jonathan is not just the president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or those who voted for him, but the president of all Nigerians. At any rate, the Yoruba voted for him.

“Perhaps we should remind him that when a Yoruba man, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was president, he led as a detribalised Nigerian, even refusing to identify with the Yoruba and frequently short changing them.

“We implore Mr. President to rise up to the demands of his office and rule as the president of all Nigerians, including the Yoruba. We are hopeful that he will make amends as quickly as possible and make the Yoruba feel once again like part of Nigerian.”

Truck crushes pupil to death Two women emerge best at UNILAG •Seven injured in Ogun road crash From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

A

TRUCK loaded with sand yesterday crushed a 14year-old girl, Miss Kemi Obanla, to death in SangoOta, Ogun State.

It was learnt that the truck, marked XSS 264 SMK, was trying to avoid an obstruction when it veered off its lane and ran over the SS1 pupil of Ansarudeen Secondary School, Ota, who was on her way home from school.

Ota Zonal Commander of the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) Mr. Adekunle Ajibade said the truck driver’s recklessness led to the accident.

Ajibade said another accident involving a truck and two paragon buses occurred at Ota toll gate.

He said five women and two children were injured.

Ekiti gives bursary to students From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

T

THE Ekiti State Government has approved the payment of N10,000 bursary allowance to every Ekiti indigene in tertiary institutions across the country.

According to a statement from the State Scholarship Board, the allowance is to encourage students to attain academic excellence.

The payment would begin with students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti; Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti; College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti and Crown Polytechnic, Odo, Ado-Ekiti.

Indigenes at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ikere Campus and All States College of Education, Ero in Akure, Ondo State would also be included in the first batch.

Students to the above institutions are to visit the office of the bursars of their schools with their identity cards for payment.

T

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG) yesterday held its Golden Jubilee convocation.

Miss. Ibok Asuquo (Accounting Department) and Miss. Flora Gabtony (Psychology Department) emerged best and second best graduating students.

Miss. Asuquo graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point (CGPA) of 4.89 while Miss.

Gabtony followed closely with a CGPA of 4.88.

UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rahmon Bello said of the 2,352 graduates from the six faculties in the institution, 91 graduated with First Class honours.

He said the university has produced 147, 835 graduates, many of whom are successful.

The Pro-Chancellor, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, said a convocation ceremony serves diverse purposes.

He said: “To some people, it is a period of reaping the fruits of one’s labour while others see it as a period of public recognition and commendation. Yet, others see it as a period of crowning glory, during which students, who have attained some skills and

By Medinat Kanabe and Tope Fatuase

knowledge, are formally given their licensces.”

Onosode advised them to be good ambassadors of the university and wished them success in future endeavours.

He said: “You have worked assiduously to acquire university education.

You have acquired intellectual and professional skills, which should be utilised for the benefit of the nation.

I urge you to be good ambassadors in all that you do and play active roles in the alumni association. Interacting with successful UNILAG graduates will offer you the opportunity to contribute to

your alma mater as you climb the success ladder of life.”

Giving her convocation speech, Miss. Asuquo thanked her parents and family for their support towards her success.

She advised undergraduates to study hard and not forget their primary reason for coming to the university.

Miss. Asuquo got N100, 000 VC award for best graduating student; 100, 000 UNILAG Alunmi Association award for best graduating student; 50, 000 Parents’ Forum award for best graduating student and 50, 000 late Prof. Adetokunbo Shofoluwe’s award for best graduating student.

HE member representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, Mr. Robinson Ajiboye, has empowered 500 people across the 32 wards in his constituency with items and cash worth N40 million.

The items include vehicles, motorcycles, grinding machines, electricity generating sets, hair dryers and barbing kits.

Others are water dispensers, sewing machines and cash gifts.

Distributing the items to the beneficiaries at the St. Peter’s Anglican Primary School in OtunEkiti, Ajiboye said empowerment of the people is what stands the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) out from other parties.

The ACN chieftain said: “People’s empowerment, through improvements in infrastructure, financial grants and job creation is a core focus of ACNled governments.

“This is the age-long socialist/welfarist credo of the party, which was carried on from the Action Group (AG) days of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

“The trend of deserting the people after winning elections at any level has ended for good in Ekiti. Like other representatives across the state, I have returned to fulfil my electioneering promises.

“What I am doing today is not unique. I have been engaging the people meaningfully at various times before and after my emergence as your representative and many of my colleagues in the National Assembly have done the same.

“While we are not praising ourselves, Ekiti has become distinguished and blessed with leaders, who listen, reason and genuinely care for the people.

“This will continue for as long as I live. When you insisted on me representing you and voted me into the lower chambers, you knew what you were voting for. You chose hope and kept it glowing, despite the air of despair and despondency that was then palpable. I cannot be less grateful to you.

“All we are doing for you is to complement the effort of the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration. The agenda of compassion, probity and accountability captured by Fayemi’s redeeming programmes has found relevance and acceptance with us.”

•Ajiboye

Reps back sack of 4,029 workers

M

EMBERS of the House of Representatives yesterday backed the sack of 4, 029 workers by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

They urged President Goodkuck Jonathan to direct the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to absorb the sacked workers into Ministries, Departments and Agen-

From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

cies (MDA).

The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of the report of the Committee on Public Petitions on the dismissal of the workers.

Chairman of the Committee Uzo Azubuike said the committee has no problem with the mass sack because due

process was followed by the management.

He said: “Our Committee had no problem with the exercise because facts before us revealed that the commission had to act against redundancy.

“As a result, when the new platform was deployed by the private partner, it turned out that one person can now do the work of five people in 10 minutes.”

11

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

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

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

• Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, Representative of the President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Mr. Uche Olowu, officials of UBA Banking School surrounded the 3rd batch of Executive Trainees from the UBA Academy Banking School, held in Lagos on Wednesday

Naira snaps on reduced dollar supply

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HE naira weakened, snapping two days of gains after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold the lowest amount of the U.S. currency in two weeks at an auction yesterday.

The naira fell as much as 0.4 per cent and traded 0.1 per cent lower at N157.39 per dollar, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The CBN sold $112 million to lenders, the lowest since the January 23 sale, it said in an emailed statement. The regulator sells dollars on Mondays and Wednesdays to support the naira.

“Reduced dollar sales by the Central Bank increased demand at the interbank market, putting the local unit under pressure,” Tunde Ladipo, Chief Executive Officer of Lagosbased Valuechain Investment Limited, said by phone yesterday.

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 -11.7% 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 $43.5b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

Reps move to curb airlines’ excesses T HE House of Reprentatives is tak ing steps, through the amendment of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006, to empower air travellers. The bill scaled second reading, yesterday The sponsor of the bill, Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN, Lagos) argued that history has shown that airlines have little regards for passengers, which has made it imperative to compel them to adopt best practices as prescribed by international protocols.

The bill is seeking to prescribe penalties for delay and cancellation of flights by airlines in the country.

“We are all witnesses to emotional trauma our passengers are going through in our airports. What is more disturbing is the fact that most of these delays are not just for one hour or two, but sometimes it takes up to six to seven hours, without any genuine reasons”, he said.

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Though he noted that delays and cancellation of flights was not peculiar to Nigeria, he however frowned at the nonchalant attitude of airlines and the regulatory authorities He said: “What can be deduced from this, is a total lack of respect for the flying passengers, which most times result to lost of important appointments.

These things happen in Europe, the US and other places around the world, but penalties are applied in line with international best practices,” he argued.

The amendment seeks to compel the erring airlines to pay 30 per cent of the cost of the airfare to the passengers for up to three hours of delay, 50 per cent for four hours, or seven

days suspension, as the case may be.

He however explained that the proposed penalties do not preclude aggrieved passengers from seeking damages for specific complaints.

In her contribution, Aisha Ahmed (PDP, Adamawa), said though the penalties prescribed in the bill were in the Aviation policy, the need to back them with legislation has become imperative.

“All airlines in this country are guilty of this, with long history of inappropriate penalties. Even foreign airlines are not excluded.”

She posited that rather than protect aggrieved passengers, authorities responsible for enforcing the rules back the airlines to the detriment of the passengers.

Patrick Ikhariale (PDP, Edo), supported the bill, saying: “Not that flights can not be delayed or canceled,

Constitute BPP board, body urges Fed Govt From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

T • Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah

but they should not be on reasons other than technical.”

Nnenna Okeje ( PDP, Abia), however explained that since the penalties were contained in the Aviation policy, it might not be necessary to legislate on it.

When the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal put it to voice vote, it was unanimously supported for second reading. It was referred to the Committee on Aviation for further legislative input.

Fed Govt, Indonesia sign MoU on SMEs

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HE Federal govern ment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indonesia government on technical cooperation for the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria.

The Director-General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMEDAN) Alhaji Muhammad Umar Nadada, signed on behalf of Nigeria while, Director-General, Small and Medium Industries (SMI) Directorate of Indonesia, Mrs. Euis Sedah, signed on behalf of Indonesia.

“This MOU will enable Indonesia exchange tech-

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

nical know-how with Nigeria on all dark areas, especially on cassava processing and training.

This partnership is very historic, as it will open a new vista in the bilateral relationship of the two countries,” Alhaji Nadada, said.

“We expect Indonesia to invest in textile manufacturing,” he said, adding that this would help in the actualisation of the federal government’s goals in job creation.

He said the MoU between SMEDAN and the Directo-

rate of SMI of Indonesia, offers tremendous business opportunities, especially for Nigerian Entrepreneurs.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Sudriman Haseng, in his remarks, said the cooperation would strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

We are both regional leaders, the cooperation would increase the benefit of the two nations in their relationship with other nations, he added.

He noted that small and medium entrepreneur development is key to economic development of any country, the envoy called on

the Nigerian government to focus more on strengthening the SME’s sector in the country.

Speaking, Mrs Euis Sedah said the two countries are blessed with both human and natural resources, which she described as factors that will help in facilitating the goal of partnership.

The director general believed that government alone cannot solve the problem of unemployment but if it could put more efforts in strengthening the SMEs sector it will gradually tackle the problem with short period of time.

HE National Presi dent of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN), Alhaji Mohammed Jimoh Aliyu, has called on the Federal Government to constitute the governing council of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Aliyu, who spoke yesterday in Abuja, said the 2007 Act of the BPP, provides that the Minister of Finance, Attorney General of the Federation, Secretary to Government of the Federation and Head of Service of the Federation, be appointed as members of the governing council, with the Finance Minister serving as Chairperson.

He said the Act also provides that six part time members drawn from CIPSMS, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Civil Societies and the media be include in the governing council of the agency.

He said no council board has been constituted by the Federal Government to act as a watchdog in the awards of contracts and purchases made by BPP on behalf of the government as provided by the BPP Act. He alleged that rather than constitute the board, the Executive, forwarded a bill to the National Assembly to amend the Act that would empower the President to act as the Chairperson of the board.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

NEWS School opens lab

S

CIENCE students of Holy Trinity Grammar School (HTGS), Sabongidda-Ora, Edo State, will heave a sigh of relief this weekend when the ultra-modern science laboratory is inaugurated.

The ceremony, which will be performed by Mrs. Gladys Idahor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, is part of the activities marking the school’s 65th Founders’ Day Celebration.

The project, worth over N10 million, is a brainchild of the Lagos State Branch of the Old Students Association and will be opened on Saturday.

The President of the Lagos Chapter, Ugba Eboreime, said: “Thank God that this dream has finally come true. I want to thank all members of the Lagos Branch for their steadfastness towards this project.

“I’m also happy for the students who now have access to the latest lab equipment for their studies.”

The anniversary will begin tomorrow on the school premises with a career talk. A thanksgiving service will hold on Sunday.

Holy Trinity Grammar School was founded on February 10, 1948.

Bayelsa lawmaker’s mum freed

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ECURITY operatives on Tuesday secured the release of the kidnapped mother of the leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mrs Esther Akpe.

The 69-year-old was kidnapped last Tuesday at Ebedebiri Community in Sagbama Local Government.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Bernard Kenebai, said the security operatives“pressurised” the kidnappers .

Mrs. Akpe was picked up by one of the rescue teams around 3pm and was brought to Yenagoa at 6pm and has since reunited with her family. Kenebai said no ransom was paid.

4 Brigade gets new commander From Osagie Otabor, Benin

A

NEW commander, Brigadier-General Patrick Akem, has assumed leadership of the 4 Brigade, Benin.

He took over from Major-General Abel Umahi, who is to take over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division.

At a brief handing over held at the 4 Brigade headquarters yesterday, Maj-Gen Umahi urged the soldiers to cooperate with the new Commanding Officer.

NNPC aircraft overshoots runway

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HE Osubi Airport, near Warri in Delta State, was yesterday closed after an aircraft belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) overshot the runway after landing.

The aircraft was on a routine operation to Warri when the incident happened.

It was gathered that the plane had a lone passenger, who is said to be a director of NNPC and three crew members.

Eyewitnesses said the air-

C

From Shola O’Neil, Warri and Kelvin Osa Okunbor

craft flew into the airport in the afternoon but overshot the 1.8km runway before landing on its nose.

A source said the plane was one of the new aircraft recently acquired by the NNPC. “The plane was flown by an experienced pilot, who was a former officer of the Air Force.”

It was gathered that the front end and tyres were damaged.

The aircraft was still on the

runway.

Flights to the airport were re-routed to nearby Benin Airport.

The Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, was among hundreds of passengers affected by the development.

The Osubi Airport, which was inaugurated in April 1999, is owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company.

A statement by NNPC’s Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Tumini Green said there were

no casualties.

It also said the appropriate aviation agencies had been notified and had begun investigations.

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) also confirmed the incident.

A statement by AIB’s head of media Tunji Oketunbi said the aircraft, marked 5N-NOC, was operated by Aero Airlines.

Oketunbi said AIB investigators have been deployed on the scene for investigations.

Bike riders, Edo WAI officials clash

OMMERCIAL bike riders, popularly known as Okada, yesterday clashed with officials of the Edo State War Against Indiscipline (WAI) and the State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA).

There were traffic jams in major parts of Benin City caused by bonfires set up by the riders.

The clash made many officials of WAI and EDSTMA abscond from their duty post.

They reportedly removed their uniforms to escape being mobbed.

Several officials of WAI and EDSTMA were beaten up by the okada riders.

At the WAI office on Ezoti Street, off Airport Road, some officials were seen brandishing

•Two killed

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

sticks and cutlasses preparing for any attack.

Some protesting bike riders were chased out of the WAI office.

The trouble was said to have started when a vehicle allegedly killed two bike riders attempting to escape being arrested by EDSTMA officials on Siluko Road.

The death of the two riders angered their colleagues who set up bonfires and attacked officials of WAI and EDSTMA.

•30 motorcycles destroyed

It was gathered that two officials of WAI were snatched by the protesting bike riders and a search for them led to more clashes at the Third Junction on Murtala Muhammed Way. Some bike riders, whose motorcycles were destroyed, claimed that they were not aware of the fracas when they were attacked by WAI officials.

Twelve motorcycles were destroyed. Their owners claimed axes and cutlasses were used on them.

Some motorcycles were also

destroyed in other parts of Benin City.

A bike rider, who gave his name as John, said he was protected by his helmet, when a bottle was smashed on his head.

WAI Chairman David Olukoga said the two missing officials had not been found.

He said traffic officials had a problem with bike riders but the anger was vented on his men.

Olukoga said okada would be banned in the state, if the two officials are not found.

Tompolo wants to kill me, says local chief

T

HE crisis rocking the Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Council in Delta State assumed a worrisome development yesterday when the outgoing chairman, Edmund Doyah-Tiemo, accused ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, (alias Tompolo) of threatening to kill him.

The EGCDC is the body entrusted with the multibillion naira budget of Chevron Nigeria Limited for the development of 16 Ijaw communities in Egbema and Gbaramatu.

The chairman, who convened a meeting to explain the delay in inaugurating a new leadership for the body yesterday, accused “some persons who are not members of the council” of interfering in the affairs of the body.

He then zeroed in on Tompolo, saying: “Tompolo called me and threatened my life.

“He said if I continue with the election and inaugurate a new chairman he would find me wherever I am and deal

•‘It’s not true’ From Shola O’Neil, Warri

with me.

“Tompolo said even if I go to Lagos or anywhere, he would search for me.”

Doyah-Tiemo said he was waiting for Benikrukru, one of the 16-member communities in the CDC, to nominate its representatives to enable him inaugurate new leaders and handover.

But, Tompolo, who spoke through his media aide, Paul Bebenimibo, denied the allegation.

He accused the EGCDC Chairman of sacrificing the communities’ interests for his personal gains.

Tompolo said: “There was no threat to his life. We merely warned him not to do anything that is against the interests of our people.

“The council is made up of the people of Egbema and Gbaramatu kingdoms.

“Recently, he went ahead to sign a GMoU with Chevron, even though his tenure had

•Tompolo

expired.

“Now, the Gbaramatu people said they are no longer comfortable with the GMoU and they withdrew.

“The man has no issue; he is based in Lagos and has no interest here; that is why he is not bothered about the interests of the people.

“He is trying to bring divide-and-rule tactic into the council.

“Besides, Doyah-Tiemo is an Egbema man, he is not from Gbaramatu. So he should be minding his business as an Egbema person and not dabbling in the issues of Gbaramatu,” he added.

11 escape death in Port Harcourt

E

LEVEN passengers yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, escaped death in a bus which somersaulted.

The driver and passengers were helped out of the bus by passers-by. Some were, however, injured.

The incident took place opposite School of Nurses, Rumueme, in Obio/Akpor Local Government.

The accident, however, caused a serious traffic jam within Agip junction to Mile 4.

The driver, Onyebuchi Ikedi, said he was fighting for right-of-way with another driver, when he lost

•The bus...yesterday

control of the bus.

He said: “I thank God the passengers and I came out of the bus unhurt. In fact, the devil is at work. I was just driving to the school gate busstop to complete my load when a foolish driver started fighting for right-of- way.

“When I noticed his atti-

tude, I decided to speed off to get there before him. Unfortunately, his bus pushed mine and I could not move to my left side due to the flyover’s pillars; I lost control.”

Ikedi also noted that the bus was his only means of livelihood, saying he has no money to fix it.

Innocent Amomoh

REPORTING FROM

SOUTH AFRICA

I won’t

resign now, Keshi insists

Pg. 14

Taofeek Babalola Reporting from South Africa

Sport

Thursday, February 07, 2013

PAGE 13

KESHI TO NIGERIANS

Don't expect

too much from Eagles •Dedicates victory to God, Nigerians •Awaits scan result on Moses’ injury A

PPARENTLY overwhelmed by the outcome of the semi final match against Mali yesterday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi has cautioned that Nigerians should not expect too much from the team, saying it is a team for the future.

Speaking in a post match media conference after Nigeria spanked Mali 4-1, the former Mali coach said though he is excited with the level of improvement that team had shown, he is, however, not writing off any opposition in the finals.

"Why are you asking such a question?. I am not God to know what to expect in the

From Innocent Amomoh, Durban, South Africa final. We are just going to prepare ourselves for the finals and whatever happens then so be it.

"While in Portugal we had to leave the big players out for reasons best known to me. I knew that it was not only skillful players that was needed for the task ahead. There where several other talents in the team, and there was a particular way I wanted them to play. It will take some time but thank God it is going well," Keshi said.

Keshi further said that the team just had few weeks of training together, which was evident in the first two matches, but that

when the players get it right, we get results in the kind of performance witnessed.

"I dedicate this victory to God and Nigerians that have missed out of glorious moments in football for a while. My goal was to put smiles on their faces. The players have done well in the struggle to achieving this goal, credit to them," Keshi noted.

Asked if he still thinks the current crop is as good as the '94 set, Keshi said it took a longer time to build the team, and that this present team is just five weeks old.

"The 1994 team was built within a fiveyear spain, this team is just five weeks. And don't think that it will be this rosy all through. The game is about ups and downs.

We're still rebuiding and if I see any player

that will help my team I will bring them in.

The '94 squad operated with a stronger team spirit. We were like brothers. This team will take time but we are coming up," he emphasised.

On Victor Moses' injury, Keshi said it will take the Doctors to ascertain the extent, but hopes it will be minor as the player is key to team's formation.

"On Moses I just hope the injury is not serious. The Doctors will check and let us know the extent of his injury. But I expect him to be okay before the finals because we need everybody," he stated.

With yesterday's win Nigeria qualifies to play in the final of the 2013 Nations Cup.

14

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NATIONSPORT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013

NATION SPORT

Innocent Amomoh

REPORTING FROM

SOUTH AFRICA Emenike hugging the spotlight

T

H E N i g e r i a international has seen his profile rise considerably during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

He has found the target on three occasions at that tournament, helping his country to the final.

It is now being suggested that Emenike could be the next Nigerian to grace the English Premier League.

Reading, Liverpool and Arsenal are all said to have sent scouts to watch the 25-year-old in action, but he is paying little attention to the speculation at present.

"I am playing in Russia at the moment and I have a contract that I intend to respect," said Emenike.

"But to be linked with the Premier League is a dream come true.

"I would love to play there in my career. There are many great clubs there.”

Oboabona wants Europe, not Sundowns

A

MID rumours of interest from Mamelodi Sundowns, Nigerian defender Godfrey Oboabona, who has starred for the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations, wants to play in Europe

•Oboabona

‘Yobo to lift the trophy’ Keita: We lost to a better side

S

UPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has declared that Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo will lift the trophy on Sunday if the Nigeria wins the trophy on Sunday.

Yobo had been battling with injury since the beginning of the tournament the development which has made him to be a late minute substitute in the Super Eagles campaign. Keshi, who had the same problem when the nation won the trophy in 1994 in Tunisia, said: “I have

above all else.

Sundowns fans could be excused for being excited recently as stories have emerged of their club showing interest in the man who marked Didier Drogba out of the game as Nigeria sent Ivory Coast back home from the AFCON. But sources close to the Nigerian national team has confirmed that despite the big centre back being linked with several South African clubs, he has always stated his desire is to play in Europe.

Oboabona is still contracted to Nigerian Premier League team, Sunshine Stars and he is aware of interest coming from clubs in England and Turkey, which is why he is holding out for his European dream.

Before the recent transfer window closed in Europe, his club Stars had demanded for about 700,000 Euros from a Turkish club.

What makes Oboabona so marketable is that he is a versatile player, able to play at right back, centre back and defensive midfield.

N a post match interview yesterday after the Super Eagles qualification to the final of the AFCON 2013, impressive Super Eagles goal keeper and captain in the game, has dismissed insinuations that he was taking over the captainship from Joseph Yobo.

The Maccabi Telaviv of Israel player, said he is just a teammate with Joseph Yobo who has not been in the starting eleven of the Super Eagles since their not too impressive first game against Burkina faso.

He said "I think it is not a question to ask because we all know who is the captain of the team. We all know it is Yobo."

told Yobo not worried himself about the situation. I told him to use my own experience to compare to his own situation too. I was in that situation in 1994 when Austin Eguavoen was the captain on the final game but at the end of the day I lifted the trophy. Yobo will also lift the trophy on Sunday if we win.

It is not an issue to be dwell on at all.

By Paul Oluwakoya

Question on who will lift the trophy if Nigeria eventually emerge the winner of the championship was also clarified as the 30 year old eagles ace said " It is Joseph Yobo now. I just told you Yobo is the captain." he said The big boss who was ready to say something on the issue as Enyeama answer reporters kokingly threw away the issue saying all the players are captain of the tea, but it is eventually established that Yobo will lift the trophy for eagles if Eagles win their final game.

Kanu, Idah breach security to celebrate with Eagles

N

IGERIA’s football ambassador, Kanu Nwankwo, brother Ogbonna Kanu and Peterside Idah Wednesday evening breached CAF/AFCON LOC security to celebrate with the victorious Super Eagles in their dressing room.

The former Super Eagles’ skipper in company of the exEagles’ duo where seen some minutes after coach Stephen Keshi’s lads had made for the dressing room arguing with some plain clothes security officers attached to the entrance to allow him be with the team.

The Pompey striker was quoted as saying: “Do you know who we are, we are officials with the team, more so I’m Nigeria’s football

E

AGLES of Mali captain, Seydou Keita has said that the Super Eagles of Nigeria

From Taofeek Babalola, Durban

I’m only wearing captain’s band —Eyeanma

I

•Emenike

From Rasaq Oboirien, Durban

ambassador so I have the right go and see our team.”

The security operatives who needed authorization from CAF/AFCON LOC top officials was then persuaded

by Idah to allow them entry.

The former goalie said to the law enforcement agents that: “We can go back to where we were coming from as we have been directed to come through this entrance more so, don’t see that we have an authentic accreditation.”

Minutes later, the trio was then granted entry into the Super Eagles’ dressing room to celebrate Nigeria’s AFCON 2013 final entry.

•Keita

From Taofeek Babalola, Durban deserved the victory in yesterday's Semi Final clash played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.

Nigeria defeated Mali 4-1 to book a place in the final of the competition on Sunday at the Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg. Keita in press conference said the experience played a crucial role in the clash.

"Although, the Nigerian team was full of young players but

S

From Segun Ogunjimi, Durban “The thrust of the story was that the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation lacked faith in the technical crew of the Super Eagles and did not expect the team to go beyond the quarter finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

“According to the outlandish claim by the writer, the NFF had perfected plans for the return of the team before the match against the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire because it expected the Super Eagles to lose.

“We wish to state that there is no grain of truth in this report. It is

ridiculous, lacks merit and is the product of the fertile imagination of the author. Even more depressing is the fact that the peddler of this falsehood, a reporter with the renowned national newspaper, lacks elementary knowledge about how international football competitions are organized. If the reporter is sure of his claim he should provide evidence of the so-called travel arrangements and the name of the airline.

“For the sake of clarifications, it is the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), not the NSC or the NFF, that is responsible for the return flight arrangements of the teams in the Nations Cup. CAF is also responsible

I want to say that they w e r e m o r e experienced than us, which helped them. I am down now and I cannot analyse the game.

It is game of football one would expect us to do more than what we did today, considering our performances in the tournament so far. But we have to accept it like that”.

Taofeek Babalola Reporting from South Africa

Iresignwon’t now, Keshi insists S

TEPHEN Keshi, the coach of the Nigeria national team has denied that he plans to resign after the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

It was ealier reported in the local media that the big boss had announced that he may move on with his life after he must have led Nigeria to a third Nations Cup glory if bigger offers come his way.

Brilla fm, a sport radio on Wednesday

By Paul Oluwakoya morning had reported in an exclusive interview by a member of the Nigeria Football Federation , that Keshi is not thinking about cutting ties with Nigeria "Keshi was clear about that, very clear.

His concern right now is about the mindset of the boys, he was telling them that this is a chance for them to become

national heroes, why should he want to jeopardise that?

"Keshi had said from day one that this team may not be ready to be African Champions yet, so any pressure from any quarters is not affecting him "Keshi is said to have insisted that the team is on the verge of one of the biggest achievements of their lives, anything outside of that, including his supposed

a n d r u m o r e d impending resignation, is being treated as distraction.

"Since the team have now found themselves at this point, they want to go for it. His goal goal is to improve from the awesome performance the Super Eagles".

KESHI LAMENTS lack of support from Nigerians

S

UPER EAGLES Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi has cowed to work more on his team to be able to win the final match of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations holding in South Africa.

Keshi was not totally happy despite his team’s annihilation of the Eagles of Mali which Nigeria spanked 4-1 in the semifinals yesterday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.

“When we qualified for the quarterfinals the whole nation were crying we don’t want to meet Cote d’ Ivoire but you know what happened after this. So we are ready to play any team that qualified for the final. We will work hard and try to play

•Promises to win Cup From Segun Ogunjimi, Durban good and by the special grace of God we will emerge victorious in the final. “what Nigerians don’t realized is that there was no time we had three solid weeks together as a team to work, blend and gel together. So it was very painful for me to

for their accommodation, feeding and transportation to the venue of the matches. It can only book return tickets for a team AFTER it has crashed out of a tournament, not before.

“The NSC and NFF have absolutely no role to play in these arrangements. It is absurd for a reporter who should know better to suggest the contrary, except he is pursuing a hidden agenda. That seems to be the only reasonable explanation for the devious report.

At a time when all Nigerians are celebrating the Super Eagles for making the nation proud by beating the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire, the only goal of that report seems to be to

demoralize the team and set them against football administrators in the country.

“We therefore call on the Management of the Vanguard newspaper to investigate the claims made and take appropriate actions to ensure that this type of devious mischief is not repeated.

“The Honorable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has however appealed to the technical crew and the players of the Super Eagles not to be distracted by hear says and rumors, and to focus on wining their next match. He also thanked the Management of the Newspaper, especially the Publisher,

realize that my own country has no confidence in their kids (Super Eagles). I was painful. I did not like it for a second but that is how they feel.

“It is a shame that now that we are good they are now supporting the team. It is you nation no matter what happened. It’s just like you have a family whatever happen you must always be behind your family.

Not being behind the team (during our

trying time) w a s v e r y painful to me. But we will forge ahead.

Anichebe tips Eagles for Cup

Minister denies booking Eagles’ return tickets before q/final match

PORTS MINISTER Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has condemned a publication in a national newspaper claiming that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had booked the return tickets for the Super Eagles before the quarterfinals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa was played.

The Sports Minster clarified this in a release signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Julius Ogunro yesterday.

“According to Ogunro, Our attention has been drawn to a news report titled, ‘Incredible! NFF booked Eagles return tickets before quarter final match’ back page of national daily yesterday.

NATION SPORT

N

•Bolaji

IGERIA and Everton forward Victor Anichebe has taken to the social media to congratulate his teammate for progressing into the final stage of the ongoing 2013 Africa Cup of Nation.

The Super Eagles defeated the Eagles of Mali 4-1 courtesy goals the first half goals from Elderson Echiejile, Brown Ideye and Emmanuel Emenike, and one from Ahmed Musa in the second half.

"As the team look forward to lift the AFCON trophy for the third time i want to say it is job well done so far. Congratulation Pals!" he said The dropped Eagles ace who dismissed thoughts of team mate Jelavic being a threat to his place in

By Paul Oluwakoya

the Everton squad said the Super eagles will lift the AFCON trophy no matter who emerge as its opponent be it Ghana or B/Faso," he said "Anichebe has started Everton's last two games with Jelavic emerging from the bench on both occasions a role the Nigerian has impressed in this term.

After starring in the 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion last Wednesday, Anichebe was a perpetual thorn in the side of Aston Villa on Saturday, scoring Everton's first equalizer and earning the plaudits of both manager and his teammates.

Confusion trails Adebayor in South Africa

E

M M A N U E L Adebayor should have been on his way back to Tottenham on Monday, with the chance that he could be available for the club's big game against Newcastle United at the weekend. However, he's been causing disaffection in Africa instead.

The Togo team had been staying at the plush Winkler Hotel in Mpumalanga, South Africa. After getting knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations they had a flight booked to take them back to Togo but Adebayor told some of the squad not to take it because he was going to arrange a private jet for everyone.

The players therefore didn't check out and the hotel was unable to check people in who had rooms books for the night. The squad were supposed to leave on Monday but KickOff in Africa have spoken to a source who told them "Some players were in the parking lot [of the Protea The Winkler Hotel] when I arrived.

CAF did nothing wrong. They informed the team in advance that if they lost they would leave the next day, but the team is still there at the hotel.

"Togo were supposed to leave with the plane that dropped Ghana on Monday, but I'm told that [Emmanuel] Adebayor asked the players to stay because they

were going to take a private jet home. So instead of going to Johannesburg first they would fly straight home. The private jet didn't arrive and in the end the players are now stuck."

It's not known where the Tottenham striker is and whether he arranged for another private jet. Some players are stranded at the hotel and KickOff confirmed yesterday afternoon that they were still there. The owners of the premises have had to contact the police to see what they should do.

"It is causing big problems for the hotel. They say they are still waiting for confirmation about their flight so if nothing happens today then they are going to stay.

But they are supposed to have been out by now so even the police are here to try to control the situation."

Adebayor sounds like he's left quite a situation behind in South Africa and should probably be expecting a big hotel bill to turn up soon.

•Adebayor

FCMB rewards fans

A

S its own contribution to making the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament a truly exciting experience for Nigerian fans, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc has flagged off a novel football entertainment programme on television titled “AFCON Highlights”.

The AFCON Highlights, which is anchored by ace football presenter/analyst, Deji Omotoyinbo, follows the progress of the 16 African teams participating in the competition, fact files of matches and the profile of players of the participating countries.

It captures for fans and others, high points of matches, including reviews, predictions and other aspects of the continental showpiece that are of tremendous interest to football fans.

The show, which started on January 23, 2013 runs on Silverbird Television from 9:55pm daily and will be on air all through the 21 days that the tournament would last.

FCMB Group Head Marketing and Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Kalu, said the programme enables FCMB customers and other football

lovers connect with their passion in an exciting and pleasurable way.

“You get to enjoy the highpoints of the matches and get a chance to win great prizes through the daily quiz.

Its double benefits to all lovers of the beautiful game of football" he explained.

At the end of each segment questions relating to AFCON 2013 and previous editions of the tournament are posed to viewers, who are expected to post their answers on the FCMB Facebook (FCMB mybank) and Twitter (my FCMB) pages. Two winners emerge every day and each receives a cash reward.

So far, 18 winners have emerged from the quiz contest. Among them are Tunde Akeredolu, Chuba Nwaigwe, Adedapo Afolabi, Lamidi Emmanuel, Timmy Daniel Oluwole, Iyantan John, Tolulope Desmond and Moneke Favour. Others are Raji Olatunbosun, Chigozie Okafor, Segun Adeoti, Akinmusire Maselinah, Onyinyechi Ndukwe, Sani Ibrahim Bello, Samuel Shodiya, Adepoju Adebayo, Sunday Michael Oyeleke and Chuba Kingson. The winners have expressed delight for the opportunity afforded them by the FCMB gesture.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

15

16

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

INDUSTRY

Mali: Army, FIIRO collaborate on food for troops

T

HE Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos (FIIRO) is collaborating with the Research and Development (R&D) Department of the Defence Headquarters to produce varieties of highly nourished food that can sustain troops packaged in Mali.

FIIRO’s Director-General, Dr. Gloria Elemo, said they would develop food for the management of malnutrition and some health challenges among the troops.

“The institute has developed over 250 technologies since inception and 50 of the technologies have been packaged and are ready for investment by micro, small and medium entrepreneurs using the country’s agricultural endowments to sustain and quicken the pace of industrialiation in Nigeria.

“For instance, in tuber processing, we have developed products from cassava such as high quality cassava flour for partial substitution in wheat flour, industrial starch, odourless fufu, cassava chips

Stories by Toba Agboola

and pellets, cassava noodles, mechanised garri, Soy-garri and many more,” she said.

The Chief of R&D Department, Defence Headquarters Forces, Maj.Gen. Olufemi Adeosun, said: “We don’t really have much time. There is no time to start from scratch; we are looking for people who already have what we want on their shelf that we can collaborate with so that we give them our specifications and things start happening since we have almost 250 technologies to draw from as presented by the director-general.

“When we were in Liberia, an organisation was with us who packaged different food for us and we enjoyed it. Now that we are moving into a very strange environment, where there is desert, where logistics support maybe a little bit difficult, we should have something that will sustain us for 24 to 48 hours before help can come and that is why this collaboration is necessary.”

Akwa Ibom to invest in Poland A KWA Ibom State is to invest in Poland to boost trade relations with the country, Governor Godswill Akpabio said yesterday.

Speaking when the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Prezemyslaw Niesiolowski led a 16-man delegation to visit Akpabio in Uyo, the state capital, Akpabio said: “We are committed to cooperate with the Republic of Poland in business relations to boost the economic hub of the country and for the future cooperation between Nigeria and Poland. I am aware that Poland is skilled on manpower with a wide range of industries in the country. I am glad that the representatives of such business companies are in the state for the trade mission.

“Akwa Ibom State is a virgin state waiting for development.

Your visit to the state signifies the fact that industrialisation is becoming a reality in the state. So, we are determined to cooperate with Poland in the business sector in the state. Nigeria still remains the

most attractive place for business investment in Africa where investors all over the world come into the country to invest with tonnes of profits.

“Poland is known for its investment in the maritime sector. So, I call on you to look towards the direction of the maritime sector in the state, through the Ibaka Deep Seaport and the power sector through the Independent Power Plant (IPP) and in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry because we are in a hurry to catch up with the rest of the world”.

Earlier, Niesiolowski said the visit was to organise a trade mission in the country with Akwa Ibom as a business community for the mission.

He said they would seek partnership with the state to create a momentum in bringing an administrative business idea for the growth of the society.

•Akpabio welcoming Niesiolowski to his office in Uyo...yesterday.

• From left: Director, Weights and Measures, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Alhaji Bashir Zoro; Permanent Secretary, Mr Dauda Kigbu and Director, Industrial Development and Inspectorate, Mr Olakunle Shogbola during the Quarterly Assembly of Inspectors of Weights and Measures at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Importers plan to thwart new tariff regime M

OVES by the Federal Government to help plastic manufacturers, may be scuttled by raw materials importers, The Nation has learnt.

The importers are said to be working against the government’s plan to ensure that the manufacturers produce without hitch.

They are scheming to frustrate the five per cent hike in tariff for imported raw materials.

The hike is aimed at discouraging the importation of some basic raw materials that are available locally.

“Despite what the government is doing to improve on the industrial climate, some selfish businessmen are bent on ruining the process. Just because of what some people are making through importation of these raw material, they are clamoring for a reversal of the policy,

which, according to him is not in the interest of the country,” he said.

He said those who are calling for the suspension of the new tariff are members of the group, who have international partners that manufacture the raw materials abroad.

However, he said the operators of Eleme Petrochemicals have invested to ensure that the two basic raw materials, polypropylene and polyethylene, are made available for the use of local manufacturers.

He said while the Federal Government through its industrial revolution initiative aims at developing businesses to grow compete at the international level, some unpatriotic Nigerians are bent on frustrating the move.

Though he admitted that one of

the groups seeking a reversal of the policy has a case, in the sense that Eleme Petrochemical does not give credit facility, he added that this is not enough reason for them to canvass a review.

He regretted that the quantity of polyethylene produced by the firm was in excess because the importers claim that the quality of the ones produced locally was inferior.

Hence, the need to import.

This is not acceptable because the company has resulted to exporting the excess left, since they are not getting patronage, a situation, he said.

“If, indeed, there claims are right, then the right thing to do is to approach the company to improve on its quality. Instead of importing what is available locally. I think government should move in to protect our local industries,” he said.

Ministry, ECOWAS, private sector to grow real sector

H

OW can the Federal Government's transformation agenda and industrialisation goal best be achieved? It is by harmessing the National System of Innovation (NIS), says the Ministry of Science and Technology, Prof Ita Ewa. Speaking at the National Stakeholders’ Workshop on Innovation for the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Lagos, he said his ministry would collaborate with

the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to achieve the goal.

According to him, the ministry with the support of the ECOWAS Commission is seeking the private sector’s partnership to drive the real sector’s growth.

The minister said: “Science, technology and innovation are pillars of socio-economic and environmental development of any nation.

Data management and the development of indicators of science, technology and innovation have been identified as major axis of the actions to be implemented in the short-term as they allow government and stakeholders to review the systems in place. It is believed that this innovation will impact on the lifestyle of Nigerians if effectively pursued.”

He added that the ministry hoped to facilitate public-private partnership (PPP) in research and development and commercialisation of the products.

Ewa said Nigeria was playing a leading role in the implementation of the initiative, which would contribute to its socio-economic development and that of ECOWAS. He said the Science and Technology Ministry is committed to driving innovation.

“It is hoped that this National System of Innovation (NSI) framework will evolve a strategy to foster innovations at all levels of government from wards, local, state, regional to the federal level.

“The public and private sectors

must be properly engaged to drive sectoral innovation,’’ he said.

The National Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Duro Kuteyi, praised the Federal Government on the initiative. He canvassed more funding to aid food processing in the country.

He said: “The lack of innovation for processing has continued to affect local production and capacity utilisation in the country. Food security can only be enhanced through an effective food processing initiative. If we must avoid dumping, small and medium enterprises must be empowered for exports. We do not have adequate security to obtain loans for efficient processing of goods for export. If this can be addressed, SMEs would become more pivotal in the growth of the country’s economy, while food security would be assured.”

Also, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) commended the ministry’s effort in driving development through innovation, noting that there was a need for frequent interaction with the private sector to enhance the innovation and effective implementation.

MAN’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Rasheed Adegbenro, said the NSI has opened a new vista between the private sector and government and the opportunities therein should be harnessed through improved partnership with the OPS.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Busy doing what?

•Vice-President Sambo says President Jonathan is too busy to visit crisis-torn Maiduguri

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AKING excuses for his boss was in itself, an acknowledgment of guilt, and his visit last Saturday must have been in response, albeit in half measure, to the rising criticism of a clear presidential faux pas. For more than two years that Maiduguri, the capital city of the northeast state of Borno has turned into the theatre of Nigeria’s most bloody armed insurgency, second only to the Nigerian Civil War, there has not been a presidential visitation. Not even by delegation.

The Boko Haram Islamist militancy had taken root from that northeastern-most borders of Nigeria about five years ago and spread to nearly all the states north of Nigeria. Since 2009, the movement’s activities took a violent turn and it has been bloodletting to no end. From suicide bombings in churches, mosques, police, military and paramilitary formations, to brazen execution of their victims using fast-moving vehicles and bikes, Borno State became virtually a war zone as the Federal Government responded by sending a joint task force of military, police and other security personnel.

As fighting raged, it was expected that President Goodluck Jonathan would visit the zone, if only on a flying stop to boost the morale of the ‘troops’ and reassure the populace that government was on top of the situation. There was no such gesture until last Saturday. Speaking during a courtesy call on the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, Vice President Namadi Sambo said: “Mr. President would have loved to be here himself but for the exigencies of the office, but I believe that God’s time is the best. I want to

assure you that we hold all our brothers and sisters in Borno in high esteem. Both Mr. President and I hold the people of Borno very close to our hearts.”

If the vice-president had visited and made his speeches without suggesting that his boss was too busy to come, not many would have raised any eyebrow; but his very suggestion of the fact that there are more important things engaging the president other than the vicarious succour his presence would afford millions of his citizens caught up in a deadly internecine conflict is to further signpost a major presidential failing. In the first place, not many Nigerians will attest to seeing their president at work lately unless you consider incessant foreign trips, reception of ‘dignitaries’ and ceremonial appearances as work.

Leaders all over the world are quick to bond with their citizenry in situations of distress. Be it in situations of tragic natural disasters, major accidents or calamities; not to mention zones of sustained armed conflicts. Leaders worth their tags often find their ways to the danger spots and sometimes, crossing the lines of safety into the vortex of action to show their deep empathy with their people.

There are numerous recent examples: we saw U.S. Presidents from Bill Clinton to George Bush and Barak Obama visiting and fraternising with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan during the wars; same for British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Some have suggested that President Jonathan has not visited Maiduguri for security reasons, or that such a visit was subject to security advice. They point to the fact that for the past two years, the

nation’s independence celebration has been held in the safe confines of the Aso Rock precincts again, for ‘security’ reasons. Even the vice-president’s visit buttressed the security ‘fears’. Reports say the city was shut down nearly to its entirety by security personnel with roads barricaded and markets closed as air force helicopters hovered overhead throughout the duration.

We surmise that President Jonathan has a bounden duty to visit Maiduguri to felicitate with and reassure his citizens in that far-flung corner of the land who have been under the vice grip of violence in the past few years. They need that presidential fellow feeling no matter the cost.

‘If the vice-president had visited and made his speeches without suggesting that his boss was too busy to come, not many would have raised any eyebrow; but his very suggestion of the fact that there are more important things engaging the president other than the vicarious succour his presence would afford millions of his citizens caught up in a deadly internecine conflict is to further signpost a major presidential failing’

Tight rope We welcome the cable car mass transit, but we must be mindful of the safety and standard concerns

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NYTHING at all to get Lagos moving – anything, would do, including ferrying a chunk of the teeming population via a tenuous cable car system of mass transit. This must be the consensus of most Lagosians who go through tortuous traffic regimen as they shuttle to and fro daily. This is why the move by a private firm, Ropeways Transport Limited to invest about N79 billion ($500million) in a cable car urban mass transit system must be the most salutary news they have heard in a long while.

A strictly private sector initiative, but said to already have the consent of the Lagos State Government through the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) is set to be operational in 2015.

Much as there is a dire need to alleviate the pains of the commuter on Lagos roads today, there are numerous concerns over these new machines that will be ‘flying’

‘From the foregoing, the cable car mass transit seems to be the very recipe for mitigating the unyielding Lagos traffic which keeps most commuters on the road for additional two to three hours daily. Considering the enormous loss of man-hours, the health hazards and the psychological effect of this on the commuter, many may be asking why we have not thought of this all these years’

without wings across the landscape of Lagos. How safe are these cabins dangling on thin cables? What about other supporting infrastructure like power supply, connecting cables, control towers and terminals; maintenance of the engines and replacement parts?

The initiators seem to have it all figured out and all the concerns taken care of. The cable car system is an old technology founded in 1892, according to the Managing Director of Ropeways, Capt.

Dapo Olumide. It would incorporate several standard safety measures, including auxiliary drives and hydraulic brakes to prevent passengers being stranded; lightening protection on towers, ropes and stations as well as solar panels on each cabin roof to provide power for cabin interior and exterior lighting.

Citing research report which has proven that the cable car is one of the safest means of transport in the world, Olumide noted that the system would not rely on power supply from the existing public power grid but would be powered by an independent power project, dual fired primary turbines and sufficient number of static inverters to provide 30 minutes of backup power. There will also be passenger monitoring with CCTV and audio communication links between the control towers, stations and cabins, as well as passenger address system.

Each cabin is expected to have a capacity of 35 passengers and an estimated 8,000 people per hour would be moved.

It will run at a speed of about 35 kilometres per hour and commuters would be expected to pay between N200 to N300 per trip.

From the foregoing, the cable car mass transit seems to be the very recipe for mitigating the unyielding Lagos traffic which keeps most commuters on the road for additional two to three hours daily. Considering the enormous loss of man-hours, the health hazards and the psychological effect of this on the commuter, many may be asking why we have not thought of this all these years.

But we wish to drop a word of caution here: good as this scheme may sound, it will remain a drop in the ocean in terms of its overall impact on the Lagos traffic.

Lagos is a mega city with about 10 million daily commuter movements, and its population is estimated to hit 25 million by 2015. About 200,000 vehicles are registered in Lagos annually and the state records over 2,000 vehicles per kilometer of its roads. This is scary statistics to say the least, and it would require more than fancy cable cars to move this mass of people.

We urge the state government not to relent in improving transport infrastructure and building fresh ones. We particularly suggest that work be expedited on the monorail system under construction on the Badagry axis of the state; we also think that the enormous waterways that abound in the state are starkly underutilised. The state could borrow a leaf from Venice and Holland where natural water has been put to the advantage of city transit.

Having said that, we say let the wingless boxes take to the horizon of the city of Lagos, not only merrily moving the people, but also serving as a cultural signpost of an emerging cosmopolis.

Africa’s Tora Bora • The toughest part of reuniting Mali is starting only now

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F the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains are not to become west Africa’s Tora Bora – a place from which militant Islamists relaunch jihad – Mali will need help fixing its political system as well as hunting down jihadists in their caves. Attention is beginning to focus on both necessities as France wraps up the first phase of its military intervention, having driven Islamist insurgents from significant towns in Mali’s desert north.

That suddenly looks like it was the easy bit. As in Afghanistan just over a decade ago when al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters were able to regroup deep in the mountains, so in Mali al-Qaeda-linked insurgents have fled into terrain ideally suited to guerrilla war. France must calibrate its exit strategy such that the militants are kept under pressure until African forces tasked with rooting them out are effectively deployed.

Getting the politics right is going to be just as vital if there is to be hope of sustainable peace. Mali’s politics are a mess.

The interim government will need help and advice in the delicate task of negotiating a settlement for the war-torn north.

Tuareg and Arab fighters are demanding concessions on regional autonomy and development. In the bitter aftermath of war, their southern counterparts are reluctant to give much ground. They will have to though, if the extremists are to be isolated, and more moderate Islamist and separatist Tuareg fighters brought behind plans to patch the country back together.

Too often after recent African conflicts, the holding of elections is seen as a panacea. In Mali, as in Ivory Coast and Congo (not to mention Iraq and Afghanistan), the opposite could be true if polls are flawed.

Indeed, there is a danger that some of the same politicians complicit in the near collapse of the state will be recycled. Their laisser-faire attitude towards the desert north alienated Tuareg and Arab populations, allowed a potent alliance of smugglers, warlords and terrorists to take control, and prompted last year’s coup.

There is a danger too that in the rush to rewrite the constitution, register voters and revive the democratic system all within a six-month schedule, issues central to future stability will be overlooked. France has taken one step towards restoring Mali’s sovereignty by recapturing parts of the north. To reunite and reconcile the country, and provide the necessary conditions for inclusive polls, a much broader coalition of willing advisers will be needed – as well as time and money.

– Financial 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 •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) Yomi Odunuga •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: In Nigeria, religion plays a prominent role in every aspect of our national life. The most terrible Nigerian professes to be an adherent of a particular religion. Most national, state and local government events in the country are heralded with prayers to hypocritically commit things into the hands of God even when the outcome of such events have been predetermined by men whose intentions are far from being godly.

In one of his hit songs, the late Afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, berated Nigerians for hiding under the cloak of religion to perpetrate more evil than the devil himself. Public funds are stolen and spent with impunity by so-called ‘religious’ men and women.

The popular saying that ‘religion is the opium of the people’ is, per-

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Nigerians, so religious yet ungodly haps, more apt in the case of Nigeria. Rather than get more focused on the challenges of governance, our leaders are either busy traversing one religious centre or the other.

To underscore the emptiness in our self professed religious activities, the more we ‘pray’ in the country the more of a prey we become.

What with the many unprecedented calamities that the country has been experiencing of late. Road accidents, plane crashes, kidnapping, flood-

ing, religious crisis, armed robbery attacks, among others, that have continued to become part and parcel of our national existence.

Ironically, things work better in advanced nations of the world such as China, Russia, USA, UK, etc where the leaders and the people are not as ‘religious’ as we are.

Why is it that our self professed religious piety has not put us out of the abyss of poverty, infrastructural decay and unemployment among

other rots that pervade the polity?

How come our leaders don’t feel ashamed with the state of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway whenever they attend religious programmes around the axis? How can a leader who got to power through wrong means suddenly become a self-styled apostle of holiness? By their fruits, we shall know them. Most of our leaders are chameleons who disguise under the garb of religion.

Much ado about NCC’s frequency management

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IR: There has been an unusual media attention, and comments about frequency spectrum sales and allocations by the telecom regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC). The allegations of underhand frequency dealings were made topical by one of the national dailies which devoted its front pages to report the matter.

The allegations were that the commission, in less than one year, and during the regime of Dr. Eugene Juwah as chief executive, sold the spectrum that belonged to the Nigerian Police to a private firm, Openskys Ltd at a price adjudged to be below value in comparative terms. There was also another report that a set of frequency was sold to a private company, Smile Communications, without due process and at a price also argued to be below par.

Since this development, several commentators have begun to discuss frequency issues in a manner that has reduced the intensity of the technicality of the subject. Even some non-governmental organizations that have no knowledge of the subject joined the fray, which prompts the question: Who is afraid of frequency management by the telecom regulator?

The main question which the traducers of the NCC have raised is why it did not subject the frequencies in question to a public auction.

Their position is that an auction would fetch the nation more income.

The commission responded that the law allows it to use whatever method prescribed by law and that suits it in maximizing the allocation of any frequency. It added that it has already used this same process to allocate frequencies to several operating companies in Nigeria, including Multilinks, StarComms, Intercellular, and a host of other companies that have been operating in the country in the past 10 years.

There is something curious about the allegations on the allocation of frequency that belongs to the Nigerian Police. Since the controversy has raged, the Nigerian Police has never claimed publicly that its frequency is missing. The commission claimed that it has allocated a frequency designed for security operations to the police while relocating them out of a commercial frequency. The Police never disputed the position of the

commission; this is what makes those making the accusation to appear as crying more than the bereaved.

For several years, the NCC has staked its claim to transparency in the manners it has handled the spectrum management for the nation. In 2001, it recorded globally acclaimed success when it successfully managed the auction for digital mobile frequency licenses which led to the mobile revolution in Nigeria. In 2008, its claim on excellent frequency allocation management came under test and from its own backyard, when the then Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, accused the commission of not following due process in the sale of the 2.3GHz spectrum frequency. This allegation became a major subject in the media for several months, eliciting all

kinds of comments until a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja declared the allegations by the minister as false, and gave the commission a clean bill of health.

There are curious similarities in the ignition of bogus allegations about frequency sale at the NCC, between former minister and the erstwhile Executive Commissioner of NCC, Dr. Gwandu as both are insiders who have access to whatever information they needed to substantiate their allegations, but for some strange reasons failed to do so.

I acknowledge whistle blowing as a safety valve against fraud, but such whistle blowing must be based on facts not on the misplaced fantasy of a self-appointed whistle-blower.

• Daku Abdullahi, Abuja.

Aside our leaders, most of us are equally nothing but a group of ethically decadent hypocrites passing for Muslims and Christians. We invoke the name of God only when it suits our purpose, while in reality we live a very deceitful lifestyle trying to deceive ourselves and the rest of the world into thinking that we a more religious people than the rest of humanity. There is no better word for this than hypocrisy.

Religious leaders in the country should stand for the truth like the prophets of old. There is need for them to return to the basis of their religion. They should remember that they are accountable to the Almighty God. Rather than sell their souls to the highest bidders, they should genuinely turn the rulers and followers to God. If religious leaders fear men more than God, what should be expected of a mere member of the congregation?

Of what use is an ungodly congregation of eminent thieves and charlatans to the Almighty God whose only interest is for us to imbibe godliness?

Religious leaders should deemphasize materialism in all they do. They should live what they preach by ensuring that they provide leadership by example. This would go a long way in discouraging questionable people from associating with them. Respected men of God, whom people look up to for the right leadership direction, should be careful in dealing with political leaders. Genuine men of God should not be seen to be fraternizing with men who inflict pains on Nigerians.

• Murphy Arigbabuwo Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Ihejirika must hear this!

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IR: I wish to draw the attention of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika to the victimization and harassment of innocent civilians in the hands of some soldiers of Asabari 244 Recee Battalion, Saki, Oyo State.

There was a party holding at Dove Merdian Hotel (a.k.a Eleyele Hotel) at Oje-Owode in Saki-East Local Government area of Oyo State

on Saturday, December 29, 2012.

The party was going on smoothly until the arrival of two soldiers.

With their arrival, argument broke out and the soldiers started using the sticks in their possession to beat people and at a point they started breaking bottles and they threw the hitherto peaceful party into a chaos.

Many bottles were broken, many wooden doors were destroyed, many glass doors and windows

were destroyed and many people were seriously wounded. Summarily, these two soldiers caused confusion leading to destruction of properties worth about a million naira.

The soldiers of this barrack were noted to be civilized before now but one wonders why they had been misbehaving since the arrival of the current commanding officer.

They (the soldiers) harass, intimi-

date and beat up innocent citizens as if they cannot be checked. A lot of innocent citizens have been dehumanized and terrorized by these soldiers. This write up is necessary so that the commanding officer can be advised to caution his soldiers in the way they pounce on innocent civilians.

• Ajetoro Ololade, Sango, Saki, Oyo State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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COMMENTS

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The aviation industry in Nigeria

HAVE just returned from a trip to the UN in New York and during one of the committee sessions on the annual budget, there was a discussion on budgetary support for UN officials travelling in West Africa. One thing that struck me was the comment of a delegate I believe from the United States who remarked that travelling in West Africa is hazardous and that flying was particularly dangerous in Nigeria.

And just as we were about to reply him, there was a news flash about the helicopter crash in which the Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Ibrahim Yakowa and the Former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi died. There was no need after that time to try and challenge those who felt that travelling in West Africa was hazardous.

Since I arrived back home a few days ago, I have been reading a report by Accenture of the challenge before the aviation industry in our country. It is sometimes with trepidation that many of us travel by air within our country. When I was much younger, I used to enjoy driving long distances in Nigeria, because this is the only way to know our country. But now with the collapse of the road infrastructure, and the high incidence of highway robbery, travelling by roads is now very unattractive. This means that we must do everything to improve the safety of air travel in Nigeria as well as wholesale rehabilitation of our road network. For a country that wants to be by 2020, one of the most developed countries in the world, the aviation industry would have to play an important role. We have heard government make pronouncement about making Lagos the hub of the aviation industry in West Africa.

‘It is a pity that the entrance of Virgin Atlantic into the domestic airline business in Nigeria did not succeed.

Government should continue to make the aviation industry attractive for foreign investment. The kind of investment being suggested is not the type that we’ve seen before, where few Asians would use the local banks to set up airlines with disastrous consequences’

This desire flows from the fact that the population of Nigeria is greater than the population of the remaining 14 countries in ECOWAS put together. The economy of Nigeria is about three times the economy of the rest of ECOWAS. If Nigeria is to realize its potentialities, we must put resources into the development of the aviation industry. I do not think starting a new national airline is the best approach. The history of the defunct Nigeria Airways should lead us into another direction. What our government should do is to assist major private airlines that have the capacity to consolidate and pull their resources together and also open credit lines to them as well as guaranteed purchase of new aircrafts. But while doing this, the present capacity of the airlines should be the deciding factor. There are only one or two airlines that meet these criteria. All the other one plane airlines should be allowed to die. It is a pity that the entrance of Virgin Atlantic into the domestic airline business in Nigeria did not succeed.

Government should continue to make the aviation industry attractive for foreign investment. The kind of investment being suggested is not the type that we’ve seen before, where few Asians would use the local banks to set up airlines with disastrous consequences. It should be possible as part of our bilateral relations with countries like the USA and Germany to induce Lufthansa and Delta Airlines to engage major private sector operators in setting up airlines.

On a final note, our current Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah deserves some commendation and praise in her policy of transformation of Nigerian Airports, particularly the major ones in Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja. But I am sorry to say that the current expansion of the Lagos Airport leaves much to be desired. This expansion does not meet the volume of air traffic in our country. If our minister has not been to Atlanta, Georgia before, I will advise her to make a trip and do a study tour of that airport. The Lagos Airport is about one-fiftieth of the Atlanta International Airport, which is arguably the third largest Airport in the world and is a major hub of the aviation industry in the southern part of the U.S. What I am trying to say is that while the effort of the minister is commendable, it is not enough. We have to plan big and not just for the moment. After being away for four weeks, I arrived back in Nigeria on January 6, at Murtala Mohammed Airport and what I saw pleased me a little bit and at the same time displeased me to a great extent. After arrival, I was pleasantly surprised that the airport had been configured in such a way that we had to walk for maybe 10 minutes which is great compared with the previous dispensations. This is important

to keep the blood flowing and our circulating system back to normal. But along the narrow passage through which we walked were broken down desk and tables which should have been removed, but are left blocking the pathway. But the master of all embarJide rassments was that Osuntokun we had to wait for three hours before we could get our luggage. On enquiry about what was responsible for this, we were told that the luggage is manually removed from the plane and manually put on the conveyor belt and there was only one that was working. After hours of flying nobody likes to face this kind of delay. I could see the feeling of derision in the faces of foreigners in our midst and many Nigerians were saying unprintable things about our country and its leadership. The challenge therefore for our hardworking minister of aviation is that she must be on her toes and move round, not just sitting in Abuja, to see what’s going on at the major entry points of our country. She’s doing well, but she can do better.

Let me say as a form of advice, that there is no need to always reduce everything in this country to politics. Aviation is a technical matter and those who should run the industry should not be politicians, but people knowledgeable and au courant in aviation know-how. From the ladies announcing the arrival and departure of airlines to flight controllers and managers of the airport; professionalism should be the yardstick of recruitment and not politics or ethnicity. On a light note, the ladies making announcements at the airports need to be tutored possibly by those who speak English and French as their mother tongue. The one who was announcing arrival and departure of flights on the night of January 6, should be given a desk job while someone who can speak English and French properly without our heavy local accent should be recruited. If she wants the job of an announcer, she should wait until Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba become languages of international and aviation communication.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

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S humans, we owe our existence to the almighty. We do everything by His grace-eating, sleeping and waking. Without His munificence, we cannot do these things. This is why we praise God for life, for provision and protection. We are what we are by the grace of God. It is not by our power, education or wisdom. The scripture puts it succinctly : ‘’Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain; unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain’’. So, every man must bear this fact in mind irrespective of his position.

As humans, positions mean a lot to us. We like to associate with those in high offices because it pays to do so. Nobody wants to relate with the poor because they will gain nothing by doing so. I am not saying that it is not good to aspire to high office; no I am not saying that. After all, what is the essence of our being if we cannot aspire to be great. But in doing that we tend to forget that greatness comes from God. A man will become great not because he has the greatness gene in his blood nor because he works harder than his peers but because fate smiles on him.

According to the scripture, ‘’the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned, but time and chance happen to them all’’. If this is so, why then do men play God? Why do they act as if they became what they are by virtue of their brilliance or hard work? Let them know that we have seen more hardworking and brilliant persons before without anything to show for their brilliance and efforts. What do you

say to that? That they offended God? God, according to His word, will favour those that He will favour, meaning that some will be more favoured than others.

In our society today, those at the helm of affairs can be grouped among the highly-favoured. As our leaders, we respect them and wish them all the best. Our prayer is that they succeed because their success will be for the good of us all. Since governance is a continuum, leaders come and go. We had leaders yesterday; we have leaders today and after today’s leaders, another set of leaders will come tomorrow.This is the law of nature which cannot be changed.

No matter what, the leaders of yesterday and today must learn to work together in the interest of the nation. But in most cases, they don’t. Why this is so we don’t seem to know.

But it all borders on fear of the likelihood of leaders of today exposing the misdeeds of their predecessors. When our people are in power, they tend to forget that a day will come when issues will be raised about their tenure. If there is something our leaders don’t like to do, it is being called upon to give an account of their stewardship.

They can do anything to stop that process because of the fear of being exposed. What is there to be exposed if they have nothing to hide? As past leaders are afraid of probe, so are their successors afraid of criticisms. Those in power don’t like to be criticised. They want to be hailed for every decision taken, whether good or bad.

Is that possible? They know that it is not, but they will never see anything good in criticisms meant for their own good.

They demand constructive criticisms, but when such criticisms

come, they pick up a fight with the critics. What is the problem with them? Are they saying that because they are in power they should not be criticised? Funny enough, some of those in power today who loathe criticism were foremost critics of government not too long ago. There is no difference between yesterday’s and today’s leaders; they are all the same. We only hear them quarrel on issues relating to their personal interests. It is then that you will see their aides firing from all cylinders. When they fight like that, it is for our own good because a lot of things are revealed.

In some cases, the former and present leaders may be friends torn apart by their loyalty to different masters. By the time they finish abusing themselves, their masters will be meeting behind closed doors to sort out their differences. It is good for the people of yesterday and those of today to engage themselves once-in-awhile in public so that we may know some of the goings-on in government hitherto hidden to us.

Since they will be talking from an advantaged position because of the facts and figures at their disposal, many things will be brought to light which we may never have heard of if not for their disagreement.

So, these yesterday’s and today’s people should continue to wash their dirty linen in public, if that will make those in office to sit

up. Being in power does not confer on one with superior knowledge. Those in power should not, therefore, see themselves as having all the answers to the problems of the country. Of course, those before them, who are today criticising them cannot claim to have found the answers for all the nation’s problems during their time. They have done their bit and left just as those in charge now will do theirs and leave. As the saying goes, ‘’no condition is permanent’’.

In time, the people of today will become people of yesterday just as their predecessors with who they are now fighting. As I said, they should fight on as long as they tell us what they do in those secret places that have held us backward for long as a nation. Today’s office holders may find what their predecessors is doing to them repugnant, but if they are in those people’s shoes, won’t they do the same thing? Soon, very, very soon, they will leave office for the people of tomorrow. What will be their relationship with those people?

Will it be different from that with their predecessors?

Today’s people should not feel bad about what is happening now because, as my people will say ‘’na turn-by-turn’’. We are waiting to see if they will not talk if tomorrow’s office holders do certain things which they consider inimical to what today’s government stood for in its own time.

‘Funny enough, some of those in power today who loathe criticism were foremost critics of government not too long ago.

There is no difference between yesterday’s and today’s leaders’

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

Eagles of hope

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IKE play, like play, the Super Eagles are in the final of the ongoing African Cup of Nations in South Africa. Nobody gave the team any chance of reaching this stage of the competition. Many of us believed that they would be defeated at the preliminary rounds. They survived that stage to confront the almighty Ivorian team in the quarterfinal.

The Eagles defeated the Elephants of Cote D’ivoire 2-1 to meet the Eagles of Mali in yesterday’s semifinal. As I write this on Tuesday night, I am cocksure that the Super Eagles will beat Mali hands down. We are playing in the final of this tournament come what may. We may not have a superb team, but those guys are determined. They want to make a point that you don’t judge a book by its cover. Even if we don’t beat Mali, the Eagles have done something for their coach-they have saved Stephen Keshi’s job. The big boss should know the strategy to adopt against Mali having been that country’s national coach at a time. Goals, Eagles, goals, we need a basketful of them against Mali and your opponents in the final.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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COMMENTS

T

HE western nations have become apprehensive in recent years about their post colonial states degenerating to failed states characterised by weak ineffective and corrupt central government as a result of misrule by their new rulers.

Thousands of hungry and jobless immigrants from ex-colonies are flooding the metropolitan nations in droves. At home the falcon can no more hear the falconer. The resources from their satellites states that once supported welfare services have been cornered by multi-nationals driven only by greed. To forestall the looming anarchy at home and abroad, the western nations seem to have started the new ‘scramble for Africa’.

The new scramble has become more compelling because of globalization, the new god that proclaim all of us, the rich and the poor, equal participants in the globalised economy. The west also need to forestall the looming anarchy as a result of migration of frustrated, desperate jobless youths to Europe where the percentage of the unemployed is in some places is as high as 30%. Some two years back, France experienced first-hand, the anger of the hungry when frustrated homeless immigrants descended on the properties of their wealthy hosts. Last year, it was the turn of Britain as angry youths freely moved around London, looting and setting fire on malls.

Anarchy is slowly creeping into Italy, Greece and Spain.

Now, western leaders have decided to check the greed of their citizens and their collaborators in the poor African countries manned by incompetent thieving political class. Only last month, US President Barack Obama had during his second inauguration warned “The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob”. The French, after the massive destruction of property by disgruntled immigrants two years back have become very active in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Tunisia and Mali. UK Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking in Davos last week ahead of the G8 meeting scheduled for June 17 and 18 in Lough Erne, Northern Island, UK, had complained openly about squandered “Nigeria oil exports worth

‘With the death of sovereignty, and the ascendancy of globalization, the new god, we have nothing to be ashamed of by asking Britain to start from where they stopped in October 1, 1960’

M

Y attention has been drawn to the commentary in page 19 of The Nation newspaper of Friday, February 1, in regard to the above subject matter.

The commentary was interesting not for the facts presented, but for the ignorance and or prejudice behind it. The editorial chose to distort facts especially when it stated that; “Justice Abang concurred with Ubah’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who reportedly argued that, in seeking the English court’s freezing order in respect of a matter that happened in Nigeria, the bank “ridiculed the Nigerian judiciary” and demonstrated disrespect for the restraining order issued by the Nigerian court. Olanipekun further described the bank’s London suit as “an attempt to undermine the judicial process in Nigeria. In doing so the arguments of Wole Olanipekun SAN were lumped together in order to achieve the insidious objective of making the judge look bad.

This reply is intended to correct the erroneous impression that the judge is trying to force Access Bank not to litigate a matter in the UK. Far from it.

When the matter came up before Honourable Justice Abang on Friday January 25, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN referred the judge to documents filed by Access Bank before a London High Court, wherein the bank alleged that part of the reasons it avoided instituting an action against Capital Oil and it’s Managing Director, Ifeanyi Ubah in Nigeria was because the Nigerian judiciary was corrupt. Olanipekun said that Access Bank denigrated the Nigerian judiciary as well as dragged its image in the mud in the United Kingdom, as a result of the unfounded allegation against the judiciary. He also informed the court that in two affidavits filed on behalf of Access Bank in the London trial, Access Bank alleged that it decided that its dispute with Capital Oil and Ifeanyi Ubah because should be tried in the UK because of the corruptive influence that could be exerted on the Nigerian judiciary. He then informed the court that the above statement was made

The second coming of Britain almost a hundred billion dollars”, an amount he said was “more than the total net aid to the whole of Sub Saharan Africa”.

Also making reference to Nigeria where a few years back “a $800m discrepancy between what companies were paying and what the government was receiving for oil”, was discovered, Cameron had hinted “the western leaders and Japan are going to push for more transparency on who owns companies; on who’s buying up land and what purpose; on how governments spend their money, on how gas, oil and mining companies operate; and on who is hiding stolen assets and how we recover and return them.”

Now that we all know sovereignty is dead and finally buried by globalization; if you ask me, I would suggest we formally invite the British to take over. Some two decades back, long before the current surreptitious move by Britain, late Olabisi Onabanjo, alias “Aiyekoto”, an accomplished newspaper columnist and a resourceful Second Republic governor of Ogun state had echoed the same sentiments.

Today, there are more pressing reasons why Britain should come back. First we have been betrayed by our ill-equipped and ill-educated military adventurers starting with Gowon who said ‘money was not our problem’, (Of course the western companies provided wide range of consumer items to wipe out his illadvised Udoji award) to General Ibrahim Babangida that fraudulently claimed there was no alternative to Structural Adjustment Program, (SAP). SAP which supported importation of Italian tiles, Italian shoes and Italian clothes and tyres sounded the death knell of our own budding industries. Today our exchange rate which was approximately one naira to one pound in 1982 is N260 to one pound sterling.

Their military new breed politicians have

not fared better. Infrastructural decay, unemployment and collapse of industries have come to characterize their war against Nigeria these past 13 years. To feed ourselves we depend on massive importation of rice, fish, chicken, palm oil, ground nut oil etc.

There are other reasons we must support the return of Britain to Nigeria.

Fifty two years after independence, no one can say precisely what the population of Nigeria is. We don’t even know who is and who is not a Nigerian. Since 1963 controversial census figure decided by the courts, we have not been able to have a credible exercise outside the 1953 colonial figure which defied all known demographic laws.

Our judiciary lost its innocence when, under the guise of celebrating our sovereignty, we did away with the ‘Privy Council’ in order to cage the opposition Action Group (AG) party.

We have since moved from “Coker’s My hand are tied” judgment, to twelve two-third ridiculous judicial pronouncement to install President Shehu Shagari in 1983, to plea bargaining where our judges and senior advocates have been claimed to smile to their banks while those who have stolen the nation blind escape with a slap on the wrist.

Nigerians also earnestly yearn for a British Chief Justice to derail the ambitions of ’thieves in the state Houses’ currently preparing for a comeback as governors, senators or on the verge of installing their minions as governors with stolen money.

Of course, if there is a survey of the police, they will probably opt for a British Inspector General (IG). First, many occupants of that position since the departure of the last British IG ended up as villains. Some have been paraded in chains like mere criminals for siphoning billions of naira meant for police welfare and police equipments. Some have

Re: Access Bank versus Capital Oil

By Nick Hayes

by Access Bank at a time it had flagrantly disobeyed the orders of the court.

Olanipekun submitted that the claim by Access Bank that a person can have “the judiciary in his pocket” is understood to mean that the dispute between them can only be tried in the UK because the Nigerian judiciary was corrupt and could not be trusted to do justice in the matter. The allegation he further stated was intended to paint the entire Nigerian judiciary as so corrupt. He also said that it was contemptuous of Access Bank to suggest that the Nigerian judiciary could be so corruptly influenced by an individual, that Access Bank can ever get justice against such an individual in a Nigerian court. He admitted that while there may be some corrupt judges in Nigeria, the allegation by Access Bank gives the impression that no judge can be found in Nigerian judiciary who has not been corrupted or is capable of escaping the alleged corrupt influence of his clients.

He regretted that the unfounded and unpatriotic allegation that the judiciary in Nigeria was corrupt was deposed to by Andrew James Preston relying on documents and facts presented to him by a Nigerian lawyer working with Access Bank as her Corporate Counsel, Fatai Oladipo and Deji Awodein one of the bank’s Deputy General Managers. Olanipekun then expressed further regret that no Briton would make such unpatriotic allegation against a British judge talk less of the entire British judiciary.

In his opinion the allegation by the Bank as well the violations of the orders of the

Nigerian court were attempts by Access Bank to undermine the Nigerian judiciary and amounted to criminal contempt of the court.

The court was also informed that orders made by the court on two occasions had been violated by the bank.

It was the above arguments that the trial judge agreed with in holding that by supplying information which scandalized the Nigerian judiciary the bank’s Corporate Counsel, Fatai Oladipo and Deji Awodein one of the bank’s Deputy General Managers were guilty of criminal contempt. The court also held that Access Bank and Coscharis Motors flouted the orders of court made on 12/11/12 and 21/01/13 respectively. It is therefore obvious that the Nigerian court had no grouse per se with Access from suing in a British court. In any case, Access Bank variously obtained orders from the London court ordering Capital Oil and Ubah to discontinue their suit in Nigeria or it would hold them in contempt of its orders. The court threatened to fine, imprison them or to have their assets seized if they disobey the order.

As if that was not bad enough, the English court held that “any other person who knows of this order and does anything which helps or permits either of the respondents to breach the terms of this order may also be held to be in contempt of court and may be imprisoned, fined or have their assets seized”. We suspect that this may include the Nigerian trial judge, Capital Oil and Ubah’s lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun SAN and even any court official who participates further in the matter.

One can understand why Justice Abang in a bid to uphold the integrity of the judiciary and the judicial process held that the two Access bank officials were in contempt of

demonstrated their prowess in election rigging. None has excelled in the task of protection of life and property, the only reason we traded our freedom for government protection.

Unlike America, where President Obama only this last Tuesday insisted American street police will not be allowed to be outgunned by criminals, our ill-equipped and ill-trained police men have become sitting targets for criminals. They are neither safe on the streets nor in their barracks. We read on the pages of newspapers often how criminals walked into police barracks, killed those on duty, cart away their weapons and set the police station of fire.

Since we can neither secure our water ways or borders, we need a British head of the armed forces. The Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently told us that the nation loses $7b annually to oil bunkerers in the creeks. The Pipeline Professional Association of Nigeria (PPAN) put the figure at N100b annually.

With a standing army, navy and air force, the federal government was said to have awarded a security contract of $103m to Tompolo to help fight crime on the sea particularly against pirates, who are credited to be ‘too powerful for the Nigerian Navy to control’.

To protect our pipelines, it was claimed ‘General’ Government Tompolo Ekpumopolo, got contract to the tune of N3.6bn; Asari Dokubo, 1.44bn; ‘General’ Ateke Tom, N560m and ‘General’ Ebikabowei Boyloaf Victor Ben, N560m. While defending the government action, which Okupe said was done by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, he said, “since this exercise began, the crude oil production has jumped from 1.8mbpd to 2.6mbpd. It is safe to suggest British takeover of our armed forces because it will be seditious to suggest a change of their Commander-in-Chief.

As I watched Dr Anwen White, a female neurosurgeon of Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who on BBC Monday evening described as ‘routine’ a skull reconstruction and a cochlear implant surgery on 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai, shot by the Taliban for advocating women education, I secretly wished for the return of British to a teaching hospital like the UCH rated as one of the best three in the commonwealth of nations in 1960.

With the death of sovereignty, and the ascendancy of globalization, the new god, we have nothing to be ashamed of by asking Britain to start from where they stopped in October 1, 1960.

court. Access Bank cannot insist on maintaining its action in London and seek to prevent others from doing so in Nigeria and at the same time smear our judiciary in a bid to ride rough-shod over everybody.

Capital Oil’s main grouse for bringing the action in Nigeria is because the Deed of Guarantee which purportedly vets jurisdiction in the English court violates Section 20 of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act 1991.The Act clearly provides that “Any agreement by any person or party to any cause, matter or action which seeks to oust the jurisdiction of the Court shall be null and void, if it relates to any admiralty matter falling under this Decree and if (a) the place of performance, execution, delivery, act or default is or takes place in Nigeria ; or (b) any of the parties resides or has resided in Nigeria ; or (c) the payment under the agreement (implied or express) is made or is to be made in Nigeria. Capital Oil and Ubah’s contention therefore is that the provision is void as the admiralty jurisdiction of the Federal High Court includes “any banking or letter of credit transaction involving the importation or exportation of goods to and from Nigeria in a ship or an aircraft, whether the importation is carried out or not and notwithstanding that the transaction is between a bank and its customer”, which is what the debt they guaranteed dealt with.

These are facts and I so present them for clarity.

• Hayes is spokesman, Capital Oil

‘Capital Oil’s main grouse for bringing the action in Nigeria is because the Deed of Guarantee which purportedly vets jurisdiction in the English court violates Section 20 of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act 1991’

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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THE NATION

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

INSIDE

UI admits 2,671 out of 41,367

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

They are called ‘miracle centres’, a euphemism for schools where candidates believe that they will write their examination and pass, no matter what. These ‘centres’ are all over the place. Some states have been able to get rid of them; others have not.

KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE, OSAGIE OTABOR and DAMISI OJO report.

THE University of Ibadan has admitted 2,671 candidates for the 2012/2013 academic session.

This is out of the 41,367 candidates who applied to the university, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said.

-Page 37

Boy breaks IGCSE record THE management of Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, has never had it so good in the last 25 years of its existence. None of its students has ever made it smile like Master Adenuga Victor Ogooluwa, who made six As in the November 2012 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination.

-Page 39

CAMPUS LIFE

• Candidates writing in a miracle centre located in the bush.

Flushing out ‘miracle centres’

•An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

D

Corps member drowns in river WEEKENDS in Ikom village, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, are always busy with fishing, the major occupation of the villagers. It was not different penultimate Sunday as the villagers trooped to the river. Many were fishing.

Some came to swim; others to wash their clothes.

-Page 29

O ‘miracle centres’ really exist? If they do, how do they operate? Confronted with these questions at a press parley last December, the Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof Promise Okpala, said he did not know if there were secondary schools that exist just to help pupils pass external examinations.

"Whether private or public, all schools are under the canopy of government. Before we go to a school to conduct examination, it must show evidence that it is approved by the government up to the level of taking exams. Miracle centre is a loose terminology; people who know them should inform us," he said.

But Kelechi Abomege (not real names) said they exist. He told The Nation that he visited some ‘miracle centres’ last year when he wrote the May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in Owo, Ondo State. He also knows many of his peers in the school he attended who refused to write their examination in their school. They registered with private schools that took them to Edo State to write the examination in ‘miracle centres.’

"I wrote my WASC and NECO last year in Ondo State. In that school, we were 170 students in SS2 but in SS3 the number reduced to 37 combined with arts. When I asked why they left, they said students hardly made it there. That they were going to register in schools where they will be taken to ‘miracle centres’ in Benin, Edo State. Some went to register in nearby private schools where their needs would be met in the examination hall," he said.

He said one of the many private schools that the candidates patronised is in Owo, which was allegedly established by a man from Edo State who cashed in on the opportunity to make quick cash from candidates

seeking the easy way out.

"There is one man who came to Ondo to establish a school just because of the way students travel to Edo State.

He took it as a business venture. When I visited the school myself, the classrooms were so small. They can hardly contain 30 pupils. When it is time for exam, he would take them to Edo to write because the school is not approved to conduct WAEC. When I asked my classmates, that when WAEC issues the certificate which state will they go and collect it? They will say they don't care as long as they make their papers," he said.

Abomege said the candidates paid about N35,000 to register for the WASSCE and N55,000 for both

‘There is one man who came to Ondo to establish a school just because of the way students travel to Edo State. He took it as a business venture. When I visited the school myself, the classrooms were so small.

They can hardly contain 30 pupils’

•Prof Osarenren

WASSCE and NECO SSCE. Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Remi Olatubora said no candidate for this year's WASSCE in public schools registered in ‘miracle centres’ in neighbouring Edo State. According to him, if such is happening, the principals would have reported the matter to his ministry. The state, he says, maintains the ‘No NECO, No WAEC’ policy, adding that the improvement in education quality and students’ performance make them remain in the state for the examination.

He said only candidates sponsored by the state for the NECO SSCE are eligible to sit for WASSCE. Unlike neighbouring states, where the governments pay WAEC fees of all candidates in public schools, Ondo is paying only for NECO. He said: "I cannot speak for private secondary schools, but for public schools, nothing of such has happened."

Annually, the National Examinations Committee, the highest decision making organ of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on examination matters, • Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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EDUCATION ACE FILE WAEC collects data THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has started the administration of questionnaire in Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo.

The exercise, which will end this month, seeks to determine the perception of WAEC by its stakeholders.

Management and staff of the College have, however, cooperated with the research officer designated for the assignment in the College.

Adeboye for mega service THE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, will hold a oneday evangelical programme at the ACE Sports Centre on February 17.

In preparation for this, the Management of the college has made necessary arrangements to ensure the service is successful.

The Pastor in charge of Ondo Province Two, Pastor Ayo Ajisola,, in a letter to the Management, expressed strong belief that the coming of the man of God will heal the land and bring immense spiritual blessings on the college and the Ondo Kingdom.

Fashola directs councils to review courses AGOS State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has directed governing councils of tertiary institutions in the state to review the courses of regular programmes in their institutions.

Fashola, who gave the directive at the fourth stakeholder's consultative forum on tertiary institutions, held at the conference hall of the education resource centre, said they should target programmes that are in line with the needs of the society.

He said: "It is worrisome that some of the courses available on the regular programmes in our institutions nowadays are no longer relevant to the needs of the society, and this is partly responsible for the mass unemployment of our graduates."

The governor, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Oluranti Adegbule, observed that too much emphasis has over the years been placed on quantitative aspect of tertiary education rather than quality.

He said this has resulted in the number of unemployable graduates tertiary institutions produced yearly.

Fashola implored the stakeholders to also consider quality in the operation of the open distance learning (ODL) education,

L

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

considering the growing concern on how to ensure sustainable quality in the system.

Earlier in his welcome address, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Fatai Olukoga, said the gov-

ernment has identified higher education as one of the key sectors in accelerating economic growth.

He also said the quality and efficiency of the sub-sector is, therefore, of utmost importance in achieving the objective.

He said the theme: A veritable tool for

• From Left: Mrs. Omolara Erugbogbo, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education; Prof Adewale Solarin, Director-General, National Mathematics Centre, Abuja and Chief Keith Richards, MD/CEO, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, at a press conference announcing entries for the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) in Lagos ... on Tuesday.

Flushing out ‘miracle centres’ • Continued from page 25

decries malpractice, blaming it on the registration of external candidates for the May/June Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), specifically meant for SS3 pupils in secondary schools.

Many states are involved in the practice, which people claim, as thriving in Edo State because of the “conducive environment” for it. The state attracts candidates from other states who pay thousands of naira to public school principals or private school owners.

As Edo State Commissioner for Education between 2009 and 2010, Prof Ngozi Osarenren, fought the malaise in collaboration with WAEC. She fashioned rules that mandated public and private schools to supply attendance registers, evidence of payment of dues and other documents before they would be allowed to register candidates for WAEC. In an interview with The Nation, Prof Osarenren, who has since returned to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said she discovered many public and private schools that enrolled indigenes of other states and even relocated to the bush.

She said: "By the time I got to Edo in January 2009, I already knew that Edo was known for being the haven of examination cheats because people used to come from all parts of the country, particularly the eastern part, Anambra, Abia; Ondo State, a few from Ekiti, a few from Kogi and Kwara states.

"I got some lecturers from the University of Benin, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Auchi Polytechnic, and the College of Education, Ekiadolor - tested people of high integrity who had been looking for leadership which by God's grace I provided, to monitor the examination in 2009. It was not the usual monitoring. We knew the usual flashpoints; the very notorious schools. We sent a monitor to a school. He will get there before the beginning of the examination and stay till the end. I was also moving around with policemen.

"You get to a school where they have registered more than 450 can-

didates and most of them are not from Edo State; they are not resident in Edo, and they are not Edo names. It was one particular professor who called us from the school that he needed policemen. I went to the place with the Special Adviser on Education, Alhaji Ali Suleiman. When we got there they had locked the gate. It took them 30 minutes before they came to open for us. We discovered they had hurriedly cleaned the board and arranged the candidates. But we still found cases of impersonation. In fact, one candidate jumped the fence to escape.

"I went to the Governor and he said: 'Ngozi I am not saying that you are lying but I don't think you are correct'. When he followed us to another school, he was so enraged he said the exam should stop. In another school, they had 460 candidates and all came from Ondo State."

Because of the activities of the monitors, Prof Osarenren said a school relocated to the bush.

She said: "Because of the aggressive monitoring, some of the schools relocated. One school relocated from its place to about three kilometres into the bush in another local government.

You could see signs of freshly cut trees and hurriedly put-together plank structure. We had to drive through a small stream to get them. By the time we got there, there were 388 candidates from Ondo and Ekiti states. It was one of our directors who went to the school's original location to monitor that discovered and came to tell us. Thinking she was the one with the WAEC question paper, someone told her the location in the bush. As she got near the place, she was stopped by thugs who were bearing guns.

They only allowed her to go there when she insisted that if she did not get to the place the examination would not start.

"When she came to tell me, like my governor, I did not believe her. The chief of staff gave me 12 mobile policemen and we went to the place.

After driving for sometime, I had to ask her if she was sure of where we were going to. At a point I became scared myself but the policemen assured us that we should go. That fear was replaced with anger when we got there and discovered the school. The

sustainable quality tertiary and mass education, was carefully adopted to launch the state to another level of education. He noted that focus will be on teaching methods and technology delivery on an individual basis to students who are not present during classroom teaching.

"This policy dialogue is targeted at packaging for the state a policy document that can stand the test of time on open and distance learning," he said.

• The centre built in the middle of nowhere

‘When he followed us to another school, he was so enraged he said the exam should stop. In another school, they had 460 candidates and all came from Ondo State’ examination was stopped. That school wasn't supposed to be in that local government."

Prof Osarenren said the situation was so bad that a principal was dismissed when it was discovered that he refused to register some candidates because they could not pay the extra N2,800 he levied them for the examination that cost about N5,700 at that time. He replaced them with candidates from Kogi State.

To check these sharp practices, Prof Osarenren said the ministry requested for the attendance registers of SS2 and SS3 pupils for the 2009/ 2010 session before the next examination. When it was time for WASSCE registration, schools were required to submit their candidates' list before beeing given approval that would allow WAEC to register them. Also, the schools were told they could only register candidates whose JSS3 certificates were available. For private schools had to provide evidence of their registration and evidence of payment of renewal levies.

To cut corners, Prof Osarenren said private schools started forging her signature and the ministry's letterhead. The 62 schools caught were delisted for five years.

Prof Osarenren lamented that many

of the candidates and school owners arrested were not prosecuted.

"We arrested many candidates caught for examination malpractice but prosecution was a problem. We were able to arrest 62 schools that forged my signature and the letterhead. But prosecution was again the problem. They were granted bail and that was where it ended.”

She said after she left office, the stringent measures adopted were dropped, so the perpetrators are back to business.

"Those 62 schools I delisted are back.

For two years, they did not write WAEC while I was there. But in 2012 they all wrote. All the sanctions and stringent measures are no longer followed," she said.

Our correspondent found that the ‘miracle centres’ are still thriving in the state as school proprietors have devised means to enrol students without detection by the ministry’s officials.

In some of the schools visited, while posing as a prospective student, some demanded between N20,000 and N60,000 as enrolment fees.

A principal in one public school demanded N9,600. When reminded of the conditions set by the Ministry of Education, he said, "Don't worry,

we have our way."

A proprietor, who pleaded anonymity, said the state has done well in curbing malpractices in WAEC and NECO examinations but is yet to stop malpractices perpertuated during the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

The proprietor said the ministry’s officials visited their schools to ascertain the number of students, adding that, number would be enrolled for the examination.

It was gathered that many school proprietors are finding it difficult enrolling many students they have collected money from because the number of students enrolment brought by the proprietors were slashed.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary Mrs. Gladys Idahor, said malpractice fell to 1.78 per cent from 24.98 per cent before the coming of Governor Adams Oshiomhole administration.

Mrs. Idahor said any proprietor that collected money from students beyond the approved numbers would have to explain to them what happened when the examination starts.

She said: "Some of the measures are to ensure that only pupils from a particular school that have their JSS 3 certificates from that school are enrolled. We requested for the certificates and ensured that the pupils attended the school and not another one.

If it is from another school, you must show evidence they were in your school in SSS I and SSS II. Nobody can come in SSS 3. Before you can come in SSS 3, the Ministry of Education must clear you.

"That is for both public and private schools. Before this enrolment started, I sent people to go round schools and take head count. They came complaining that we are reducing the space they have. We are trying but we might not get 100 per cent. Next year, we will achieve 100 per cent.

"We look at the school register and broadsheet, which will tell us the number of persons that wrote SS 2 examination and passed. If 10 persons are on the broadsheet, you will enrol only 10. I set up a committee to screen the papers they are bringing in. We are not clearing new pupils. Some schools submitted forms for 100 but we cleared 38. They are afraid of what to tell the candidates. We are going to monitor the conduct of the examination. We will recruit professors and university lecturers to help us monitor the examination. If you see a child that is not a part of the school, you will know," Mrs. Idahor said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

EDUCATION

Nigerian varsities better than Ghana's, says UNILORIN VC

UNILORIN FILE

New website costs N1.5m THE University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) will soon launch a new website that its initiators promise is secure, user-friendly and rich.

The new website was presented for preview to the Vice-Chancellor Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, principal officers, deans and others by the Director, Computer Services and Information Technology Directorate (COMSIT), Prof Isaac Adimula.

Adimula said the project cost N1.5 million, N5 million cheaper than the old website. He added that the new website is secure and therefore safe from hackers.

In his post-preview remarks, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the COMSIT Director and members of his team for a good presentation, saying, "It is a job well-done".

He then challenged them to perfect work on the website. He said there are on-going efforts to lay proper infrastructure for ICT development in the university, adding that the optic fibre project would soon be completed and that all necessary facilities to be deployed would be provided.

•Cultism has roots in secondary schools

V

ICE-CHANCELLOR of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has said Nigerian universities are better equipped than Ghanaian universities.

This news must be a shock for parents and students who patronise Ghanaian universities based on the belief they are better than those in Nigeria.

Last month, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Nimi Briggs said Nigerians spend N160 million annually in just two Ghanaian universities. Comparing funding level of universities in the two countries, Prof Ambali said in an interview

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

with reporters in Ilorin that Nigerian universities are better equipped than their Ghanaian counterparts.

His words: "There is still room for improvement. I won't say the level of funding of university education in Nigeria is totally satisfactory. If I say so that means all universities are static, but university being the place where the best brains are assembled the idea of what to do is always there; which means the request for funding will always be there.

"In Ghana, they are not also satisfied with the level of funding. As a matter of fact, the other time I was there the Nigerian students studying there actually confessed to us that when it comes to teaching and learn-

ing delivery, the facilities we have in Nigeria are far better than what they have in Ghana. We have better facilities here. The only difference between Nigerian and Ghanaian universities is the stability in the latter's academic calendar."

Speaking on cultism, Ambali said cult activities on campuses emanated from the secondary schools.

He said many cultists caught confess to have started their cult activities right from secondary school.

The VC urged parents and teachers to monitor young people better.

"Universities inherit wards already groomed from homes, primary and post primary schools and even the polytechnics or colleges of education.

Most of the students caught belong-

Committee screens students THE UNILORIN Admissions Committee has set a one-month timetable for the screening of students with one year to go on their programmes.

This includes students in 300Level for a four-year course; 400Level for a five-year course, and 500-Level for Medicine.

A circular signed by Mr A.A. Yusuf, secretary to the committee, informed the students to be present at screening centres with their documents between March 4 and April 14, failing which they will pay a fine of N3,000 for late registration and risk not graduating on schedule.

The documents, which are to be originals, are: Letter of Admission from JAMB/UNILORIN, Evidence of transfer from university to university or inter-faculty transfer, notification of UME scores, original SSCE certificate, statement of results of IJMB or Teacher's Grade II, student identity card, original current session registration from and, clearance certificate.

ing to one secret cult or the other confessed to have started their cult activities right from secondary schools. To eradicate cultism on campuses, parents, primary and secondary school teachers, polytechnics and colleges of education teachers should educate their wards to shun cultism before they enter the universities," he said.

OkoPoly expands capacity From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

A

40-bed PG hall next session CONSTRUCTION will soon commence on a 40-bedroom block hall of residence for postgraduate and international students, and it is expected to be completed before the next academic session.

The Management committee of the UNILORIN Academic MultiPurpose Co-operative Society Ltd informed the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali of plans to build the hostel when it visited his office.

The Chairman of the Committee, Prof Noah Yusuf, said the facility would house male and female postgraduate and international students and assured the VC that work would commence on the project immediately approval is given.

He also told the VC that he would be awarded honorary membership status of the society during its annual general meeting holding soon.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the society for its commitment to academic development and praised the proposed hostel project. He promised to send the proposal to the Physical Planning Unit of the university for consideration and approval.

•Prof Ambali

• ACE agric plantation. Inset: Prof Adeyemi Idowu

College enhances agricultural output

B

EYOND training teachers for primary and junior secondary education levels, the Provost of the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, has said the institution is focused on improving agricultural productivity through its farms.

Speaking on the agricultural initiative of the 49-year-old institution, Idowu said in addition to serving as training ground for students of the Agricultural Science department, the farms provide produce and livestock for the college and host communities.

Coordinator of the Teaching/Research and commercial farms, Dr Ajani Ayoola, said the farms grow varieties of crops such as vegetables, cassava, yams and toma-

toes in large quantities as well as run poultry, piggery and a place where goats are reared.

In addition, Ayoola said the college also has a large palm tree plantation, which initially started on two hectares of land in 1999 before it was expanded between 2002 and 2003. He said the palm kernel are harvested for processing at a medium-sized palm oil mill established by the College, a few metres from the farms.

He said the proceeds from these agricultural activities including palm oil, eggs, chicken, piglets, mature pigs, maize, cassava and yam as well as pork are sold to members of the college community and the public at affordable rates.

Speaking further on achieve-

ments recorded last year on the farms, Ayoola said they sold 9,350 litres of palm oil in 22 litre-jerry cans and 5½ tons of palm kernels.

He praised the Provost for supporting the activities of the farms thereby repositioning them for better service delivery.

However, to function better, Ayoola said the farms need modern equipment, especially hydraulic press, which he said is required for smooth and efficient services at the farm.

He also spoke of plans to construct fish ponds, establish Apiaculture (honey production), cultivate citrus plants and plantain plantations as well as establish a garri processing factory to further expand the farms.

S the Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OkoPoly) in Anambra State awaits full accreditation of the programmes assessed by an 80-man accreditation team from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) penultimate week, its Rector, Prof Godwin Onu said the institution is expanding its capacity to deliver the Federal Government's mandate on Technical and Vocational Education.

Onu told the team led by Ihejirika Austin that the institution has introduced more departments, such as Aeronautics, Renewable Energy, Forensic Sciences and Railway Engineering in line with the ministerial directive on transformation agenda of the Federal Government for science and technology.

He added that over 250 workers are undergoing training to enhance their capacity to deliver quality training.

"We are building a polytechnic that is beyond borders. And because we said by the end of 2012 staff that have not upgraded themselves would be shown the way out, there has been a mad rush for higher degrees. We have serious challenges like that of capacity building and we are doing our best.

“We have over 250 staff on one form of capacity building or the other and we have many of them overseas so that when they come back they would impact positively here," he said.

Onu also noted that the institution is improving its teaching and learning facilities to meet its aspirations of being a top notch citadel of learning.

Private varsities learn from mistakes

P

RIVATE universities are better managed because they avoid the potholes public universities have fallen into, says Prof Johnson Eze, Vice-Chancellor, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State.

In an interview, Eze said private universities learn from the mistakes of older public universities because their administrators have worked in public universities for years and know what to correct.

He said: “Because most of the senior staff in all these private school have been exposed to the same situation in public schools or some have come from abroad where things are better and, therefore, they can say well we must have a change and go after the change.

Commenting on the limited number of PhD holders in the university system, Eze said the minimum quali-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

fication set by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for lecturers and the length of time it takes to get the PhD in some institutions means not enough of them can be produced in good time.

He said: "The minimum qualification for lectureship is lecturer two.

Lecturer two is what you come to after assistant lecturer. If you have a master's degree, you start as a graduate assistant, that is, you don't lecture officially, you help senior lecturers.

After assistant lecture, the next grade is lecturer two. And the NUC is insisting that Lecture two qualification is PhD. If PhD is the minimum qualification for teaching in the university, how many PhD holders do we have in the country, or how many PhD holders are our universi-

ties producing yearly. Does it correspond with the ratio of undergraduates in our institutions?”

Speaking on what Novena is doing differently, the professor of Plant Eco-physiology said the 10-year-old institution is training students who will be self-reliant on graduation.

"In the next five years the indication is very strong that Novena will be making a great deal of progress in producing manpower not only for university, teaching, and for job but for also entrepreneurship. We will not just be producing job seekers but be producing job creators," he said.

Already, he said products of the institution are excelling within and outside Nigeria.

He said: "In 2011 alone, two students of Novena University won international awards. One of them was Miss Vivian Nwafor, a Biochemistry student, who

• Prof John Eze

has always topped her class, won an international award in South Africa. Miss Tessy Askia, a Computer Science graduate of Novena University was the best graduating Masters degree student of Business Information in a university in London and was also given an international award.

29

*CAMPUSES A house Lifeline *NEWS *PEOPLE divided for the *KUDOS& KNOCKS by itself Last week, all hell was let loose at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) following the death best

of a final year student of Accounting, Teslim Adebola Ibrahim. OLATUNJI AWE reports. *GRANTS

Page 31

Page 34

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0802-4550-354 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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

Msurshima Ajem, 300-Level Mass Communication, Benue State University (BSU), is the institution’s Kumashe u Tiv (custodian of Tiv beauty). In this chat with MSONTER ANZAA (200-Level Medicine), the beauty queen talks about her challenges and experiences.

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

About 10 Corps members serving in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State went to a river bank to play handball. One of them, Miss Faith Enemuo, got drowned in Ikom River.

Her body was found two days after. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (Political Science) and JOY RIMAN (300-Level Linguistics and Communication Studies, University of Calabar) report.

Corps member drowns in river

‘Our culture W forbids skimpy dresses’

•Msurshima •Continued on page 30

EEKENDS in Ikom village, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, are always busy with fishing, the major occupation of the villagers. It was not different penultimate Sunday as the villagers trooped to the river.

Many were fishing. Some came to swim; others to wash their clothes.

In the throng were some Corps members, who chose to play handball at the bank of the river. But, a few minutes into the game, one of them got drowned in the river.

Onlookers wondered how the late Faith Nzube Enemuo got into the river. Initially, it was learnt that the Corps members were playing on the shore. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that one of them pleaded with his colleagues to move the game into the river.

“There were about 10 of them, who came to play handball on the dry land near the Ikom River. One of them suggested that they should move closer to the river, but the suggestion was opposed by other Corps members, including the late Faith,” a villager told CAMPUSLIFE. But when her colleagues moved the game close to the river, the late Faith was said to have joined them reluctantly.

The ball fell into the river, an eyewitness said, and the late Faith offered to fetch the ball, which was moving faster away from the shoreline.

“The late Faith stood close to the river for a few seconds, after which she dived to bring the ball out. Her colleagues watched in excitement as she swam close to the ball. But, in a moment, she stopped and started

•The late Faith

waving her hands. They thought she was still playing, until they didn’t see her again on the water surface.”

When her colleagues realised what was happening, they signalled to the villagers, who were swimming in the

river. After 10 minutes of frantic search, the rescuers could not find the girl. More villagers offered to help with canoes and fishing instru•Continued on page 30

•Invest in science and technology, VC advises govt -P32 •Protest rocks ABU over hostel allocation -P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Who’s Pushing grooming Out with the next Agbo Agbo 08052959489 generation of (SMS only) •aagboa@gmail.com leaders? (1)

L

EADERSHIP plays a crucial role in the development of any society, a look at the leadership structure of a society says a whole lot about that society, which is why John Maxwell who has written and researched on the subject said everything rises and falls on leadership. Leadership can either move a people forward or backward, it can cause incalculable damage that in some cases may require decades to amend. As a student of history and political economy, I’ve taken the pains to study the critical path of nations, and in my studies and research, I’ve discovered that leadership plays a fundamental role.

Without going too far, let’s take three Southern African nations as a brief case study here. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia all share a common thread of history; they were at a point ruled by whites with vocal and militant black opposition movements in tow. In South Africa we have the ANC, in Namibia there is the SWAPO and in Zimbabwe there is ZANU-PF. While South Africa and Namibia were able to rise above the bitterness and oppression of colonial rule and domination to make headway into the 21st century, Zimbabwe remains a basket case of monumental failure at a time having the highest inflationary rate in the world! South Africa and Namibia had leaders in Nelson Mandela and Sam Nujoma, who were willing to forgive and move on while Robert Mugabe’s stock in trade is to stoke the spirit of bitterness in his people and whip them to a state of “patriotic” frenzy

in his determination to cling to power perpetually.

Remember former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida’s profound statement in the run up to the 2011 election that Nigerian youths are not fully ready for leadership?

The media backlash generated by that statement caused him his presidential ambition.

Why would a former Nigerian leader make such a statement? Is it backed by facts or experience? If it is where are the facts?

There is no doubt in my mind that a perennial challenge faced by any political system remains political leadership succession. Get ten Nigerians into a room and allow them to start talking and it shouldn’t surprise you that eight out of the ten would most probably talk about the failure of leadership in the country; you’ll also probably see this scenario play out on the vendors stand, beer parlours, academic circles, public discourses etc, we just love to bemoan our situation. This goes to show how important leadership is in almost all facet of human endeavor. In most countries, tertiary institutions are a repository where future leaders are identified, selected and properly groomed for the onerous and challenging task of leadership.

Most countries in the advanced world have a laid down blueprint and guideline for leadership grooming and selection – even though no one is going to print out a manual and give to you, nonetheless such things exists that is why they never have issues in this critical area of progress. While some countries are fortunate in this area, others pass, or are still passing through a difficult leadership path.

Almost all countries in Africa fall into this

category. Nigeria’s, and by extension Africa’s leadership crisis is deeply engrained and multifaceted; it is a combination of lack of vision, greed, tribal, religious and sectional affinity and most importantly, the unwillingness to leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. In Nigeria today we are still bogged down with “tribe” and “zone” when other countries have moved on years ago and are now playing on the global scene from the point of strength and not weakness.

After the horrific and barbaric 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Paul Kagame, who became the president after leading a rebel movement, knew that the first step toward recovery is to de-emphasise the word “tribe”, the emphasis there now is on Rwandese and not on “Hutu” or “Tutsi”.

He is smart enough to know that the utmost goal of citizens of any nation is peace and prosperity, if these abound friction would be less likely. He’s also smart to know that if the economy of any nation is robust citizens’ care less about which leader or political power is in power.

Those who are opportune to watch Television commercials (TVC) of most African countries bent on selling their nations to the world on satellite TV would notice one common thread, the emphasis is now on promotion of tourism and investment drive, but unfortunately, anytime you see something on Nigeria you are taken back to Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Efik etc, because we often have the penchant of allowing mediocre and charlatans to dictate our commonwealth at a time intelligent people are studying the global scene and seeking the best for their people. Today, Mark Carney, a Canadian citizen can become the Governor of the Bank of England (Britain’s CBN). The world has moved on and it’s time for us to move forward as well.

In my long years of study, I’ve taken the pains to study political and economic systems and why a system would fail in a country and succeed in another. While I was in the university it was a norm then for most of us to have socialist inclination, if you find five students, there is the probability of four of them falling into this category. From that period – the 1990s – till date I’ve been fascinated with China and have been probing why Communism would

fail in the erstwhile Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and succeed in China. It is instructive to note that China has proposed to bail out Europe from its years of depressing economy, but the complex challenge in accepting such an offer is more ideological than economic. Would European nations who cherish the “freedom” that capitalism and free enterprise brings now take bail out money from a communist regime?

That’s the dilemma.

From the inception of communist rule in 1949 led by late Chairman Mao Zedong, China has a process of leadership selection and has started grooming its next generation of leaders as far back as 2007; the new set of leaders – which is the fifth generation - would take over from the present crop, and another would take over in the next five to ten years. If others are getting it right why is ours different? What really is the role of our tertiary institutions in leadership grooming and selection?

In the Chinese model, the process of grooming the next generation of leaders in government and economy has two dimensions: First, the active participation of young persons in existing governance structures, particularly on matters which directly concern them. This takes place through appropriate representation of youth bodies and young persons in agencies of government and public enterprises.

Secondly, a deliberate grooming through the political and administrative systems, for youth participation in politics and administration now and for the future. This occurs by way of young people’s deliberate participation in the political process and organisations.

The crux of my argument in this piece is this: Leadership selection and grooming are deliberate policy serious nations embark upon to ensure continuity of socio-economic and political progress that serves the common good of society. China, even though some will say runs a political system that is not “democratic” still has lessons to teach Nigeria on leadership. Why is this huge country courted by the west though it runs an “oppressive” socialist system? What is China doing right that we can learn from?

With a large rural population what are some of the lessons in poverty reduction we can imbibe from China? We will address this next week.

Corps member drowns in river ‘Our culture forbids skimpy dresses’

•Continued from page 29

ments, but they could not get her.

Two days later, the late Faith’s body was found on the Okuni Beach in the neighbouring village.

The other Corps members declined to speak with our correspondents when contacted.

The late Faith was a Batch “C” member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with state code number CR/12C/068. She hailed from Nanka Village in Anambra State. A graduate of Social Studies from the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), the late Faith was serving at Ikom Local Council before her death.

When CAMPUSLIFE got to Okuni Village, her body had already been evacuated from the beach and deposited at Emeka Mortuary, by Corps members with the help of policemen.

President of Okuni Community Youth Mr Emmanuel Nsor Alobi narrated how the villagers discovered the body. He said: “We were contacted on Sunday by the Divisional Police Officer that a girl got drowned in Ikom River. He urged us to keep vigilance at the river to observe possible passage of the body on Okuni Beach. I sent the information to other villagers to look out for the body.”

Alobi said the body was discovered at Okuni Beach in the early hours of Tuesday by an excavator, whose name was given as Pius Ogbonnaya.

“He saw the body floating on the beach of Okuni while he was going for his business. Pius called my attention and he immediately notified the DPO for further actions. But before the police and officials of NYSC in Ikom arrived, other youths had

•Continued from page 29

H

The body of the late Faith being taken to the mortuary by Corps members

‘Her colleagues watched in excitement as she swam close to the ball. But, in a moment, she stopped and started waving her hands.

They thought she was still playing, until they didn’t see her again on the water surface’ assisted Pius to bring out the decomposing body,” Alobi said.

The Ikom Local Government Inspector of NYSC, Mr Ekerette Judah Udoekpo, said he was awaiting directive from the zonal inspector on what to do next.

The Corps’ Liaison Officer (CLO) in the local government, Danjuma Zira Khaly, said the incident was sad, confirming that 10 Corps members went to play handball at the Ikom River. He described Faith’s death as a “big loss to the NYSC in Cross River State.”

It is being rumoured that the late Faith was pushed into the river by yet unidentified person but a villager, who pleaded anonymity, debunked the claim. He said: “I was there when the incident happened.

I don’t see any reason someone should lie about the issue. If anyone pushed her into the river, the first thing the people around would have done would be to hold the person. But she jumped into the river willingly to bring out the ball she was playing with her colleagues.”

A Corps member, who went to play at the river, Ifeanyi Gidofot, declined to speak with CAMPUSLIFE when contacted. He said he had been under pressure to give out information since the incident occurred, saying he would not comment on it further.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Cross River State Command, John Umoh, said autopsy had been conducted on the body.

OW did you become the Kumashe?

It was through a contest that involved dancing. There was also a greeting segment where we were required to greet in the traditional way. We came out in various traditional attires and I was adjudged the best among the contestants. I also contested for the Makurdi Youth Deanery and I was the pioneer queen of the contest.

What have you done since you became the custodian of Tiv beauty?

I am still mapping out my strategy to affect the lives of the needy. I have many programmes but it is not easy accessing funds and getting sponsorship. Corporate organisations in Benue State are not helpful. They don’t want to see your proposal and this turns one off. Like I said, I have lofty programmes for the youth and the vulnerable but funds are not there; so it is difficult to carry out such programmes. It is very bad.

What are the responsibilities of a Kumashe?

Having become Kumashe, one stops putting on trousers. I must not fall in love with non-Tiv person. Also, I must not be involved in activities and gathering that do not show good example to the youth. This is the symbol of the Tiv people. Our forefathers were very conservative. As Kumashe, I have to adopt the way of life supported by the Tiv culture. Sometimes, my mates laugh at my hairstyle but I just have to be myself because I am representing a culture.

What is your take on body exposure by beauty queens?

It is not by putting on skimpy dresses and exposing sensitive body parts that one can win a pageant. People can still admire someone that dresses decently. If you go to campuses, you will see a lot of indecent dresses. I advise the youth to adopt the African mode of dressing, which frowns against exposing sensitive body parts. It is not when we expose ourselves that people will admire us. We must be proud of our culture. It is good to be proud of our background as Africans.

What are the challenges in carrying out your responsibilities?

I must always look good and presentable. If you get to a place and someone says this is the Kumashe and you don’t look good, it is not right. And looking good is not easy; it involves material and financial resources.

What is your advice for those who have misconceptions about beauty pageant?

They should change their opinion. Like people say, beauty queens are prostitute. This thinking is wrong. People said you will need to sleep with people to win the crown. But when I contested, I didn’t see anybody asking for sexual request. It was the audience that gave me the crown. You don’t need to sleep with people. I advise people to believe in themselves. I didn’t know anybody but I won because I believed in myself.

Did your church oppose your involvement in cultural activities?

I am a Catholic and my first beauty crown actually came from Catholic Church’s contest. It was because I was the best-behaved girl that made me to win the contest then. The priest expects that I bring the good qualities to bear anywhere I find myself. After this, I will go for the national contest for Kumashe u Tiv.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

31

CAMPUS LIFE To discourage intelligent female students from abandoning their studies because of finance, the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies (CGSPS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, in conjunction with the Carnegie Corporation, New York, has given scholarships to some girls. DHIKRULLAH AKINOLA (400-Level Political Science) was at the ceremony.

Lifeline for the best T

HEY are called the fairer sex, but it is generally believed that society is not fair to them. The feminine gender is generally believed to be a deprived sex. It is a common practice in Africa for families to force a girlchild into an early marriage without education. For economic reasons, underage girls are turned to street hawkers; yet many are forced into prostitution to improve the status of their parents or guardians.

To change this and to invest in the future of the girl-child, the Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies (CGSPS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), in conjunction with the Carnegie Corporation, a foundation in New York, gave out scholarships to female undergraduates, who are doing well in their studies.

Last Tuesday, grants were given to over 75 students at an event with the theme The gender agenda: Gaining momentum in higher education through female scholarships held in the Chris Ogunbanjo Hall.

The event was graced by wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, and motivational speaker Fela Durotoye.

The centre was established in November 1996 by the institution as a platform to enhance the study of gender, development and pro-poor policy issues. Its mandate includes the

•From left: Mrs Ajimobi, flanked by Prof Soetan (left) and Prof Salami, displaying the award plaque.

expansion of the university’s interests in the emancipation of women, children and other vulnerable groups and also to develop social and economic strategies to help the nation overcome poverty.

According to the Centre’s Director, Prof Funmi Soetan, OAU was the first institution in Nigeria to implement gender equality policies, in line with the recommendations of international conferences such as Nairobi Third World Conference on Women in 1985 and the Fourth Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ayobami Salami, observed that the theme tallied with the national development

agenda, which recognised equal rights for men and women as enshrined in the Constitution.

“Unfortunately, de jure or constitutional rights are not often reflected in reality by de facto rights of Nigerian women, who continue to be excluded from accessing critical resources and opportunities. Indeed, it is well documented that gender gaps widen with progression up the educational ladder,” the VC said.

He added: “Undeniably, gender equality through female education is vital for sustainable human development and it further lends ample credence to the significance of today’s gathering.”

Mrs Ajimobi, the guest of honour, said women were aware of their

rights, which must be enforced by the government. She noted that education was the surest way to free the women from the shackle in which that society and circumstances put them.

Observing that education remained the key that could unlock the deepest secrets of mankind and set the minds free to achieve human potentials, Ajimobi asserted that many women had their dreams truncated due to lack of financial capacity to support it. She added that some of them engaged in menial, demeaning and dehumanizing venture to achieve their goals.

She affirmed her belief in the centre’s ideals, which created an endowment fund for women. She

Safety first The Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) has been shut, following renewed clash between the institution’s host communities.

AKINOLA OLUYI (ND II Mass Communication) reports.

S

TUDENTS of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (Offa Poly) in Kwara State have been asked to leave their hostels following the renewed clash between Offa and Erin-Ile communities. The hostels are in the mini-campus in Offa.

The institution also moved academic activities from Offa to its permanent site in Ojoku. The Offa campus is the boundary that separates the two warring communities.

According to reports, the agelong rivalry between Offa and ErinIle resurged last Monday, when drivers from both communities disagreed over the terminus for commercial vehicles plying the route.

But the disagreement did not im-

•Students discussing their fate during a crisis.

mediately degenerate into a fight.

What gave vent to the pent-up anger happened when the vehicle of an Erin-Ile-based tile merchant, coming from Offa, hit another vehicle belonging to an Offa indigene.

Fight broke out, leading to the destruction of property worth millions of naira in both communities.

Erin-Ile is in Oyun Local Government Area.

There were also unconfirmed reports of heavy casualties on both sides. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that guns, cutlasses and daggers were freely used. An eyewitness told CAMPUSLIFE that many houses, including a mosque, Masjid Noor,

and the newly-built Offa Descendant Union building were torched.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Chinwike Asadu, has deployed riot policemen in about 40 vehicles to the distressed communities.

A resident of Erin-Ile, who did not want to be named, narrated: “I left my house very early on Monday to open my shop for business. But later in the day, I noticed suddenly that everybody was running helterskelter, shouting: ‘They have started again’. Before I knew what was going on, all shops had been locked because of the sounds of gunshot.”

A student, Wole Aderemi, nar-

rated how the clash disrupted academic activities on campus.

He told CAMPUSLIFE: “Some of us were busy with our registration, while some students were arguing at the newspapers stand close to the campus. Others were receiving lectures. Then, I received a call from a friend, who told me not to move out of the campus. I asked why but she told me: ‘The town is on fire’. Immediately, the crowd at the newspaper stand disappeared.

But when I could not endure staying on campus again, I left, praying to God to guide me home.

When I got to my hostel, everywhere has scattered. I left the

urged beneficiaries of the scholarships to make judicious use of the grants.

She said the scheme was similar to her pet project, which was an empowerment programme for women, through vocational training, scholarships and financial empowerment.

Durotoye advised the students to make good use of their time, saying any time lost on frivolities could not be regained. He advised the girls not to allow men to cheaply use them for fleeting gains.

For her “generous contribution to gender issues”, Mrs Ajimobi was honoured with the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Education Award at the end of the event. scene immediately and fled to my parents’ house.”

Residents of “God is Able” Hall, which is a stone’s throw from OffaErin-Ile boundary, complained that they had been trapped by the crisis.

Damilola Adeniyi, ND 1 Computer Science, told our correspondent on the telephone last weekend: “Since the crisis broke out, all of us in this hostel cannot go out to buy food. It is as if we are living in a cage. We are dying of hunger inside here. Government should come to our rescue so that we won’t die of hunger in our rooms.”

Another student, who lives near the campus, Omoniyi Olagoroye, ND II Business Administration, said: “I did not expect this kind of trouble at the period we just resumed. If I see any means to leave this place, I want to go back to my parents.”

Some students were killed in past clashes between both communities. The Students’ Union Public Relations Officer, Johnson Eleko, told CAMPUSLIFE that the management had shut the campus until February 11 for the students’ safety.

Olajide Ayesimoju, ND II Banking and Finance, said: “Security personnel should be stationed at the boundary 24 hours to prevent the hoodlums from venting their anger on students. We have had occurrences where students were attacked by the villagers, a situation which is not supposed to be.

Police should be on patrol throughout the day.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

32

CAMPUS LIFE Invest in science and technology, VC advises govt From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi ACHIEVER

TUDENTS studying science and technology courses in public and private institutions must be supported through scholarship by governments if the nation must use technology to anchor its developmental drive. The ViceChancellor of the Achiever University, Owo, Prof Adebayo Odebiyi, stated this at the sixth matriculation ceremony of the institution last week.

Odebiyi, who believed investing in science and technology could fast-track progress, said scholarship funds should be paid directly to the institutions offering the discipline. The VC said the university implemented 50 per cent scholarship in tuition for all science-based programmes to encourage students to excel in technology courses.

While congratulating the freshers, Odebiyi charged them to always be of good behaviour throughout their years in the institution. He said they must adhere to the rules contained in students’ handbooks made available to each inductee.

“We are committed to giving you sound education through provision of the best of facilities and nurture your mind in principle and pursuit of academic excellence, acceptance of truth and courage to act in consonance with the dictates of the university in knowledge, integrity and leadership,” the VC said.

Earlier, the Chancellor and Visitor, Dr Bode Ayorinde, said through hard work and regular academic calendar, the five-year old institution had produced two sets of graduates. Oyerinde, while assuring the new students of qualitative lectures, warned them not to contravene the rules and regulations of the varsity.

“You can only wear the academic gown two times, which matriculation and convocation. However, you can wear it in the next 30 days if you are found guilty by the disciplinary committee of misconduct; you will be walked out of the school in shame,” the Chancellor charged.

About 741 admitted students took the oath of matriculation during the ceremony. Some of the joyous inductees, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, described the occasion as memorable, promising to be of good behaviour throughout their stay on campus.

S •Crowd of students registering courses last week.

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TUDENTS of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have returned to the campus to resume for the 2012/ 2013 academic session. The university came alive last week after months of holiday. Freshers besieged the main campus as early as 6am last Monday. Members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) were on hand to coordinate the registration exercise with the non-academic staff.

The Information and Communication Technology centre and the Abdullahi Fodio Library were designated for online registration,

Varsity begins session From Ibrahim Jatto UDUS

where the students created an account on the university portal, after which the student proceeded to ETF 111 Hall for screening and confirmation.

The registration exercise was hitch-free, but students stayed for long on queue to get registered.

Some of the freshers, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, were optimistic that the process would not end in

disappointment.

Maryam Binji, who was offered Law programme, stated that she was yet to receive confirmation notice, but hopeful that her programme would commence without delay. Abdullahi Kabir admitted into Public Administration department, said he was elated when he received his confirmation.

The freshers’ registration ended last Saturday, while the returning students resumed last Monday.

Orientation for Muslim students

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HE Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, welcomed and orientated its freshers last Friday. The programme, which was anchored

by Abdullahi Jimoh, was held for new students admitted into Mass Communication at Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication, Surulere.

In his welcome speech, the president of the society, Musbaudeen Shekoni, said the orientation was aimed to make the new students adjust to academic life of the university. He urged the freshers to abide by the rules and regulation of

From Moses Adeyemi, Foluso Sotomi and Wale Ajose LASU

the institution, stating that a good Muslim would respect constituted authority.

He stressed that journalism was a profession that must be practised with prestige, selfless advocacy, independent investigation and respect for human rights.

Fatimah Abdul, a former member of society, lectured the students on broadcasting, which, she said, was not about appearing on television or speaking grammar on radio. She told the freshers that hard work, focus and per-

sonal development would make them to achieve their aim, advising the students to dress decently at all time.

The guest speaker, Dr Ridwan Adeyemi, who spoke on Toward academic breakthrough: Tools and strategies, advised the students on the need to share information between themselves, citing Quranic verses to support his exhortation.

He said lecturers of the faculty were ready to support the students through academic and personal counseling.

Musbaudeen thanked the speakers for talking to the students in his closing remark.

FUTO gets health institute From Mohammed Garba FUTO

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HE Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has approved the establishment of the Institute of Environmental Health Technology (IEHT) to train manpower in the area of environmental health. The news was made known in a statement after members of the university Senate rose from their 336th meeting last week.

The mission of the institute, according to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Chigozie Asiabaka, is to strengthen the training and practice of environmental health for efficient service delivery and entrepreneurial skills. “The vision is to improve health, reduce inequalities in health and prolong life expectancy in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region by preventing diseases and minimising their consequences,” he said.

The institute will also run degree, post-graduate diploma, Master’s and doctorate degree courses in environmental health science as well as offer special undergraduate programme for professional Environmental Health Officers with Higher National Diploma (HND) from West Africa Health Examination Board (WAHEB).

The institute is the first of its kind in Nigeria and West Africa subregion, a feat that made students of environmental and public health expressed joy over the establishment of the institute.

Abubakar Atiku, 500-Level Environmental Health, said: “The institute will surely address the dearth of environmental health practitioners in the country and train manpower in research and evidence-based practice.”

Happiness Akpulonu, 500-Level student, said her joy knew no bounds at the establishment of the institute. “It will pioneer a new chart for environmental health practice, which has come of age now and ready to push out quacks practicing as environmental and public health experts,” she said.

Management warns students From Abass Alobalowo OAU

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HE management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has warned students to move their personal effects out of the Halls of Residence in the university as they leave for their various homes. The institution ended its 2011/2012 session penultimate week.

The warning was contained in a circular issued by the management on January 25 after the end of the semester. The memo was made available to the students at their various hostels and the supervisory porters of the respective halls. The reason may not be unconnected to the impending rehabilitation work that will be carried out in the halls during the break.

Mr S.A Oderinwale, the warden of ETF Hall, warned the students to pack their belongings out of the hostel’s rooms as they were leaving last week. He said anything left in the room would be disposed as refuse.

He finally pleaded to the students to comply with the directive.

•Students being anointed by Taddeo during the Holy Communion session.

Priest tells students to shun bad conduct

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AKING part in vices, such as drug abuse, indecent dressing and cultism, can tarnish the future of whoever is engaging in them, Monsignor Onoyima Taddeo of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) told freshers last Sunday during the holy communion organised by the church.

Onoyima said it was a great achievement to be offered admission after a competitive examination,

From Oladele Oge UNN

saying the university always employed a rigorous selection method to select candidates every year. He described freshers admitted by the university as ideal students, who must be seen as people with clear objective, to study in higher institution.

The priest advised the new students on moral conduct, saying

there must be difference in the way the students behave having gained admission into the university. He said students’ challenges could be solved through prayers and application of God’s commanded attitude.

Urging the students to be disciplined and responsible, Taddeo said it was the duty of all students who had given their lives to Christ to demonstrate good example for others to emulate.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE UNIMAID enforces dress code as exams begin

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•Cross-section of freshers taking the oath.

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O fewer than 392 freshers offered admission to study various courses in the Bayelsa State College of Health Technology (BYCOHTECH) were inducted last week in the matriculation ceremony in the college’s pavillion.

The ceremony started at noon with a procession of the new principal officers of college into the hall. The freshers, who were seated neatly in their flowing academic gowns, beamed with smile as the body of principal officers walked into the hall.

In his address, the Provost, Dr Teddy Adias, congratulated the students for being among the selected few that scaled through the college’s entry examination. He charged the freshers to be focused and dedicated to their studies, noting that the college was not a play ground.

Adias advised the freshmen against taking part in criminal activities, adding that the college has zero tolerance for vices such as cultism, examination malpractice, extortion, sexual harassment among others.

Calling on the government to come

College matriculates freshers From Isaac Mensah BYCOHTECH

to the aid of the school in finance, accreditation, and manpower development, the Provost said the college had recorded remarkable achievements in recent times.

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, represented by his Commissioner for Health, Dr Anapurere Awoli, said the government believed in the capability of the college to produce manpower needed for development in the health sector.

The governor urged students to take their studies seriously, saying they were the human resources needed to drive the primary health care sector in the state. “The state policy on health is based on primary health care delivery, which is why we attach much importance to your training here as students,” the governor said.

The Acting Registrar, Mr Yousuo Iruo, administered oath on the stu-

dents. He stressed that the oath confirmed the freshers as bona fide students of the institution, adding that they would be held responsible for their actions on campus.

Richard Owiyal, a fresher, praised God for his admission. He promised to be work hard to achieve excellence.

Over 132 students were admitted into the department of Environmental Health Science; 118 in Community Health Science department; 39 in Medical Laboratory Science; 57 in Health Information Management department; 25 in Dental Health Science department; 15 in Pharmacy Technician Study and five in Public Health Nursing department.

Present at the ceremony were Special Adviser on Tertiary Education to the governor, Dr Godwin Ziriki; Senior Special Assistant, Research and Social Media, John Idumange, and Chairman, Kolokuma Opukuma Local Government Area, Mr Ineye Igbaifegha.

HE management of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) is adamant in its resolution to enforce the dress code for university students. Earlier in the session, the management introduced new dress code and circulated posters of accepted dresses in the university.

The varsity also banned offenders from places, such as the library, senate building and the examination halls. The new dress code, which prohibited female students from wearing trousers, skimpy skirts, plaiting of hairs and use of jewelries, also barred boys from wearing shirts with immoral inscription freshers.

The enforcement of the dress code came at the time the university started its semester exams, a situation which put many students at a tight corner to obey the rules.

Favour Mandy, a student, said she could not do without the trousers. She told CAMPUSLIFE: “I am not sure I can conveniently wear any cloth apart from trousers. I wear it everywhere I go and I don’t think I can stop wear-

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HERE is an uneasy calm at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. Medical students in 400-Level, 500-Level, and 600-Level marched on the university last Wednesday in demonstration of lopsided allocation of hostel rooms. The protesters moved from Shika area and blocked the main gate of the university.

The demonstration, which started at 9am, lasted for three hours. The students accused the management of insensitivity, saying the authorities did not maintain the tradition of allocating the Aliyu Mustapha Hostel only to medical students. Students of Geology were mixed with the medical students to occupy the medical hall, a move the medical students considered as lack of respect.

Addressing the protesters, Dr Y.

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Corps member empowers youths, 50 widows

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CORPS member serving at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OKO POLY), Chinonye Ezinwoke, has donated items worth thousands of naira to over 50 widows and physically-challenged people in Oko community, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State. The items included wheelchairs and textile materials to over 50 widows.

Chinonye, who is observing the national service at the department of Management and Information Communication Technology (MICT), also trained 200 youths in the community on various skills.

The beneficiaries, which comprised students of the polytechnic and Oko indigenes, were trained

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu NNEWI

on the methods to make detergents, custard, snacks and pop corn. The widows smiled home with yards of wrappers.

Chinonye said her decision to empower the youth and widows was based on her encounter with poverty. The graduate of Chemistry Education from Imo State University (IMSU), said skills taught the youth would help in reducing unemployment and crime in the society.

Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, and her Education counterpart, Dr Uju Okeke, com-

mended the Corps member for the gesture, which was achieved through her personal Community Development Service (CDS) projects.

Present at the donation were the wife of Oko traditional ruler, Prof Lucy Ekwueme; PresidentGeneral, Oko Peoples Union, Mr Ike Nwammuo; head of MICT Department, Mr Chidi Ezeh; state NYSC CDS Coordinator, Mr John Olugbade; Secretary, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Orumba North Local Government Area, Mr Ezeibe Kenechi and Deputy Rector of OKO POLY, Dr Don Muo. They praised the Corps member for the gesture.

ing it. The management may do whatever it wishes to do because I am free in the prohibited dresses. I will avoid places we are asked not to go but they should reason with people like me.”

However, students were taken aback when offenders were not allowed into exam halls. Security men and invigilators checked students as they entered exam halls, preventing offenders of the dress code from writing exams.

Ogechi Chidinma, 200-Level Education, who went against the code, rushed back to her hostel to put on a long skirt before she was allowed to write the exam.

Idris Suleiman, who welcomed the dress code, said he was glad that the university had taken the bold step towards returning decency to the campus. With this development, students are now being compelled to dress according to the code to avoid embarrassment.

Protest rocks ABU over hostel allocation

Group donates e-library to UNICAL

•A beneficiary, Miss Njideka Onyenwe, moving in the wheelchair donated by the Corps member as Chinonye (in cap), Prof Ekwueme (third left), Nwammuo (fourth right) and other guests applauded her.

From Taiwo Isola UNIMAID

TAFF and students in the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have been urged to explore and utilise facilities in the institution’s electronic library for effective research and development. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, gave the charge during the inauguration of the e-library.

Epoke, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof James Utsalo, said the establishment of the facility would boost learning in the institution.

He said the execution of the project by the Deep Offshore Community Affairs Group (DOCAG) signified a great passion in furnishing staff and students with first class knowledge in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The VC explained that the beauty of ICT was in its exposure of staff and students to extensive knowledge on any discipline.

The DOCAG chairman, Mr Joseph

From Alex Tamya ABU

Ahmed, Deputy Dean Students’ Affairs, told the students to remain calm. The Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Prof A. S. Bakari, assured them that the management was looking into their plight, which would result to the Vice-Chancellor meeting the students personally later.

The students carried placards, which read: “If you don’t treat your doctors well, who will?”, “Aliyu Mustapha Hostel is for medical students”, “If you want to live with medical students, study medicine”.

The protesters demanded an apology from the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the Students’ Union, who came to Shika to insult them.

From Sam Ibok UNICAL

Adeyemi, said the group was a conglomerate of the deep offshore operators in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, which is made up of seven oil companies. Adeyemi, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Nkoyo Attah, said that the development of human capital was one of the cardinal objectives of the group’s community development project, which informed the choice of the university as the site of the project.

He expressed hope that through the execution of the project, the gains of industry cooperation in the delivery of sustainable community development would be properly maintained.

Attah, who is the Deputy General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Affairs, Deporter District for Total Upstream Nigeria, said the project was implemented in coalition with the company. He added that the gesture was to complement government’s effort in infrastructure, health and sport.

The Librarian, Dr Margaret Edem, appreciated the group for the project, assuring the team that the facility would be properly used and maintained.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE The National Association of Edo State Students (NAESS) is the umbrella body of Edo State students nationwide. The association, founded six years ago with politicians’ backing, has been factionalised by those who founded it.

NOSAKHARE UWADIAE writes.

A house divided by itself T HE National Association of Edo State Students (NAESS) used to be one body. But, late last year, the association was factionalised; two executives emerged from parallel elections held in the state. Since then, the factional presidents have been locked in a bitter feud to make themselves acceptable to the beleaguered members of the association nationwide.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the division was caused by politicians, who infiltrated the association’s ranks. Some politicians, according a member of the association, wanted to “fuse their boys at the helm of affairs,” but the move was rejected by a group of students.

This led to the impeachment of the former president of the association, Pius Ekuaze, by the legislative arm, led by Abdullahi Afegiemhe.

Pius is a former student of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma. The parliament directed the Vice President, Gerald Asekhamhe, a University of Benin (UNIBEN) student, to take charge in acting capacity.

Since Pius’ removal, all has not been well with the association. The impeached leader has refused to hand over the union’s property in his possession to the Acting President, as directed by the parliament.

Pius accused the members of the legislative arm of acting out government’s script.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that Pius may have

been impeached over the allegation that he was used by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to influence Edo students to support its candidate in the last July 14 governorship election.

Initially, Pius had battled members of his executive, who passed a “vote of no confidence” on him over allegations of high-handedness and insubordination. Some of the allegations against the impeached president included his pledge to different parties against the will of the members.

After the expiration of the tenure of the acting executive last October, a seven-man electoral committee was constituted to conduct elections. Endurance Esele and Matthew Sado were the committee’s chairman and secretary.

Members of the association believed to be loyal to Pius constituted a parallel nine-member electoral committee, led by Sunday Ogun as chairman and Ahmed Momoh, secretary. The students believed their man’s removal was politically motivated.

On November 29, the James Eshieshi Samuel-led executive was elected by a faction; another led

by Prince Festus Otono was also elected on December 8 by the other faction.

The Otono-led executive was sworn in by the Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Philip Shauibu, at the Assembly complex. The factional executive led by James was sworn

in by a Benin Magistrate, Nosa Musoe, in the UNIBEN. After their inauguration, the factions have continued to lay claim to the association’s leadership.

Otono told CAMPUSLIFE: “Our election was openly conducted and supported by the former legislative arm, which constituted the electoral committee. This shows we are legitimate leaders of Edo students. There may have been some element laying claim to association, I can confirm to you that no student recognises them.

“They are pushing their interest above the interest of the association for selfish end. We say no to mediocrity and yes to efficiency, because we believe in what we can deliver to all Edo students nationwide especially in the area of welfare. As far as I am concerned, there is no faction in NAESS; we are on bursary and scholarship issues already; this shows that we are the legitimate leaders.”

James said: “There is no faction in NAESS. If anyone claims that there is faction in NAESS, he or she is a detractor. The due process for the conduct of elections in NAESS as a body was followed on November 29, which brought us into office.”

He said anybody parading himself as a leader of the association apart from members of his executive was doing so at his own risk.

The association was formed in 2007

•Musoe (left) swearing in the James Samuel-led executive

•Gerald

•Otono

with the backing former Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor. The motive was to unite all Edo students across the country to rally round government under the leadership of Osunbor.

But, when Comrade Adams

Oshiomhole became governor, members of the association changed loyalty and supported the comrade governor. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that this did not go down well with some opposition politicians, who “did their best to ensure that the body is factionalised.”

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has held a week-long programme for freshers. The event ended with the matriculation. VICTOR NWOKEDI (300-Level Polymer and Textile Engineering) and CHIEMERIWO OKEREKE (400-Level Biomedical Technology) report.

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HIS year’s Freshers’ Week turned out to be an exciting period for new students admitted into the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State.

The week kicked off penultimate Monday with an orientation. It lasted for three days and was aimed at sensitising students on campus life and to give them information on how to succeed academically after their five-year stay on campus.

The ceremony featured lectures on sport, moral ethics, personal hygiene and security. On the second day, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, said the orientation was a right step to actualising his administration’s goal of qualitative education.

He highlighted the rules and regulations that govern the conduct and activities of members of the university community. According to him, infringement on such regulations would attract sanctions commensurate with the gravity of each offence.

He added that FUTO has zero tolerance for indiscipline.

After the orientation, students participated in the rag day and bonfire night, which the Students’ Union Government (SUG) organised.

The matriculation was held last Friday. It kicked off with a procession of the university principal officers led by Asiabaka to the matriculation ground, which was filled by freshers and their families.

The VC praised parents and guardians for making “enormous sacrifices, commitments and contributions to the upbringing, welfare

•Prof Asiabaka and his wife at the ceremony

•Inductees listening to the VC’s speech

Freshers’ day at FUTO and basic education of the matriculating students.”

He advised the inductees on hard work, saying it was the only way to attaining success at the end of their stay in the university.

Asiabaka said about 4,300 applicants were admitted into the university among the thousands that applied. He told students to shun acts such as cultism, examination malpractice and prostitution that could tarnish the image or bring dishonour to the institution.

The students were later presented to the management by the Deans of their faculties. They affirmed their

loyalty, in oath, to the university, after which they were admitted by the Vice-Chancellor.

Some of the freshers spoke to CAMPUSLIFE. Ngozi Onyedika, who was admitted into Polymer and Textile Engineering Department, praised God for her admission.

“I consider myself very lucky. I am admitted almost immediately I finished my secondary education.

I thank God for the grace,” she said.

James Kanayo, 100-Level Electrical and Electronics Engineering, said: “FUTO is my first choice in-

stitution and I am happy that the school offers me admission. The few weeks I have stayed here have been so wonderful. I believe I can do well here and then reward my parents for their faith in me.”

The Freshers’ Week was stressful but exciting, remarked Grace Nwani. She said: “Thank God that the matriculation has been finally held. Though, the registration process was stressful, but I am happy everything ended fine.”

Twin brothers, Jerry and Jones Obi, who were offered a place by the university, expressed mix feelings. Jerry said: “I am both happy

and sad. I am happy because I am admitted but sad because I was not admitted into the department of my choice. I applied for Petroleum Engineering, but got Industrial Physics instead. There is nothing I can do again; maybe it is God’s will.”

Jones, who was given Electrical Engineering, had a different story.

“I am happy I got the course I wanted. My aim is to really do well here. I want to graduate with a First Class degree and make my family proud. I believe I can do it.”

Victor Nwokocha, 100-Level Mechanical Engineering, who got admitted through the university’s preDegree programme, said: “I am happy I finally have a breakthrough. I was admitted after my fourth trial. I am grateful to God.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE

Tanke as metaphor for transport snag in UNILORIN

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ANKE is one of the busiest areas in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State. Given its proximity to the permanent site of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), the area is mostly inhabited by students. In fact, it is safe to say that majority of UNILORIN students live in the city due to the inadequate hostel accommodation on the campus.

Over the years, the name of the town has had its mention in the lexis structure of the university. Students attribute many things to Tanke, depending on the context it is being used.

Face Tanke, for instance, is a parlance used to describe an expulsion from the university. It is a belief in UNILORIN that expulsion is a trajectory that thrusts an expelled student to the city before he or she gets home. But this is just an example of how the name of the town is used.

However, with many students living in the town, transportation is a major problem to and from the campus. To mitigate the challenge, many of the students living in off-campus hostels resort to Tanke sir. The phrase is used to signal to owners of private vehicles leaving the campus to convey stranded students from school to

Tanke free of charge.

This has been in existence for a while, at least for about seven years after the management of the university moved all programmes, with the exception of medical courses, from the mini campus to the main campus.

This practice has become part of the campus life in UNILORIN. Every day, after lecture hours, students gather at the roundabout opposite to the main auditorium, pleading to motorists with shout of Tanke sir. The reason why students resort to such act is because of the transportation challenge.

In evenings, starting from 4pm till around 8pm, UNILORIN park is always congested because that is range of time when most students end lectures. The long queues and the chaotic situation at the park make students and staff to seek alternative at the school roundabout.

Students, who follow the queue, always stay for long. Eventually, when they get home, they would have been exhausted and retire to bed without doing revision of what is taught in the class. They wake up the following, experience the same exercise the next day. As a result, the academic performance of students declines.

Whereas, if, perhaps, the university has more hostels to accommodate majority of its students or provide more buses to mitigate the challenge of transportation, the long queues and the attendant stress would have reduced drastically. But for now, the two options do not exist.

According to Wikipedia information about UNILORIN, which this writer accessed on December 6, 2012, the university currently has about 20,084 students and 3,040 staffs excluding the number of visitors and vendors. With such population, the university provided less than 10 Marco Polo buses to convey people out of the school. Per trip, the buses can only ferry 120 passengers even when they carry beyond their capacities.

In its own way to find lasting solution to the problem, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) introduced mini buses, called korope on campus, which can only convey 10 passengers per a trip. This effort has made no difference.

The commercial cab operators are not helping the matters. They are feasting on the situation by hiking the fare depending on bus stop.

Students that are living in Challenge and Post Office area expend N1,000 on

transportation per week. Let us imagine a student, who is given N5,000 per month by his parents. Of course, the money will cover transportation and food. But in a week, the student spends 20 per cent of the money on transport alone. He will eat, buy recharge card and other items he needs in his hostel.

But in less than 30 days, the money finishes. How can such student not resort to Tanke sir? At least, he is assured that once he gets to Tanke, he only has to pay N50 or N60 to get to Challenge.

For such student, this makes his campus life easier.

This however, does not go to say that the efforts of the school authorities have gone unnoticed. On the issue of fare, the university reduced the price of the school buses, which makes students to pay N20 to Tanke area, N80 to Challenge-Post Office axis and N40 in korope to Tanke.

Recently, another batch of mini buses was made available to students. These efforts are most appreciated. However, more work needs to be done, as sometimes, students get exploited by commercial cab operators. The management and the union should engage the commercial cab drivers to lower the fares to places like Challenge and Post Office.

By Peace Adeoye Lastly, let the management make more buses and mini buses available and increase the number of Marco Polo buses to transport more students. This will enormously alleviate the pains students go through every day at the school park and probably cure the Tanke sir syndrome, which many have said is incurable.

Peace, 200-Level Law, UNILORIN

Towards improving the reading culture

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T the height of their mercantilism in Africa, the white imperialists came up with a remark that seemed to insult the intelligence of the black race. They said: “If you want to hide anything from a black man, put it in a book.”Perhaps, the assertion, with its poignant import, has an iota of truth, considering the disinterest many students show to their education in this part of the world.

The quest for knowledge starts with the development of a reading habit. Reading is the activity or skill of understanding written words or a writer’s message to his readers.

This thought, if comprehended, becomes sensible and opens up one’s intellect to ask new questions about such thought, which may result into a broad insight and proper understanding of issues. Only

through reading can one challenge and simply knotty ideas and even re-modify them.

Other advantages that can be gained from reading include individual and social progress, and open understanding of variety of issues. It also provides right attitude of a person towards acquiring new knowledge. It also frees one from boredom and idleness.

Despite all this advantages, most Nigerian students despise reading books. I vividly remember instance where students in my class were asked to read up to fifteen literary texts for a semester. Expectedly, we complained but after undertaking the course, many mindsets were changed as some of us, who had different viewpoints, immediately had a rethink.

It should also be known that reading is not just to pass in school

alone. Knowledge gain from reading in any discipline will linger because reading is a lifetime experience. It remains an indispensable tool in our quest to learning.

While a lot of students will blame the unseen fate as to why they perform woefully in their academic assignment, they fail to realise that poor reading habit, which is runs in their vein like blood, is the major cause of their failure.

Rather than spend ample time on reading, most youth prefer to chat on all social media network about trivial issues, which cannot contribute anything to their educational pursuits. Such students also spend hours to see movies, engage in gist and visiting friends as well as partying all night.

While it is not wrong to unwind by engaging in social activities, it is not wrong to say many a youth

have not set priority on knowledge acquisition. Learning is relegated to the rear end, a situation that puts today’s students in disadvantaged position academically.

To say that poor reading habit has increased the rate of school dropout, unskilled manpower, poverty, frustration, loss of self-esteem and illiteracy is to restate the obvious.

The present generation must read and take advantage of the Internet, which has made information easily accessible. Rather than engaging in unproductive chat on social media all day, reading news information and vital articles will help improve the reading culture.

Also, joining educational groups on the social media will help to change the attitude of the youth away from insignificant venture.

Reading is power; it makes a man

By Gotodok Lengshak and makes men construct a successful society, where every citizen can flourish.

Gotodok, 400-Level Television Journalism, NTA TV COLLEGE, Jos

Improving educational standard in Nigeria

By Tolulope Ogunleye

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VER the years, various guidelines have evolved on education, most of which were based on various models of study. In modern times, parents, students, and educators have continued to explore the different philosophies on education and how they can learn using those teaching methods.

While each education philosophy has its own underlying tenet and driving force, provision of quality education is pertinent in the wake of globalisation. Education guidelines are numerous in various countries of the world. But all seek to achieve one thing: qualitative learning.

In Nigeria, education seems to

have been translated to mean another thing. During examination period, for instance, most students see it as a time to cram their note and text books, then answer questions words for words. After the examination, such students forget what they have read. In higher institution, students refer to this trend as La cram, la pour, la forget.

It is instructive to note here that the trend has been a major setback in our education system, and it has helped more in the production of half-baked graduates. Examination is supposed to be testing of students on knowledge of what they have been taught in their own understanding. They are required to write necessary quotes, principles, terminologies and keywords in their own words.

Today, there are many graduates with poor grades but when it comes to the practical knowledge, they have a good grasp of any subject.

Their brains work faster compared to the certificate they carry. To those sets of graduates, securing employment is difficult because no employer will give them the benefit of the doubt.

However, there are graduates with good certificates but they crammed throughout their days in higher institutions. These certificates make them to be in a good position to get

jobs. But when they eventually get employed, they perform below expectation. This, surely, will affect the progress of organisations they work for, and in one way or the other, their incompetence will affect the society. This is the reality of Nigeria’s education system.

Last Christmas, I was discussing education issues with my cousins, who came from the United States for holiday. One of them said: “You guys are undergoing unnecessary stress here in Nigeria all in the name of studying.” He said most Nigerian lecturers deviate from the curriculum and fail to cover the syllabus, believing that students will study to complete the course outline. “Over there, this is not the case; lecturers in the US assist students to read further after they would have completed the course outline,” he said.

To standardise the quality of education in Nigeria, methinks we should emulate the standards in countries, such as the US, United Kingdom, Canada, India and even Ghana, which have good educational system. In droves, Nigerian students migrate to these countries in search of qualitative education.

If we can adopt these countries’ guidelines, our education standard will improve and this will stop the phenomenon of brain drain in our

country.

A statistics on education showed, Nigerian students invested N246 billion - over 60 per cent of the 2012 budget on education – in the UK universities alone. The statistics also showed that, Nigerians studying in British and American universities spent above N137 billion on tuition and living expenses alone in the last two academic sessions; this is about 34 per cent of Federal Government’s allocation to education.

Foreign universities are profiting from Nigeria’s ill-equipped institutions. According to the UK Council of International Student Affairs (UKCISA), Nigeria is the third in the list of the top 10 non-EU countries studying the country.

Nigeria, too, can be reckoned with when it comes to education, but this is if our government is ready to place importance on the sector by formulating standards that will help to realise qualitative education. There are international bodies that can help us to achieve this. Such is International Accreditation Organisation (IAO), which approves institutions according to their standards compare to their foreign peers.

The University of Bangalore recently received candidacy status from IAO, which is a major

achievement for the education sector of India. It will encourage reputed education providers to be internationally accredited and recognised for providing quality education.

IAO’s accreditation offers international recognition to all institutions on its list, a factor considered very important by students and guardians or parents before accepting placement in programmes of any university in the world.

An internationally-accredited university can reach out across geographic boundaries and has greater appeal for foreign students.

Graduates of internationally accredited universities find it easier to pursue their career in foreign countries because their academic credentials are accepted worldwide. This quality of international accreditation plays a vital role in career development for students and increases the value of international accreditation for students.

If Nigeria can also seek this standard for its higher institutions, the present trend in education, which seems to favour the mediocre, would give way to a standard that will make learning easy for all students.

Tolulope, HND II Computer Science, LASPOTECH

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

36

CAMPUS LIFE Why govt must increase education funding

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HE University of Ibadan (UI) has matriculated freshers admitted for degree programmes in the institution.

The ceremony, which held last Friday, was held in the newly-built International Conference Centre. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole, in his address, harped on seriousness and focus towards the academic work.

“Today you begin a new chapter of your life. I congratulate you on this unique opportunity of studying in Nigeria’s premier university especially now that the university is experiencing great changes in its academics and infrastructure. The university has taken steps to make your stay a remarkable one,” the VC said.

Prof Adewole said the management would continue to invest resources in facilities that will improve the teaching and learning in the university. Describing cultism as evil alliance, the VC advised the freshers to always investigate before they join any club on campus.

“You have to be wary before you honour any invitation to a social or religious gathering. Let me assure you that the university has a strict policy against sexual

From Patience Ogbo, Sikiru Akinola and Hammed Hamzat UI

harassment, cultism and other anti-social vices,” he added.

Speaking on Balancing the protest culture among undergraduates with making the best use of the golden opportunity for academic excellence, Prof. Innocent Modo, a lecturer from the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), noted that the protest culture amongst students should not deter them from achieving excellence in their studies.

The don expressed concern over poor funding of university education, urging the Federal Government to increase allocation to tertiary institutions to make education attractive to youth. He urged corporate organisations to complement effort of the government to educate the citizens. He said the Federal Government’s insistence on removing subvention for hostel accommodation had placed the burden on internally-generated revenue of tertiary institutions.

He said: “It is important to appreciate that 45 per cent of the University of Ibadan students, who desired to be in halls of

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Freshers during the ceremony.

residence are accommodated. The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) can only accommodate 8.8 per cent of its students. I sincerely advise students to shun cultism and prostitution. Face your studies

Don delivers LASU’s 50th inaugural lecture

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PROFESSOR of Exercise Physiology, Rafiu Okuneye, and the Dean, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU), has delivered the 50th inaugural lecture of the university.

The lecture, which was held in the new university auditorium, was entitled: Human body, human wellness: The perpetual antidotes.

Okuneye described the human body as a model, well-designed and shaped by Almighty God. He said the holy books contained verses that testified God’s perfect creation of man. He said: “The body as a frame - small, medium or large - has internal or external segments. The body along with its segments contains substances.

In exercise physiology, we termed these segments as body composition, which refers to both fat and non-fat components of the body.”

He said organs such as adipose tissue, muscle, heart or cardiovascular and skeleton in human body had special implication on movement of the body. He said: “A living condition in which an

and manage your time well,” Prof Modo said.

Abdulazeez Oladejo, one of the inductees, expressed joy, saying he was determined to graduate with good grade.

From Nurudeen Yusuf LASU

individual engages in activities and behaviours that enhance quality of life and facilitate the realisation of personal potentials is one that allows an individual to carry out a physical activity with sufficient energy and strength in a positive state of health condition.”

He identified components of wellness as physical fitness, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, environmental and occupational components. He said human action actions with regards to food, drink and the use of organs of the body impacted directly on the body as a whole. He added that the actions could lead to abuse of organs, such as eye, skin, limbs and internal organs.

“Our actions towards wellness manifest more in our ways of life. The diet we take and activities we engage in, all of which bear consequences on the quality of our life. Since the beginning of advancement in technology and laziness that resulted after the industrial revolution, the need for men to be physically active in order to earn a living has continued to decline,” he argued.

He said positive actions were required on our body to maintain wellness. Regular participation in physical exercise, he observed, was the most workable option not only for the prevention and rehabilitation of diseases but also for delay in encountering degenerative diseases. At the lecture were the lectures of the institution, which were led by the body of principal officers.

Minister praises varsity on projects

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INISTER of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has praised the management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) for the infrastructural development in the university. The minister, who visited the institution as part of his good governance tour of Enugu State, was conducted round the Nsukka campus by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Isaac Asuzu, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo.

After inspecting some of the completed projects, Maku noted that the university’s stride in development was commendable. “Let me commend the University of Nigeria, Nsukka for this achievement. I was here in 1988 and I know this is a different place compared to how it was. Then, most of these buildings were collapsing with some left unpainted,” Maku said.

He continued: “But today, I can see that almost every building on this campus has been touched; hostels, faculty buildings and new

Dept elects leaders

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HE Foreign Languages Students Association (FOLSA), University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter, has inaugurated a new leadership to pilot its affairs in the 2012/ 2013 academic session.

The election, which took place recently, had 14 aspirants, who jostled for various positions.

Bobbypetreus Isiakpona, 400-Level student, was elected president, having polled the highest number of votes. Other elected members include Vincent Ezeanya, Vice-President; Saidu Ikeme, Secretary-General; Dare Ehigie, Editor-in-Chief; Valor Iduh, Financial Secre-

From Inya Agha, UNN UNN

structures, are all looking different. That is the kind of thing we should appreciate.”

Maku criticised past military regimes for the collapse of the university system, saying it was during the military era that brilliant scholars migrated from Nigeria to the West in search of greener pasture.

However, he noted that there was a gradual and steady recovery process being pursued by the Federal Government, which if not interrupted, would restore the lost glory of the education sector.

On the problem of funding, the minister acknowledged that the universities needed funds for optimal performance, but said the National Economic Council (NEC) was working on the scheme to generate funds for public institutions from private and public sectors. Maku passed vote of confidence on Nigerian universities, saying their graduates still held their feet in global competitions.

From Gilbert Alasa UNIBEN

tary; Michael Okeh, Treasurer; Richard Osanebi, Director of Socials and Eden Atorgboye, Director of Sports.

After his oath, Bobbypetreus promised to elevate the department with programmes that would benefit the students. In attendance were Head of Department, Dr Austin Monye; Assistant Technical Adviser, Mr Terry Osawaru and students.

Monye urged the students’ leaders to promote the ideals of the department. “I want an administration that would help influence our students to be part of the new Nigeria. As a quasiacademic department, I want you to fashion out modalities and programmes that would add immense value to our students,” he stated.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

37

EDUCATION

UI admits 2,671 out of 41,367 HE University of Ibadan has admitted 2,671 candidates for the 2012/2013 academic session. This is out of the 41,367 candidates who applied to the university, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said.

Adewole, who said this at the matriculation held at the International Conference Centre of the university, last Friday, added that 75 students admitted in the 2011/2012 session were asked to withdraw for failure to meet academic requirements.

He said the university has built a reputation for itself as an emerging institution of first choice, saying it is fast becoming the destination of parents who want an institution with integrity for their children.

He assured the students that the university had relevant resources to make them the best they want to be in life and urged them to earn the

T

• Dr Musa Shuaibu

BauchiPoly expels 31 students

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HE Academic Board of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi(BauchiPoly), has approved the expulsion of 31 students found guilty of examination malpractices during the 2011/2012 end of session examination.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Rabiu Wada, noted that the Board upheld the recommendations of the Examination Misconduct Committee which examined the cases at its regular Academic Board Meeting held between January 15 and 17.

The Deputy Registrar (Academics), Hajiya Rakiya Arabi, who released the names of the expelled students, said two students were rusticated for a semester due to the level of their involvement in the act and one student was exempted having been found not guilty by the committee.

On the development, the Rector, Dr Musa Shuaibu, thanked the Board, the Examination Misconduct Committee as well as the personnel for a job well-done in the fight to eradicate examination misconduct in the institution. He advised them and students to desist from any act that would negatively affect its image.

He enjoined the students to concentrate on their studies as the management was doing all to make the environment conducive for teaching and learning.

EKSU FILE Journals for medical college

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

honour of being outstanding graduates of the institution.

In his matriculation lecture entitled: Balancing the protest culture among undergraduate students and making the best use of the golden opportunity for academic excellence, Prof Innocent Modo of the University of Uyo, said the nation's university system must take its rightful place among the comity of world-class ivory towers.

He advised the Federal Government to adequately fund the universities in order to maintain their facilities.

Modo also called on private and individual organisations to assist in contributing towards the education tax fund. He urged the matriculants to focus on achieving academic excellence rather than embarking on

• Prof Adewole

the protest culture of criticizing what is wrong within the society or the school.

"You must blend fast and fit into the good name that the school has built over the years, you are therefore, advised to face your studies squarely while still acting as watchdogs of government and the university," he said.

Overseas schools: applicants warned of fake agents From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

•Oni

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N overseas' education consultant, David Abiola Oni, has warned Nigerians who seek to study abroad to be wary of fake agents who dominates the system.

Oni, whose firm, Dave Abion Consulting, has partnership with over 66 foreign universities, said many Nigerians have fallen victims of desperate fake agents of overseas educational institutions, who collect their money in the name of securing admission for them abroad and disap-

pear. Speaking at the opening of the Port Harcourt office of the firm, Oni advised Nigerians to be patient in seeking genuine agents.

He said: "I want the public to be aware of those they deal with when it comes to overseas education. On many occasions victims have rushed to my office with tears begging us to see how I could get an agent who duped them in the name of studying abroad.

"The fake agents are there; the genuine ones are also there; but sometimes Nigerians are in a hurry without properly investigating who they are dealing with. This is our fourth office, we have offices in Lagos and Abuja and we have just come to Port Harcourt so that people would deal with us than running into wrong hands."

He also noted that overseas agents in Nigeria have formed an association to tackle the challenges affecting the business.

"One of our problems is fake agents, so we have formed an association, which I am one of the trustees. We are also working hard to draw the attention of the government to recognise us and assist in regulating the system," he said.

For students seeking to study abroad, Oni said they need to be counselled.

"Which country do you want to study? What course? Are they offering such course should you change another country? Are you sure you accepted to study the course or were you forced by your family to choose the course? These are things applicants need to be counselled about.

"Your lifestyle should also be put into consideration when choosing the country and course you want to study.

We have witnessed a situation where parents send one of their sons to study Law abroad and when the young man got there he discovered that he could do better in music than law."

British Council to hold fair

Govt endows law prize THE Ekiti State government has endowed a prize for the best female student in the Faculty of Law final LLB examinations in EKSU. The award, endowed in honour of a retired justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olufunmilola Adekeye, is worth N100,000 and a laptop.

The government endowed the same prize at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

Governor Kayode Fayemi, who announced the award in his office, said the retired Supreme Court judge is deserving of the honour because she stood for the values for which Ekiti people are known.

He enjoined the female law students to emulate her virtues.

Speaking at the occasion, the EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aina, said the award would encourage students to be among the best.

ABUAD Vice-Chancellor Prof Shidi Osho also praised the gesture.

In her remarks, Justice Adekeye appreciated the government for the honour. Among those at the event were the Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof. Ife Akomolede and the Chairman of the State Justice Administration Reform Committee, Mr Wale Fapohunda.

VC inspects projects THE EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oladipo Aina, has said the institution is striving to make its College of Medicine one of the best. during a tour of ongoing building projects in the college, Aina said Ekiti State needed such a modern medical training school and urged individuals and organisations to support the dream as the government cannot provide all the funds needed.

Accompanied by principal officers and the Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. G.J.F. Esan, Prof Aina visited the medical library, the twin lecture theatre and the Department Of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology.

•Organises professional development sessions

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OR four days next week, about 60 tertiary institutions from the United Kingdom will be in Nigeria to offer admissions, counselling, and visa application advice to Nigerian youths seeking international education during the 10th UK Education Fair organised by the British Council.

However, this year will not be just about prospective students as the British Council has planned career development sessions for professionals seeking to reinvent their careers.

At a briefing in Lagos last Friday, Project Manager Mrs Adetomi Soyinka said participants who preregister and attend the courses on service management, ECOWAS, banking and currency issues, among others, will receive certificates of tertiary institutions that would deliver the modules.

She said the professional development session, in addition to others that address living in the UK and undergraduate and graduate studies, has been included in commemoration of the 10th edition of the fair.

She said: "The exhibition is in its 10th year and we are expecting over

THE Ekiti State University (EKSU) College of Medicine has received a donation of 1,286 copies of 45 medical journals.

The donation was facilitated by Mrs Funmi Ajala of the Ekiti State Governor's Office.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina, received the journals which cover all aspects of medicine on behalf of the college.

Aina, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof Yetunde Aderibigbe, thanked Mrs Ajala for the donation and urged the college to make adequate use of the journals.

The Provost of the college, Prof G.J.F. Esan also thanked the donor, adding that the journals would enrich the curriculum of the college.

• From Left: Maria Kuforiji, Project Officer, British Council; Wilson, and Mrs Adeyinka at the briefing.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

60 UK institutions in Lagos and Abuja. The main purpose of the fair is to give students thinking of the UK study option the opportunity to meet with representatives of the institutions and learn what it takes. The value added this year is that we have partnered with some of the institutions to have professional development courses. We want the exhibition to be all encompassing. We want

to bring up issues not normally considered about living in the UK. We have partnered with some high profile individuals who have studied/ worked in the UK and are back in Nigeria. We have those who will address undergraduates and the postgraduate students - people who we know they will look up to."

Giving tips that can help prospective students earn scholarships or discount on tuition, as well as information to ease the visa application

process, Mrs Soyinka advised them to ask representatives of the institutions about scholarships. She also counselled them to provide enough information when applying for visa.

"All schools coming have one form of scholarship or the other. Students just have to ask. There are some that have bursaries, others, rebates. In terms of student visas, stand in the shoes of the entry clearance officer.

It is better to give too much information than not enough," she said.

• Prof Aina

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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EDUCATION Salem Varsity dons at CU

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HREE senior officers of Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State, arrived Covenant University (CU) last Tuesday on a three-day visit to understudy some key operations.

The team, led by its Bursar, Mrs. Charity Egbita, was received by the CU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Charles Ayo and other members of the management.

Briefing the management on the purpose of their visit, Mrs. Egbita said the vision of the two institutions was the same. She noted that CU has achieved a lot from which SU can learn.

Mrs. Egbita said: "We believe our visions are the same. We are raising global leaders, and we believe we can learn from a sister university whose vision is the same."

The visit, according to her, was to "access the workings of the Business Development Centre of CU to learn its business strategies and study its financial services as a guide for SU in maximising results."

"The National Universities Commission (NUC) has been directing universities to go and learn about Entrepreneurship Study from Covenant University.

We, therefore, want to look at this also and learn how we can develop ours."

Responding, Prof Ayo said the vision of the Founder, Dr David Oyedepo is to ensure that CU graduates are job creators rather than job seekers, which according to him, also accounted for the establishment of the Entrepreneurship Development Studies (EDS).

Quoting Dr Oyedepo, Prof Ayo said: "It would be a failure if the graduates of Covenant University joined the army of unemployed graduates. They should be able to create jobs which was the reason for the establishment of the course- Entrepreneurship Development Studies.

He promised them all the support and cooperation needed to achieve their purpose.

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINES Korean Government Scholarship Programme for International Students Bachelors/Masters /PhD Brief description: TheKoreanGovernment Scholarship Program (KGSP) isdesignedforinternationalstudentswhowantstopursue higher education in Korean Universities. The scholarship supports Bachelor's (four years), Masters (two years), and PhD (three years) plus one year Korean language course.

Host Institution(s) Universities (or Institutes) designated by NIIED Fields of study Applicants must choose their desired fields of study from the listed programs offered by participating universities or institutes Number of Scholarships About 110 undergraduate scholarships and 345 graduate scholarships will be awarded in 2013 (based on 2012 data).

Target group: The scholarships are targeted to students from more than 60 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe.

Scholarshipvalue/inclusions Undergraduate Programme Airfare: A round-trip economy class ticket Monthly Allowance: 800,000 won per month •Relocation(Settlement)Allowance:200,000wonupon arrival •Repatriation Allowance: 100,000 won upon completion of studies •Language Training Fee : The full costs up to one year •Tuition: The tuition fee up to five million won is exempted by the Korean Government, and if any, the

tuition fee exceeding five million won and the entrance fee for the first semester by the host university •Medical Insurance: The grantees will be provided with health insurance for major accidents and illnesses during their scholarship period.

Graduate Programme •Airfare: A round-trip economy class ticket •Monthly Allowance: 900,000 won per month •Relocation (Settlement) Allowance: 200,000 won upon arrival •Language Training Fee : The full costs up to 1 year •Tuition: All admission fees are waived by the host institution.

The full tuition is paid by NIIED. •MedicalInsurance:20,000wonpermonth(limitedinsurance coverage) will be provided to the university for students.

•Research Allowance: 210,000 won for students in human and social sciences; 240,000 won for students in natural and mechanic sciences per semester •Dissertation Printing Costs: 500,000 - 800,000 won for the costs related to a printing dissertation Special Allowance for ALL students proficient in Korean language (TOPIK level five or six): 100,000 won per month Eligibility: Undergraduate Programme •Must be a citizen of the country to which the scholarship is offered, which also applies to the applicants' parents •Have graduated or will be scheduled to graduate from high school as of March 1st of the invitation year •Must possess above 80 per cent (out of 100 per cent) cumulative grade point average (CGPA), or must be within the top 20 per cent (out of 100 per cent) in rank in high school.

Graduate Programme

•The applicant and his/her parents must hold foreign citizenships. Applicants who hold Korean citizenship are not permitted to apply for this programme.

•Applicants must be under 40 as of September 1, 2012 (born after Sep.tember 1, 1972).

•Applicants must hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree by September 1 of the selection year.

Applicants who have enrolled in or graduated from a university in Korea are not eligible for the KGSP program. Specifically, applicants who have previously enrolled in or graduated from an undergraduate programme, a master's program, or a doctoral program in Korea cannot apply for this program.

•Applicants must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.64 on a 4.0 scale, 2.80 on a 4.3 scale, 2.91 on a 4.5 scale, or grades/marks/ score of 80 per cent or higher from the previously attended institution. If the applicant does not satisfy the above GPA requirements, he/she will be ineligible to apply to this programme.

Application instructions Applicants can only apply for the scholarships through the Korean Embassy in their home country or a participating Korean University. Visit the websites of Korean Embassy/Consulate in your own country.

For the Graduate Programme, the Korean Embassy or Consulate will recommend qualified candidates to NIIED by March 31, 2013. Therefore, the application deadline should fall BEFORE this date - around January to March 2013.

PE not well taught in schools, says don

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EFECTIVE teaching of Physical/Health Education (PHE) at basic education level affects the wellbeing of Nigerians later in life, a Professor of Exercise Physiology, Rafiu Olaoluwa Okuneye, has said.

Delivering the 50th Inaugural Lecture of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, on the topic: Human body, human wellness: The perpetual antidotes penultimate week, Okuneye said Physical Education is not being taught appropriately because female teachers, who dominate the basic education level are unwilling to teach the practical aspects of the subject.

He said: "My findings revealed that Physical Education is not regularly taught in the class while practical classes are almost neglected; most teachers in primary schools are women who strive to remain radiant the whole day and as such not ready to change into and out of sports dresses; consequently, practical classes suffer great set back.

"Teachers in primary schools do

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

not possess sufficient requisite skills to teach and evaluate PE. Teachers usually complain about lack of space, inadequate facilities and equipment.

However, these complaints were countered with the fact that space is still available for pupils to vigorously engage in physical activity during recess or break time and facilities and equipment required for PE at primary school are simple and not complex as those for other sports and events for competition."

As a result of teachers' unwillingness, Okuneye said schools are losing vital PE equipment because they do not make requisition to government for them.

"Cartwheels, gymnastics and others are not supposed to be theory.

They should be practical. But since teachers do not practicalise them, there is no push for the government to supply the necessary equipment.

Gradually, these equipment are fading out of schools," he said.

Okuneye warned that not learning PHE well at an early age has nega-

tive implications in adulthood.

"The implication of this is that children are left unguided to search for physical activity whether suitable or unsuitable. It is only when children are properly exposed to physical education classes in their school years that they will master fine motor skills; that they will be familiar with pool of activities from which they can select the most appealing ones for lifetime participation and more importantly establish in them, ideal physical activity habit from childhood," he said.

However, after successfully campaigning for the introduction of the practical aspect of the subject into the SSCE conducted by WAEC and NECO, Okuneye is optimistic the teaching of the subject would improve in schools.

"I am proud to confirm to this audience that the Federal Government/Ministry of Education reasoned with us and directed that practical examination should be part of the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in Physical Education

• Prof Okuneye

with effect from 2008. The National Examination Council (NECO) has complied and WAEC is about to complete the process of complying. With this I am optimistic that the teaching and learning of PE in secondary schools will significantly improve for the benefit of all.

To maintain wellness, Okuneye urged his audience, made up of academic and non-academic workers as well as students of LASU, to always exercise and not abuse their bodies

‘Blame fallen education on bad leadership’

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HE Association for Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP) has blamed the fallen standard of education on bad leadership, poor training of teachers, and lack of will power by parents to monitor their wards' activities.

It also expressed worry that many problems still exist in the funding of educational programmes, including human capacity development of teachers, by competent training institutes.

Speaking during the annual dinner/award, its President,Mrs Islamiat Olaitan Oshodi, listed teachers' welfare, and improved salary scale and promotions as areas crying for urgent attention.

These, she said, would motivate teachers to giving their best to the students.

Mrs. Oshodi attributed the high rate of crime today to poor health facilities, high mortality rate and political wrangling among others, amid the government's helplessness in the face of declining education.

She, therefore, advocated the effective promotion of education for all, training and development of care givers, teachers and teacher educators, commitments to raising the quality of education as well as girl-child education.

By Ambrose Nnaji

"Teachers play major roles in the educational system of the nation including ensuring discipline and sound moral values among students.

Teachers are central to initiating ideas towards community development, adopting innovative teaching techniques as well as helping students imbibe positive attitudes towards national unity."

She said individuals would be able to develop study skills that would make them more employable, adding that good education gives an individual a well-rounded understanding of the world and prepares him for adulthood.

As part of its contribution, Mrs. Oshodi said ACEP is partnering with institutions of higher learning including the University of Lagos, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education in the training and professional development of teachers.

She said the association would continue to protect the rights of the Nigerian child, focus more on child development, early childhood and children's education development, and professional development of care givers.

• From left: Olaniyan; Mrs Oshodi and Ivowi during the event

The occasion, she added, was meant to strengthen the working relationships/partnerships as well as honour deserving members who had excelled in their chosen career in the education sector Prof Uduogie Ivowi, one of the guests, also debunked the claim that there are no qualified teachers in most schools. He noted that corruption, lack of infrastructure and po-

litical will by the government have been the major challenges confronting the education system.

He said: "There is corruption!

That's why we are having poor performances and this will continue for as long we don't attend to the factors that are resulting in poor performances- well-paid teachers, provision of adequate facilities, including teaching materials, such as text

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

books, laboratory equipment and workshops."

Managing Proprietor of Victory Group of Schools Chief Christian Francis Olaniyan, one of the awardees, thanked ACEP for the award. He called on the government to desist from politicising education, one factor which he believes has stunted the sub-sector.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

39

EDUCATION

Jonathan's govt not responsible for education decay, says Obi ‘57% of lecturers have no PhD’

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NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi has said President Goodluck Jonathan's administration should not be blamed for the rot in the education sector.

Obi argued that the government has been trying to fix the decay with the support of states.

He spoke in Abuja at a meeting of the review committee on the report of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities.

Obi, who is the Chairman of the committee, vowed to submit a proposal to the National Economic Council (NEC) for consideration in the next two weeks His words: "We have set up a technical committee that, within two weeks, will give us a proposal that we can recommend to NEC and subsequently to the Federal Government and the states.

"President Goodluck Jonathan's administration is committed to changing the sorry state of our universities. We, the states, are committed; and we want those issues addressed as quickly as possible.

We should start wking our talk; we can no longer continue to have committees upon committees without seeing results.

"We may not achieve 100 per cent result, but we now want to put 100 per cent effort. Otherwise it will become the same committee report that yielded no result.

Defending the establishment of new universities, Obi said Nigeria still needs more of them.

"Nigeria needs more universities.

If you look at our population, you will know that we need more. We cannot say because we have allowed the existing ones to decay, then we should not create more, same goes for primary and secondary schools. How can we allow our schools to be this deplorable? But the present government is taking a bold step to fix it.

"What the Federal Ministry of Education is doing is to change from where we are today to skillbased education because we need to create the skill. We can no longer have people with certificates that

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

make them unemployable."

A recommendation document given to the committee, and made available to The Nation, revealed that 57 per cent of lecturers in Nigerian universities have no PhD. It recommended that all proprietors of universities should be given a moratorium of five years in which 90 per cent of their lecturers should have PhDs, while visiting lectureship should be regulated.

Present at the meeting were Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; Deputy Chairman National Planning Commission, (NPC), Shamsudeen Usman and Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike.

•Victor (middle) with his parents

Boy, 16, breaks school’s IGCSE record

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HE management of Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, has never had it so good in the last 25 years of its existence. None of its students has ever made it smile like Master Adenuga Victor Ogooluwa, who made six As in the November 2012 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination.

Adenuga, 16, made six A* in English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and two As in Mathematics and Additional Mathematics. The feat, aside making his parents and the school happy, has also put Doregos in international reckoning, according to its Principal, Mr Oluyemi Faleke.

Faleke, who told The Nation that Doregos started presenting candidates for international examination 10 years ago, described Adenuga's result as the 'best so far'.

But Adenuga hardly thinks himself a brilliant chap. His desire to buckle up following his average performance during his JSS 1, started a fire in him. And, since then, he has been firing from all cylinders.

"When I was in JSS 1, I used to

By Adegunle Olugbamila

rank among the first 15 pupils in my class. Then, I realised I was too playful, so I decided to gird my loins," he said to this reporter at the Faith Revival Church, along Egbeda/Idimu, where he granted an interview.

He does not see himself as a bookworm either. "I study like every other person" he said, identifying prayers as his indispensable weapon.

"I pray a lot. I pray each day I wake up and when I'm going to sleep. I pray anytime I have something very important to undertake.

Prayer is my secret."

Despite his confidence in God, Adenuga recounted how he had 'butterflies in his stomach' days before the exam, "I entertained fear because I heard the exam was difficult. I also realised I had to be focused and more serious if I must come out the best."

Adenuga was a member of the Nigerian contingent from Doregos that attended the International Sustainable World Energy Engineering Environment Project (ISWEEP) held in Texas, US, in May last year. Adenuga's innovation,

which was among those that got recognition from the I-SWEEP assessors, was a portable environmental-friendly device integrated with an alarm which the owner can attach to his or her body.

The alarm mechanism beeps once the wearer forgets an important item, such as car key, ATM card, among others at home or any place of visit.

Victor's father, the General Overseer of Faith Revival Church, Apostle Paul Adenuga, said the secret of Victor's success was his commitment and dedication to God's work.

"As a parent, you know one of my responsibilities is to also look after my children. But I am an apostle by calling and the nature of my ministry involves travelling from one place to another for evangelism. So, what I am saying is that I don't get enough time for my children, but since I'm dedicated to the work of God, He takes care of my family too."

"I encourage them and teach them the word of God whenever Dad is away, "added Adenuga's mother, Pastor Elizabeth, "I also advise them to play less and watch less of TV so they can be the best in their

‘When I was in JSS 1, I used to rank among the first 15 students in my class. Then, I realised I was too playful, so I decided to gird my loins’ studies."

Aside his intellectual prowess, Adenuga is also good in sports, particularly football. Faleke said Adenuga was the shining light at the last inter inter-house sports of Doregos where he won four laurels to his credit.

As Adenuga prepares for his WASSCE, he already has his future plan laid out. Though he dreams of reading Medicine in any reputable university, his ultimate aim however, is to succeed his father in God's work; so studying Medicine would be the starting point to working in God's vineyard.

NGO sponsors 50 less-privileged pupils

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•Mrs Ikponmwonba (left) presenting the cheque to Adekoya

IFTY pupils in Lagos State have been re-integrated into five primary schools thanks to the StayInSchoolng Initiative, an NGO which aims at alleviating poverty for disadvantaged kids through education.

They were provided with uniforms, bags, school sandals, pencils and other materials needed for their education.

The pupils drawn from schools in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area were also given a cheque of N300,000 (received by their head teachers) for a meal each till the end of the session.

At the enrolment ceremony held in the Ejigbo Schools complex, coordinator of the initiative, Miss Tricia Ikponmwonba, said the project was borne out of the need to ensure that the less-privileged have equal opportunities to get basic primary education.

According to her, the gesture is the first phase of the project, as another would be held in Kuruduma, a displaced village in Abuja, where another 20 pupils will benefit.

She advised parents to allow the children attend school daily as all their basic needs have been provided for, including their feeding.

"Parents, your duty is to ensure the children come to school and we will take it from there," she said.

The children were enrolled in five schools —Ejigbo Model Primary School, Imakiyo Primary School, Ayo Adegboyega Primary School, Fadu Memorial Primary School and Ageke Primary School.

Education Secretary, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Education Authority, Alausa Adekoya, who handed over some of the materials to the pupils, described the gesture as a selfless act.

He thanked the co-coordinator for doing her bit in the country's efforts to attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He said she was unlike other wealthy people who would rather use money that would benefit humanity to seek undue publicity. He said such acts are not the true way of giving back to the society.

Mrs Anyawusi Olufunke, who led other Head Teachers in Ejigbo Schools Complex, said it was important that the parents understood their roles in educating their wards and urged them to deny themselves certain things just to ensure that children are well educated and become important in future.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

40

EDUCATION

Pupils remember Holocaust victims

Admission: At what cost?

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L

S the United Nations (UN) remembered Holocaust victims of the World War II last Tuesday, pupils who have followed the horror stories of attacks that have ended the lives of 10,000 people, maiming thousands of others in Northern Nigeria since 2009, are seeking a permanent solution to the crisis.

They want political leaders to be less corrupt, followers to be more responsible and members of the sect to stop taking innocent lives.

The event was the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust held at the Fountain Heights Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos. The day was set aside by the UN to constantly remind citizens of the world not to forget the heinous crimes of Adolf Hitler in the killing of six million Jews, Roma, Sinti, homosexuals, the mentally ill and others during the Second World War, with the hope that there will not be a repeat of such.

The pupils, drawn from various secondary schools in the state, were shown films of the atrocities perpetrated by Adolf Hitler during the world war. They were horrified by the level of depravity that could make a man mastermind the deaths of fellow humans to such scale.

However, they were also moved by heroic efforts that saved many Jewish lives, which the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon noted was the focus of the event.

In his message read by Mrs Olajumoke Araba, Officer-inCharge, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), the UN envoy said the aim of the celebration was to honour the rescuers and encourage the pupils to imbibe values of courage and leadership.

"This year's theme: Rescue during the Holocaust: the Courage to Care pays tribute to those who risked their lives and their families to save Jews and others from almost certain death under Nazi rule. Although acts of genocide illustrate the depths of evil to which individuals and whole societies can descend, the examples of these brave men and women also demonstrate the capacity of humankind for remarkable good, even during the darkest of days. On this International Day, let us remember all the innocent people who lost their lives during the Holocaust. And let us be inspired by those who had the courage to care - the ordinary people who took extraordinary steps to de-

EDUTALK

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AST week, a court sentenced a member of staff of the Delta State University, Abraka, David Wonder Erhirhie to death by hanging for killing an admission seeker, Chinoso Ijezie in 2009.

Kofoworola He had collected N155,000 as fee to secure admission for her into the university but could not deliver on his promise. When the girl deKofosagie@yahoo.com manded a refund, he lured her to 08054503077 (SMS only) his home under the pretext that he would give her the money, then murdered her and buried her in a shallow grave.

The article did not provide more details about the story. There was nothing about the girl's family, how they reacted to their daughter's death and her murderer's treachery. But we can guess that they would rather have her alive and not in school than dead because she wanted to get into school by all means.

With the limited spaces in our tertiary institutions, particularly the universities, there must be thousands of candidates that have fallen victim of the fraudulent activities of admission racketeers. Many institutions do not admit up to 10 per cent of those who apply, leaving a large number of desperate candidates at the mercy of unscrupulous academic and non academic workers in our tertiary institutions and their agents.

These dishonest people who ought to act as parents to the young ones and advise them to work harder next time or comfort them to take heart if indeed they tried their best, rather place price tags on their illegal activities. They do not care how the candidates get the money many of them do not earn as monthly salaries; their selfish concern is lining their pockets with filthy lucre.

Some candidates source the money they use to pursue their admission from parents and relatives; others are forced to do all manner of unethical things to raise the money which sometimes goes as high as N200,000.

While sharing this story with someone, he told me how was duped of N60,000 by one Engineer Ben who assured him of a place in the University of Lagos. He had written the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), then UME, four times and was desperate to enter school.

He thought he had a good chance because he made the post-UTME cutoff. Engineer Ben, who was not even an employee of the university, boosted his confidence. List after list was released and his name was not there. Yet Ben did not fail to assure him he would make it. The extent to which Ben deceived him was despicable because he even told him to go to a particular department to ask for the list because his name was on it.

My source went to the department with confidence and insisted his name was on their list. They gave him the entire list to check for his name. He checked and checked to no avail. It was a futile search. He got no admission and never got his money back. His disappointment was almost unbearable.

To help applicants avoid getting into all sorts of traps with racketeers, tertiary institutions need to provide enough information about the admission process. Upfront candidates should know the number of spaces available in each department while preparing for the post-UTME screening. They should also know all the criteria the institution would consider in selecting its students including what they would consider in eliminating those who qualify but cannot be admitted because there is no space. Also important is the number of lists that would be released because these bad eggs keep candidates hoping even long after the whole exercise is over. With enough information, applicants know what their dealing with and can weigh their options.

After the admission exercise is over, tertiary institutions should initiate programmes that would offer counsel to applicants who did not make it. Some of them feel very depressed when they find their names are not on the list. Virtually all institutions, particularly the highly patronised ones cannot admit all their qualified candidates because they simply do not have the capacity. For instance, for the 2012/2013 academic session, the Yaba College of Technology could only admit 4,500 out of 110,000 candidates that applied for its National and Higher National Diploma (ND/HND), while the University of Ibadan admitted only 2671 out of 41,367 applicants. Informing candidates of the reasons they did not make it may make the news easier to bear.

It will also be good if institutions can suggest options those who plan to retake the examination the next year can take. The options could include considering admissions through alternative routes like taking remedial, diploma, or foundation programmes or earning their degrees through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) platform. The initiative could also be counseling sessions for candidates to learn what they are doing wrongly, or what kind of skills or jobs they can pursue while waiting to get into school.

If institutions put such programmes in place, there would be less incentive to pursue admissions at all cost with grave consequences.

Belo-Osagie

• Participants at the event.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

fend human dignity. Their example can help us build a better world today," he said.

Though the activities of the Boko Haram sect pales in comparison to Hitler's atrocities more than 70 years ago, the pupils are concerned that if not checked the situation could get even worse than it is today. They proposed a range of solutions including dialogue, equipping relevant government agencies to deal with security threats, providing financial reprieve for the masses among others.

Condemning any cause that involves taking human lives, Dorcas Ebhohimhen of Kamsek International School, Alagbado, said the government should be sensitive to issues that could cause disaffection, especially among the less privileged of the society.

She said: "Many things cause revolt. For instance, the fuel subsidy removal affected many people. You can imagine someone that is earning N12,000 who is expected to pay school fees, transportation and feed from it. Then government removes subsidy from N97 to N120. Our leaders should consider that all fingers are not equal before taking decisions. They should consider the

poor when taking decisions."

On her part, Boma Praise-George, a pupil of May Day College, Iponri, listed hatred, jealousy, poverty, ignorance and religious differences as factors that cause crisis of this nature. She also upbraided political leaders for their corrupt practices which she said can frustrate people.

"Leaders are the cause. Most of them are corrupt. They should step up and really try and improve their leadership skills instead of allowing innocent people to be killed," she said.

As far as Nifemi Yousuph, an SS3 pupil of Fountain Heights is concerned parents who fail in their roles to nurture their wards leave room for them to go astray.

Though he factored poor education as a reason why youths join sects like Boko Haram, he said with proper home training young people will be focused on societal development.

"I don't think they (members of the sect) are totally informed about the harm they are causing. Most of them are not properly educated.

Mutallab was educated but he was a spoilt rich kid who had nothing to do. He had money but chose the wrong path. Parents have a serious role to play to ensure their children do not stray," he said.

VC advocates entrepreneurial culture HE Vice-Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Prof Sola Fajana, has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other educational supervisory agencies to make SIFE membership and its entrepreneurial activism mandatory for all students at the tertiary education level.

He advocated this in his address during the SIFE Annual Team Leaders/Faculty Advisors Training Programme hosted by the university penultimate week.

The training which had as its theme – Top ten leadership training programme 2013: Building leaders, inspiring change – had in attendance about 400 student leaders from over 30 universities who were accompanied by their Faculty Advisers (FAs).

The Vice-Chancellor noted that

with

the discourse during the training would challenge participants and develop group dynamics. He also reiterated JABU's commitment to the development of entrepreneurship in Nigeria by empowering its students with the necessary skills and values which would enable them to be forward thinkers, and persons of integrity.

Country Director of SIFE, renamed Enactus last October, Mrs. Adesuwa Ifedi, noted that the group comprises not only students, but academics, business leaders and other people with passion for entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.

She further described how great leaders such as Folu Ayeni of Tantalizers brought about a change in the fast food area by introducing African dishes; Steve Jobs, founder of Apple International, and Mark

Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, changed the world through their exceptional ideas for which they were celebrated.

She encouraged the participants to take up leadership skills, create ideas and make their lives and Nigeria better.

SIFE (ENACTUS) is an international non-profit organisation which works with leaders in the corporate world and academics to organise tertiary institutions students to make an impact in their environment.

The training programme was spiced with exciting and motivating activities which included talks.

Prof Fajana was one of the resources persons that gave eyeopening revelation on admissions into American universities, resources on the internet, among others.

‘To help applicants avoid getting into all sorts of traps with racketeers, tertiary institutions need to provide enough information about the admission process. Upfront candidates should know the number of spaces available in each department while preparing for the post-UTME screening’

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

42

NEWS

•First Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan (second left) cutting the tape to open Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Youths Sports Centre in Nyanya, Abuja... on Tuesday. With her are Senate President’s, wife Mrs. Helen Mark (left); wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Sambo; FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and Senator Smart Adeyemi.

•Oyo State Governor’s wife Mr Florence Ajimobi flanked by Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya (left) and one of the beneficiaries of 200 grinding machines from Iwajowa Local Government,Ms Ogunwande Ogunmodede at the presentation

•Inspector-General of Police Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar (left) and Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan at the wedding reception of Tope, daughter of Minister of State for Defence Mrs Olusola Obada in Lagos... last weekend.

•Chairman, University of Lagos (ÙNILAG) Mass Communication Department, Prof Raph Akinfeleye (right); President, UNILAG Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCA), Chief. Lawson Omokhodion, member of the association, Mr. Ted Iwere and Group Managing Director/CEO, Intergrated Marketing Solution Group, Mr. Dan Esiekpe, at the Association’s visit to the institution’s Mass Communication Department in Lagos.

•Members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Iju Chapter, Ado-Odo Ota Local Government, Ogun State. (From left): Mr. Udi Matthew; Dr. Tolani Fagboro; Mr. Lukman Dada; Princess Oluwakemi Izedeomi and others during the inauguration of the chapter.

•Special Assistant to the President of Amnesty, Hon Kingsley Khimi Kuku (second left) greeting Hon. Reyenieju Daniel Oritsegbubemi after a meeting in Abuja... on Tuesday. With them are Secretary of the council, Dorasu Isaac (left); President, David Tonwe, Public Relations Officer, Aloigor Gbabemi and others .

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE.

•Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Tunji Shelle flanked by his deputy, Ola Apena (right) and Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju at a prayer session after the funeral of the party’s secretary Alhaji Fatai Agbabiaka at Ehingbeti, Lagos... on Tuesday.

•Dean of Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja and Bishop-elect of Diocese of Lagos West, Ven Olusola Odedeji (left); Bishop Peter Adebiyi; Mrs. Feyi Awofisayo and the pioneer Archdeacon of Ikorodu North Archdeaconry, Ven. Johnson Ajayi after the inauguration of the Archdeaconry

43

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The die is cast between Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Senator Barnabas Gemade. The duo are the leading senatorial aspirants in the Benue Northeast District. Correspondent UJA EMMANUEL writes on the preparations for the contest.

Suswam, Gemade battle for Senate

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HE stage is set for the senatorial election in Benue Northeast Senatorial District. Heavyweight politicians are on the track. However, it is believed that the contest is between Governor Gabriel Suswan and Chief Barnabas Gemade.

Since 1999, the zone has been a hot battleground. The voters are politically conscious. The leaders also know their onions. The districh has produced five senators. They are Professor David Iornem Professor Iyorwuse Hagher, Professor Daniel Saaor, Col. Joseph Akaagerger (rtd), and Chief Gemade.

What makes the forthcoming primaries interesting is that the governor and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman are locking horns.

Recently, Gemade has declared that his second term ambition is non-negotiable.

However, Suswan’s foot soldiers are working hard to turn the tide against Gemade. Some PDP chieftains led by a former member of the House of Assembly ,Hon Atoza Hidam,have endorsed the governor for the slot. They said he is the right person to succeed Gemade, who they said, should be prepared to play fatherly roles in the zone in post-2015.

Since Hidan, who is from Sankera political bloc, started the pro-Suswan campaign, other leaders have joined him. The rank of campaigners is swelling by the day. Hon. Ugba Uye and Dr. Shande have also b een mobilising support for the governor in the zone. They are convinced that Suswan should not be idle, following the expiration of his tenure.

According to the PDP elders, age is still on the side of the governor, who had represented Sankara Constituency in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007. They said that the push for generational shift favours Suswan to assume leadership role in the district.

The elders said they were impressed by the performance of the former federal legislator and governor, adding that that weight of experience would better be put to used in the Senate in 2015.

•Suswam

•Gemade

‘According to the PDP elders, age is still on the side of the governor, who had represented Sankara Constituency in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007. They said that the push for generational shift favours Suswan to assume leadership role in the district’ Shortly Suswam was endorsed, Gemade,addressed a press conference in Abuja, describing leader of the PDP elders ,Hon. Hidan,who is his in-law, as a mischievous element .

He objected to the endorsement on two

grounds. Gemade said 2015 is still two years away, stressing that the governor’s attention was being diverted. He also said that, by 2015, the senatorial seat will not be vacant.

However, Gemade’s remarks have led

to the intensification of the pro-Suswan campaigns. A group of former local government chairmen led by Hon Ayom Mar decided to inaugurate a campaign team team for the governor. They also unfolded plans to set up a campaign office. The group has coordinators and patrons in each of the seven local government areas that make up the zone.

Governor Suswam is said to be excited by the activities of the group, although he has not declared his senatorial ambition.

It is also not clear whether he is indirectly funding the campaigns. However, he has not disowned the campaign groups.

Observers contend that the governor may not have an easy ride. Senator Gemade has openly declared that he will seek re-election. The former national chairman has his supporters, who are fiercely loyal to him. Speaking with newsmen, the former Secretary of Works in the Interim National Government said the people of the zone will renew his mandate in 2015, in recognition of his achievements in the Senate.

Since Suswam joined politics in 1999, he has not lost any election. This has earn him the nickname “ Civilian General”.

Addressing the people of Tarka local government area at a political rally last year, Suswam said, if he set his eyes on any thing, he would work hard to get it.

The question is: will Suswam dislodge Gemade?

Ironically, the governor was instrumental to the victory of Gemade at the primaries and general elections. Eyes were on his opponent, Dr. Mathias Byuan, before the shadow poll. But Suswam contacted the Presidency and the the tide changed in his favour. In 2007, it was a different ball game.

The former PDP chairman was defeated by Akaagerger. But in 2011, he triuphed over the retired soldier because of the support given to him by the governor.

Gemade is the Nom Iyange-Tiv(Rising Star of Tiv). The title was given to him by the paramount ruler, the Tor Tiv. In 2015, the battle will be between the “ Civilian General” and ‘The Rising Star’.

Sagay: zoning, function of political backwardness

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LEGAL luminary, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has described zoning as a function of political backwardness and immaturity.

He said that no democracy can be sustained by the rights of tribes to misrule, misgovern, plunder and under-develop the country. The legal scholar urged Nigerians to imbibe political maturity and civilisation.

Sagay, who is also a member of the Southsouth Development Think-Tank, spoke in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Sagay also dissected the polity, saying that a constitutional conference is imperative. He said the various ethnic nationalities have the right to discuss the future of the country and their place in that future.

He said any constitution review that cannot foster true federalism is an exercise in futility.

In the country, zoning has become an integral part of the political culture. The competing zones in the states believe that distribution of political offices should be based on zoning.

Also, the choice of party leaders has followed the same trend. Critics have submitted that mert is often sacrificed on the

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

alter of zoning.

At the federal level, the six geo-political zones scramble for the top political positions because they believe that it gives them a sense of belonging.

Noting that many developed democracies do not choose their leaders based on ethnic consideration, Sagay said the idea is retrogressive.

The eminent lawyer lamented that leadership by zoning has roobed Nigeria of merit, standard and excellence.

He said this approach has continued to draw the country backward, considering the years of misrule and looting.

Urging the think-tank to distant itself from zoning, he maintained that it is undesirable.

Sagay also admonished the members of the National Assembly to work out modalities in the constitution amendments to empower states to create local governments.

He also said the councils should be funded by the states.

Sagay pointed out that local government autonomy and federalism were incompatible, stressing that local governments

should not be listed in the new constitution.

The retired university don also doubted, if the National Assembly can do a thorough constitution amendment. Sagay said only a constituent assembly can tackle the challenge of making a new constitution for Nigeria.

He said the inputs into the constitution making would be made by the ethnic nationalities, which are the pillars of the nation-state.

Sagay said issues relating to true federalism, fiscal federalism, restructuring of the polity, devolution of powers, state police, creation and control of the local government and other critical issues can be resolved at the national conference.

He expressed worry over government’s aloofness to the call for a national dialogue.

The convener of the think-tank, Mr. Mike Igini, who is also the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Cross Rivers State, said that the initiative lacked political connotation.

He said the group will be a brain-storming assembly of citizens from the zone ready to discharge the patriotic duty of adding value to governance through their

•Sagay

constructive contributions to policy making.

Igini said eminent Nigerians from the zone were determined to focus on issues bordering on revenue allocation and true federalism.

He called for support for the group from the ranks of professionals. Igini said their experience and expertise are required by the region in the march of development.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

POLITICS

How Edo savoured Supreme Court judgment OY was bold on the faces of the people. Youths invaded the streets of Benin, the capital of Edo State to rejoice with Governor Adams Oshiomhole, following the affirmation of his victory at the polls.

They hailed the Spreme Court, which set aside the ruling of the Appeal Court, which had ordered the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal to revisit the complaints of the non-qualification of the governor previously brought before it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger, Major General Charles Airhiavbere.

Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who delivered the judgement said the Appeal Court erred in its ruling, as the Edo Election Petitions Tribunal, which earlier struck out the paragraphs relating to non-qualification, was correct in doing so.

The Supreme Court maintained that the respondent, Airhiavbere, committed an unpardonable blunder by not including the ground of non-qualification in the original pleadings at the tribunal. The apex court maintained that the court is not a father Christmas who dishes out what is not asked for, stressing that a party is bound by his pleadings.

The judgment doused the tension in the state. There was jubilation across the three senatorial districts.

In Benin, youths under the umbrella of Edo Is In Safe Hands, had

J

‘Kalu has not returned to PDP’ Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Public Relations Mr. James Okpara spoke on the controversial return of the former governor, Orji Kalu, to the party and other issues. AUGUSTINE AVWODE met him.

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

stormed the popular KingSquare/ Sapele/Airport/Akpakpava/ Sokponba/ Oba Market Road.

They were led by two associates of the governor, Mr Osarodion Ogie, a lawyer, and Hon. Philip Shuaibu.

The victory gave the governor another opportunity for a popularity ride on the street. Accompanied by the Southsouth ACN leader, Pastor Ize Iyamu, Oshiomhole was excited at the crowd. He waved his hands at the people , in appreciation of their support.

The governor reflected on the poll and the litigation, saying that PDP wanted to manipulate the court to get victory through the back door.

Oshiomhole said, with the judgment, the petitioner has been made to swallow a bitter pill. He however, lamented that his opponent wasted the time of the court and the ACN. The import of the judicial victory was not lost on the governor. He said, with the case over, the ACN government will work harder to give the dividends of democracy to the people. “The people voted freely and I won 75 per cent of the votes cast in the election. The judiciary has always demonstrated the courage, commitment to the rule of law and today, they have again demonstrated that and I can only

F •Oshiomhole

say we give thank to God”, he said.

Oshiomhole however, extended a hand of friendship to Airhiavbere. He said:“I want to remind the petitioner that we are friends and brothers and that, in a multi-party democracy, more than one person are entitled to contest, and that is the beauty of multiparty democracy. And when more than one person contest an election, no matter what happens, only one person must win. There is no way two persons can win at the same time.

“Edo people have spoken. Now that is all over, we ask him to join us as an Edo person, so that together we can take the state to the next level.”

Ojudu: we must unite against retrogressive forces

By Musa Odoshimokhe

•Ojudu

S

ENATOR Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central) has called on the people of Ekiti State to unite against the retrogressive forces trying to undermine the progress of the state.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, who was at the meeting of ‘Ekiti Parapo’, Lagos, said the state must rise above parochial

interest to attain a greater hieght.

Ojudu decried the mainstream politics, saying that it has retarded the progress of the state.

He said: “Those who represent us at the federal level do so at their own interests. Going through some of the federal projects listed in the name of Ekiti State, I discovered there were serious breaches perpetrated by these people. This I had to challenge in order to ensure Ekiti got what it deserved”.

Ojudu said politics and governance should not be left in the hands of neophytes, adding that only men of experience and ideas are fit to rule.

The senator also enjoined the youths to initiate and communicate the right political values.

He said: “The youths should

embrace farming. Of course, I will not buy Okada for anybody because, apart from the risk involved, it is counterproductive.”

“There is no job anywhere to give to any young man; they should embrace farming, like it is done in advanced countries where young men make a fortune. Why should we walk the streets in search of jobs that are non-existent?”

Ojudu spoke on the plans to transform Ekiti by the senators from the state. This, according to him, is hinged on their agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which agreed to give counterpart funding.

He said: “We, the senators, agreed to do something that would take the youth off the streets and in view of our programme, we approached the UNDP which bought into the ideas and gave us support.”

ORMER Governor Orji Kalu of Abia State said he has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The state government said he has not returned. Who should the public believe?

The PDP chairman in Abia State, the chairman of PDP in Bende Local Government Area and other party leaders and stakeholders have addressed this matter.

Former Governor Orji Kalu is not a bonafide member of the PDP. The party card he is brandishing is fake. It is not genuine. The reasons are very simple and I will enumerate them. First, every ward has its own serial number and the number of Orji Kalu’s purported card is different from the number series allocated to his ward by the party. Second, there is a register of PDP members and Orji Kalu’s name is not in this register. Can you validly be a member of an association without your membership being registered in the register of members?

But the ward chairman of the party and other executive members issued the card. How then can it be fake?

The ward chairman and other executive members who purportedly gave him the card were no longer members of the PDP on the date they gave him the card. Can you give out what you don’t have?

In a resolution of November 14, 2012 by members of the Bende PDP, it was unanimously agreed that Orji Kalu shall not be readmitted into the party. The Igbere ward chairman, who purportedly gave him the membership card, attended the meeting and signed the resolution. I should ask you, can you be a member of two different political parties at the same time?

Kalu is the founder and owner of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). Can he be a member of PPA and that of PDP at the same time?

The answer is no.

As a lawyer, don’t you think that, by rejecting Kalu’s readmission into PDP, the state government is infringing on his fundamental right or freedom of association?

It is wrong to imply that the rejection of his purported readmission back to PDP is being driven by the state government. It is his own people, those who belong to the same constituency with him that vehemently said no way when rumours were strong that he was planning to come back to PDP. The The stakeholders of the

•Okpara

party from Bende have, in at least, two separate occasions, unanimously stated that they do not want Orji Kalu in their party.

We are talking of the freedom of association...

Don’t you think that the freedom of association of 99.9 per cent of PDP members in Bende council area will be breached by the readmission of Orji Kalu into their party? Have you read the resolution of Bende stakeholders on the matter? The Bende PDP members, in their resolution of November 14, 2012, stated that “the constitution and the extant laws of Nigeria recognizes freedom of association. That friendship or association is by choice and not by compulsion, fiat or coercion”. In order words, you cannot force me to be your friend or associate with you.

You have the right to say that you want to associate with me, but in the spirit of freedom of association, I have the right to say sorry, I do not want to be your friend or associate with you. Friendship or association should not be by force.

And we can say that political association or political friendship shouldn’t be by force.

But why this opposition to a former governor’s desire to return to the party, on which platform he ruled the state for eight years?

During his administration, there was no development in Abia State.

Government affairs became a family business. Let Orji Kalu take you round Abia State and point out one thing that he did in his eight years in power. Our people are tired of quarrels and distractions.

‘Why I want to succeed Akpabio’

A

•From left: Secretary, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Northwest Zone, National Rebuilding and Inter-party Contact Committee, Mr George Moghalu; Chairman, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, at a meeting in Kaduna ... yesterday.

GOVERNORSHIP aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Okpo Onofiok, has unfolded his manifesto in Uyo, the state capital. He said he would concentrate on human and infrastructure development, if elected as governor.

Onofiok also spoke on his programmes during his visit to his ward and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Udung Uko Local Government Area of the state.

He explained that his consultation with the grassroots leaders was to re-affirm his aspiration for the 2015 governoship race.

Onofiok, who is an Oron, said power should shift to the zone becaue two Ibiobio, former Governor Victor Attah and governor Godswill Akpabio have enjoyed the slot.

He said: “When the Oron ethnic bloc is given her due recognition in the state’s political and eco-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

nomic configuration, the unity and peace of the state will be attained without much dialogue.”

Onofiok appealed to the ruling party and state governmnt not to ignore the goose that lays the golden eggs, stressing that the revenue sustaining the state is from the Oro ethnic bloc.”

He added: “All the songs the people are singing to Ukana, Uyo and the rest are because of the oil, which is being predominantly explaited from Oro. b Oro has been an integral and productive segment of the state.”

The politician said the marginalisation of the oil-producing community smacked of injustice.

The aspirant appealed to Governor Akpabio to use the remaining years left for his administration to transform the area.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY A pharmacist, Mrs Folasade Filani of Benjamin Michaels Limited, Lagos, answers the first question; the monk, Reverend Father Anselm Adodo, answers the second from his Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories, Benedictine Monastery, Ewu-Esan, Edo State.

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Treating prostate condition with herbs

ROSTATE gland enlargement is a common condition as men grow older. Also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatic hypertrophy, prostate gland enlargement can cause urinary symptoms. Men sometimes refrain from discussing their health issues and seek mild, yet effective treatments. Untreated prostate gland enlargement can block the flow of urine out of the bladder and cause bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems.

Prostate gland enlargement symptoms include weak urine stream and difficulty starting urination, stopping and starting while urinating, dribbling at the end of urination, frequent or urgent need to urinate, increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia), straining while urinating, not being able to empty the bladder, urinary tract infection, formation of stones in the blad-

der and or reduced kidney function.

There are several effective treatments for prostate gland enlargement. In deciding the best option, your doctor will consider your particular symptoms, the size of your prostate, other health problems you may have and your preferences. Your choices may also depend on what treatments are available in your area. Treatments for prostate gland enlargement include medications, lifestyle changes and surgery. Prostate gland enlargement varies in severity among men and tends to worsen over time.

The size of your prostate doesn’t necessarily mean your symptoms will be worse. Some men with only slightly enlarged prostates have significant symptoms. On the other hand, some men with much enlarged prostates have only minor urinary symptoms.

Prostatonin is the natural solution for

men over 40 who actively want to prevent and/or combat early symptoms of the disease. Prostatonin is the natural relief from the burden of early BPH symptoms without affecting sexual activity, thus, it is the first step to improved quality of life.

Prostatonin® is a combination of two highly active plant extracts that help to relieve the first symptoms of BPH. It is composed of Urtica dioica extract and Pygeum africanum extract.

Prostatonin® alleviates early symptoms of BPH so that the bladder empties better; the urge to urinate is less frequent; the frequency of urinating, especially at night, is reduced; the urinary stream becomes normal.

Unlike synthetic and hormonal drugs, which have a highly selective pharmacological action and show side effects in relation to sexual activity, plant based products such as

•Mrs Filani

Prostatonin have a wider spectrum of action which works in a safe and effective way. To date, Prostatonin has shown a very low number of adverse events. It does not contain sugar and is safe for diabetics and is suitable for longterm treatment.

QUESTIONS: 1 I am diabetic and have been diagnosed with prostate gland enlargement symptoms. I prefer the natural way out. Any suggestions.

John Segun, 42, teacher. Kogi State.

2.

I have been experiencing sleeplessness for some time now.

How do I manage this naturally?

Emeka Chukwu, 28, factory worker, Delta State.

Bitter leaf can cure insomnia etables are better than cooked ones.

And half cooked vegetables are better than over-cooked ones. Bitterleaf, like other plants, is a sacred plant. Therefore, respect it and pray over the plant before you cut it. We need to cultivate an attitude of reverence for God’s creatures so that we can be in harmony with them.

The following are some of the uses of bitter leaf.

Stomach ache:

•Bitter leaf

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HE bitter-leaf plant contains Vernodalin, Venomygdin and Saponin. Bitter leaf should always be taken fresh. Boiling or cooking reduces the potency of most herbs. The Igbo of Eastern Nigeria eat a lot of bitter leaf.

Everybody seems to know it. It grows everywhere. Bitter leaf, vernonia amydalina, is a very homely plant.

Wherever it grows, it flourishes.

And it’s ever green. The Igbos call it Onugbu. The Yorubas call it Ewuro. The Hausas call it Shiwaka.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the plant its bitterness. Every part is bitter.

The Igbos use the bitter leaf mostly as a vegetable, while the Yorubas use it more as a medicine.

Bitter leaf is popular among the old for its bitterness. But the young of today do not like its bitterness. They would rather prefer biscuits, ice cream, chocolate and other sugary products. Their philosophy is ‘Life is sweet; therefore, food must be sweet’.

The fact is that bitter herbs are

good for the body. They remind us that life is not always sweet; that life is not ‘a bed of roses’; that both sweetness and bitterness are essential parts of life and so are not opposed. Bitter herbs help to tone the vital organs of the body, especially the liver and kidney.

The liver is the largest organ of the body. It weighs between one to three kilogrammes in the adult. Its major functions are (a) secretion of bile and (b) formation of glycogen.

The liver is essential in the metabolism of fats and protein; it must, therefore, be well taken care of.

The kidney is another important organ in the body. The kidney is the organ that helps to expel waste materials from the body. It secretes urine that flows into the urethras. If the kidney breaks down, there will be a general disorder in the body.

Bitter leaf is very useful in the care of the kidney and the liver. It is for this reason that we refer to bitter leaf as a cure-all, for if the kidney and liver are healthy the whole system will function well.

Always remember that raw veg-

Chew the tender stem of the plant like a chewing stick and swallow the bitterness. This is a well-known remedy for stomach aches. In some cases, the ache stops within a few minutes. An alternative is to pound the fresh leaves in a mortar and press out the juice. Drink three tablespoons of the undiluted juice.

This brings immediate relief.

Skin infection: For skin infections such as ring worm, itching, rashes and eczema, the pure, undiluted extract of bitter leaf is excellent. Simply apply it to the affected part daily.

Diabetes: Diabetics should listen carefully to this good news. They do not need to despair or lose hope. God has not abandoned them. God has given them bitter leaf as a sign of God’s love and care. From time immemorial, herbalists have been using the bitter leaf plant in the treatment of diabetes. Bitter leaf not only reduces the sugar level drastically; it also helps to repair the pancreas.

Squeeze 10 handfuls of the fresh leaves in 10 litres of water and take two glasses thrice daily for one month, this amounts to six glasses

daily.

Loss of memory: Loss of memory can be a symptom of diabetes, or a sickness on its own. Whatever its nature may be, bitter leaf is good for this ailment.

Take one glass thrice daily for at least two months.

Prostate cancer: Prostrate cancer is common among men who are over 40 years.

Its symptom is difficult and painful urination, among others. Bitter leaf is very good for this ailment. It increases the flow of urine and reduces the pain, as well as regulates the spread of the cell. Simply squeeze the fresh leaves in water and take a glassful four times daily.

Don’t be surprised if you begin to urinate very frequently when you take the bitter leaf extract. It’s part of the cleansing and healing process that your body needs.

General weakness: Do you often feel weak and tired?

Do you lack vitality and vigour?

Then get up and take a walk into the bush. You don’t need to trek far before you find a bitter leaf plant.

Squeeze the leaves in water and take a glass thrice daily. Soon you will experience a new lease of energy.

Stroke: Bitter leaf solution calms the nerves, strengthens the muscles and cleanses the system. I have seen the marvels that bitter leaf extract has done for many people and I testify that it is good.

Pneumonia: Squeeze the fresh leaves of the plant in water. Take a glass-full

•Rev Fr Adodo

thrice daily. Warm the solution on fire each time before drinking. Remember, do not boil, just warm.

Continue the medication for a month. You do not need to squeeze the leaves each time you want to drink it. You can squeeze a large quantity at once and add some honey.

This will help preserve the solution.

However, note that if you store bitter leaf extract for twenty-four hours or more, the bitterness will disappear or diminish. But the efficacy remains.

Insomnia: Bitter leaf extract has done wonders for those suffering from sleeplessness. Simply take two glasses of bitter leaf solution every night. You will experience great calm and well being. You may add a little honey if you wish.

Arthritis: Arthritis or rheumatism patients who have tried bitter-leaf solution as described above attest to its effectiveness. It soothes inflamed joints and eradicates the pain.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

46

NATURAL HEALTH

Osteoporosis: How to make bones strong and healthy

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HERE’S hardly anyone who doesn’t have a fall once in a while. I have my fair share of it. Sometimes, we trip and fall in the house when we miss a step on the stairway. The fall may be in the street at some other time, such as when we hit a foot on a stump or when the wooden ramp across an open drain we have to cross cannot bear our weight and it caves in. Sometimes, we are lucky and end up with only grazes or cuts, no bone fractures or damage to any internal organ. In many cases, however, fractures occur and tumours may follow impact on the bones.

Always, I remember an eight-year-old primary school girl in FESTAC Town, Lagos, whenever I meet with my friend, Mr. Babatunde Baruwa, who was the head teacher at her school. Queen, as she was called, was hit on the thigh one day by a ball kicked by one of the boys during break time. No one thought so much about it. Not even her mother who massaged the thigh with liniment whenever Queen complained of pains in her thigh bones. Then, one day in hospital, the doctors found a cancer in the thigh! Such is the ordeal of a young man I have just been told about by an architect who was in search of help for his cousin. He had a fall sometime ago and assumed the matter had ended there.

But he went to hospital when pains in the leg failed to subside months after. And the doctors found a tumour growing in the injured bone. The architect told me a biopsy was to be done to determine if the tumour was benign, that is friendly, or maligment (dangerous). Their story reminds me of yet another story. It is that of a man my age who about 10 years ago had a fall at home and could neither stand on his feet nor sit up after he was helped up by co-residents of his compound. It turned out that his hip bone was fractured. To cut a long story short, a metallic device was surgically implanted in his pelvic bone to help him make limited movements. Worldwide Maria Treben, arguably Austria’s best known herbalist of her time, mentions in her book, HEALTH THOUGHT GOD’S PHARMACY, the story of an in-law of hers who had a fall which fractured her hip bone and thereafter had a pin inserted into this bone to enable her walk again. Back home in Nigeria the Yoruba warn that when an adult has a fall, the consequences are grave. (Isubu agba ki i da). They cannot explain why. But science does.

Acidosis When the diet makes the body acidic, the body has to find a way to dilute the acidity lest the blood become acidic and destroy the organs. Every major department of the body is compelled to donate some of its alkaline content into the bloodstream for this purpose. The bones release some Calcium, the muscles…Magnesium and Potassium, a cause of cramping; the immune system…Zinc and Manganese, the red blood cells…Iron, (anemia). Foods that cause acidosis include bread, milk, sugar, white- flour and fried foods, animal flesh, especially red meat. Many are shocked to learn that cow milk may not be good for them, despite the entire advertising hype to the contrary. A research evidence of this is reported

by James F. Batch, M.D., and Mark Stengler, N.D., in their PRESCRIPTION FOR NATURAL CURES. They say: “A 12- year’s study of more than 77,000 women found that those who drank more than 14 glasses of milk a week had 45 per cent more hip fractures, as compared to women who consumed one glass week or less” They add: “It may surprise you to learn that countries where people drink the most milk are also those with highest rate of osteoporosis. This may be due to the fact that lactose intolerance and casein (protein found in cow’s milk) allergy are very common and had to malabsorption. Also, calcium from cow’s milk is not well absorbed, at a rate of 25 per cent.

Milk products as well, so don’t rely on them for your calcium.

Unsweetened yogurt is an exception” wall.

“The mob yelled: CRUCIFY HIM. In this Valley of Death, I could, if I wanted a pound of his flesh. But what’s the gain? I had never seen such hatred for policemen. I looked up his eyes. Behind them was a refined human sprint. I took his hand and, together, we journeyed to the STILL WATERS. Far from the madding crowd” It was a veiled message about a police motorcyclist who knocked me down against a stationary trailer. I was going for lunch, and was about to enter the canteen when, seemingly from out of nowhere, I heard the roar of a motorcycle. All I remember, as I was going down, was a fervent prayer beseeching the Lord to save my spine. My lower back, point of impact with the truck, hurt badly but, thankfully, the doctor I saw about 30 minutes after, confirmed no fracture or internal problems. A mob seized the motorcycle, wanted the case reported at a police station. I could read anxiety on the face of the policeman. If we went to a police station, he would be fired because the policemen were now forbidden to ride motorcycles, so that the Lagos State government bid to ban motorcycle taxis (Okada) would be effective. He told me he was posted far away from home for days, with no food or money, and his wife telephoned that morning, that their children were ill and they were in the hospital. He borrowed a friend’s motorcycle to keep in touch with home.

He followed me to the hospital and paid some of the bill.

When I overheard him pleading with the doctor, I paid the balance. I was too glad to be alive and unbroken, and, spiritually grateful for an opportunity to cast off an old debt.

For nothing happens in a vacuum. Who knows if this experience was a symbolic redemption of an old Karma which could have been a worse deal? The Yoruba say ti iku to ye ko pa’ni ba si fila lori eni, ope lo ye ki a ma a da. We should be all gratitude – to the Lord – if death, dead serious about killing us, achieves no more than removing our caps). The policeman and I became friends, to the disappointment of the mob who wanted more than a pound of his flesh.

In many ways, I am grateful to the Lord for the lives and work of all those researchers and doctors who have been educating us about bone health and nutritional bone care. I have seen cases not as serious as the one’s I’ve had, not to mention vehicular impact, in which the victims suffered critical skeletal discomfitures. Over the years, I have learned the value of not just Vitamin C to bone health but, also, of Calcium as well and recognised, that Calcium consumption is not all that provides strong, resident and healthy bones.

Malabsorption HEN it comes to choosing a calcium supplement, many people choose cheap or organic calcium. These types are not well absorbed. They may even coat the lining of the intestine and, thereby block the absorption of nutrients or they may bulk up and cause constipation. That’s why ionic calcium, such as the IONYTE brand, is good. They enter the bloodstream from right under the tongue. For people who wish to try plant milk I recommend brands such as such as Coconut milk or Almond milk.

Malabsorption may also occur with a deficiency of calcium or minerals in the diet. Calcium fixes well at one part of calcium to one part of phosphorus and four parts of magnesium, for example. Many people consume excess phosphorus and are magnesium deficient. The result is that unabsorbed calcium deposit in soft tissue causing, for example, frozen shoulder, cataract in the eye, orthotic in the joints or even calcification of muscles and organs. That’s why one may be surprised that osteoporosis has set in or is progressing despite religious consumption of calcium.

As stated earlier, many nutrients work together to support calcium absorption and good bone density. Bach and Stengler report a study published in the Journal of Aging which associate high bone density with untaken of Omega-3 oils. They say: “The study found that the combination of the Essential fatty Acids. (EPA) fish oil GLA (Evening Primrose Oil along with 600mg of calcium improved bone density in senior women.

During the first 18 months, the lumbar spine density remained the same with the treatment group but decreased 3.2 per cent in the placebo (untreated) group. During the second period of 18 months, with all patients receiving the essential fatty acid combination, lumbar spine density increased 3.1 percent in patients who remained on active treatment, and 2.3 per cent in those who switched from placebo to active treatment. Thigh bone density in the latter group showed an increase of 4.7 per cent” Bone density in the study may have been helped by the positive effect Omega-3 oils have on hormonal balance.

Menopausal women suffer bone fractures more than any group of women or men largely, it is believed, because they produce less estrogen at this stage of their lives. Taking herbs which supply plant estrogens should also help them maintain strong and healthy bones. Men, too, suffer bone fractures when they begin to produce less testosterone, the male hormone.

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The Living Bone HE bone is composed of living cells, just like the eyes and or the brain. Never mind that it is hard and rigid. I always paint a picture of the hard and weak bone as follows: look at the block or brick or house nearest to you. It is constructed with cement (concrete) block or bricks.

One block or brick is arranged one on top of another. Between two blocks or bricks, there is a concrete mortar which holds them firmly together. The bones are similarly arranged.

Collagen, a protein, is the binding factor between two bone cells! Collagen binds, as well, all the hundred trillion or so cells in the adult human body, be they cells of the kidney, liver or of the womb or testes. Collagen is made of molecules which have life spans and must be replaced; otherwise a weakening of the bonding between cells will begin to occur.

Therefore, to avoid collagen collapse, raw materials must be provided in the diet. Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables and from any other sources assists the body to make collagen. Hands up, everyone who takes enough Vitamin C in the diet every day! I am sure not many hands will go up.

Fruits and vegetable have little or no Vitamins C these days.

Fruits are harvested unripened and stored under the most harrowing conditions to force ripen, such as covering them in a darkened environment and keeping carbide in their midst. As for vegetables, they are already fatigued and limp, under stress stripped of their Vitamin store, by the time they arrive in the kitchen. Overcooking delivers the last nutritional insult to their wellbeing, and ours! In this scenario, taking Vitamin C food supplement at table is an inescapable lifestyle for bone health. Among people whose hands will be up are many who are miserly to themselves in Bone density, beyond calcium this regard. They go for cheap 5mg or 10mg pharmaceutical Most days, I begin my nutritional regimen not necessary E must return that picture of the block or brick wall inorganic Vitamins C to maintain an organic body, whereas with food but supplement. As I write, I have four biochemic or house. Imagine some blocks missing in their current nutritional research suggests that as much as 3,000mg cell salt tablets, each of 6x potency, taken in a glassful of water places, or the cement mortar no longer bonding daily supplementation of diet is desirable these days. For with one tablespoon of Bragg’s unfiltered Apple Cider the traditionalists, 100grams of 110 edible orange provide well. The wall is weak, can be brought down by stormy Vinegar. These cell salts are the biochemic Calcium Phosphate, not more than 30mg of Vitamin C, according to H.K. Bakhru rainfall or slight human impact. The bones of many people, Calcium Fluoride, Magnesium Phosphate and Silica. Calcium in his FOOD THAT HEAL. Even if we can consume 100 especially menopausal women, are like that. This is Phosphate stimulates bone building. A need for Cal Phos is oranges every day for 3000,mg minimum daily intake in osteoporosis or soft bones. Up to about a decade ago, Calcium often indicated by neck and back pain and for stiffness which normal health,6000 – 10000mg is the recommendation by was about the main prescription for osteoporosis and for may worsen in cold environment. Calcium fluoride (Cal Flos), the father of Vitamin C research in our time, Dr Linus children who, in the growth years, require a lot of it. This an immense help for teeth and gums, supports tissue flexibility Pauling, who won the Noble Prize two times, each time was the origin of the ascendancy of the cow’s milk industry and elasticity, freeing immobilise joints, helping circulation, unshared with anyone. Vitamin C is but one of many factors because cow’s milk has lots of calcium and it was assumed varicose veins, piles and skin itch. Magnesium Phosphate that it regular generous consumption would make bones in bone health. To these others, I will soon come. eases cramps, nerve pain. Silica, together with cal flour, is I HAVE had my fair share of falls, lucky each time to come sturdy. But this was false thinking. For the calcium of cow’s good for the eyes. Alone, it support good skin, hair and nails off them only with their familiar day-after pains. One milk, like its protein, meant for an offspring that walks on but, beyond this, is a hardner of bones. Apple cider vinegar evening last year, I hit my foot on a kerbstone while trying the day it is born, is too dense for the human system. The improves stomach acid, aids digestion, sterilises the intestine to make way for a speeding motorist who seemed to have calcium we need for strong and healthy bones is in the foods, and support calcium absorption much later, I would take no respect for human life. I tripped and crashed the right especially green leafy vegetables, which Mother Nature Calamus powder tea, a normaliser of the digestive tract (it knee on one of those giant igneous black rocks construction provides for our nurture. Even then, Calcium may be only a fight ulcers, inflammation, piles etc) stimulates the brain and companies build heavy duty roads with. It was a terrifying Commander – in – Chief of bone building and strengthening the nerves. Since I read the report on Omega-3 oils and bone fall. I thought the knee cap would have broken into pieces I food forces, it isn’t the All – in – All. Minerals such as health, I have been experimenting with Cod Liver Oil, Udo’s almost fainted and had to be stabilised by Good Samaritans. Strontium, Magnesium, Zinc, Boron, Silica are as important oil and Shark Liver oil. I take one type for breakfast, another Luckily, I had Maria Treben Swedish bitters at home.Maria to the project as are the Essential fatty Acids (EFAs). .. Omega for lunch and the last for dinner, to make the three grammes said the formula was given to her by a man who died at the – 3 oils and the right amount of stomach acid. The stomach recommended daily. When I remember the picture of the aged of 104 after falling off a horse he was riding. I had used expected to have 0.5% concentration of hydrochloric acid, fence wall with missing block or of Queen’s mother, who it successfully in many cases of pain and swelling and knew say many researchers, to be able to dissolve calcium. Many often brought her daughter ice cream in the hospital, or when that this knee would inflame the day after and may people do not have enough acid concentration. Many have I see skeletally feeble people in the street I am reminded that immobilize me for many days. So, by the hour, I massaged diluted or over dilute them with excessive fluid or water the best way to give gratitude to the Almighty for the lives the bitters generously into the cap and the fold behind it. I intake during meals, weakening the acid. The result is that and work of dedicated researchers and physicians that I have am an outdoor person and do not like to be walled or caged they cannot digest calcium. This is one of many ways many profited from is to share this knowledge and cast the police people suffer from calcium deficiency and osteoporosis. in, and, sure enough, I was out next day. motorcyclist experience far, far behind me.

On January 26, I posted this message on my Face book Some other ways are through… e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

47

THE NATION

e-Business Subscribers are complaining daily of poor quality of service. All efforts by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCCS) to get service providers to address the problem seem to have failed. Is there no way out? LUCAS AJANAKU reports

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HEN she travelled to the east for vacation, she was shocked by the service she got from her service provider. Aside from being unable to make voice calls, all the short message service (SMS) or text messages she sent were never delivered, yet the teleco deducted money for the service.

“I could not make nor receive calls. Worst still, all the text messages I sent were not delivered, but I paid for each message twice.

The first deduction is made as soon the screen of the handset displays ‘message sending’ while another is deducted when the phone dsiplays ‘message sent.’ If it is on-net, that will translate to N10 for one message instead of N5 while if it is off-net, it will tranlate to N20 for one message instead of N10,” the lady who identified herself simply as Silverline said.

Goodie Olanrewaju, a businessman and resident of Egbeda, a Lagos suburb, is also not happy with the quality of services he gets from his service providers. Compelled to use three different global system for mobile (GSM) communications lines, he still cannot get satisfactory services from his service providers, leading him to feel frustrated.

“I decided to buy three lines in the hope that when I make on-net calls, I will be free from the hiccups but there is no respite. Many a time I tried to call my wife’s number and my service provider will tell me that the number I dialled was not assigned to any customer,” he lamented, adding that the problem became terrible during the last Yuletide as neither calls nor messages sailed through while money for the messages were deducted with the speed of light.

These are but very few of the experiences of more than 100 million telecoms subscribers in the country. They work hard and pay through the nose to buy recharge cards for which they hardly get the value because of quality of service issues.

According to telecoms sector experts who spoke on the issues of quality of service degradation (network reliability, network availability, call drop, call set-up, denial of service and others) being experienced by consumers of mobile services, are caused by network congestion. It causes poor reception, drop calls, poor voice signal as well as blocking of interconnect routes between networks. “Since GSM technology is based time division access, so when one person is talking on the network and there is no space for another call to enter, the other call will be aborted,” an official of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), said on condition of anonymity.

Poor service quality is not peculiar to Nigeria. Though there could be occasional service disruption in services in matured telecoms markets like that of South Africa, it is common in emerging markets.

The issue of poor service quality recenty forced the regulator of Ghana’s telecoms sector, the National Communications Authority (NCA) to slam a ban on the sale of SIM cards to MTN Ghana subscribers.

“Following the recent spate of service disruptions on the MTN network, the National Communications Authority (NCA) has had to engage Scancom Ltd, on several occasions, on the issues of quality of service degradation (i.e. network reliability, network availability, call drop, call set-up, denial of service, etc) being experienced by consumers of mobile services. In spite of these engagements, network performance on MTN continues to deteriorate. Consequently, the NCA has directed Scancom Ltd to, with immediate effect, cease selling and/or adding any new SIM cards/subscribers to MTN network until further notice,” a directive from the NCA read in part.

The ban which was slammed at the twilight of last year was lifted recently. The NCA said it had monitored MTN’s quality of service and key performance indicators (KPIs), such as call drop rate, call setup time, call conges-

BTS

Quality of service still a mirage tion rate, and stand-alone-dedicated control channel congestion rate since the suspension began at the end of November 2012.

The regulator noted that there has been continual improvement in the KPIs compared to their performance prior to the ban. As a result, the NCA lifted the directive of 30 November 2012 banning MTN from selling and adding new SIM cards/subscribers. NCA added that Scancom, owners of MTN Ghana, has actively engaged with it since the ban was implemented to define and implement procedures that would improve customer experience, including 24/7 network monitoring and support services. It is also collaborating with partners in improving response time and has formed a special crisis management team.

Analysts say the NCC should borrow a laefe from Ghana and see if that will be the

right therapy for persistent drop in service quality.

According to figures released by the NCC, active mobile subscriptions increased by a million as the figure hit 110.3 million at the end of November 2012, up from109.4 million recorded at the end of October.

The data revealed that GSM communication contributed significantly to the increase in the active subscriber base to 110.3 million.

MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat increased their combined subscriptions from 105.9 million in October to 106.8 million at the end of November 2012.

The sick baby of the industry, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators such as Visafone, Starcomms, Multi-Links and ZoomMobile further experienced decline in their subscriber base from 3.1 million in October, to 3 million at the end of November

2012.

In the same vein, fixed wired and wireless network operators also recorded a decline in their meagre active subscriptions from 454,644 lines in October to 432,899 a month after.

Deolu Ogunbanjo, president, National Association of Telecom Subscribers (NATCOMS) decried the worsening quality of service, arguing that after almost a decade of trial, the operators ought to have got it right now. According to him, the NCC should not pander to the whims and caprices of the operators and other persons, corporate organisations and group of persons that profiteer from promotion and lotteries on the network.

“The situation has become very embarrassing. We had thought banning promotions and lotteries would help stem the ugly tide. Since it has not, I think what the NCC should do now is to stop further allocation of new number ranges to the operators until such a time that there is a measure of sanity on the network. Each of these number ranges has capacity for ten million subscribers.

“The NCC should not listen to the various lobbyists that have been putting pressures on the NCC to unban promos and lotteries on the network. The network is for communications and not for lottery. Anybody that wants to play lottery should go play lotto or coupon. Such a person could go per three from four and win whatever jackpot but that should be allowed to ride on the telecoms network again,” Ogunbanjo told The Nation.

While the NCC imposed a total fine of N1.17billion GSM operators in the country for failing to comply with the minimum standard of quality of service last year, it also banned promos and lotteries on the network.

While MTN and Etisalat coughed out N360 million each, Airtel and Glo paid N270 million and N180 million respectively to the coffers of the Federal Government as fine.

Operators have consistently blamed the development on persistent disruption to operation by unscrupulous elements in the society whose stock in trade is fibre cuts.

Oyeronke Oyetunde, general manager, Regulatory Affairs, said most of the issues concerned with service quality cannot be divorced from the high incidence of fibre cuts.

According to her, MTN alone suffers a minimum of seventy fibre cuts a month. She said the issue of ‘emergency calls only’ that appears when a subscriber is trying to make calls is also a function of network problem.

She recalled that the telco is cureently undertaking equipment swap to make the network more resilient. The equipment swap will see the telco replace “obsolete” equipment with modern ones.

Only last week, the telco reported fibre cuts in the Eastern part of the country which led to service outage in the area. It is reported that the fibre cuts are as a result of ongoing road construction of various routes around Aba, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Eket, IkotAbasi, Ete, Uyo and Calabar.

According to Akinwale Goodluck, MTN’s Corporate Services Executive, “In recent times, multiple cuts on our Eastern Fibre Network has impeded the delivery of consistently good quality of service in the East. These particular cuts are as a result of road construction activities, which has impacted many of our sites.

However, we suffer over 70 fibre cuts monthly nationwide due to vandalization, sabotage and other criminal activities.Please bear with us as we are doing everything in our control to restore good service.”

Efforts to get the reaction of NCC failed as calls to Tony Ojobo, director, Public Affairs at the NCC, were not picked neither was the email sent to him acknowledged, let alone replied. But an official of the NCC said the regulator may choose the option of stopping further sale of SIM cards because its mandate is to ensure that every Nigerian gets access to telephoney.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

e-Business MTN bags CPC’s awards

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•From left: Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah; Chairman, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Oba Otudeko; Communications Technology Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, when the Airtel team courtesy visited her and the NCC in Abuja.

Govt to assist telcos with green power funding

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HE Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) will give prefrential treatment to telcos that opt for green power solutions in addressing their energy challenge, its secretary Alhaji abdullahi Maikano, has said.

According to a document entitled: “Guiding Principles: Universal Service Provision Fund Strategic Management Plan 20132017”, prepared by the management of USPF last September, one of the cardinal principles of the fund is that it will not be skewed in favour of any particular technology.

“Technology Neutrality: USPF programmes and projects will be guided by the principle of technology neutrality and allow the market place to define the best technology solutions,” the document noted.

Maikano, said the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would give preference to

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

companies proposing green power when it opens bidding for broadband penetration into underserved and un-served communities or locations in the country.

“During the bidding for the clusters, companies proposing Green power would be given preference and the most subsidies. This is because aside from the need to protect the planet, the use of traditional power will make deployment in these areas uneconomic as the operational cost will outstrip the revenues that may be generated from these areas. The low operational cost of green power such as solar or wind power makes it viable to deploy in these areas over the long term,” Maikano said at a GSM/International Finance Corporation (IFC) Green Mobile Forum organised in Lagos.

USPF is a special fund set up by

the Federal Government under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, designed to bring Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services to unserved, underserved and deprived groups as well as communities in the country. It is funded through one per cent of the total revenue of all licensed telecommunications firms in the country.

Maiko, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, on the occasion pledged the commitment of the Commission to helping operators develop green power as solutions to the energy challenges in the industry.

Airtel Nigeria, which co-hosted the forum, called for increased investment in green power generation initiatives as a way out of the nation’s energy supply deficit.

Airtel’s Chief Technical Officer, Awadhesh Kalia, said an aggressive approach will be required by GSM operators in Nigeria to im-

prove the current level of energy efficiency if the dream of realising the long-term gains of green power supply would be achieved.

“Significant investment in green initiative is vital to maximising business in a responsible manner. There must be field competence, OEM support; institutionalisation of the curriculum on telecom power technologies and development of local competence by upgrading skills-set through training and development,” he said, adding that the telco has taken various initiatives to tackle the energy its energy problem.

Such measures, according to him, include varying combination of solar-powered solutions, hybrid, grid and co-location, all of which have been effectively deployed to reduce energy consumption, burning of fossil fuel and carbon footprint. Airtel presently has an eco-system that powers its base stations across the nation.

Insecurity threatens investment in data centre

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ATA centre business may not flourish in the country.

Experts in data management, who spoke on the issue, said the fear that insecurity in the cloud keeps individuals and private enterprises from chossing the option.

Executive Director, Kitskoo Cloud, Monu Ogbe and head, Document Management, FirstBank of Nigeria Mrs Grace Oyebo, said the fear of storing data in the cloud is genuine.

Ogbe said the fear of insecurity has led its firm to partner with Tech Mahindra of India and launch of Kitskoo Guradian, its flagship product.

“Security of data is one reason why Kitskoo has partnered with Tech Mahindra. We are going to launch the Kitskoo Guradian which will serve as backup for customer,” Ogbe said.

For Oyebo, the cloud is not an option on the cards for FirstBank’s electronic data management services (EDMS).

“We have not gone to the cloud because right now, people cannot ascertain its security. As an expert that goes for international conferences at least twice a year,

meeting with experts in the cloud, there are still a lot of things to be dealt with in the cloud. In First Bank, we are very careful.

You have to apply technology based on your own level (of development). You don’t say because people are doing it in Japan and other places, you have to do the same. If people are saying cloud and you want to go, there are some underlining factors you must consider. I don’t think we have gone to the cloud,” she said.

According to her, though the

bank has not started, there is a plan in that direction in the pipeline “We have not started but we intend to cloud some items which we are keeping secret to our hearts but we have a lot of back up devices,” she said.

On disaster recovery sites, she said the bank has three of such sites across the country. “We have our disaster recovery sites, the hot site and the cold site not in the cloud anyway but I will not disclose where they are because of secuiryt reasons. We have them all over so that if there is

any disruption, we fall back to them but for the cloud, we are planning to go but I don’t want to disclose our plan in this respect because, “We have at least three disaster recovery sites in Lagos and outside Lagos so that even when there is a downtime, you scarcely can know. The crowd you noticed recently in our branches was because we are changing our financial system FINACO from 7 to 10 and there is no way it will not impact on our services on working days.”

Expert laments dearth of last mile infrastructure EARTH of distribution infrastructure and last mile portion of service provision from infrastructure owners to end users has been identified as factors responsible for poor broadband penetration in the country.

This has compelled service providers to either embark on developing their own backbone network infrstructure or buy access from last mile providers at costs that don’t make economic sense.

An official of MainOne, Kemi

D

By Deji Fakorede

Adeyanju, who spoke in Lagos lamented that the firm had to embark on providing the infrastructure at cost.

“Without effective distribution infrastructure, service providers are forced to choose between developing their own backbone network infrastructure, while compelled in the interim to purchase access from the existing last mile providers at uneconomic prices.”

She said in the cable market, there are other operators

providing the same serviceses MainOne, arguing that these operators have core retail and wholesale businesses integrated and they also have infrastructures “The challenge we face regarding last mile services puts us at a disadvantage and indicates that our segment is not competitive.

We have had experience where our competitors sell services in Abuja and Lagos at the same price, they refuse to share infrastructure with us, and most time give infrastructure away to other players in the market,” she lamented.

TN Nigeria Communications Limited has been honoured by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) for its consistent efforts at improving customer experience on its network and for its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

In a statement the telco expalined that the award which was given at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Consumer Awards (NiCA) organised by the CPC, followed a very rigorous selection process which included electronic voting by members of the public, surveys and focus groups and painstaking collation and moderation of results by a panel of judges, which included representatives from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), CPC, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other industry regulators.

MTN emerged winner in the categories of “NiCA Award for Service Excellence” in the Telecoms category and the “NiCA Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.”

Samsung unveils brand ambassadors in Nigeria

S

AMSUNG Electronics West Africa, has unveiled its brand ambassadors for its Mobile Division. Movie industry icon Kate Henshaw and star musician, Banky W, will work to raise awareness for Samsung mobile products and ultimately, contribute to making Samsung phones the preferred brand in the West Africa sub-region.

Henshaw was unveiled as brand ambassador at a media breakfast meeting organised by Samsung.

Speaking at the unveiling, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim stated that Henshaw and Banky W represent the values that Samsung has stood for over the years.

“The Samsung brand stands for qualities of innovation, change, discovery, self-expression and excellence in performance. And these very same qualities are epitomised

by Banky W and Kate Henshaw, whose quality and depth of work as well as versatility as artistes have endeared them to Nigerians today. We are indeed very proud and privileged to have them as our Brand Ambassadors.”

Women in infotech form group

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NEW group, Nigeria Women in Information Technology (NiWIIT) says it is committed to driving the future in the country by harnessing the latent growth potential of women in technology.

According to a statement signed

by Jide Awe, Chairman, Publicity, Events and Trade Services, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the group is committed to driving the future of Nigeria by harnessing on the strengths and contributions of women in Information Technology, in line with its motto of “Advancing the use of Information Technology amongst women”.

NiWIT is a new Interest Group in NCS like Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria.(ISPON), Integrated Strategic Planning and Analysis Network (ISPAN) and others.

Membership is open to female members of NCS, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and any woman involved in IT, providing professional options for all women in the IT industry.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

NATION SPORT

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...EUROPEAN FOOTBALL...

Ancelotti: Beckham can deliver for PSG P

ARIS St Germain head coach Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that David Beckham's age is no barrier to success - and pointed out that Paolo Maldini was two years older when he won the Champions League.

Beckham, 37, last week signed a five-month contract with PSG and Ancelotti has described the former England captain as one of the best professionals he has ever worked with.

Ancelotti told French TV programme beIN Sport: ''It's true that he's 37 but he's still a player. ''I remember a certain player who won the Champions League at 39 and his name is (Paolo) Maldini. ''He's 37 but still has the motivation and the physical condition... Beckham's not had many injuries in his career. ''He's one of the most serious and professional players I've ever known.''

Beckham will join up with PSG on February 11, after the international break.

He has signed a five-month contract initially but will consider extending it on a rolling basis if the Qatar-owned club are interested in doing so ahead of next season.

The presence of ex-Chelsea boss Ancelotti and sporting director Leonardo at the club was a key factor in Beckham's decision to choose PSG - he knows both men from their time at AC Milan as he had loan spells at the Italian club from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

High-spending PSG are still in the Champions League knockout stage - they face Valencia next week, but it will come too early for Beckham who is short of match fitness.

•Beckham

49

•Balotelli

Balotelli is a good lad, says Niang

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C Milan youngster M'Baye Niang has taken the time to praise new team-mate Mario Balotelli after his impressive Rossoneri debut on Sunday.

The Italy star moved to San Siro from Manchester City in the closing days of the January transfer window, and celebrated his return to Serie A by netting a double in his new team's 2-1 league win over

Udinese at the weekend.

"I hope that Balotelli will help us climb in the table with all the quality he has," Niang told RMC. "He is a good guy and there is no reason to worry about anything. He is the type of guy who makes other people smile."

Milan sit joint-fourth in the Serie A table following this weekend's results, trailing leaders Juventus by 12 points.

Marin: I would like to see Guardiola coach Brazil

B

RAZILIAN Football Confederation (CBF) president Jose Maria Marin, has admitted that he would love to see Pep Guardiola coach the Brazil national team in the future.

The former Barcelona boss will make his long-awaited return to the game next season when he takes charge of Bayern Munich, but was briefly linked with the Selecao hotseat prior to Luiz Felipe Scolari's appointment.

"I'd like to think Guardiola

would bring a lot of experience," Marin told SporTV. "The few foreign technicians that have come in the past always brought innovations. It is important to have a coach who approaches the game differently.

"Today, you see the game and the physical aspect are very different."

During his four-year spell at Camp Nou, Guardiola won 14 trophies, including three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.

Lewandowski unsure of future R

OBERT Lewandowski says he never expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in January, but is keeping an open mind regarding his long-term future.

The Poland international has regularly been linked with a move away from Dortmund over the past year and has been put forward as a Manchester United target.

The striker was also linked with a January switch to Juventus, while the latest speculation has claimed Lewandowski will join Dortmund's Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich in the summer.

Lewandowski remained calm during the January transfer window, but says "everything possible" where his fu-

ture with Dortmund is concerned.

"I knew I wouldn't leave Borussia this winter, that is why I kept my distance from most of the news," the 24-yearold told Przeglad Sportowy.

"I might have been nervous

•Guardiola

Inter chief backs Andreazzoli wants boss Stramaccioni enthusiasm at Roma

I

•Stramaccioni

if that was my only source of information."

Regarding his Dortmund future, Lewandowski added: "I can't answer that question.

Everything is possible. I'm not ruling out any possibility right now."

NTER President Massimo Moratti insists he still believes in boss Andrea Stramaccioni despite a crisis of results.

The Nerazzurri’s disappointing run of form continued on Sunday when they were beaten 3-1 by relegation threatened Siena.

That defeat raised some doubts over the future of Stramaccioni given that they have won just one of their last seven League games.

“I had a chat with Stramaccioni,” Moratti said after denying claims that he sent a vote of confidence text message to the tactician. “I certainly still have faith in

him.

“We need to work hard, stay very alert and defend against attacks – especially those closer to us – in such a way that things start working again.

“Was I angry? I may be a bit angry on the inside, but it’s not that I went about throwing tantrums.”

Moratti was inevitably asked for an opinion on former Inter striker Mario Balotelli, who netted twice for Milan on his debut.

“I have to say that he got a bit of help,” Moratti smiled in reference to the controversial injury-time penalty award which infuriated Udinese.

R

OMA interim Coach Aurelio Andreazzoli has claimed that he knows exactly how to get the best out of the players.

The 59-year-old has been placed in temporary charge following Zdenek Zeman's sacking at the weekend.

But the former assistant has confidence in his own abilities as a No.1.

“We have a great group of guys here,” he told the club's official website. “There will be some hard and fast rules whilst I'm in charge – and those are to be respected by everyone.

“I know exactly what to do, as do the team.

“I want to install some enthusiasm in and around the club – that is crucial for us going forward.”

•Andreazzoli

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

50

PREMIERSHIP...

NATION SPORT

Sturridge eyes Baggies return

Only Messi, Ronaldo better L than Bale, claims Vertonghen T

OTTENHAM defender Jan Vertonghen insists Gareth Bale "could play for every team in the world".

The in-form Welshman is a long-term transfer target of Real Madrid, with a bid from the Bernabeu expected when the transfer window re-opens in the summer.

Bale has also attracted interest from Barcelona and Vertonghen believes that Clasico rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the only two players that trump the Wales star at the moment.

"Of course you have Messi and Ronaldo," Vertonghen told Sky Sports.

"And then you've got a lot

IVERPOOL striker Daniel Sturridge is targeting Monday's Premier League clash with West Brom to make his comeback from a thigh injury.

The 23-year-old former Chelsea frontman picked up the knock in the 2-2 draw at Manchester City on Sunday where he scored his fourth goal since joining the Reds last month.

He was forced to pull out of the England's friendly with Brazil on Wednesday, but has high hopes he won't be out of action for long.

He told the Reds' official website: "I got a knock on my quad and I'm going to get a scan on it. Hopefully it's not too serious and I'll be okay for next week's game."

Sturridge is also upbeat his side have started to find some form, with their draw with the champions following a similar stalemate with Arsenal.

He added: "In our last two games we have played against two great clubs and

of players who are very close to each other and I think Gareth Bale is one of them, like at the level of the best teams in the world.

"He could play for every team in the world. For me he's a world class player."

The 25-year-old also defended Goran Popov, after the Macedonaian was sent off while playing against Spurs on Sunday for spitting towards Kyle Walker.

"I think he knows," said Vertonghen. "It's an emotional reaction and I think he knows he's wrong.

"I played a few times against him in Holland as well. He's a very fair player, so I think it's just an emotional reaction."

Evra: Time to show Manchester United is No. 1

•Evra

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ANCHESTER United defender Patrice Evra insists that now is the time for his team-mates to show their mettle if they are to win trophies this season.

The Red Devils are nine points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16, with the first leg to be played on February 13.

And Evra believes that the United squad must start to peak now in order to avoid a

repeat of the trophyless end to last season.

He told Inside United: "It's a really important time for us.

It's important that we do well in the league in February but we also have the Champions League game against Real Madrid.

"This is the time when you have to win your games and show that Manchester United is the No.1 team. It won't be easy but this is the right moment.

"I am really happy with what we are doing in the league and the other competitions. Nobody forgets the big disappointment of losing the title last season.

"It's really important that we just keep going because the league is not finished in February. We have a lead but nothing is done yet.

"We just have to take it game by game and aim to win every match. That's the right attitude to have. In every game this season we have had the right attitude.

"That's why I think the fans and the players are very happy this year because we really want to show we are champions. We have to keep going that way."

C

•Azpilicueta

deserved to win both of the games.

"We'll regroup and get ready for our next game against West Bromwich Albion, which is another massive game for us because they are also challenging for the top places.

"We are nine points off the top four so it's not a massive gap to try and recoup so hopefully we'll be able to do that we believe we can."

Jones eyes Wigan Athletic spot against Chelsea

•Bale

W

IGAN Athletic midfielder David Jones is pushing for a place in Roberto Martinez’s squad for the trip to Chelsea this weekend.

Jones is hoping he can take advantage of the absence of Roger Espinoza, James McCarthy and James McArthur who are all away on international duty.

“Everyone’s looking forward to the Chelsea game, and there could be places up grabs with a few of the lads being away on international duty,” Jones told Wigan Tuesday.

“I think there’s 11 away in total and that might lead to some changes, so the rest of us have to be ready.

“Hopefully it’ll be a good week’s training and we’ll see what happens.”

Jones managed to put a solid run of games together prior to Christmas, before a niggling injury saw him drop to the bench.

“I managed to get a few games under my belt earlier in the season, I really enjoyed it and I definitely feel I’ve still got something to offer,” Jones (right) added.

“I had a bit of tightness down the side of my knee over the Christmas period, but I’m back to 100 per cent now and raring to go.

“I’m eager to get back in there – I’ve been on the bench and I’m waiting for my chance to get back involved.”

•Jones

Begovic: Potters will sell me

Azpilicueta 'growing' at Chelsea HELSEA right-back Cesar Azpilicueta believes he is improving as a regular member of the team under Rafael Benitez, and has praised John Terry for helping him to settle into English football.

Azpilicueta, 23, joined Chelsea from Marseille in the summer but struggled to get into the team under Roberto Di Matteo. But since Benitez has taken charge on an interim basis he has forced his way into the side.

"I am playing regularly, which is what every footballer wants, and I am growing as a player," Azpilicueta told El Pais. "At my club, an organised team is very important, and that I participate and support in attack. I am comfortable doing that. [Benitez and I] have a good relationship, he asks for different things than other coaches.

Each one has their own system and way of playing."

The defender, whose

•Sturridge

progress in England is followed closely in Spain, also revealed that John Terry and David Luiz had been helping him settle in at Stamford Bridge, each in their own way.

"Terry is a bit scary at first," he said. "His temper on the

field can be frightening, but he is a very good guy. He helps the new players a lot and on the field he gives me advice, corrects me. He is a leader. I respect him a lot.

With David Luiz there are more jokes, he is more fun."

Julio Cesar: Premier League is most physical

Q

UEENS Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar has conceded that the Premier League is the most physical country he has played in.

The Brazilian international has previously played back in his homeland, as well as in Serie A with Inter Milan.

However, using Saturday's 0-0 draw against Norwich City as an example, the 33year-old has insisted that Eng-

lish football is not as technical as in other countries.

"Football here is more physical. In Italy and Brazil, the game is more technical.

But against Norwich on Saturday, I told the big number nine (Grant Holt) 'stop pushing me at a corner. He said it's not me, it's your teammate'," Cesar told the Daily Mail.

Cesar has made 18 appearances in all competitions for the R's this season.

S

TOKE goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has inadvertently made a 'come-get-me' plea, having claimed the club will sell him in the off-season.

However, the Bosnia international has distanced himself from speculation linking him with a move to rivals Manchester City and Manchester United.

Having stood out as one of the Premier League's most consistent shot-stoppers since his move to the Britannia Stadium in 2010, Begovic's future has come up for discussion ever more of late.

This, with Red Devils glovesman David de Gea's erratic form for the 19-time English champions, along with City boss Roberto Mancini's desire

to acquire a reliable understudy to Joe Hart.

Begovic, though, has poured cold water on suggestions that a move to either club is already in the pipeline.

But Jack Butland's arrival in Staffordshire has prompted the 26-year-old to consider where he fits in with Tony Pulis's plans going forward.

"I read in the papers that I said no to City and yes to United," Begovic told Oslobodjenje. "But the truth is, I haven't decided on anything.

"I didn't say yes or no to anybody. I haven't signed anything - no contract, no pre-contract. But I believe that Stoke didn't buy Butland to be a reserve so I think I'm going to be sold in the summer.”

•Begovic

PHOTO PANORAMA 52

Thursday, February 7, 2013

•Seydou Keita of Mali tackles Sunday Mba of Nigeria during the 2013 African Cup of Nations Semi-Final match between Mali and Nigeria at Moses Mahbida Stadium

•Emenike

•Super Eagles' players celebrate their third goal against Mali during their African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2013) semi-final soccer match at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban February 6, 2013.

•Modibo Maigaof Mali tackled by Nigeria's Elderson Echiejile during their semi final AFCON 2013 match at •Brown Ideye, Victor Moses and Mikel Obi, celebrating a goal against the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban the Malian team.

•Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba (R) greets Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic during the 2013 African Cup of Nations Group D football match between Algeria and Ivory Coast in Rustenburg on January 30, 2013

AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...AFCON 2013...

Zambia: AFCON bid welcome - Kalusha

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•Sabri

Lamouchi: “A huge disappointment”

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FTER suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Nigeria in the quarter final of the continental tournament on Sunday at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, the Ivorians saw their dream of bringing home the Africa Cup to Abidjan go up in smoke.

And the statement made by the Elephants’ national team coach following the defeat was a bitter one.

“Our objective at this Africa Cup of Nations was to win. We didn’t reach it.

This is a huge disappointment,” admitted Sabri Lamouchi in a press conference.

Questioned on his future at the head of the Ivoirian national team following such a failure, the French-Tunisian technician was very clear.

“I think I did my job as best I could.

Unfortunately we didn’t get the results we had hoped for (…) It is out of the question that I resign after six months, knowing all the work that we put in,” he stated.

While he assured that a detailed analysis of this elimination would be made after some time, he did single out a certain lack of realism on the part of his team against the Super Eagles.

“It was a match that could have gone either way. Nigeria scored on a set piece while we were dominating.

OOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has welcomed government's plan to bid for the hosting of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, saying the nation has what it takes to host such an event.

Kalusha said in South Africa yesterday that the bid needed to be done six years before the tournament is held and that he was confident that Zambia had what it took to stage such a tournament.

The Confederations of African Football (CAF) executive committee member said Zambia had enough time to make a

T

persuasive and convincing bid, adding that it would be a great honour for the people to make their dream come true.

"It a good move, totally welcomed and yes we can do it considering that we have enough time to put up a persuasive and convincing bid. We have what it takes to make this dream come true and it will be great for the people of Zambia. Zambia is a footballing nation," he said.

Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZAFCA) president, Patrick Kangwa, has described the development as a welcome move which he said was expected to receive a lot of support from Zambians.

F

•Kalusha

National Stadium pitch 'ready' for final

A

Kalou: We had an off day against Eagles

he National Stadium pitch is ready to one of the better pitches in the country at the reluctance waiting for the latter to be host the final of the Africa Cup of FTER showing moment." to travel to South Africasaid completed beforenecessary releasingtoany Nations (Afcon) on Sunday, Stadium Grobbelaar concerts were b e c a u s e make o f “SMSA s a f e t yfinancially comments," Management SA (SMSA) said on Wednesday. viable.an official told AdebayortheMTNFootball SMSA CEO Jacques Grobbelaarconcerns”, said the Emmanuel "Following Red Hot Chili Peppers concert allegedly beenon theSaturday, victim of it a definitely Togo is are up against field of play was ready to host thehas final adding value toIvory the robbery at his Sunhuge Cityinvestment Hotel – Coast this evening in their Group following the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert, we made, following previous along with his Togo teammates.

D opener at Royal Bafokeng which was held at the venue on Saturday. shows before soccer events," he said.

MTNFootball reports that The Stadium in Rustenburg.

Sports minister Fikile Mbalula voiced pitch was changed to last Hawks were robbed The shortly after Adebayor hadyear priortoto making concern about the state of the pitch afterarrival the in South accommodate the venue. their Africa fornon-sport the trip toevents South at Africa, expressed concert, but Grobbelaar said this was "We decided tofears rip out the pitch the the Africa Nations Cup. over safetyin apparently unwarranted. of December last year and a The details ofmiddle the case are remembering theinstalled his ordeal "We did a pitch review yesterday [Tuesday] brandalthough new 50 percent pitch," unknown at this point, ahead artificial of the 2010 Nations Cup in afternoon, and at 4:30pm when wes oopened m e c athe s h a nGrobbelaar d p e r s o nsaid. a l Angola where the team was stadium to the members of the media," new pitchattacked is definitely our belongings are said "The to have been by gunextending men.

Grobbelaar said. ability to have more events at the taken.

The striker hadstadium, described the "We are 100 percent comfortable the"Police pitch are conducting which is very ourofbusiness animportant attack as to "one the worst things we are I've ever been through in my life". conforms to Fifa regulations. I stillinvestigation, believe it's therefore model."

OLLOWING their elimination in the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations 2013 by Nigeria on Sunday in Rustenburg, the Ivoirians have admitted that they had an off day at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

“We didn’t play to our standard.

We didn’t know how to make the most of our balls. We didn’t manage to find Gervinho. But that’s the way it is, sometimes you’re not present in a match,” confessed striker Salomon Kalou to MTNFootball.com.

But while the Lille striker might have lingered on his team’s shortcomings, he did not forget to mention the superiority of their opponent on the day.

“They are a powerful team, who play a lot on the counter-attack.

Nigeria showed more desire,” admitted Kalunho, who also showed his support towards his coach.

“We got the coach’s message right. We have had very good moments with him. I don’t think it’s a question of the coach. We also have to take responsibility as players.”

Already on their way home, Côte d’Ivoire will have to refocus on their next clashes, hoping that this cruel failure will not leave too many traces.

•Kalou

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

53

NEWS

Police exhume body of Law student killed by suspected cultists

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HE Abia State Police Command has ordered that the body of a fourth year Law student of the state university, Uturu, Obinna Awa Obasi be exhumed.

The student was allegedly killed by suspected cult members and buried in a shallow grave in Uturu.

His father who is said to be a lawyer in Umuahia, the state capital, reported the case of a missing person to the police.

He was also said to have got a hint from a friend of the deceased on where his son’s was buried.

The officer in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the police command, Mr. Patrick Garba, an Assistant Com-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

missioner of Police (ACP), confirmed the development.

He said a team of policemen had been despatched to exhume the body somewhere in Uturu for autopsy.

Garba said the police were initially working on the case of a missing person but discovered that Obasi might have been killed by a cult group in the university.

The police, it was learnt, may have been working on the theory that the late undergraduate was fatally injured when he was being initiated into a cult group.

The Nation learnt that the late student’s body might have been hurriedly buried by the suspected cult mem-

bers to cover up the act.

The CID chief said key suspects, who have reportedly confessed to taking part in the act, had been arrested.

The suspects are in police custody.

Garba said his men have exhumed Obasi’s body.

He promised that the police would dig deep in their investigation to unravel the mystery behind the death of the Law student.

Police Commissioner Ambrose Aisabor confirmed the incident.

Aisabor said: “My men have taken some people to the place. As I am talking to you, my men are at the location of the shallow grave to exhume the body. They left about one hour ago.

“My men have arrested

•Aisabor

some suspects who have taken them to where the late fourth year Law student was said to have been buried in a shallow grave. The body will be exhumed for autopsy.”

‘Ebonyi spends N12b on Federal roads’

E

BONYI State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development Timothy Odaah, has said the state government has spent over N12billion on the repair of federal roads.

This followed the dilapidated condition of the roads, which has turned them into death traps, he said.

The commissioner spoke in Abakaliki, the state capital, when he gave a breakdown of this year’s budget.

Of the amount, the commissioner said, N1billion had been refunded to the state.

He said the state government petitioned the Federal Government on the need to refund about N11.9 billion it owed the state.

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

The commissioner said only N1billion had been repaid, meaning that the Federal Government acknowledged the balance.

On the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Odaah said the state would achieve a projection of over N8 billion, as stipulated in this year’s budget.

The commissioner explained that the introduction of the e-revenue system would enable the state to realise its estimated revenue target this year.

He said: “The projected IGR is N8,727,984,400, compared to last year’s figure of N8,134,250,030. This gives 7.3

per cent above last year’s projected revenue. The reason for this increase is the ongoing e-payment solution and the introduction of the e-revenue system in the state. The introduction of erevenue system will lead to efficient data base for effective revenue collection and monitoring. These will enhance the IGR to hit the projected revenue of N8,727,984,400 or 7.3 per cent of the total revenue.”

Odaah added that the budget would be funded through some major sources, including the savings that were carried forward, that is N5 billion, representing 4.79 per cent of the IGR; N8.72 billion, representing 8.36 per cent;

Edo hails World Bank

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HE Edo State Government yesterday hailed the World Bank for recognising that sustainable development is anchored on the provision of basic needs of the people.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said this during an interactive session with co-ordinators of World Bank assisted projects in the state.

He said: “The World Bank having recognised the value of people over the years has shifted its focus from emphasising growth

to holistic and sustainable development.

“The World Bank has now become, in several ways, an agent of growth, development and good governance.

“We are happy the World Bank has recognise the values of the people and that the projects are sustainable and would outlived the developers.

“The government appreciates what the bank is doing and we expect they would triple their contribution to further deepen democracy, sustainable development and growth in the state.”

Maina sues Mark, IG over bench warrant

T

HE Chairman, Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina has sued Senate President David Mark, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Abubakar and others for issuing bench warrant for his arrest.

Others are the senate, the clerk of the Senate, the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service and its Chairman, Senator Aloysius Etok; and the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration and its Chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya.

In the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja, Maina is seeking an order setting aside the warrant of arrest issued by the IG for his arrest on Febraury 2, following a resolution by the Senate.

He wants the court to quash the purported report of the Senate Committee’s resolutions that led to the bench warrant.

From: Kamarudeen Ogundele and Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

According to him, the action violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Maina is praying the court

to restrain the Senate from interfering with his official duties and from inviting him having completed and submitted their report without giving him fair hearing.

He is also asking for N100 billion as exemplary damages and N500,000 as general damages.

GOC for 82 Division in Enugu

T

HE new General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Ashimiyu Olaniyi, yesterday assumed office.

The handover took place at the GOC’s conference room.

Former GOC Major-General Oluwaseun Oshinowo thanked the officers and soldiers of the division for their support, cooperation, loyalty and successes recorded during his tenure.

He urged them to extend same to the new GOC. He equally enjoined them to extend his sincere gratitude to their spouses for keeping the home front while they were

From Chris Oji, Enugu

away on tour of duty.

Major-General Olaniyi expressed gratitude to God and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika for the opportunity to serve as the 82 Division.

He hailed the achievements of his predecessor and promised to continue in the same direction, saying he would even do more to consolidate the gains recorded so far.

The new Commandant called on the officers to continue to put in their best and offer positive suggestions on how to move the division forward.

Statutory Allocation of N39.16, representing 37.52 per cent and Capital Receipts of 51.49 billion, representing 49.33 per cent.

According to him, this year’s budget estimate of N104,374,364,400 is higher than last year’s by 20 per cent.

He said: “The total budget for 2013 fiscal year is N104,374,364,400.

This is 20 per cent higher than the 2012 budget of N86,986,068,160. This is also the highest so far in the history of Ebonyi state.”

Obi gets Distinguished Education Merit award HE National Associa-

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tion of Catholic Diocesan Directors and Secretary of Education have presented the Distinguished Education Merit Award to Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. They said it was for his contributions to the growth and development of education in Nigeria.

They noted that the governor has also proved himself a great administrator, a courageous leader and a real Christian through his administrative style.

The Catholic Bishop of Onitsha, Rev. Valarie Okeke, presented the award yesterday during a church service at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.

The cleric said he did not expect anyone who had followed Obi’s achievements in Anambra State, especially in educa-

tion, health care, general infrastructure and restoration of values, to be surprised at the award.

He stressed that the governor is a square peg in a square hole.

Okeke said Obi had shown unequalled commitment in developing the human person and building a stable and progressive society.

The cleric noted that there has been a rise in the standards in Anambra schools since they were returned to their owners, backed by the billions of Naira the governor has granted them.

Obi inspected the maternity complex and the School of Nursing his administration is building at the Holy Rosary Hospital Waterside, Onitsha.

The governor expressed satisfaction at the progress of work on both buildings.

APGA sacks two chieftains HE Anambra State chapin Anambra ter of the All Progressives

T

Grand Alliance (APGA) has sacked two principal members in Nnewi South Local Government, Rita Mmaduagwu, representing Nnewi South Constituency II, and Mr Egwuoyibo Okoye, the Transition Committee Chairman of Nnewi South Local Government.

Rising from a meeting in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government on Tuesday night, the party announced the sack of the duo.

This followed a resolution passed by 21 of the 29 ward chairmen and adopted by 19-man Executive Working Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Jude Okwudiba.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Okwudiba told reporters that the party chieftains were sacked for alleged anti-party activities.

He said: “The resolution passed is with effect from the 5th day of February, 2013. They are expelled by the 19-man Local Government Executive Working Committee and 21 ward chairmen from Ukpor, Amichi, Ezinifite, Orsumenyi, Unubi, Utuh, Ebenator, Azuigbo, Akwaihedi and Ekwulumili, the 10 communities under Nnewi South Local Government Area.

They are free to belong to any other chapter of the APGA but not Nnewi South.

54

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Investors gain N126b as equities hit new highs

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 6-2-13

I

NVESTORS raked in about N126 billion in capital gains yesterday at the Nigerian stock market as the bullish rally pushed several stocks to new year-to-date highs.

With four advancers to every decliner, the overtly bullish market situation at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) surged to new level as investors further increased demand for shares.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities rose by N126 billion to N10.705 trillion as against its opening value of N10.579 trillion. The main index at the NSE, the All Share Index (ASI), underlined the increases in market values of

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

companies with an average increase of 1.20 per cent to close at 33,460.14 points compared with its index on board of 33,064.37 points.

Several stocks rose to new highest price with Cadbury Nigeria and Unilever Nigeria rallying to new highs of N37.27 and N47.39 respectively. UACN Property Development Company rose to a high of N16.20, Access Bank peaked at N12.39, Stanbic IBTC Holdings rose to N15.69, FBN Holdings set new price level at N20, Lafarge Wapco Cement Nigeria rallied to N74.20,

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated closed at a high of N14.04 while Guinness Nigeria set a new high of N297.11 per share.

Investors staked N6.52 billion on 944.10 million shares through 8,492 deals. More than half of the stakes were on banking stocks, which altogether recorded a sectoral turnover of 457.42 million shares valued at N3.38 billion in 3,344 deals. Insurance subgroup recorded a turnover of 171.50 million shares worth N122.75 million in 598 deals.

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria was the most active stock with a turnover of 131.79 million shares valued at N249.05 million in 472 deals. United Bank for Africa (UBA)Plc followed with a turnover of 100.61 million shares valued at N764.95 million in 631 deals. Unity Bank placed third with a turnover of 68.09 million shares worth N58.56 million in 143 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 6-2-13

55

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

MONEY LINK

CBN disburses N181b power, airline fund

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it has disbursed a total of N181.42 billion under its Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF) as at December 31, 2012.

The banking sector regulator disclosed this in a report titled: “Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF) Cumulative Disbursement of Funds as at December 31, 2012” posted on its website yesterday.

From the data, the apex bank disbursed N90.92 billion for 15 projects carried out in aviation and N90.50 billion for 21 projects executed in the power sector, making a cumulative N181.42 billion for 36 projects.

The CBN data showed that as at December 31, 2011, it had disbursed a total of N144.6 billion under the scheme. On September 2011, the apex bank, had approved a total of N187.17 billion for 21 projects out of which

By Collins Nweze

N114 billion has been disbursed.

The African Finance Corporation (AFC) CBN’s the technical advisers, processed the projects. Also under the PAIF initiative, a total of 30 applications valued at N222.50 billion were received and processed by AFC. Under the PAIF, the CBN made available the sum of N300 billion to stimulate credit to the domestic power sector and the troubled airline industry. The amount was part of the initial N500 billion intervention fund sourced to catalyse financing of the real sector of the Nigerian economy. The main objective of the initiative was to help finance vital power projects and to allow banks to refinance loans to the heavily-indebted airline industry.

The programme operates in such a way that borrowers will be able to

IFC issues N12b local currency bond

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HE International Finance Corporation (IFC) has issued a Nigerian local currency bond totaling N12 billion, about $75 million, to support domestic capital markets and increase access to local-currency finance.

The issue, called the “Naija” bond, is IFC’s first naira-denominated bond. It is also the first placement by a nonresident issuer in Nigeria’s domestic capital markets. “Vibrant domestic capital markets create access to long-term, local-currency finance for the private sector—the key engine of job creation in emerging markets,” said Jingdong Hua, IFC Vice President and Treasurer.

“The IFC Naija bond supports our

efforts to deepen domestic capital markets in Africa, so they can sustain a thriving private sector in the region.”

Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, said: “The IFC Naija bond supports the efforts of the government and authorities to deepen domestic capital markets and grow the corporate bond market in Nigeria. A welldeveloped corporate bond market in turn can provide affordable, long-term naira funding to meet the financing needs for critical sectors such as power.” IFC’s committed portfolio in Nigeria stands at $1.1 billion, the largest country portfolio in Africa and the eighth-largest globally.

access the fund at an interest rate of seven per cent payable on a quarterly basis, including all charges in order to refinance existing loans and leases and provide working capital for the two sectors. The fund is managed by the Bank of Industry (BoI) while the AFC serves as the technical adviser to the fund.

As part of efforts towards unlocking the credit market and ensure that credit flows to the real sector of the economy, the CBN made available

N200 billion for re-financing/restructuring of banks’ existing loan portfolios to the manufacturing sector and SMEs. The main objective of the fund is to fast-track the development of the manufacturing sector by improving access to credit by manufacturers, as well as improving the financial position of the deposit money banks(DMBs). The type of facilities under the fund include long term loans for acquisition of plant and machinery, refinancing of exist-

NEXIM recovers N1.3b in 2012

T

HE Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM) has said it recovered N1.3 billion as at the end of last year. The amount, the bank said, reduced its non-performing loans to the barest minimum.

The bank’s Managing Director, Roberts Orya said that loan recovery remains a major challenge in the banking sector.

He said that the success achieved by the management of NEXIM during the 2012 operational year “was due to sustained aggressive measures put in place to recover the delinquent loans.”

Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor)

He said that “the alarming decline in the quality of risk assets as the bank’s total loan portfolio as at 20th August 2009 was N14.6 billion out of which 72 per cent was non performing and within that category N10.03 Billion or 69.05 was classified as completely lost.”

The NEXIM boss noted that “the various initiatives embarked upon by the management had positively impacted on the bank’s operations by turning around its fortunes and making it a profit-making organisation.”

O

LD Mutual and the Ecobank Group, announced yesterday that the former has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Oceanic Life of the former Oceanic Bank in Nigeria, which was acquired by Ecobank.

In a statement, the firms said the transaction will result in a name change from Oceanic Life Limited to Old Mutual Nigeria.

“We are delighted to have com-

pleted the acquisition of this majority stake and we continue to work with Ecobank to expand our product offerings to the Nigerian market. The growth dynamics of the industry are exciting and prospects are good for further development of our business operations in West Africa,” Ralph Mupita, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Old Mutual’s Emerging Markets business said.

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 Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 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 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 6-2-13

SYMBOL FIDSON ASHAKACEM WEMABANK AIICO TRANSCORP ROYALEX PRESTIGE UNITYBNK UBN REDSTAREX

O/PRICE 1.40 22.14 1.11 1.01 1.72 1.71 0.85 0.79 9.57 3.55

C/PRICE 1.54 24.35 1.22 1.11 1.89 1.78 0.93 0.86 10.40 3.83

CHANGE 0.14 2.21 0.11 0.10 0.17 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.83 0.28

ETERNA PREMBREW UPL JOHNHOLT PRESCO MCNICHOLS UBA IKEJAHOTEL LIVESTOCK STERNLBANK

O/PRICE 4.40 0.85 4.77 1.54 27.20 0.77 7.59 1.06 2.37 2.95

C/PRICE 4.18 0.81 4.55 1.47 26.21 0.75 7.50 1.05 2.35 2.93

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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% 11.8%

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

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

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 136.24 143.99 0.80 1.13 1.02 100.00 1,000.00 1,786.50 14.17 1.39 1.87 10,544.96

9.08 1.00 135.83 143.77 0.78 1.13 1.00 100.00 1,000.00 1,785.11 13.48 1.33 1.80 10,237.62

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor

NSE CAP Index

Name

CHANGE 0.22 0.04 0.22 0.07 0.99 0.02 0.09 0.01 0.02 0.02

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

LOSERS AS AT 6-2-13

SYMBOL

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

Also commenting, Ecobank CEO, Thierry Tanoh said the transaction is a welcome development, adding that Old Mutual is renowned as one of the finest insurance providers in Africa. “Ecobank Group would rather concentrate in its core area, which is banking, and leave insurance business for the experts, which Old Mutual represents. Ecobank will remain a minority shareholder in Old Mutual Nigeria,” he said.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

These initiatives he added, resulted “in the impressive performance in year 2010 with an audited profit of N189.00 million as against the loss of N5.460 billion incurred in 2009.”

Orya said the audited accounts of the last two years were being computed, stressing that “the bank has been able to leverage on its balance sheet to secure lines of credit from institutions like the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim), The Export-Import Bank of India while it has collaboration arrangements with United States Export-Import Bank and other EXIM Banks.”

Old Mutual completes acquisition of Oceanic Life

FGN BONDS

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

• CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

ing loans, resuscitation of ailing industries, working capital and refinancing of existing leases.

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

57

NEWS Court reserves ruling in Suswam’s certificate forgery case From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

T

HE Divisional Court of Appeal, sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has reserved judgment indefinitely in an appeal by a defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Terver Kakih, against Governor Gabriel Suswam.

Kakih contested the PDP governorship primaries against Suswam and was defeated with a wide margin. He scored six votes; Suswam got 983 and won the 2011 election.

Dissatisfied with the primaries, Kakih challenged the process at the Federal High Court, Makurdi Division. The case suffered several postponements and also passed through Federal High Courts in Jos and Abuja before judgment was delivered by a vacation Judge, Justice Marcel Awulkholuhin, at the Federal High Court, Makurdi, last year.

The cased was dismissed for lack of evidence.

Kakih appealed the verdict on the grounds of that Suswam allegedly lied on oath. He prayed the court to upturn the judgement.

Counsel to the governor, Jubrin Okutepa (SAN), and Kakih’s lawyer, San Kargbo, have adopted their witness addresses.

Okutepa (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the appeal as it was filed out of time.

Okutepa averred that an interlocutory appeal must be filed within 14 days, adding that Kakih did not follow this procedure.

Justice J. I. Okoro, leading a five-man panel of judges, comprising Jafaru Maikalu, O. F. Omoleye, A. Gana Msheil and S. S. Oseji, reserved judgement indefinitely.

He said the parties would be informed of the date of the ruling.

INEC condemns Kano by-elections From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

F

ROM the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday came a damning verdict on the last Saturday’s by-elections into Gaya and Garko State Assembly constituencies in Kano State.

A statement by the commission’s Chief Press Secretary, Kayode Idowu, alleged that voters and officials were harassed, intimidated and assaulted by armed youths while security agents looked away.

The statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received reports of assault, intimidation and harassment of voters and election officials during the by-elections into Gaya and Garko state assembly constituencies in Kano State held on Saturday, February 2, 2013.

“Field reports available to the commission revealed that mobs of armed youths disrupted the electoral process in some areas, harassing and intimidating innocent voters.

Electoral officials were also intimidated, harassed and threatened, while some INEC supervisory officials were assaulted.”

STF: we’ve arrested Dantong’s suspected killers •Attackers traced to Bauchi

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HE Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises, code named Operation Safe Haven, has arrested the suspected killers of the late Senator Gyang Dantong, James Gyang Fulani and 65 others who died during gun attacks in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Ggovernment Areas of Plateau State last July.

The late Dantong was the senator representing Plateau North. The late Fulani represented Barkin Ladi Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly.

They were killed during a mass burial for 65 victims killed in Mase, Riyom Local Government.

The STF had been on the trail of the killers.

Addressing reporters at the STF headquarters in Jos yesterday, STF spokesman Capt Salisu Mustapha said: “On July 7, 2012, some gunmen carried out coordinated attacks on some villages in Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State. These led to loss of lives and properties. The incident precipitated a lot of rumours as regards the number of casualties and the extent of damage.

“In a swift reaction, the STF

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

conducted series of operations in the areas. Several arrests were made and arms were recovered.

“The weapons recovered include three AK-47 rifles, 14 locally made pistols, a submachine gun, six locally made shotguns, a locally made single barrel long gun and 516 live rounds of 7.62mm NATO firearm.

“Other weapons recovered are 534 live rounds of 7.62mm (SP), 170 live cartridges, four AK-47 magazines, seven locally made magazines, a Browning pistol magazines, expended cartridges, an empty Bondalier, four spears, 22 arrows, a sword, a dagger and three cutlasses.

“Following the operation carried out to apprehend the perpetrators of the attacks, new strategies were introduced to enhance the operational capabilities of the STF troops with a view to enhancing security in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Governments. This led to the arrest of 21 suspects. Some other arrests were made by the operatives of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies.

“After preliminary investi-

•Weapons recovered from the suspects...yesterday

gations by the STF, three of the 21 suspects arrested by the STF were handed over to the Plateau State Police Command while one other was handed over to State Security Service (SSS) for further action. The remaining 16 suspects arrested by the STF are on open arrest while investigation to ascer-

I met Suntai in hospital, says Taraba Acting Governor Umar

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ARABA State Acting Governor Garba Umar has said Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai is still in the hospital, contrary to reports that he has been discharged and could walk to the hospital for check-ups.

Umar said he met his boss still on hospital bed. He was addressing reporters in Jalingo, the state capital, after his return from Hannover, Germany, where he and his family met the governor to ascertain his state of health.

The acting governor came back without a word from the ailing governor to the people

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

of Taraba.

On whether Suntai can talk, walk or jog, Umar said: “The governor’s health is stable.

“I was in Germany to see my beloved boss. I met him. He told me his mind. His eyes were on me. I was with him.

When he was to take tea (the weather was cold) I met with his wife and left. I came back to see him the following day.”

Fielding more questions from reporters on the governor’s state of health, Umar said: “The fact is, I met him in the hospital, but his con-

dition has stabilised. It is what I saw that I can talk about.”

Asked if there was likelihood of him (Umar) becoming the substantive governor, he said: “An acting governor is the governor. When you are acting – like in my case - you are the governor. I have all the powers that the Constitution gives a governor. I prepared the 2013 budget and I am paying workers’ salaries. So, what power again? And it is the same government. The only difference is that the people are feeling the absence of my boss.”

On projects, Umar said: “I will continue with my boss’ programmes.”

Offa/Erin-Ile crisis: we won’t tolerate boundary violence, says governor

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WARA State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed has warned that his administration would no longer tolerate unlawful boundary disputes in the state.

The governor commiserated with the families that lost their loved ones and property in last week’s communal clash between Offa and Erin-Ile in Offa and Oyun Local Governments.

Ahmed spoke at the swearing-in ceremony of the 10-man Judicial Commission of Enquiry set up to investigate the causes of the communal clash.

He said: “To say the least, the barbaric destruction of lives and property during the latest crisis is alien to our way of life and offends our honour as a people. Let me, therefore, make it clear to all concerned: never again will this

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

kind of carnage be allowed to happen in any part of the state. No more will our people live in fear because a few selfish elements are bent on violence.

“Those trying to turn our communities into theatres of violence will fail. Anyone arrested for disrupting public order under any guise will face the full wrath of the law, regardless of their status.

“The government is determined to find lasting solutions to the age-long dispute and devise measures to ensure the tragic events do not recur.”

The chairman of the commission is Justice Adeyinka Sikiru Oyinloye.

ASSUS accuses Bauchi of illegal deductions

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HE Bauchi State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) yesterday accused the state government of illegal deductions of five per cent from last year’s leave grant and other allowances of its members.

The union also berated the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

not showing concern over the deductions.

It alleged that the state NLC made it possible for the government to make the illegal deductions by its silence, when it was clear that the deductions were illegal.

Its Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Tanko Ningi, ad-

dressed reporters at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Bauchi on the matter.

He accused the government of taking advantage of the stoppage of 10 per cent deduction from workers’ salaries between September and December, last year, to boost the finances of the government as an alternative to retrenchment of workers.

tain their level of involvement is still ongoing.

“In the meantime, the three suspects, who were handed over to the police by STF, are currently undergoing trials at the Plateau State High Court in Barkin Ladi. Also, two others arrested in separate operations by the police are equally

being tried at the same court.

“Meanwhile, the suspect we handed over to the State Director of the SSS has equally been charged to court. The suspects were arrested at Botto village in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State following intelligence report...”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

NEWS

•Graduating students at the Golden Jubilee convocation of the University of Lagos...yesterday

Afe Babalola: Nigeria’s growth depends on people’s ability

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MINENT lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola, has said Nigeria’s growth depends on the people’s ability, attitude and the country’s economic, social, political and cultural institutions.

He spoke yesterday when he visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, to commiserate with him on the fire that gutted a section of his palace.

Babalola described Alaafin’s palace as second to none in Yoruba land.

He said the ancient edifice should be preserved and given a befitting status as a national monument.

Said he: “We will rebuild the palace because it is the pride of the Yoruba nation.

“There is need for a comprehensive and integrated review of the past of the people who make up the entity called the Yoruba.”

Babalola presented a cheque to the monarch as an interim step, with a pledge to rebuild the palace.

Oba Adeyemi thanked Babalola for his support. He described him as a “committed, selfless and God- fearing Nigerian whose contributions to human development are unequalled.”

He went on: “In and out of law, Afe Babalola towers above his contemporaries.

His university is not only one of the best in the world, his law chamber remains a

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

reference point for others in the legal profession. None of the lawyers who have worked in Afe Babalola’s chamber could be ignored in matters of jurisprudence.

They excel in the cases they handle.”

Also at the palace was one of the children of the late Ooni of Ife, Prince Bowofade Aderemi, who presented some artefacts to the Alaafin.

He described the monarch as “a father of immeasurable value, whose long standing relationship has been inspiring, thoughtful and beneficial.”

Six professors from the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan (UI), led by its Director, Prof.

Olawale Albert, also visited the Alaafin.

Controversy trails varsity’s expulsion of 28 students T

HE expulsion of 28 students by Redeemer University for allegedly failing drug tests has sparked a big row.

The tests, The Nation learnt, were conducted last November for 42 students, who were asked to go for “routine tests”.

After resumption this year, some of them were told that they “tested positive” and last Friday, some of those who “tested positive” got expulsion letters; others got theirs on Monday.

The institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, said the decision was taken in line with the school’s values and philosophy “to raise godly children”, but the students are alleging unfairness.

Adeleye said: “A student was caught with an illicit drug. He mentioned others involved and we took them

By Segun Balogun

to the school clinic for tests.

Some of them tested positive.”

But some of the affected students said the university authority never told them the purpose of the test and did not show them the results.

“I only saw in the expulsion letter that I tested positive to hard drugs. I asked for the result of the test, but they didn’t show me. Even if they won’t show it to me, they should at least show my parents the result,” said one of the expelled students, who preferred anonymity.

The affected students complained about the expulsion and the fact that they were not given a fair hearing.

“They should have at least set up a panel of enquiry and if the panel finds us guilty, so be it,” another student said.

On the results of the tests, Mr. Adeleye said: “There is no need to show the students the results because the university cannot conspire against them.”

Adeleye defended the institution’s decision, saying the expelled students are guilty–in line with the school’s religious norms.

He said: “Nobody should think anybody hates those students. It’s not spurious. In fact, it is even painful for us because we are losing revenue by sending them away. But it’s a painful decision we must take in our quest to raise students that will transform the

world. The expelled students are those that refused the university’s lifeline of a second chance.

“We wanted to help them.

The university has a programme designed to help them live a normal life, but they rejected the offer.

A few of them accepted and they are undergoing the programme.”

Adeleye was evasive when asked if the school’s clinic was capable of testing urine samples for hard drugs.

On why the students were not handed over to the narcotics agency since their offence was a criminal act, Adeleye said the school was neither the police nor the narcotics agency and had no reason to do so.

He later told The Nation that the Vice-Chancellor was considering a review of the matter.

FRSC to verify driver’s licence online

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•Aare Babalola

Ndukwe, others for computer centre launch

By Nneka Nwaneri

ORMER Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Executive Vice-Chairman, Ernest Ndukwe, is among the guests expected at the launch of a centre for computer-aided design training in Lagos.

Named the CADD Centre, it is Asia’s network of franchises for skilled training in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Project Planning Management (PPM).

Operations at the Lagos office will begin today.

Other guests expected include the Managing Director, CADD Centre Training Services, Saravanan Karaiadselvan and Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Saliu A. Lawal, an engineer, among others.

The General Manager, CADD Centre, Vijay Baskarb, said the centre creates quality tailor-made programmes that address the needs of individuals, organisations and governments.

“Our customised programmes are developed from a list of comprehensive programmes ranging from Master’s to Foundation level. The programmes are designed to offer the highest level of quality and up-to-date hands-on training in an instructor-led environment,” he added.

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PHOTO:NAN

HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said in Abuja yesterday that it would adopt online verification of driver’s licence and number plates.

Chief Executive and Corps Marshall Mr. Osita Chidoka said this at a news conference to mark the organisation’s Silver Jubilee.

He said the commission would soon begin the use of electronic ticketing and check records of offending motorists.

Chidoka said there were over 10 million records in the commission’s database of drivers, vehicles, accidents and register of traffic offenders.

He said to ensure the inter-connectivity of its daily

•’Bicycle lanes soon’ From Bukola Amusan and Gbenga Adanikin, Abuja

activities, the commission has invested in technology, with the installation of 345 V-SATs. Chidoka said: “Since the FRSC came on board, seatbelt usage and public awareness have risen to 70 per cent, with improved use of helmet and installation of signs on highways.

“Prior to the establishment of FRSC in 1988, traffic situation could best be described as chaotic and unpredictable, with disturbing wave of accidents and human and material losses.”

The FRSC has certified 534 Driver’s Training Schools and trained 100,000 drivers under

the ‘Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP)’.

“This is in addition to the registration of 2, 895 transport operators, inspection of 1,033 operators and the certification of 722,” he added.

The FRSC boss noted that the next 25 years would be critical in road safety management due to the challenges of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), climate change, population growth and urbanisation.

Said he: “FRSC will focus on improved drivers’ training, vehicle inspection, adequate road furniture and dealing with the twin evils of overspeeding and law to prevent

dangerous driving.”

The corps marshall hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for the transformation that had taken place in the road safety sector.

He said the President’s initiative had resulted in the commission’s workers and budget increases by 40 and over 500 per cent.

The FRSC was established under the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime on February 18, 1988.

The commission said it is partnering the Federal Ministry of Works and Transport to re-introduce bicycle lanes in the country.

The move, it said, is to ensure the safety of other road users such as bicycle riders and pedestrians.

Fed Govt reappoints NACA’s DG

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the reappointment of Prof. John Idoko for another term of four years as the DirectorGeneral of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

The January 21 letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

Anyim Pius Anyim, noted that his reappointment “is a reflection of the President’s confidence and trust in you.”

The reappointment takes effect from March 3.

Prof. Idoko once served as the Principal Investigator of the Harvard

University/AIDS Prevention Initiative Nigeria (APIN). He was also the President of the Nigerian AIDS Research Network from 2002 to 2008; Chairman, Nigerian National Antiretroviral Committee, 2001 to 2009 before his appointment as the Director- General of NACA’s in 2009.

Since his appointment in

April 2009, NACA has recorded many achievements, including reversing the prevalence in the country, which was 4.6 per cent in 2008. It declined to 4.1 per cent in 2010; establishment of Youth Friendly Centres in Nigerian universities, which has increased prevention education and intervention among youths.

59

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

FOREIGN NEWS

Mali: Troop withdrawal starts next month, says French Defence Minister

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MONTH-long French offensive has killed “hundreds” of Islamist fighters in Mali, the French defense minister said, as his troops prepare to start withdrawing next month, CNN has reported.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian gave the number of casualties to CNN affiliate BFM on Tuesday night. He did not offer additional details.

Hours earlier, France told the local Metro newspaper that it expects to begin withdrawing its troops out of Mali in March and leave African

forces in control.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said despite the withdrawal, troops will continue operations to flush out militants in “some terrorist havens” in northern Mali.

At Mali’s request, France launched the offensive against militants in its former colony last month. The ground-andair campaign has sent Islamist fighters who had seized the northern region fleeing into the vast desert.

French President Francois Hollande visited Timbuktu last week, just days after French forces had freed the

fabled city from Islamist militants.

French-led troops now control Timbuktu and the city of Gao, along with a swath in between the two that was an Islamist stronghold for almost a year.

Troops are working to secure Kindal, the last major city under the grip of militants.

Over the past two days, sandstorms have hampered operations across the country.

Islamic extremists carved out a large portion of the north last year after a chaotic military coup.

They banned music, smok-

ing, drinking and watching sports on television, and destroyed historic tombs and shrines in the region. World leaders feared that the al Qaeda-linked militants would turn the area into a terrorist haven.

France says it has 4,000 soldiers in Mali. Its troops are fighting alongside nearly 3,800 African soldiers, it said, a number expected to go up.

Nigeria has committed about 45 million naira and over a thousand troops to the campaign to dislodge the Islamists from the northern region of the land locked country.

EU mulls terrorist tag on Hezbollah

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HE European Union will consider adding Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement to its list of terrorist organizations after it was implicated in a bombing in Bulgaria last year, an EU foreign affairs spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

However, she said listing the group was just one of several options and said no decision had been taken.

“Currently, Hezbollah is not on the list of terrorist organizations in the EU and member states will look into several options. This is one of them but not the only one,” Maja Kocijancic told reporters.

EU foreign ministers meet on February 18 for a regular gathering at which the issue could be discussed.

Bulgaria on Tuesday accused Hezbollah of carrying out a bomb attack on a bus in the Black Sea city of Burgas that killed five Israeli tourists.

The United States already lists the group as a terrorist organization and U.S. and Israeli authorities want to see the EU take a similar position.

Kocijancic said other options included EU member states taking action against Hezbollah via Europol, the European policing agency, via the courts or through other diplomatic channels, but she did not elaborate.

Kenyan deputy PM asks ICJ to reconsider trial decision

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•President Goodluck Jonathan, being welcomed by President Mohammed Morsy Al-Ayat of Egypt, during his visit to Cairo for the 12th session of the Islamic summit conference...yesterday.

U.S, Japan and South Korea warn Pyongyang on nuclear test

U

S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his South Korean and Japanese counterparts warned North Korea against any “provocative” moves ahead of a possible new nuclear bomb test by Pyongyang.

Kerry, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korea’s Kim Sung-hwan all agreed the North must understand “that it will face significant consequences from the international community if it continues its provocative behavior,” according to a summary of the calls from the U.S. State Department.

North Korea announced over the weekend that its leader, Kim Jong Un, “has made

an important decision” that would strengthen the country.

The brief statement on the state-run news agency KCNA provided no details, but it said the decision was made at a meeting of the reclusive Stalinist state’s Party Central Military Committee.

Across the Demilitarized Zone, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called on his government to be prepared for a possible test. Lee paid a visit to the underground bunker that serves as the South’s crisis management center, his press office reported.

North Korea has conducted two previous nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009, and proclaimed itself a “nuclear state” in 2012.

U.S. officials told CNN last week that the North appeared to be ready test another nuclear device “at any time.”

U.S. analysts believe the 2006 test had a yield of about 1 kiloton — comparable to the explosive power of about 1,000 tons of TNT — while the second was roughly 2 kilotons, National Intelligence Director James Clapper told a Senate committee in 2012.

By comparison, the bomb the United States dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 was roughly 15 kilotons.

Where North Korea stands in its pursuit of a nuclear missile The U.N. Security Council voted to tighten sanctions on

•Kerry

Pyongyang in January, after the North launched a satellite aboard a long-range rocket in December.

The North Koreans responded by announcing they planned another nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches as part of a new phase of confrontation with the United States.

NE of four prominent Kenyans charged with involvement in crimes including murder and deportation following disputed elections wants the International Criminal Court to reconsider its decision to put him on trial, saying it was based on “fraudulent evidence.”

In a written motion released Wednesday, lawyers for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta have asked the court to halt the April 11 start of his trial and again assess whether prosecution evidence is strong enough to warrant his prosecution.

According to agency reports, the motion says a key prosecution witness recanted his testimony linking Kenyatta to an organized crime gang allegedly involved in the violence.

“In the circumstances, the (decision to put Kenyatta on trial) was ... based upon fraudulent evidence,” the motion said.

Kenyatta is charged together with Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura with crimes against humanity for alleged involvement in the murder, forcible deportation, persecution and rape of supporters of Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the aftermath of the 2007 vote.

Violence after the election left more than 1,000 people dead.

Despite the ICC case, Kenyatta is standing as a candidate in this year’s presidential election.

In a separate trial, due to start April 10, former educa-

tion minister William Ruto and journalist Joshua Arap Sang face charges of murder, forcible deportation and persecution of supporters of President Mwai Kibaki’s National Unity Party after the 2007 vote.

Ruto is running for the vice presidency on a joint ticket with Kenyatta in the March elections.

In a written statement, the prosecutor’s office refused to publicly address the Kenyatta defense claims, saying the issue would be handled in court, not through the media.

Obstacles to high office might appear formidable.

Kenyatta is slated for trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague in April for allegedly orchestrating the post-election chaos that followed a flawed presidential vote in 2007 and 2008.

Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s founding father Jomo Kenyatta, is viewed in the country as a strong contender for the presidency. But he faces the dilemma as to how he would run the country, assuming he were to win the election, while standing trial in The Hague.

Speaking to newsmen just after his candidacy had been cleared at the Kenyatta International Conference Center, he dismissed fears of a leadership vacuum. ‘We have our structures and there is not at any one given time going to be a vacuum in this country.

The business of running the state will continue even as this case continues,’ he said.

Chinese celebrates day in Lagos

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HINESE community in Lagos will hold its annual celebration to mark the beginning of Chinese calendar on February 9 in Lagos.

The even will take place at the China Town Complex, Opposite the Apostolic Church, Ojota. Guests are expected at the venue as from 1 pm and would be full of fun as its culture will be showcased.

Tunisian opposition leader assassinated

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PPOSITION leader Chokri Belaid routinely received death threats for his frequent, outspoken criticism of Tunisia’s Islamist-led government. He talked about the bullying on his frequent television appearances. He said he didn’t really fear for his life.

Wednesday morning, a gunman shot and killed Belaid in front of his home as he was leaving for work, according to an eyewitness.

Belaid’s political allies and

even his Islamist opponents are decrying the murder as an assassination.

The killing of Belaid, 48, has shocked the nation. Police had fired on protesters, killing some of them during the Arab Spring uprising, which originated in Tunisia in December 2010. But the targeted slaying of a politician crossed a new line.

Video showed outraged protesters filling the Avenue Habib Bourguiba for the opposition leader’s funeral pro-

cession and pouring into the streets of other Tunisian cities. Some of them revived the iconic slogan of their revolution, crying: “The people want to topple the regime.”

Tunisian scandal shines light on rights Sympathizers not interested in politics joined them to mourn the popular public figure and express their shock over the violence that has marred the country’s heated but otherwise previously peaceful public debate.

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali, himself an Islamist and head of the moderate religious Ennahda party, quickly condemned the bloodletting on state television.

“Belaid was killed but the real target behind the assassination is the Tunisian revolution as a whole,” he said of his political adversary. “He represented the true values of dialogue, respecting and embracing others in rejecting violence. This is a political assassination.”

But his expression of indignation did not stop angry protesters from storming offices of his Ennahda party, which leads the government coalition.

Belaid’s support went beyond his own party. He was the voice of a large coalition of secular opposition parties known as the Popular Front, and had a reputation for decrying violence.

The interior minister joined the chorus of moral indignation, calling the killing

“an attack on all Tunisians.”

Ali al-Areed vowed to track down the killers. At the same time, he asked that protests remain peaceful. “We do not want the country to fall into chaos,” he said on Tunisian state TV. Belaid’s family members expressed their sorrow and rage publicly. “We are damned. The political struggle is damned in Tunisia,” his wife Basma told Tunisian state TV. “Chokri Belaid sacrificed his soul.”

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SPORT EXTRA

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

AFCON 2013

• Super Eagles’ players celebrate

Eagles individual performances rating as they trounced Mali to qualify for AFCON final INCENT Enyeama He was outstanding in goal as usual, making brilliant saves including a oneon-one situation.

Efe Ambrose He did well at right full back as he seems to have adjusted well to that position after a sloopy display in the first two games. He defended well, held the ball, joined the attack and recovered quickly to defend.

Kenneth Omeruo He has proved to be a good replacement for Yobo in the heart of the Eagles defence. He doesn't lack composure and he stopped many goal-bound moves.

Godfrey Oboabona Was a bit shaky at the start, but adjusted in good time to be back playing the way he has been doing at this AFCON. He kept out Keita and Mahamadou Samassa.

Elderson Echiejile He did well in the defence, though cut napping at times when recovery from joining attack. He was very efficient joining attack and that paid off with a well-taken goal after 25 minutes. His first for the Super Eagles.

Ogenyi Onazi A commanding performance for the Lazio youngster. He held his own against the like of Mahamoudou Sissoko and Seydou Keita in the middle, winning balls and still having the stamina to deliver passes forward. Fegor Ogude will find it difficult to get into the starting XI for Sunday’s final.

Sunday Mba The hero against Cote d’Ivoire struggled a bit in this game as he often gave away the ball in the middle of the park.

Mikel Obi He was the commander in the midfield, he gave Eagles direction in this game. His marking was good, with visionary passes and assisted for the goals of Musa and Emenike. He did some great defending work and even

V

ventured forward to take a shot on target.

Victor Moses He was torn in the flesh of Malian defenders. He assisted for the first goal by Elderson with a low drive from the right.

His dribbling skills and pace undid the Malians.

8 Brown Ideye He worried the Mali defenders with his power and skills. He scored a well-taken goal. He was really up to it in this game.

Emmanuel Emenike Man of the match again. He is now the leading scorer in the competition with four goals.

He started from the right wing which was an unusual position, but proved a handful for the slow Malians. His power and speed were on full display. He

scored a cracker of a goal and assisted Ideye for his own goal.

Ahmed Musa He scored a great goal, had a nother effort disallowed but he still needs to regain his confidence to start for this team.

Ejike Uzoenyi Was jittery and could not show his qualities which earned him a place on the 23man squad even after he got a run in the team for over 20 minutes.

Joseph Yobo The few minutes he played he saved two threatening situation for Eagles. But overall, he will have to be content with a bit role at this AFCON just as keshi was in 1994.

Arsenal, Liverpool Chase Emmanuel Emenike

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IGERIA international Emmanuel Emenike has played down reports linking him with a move to the English Premier League in the summer.

It is an open secret that scouts of top clubs in England are represented at the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa searching for talents.

According to British sources, representatives of Reading, Arsenal and Liverpool have watched Emenike in action.

Nonetheless, the Spartak Moscow forward, who is tied to the colors of the red and white until 2016, says he intends to honor his contract, but has not ruled out a move to England in future. ''I am playing in Russia at the moment and I have a contract that I intend to respect. But to be linked with the Premier League is a dream come true.

I would love to play there in my career. There are many great clubs there,'' Emenike was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

• Emenike

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

61

SPORT EXTRA AFCON 2013: Keshi glad to put smiles on Nigerian faces

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OACH of the Super Eagles Stephen Keshi is very excited for putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians worldwide with a 4-1 victory over Mali in the semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

First half goals from Elderson Echiejile, Brown Ideye and Emmanuel Emenike, and one from Ahmed Musa in the second half provided Nigeria the easy passage to the final, as the team look forward to lift an AFCON trophy for the third time.

An elated Keshi, who won the AFCON trophy as a captain back in 1994 in Tunisia dedicated the Wednesday victory to God and all

Nigerians.

"I dedicate the victory to God and Nigerians for the support for the team, Keshi said during a post-match press conference.

"I am very happy to put smiles on Nigerian faces, not just me, including the players.

I thank God Keshi, however, reiterated that the team is still not a perfect one, but still in its rebuilding process.

"The team is still rebuilding and until I get that talent, strong mentality and character, we are on a process of rebuilding.

Nigeria is now set for Sunday final, and a third nations cup trophy.

Burkina Faso edges Ghana B to make final URKINA Faso has reached their first ever Africa Cup of Nations final with a penalty-shootout victory over Ghana.

The two sides were level at 1-1 after extra time before the Faso stunned their opponents 3-2 from the spot.

They will now face twotime champions Nigeria in

Sunday's final.

Ghana took the lead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute through Mubarak Wakaso after Madi Saidou

Jonathan for AFCON final

I have nothing against foreign coaches—Keshi

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UPER Eagles Head coach Stephen Keshi has said he had no issues with foreign coaches taking the reins in African countries.

Keshi guided Togo to their first World Cup qualification in 2006 and was in charge at Mali when the Eagles could not make it past the first round of the Nations Cup in 2008 and 2010.

When quizzed on a report attributed to him as antiforeign coach during a post match press conference on Wednesday in South Africa, Keshi cleared the air by making his stance known on the issue.

"I have nothing against foreign coaches and I’ve never said that I don’t like foreign

coaches.

"My argument has always been on the quality of whoever you are bringing into the African terrain.

The Big Boss who is on the verge of becoming the second man to win the Nations Cup as a player and coach said his concern bothers around hiring someone who can develop young talents.

"My concern is getting a foreign coach that understands the African game and one that has good plans towards the development of our local talent.

-Foreign coaches are great coaches with a lot of experience and I absolutely admire their tactics and technical approach to matches.

Emenike vows to win AFCON •Wins MVP award, Mikel Fair Play awards

E

MMANUEL Emenike was adjudged the Most Valuable player in the match against Mali and this would be the second time he is winning this award. He first won it in the match against Ethiopia. Mikel Obi also emerged the winner of Fair Play Award.

The Russia based striker is also a leading player in the goal hunt in the competition having scored four in all matches. The player told NationSport after Nigeria’s 4-1 pounding of the Eagles of Mali that his ambition is to win the AFCON as well as emerge the Highest Goal Scorer of the tournament.

“My ambition is to help Nigeria win the Trophy now that we are in the final. I don’t see any team that can stop us

Fromn Segun Ogunjimi, Durban with God on our side. We have really worked hard to get to this stage and now that the Trophy is on sight we won’t let it go.

“Also I have said it repeatedly in this competition that I want to emerge the Highest Goal Scorer and I think I am not far from it. By the special grace of God I will achieve the two ambition I put before myself”, Emenike disclosed.

Ever improving Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi has also won the Fair Play Award for his efforts on the field of play in Eagles 4-1 victory over Mali to book the final ticket of the tournament.

•Emenike

Panandetiguiri was adjudged to have fouled Christian Atsu.

Aristide Bance nearly equalised 10 minutes into the second half, only for goalkeeper Fatau Dauda to claw his header off the line.

Ghana were soon on the attack at the other end, but Asamoah Gyan's closerange effort came back off the post.

Burkina Faso finally levelled the match on the hour thanks to Bance's calm finish.

With both sides failing to find a winner in normal time, the Faso thought that they had taken the lead in the 105th minute when Prejuce Nakoulma poked the ball past Dauda. However, the referee controversially ruled the goal out because of a high boot from the striker.

More drama followed in the final minutes of extra time as Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa picked up a second yellow card for diving in the penalty area.

Both teams struggled to convert their penalties, but it was a miss from Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu that saw Burkina Faso through to Sunday's final.

N •Ghanaian players react after losing their African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2013) semi-final soccer match against Burkina Faso at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit

I was trained by Barcelona coach for AFCON—Enyeama reveals

A

SSISTANT Captain of the Super Eagles, Vincent Enyeama has told NationSport that he was knocked to shape by coaches from Barcelona, Israel and Turkey and also surrendered the winning of the 2013 AFCON to almighty God. Soccer fans in South Africa have been amazed and thrilled by the awesome form of the Israel based goalkeeper who has been the stand-in Super Eagles Captain since Nigeria’s match against Ethiopia, however, confessed to NationSport that it was as a result of hard one month training in the hands of coaches from Barcelona, Israel and Turkey that brought out the best in him in the on-going 2013 AFCON in South Africa.

“I will give much credit to my coaches because I had coaches from Barcelona, Israel and Turkey they really helped me. We had one month training together before the commencement of the final build up for the Nations Cup. He also declared that he has never worried about rejection and condemnation from Nigerians most especially when he was not having good games since he is aware of the emotional attachment of Nigerians to football. “ It is not a new thing to be criticised by Nigerians. I was criticized before coming to the Nations Cup but I thank God for where we are today. I am used to this because I have played for this country for 11 years and I can tell how we react to matches and results.

When you make a mistake my people will come down hard on you pom, pom, pom”, he said with laughter.

He was also spiritual about Nigeria’s chances of winning the AFCON Trophy. “God is author and finisher of everything if He wishes us to

From Segun Ogunjimi, Durban

win we will win, if not there is nothing we can do about it.

IGERIAN President, Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed he will attend Sunday’s AFCON final involving the Super Eagles.

Nigeria thrashed Mali 4-1 to reach the championship game in Johannesburg on Sunday.

President Goodluck will therefore fulfil his promise to cheer the Eagles to victory were they to reach the final.

NFF president Aminu Maigari said after the team’s convincing win on Wednesday in Durban: “This is a victory that we dedicate to all Nigerians.

“It was a magnificent performance by our team, but I insist that the Super Eagles must keep their heads and focus on the final match because we cannot afford to disappoint

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday.”

Sunday’s final will be Nigeria’s seventh appearance in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 17 appearances.

They have won twice (1980 and 1994) and finished as runners-up in 1984, 1988 (both to Cameroon), 1990 (to Algeria) and 2000 (again, to Cameroon).

Also on Sunday, coach Stephen Keshi, who captained the victorious Eagles in 1994, has the opportunity of becoming the only man alive to have won the Africa Cup of Nations both as player and as coach.

The only other person, Egyptian Mahmoud AlGohary, who won as player in 1959 and as coach in 1998, died last year.

62

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

NEWS PDP: they can’t beat us

Four parties form APC Continued from page 4

pate, like the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ).

They have written to us that they want to join. But I believe that these four parties have made the take-off now. And I believe that many parties, including Labour Party if they so desire, will join us.”

On how they arrived at the name, Ikimi said: “We have agreed on a name through consensus. All the parties that are part of this process have agreed on this name- All Progressives Congress (APC).

“With regard to flag, logo, etc, these are matters of details which will be released to you as we proceed. I want to underscore the fact that we have agreed to merge and we have chosen a name. Full stop.

Regarding the fate of elected members of the four merging parties in the National Assembly, Ikimi said they cannot lose their seats because the law allows a merger.

He added: “The National Assembly members are already meeting. In this room here, we have Senator Bukar Ibrahim from the National Assembly. Senator Ngige is here. Senator Kabiru Gaya is here. Senator Yerima is here.

Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa is here. Senator George Akume is here. So, all our senators and members of the House of Reps are with us. Then, if you know the constitution and INEC rules, once there is a merger, they will still retain their position, nothing happens to them. They have not

defected from their parties.”

On the absence of Edo State GovernorAdams Oshiomhole, at the session held in Lagos by the four parties on Tuesday, Ikimi said: “First of all, let me clarify that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is fully in support of the processes that are on going now. He was to travel to Lagos yesterday (Tuesday), the plane’s situation; the plane could not land or take off from Benin-City. “ In fact, I had to come here on Tuesday by road and it took me seven hours from Benin-City to arrive here for the meeting we held on Tuesday.

“And when it became clear that Governor Adams Oshiomhole could not attend due to flight difficulty, his colleagues said he was in support of all they were doing. Then it could be taken for granted that he was in support. So, there is no problem with that.”

Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima said: “A good number of members of the National Assembly and some governors elected on the platform of the PDP have indicated interest in the merger. We expect them to join us as we march ahead.”

Senator Okonkwo said there was no crack in APGA on the merger.

He said: “The leadership of the party has taken it fully and endorsed the merger and I came here on behalf of the party to represent APGA.” Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa asked Nigerians to have faith in the merger.

She said it would accommodate and protect the rights of Nigerian women.

Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said: “And as for the gender, there are members of this committee that are female. And I have one of them that I can identify. There are others sitting there. Virtually every committee has a representation of women.

“We will ensure that women have better representation.

This party understands the cause of women. This is the party that will change Nigeria to ensure that Nigerian women get the best they deserve.”

Those present at the ceremony were ex-Governor Segun Osoba; Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim; ex-Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima, ex-Governor Achike Udenwa; ex-Governor Niyi Adebayo; Senator George Akume; Senator Chris Ngige; ex-National Chairman of ACN Audu Ogbeh; National Secretary of ACN, Senator Lawal Shuaibu; the National Publicity Secretary of ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; a former Commissioner in Oyo State, Abdur-Raheem A. Shittu; a former National Secretary of ANPP, Chief George Moghalu; the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties(CNPP), Mr. Osita Okechukwu; Others are Senator Hadi Sirika; Mr. B. B. Lawal; Alhaji Sabo Nanono; Group Captain Bernard Banfa; James Ocholi(SAN); Dr. Oseme Ehamire; Dr. Haruna Yerima; Mrs. Lucy Ajayi; Mr. Ife Oyedele; and Mr. Okoi Obla, among others.

•Tukur Continued from page 4

According to him, the corporate existence of Nigeria is greater than aggregate interests of a group of individuals brought together by the inordinate ambition of wrestling power.

“We should not be thinking of what we can grab from the

country,” he said.

The chairman urged politicians to eschew sentiments when Nigeria demands sacrifice from the political office holders irrespective of their political affiliations.

“Sentiments, be it of section, religion or tribe will not make us move forward in this country.’’

According to Peter, Labour Party is not part of the ongoing merger talks because similar exercises have never yielded any good result.

“The labour party is studying events, we are not condemning those in the merger, but we are just studying events as they unfold.

“We have not seen what will make us merge; when we see that politicians have turned a

new leaf then we can start to think of merger.

“Check the history of merger in the country; initially, we have had very fantastic arrangements, but at the end of the day there was nothing to show for it.

“The parties in the planned merger, do they have programmes that are different from what the country has always had?

“Let them make known to Nigerians their programmes so that we will see if the merger will be a more credible exercise,’’ he said.

Peter urged the political office holders to build legacies from the people oriented programmes by shunning actions that would promote their selfish interests.

Eagles maul Mali to make final Continued from page 4

down the right again and laying the ball into the path of Ideye, who bundled in past Samassa at close range.

Mali, rattled by Nigeria’s two quick-fire goals, tried to play themselves back into the game but to no avail, as Emenike made it three just before the break.

A free-kick laid off to the striker took a massive deflection off Sissoko in the wall, wrong-footing Samassa and creeping in just inside the keeper’s left-hand post.

The stunned Malians emerged in the second period with a mountain to climb and captain Seydou Keita could have got one back right at the start of the half, finding space in the box but firing wide from

eight yards.

The Nigerians continued to press and substitute Ahmed Musa, who had replaced Moses minutes earlier, beat the offside trap and fired home under Samassa’s body to put them out of sight.

Musa thought he had made it five, when he found the net from close range once more, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Striker Cheick Tidiane Diabate tried to salvage some Malian pride with a shot at the near post, which was smothered by Enyeama, before striker Mahamadou Samassa’s close-range effort was palmed away by the Maccabi Tel Aviv keeper.

Substitute Diarra then grabbed the consolation for the Malians, stroking home into the

corner, after some good work on the left by fellow replacement Diabate created the opening.

Diarra almost grabbed a second in injury time, but saw his effort curl just over Enyeama’s bar, as the dejected Malians moved on to Port Elizabeth for Saturday’s play-off, while the resurgent Nigerians progressed to Sunday’s final in Johannesburg.

Keshi described Mali as “a good team with a top player like Seydou Keita”.

He said: “But they are not very fast at the back and we took advantage of this to score our first two goals.”

Mali coach Patrice Carteron said he is “still proud of this team. We worked hard even though we did not reach the final.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

63

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

W

HAT seems to be a new drive to seize suspected corrupt government officials is causing so much anxiety in the land.

Those who have stolen from the public purse are worried that they may soon be hauled before the courts for taking too much and keeping it all for themselves and members of their families. Law offices are jammed by panicky officials seeking a way out of what looks like an imminent legal cauldron. I guess juju men, necromancers and Bar Beach prophets are also busy.

But, do they need to panic like kindergarten kids before an angry teacher? No. Here is a guide on how to stay above the storm. It is the result of years of a painstaking research.

It is practical; not a mash of esoteric theories that are good only for the classroom, lacking in efficacy when put to the test in the simplest of cases. Neither is it a textbook stuff that can easily be snatched off the shelf and run through for some academic exertion nor a Lagos pickpocket’s guidebook. It is for those with vast assets, incredible assets in cash and property, those suspected to have their hands in the till. Here we go: Today’s anti-corruption agencies are polite.

They will never storm your home in the dead of the night, bearing arms and handcuffs. Neither will they come in broad daylight with an army of operatives decking bullet proof vests and steel helmets as if they are after some armed robbers or their cousins, the kidnappers. No. They will simply invite you for “a chat” or “clarification” on “a petition that this office is investigating”.

Find a damn good lawyer; the best money can get, the type called SAN. He will accompany you to the agency’s office and stay with you for the few hours that your interview – sorry, a wrong word there - your interrogation will last. You will be allowed to go home on what they call “administrative bail”. They may even ask you to surrender your travel passport. Don’t panic; it’s all about due process. Whenever you need to travel, you can simply go to court and secure an order for the release of your passport to go on a long overdue medical check-up. You need to be alive to face trial, your lawyer will tell the court. Your passport secured, you can then go on that delayed yearly family summer break.

The investigation will go on for months.

During this long break, seek help from your powerful friends – every big man has some – so that the case can, as they say here, die naturally for “lack of diligent prosecution”. Let them talk to the Attorney General who can order a discontinuation of the case because, in his highly respected view, the investigation has been shoddy and no prima facie case has been established. In other words, the chief law officer will say it is better for 99 criminals to be set free than for one innocent person to be punished unjustly.

If that route proves unworkable and the agency insists on prosecuting you, you can

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘With the death of sovereignty, and the ascendancy of globalisation, the new god, we have nothing to be ashamed of by asking Britain to start from where they stopped in October 1, 1960’ JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

VOL. 8, NO. 2393

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net •Winner, DAME Award for Informed Commentary

A guide to legal battles

•The goddess of justice check into a hospital, a good government hospital with a facility for privacy (an air conditioned room, a television set with cable facility for you to watch the Premiership, a refrigerator and all those other appliances of comfort to which you are used). Your lawyer will then rush to the court, pleading for the protection of your fundamental human rights.

He will tender a doctor’s report stating that you are down with any of those cabbalistic diseases (Atherosclerosis or Dilated Cardiomyopathy or whatever).

He, the SAN that is, will push for a perpetual injunction restraining the agency, its servants, proxies and officers or whomsoever it may nominate from harassing or intimidating you. You may be lucky to get such an injunction. In case you do not, take it easy.

Your lawyer can go back to argue that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter. The prosecution will insist that the court is vested with such powers. Either way, the judge will fix a date to decide whether it has jurisdiction or not. Your lawyer will then stand up, bow sharply and look His Lord-

ship straight in the eye, saying: “Milord…em…em I would like to crave your lordship’s indulgence for a longer date because I have another matter in Maiduguri on that day. A longer adjournment will be okay for me, Milord.”

“Objection granted. April 12 suitable?”

“Yes Milord.” “Since there is no objection from the other side,” the judge will say, “I take it that the new date is okay for everybody. Case adjourned till April 12.”

If the agency is the stubborn type, it will insist that you must come to the court. Go there. Your lawyer will simply tell the judge that there is no need forcing a sick man to face trial and that, in any case, you have been on bail without breaching the terms. If your plea is taken, never plead guilty. The court will eventually ask you to go home on bail.

But never you think the matter has ended.

Remain firm. Don’t flee overseas. Doing so will give your enemies – remember every rich man has them aplenty – enough time to arm the anti-graft agency with dangerous documents to cause your extradition to a friendly country where you could be sent to jail in a jiffy.

Remember your lawyer had told the court that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case – he will also add that the charges, which usually come in a deluge, looking repetitive to the untrained eye – and that it should be thrown out. The court may insist it has jurisdiction. Never fret.

While all this legal calisthenics is going on, your lawyer can open talks with the pros-

Super Eagles... so super

A

GAINST all odds, the Super Eagles are in the finals of the Cup of Nations.

Nigerians are excited. They were the subject of all manner of jokes.

Keshi’s post-match interview was instructive. He spoke of two key elements of a great team – “mentality and character”.

How I wish our politicians would embrace these values and more – the Eagles’ fighting spirit, agility and faith.

HARDBALL

M

ALLAM Nasir el-Rufai, former Federal Capital City (FCT) minister, is not just satisfied walking audaciously in the corridors of power and stepping on toes and breaking chinaware, he is also audacious in writing about both the colours and tempers of those corridors and the scheming of the feckless men that walk in them. The gifted and energetic former minister has now given teeth to his daring by writing a book, The Accidental Public Servant, on those years when he luxuriated in power and cavorted among the powerful. Given the many startling and frank revelations jumping out of the iconoclastic book, it is expected that the jaws of many Nigerians will drop permanently when they read it. Indeed, after the public presentation of the book today, there will certainly be angry reactions; and soon we may be able to determine just how far the former Abuja gadfly sexed up portions of his book.

The excerpts published by some newspapers so far have meanwhile gone a long way in publicising the book, even establishing some

ecuting agency. He will tell the agency how good a man you have been, a man of conscience, a true patriot and a responsible family man who should not suffer unjustifiably.

This is called plea bargain. Many – those arm chair critics and out-of-job lawyers – will be crying that this is alien to our laws and that it is an attempt to shield you from trial and pervert the course of justice. Remain calm.

You will be persuaded to surrender some property, perhaps 10 out of 22 mansions.

That’s not bad; is it? After all, you can keep the cash you have safely stashed away in some finance houses or stocked up in the stock markets.

Your long list of charges will be compressed or consolidated, as they say, to about three counts. Stealing, you need not be reminded, is no murder or armed robbery. His Lordship, who must have been well briefed of the terms of settlement, will simply apply the law, ask you to go to jail for two years on each of the three counts or pay N150 fine on each and go home in peace to sin no more.

Pay cash and walk home a free man.

Then, there will be uproar. Those self-appointed moral policemen will start criticising the judgment, crying as if it is their inheritance you have stolen. Again, be calm. It is not strange. Coram non judice. They are only ignorant of the law, which the judge can apply as he pleases.

If the noise is so much, coming from all manner of legal wannabes in the guise of amicus curiae, the anti-graft agency may come after you again, alleging that you have stolen some millions and that you did not declare your assets. Stay cool. Isn’t that the work of the Code of Conduct Bureau? Your lawyer will argue that this move is an attempt to start your trial de novo and cause you double jeopardy. The judge, as firm as ever, will dismiss the case as an abuse of court process and lash the prosecution for testing the court’s integrity and wasting its time. Case closed.

If you follow this guide, you are sure to emerge from it all a hero. Your people can then buy an Ankara uniform, hire an army of drummers and dance round the town, singing your praise.

One last thing: All rights reserved. No part of this Guide may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of this author.

Now that we have, for this moment, forgotten all that ails our polity–corruption, decaying infrastructure, insecurity, ethnicity and all others– I hope our leaders will reflect on the verdict of history that will surely come.

As for the final game, my money is on the Eagles. How about you?

•For comments, send SMS to 08082036515

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

El-Rufai: So, who is not consulting marabouts? reputation for it ahead of presentation, and creating effective demand for it. Probably one of the most colourful accounts in the book is the story of how former Vice President Atiku Abubakar patronised and became a captive of marabouts, yes, the same metaphysical agents that hallmarked the military government of the degenerate Gen Sani Abacha. Not since Saul consulted the witch at Endor has a story of high-level flirtation between rulers and agents of the dark arts fascinated a people as the Atiku/marabout interaction.

According to el-Rufai, the marabout story began when some senators demanded N54m bribe from him in order to help him scale confirmation hurdle. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was then president, was of no help, writes el-Rufai. This led him to briefly toy with the idea of resigning, a thought he went to share with Atiku. The former vice president, says el-Rufai, asked him where he

was going when “…we are about to have the whole thing.” That whole thing, it turned out, was the presidency.

In brief, writes el-Rufai, Atiku explained that he knew a marabout who told him all that ever happened to him, at least in terms of electoral fortunes. The marabout was never wrong, not even once, said Atiku giddily to el-Rufai. In addition, the marabout had just predicted that Obasanjo would not complete his tenure, and he (Atiku) would be president, blurted the former vice president excitedly.

Well, it turned out the marabout was dead wrong, assuming indeed he made such a prediction. According to Mallam Garba Shehu, Atiku’s long-standing spokesman, the marabout story is not only an infernal lie, it is even more an indication of el-Rufai’s equally long-standing romance with marabouts. Shehu disclosed that el-Rufai once sponsored one of his brothers to see

marabouts in Morocco, Mali, Senegal and Somalia. From all indications, Nigerians are going to hear more about marabouts in the coming months.

But while Hardball waits patiently for elRufai and his subjects to slug it out brutally in the weeks ahead, it must be recalled that marabouts are a permanent feature of Nigeria’s leadership landscape. The temptation to know what the future has in store is always too strong to resist for generals anxious about the outcome of the next battle, politicians eager to avoid electoral debacle, and the ordinary man impatient to know where his fortunes lie, and where his tragedies come from.

The question to ask, then, is who among Nigeria’s leaders, many of them steeped in superstition, is not consulting marabout, or in the case of the religiously sensitive among them, consulting soothsayers dressed in borrowed, sanctified robes?

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