The Nation February 28, 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Soldiers didn’t kill students, says army

Ojukwu’s centre pulled down

NEWS Page 57

NEWS

Page 58

•Obi, Bianca protest in Owerri

•Police probe varsity incident

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VOL. 8, NO. 2414 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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Single term row: Jonathan puts Aliyu under pressure Governor honours Villa invitation President can run in 2015, says Tukur

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ORTHERN Governors Forum Chairman Babangida Aliyu was at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday - barely 24 hours after a shouting match with Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio.

The Niger State Governor was at the Villa for about two hours amid anxiety by his colleagues and political associates. He was reportedly “summoned” by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Aliyu has been under pres-

It was agreed that Jonathan would serve only one term of four years and we all signed the agreement. Even when Jonathan went to Uganda he also said he was going to serve a single term —Aliyu From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

sure from some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to retract his comments on an alleged “one-term only agreement” signed with the governors of the party by President

Goodluck Jonathan.

Besides, Aliyu is being asked to withdraw support for the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who is seeking reelection in May. Before the NGF rescheduled

Jonathan is the President under our party and what is wrong if he decides to run? The others have the same opportunity to promote their candidate, if they have —Tukur its chairmanship election on Monday night, Aliyu and Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio had engaged in a shouting match over the formation of the PDP Governors Forum, which the Niger State governor described as

baseless and an attempt to break the ranks of the 36 governors.

Aliyu was the only governor “summoned” to the Villa. It was not immediately clear yesterday what Aliyu was told at the Villa, but there were indi-

cations that Aliyu’s invitation may also have been in connection with his recent utterances that some external forces were at work to split the NGF. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are aware that since he raised issues on the President’s pact with PDP governors, he has been under pressure to retract the comments he made during a phone-inprogramme on Liberty RaContinued on page 4

Confusion persists over killing of Oshiomhole’s aide From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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HO killed Olaitan Oyerinde, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s private security?

The question remained as knotty as ever yesterday, with the Attorney General of the Federation’s office saying it is “confused”.

The row over the murder continued in Abuja at the House of Representatives Committee on Public Relation’s hearing on the murder in Benin City last year.

Oshimhole appeared before the Uzo Azubike-led committee and reiterated his claim that the police had a hand in Oyerinde’s murder.

The police, represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police Peter Gana, disagreed.

Gana, who stood in for Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, described the allegation as “false, baseless and intended to mislead the public”.

He accused Oshiomhole of using his privileged position to impugn the reputation of the police and the character of its officers.

Continued on page 4

‘

Those responsible have prevailed on the police to help shield them from prosecution •Oshiomhole...yesterday

’

•THE FIN AL RIDE: A crowd of worshippers greeting Pope Benedict during his farewell ride at The Vatican...yesterday FINAL

PHOTO: AFP

Emotional farewell as Pope Benedict retires •PAGE 4

•SPORTS P23 •EDUCATION P25 •POLITICS P43 •N/HEALTH P45 •E-BUSINESS P47

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

2

NEWS WAR IN MALI

Bomb kills donates relief A •Vice-President Namadi Sambo (right), Secretary to the Federal Government Anyim Pius Anyim (second right), Chief of Staff Mike Oghiaohme (left) and Head of Civil Service Bello Sali at the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN.

•From left: Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Federal Matters Mrs Idiat Babalola, Director, Co-ordination of the Armed Forces Command of Staff College, Jaji Brig. Gen. Caster Oyebade, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Sunday Akere, Brig. Gen. Ademoh Salihu and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters Kunle Amos at the presentation on the Osun State by Syndicate 8 Senior Course 35 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State... on Tuesday.

•Country Commercial Manager, DHL International Nigeria Ltd Chrysanthus Okereke (left), Head of Sales, SSA, Cristian Vera (second (left), Country Manager, DHL Global Forwarding Nigeria Chizzy Nnamchi and Managing Director, DHL Nigeria Randy Buday (right) at an awareness campaign in Lagos.

• Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr Elias Mbam (left); representative of the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji and representative of the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr Alfred Ohiani, at the NEITI workshop on Fiscal Allocation and Statutory Disbursements Audit in Abuja ...yesterday.

SUICIDE car bombing killed six government allies in the northern city of Kidal, as French confirm that they are engaged in heavy fighting in northern Mali.

The suicide bomber exploded his vehicle Tuesday evening at a checkpoint at an entrance to Kidal, said Ag Alghabas Intalla, a leader of the Islamic Movement of Azawad, or MIA, reached by phone in Kidal. He said he counted six dead and others wounded. The MIA group is fighting with the Malian army and French troops against Islamic extremists.

Responsibility for the suicide attack has not been claimed, but it is suspected to be the work of the Islamic extremists of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, or MUJAO. French troops are involved in “very violent fighting” in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains of northeastern Mali, said France’s defense minister Tuesday. Jean-Yves Le Drian said that it’s too early to talk about a quick French pullout from Mali, despite the growing cost of the intervention.

The French intervention in Mali has cost more than •100 million ($133 million) since it started Jan. 11, said Le Drian on France’s RTL radio.

“We are now at the heart of the conflict,” in protracted fighting against Islamic extremist rebels in the Ifoghas mountains, Le Drian said.

While some expected the 4,000strong French force to pull out next month, Le Drian said he couldn’t talk about a quick withdrawal while the mountain fighting goes on. A clash in the area killed 23 soldiers from neighboring Chad last week, according to French President Francois Hollande, who expressed condolences to his Chadian counterpart.

Soldiers from Chad and a few other African countries have joined the French-led operation to help Mali’s weak military push back the Islamic extremists who had imposed harsh rule on northern Mali and started moving southward toward the capital, Bamako, last month.

In Timbuktu, they imposed strict Shariah law and forced thousands to flee; others were tortured and executed. But the French-led intervention in January brought the Islamic radicals to quit the northern cities of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal and retreat to mountainous hideouts near the Algeria border.

In the first weeks of the campaign, French and Malian forces easily took back cities in northern Mali. But the fighting is rougher now that it has reached more remote terrain in the mountains of the southern Sahara.

At the United Nations in New York, a top U.N. humanitarian official said Tuesday that as security improves in Mali, the world must seize the moment to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid.

John Ging, a senior humanitarian affairs official who just visited Mali, said that country’s northern region is stabilizing but needs help re-opening schools, markets and health clinics.

The U.N. is appealing for $373 million in aid, but has only received $17 million.

Even before fighting erupted last year among government forces, Taureg rebels and radical Islamists, Ging said Mali was suffering from the severe food crisis that has hit Africa’s arid Sahel region.

Ging said more than 430,000 Malians have been displaced.

On Tuesday, the Obama administration imposed sanctions on an Islamic rebel leader whose extremist group seized much of northern Mali

•Soldiers with a suspected rebel arrested in Gao, Mali... on Tuesday.

PHOTO: AFP

Kerry holds talks on Mali with French leaders

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S Secretary of State John Kerry and French President Francois Hollande held talks Wednesday on Mali and Syria and a proposed transAtlantic deal to create the world’s largest free trade zone.

Kerry spent just over an hour at the Elysee Palace presidential residence on Wednesday morning. He then held talks with Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and was due to address a joint press conference in the afternoon.

Hollande’s office said Kerry and the French leader had discussed revived plans for a free trade accord between the EU and the 27-nation European Union (EU).

“France is favourable in principle but would like it to conform to the (EU’s) Common Agricultural Policy” an aide said.

“They also discussed Mali, Syria and the need to relaunch the Middle East peace process,” he added.

After his talks in Paris, Kerry was due to fly on to Rome for a “Friends of Syria” meeting on Thursday. The conflict has claimed 70,000 lives, according to the United Nations.

The main talking point during Kerry’s Paris stopover — which followed halts in London and Berlin — was Mali, where France sent in troops on January From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

last year and prompted the French military intervention. The United States State Department designated Iyad Ag Ghali, head of the Islamic group Ansar Dine, a global terrorist. The action blocks any assets he holds in the U.S. and prohibits Americans from doing business with him.

As a result of the armed conflict, Nigeria has donated 1110 metric tons of assorted relief materials to the Malian government.

In a statement by the Head Public Relations, Yushau Shuaib, the items were transported by 37 trucks and delivered

by NEMA in Bamako, the capital of Mali at the weekend.

The items included food, clothing, household utensils, detergent, antiseptic, mosquito nets and beddings.

The Director-General, NEMA,

s

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

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NEWS WAR IN MALI

A homeless man who did the right thing has inspired generosity on a global scale, reports Herald Sun

six as Nigeria When honesty cures man of poverty materials to Mali A HOMELESS man set to get $US145,000 for returning a woman’s diamond engagement ring is uncomfortable at the attention he got and worries for a world shocked by his honesty.

Sarah Darling accidentally dropped her diamond engagement ring into Billy Ray Harris’ coin cup in Kansas City and he kept it safe and gave it back to her when she returned to his patch a few days later. Her grateful fiance set up a website which has already raised $US145,000 ($A141,622) for Mr Harris, who frequently begs on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza.

Mr Harris, though grateful for the donations from strangers from around the world, is uncomfortable with all the attention his kind act has received but insists the ring simply wasn’t his to keep.

Billy Ray Harris said he doesn’t think he deserves all the attention he’s getting.

“What I actually feel like is what is the world come to when a person returns something that don’t belong to em and all this happens?,” he said.

Speaking to a local TV crew, Mr Harris said he knew the ring had sentimental value.

This is the ring Sarah accidentally dropped into the coin cup.

“I could tell just how much it meant to you, the moment I held it up like that,” he said to Ms Darling re-enacting for the cameras her reaction when he showed her that her ring wasn’t lost.

News of the story has also led to Mr Harris being reunited with his family. His sister Robin saw him on the local TV news at her home in Texas and contacted the reporter on

11 to stop Islamists holding the north from pushing down to the capital Bamako.

The French intervention has driven Islamist rebels — composed of various groups — from cities in the north of the west African country, but clashes and guerrilla attacks have continued.

Mali has become the new symbol of the fight against terrorism after Afghanistan and Washington sent transport planes and drones to boost the Frenchled intervention, currently backed by the African force AFISMA. “Now, the French have decided it’s enough of a threat to them that they’re taking the lead and they’re engaged in trying to work to strengthen the government,” Kerry said in Berlin on Tuesday.

“They don’t want to be there, I assure you, for the long term.”

Washington and Paris have not always been in sync on Mali, which was initially supposed to have a west African force come in to stop the advancing Islamists.

That was held up partly due to financial and weapons constraints faced by African nations, prompting Paris to send troops to its former colony to prevent the Islamists from marching on the capital.

French officials had voiced frustration with what they saw as foot-dragging by the US administration on providing logistical support to the French intervention, but any issues appear now to have been resolved.

American officials have stressed that Washington had already given $96 million (73 million euros) to help train the African force, which may evolve into a UN peacekeeping mission.

French officials said the other main items on the agenda were the nuclear programmes of Iran and North Korea, which have sparked global alarm, as well as the dragging conflict in Syria.

Citing US and European officials, the Washington Post newspaper said the White House is mulling a major policy shift on Syria and is toying with the idea of supplying rebels with direct aid like body armour, armoured vehicles and even military training.

Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said the intervention was on the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan.

NEMA’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, who led the team of aid and emergency workers to Mali, said the recent draught and the ongoing armed conflict in Northern Mali, have created a serious humanitarian crisis and displacement of persons.

He said: “It has become necessary for friendly nations to render logistic and humanitarian assistance and to restore normalcy and avert the spillover of the unfortunate event to the border areas of Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritain and other countries of the sub-region.”

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mali Iliya Ali Nuhu, who presented the items to Malian Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Mamadou Sidibe at the Nigerian Embassy in Bamako, said the humanitarian gesture was in line with mutual coop-

eration and the friendly relations between the two countries, saying the gesture also demonstrates collective solidarity towards sustaining peace and stability in the West African subregion.

Sidibe described the gesture as timely, and Thanked people and government of Nigeria for the humanitarian effort, which, he said, would further strengthen the existing ties between the two countries.

He said Malians would continue to appreciate Nigeria’s participation in the military support mission.

The minister said the relief items would be delivered to the victims within a week.

He said Mali urgently needs humanitarian assistance, following the closure of Mauritanian and Algerian borders because of the armed conflict in northern Mali.

Two held for acid attack on Nigerian

•Harris (left) returned the diamond engagement ring( below) to Sarah Darling who, with her fiance, Bill Kreject. decided to raise money to thank him

‘

What I actually feel like is what is the world come to when a person returns something that don’t belong to em and all this happens

‘

the story to help arrange a reunion with all of his siblings.

“Sixteen years later and we just now found out he’s still living. I want him to come home, but I can’t make come home. But I want him to know we love him and we miss him,” Robin said.

Mr Harris described the upcoming reunion with his family as “a gift” and even though he hasn’t seen them in years he insists he and his sisters remain his best friends.

Mr Harris, who lives under a bridge, admits he doesn’t think he deserves all the attention he’s getting but he is now considering an offer to move in with his sister. He doesn’t want to be a burden and said he finds being a cause celebre stressful.

“It’s more stressful than what I’m doing right now,” he said. “Does Tom Cruise have to be all that? I could never be an actor.”

D •Kerry

ETECTIVES investigating the acid attack on Victoria’s Secret shop assistant Naomi Oni (who is a Nigerian) have arrested two of her friends, it emerged yesterday.

It came after the probe had started to focus on whether Miss Oni lied about the incident – triggering angry denials from the 21-year-old.

But yesterday police said they had arrested a separate 21-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man who are known to the victim.

Miss Oni was targeted by a woman wearing an Islamic veil as she returned home from her job at the lingerie store.

She spent almost a month in a specialist burns unit while doctors fought to save her sight and carried out skin grafts to repair the scarring to her face inflicted in the early hours of December 30 last year.

The acid had burned her face, arm, hand and leg and left her temporarily blinded. Reports over the weekend suggested detectives investigating the crime believed Miss Oni may have been somehow responsible for her own injuries.

Police also seized her laptop and claims emerged that she had looked at websites detailing acid attacks before the incident.

Sheila Maclean, who is a friend of Miss Oni, said her family was considering making an official complaint to police.

Miss Oni said: ‘I’ve only just come out of hospital after having surgery to my eye. To see this story saying that I’d done it made me so angry and really hurts.

“There’s no way I would have done this to myself. I want the person who did this to be caught.”

•Naomi Oni before the acid attack

A Scotland Yard spokesman stressed Miss Oni had not been arrested.

He added: “On Friday, 22 February, a 21-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being involved in causing grievous bodily harm.

“On Sunday, 24 February, a 28year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of being involved in causing grievous bodily. Both have been bailed to return, pending further inquiries.”

Miss Oni has told of how she became aware of someone behind her as she walked home after getting off a bus in Dagenham, Essex, shortly after midnight.

She was sprayed in the face with burning liquid while she was speaking on her mobile phone to her boyfriend Ato Owede, who is a 24-yearold law student.

She said: “I felt a presence behind me a few minutes away from home so I turned around, not really expecting to see anybody.

“But I saw a person wearing a niqab, a little taller than me. They were just staring coldly at me. I was startled so I turned away. Suddenly,

•Naomi Oni now

from nowhere, I felt a splash on my right side and I just ran.

“Before I even realised, it was burning, I somehow knew it was acid.”

Miss Oni was too afraid to return to her home after she was released from hospital and is staying with relatives.

The attack has left Miss Oni, who works at the Westfield Shopping Centre, in Stratford, East London, with psychological as well as physical scars, a friend said. ‘I had seen a picture of her face but when I saw her in the flesh she looked a lot worse,’ he added.

“She didn’t speak to me about the attack. I’ve noticed a bit of a change in her, she is more aware now, she is cautious about who she talks to.

“She is a bit more cautious around strangers.”

Scotland Yard yesterday repeated its appeal for witnesses to the acid attack.

Officers are asking anyone else who may have seen the victim in Lodge Avenue or seen anything suspicious around the time of the attack to call Barking & Dagenham CID. •Culled from Daily Mail

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

NEWS Confusion reings over killing Continued from page 1

•President Goodluck Jonathan (second left); Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (third left); Gambian President Yahya Jammeh (fourth left); Ivorian President Alansane Ouattara (third right), Togolese President Faure Eyadema (right) and other Heads of State and Governments at the opening session of the 42nd ECOWAS Ordinary Summit in Yamoussoukro, Cote D’ivoire…yesterday

2015: Niger alleges plot to print governor’s posters

T

HE government of Niger State has alleged the existence of a plot to implicate Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu over his comment on the 2015 presidential election.

The government alleged that some people in Abuja planned to print posters with Aliyu’s portrait and the message of ‘’2015: Vote Babangida Aliyu for President’’, thereby pitting him against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has embargoed campaigns for 2015 elections.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, in Minna yesterday also said some media houses have been commissioned to write negative reports against Aliyu as part of a grand design to discredit him and the state government.

“But Governor Aliyu is a law abiding member of the PDP and is very much aware of the party’s directive to members not to commence campaign for the 2015 presi-

Single term row: Jonathan puts Aliyu under pressure Continued from page 1

dio in Kaduna.”

Some security agencies, PDP stalwarts and government officials are said to have obtained the tape of the interview for review to ascertain that Aliyu actually made the revelation.”

According to source, the visit to the Villa was part of steps to change Aliyu, who is believed to be aggrieved against the Presidency.

“They know that Aliyu is leading the Northern Governors Forum, a powerful caucus which could make much political impact. They also need the Forum’s support to stop Amaechi’s reelection in May,” he said, adding: “Of the 19 Northern governors, only From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

dential election,” the statement said.

Ndayebo said: “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Aliyu has not declared for the presidency. If anything, he is at the moment focused on delivering on the mandate given to him by the people of Niger State and

four were said to be anti-Amaechi on Monday. They included Governors Ibrahim Shema(Katsina); Gabriel Suswam(Benue); Isa Yuguda(Bauchi) and Idris Wada(Kogi).”

But it was also learnt that the visit to the Villa might have to do with alleged anti-party statements which Aliyu made at the NGF’s session on Monday.

He faulted the formation of the PDP Governors Forum, saying he foresaw a dictator emerging in the nation’s polity, The Nation learnt.

Another source added: “The PDP leadership felt slighted and it believes that Aliyu should be called to order. As a matter of fact, Akpabio visited the PDP National Headquarters on Tuesday to give bite to the new forum.

“Some party leaders are already agitating

would not be distracted.”

The statement maintained that Aliyu strongly believes that God is the ultimate decider of who becomes what, just as he cautioned Nigerians to be wary of people who may want to discredit others for selfish gains.

Aliyu reaffirmed his commitment to his present as-

that Aliyu should be sanctioned for antiparty activities.

“The governor has also uncovered plans to frame him up as part of a grand plot to impose disciplinary sanctions on him.”

The anti-Amaechi forces continued yesterday to rally Northern governors for the Presidency to effect a change of leadership in the NGF. A third source added: “These forces are now reaching out to the governors one-by-one to lobby them to dump Amaechi.

“Those who are pro-Amaechi are watching their backs to keep the NGF united and solid against any form of infiltration.”

signment and would not be distracted by any devious plot by mischief makers.

He reiterated his commitment to the ongoing efforts at re-engineering the state to achieve its vision of becoming one of the top three most-developed state economies by the year 2020.

•Aliyu

President can run in 2015, says PDP chairman Tukur

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur declared yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan is free to seek re-election in 2015.

Tukur, who spoke with reporters at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, added that other groups or individuals who may have candidates for the election are free to project them.

The party chairman said: “Jonathan is the President under

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

our party and what is wrong if he decides to run? The others have the same opportunity to promote their candidates, if they have. That is in order in politics” Tukur denied that the PDP Governors’ Forum is meant to project the second term ambition of the President, saying the NGF is not a platform for picking presidential candidates.

He also said the PDP Gover-

nors’ Forum was not put in place to checkmate Nigerian Governors’ Forum headed by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Tukur spoke on many other issues in the interview. Excerpts: Can you tell us the need for PDP Governors’ Forum, because there have been so many perceptions coming from different angles that it was to checkmate the NGF? Well, I see the NGF as very important I can tell you why.

Look at Nigeria, we have so many colourations: ethnic, religious. Now if you don’t have this kind of association, whereby people have to meet and discuss how Nigeria can sustain its role as a regional power. You cannot do that, unless the help comes from governors. So, NGF is very healthy, because we have to be frank with ourselves. If we understand our differences, then we can work together better. If they are working together to en-

sure peace and whatever is good we all agree to that extent it is a very important forum.

There is insinuation that the PDP Governors’ Forum is meant to foster President Jonathan’s 2015 ambition.

Let me tell you, that is in order in politics. Jonathan is the President under our party and what is wrong if he decides to run? The others have the same opportunity to promote their candidate, if Continued on page 60

Emotional farewell as Pope Benedict retires

P

OPE Benedict XVI will retire today – the first Pope to abdicate since Gregory XII in 1415.

Yesterday, thousands of pilgrims gathered at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican for Pope Benedict’s final general audience. He admitted he faced “choppy waters” during his eight years at the helm of the Roman Catholic Church, but said he was guided by God and felt His presence every day.

The successor to Pope Benedict, 85, will be chosen in a conclave to take place next month.

Pope Benedict told the crowd his papacy had been “a heavy burden” but he accepted it because he was sure that God would guide him.

At times he “felt like St Peter with his apostles on the Lake of Galilee”, he said, making reference to the Biblical story when the disciples were battling

against heavy waves and Jesus Christ appeared to them.

The Church has been beset by scandals over sexual abuse by priests and leaked confidential documents revealing corruption and infighting in the Vatican.

The Pope thanked his flock for respecting his decision to retire and said he was standing down for the good of the Church.

“I took this step (resignation) in full awareness of its gravity and novelty but with profound serenity of spirit,” he said in his address.

As a result of his surprise announcement, the Church has now amended its laws to bring forward the election of a successor.

A conclave beginning in midMarch would have left little time to have a new pope installed for one of the most important periods in the Catholic calendar, Holy Week, leading up to Eas-

ter, which begins on March 24.

Today, the Pope will travel by helicopter to his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, 24 kilometres southeast of Rome. He will cease to be Pope at 20:00 local time.

After Benedict XVI steps down, he will become known as “pope emeritus”.

He will retain the honorific “His Holiness” after his abdication and will continue to be known by his papal title of Benedict XVI, rather than reverting to Joseph Ratzinger.

He will wear his distinctive white cassock without any cape or trimmings, but will surrender his gold ring of office and his personal seal will be destroyed.

He will also give up wearing his red shoes.

“On the one hand I felt that since the decision that he would leave office and resign became public, Pope Benedict is re-

lieved,” said the head of the German bishops’ conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch.

“But he also now feels the sympathy of the people for him, and therefore he will have a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, a bit of sadness.”

The title “emeritus” is used when a person of status, such as a professor or bishop, hands over their position, so their former rank can be retained in their title.

The Pope last night spent his final hours at his Vatican residence saying farewell to the cardinals who have been his closest aides during his eight-year pontificate.

After his personal archive of documents were packed up, the Swiss Guard on duty at his Castel Gandolfo residence will be dismissed at 20.00 hours (local time), to be replaced by Vatican police.

This will mark the formal end of his papacy and the beginning of the period of transition to his successor.

Beginning from March 4, the College of Cardinals will meet in general congregations to discuss the problems facing the Church and set a date for the start of the secret election, or conclave, to elect Pope Benedict’s successor.

That successor will be chosen by 115 cardinal-electors (those younger than 80 years old) through ballots held in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

A two-thirds-plus-one vote majority is required. Sixty-seven of the electors were appointed by Benedict XVI, and the remainder by his predecessor John Paul II. About half the cardinal-electors (60) are European - 21 of them Italian - and many have worked for the administrative body of the Church, the Curia, in Rome.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation) Chris Esike described the allegation as “false, unfounded and diversionary.” According to him, no one could have done a better job than what the Police did.

The Minister of Justice, who was represented by Mr. O. T. Olatigbe, a Deputy Director in the ministry, said it would have done security agencies a lot of good if they had a harmonised position, which would have made it easier for the AGF’s office to proceed with the judicial aspect of the case, According to Olatigbe, the police and the State Security Service (SSS) forwarded two “believable” reports to AGF’s office. “We don’t know which one to act upon. We are confused.

“We need further investigation. We have two reports and both are convincing but we don’t know which to believe,” he said.

The committee chair flayed the position of the AGF, describing it as sad that the AGF whom the President and citizens depended on for legal advice in such a situation, is saying it is confused.

Azubuike said: “It is unfortunate. It is shameful and embarrassing that in a situation like this, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation is confused when the President of the country and everyone is looking up to you.”

Oshiomhole was at the session with Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) who sat beside and whispered occasionally to him. The police chief came with Kyari Gadzama (SAN).

Oshiomohle said the police were complicit in the murder of his aide. He said even police records showed that the suspects and the murder weapon that killed Oyerinde had been in the police custody since April 24, 2012, prior to death of his aide. He recounted how the SSS intimated him with credible progression of the investigations into the murder while the Police shunned all his efforts to know how the investigation was progressing.

The governor said the principal suspect in the murder was in the custody of the police as at April 24, 2012 and that call logs supposedly used to link activist Rev. David Ugolor to the case had not been produced, in spite of their claim that it was in their possession. “Almost a year after, they cannot produce it,” he said.

Oshiomhole flayed the recommendation in the police report that the investigating officer be promoted, adding that rather, DIG Gana and DIG Esike should be sacked for implicating Ugolor in the matter.

The governor said the Police failed to address the issue and that the only thing they said on their inconsistency in the case was that the officer who made Continued on page 60

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5

NEWS Lagos court dismisses objection by oil marketers

Aregbesola lists gains of US trip

F

RESH from a trip abroad, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola said yesterday his interactions in the United States (US) will yield investment dividends for the State of the Living Spring.

He said the US trip has attracted investors in the areas of agriculture and the allied sector.

Besides, Aregbesola explained that the trip afforded him the opportunity of interacting with Africans in the diaspora on the level of development attained by his administration and presented the investment potentials of the state.

He told reporters on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos aboard a British Airways flight, that he had a brief stopover at the prestigious Havard University, where he addressed the African academic community.

Aregbesola said part of his visit to Harvard was to present the score card of his administration to the African caucus in the institution.

He said: “We went to one of the best higher institutions of learning in the world - that is Harvard University. We met with the African caucus in Harvard, where we showcased our performance to date and areas their own exposure will be of assistance.

“We delivered a lecture at Harvard and met the intellectual community; we told them how we understand the devel-

T

By Precious Igbonwelundu

A

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

opments in Nigeria as well as the challenges that face our nation.

“We showcased the catalogue of knowledge and the people seem to be interested in what we are doing in Osun State.

We are collaborating with many companies.

“The African - American community are quite interested in facilitating partnership in particular in the area of tourism, so we expect very many of them in this year’s Osun Osogbo festival.

“Thereafter, we moved to Washington DC. There we met the Nigerians Diaspora Organisation (NIDO). They asked questions on development in Nigeria, as it affects security and we told them what we are doing in the country.”

Aregbesola said he held talks with the Corporate Council in Africa where investment opportunities were explored.

He assured that the gains of the trip would soon manifest in many areas.

The governor said: “Until those things materialise, we cannot say much. But, what we have achieved is to expose the world to the focus of our administration and the areas where there are opportunities for collaboration.

“This exists in agriculture in large and commercial farming as well as in areas of farming input, from improved seedlings to agro allied industries,

•Aregbesola...yesterday. to agricultural equipment.

“We are prospecting for partnership in agricultural leasing and construction equipment leasing. All of these came up for discussion with the Corporate Council in Africa.

“In all, we must improve our efforts to sensitise the world about what we have done in a small state in the interior of Southwest of Nigeria. The response we received was quite encouraging and we are hopeful and expectant.”

The governor called on Nigerians to support the newly formed All Progressive Alli-

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

ance (APC), as the political platform that will provide credible leadership for those who are tired of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“What is clear is that Nigerians are telling us that the efforts of the PDP have been disastrous. I am hopeful that the APC will open a new vista that will guarantee for our people, security, employment, freedom, liberty and good life. To that extent, I have no doubt that APC will put an end to visionless leadership,” Aregbesola said.

Reps defeat bill on monthly allowance for unemployed graduates

HE House of Representatives has defeated a bill seeking to provide monetary incentives to unemployed graduates.

The bill for an Act to amend the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) laws, 2004 by creating specific functions and objectives to cater for unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions failed to scale second reading as it was defeated by voice vote.

Sponsor of the bill, Arua Arunsi (PDP, Abia), said the objective of the bill is to design and implement programmes to combat mass unemployment of graduates between 18 and 35 years and also between third to fifth year of post graduation experience.

He said the bill is also seek-

From: Victor Oluwaegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

ing to pay certain amount of allowance to the unemployed graduates.

However, the antagonists of the bill said the provisions of the bill failed to meet the critical criterion of filling gaps inherent in the existing laws it was seeking to amend.

Ibrahim El sudi (PDP, Taraba) noted that the bill had nothing new as a similar programme for unemployed graduates was already in existence at the NDE, saying: “There is a graduate attachment programme that does exactly what this bill is seeking.

“Even, a similar pro-

gramme is existing for nongraduates on the social aspect for unemployed non-graduates at the National Social Insurance Trust Find (NSITF). What should happen is for the authorities to strengthen these programmes.”

James Faleke (ACN, Lagos) said providing such monetary incentive would only compound the economic challenges facing the country.

According to him, since the Nigerian economy was not production-based, industrial revival efforts would be defeated with such monthly allowances turning the beneficiaries into lazy people.

“Rather than turn our unemployed youths into lazy ones,

government should channel the monthly stipends towards the revival of our industries. In other words, let us teach them how to fish instead of giving them the fish. When our industries are revived, the economy will absorb them,” he said.

Peter Onyemaechi (ANPP, Ebonyi) expressed concern over the programme, which he said could be compromised, citing previous poverty alleviation programmes that have failed.

“How do we verify the beneficiaries? How do they qualify? Because of corruption, the list would just keep expanding.

People would no longer look for work since there is easy money coming in every month,” he added.

The bill was summarily defeated and plenary was adjourned.

David-West: why PDP is afraid of APC

F

ORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof.

Tam David-West, yesterday said the success of the merger among opposition parties and progress in the structural evolution of the All Progressive Congress (APC) are sending fears to the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

David-West, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, also said the progress being made by the new party was rattling PDP. Though Prof. David-West said he does not belong to any political party, the former university don is serving in the Manifesto and Logo Committee of the new party.

He said his nomination

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

confirmed that the new party wanted impartial and nonsentimental contributions.

He was nominated by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

According to him, discussions at the committee meetings are purely about Nigeria rather than any political party.

He also confirmed the participation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the APC structural meetings. The committees have been meeting in Abuja.

He said: “All the parties are participating in the committees and our discussions are wonderful. We don’t talk

N Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday said it has jurisdiction to hear the case of alleged subsidy theft instituted against two oil marketers by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The defendants, Aro Bamidele and Abiodun Bankole and their company, A.B.S. Investment Company Limited, who were arraigned on October 5, 2012 before Justice Lateefat Okunnu, had filed a preliminary notice of objection, challenging the court’s competence to try them.

EFCC filed an 18-count charge against the defendants bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and uttering.

The commission had alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained N1.3 billion from the Federal Government for the purported importation of 30 million litres of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS).

But the defendants through their counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), in an application dated November 20, 2012, said the charges against them were grossly defective.

They argued that the Federal Government lacks the locus standi to prosecute the offences against them in a Lagos State High Court, insisting that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the charges.

Idigbe said the EFCC had no competence to prosecute his client before the Lagos High Court, since no fiat was obtained from the Attorney- General of the state, arguing that the charge was defective and bad.

He also said counts 5 to 18 of the charge against the defendants be struck out because they were brought under the Administration of Criminal Justice Code, Laws of Lagos, 2003, which has been repelled.

Ruling on the defence’ objection, Okunnu said the application lacks merit.

She said: “The Attorney- General of the Federation and the EFCC are empowered to prosecute criminal offences under state laws even without a fiat from the state’s Attorney-General.

“Section 211 (1) of the Constitution allows for circumstances in which any other body other than the Attorney-General can institute criminal proceedings against a person.”

She adjourned the matter till May 20 to 23 for trial.

about parties there. We talk about Nigeria. That was why they succeeded in forming the party. The issue is about Nigeria. This has never happened in the political history of the country. We used to have political alliances where parties only cooperated but still had their independent logos on the ballot paper. But only APC will appear on the ballot paper this time.”

Expressing confidence that APC is the party that will send the PDP packing, Prof. DavidWest said: “PDP does not want the merger to work. It is afraid.

This is why it is sending wrong signals to the public, saying the APC would collapse. With this new party, PDP can’t win election again. We will ensure

Education: Our greatest challenge, says IBB From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

F

ORMER Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has identified education as one of the greatest contemporary challenges facing the country.

Babangida, who spoke while hosting the new governing council and senior officials of the National Examinations Council (NECO), led by its Chairman, Dr. Paddy Njoku, in his Minna home yesterday, said a nation that fails to educate its people is heading for disaster.

Said he: “To me, education has become the greatest contemporary challenge of this country and if we fail as a nation to educate our people, then we are up for trouble.”

Babangida hailed the vital role NECO has been playing in the last 10 years, especially its efforts at redefining education measurement, which has helped in improving the education sector.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the NECO Governing Council, Dr. Njoku, said the examination body would need over N5billion to enable it perform its statutory duties.

Expressing concern on the various sectors of the country’s national life that require financial attention, Njoku said the Federal Government alone cannot provide the money needed for the running of the Council, hence the call on good spirited individuals and organisations to assist the Council achieve its aim.

Later, the Governing Council visited Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu in the Government House where he challenged them to take steps towards arresting the spread of examination malpractice in the country.

INEC to use corps members as Ad hoc staff

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•David-West

that elections are free and fair.

We won’t rig but give Nigerians what they want. I am telling you authoritatively that it is working and it will be good for Nigerians.”

O ensure a free and fair election in the forthcoming local government election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will engage the service of corps members as electoral workers.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Nnamdi Okorie Affia, who was represented by Mrs. Esther Wogbo during the sensitisation programme jointly organised by INEC and NYSC, said this in Abuja yesterday.

According to him, “youths are catalyst for a change. Corps members have been called upon to support INEC and the nation to

From: Faith Yahaya, Abuja

ensure a free and fair election. The world will be watching you in the discharge of your duties.”

He urged corps members to approach the assignment with high sense of responsibility and integrity.

Police warn vehicle owner THE Lagos State Police Command has warned owner of an accident vehicle parked at Adekunle Police Station to remove it or lose it to members of the public through auction after 21 days.

The vehicle is a Montero Jeep with registration number DA622FKJ

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

6

C ITYBEATS Anger over

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

relocation of institution

By Jude Isiguzo

AMAIGBO Unity Forum in Imo State has kicked against the planned relocation of School of Health Technology from their community to Okporo Orlu, just 15-minute drive away.

The community, in a communiqué issued yesterday and signed by its governor and secretary, Charles Igbokwe and Patrick Obialor, said the planned relocation is against every sense of decorum.

"The reasoning that the present location of the school is far from a tarred road is not tenable," the communiqué said, adding that such institutions are supposed to engender social and infrastructural development.

"This School was established during the civilian Administration of Chief Sam Mbakwe when he challenged the citizenry on self-help efforts to engender rapid development of the State. Amaigbo tasked all and sundry to build the School to the admiration of the Governor who promptly granted the institution."

The community therefore appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha to allow the institution's main campus to remain in Amaigbo.

Church prays for Nigeria

By Dada Aladelokun

AN 11-day prayer organised by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Odi-Ajaye, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State, for the country, ends today with a vigil.

The Shepherd-in-Charge, Pastor Shola Ojo told The Nation yesterday that the prayer was inspired by the Holy Spirit, adding that ceaseless prayers remain the only solution to the nation's woes, especially, insecurity of lives and property.

"We, in this church, are always concerned about the worsening situation of things in the country. It has been our tradition to pray for the country and its citizens. In the Sani Abacha days, we were there for the nation. I was among the few men of God whom God used to confront him. Since then, we have not relented.

"God specifically inspired us to start this 11-day prayer for our sick nation as a way of putting an end to all these problems that stare us in the face. Look at the spate of killings in the country by the Boko Haram sect; see the rate of hunger and corruption in high and lowly places.”

•Pastor Ojo

•From left: Member of Ladipo market executive, Chief Chris Nweke; Oladejo, Barr. Bello, Animalu, Adepitan and Mazi Tony Ohakwe, during the inspection tour of the market yesterday.

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

•The tricyles at their temporary p

Marking of illegal structures begins W

HEN will the shut Ladipo Market in Mushin, a Lagos suburb, be reopened? This was the question yesterday as the traders met to facilitate the reopening of the market, which was shut four days ago.

Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, who visited the market yesterday said the government was not in a hurry to reopen it.

“What we are doing is in the interest of the traders.

The market will be reopened when the proper thing is done,” he said.

The traders are counting their losses; some have devised alternative means of making a living.

•Affected traders opt for alternative means to cushion effects

By Dada Aladelokun and Damilola Owoyele

The market was shut on Monday for alleged environmental degradation.

The closure followed an earlier visit by Bello, during which he threatened action, if the traders failed to address the sanitation problem.

All roads leading to the market remained barricaded yesterday by policemen who have been keeping vigil there since Monday. An Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed at the Toyota Bus Stop, the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway end of the market. Armed

‘We are going to meet with the traders' body and indeed, all stakeholders in the matter. We are not in a hurry. It is the outcome of the meeting that will determine when to re-open the market.

What we are doing is in the overall interest of the traders and this, they must understand and appreciate’ policemen still positioned themselves in twos and threes to ensure compliance.

Under the aegis of Ladipo Central Executive AutoDealers Association, the

Two nabbed for 'swindling' Chinese

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HE police have arrested two persons in connection with the alleged drugging of a Chinese, Zhang Bofan.

Roland Okoye and Ifeanyi Ndubuisi were paraded yesterday after they were arrested by po licemen attached to Area E Command, FESTAC Town.

The suspects were alleged to have drugged 62-year-old Bofan on January 30 and dispossessed him of $500 and goods worth thousands of naira.

Bofan, an importer of mobile phones, cello tape and super glue from China, fell into fraudsters' hand while lodging at Kevinson Hotel, Agric Area, FESTAC Town, Lagos. He fell ill and was taken to a hospital where he regained consciousness.

Roland, who claimed to

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By Ebele Boniface

be an educational consultant based in Ghana, denied stealing from Bofan. Though he admitted giving Indomie to Bofan, he said no drug was added.

Ndubuisi said he brought Bofan to Nigeria as his business partner, adding: "When he complained of being sick we took him to hospital and the doctor said he was suffering from low sugar and typhoid. He was later discharged."

Bofan, he said, was supposed to pay him five per cent of every transaction, but never kept the promise.

"He is supposed to pay me about N5 million but he only gave me goods worth N925,000," he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko warned the public to be wary of those they deal with.

market leaders met at an eatery to push for the reopening of the place. After the meeting, their President General, Ikechukwu Animalu, told The Nation:

"Tomorrow (today), we are going to mark all the illegal structures in the market. I can assure you that by Sunday, all those structures would have given way. We would have restored sanity to the market environment. We hope that by Monday, we should be back in business."

Petty traders, who hitherto operated inside the market, were seen trading at makeshift stands on neighbouring streets.

A trader, Mrs Suliat Adeyeye, told The Nation: "I had to find somewhere to sit and sell a few things because I have to feed my three children. We only hope the state government will soon have mercy on us and allow us into

•Roland and Ndubuisi

•Bofan and his wife

HE police and a suspected pipeline vandal yesterday in Lagos engaged in verbal warfare.

The suspect, Olusegun Ikusika, accused the police of aiding vandalism and protecting the real suspects.

Ikusika, who claimed he was framed up, was paraded with Wilson Udoma, at the Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos. They were arrested for alleged pipeline vandalism by policemen in Area 'E', FESTAC Town.

Ikusika, a fisherman, told The Nation that he was fishing on the night of February 13 "when a man popularly known as Apshe flashed me with his torch light and asked me to come over and assist him.

"We all know the man as a member of the Oodua People's Congress (OPC) and not a vandal.

Therefore, when he called me, I did not hesitate. I anchored my boat and went to meet him where he was.

"Apshe was not alone. He was with some policemen and some boys too. With them were plenty 50-litre jerry cans. He asked me to assist him to load them into a vehicle. He promised to pay me N20,000 after the job.

"I accepted to do it because of the presence of the policemen, but as

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

Two suspected kidnappers held

T

WO suspected Kidnappers were yesterday seized by men of the Odukpani Division of the Nigeria Police in Cross River State. They were alleged to have attempted the kidnap of three children of the same parents.

The children, six-year-old Jeffer Effiong, Destiny Effiong, 4, and Dora Effiong, a toddler, were said to have been abducted at their residence in the Odukpani/Akamkpa axis of the Calabar/Ikom Highway, by a man who name was given

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

as Dominic.

It was gathered that the man was leading the children towards Odukpani Junction to board a bus when he was accosted by their mother, Eno, who had left their home earlier to sell oranges at the junction.

She demanded to know where the stranger was taking her children to. He reportedly replied that he was going to buy bread for them.

"How would you buy bread for children you don't know?"

She reportedly queried the suspected kidnapper.

The mother immediately called for help and a team of policemen on duty at the junction promptly came to her rescue and arrested the suspect.

An accomplice, Clement, who it was learnt, had made arrangements to receive the kid, was also arrested.

The Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of the Odukpani Division, Olatise Stephen, who led the team, called on the public to always give useful information to the police to help fight crime.

Ibrahim cheated us in Newswatch, says Ekpu

A

ary park...yesterday

at Ladipo market the market.

Since policemen did not allow them operate at their park, commercial tricycle operators temporarily relocated to Ladipo-Mushin Road. "As soon as the present situation subsides, we will go back to our park," one of them, Tajudeen said.

Bello said the traders' hope of early resolution of the impasse would depend on the outcome of a meeting between them and the government.

"We are going to meet with the traders' body and indeed, all stakeholders in the matter. We are not in a hurry. It is the outcome of the meeting that will determine when to re-open the market. What we are doing is in the overall interest of the traders and this, they must understand

and appreciate," the commissioner said when he visited the market yesterday.

He reiterated that street trading is an offence in the market, adding that traders must remove all attachments built round the market/ canals, including all derelict vehicles that had made the place an eyesore.

Bello came with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce and Industry Seye Oladejo and Chairman of Mushin Local Government Olatunde Adepitan, among others.

Some traders were arrested yesterday by men of the state task force on environmental offences for flouting government regulations.

FOUNDING director of Newswatch Communications Limited (NCL), Mr. Ray Ekpu, has told a Federal High Court in Lagos how a businessman, Ibrahim Jimoh, allegedly shortchanged him and other directors of the company to acquire majority shareholding in the company.

He told the court that Ibrahim, the promoter of Global Media Mirror Limited (GMML), with which he purportedly acquired 51 per cent interest in NCL, did not comply with the necessary conditions in the transaction.

Ekpu resumed his testimony yesterday during the hearing of a suit by two minority shareholders of NCL. The two, Nuhu Wada Aruwa and Professor Jibril Aminu are challenging the propriety of

By Eric Ikhilae

the process through which he (Ibrahim), using GMML became NCL’s chairman.

Aruwa and Aminu, who are former directors of NCL, accused the Ibrahim-led management of working to kill the company’s main product Newswatch weekly magazine and replace it with a daily newspaper - Daily Newswatch - published by a newly incorporated company – Newswatch Newspapers Limited (NNL) – an organisation in which GMML owns 90 per cent shareholding.

Ekpu, who was cross examined by Ibrahim’s lawyer, Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), told the court that Ibrahim shortchanged him and the other directors of NCL by making only part payment to their retire-

ment benefits. He said Ibrahim allegedly refused to pay him a balance of N30million.

“N79.5 million was given to me out of N109 million due to me and Ibrahim cheated me by keeping the balance of N30million. Four of the directors had meeting with Jimoh Ibrahim and he called a lady, who is an accountant, to read the figure to us; what we were to be paid, figures less than what we expected which we submitted to the board on May 5, 2011.

“When we told him that the figures were less than we expected, he said that is the money available. He just paid us what he wanted. Out of the money he paid, he said he will collect 10% as tax and give us receipt which he never did,” he said.

Fitch raises outlook on Lagos to positive FITCH Ratings raised its outlook on Lagos State to positive from stable, citing “improving debt management” and moves toward a balanced budget by

2015.

Increasing bonds with “fixed repayment schedules, longer maturities and monthly provisions into the debt reserves fund, are replacing

the traditional concentration of short-term bank loans” for the state that includes the country’s commercial capital, Fitch said yesterday in an emailed statement.

Lagos lawmaker explains new bill

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Gbolahan Yishawu, has said the Sunset Bill, now before the lawmakers, would promote good governance by ensuring a compulsory review of activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Yishawu, the bill's initiator, said when it becomes a law, it would bring prudence, efficiency and effectiveness to governance.

"Sunset Bill is about systematic review of the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Some of them have outlived

By Oziegbe Okoeki

their usefulness because the purpose for which they were created has been resolved," he said, adding that the bill will ensure that unnecessary agencies are constantly weeded out.

"In that case, we need to re-engineer the affected Agency to better position it for the future challenges and if the problem has been solved completely, there is no need for such Agency to exist. We need to be prudent with government's fund", Yishawu said.

I was framed up, says alleged vandal

$4,095 fraud: EFCC presents more witnesses against Hembe, deputy From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday presented two more witnesses in the trial of the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Markets and Other Institutions, Herman Hembe and his deputy, Chris Azubogu before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja .

The two lawmakers are being prosecuted on a twocount charge bordering on fraud. They were alleged to have sometime in October 2011, converted to their use, $4, 094, being money given to them by the Securities and Exchange Commission, (SEC), as travelling allowances to Puncta , Dominican Republic to attend a conference.

The duo allegedly pocketed the money though they did not attend the conference, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 308 of the Penal Code Act Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

A statement by the antigraft Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the two witnesses are Ibrahim Usman and Hassan Mamman. The statement said: “At the resumed hearing yesterday, Chile Okoroma, EFCC counsel led the two witnesses who are staff of SEC in evidence.

“The first witness, Ibrahim Usman told the court that he was involved in making payment of approved estacodes to public officers travelling outside the shores of the country.

“He said on 11th October, 2011, he received a memo from the management commission’s directing him to pay Hembe and his deputy $4,095 as estacode to attend a conference in Dominican Republic .

According to him, the payment was made based on the Management approval of 19th October, 2011, adding that one Mr. Femi Ogunsanya collected the money on behalf of the accused persons.

The second witness, Hassan Mamman told the court that he was the one that arranged travel tickets for the accused.

PUBLIC NOTICE UME-EZEOKE I, formerly Miss Ume-Ezeoke Ogochukwu Marie-Theresa now to be addressed as Mrs. Ologbenla Ogochukwu Marie-Theresa. Former documents remain valid. Institute of Chatered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), National Lottery Regulatory Commission and public, please note.

•No, you’re lying, police insist

PUBLIC NOTICE

I Innocent Wali Worlu the grant father to Wali King Wenendah Worlu is taken ownership of the said son to my daughter. from henceforth Wali King Wenendah Worlu is to be known as a member of Rumuari (Worlu) family. The general public please take note.

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

I was loading with the other boys, there were gun shots and everybody started running. I was confused and did not know what exactly to do and that was how I was arrested by the same policemen.”

The 41-year-old man said he was shocked when the same policemen who were with Apshe arrested him.

"I asked them what my offence was and they said I was a vandal.

God knows that I have never engaged in that kind of thing in my life. I went there because of Apshe and the policemen that I saw there, I did not know that I was being framed," he said.

7

•Udoma Udoma, a sand digger, confessed to the crime. He said he was contracted to assist the vandals ferry their loot across

•Ikusika the creek for N100 per jerry can.

The Police insisted that they recovered 120 50-litre jerry

cans filled with petrol from the suspects.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, denied

Ikusika's allegation, warning that any policeman caught protecting vandals would be dealt with.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

8

NEWS NLC warns against killing students THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged security agencies to stop the killing of students.

Its president, AbdulWaheed Omar, in a statement,condemned the killing of four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi by a detachment of the army drafted to the school to quell a protest by students following continued non-availability of water.

The NLC said: “The avoidable killing of young and defenceless people leaves a sour taste in the mouth. This brutal and murderous tactic by soldiers is a throw-back to a past we will be better off without.

“The right to dissent or protest is a constitutional right and not a privilege to be given by any godhead. What the students were doing therefore was the exercise that right of which only they are not the only one to benefit.” ”The NLC said “no amount of cruelty or mindless violence visited on the weak and the defenceless will stop protests in our land.”

‘How to resolve NGF crisis’ THE Secretary to the Edo State Government, Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere, yesterday said the crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) can only be resolved through dialogue and not factionalisation.

Ihonvbere said: “The best way to have handled it was through dialogue and exchange of ideas”.

Ihonvbere spoke when the Vice-Chancellor of Western Delta University, Oghara, Prof. P.G. Hugbo,visited himin his office in Benin City.

He said: “My foray into government and politics was to see how to move out of my theory and research in political science and socio-sciences into the practice of it but you will not believe my experience when I begin to talk about it.”

$1b Sovereign Wealth Fund ’ll not be shared, says Okonjo-Iweala

T

HE Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) will not be shared by the states.

Besides, she has denied that the economy is in danger.

In a statement yesterday, the minister said the economy is strong.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said: “The economy is moving in the right direction. Our economic performance is robust when viewed against a range of objective factors.”

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said the Federal Government has decided on what to do with the $1 billion in the Sovereign Wealth Fund, despite agitations from governors.

But she admitted that Nigeria “needs to create more jobs for the youth to curb unemployment”.

According to the minister, “inflation is now down to single-digit at 9.0 per cent in January 2013, compared with 12.6 per cent in January 2012.

The exchange rate has been relatively stable, and the fiscal deficit at just under two per cent of GDP is on a downward trajectory, and below our threshold of three per cent of GDP.” She added that Nigeria’s “national debt is at a sustainable level at about 19.4 per

Presidency: economy not in danger

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HE Presidency has said the economy is not in danger of collapse.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe described the claim by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as lacking in substance and contrary to the verdicts of reputable international rating agencies which have consistently upgraded the country’s economy in the last one and a half years.

Okupe said: “The cost of oil production per barrel has never risen as high as the opposition claims. Even at the height of restiveness in the Niger Delta area and its consequential effect on the upstream oil sector, the per barrel cost of oil production in Nigeria never rose above 18 dollars. When compared with a sum of between 50 and 70 dollars per barrel spent From Nduka Chiejina Assistant Editor

cent of GDP. Overall, GDP growth for 2012 was 6.50 per cent and projected at 6.75 per cent for 2013, compared with the projected global growth of 3.5 per cent.”

She said international ratings agencies, such as Fitch, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s), have upgraded the country’s economic outlook.

The minister said the country has recently been included in the Barclays and JP Morgan Emerging Market indices.

The government, she said, “recognises the socio-

on production of shale oil by the United States of America, the cost of producing oil in Nigeria, which is 17 dollars per barrel as well as a prevailing sale price of over 100 dollars per barrel does not support the alarming claim of the opposition.

“For a fact, there are incidents of crude oil theft which had existed for several decades before this administration came on board. However, the truth is that this is currently being tackled through pro active steps by the government. The opposition is most probably aware of the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan recently secured the cooperation of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and French President on measures to prevent refineries in Europe from buying crude oil stolen from Nigeria.”

economic challenges which we face as a nation. We know we still have a long way to go.”

She appealed to critics to work “to correct what is wrong and stop focusing on the denigration of what is being done right. In this regard, we need to create more jobs for our youths to curb unemployment”.

The cost of governance she agreed also “need to be reduced, and the government is taking steps in this direction. We have reduced the share of recurrent expenditures in the budget from 74 per cent in 2011 to 71 per cent in 2012, and to 68 percent in

2013. We aim to push for a 60 per cent recurrent and 40 per cent capital budget ratio in the medium term.”

On the conflicting figures given by both the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the amount left in the nation’s external reserve, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said “Nigeria’s reported level of external reserves comprised of three parts: the CBN’s external reserves, the Excess Crude Account, and the Federal Government’s funds belonging to agencies such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation for joint venture cash calls and so on.

ICPC deploys 69 assessors in ports From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

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Institute to train engineers INDIGENOUS engineers may not have to travel abroad to sharpen their skills. An institute has been established to update their professional training.

The institute- Kalak Institute of Technology has capacity to train professional engineers on how to become selfemployed and employers of labour.

Promoter of the institute Mr. Lateef Kayode Kilaso said the facility would serve as a skill acquisition centre for young school leavers.

"After six months we expect they should be able to do something of their own that will fetch them source of livelihood," he said.

This is simply a matter of definition, and follows international best practices and reporting guidelines. It is thus unnecessary to continue to dwell further on this issue.”

She denied claims of inconsistency in the account balances provided by the Ministry of Finance and the CBN. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said: “There are usually some differences due to ‘transit items’ which are yet to be reconciled in both accounts.”

The CBN excess crude reports, she said, included the $1 billion allocated to the SWF, which is domiciled with the CBN, whereas the Ministry of Finance does not regard it as part of the distributable Excess Crude Account.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said: “There have also been issues raised regarding the rate of growth of the foreign reserves and the Excess Crude Account. It is worth recalling that the Excess Crude Account was established partly to provide a cushion for the Nigerian economy during a global downturn.

“There have been withdrawals from the ECA to pay for petroleum subsidy claims which increased sharply in recent years from N291 billion in 2007 to about N2188 billion in 2011. Finally, there has been the increased loss of oil revenues due to an upsurge in illegal crude oil bunkering and oil theft.”

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second left); Commander, 2nd Division, Intelligence Group, Nigerian Army, Col. Ibrahim Salihu (left); General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Ibadan, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Jibrin and Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Brig. Gen. M. Dan-Ali, during the GOC’s working visit to the Governor, in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

Britain warns against travelling to North

B

RITAIN yesterday advised its citizens not to travel to the North, following an increase in attacks blamed on Islamist militants.

Gunmen killed a security guard and abducted a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers after storming a Lebanese construction firm Setraco, in Bauchi state on February 16.

It was the worst case in the kidnap of foreigners in

the North since insurgency

by Islamist militants intensified two years ago.

Britain advised against any travel to Bauchi state and Okene city in southern Kogi state where militants last month attacked Nigerian troops, who were bound for Mali to counter an Islamist insurgency.

It also advised against “against all-but-essential travel” to Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states,

a statement from the foreign office said.

Attacks by Islamist groups in northern Nigeria have become the biggest threat to stability in Nigeria.

Western governments are concerned that the militants may link up with groups elsewhere in the region, including al Qaeda’s North African wing AQIM, especially given the conflict in nearby Mali. France sent troops to Mali last month to

help oust Islamist rebels.

Islamist group Ansaru claimed responsibility for the Setraco raid in Bauchi and the Okene attack.

The Setraco raid was “based on the transgression and atrocities done to the religion of Allah by the European countries in many places such as Afghanistan and Mali,” said the group, which has kidnapped other foreigners in Nigeria in the past.

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday said it is set to deploy about 69 corruption risk assessors in the nation’s ports particularly at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) posts to checkmate import and export scandals.

The chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, spoke in Abuja when the leadership of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria led by its Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu visited him.

Nta said assessors had recently concluded a course on prevention of all kinds of abuse in the conduct of official business.

He challenged SON to set manufacturing standards for foreign companies who intend to produce goods in the country.

He said such standards would make it a punishable offence for any of the firms which compromise on its quality and standards.

A statement by the Resident Consultant on Media and Events, Mr. Folu Olamiti, said: “When fully operational, they have the mandate of tackling the menace of unbridled importation of sub-standard products into the country.

“The commission’s Director of Education, will be leading that team that has been set up for that purpose.”

The statement quoted Nta as saying: “What we cannot export to other countries, we keep our shops wide open.

The concern being raised by SON actually comes to us.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

9

NEWS

Fayemi inaugurates Elders’ Advisory Forum

Ondo tribunal begins hearing of Oke’s petition

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HE Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has started hearing the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the October 20, last year, election, Chief Olusola Oke. Yesterday, PDP and Oke presented some of their witnesses at the tribunal.

The witnesses had earlier submitted their statements on oath to the tribunal.

One of them, Mr. Abayomi Oguntimehin, said there was disorderliness in the polling unit where he voted.

Oguntimehin said there was no queue at the unit and people voted without accreditation.

Mr. Kunle Joseph from Igbara Oke, Ifedore Local Gov-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ernment, said there was no accreditation at his polling unit.

Speaking with reporters after the court session, Oke said he was satisfied with the testimonies of his witnesses.

He said he would present the facts of alleged irregularities during the election, adding that he was at the tribunal to get justice.

The former PDP National Legal Adviser said he is challenging the result of the election in 15 local governments.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), closed their case on Tuesday.

They insisted that the election was “rigged” in favour of the Labour Party (LP).

Ooni, Alaafin to attend Timi’s fifth anniversary

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HE Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, will on Tuesday celebrate his fifth coronation anniversary.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, are among the dignitaries expected to the ceremony.

Speaking with reporters at the Timi’s palace yesterday, the former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, who chairs the Anniversary Committee, Hon. Adejare Bello, said the grand finale of the week-long programme would hold on Tuesday.

He said some distinguished Nigerians would be conferred with honorary

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

chieftaincy titles.

Describing the emergence of Oba Lawal as a divine arrangement, Bello said the monarch’s reign has brought development, peace and harmonious co-existence to Ede. He said the Timi has influenced the establishment of various companies in Ede, which have contributed to the economic growth of the state.

Activities lined up for the celebration include the presentation of staff of office to village heads and free eye test in Ede. Bello thanked Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his interest in the town’s development.

I remain in ACN, says Adeniji-Adele

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ORMER Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Prince Ademola AdenijiAdele yesterday debunked media reports that he was hobnobbing with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He described the speculation as false and reiterated his loyalty to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

In a statement, AdenijiAdele said he was not privy to the purported defection of Mr. Jimi Agbaje to PDP. He said: “I deny this speculation with all emphasis at my disposal. I remain in the

ACN and will join other members in establishing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and contribute immensely towards its growth and success in all elections.

“I state unequivocally that I have not attended and will not attend any political gathering, function or event other than those of the ACN/ APC. In spite of my semi-retirement to my farm in Badagry, I still participate actively in all activities of the ACN in Lagos Island Local Government. I hope this statement lays to rest further speculation about my political involvement.”

Firm sues OAU for ‘contempt’

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CONSTRUCTION firm, Inaolaji Builders Limited, has sued the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole and the Registrar, Mr. A. O. Ogunruku, for alleged contempt of court.

The case is before a Federal High Court in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The firm sued the defendants for failing to obey a court injunction restraining the university from employing another contractor to complete the Estate Management Building, which was awarded to it.

Justice Babs Kuewumi granted the restraining order on January 29.

On Tuesday, the plaintiff filed a notice of consequence of disobedience against the VC and the registrar.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

It said despite the court order, construction was going on at the project site.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Justice Kuewumi ordered the arrest of anyone found working on the site.

Defence counsel Yinka Agboola insisted that his clients had been complying with the order.

It was learnt that the management of the institution awarded the contract for the Estate Management Building to the plaintiff in 1982.

It later told the firm to vacate the site, saying it had no funds, only to re-award the contract to another firm.

The judge adjourned the hearing till March 21.

•’Change of state logo, slogan aimed at re-orientation’

•Dr. Fayemi

E

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday inaugurated the first State Elders’ Advisory Forum.

The forum, which has an advisory role, is targeted at improving Ekiti’s value, virtue and character.

The inauguration was held at the Lady Jibowu Hall in

Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Fayemi said: “The constitution of the Forum is aimed at re-enacting the good old days when Ekiti was at the zenith of its productive excellence. The destructive corrosion of the society, if unattended, can destroy Ekiti’s existence.”

The governor said the change of the state’s logo and slogan was to constantly remind the people of their rich past and halt the drift civilisation and “insensitive disposition” have caused the unique existence.

Expressing optimism that the state could still retrace its “uncharitable journey” back to the “basics” of Ekiti unique-

ness, he stressed the need to revive the exploits of the founding fathers.

Fayemi urged the Forum to give the government advice that would bring back the “omoluabi” character of the people.

He said: “As our elders, you are the bridge between our yesterday and today. You were part of what made Ekiti unique in the not too distant past. Your pieces of advice should cover all aspects of life – cultural values and morals, home etiquettes, governance, public conduct, infrastructural development, economic growth, social services and communal relationship, among others.”

The governor said he has

confidence in the competence of the forum’s members, adding that their selection was not based on political or religious considerations, but on their antecedents, ability and integrity.

A member of the Forum and former Information Minister Chief Ayo Ogunlade praised Fayemi for setting it up.

Ogunlade said like the biblical Solomon, Fayemi has solicited counsel from the best and brightest minds from all walks of life in Nigeria.

He assured the governor that the Forum would offer him counsel that would help him rebuild Ekiti.

THE NATION THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2013

10

NEWS The Nation/ Sporting Life raffle draw today

By Eric Ikhilae

T

WO lucky readers of The Nation and Sporting Life, published by the Vintage Press Limited, will go home today with a new salon car each.

The cars are the star prizes in the company’s raffle draw scheduled for 12 noon.

Prizes will be presented to winners by prominent individuals, including former Super Eagles Captain, Nwankwo Kanu and popular actress Bimbo Akintola, who are special guests at the event.

Officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB) will witness the event, which is holding at the company’s corporate headquarters at 27b, Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Mushin, Lagos.

The promo, between last October and January 21, requested readers to cut 90 promo pages and send them to qualify for the draw.

The company’s General Manager (Training and Development), Mr. Soji Omotunde, in a statement, said home appliances, such as refrigerators, microwave ovens, pressing irons, home theatres and radios would be given to other winners as consolation prizes.

He said “several thousands of readers, who complied with the raffle rules, are qualified for the draw”.

•From left: Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire; Ajimobi; Okunnu and his wife, Lateefat; Etisalat Chairman Hakeem Belo-Osagie and Oyeweso.

Ajimobi, Tinubu, others extol Okunnu’s virtues at book launch E MINENT Nigerians yesterday extolled the virtues of a legal luminary and former Federal Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu.

They described him as a rare breed, who is passionate about service to humanity.

The personalities spoke at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in

Ekiti arrests 19 children for hawking at school time From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

N

INETEEN children of school-age were yesterday arrested in Ekiti State for hawking during school hours.

They were arrested at Itawure, Ita-Ido and Aramoko-Ekiti by the Task Force on Child’s Right (SCRIC) in Ekiti Central Senatorial District and are being held at the Ekiti Juvenile Home .

Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Fola RichieAdewusi said their parents/guardians would be prosecuted at the State Family Court.

Last year, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in a campaign across the state, warned parents against sending their wards to hawk during school hours.

Mrs. Richie-Adewusi said parents, who deny their children the right to education were, infringing on the children’s fundamental human rights.

Some opinion leaders said the government’s approach would guarantee the future of children.

By Musa Odoshimokhe and Adegunle Olugbamila

Lagos at the launch of two books written by Okunnu.

They include the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; former International Court Judge Prince Bola Ajibola; former Governor of the old Western State Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd.); former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke OorelopeAdefulire.

The books, Actors and Institutions in the Development of Islam in Lagos and Torch Bearers of Islam in Lagos State, were edited by Prof. Siyan Oyeweso and Musibahudeen Raheemson.

The book launch is part of activities marking Okunnu’s 80th birthday.

Tinubu, who chaired the occasion, described Okunnu

as a devoted Muslim.

The former governor, who was represented by Ajimobi, said: “Okunnu is a devout Muslim, who is committed to religious harmony and peaceful co-existence.

“These books should be embraced by all because it dwells on factors that unite the country. The religious crises in the country are not necessary. We should read the books to understand that we must love one another and co-exist in peace.”

Ajimobi described Okunnu as one of the first generation of public servants, who exhibited a high level of integrity, incorruptibility and dedication to service.

He said: “In a Nigeria where many of the actors of yesterday have had their ranks depleted, Chief Okunnu serves as one of the greatest surviving links between the Nigeria of old, which, regrettably, because of the slide of affairs today, we still hold dear as the barometer with which to meas-

ure a great period of our nation’s existence.

“I have always followed his unassuming, yet immeasurable, personality with admiration. I have read his life history and picked major elements there to structure my life.

“The message of the books is that we should mould our country and society positively, so that children of today would become a source of pride in a greater tomorrow.

“Okunnu’s tenacity of mind and determination to impact on the society, led to the great historical accounts of his growing up and the influence of Islam on his life.

“By writing these books, Okunnu has entered the pantheon of people who will live forever. One of the ways of achieving immortality is to codify one’s thoughts for posterity.

“Decades from now, generations yet unborn would read his books like a bible, a compass for the way for-

ward.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire, described Okunnu as a “true nationalist, who has succeeded in producing good leaders”.

Fashola said: “We must thank Okunnu for the worthy life and good example he has shown over the years.

He has produced great leaders for this country. He has built bridges across sociocultural and religious divides. This stands him out as a true nationalist.

“By producing leaders like Tinubu and Fashola, whose impact are felt all over the country, Okunnu has shown that his leadership qualities cannot be rivalled. Leaders who have not produced predecessors cannot call themselves true leaders.

Okunnu has to his credit notable men, whose role in the society cannot be relegated.

We pray that he lives among us much longer.”

Ajibola, Adebayo and Anyaoku said Okunnu’s life is worthy of emulation.

Oyo concessions 110-km Ibadan Circular Road

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HE Oyo State Government has concessioned the first phase of the 110-kilometre Ibadan Circular Road to Hitech Nigeria Limited and DSC Nigeria Limited, under a build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement.

Commissioner for Information Taiwo Otegbeye announced this yesterday while speaking with reporters at the Governor’s Office,

Ibadan.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure Kayode Adepoju was at the news conference.

Otegbeye said the project will be a four-lane dual carriage motorway, spanning a length of 35km from the expressway.

He said on completion, 30 firms would manage the road for 30 years after which it would be handed over to

the state government.

Otegbeye said the project would begin as soon as the award letter is given and would be completed in 36 months.

He said the road would run through Ibadan, the state capital, adding that the first phase of 80 kilometres would start from Akilapa on the LagosIbadan expressway to Egbeda on the Ibadan-Ife expressway.

The second phase will begin at Egbeda and run

through Akinyele to Iddo and back to Akilapa.

The commissioner said the project had legal backing.

He said: “It is not just a road project; it is a project that is going to open up development corridors in Ibadan. It will also give access to neighbouring states.’’

Otegbeye said that the BOT arrangement was borne out of the need to sustain the project.

Salary delay: Osun Speaker suspects sabotage

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SUN State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam has expressed displeasure with the delay in the payment of the January salary of civil servants.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Goke Butika, Salaam said: “I suspect sabotage and the parliament would fish out the saboteurs and sanction them.”

He said poor information

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

management process is a major barrier that must be addressed by all officials concerned.

Salaam said: “Delay in salary payment is unacceptable, ridiculous and nauseating. Now that the fact has been established that the governor and the Ministry of Finance are not the problem, but sabotage with a

view to blackmailing the government, the state parliament, under my watch, is left with no option than to look into the matter and possibly wield the big stick.”

The Speaker condemned what he called the conspiracy of silence of the three TutorsGeneral managing the affair of teachers.

He said the Tutors-General ought to have informed the teachers about the payment

delay, adding that their silence promoted negative rumours against the government.

Salaam warned officials in charge of salary to brace up or face the wrath of the parliament, adding that salary delay must not repeat itself.

He said the government cannot afford to be taking the blame for the sabotage of a few people, who are benefitting from the rot in the system.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We want a SONCAP programme that would serve its purpose; a programme that would be dynamic, where all the identified loopholes would be effectively plugged thereby making it difficult for the plaque of substandard products to continue to dominate the Nigerian business space.

-Dr Joseph Odumodu, DG, SON

Naira weakens as importers demand dollars

RMAFC seeks accountability on disbursements

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HE naira fell the most in almost five months as importers demanded dollars to settle oil bills and foreign-exchange obligations.

The currency retreated 0.4 per cent to N158.25 per dollar, the biggest decline on a closing basis since October 5, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, relies on imports to cover 70 per cent of its own fuel needs because of inadequate refining capacity. Fuel imports are a source of pressure on the naira, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The weakening of the naira is due to increased dollar outflows to cover oil import bills and other foreign-exchange obligations,” Kunle Ezun, a Lagos-based analyst at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, said by phone yesterday.

Traders are also increasing dollar demand before next month’s Easter celebrations, Tunde Ladipo, Chief Executive Officer of Lagos-based Valuechain Investment Limited, said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria sold $200 million at a foreign- currency auction yesterday to stabilise the naira, compared with $150 million at the previous sale on February 25, it said in an e- mailed statement.

The regulator held the benchmark interest rate at a record high 12 per cent for an eighth straight time on January 21. The nation’s inflation rate fell to nine per cent in January from 12 percent in December, the statistics bureau said

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

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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• From left: Managing Director, Union Trustee Limited, Mrs Olufuke O. Aiyefola, Managing Director/CEO, CDL Asset Management Limited; Mr Bade Adesina,Managing Director, UBA Trustee Limited Mrs Toyin Sanni and Director CDL Asset Management, Mrs Tayo Adeola, at the Annual General Meeting Union Trustee, held in Lagos ... yesterday. PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

‘NIPP projects to be completed

by December’ T

HE Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), the company overseeing the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), James Olotu, has assured that all the projects under the NIPP will be completed by December.

Olotu spoke in Lagos yesterday while fielding questions from reporters after commissioning three 1x15MVA 33/11KV distribution transformers at Yaba, Orile-Coker and Kirikiri substations respectively.

With the combined 45MVA installation, the NIPP chief said, Lagos residents would witness improved power supply.

He said the Vice-President has directed that all the contractors handling the NIPP

By Emeka Ugwuanyi, Energy Correspondent

distribution projects must ensure that such projects are completed by June this year, while those handling transmission projects must deliver same, by December.

He said: “If there are reasons why some of them could not be actualised, we will know, but for now, there is absolutely no reason for any contractor to complain about any issue that will militate against the ability to deliver.

“Nigerians should await the harvest of projects and their manifestations. We want all the contractors to finish their projects as quickly as possible.”

Olotu noted that gas supply has been a major challenge in some of the NIPP power plants, but however assured that the issue is being addresed.

“We have been assured by the President, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Minister of Finance and all stakeholders, including the International Oil Companies (IOCs), that they are working together to ensure the gas challenge is surmounted.

“Those challenges are there, but we will overcome them one after the other. The collaboration between the stakeholders on gas supply has started yielding fruit because we have since been wheeling substantial volume of power

into the national grid.

“Gas supply is not enough but we have been assured that more gas will come into the turbines to push more electricity supply to the people.”

He said NIPP projects have given massive support to power, from generation to transmission substations, adding that a total capacity of about 5,000MVA transformers have been commissioned in Lagos, citing installations in IkejaWest, Agbara, Oworoshoki and Ojo, among others.

“For Lagos, we have embarked on major transmission projects in Ajah, Lekki, Alagbon and Oke-Aro in Agege. We believe that when the projects are finally completed, Lagosians will be happy, because all the projects are targeted for completion by December this year,” he said.

CBN’s income down by 44% to N311.2b

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HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) yesterday released its audited financial statements for the year ended 31st December, 2011. The release saw its income dropping by 44.6 per cent to N311.2 billion when compared to that of 2010.

In a circular pasted on its website, the banking watchdog said the decline in income largely reflected the significant fall (-88.4 per cent) in income from realised gains on foreign currency. Also, operating cost declined by 23 per cent, bringing the operating surplus before provisions to N80.2 billion, compared with N46.5 billion in 2010.

It said in accordance with the provisions of Section 22 (1) and (2) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007, N64.1 billion was due to the Federal Government, while the balance accrued to general reserve.

However, the size of apex bank’s balance sheet increased in 2011 as total assets/liabilities grew appreciably by 66.6 per cent to

• Audit: Assets hit N11.3tr

By Collins Nweze

N11.3 trillion. The assets position reflected a growth of over 3,000 per cent in investments, driven largely by the bank’s investment in Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) bonds and Bank of Industry Debenture, as loans. Advances fell by 52.9 per cent.

External reserves, Holdings of Special Drawing Rights, Federal Government Securities, Fixed assets and other assets grew by 9.6, 4.4, 12.6, 25.4 and 24.7 per cent, respectively. The corresponding increase on the liability side was driven by increases in both the CBN Instruments and other financial liabilities which grew by 1,352.2 and 279.1 per cent, respectively.

Also, deposits, notes and coins in circulation, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) allocation of Special Drawing Rights, rose by

28.1, 13.6 and 4.4 per cent, apiece. The paid-up capital of the bank remained at N5 billion, while the General Reserve Fund increased by 13.3 per cent to N94.6 billion.

Within the year, the CBN initiated a system-wide mobilisation programme to transit the country to the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS). It entered into a technical assistance agreement with the German Development Agency (GTZ) to develop the FSS 2020 Reform Tool Kit and conduct due diligence on implementing institutions.

The bank developed a Code of Business Ethics and Compliance (COBEC), and a Strategic Ethics and Compliance Framework (SECF) for 2011-2014, which was validated by the World Bank to ensure compliance with best practice.

The bank received and processed 10,845 e-mails on various financial crimes, particularly advance fee fraud. It said the issues were

promptly reported to the law enforcement agencies in order to protect potential victims from scammers. It received and investigated 33 complaints against deposit money banks (DMBs); and collaborated with various institutions, such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) in the fight against financial crimes.

The bank said it participated in the review of the draft of the National Strategy for Anti-Corruption at the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT), in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. It also worked with the ‘Justice for All’ initiative and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) to develop a Corruption Prevention Strategy Framework for Nigeria.

HE Chairman, Rev enue Mobilisation, Al location and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Elias Mbah, yesterday said in order to promote good governance, unity and socioeconomic development of Nigeria, fiscal allocation and disbursement of the extractive industries revenue from the Federation Account to the beneficiaries should be just, fair, equitable and fully accounted for.

He said: “The 13per cent derivation is not exclusive to revenue derived from oil and gas, but includes revenue from other natural resources including solid minerals.”

Mbah, spoke at a workshop on Fiscal Allocation and Statutory Disbursements Audit, organised by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

He said the workshop was in line with the ideals of the commission on total disclosures, accountability and transparency in government business, adding that the scope of the audit is to cover actual disbursements of funds accruing to the Federation Account from the oil and gas sector to beneficiaries, such as federal, states , local governments and other relevant agencies, as well as tracking actual application of these funds.

Federal Road Authority to replace FERMA From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

T

HE Federal Road Au thority is to replace the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency ( FERMA), the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, has said.

Onolememen, who spoke at a two-day workshop to consider the Road Sector Bill in Abuja, said FERMA was a stop gap agency, not meant to be permanent.

“In 1996 when the conference on reforming the road sector was conveyed, it was agreed that a road authority should be created, along the line, interest came in and FERMA was created.

“It is in the light of the forgoing that on the 18th October 2011, I inaugurated the committee for Road Sector Reform, this of course came up with two Draft Bills.

“The first bill, the Draft National Road Fund Bill, establishes the National Road Fund to be supervised by a National Road Fund Board and the second bill, is the Draft Federal Roads Authority (FRA).

“This sets up a semi authonomous road agency that will be responsible for the efficient construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of federal roads, as well as providing the overall framework and advice for the cordination and the cornerstone of the nation’s economy,” he stated.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

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INDUSTRY

Protest trails Lagos Trade Fair Complex concession

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•From right: Nigeria High Commissioner to Tanzania, Dr Ishaya Majambu; Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Nenadi Usman; Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, and Head, Chancery, Mr J. S. Atodo, during a tour of some laboratories in Tanzania.

EMBERS of the Association of Progressive Traders (APT) have decried the concessioning of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex to a private firm.

A statement by the traders’ group said the concessioning remained a major challenge to its members, who had invested huge sums over the last six years to build their shops and improve the jewellry market in the complex.

The statement signed by the Secretary-General, APT, Mr Obiora Chijioke, said the concessioning was against the recent agreement the traders had with the Federal Government.

He said: “The concession of the Trade Fair Complex to Aulic Nigeria Limited is the major challenge facing the traders at the moment, and we are not pleased with the ac-

SON to seize non-e-registered products

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HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) will, henceforth, seize any product that is not electrically registered.

Speaking with The Nation, its Director-General, Dr Joseph Odumodu, said the agency had started e-registration nationwide in a bid to make the product registration easy.

He said the initiative was aimed at curbing the sale and production of unwholesome and substandard products in the country.

His words: “Very soon such products that are not registered through the e-registration process will not be allowed to be sold in markets or they will be confiscated and marketers will face prosecution, in line with the quest to ensure the success of the zero tolerance initiative against sub-

Stories by Toba Agboola

standard products.

“The development is part of our efforts at ensuring quick registration of products belonging to genuine manufacturers and dealers, as well as to ensure success in its Zero Tolerance to substandard products campaign, which they have taken to different sectoral groups and some parts of the country since its launching”.

Odumodu said SON would make the registration of consumer products compulsory for manufacturers before such could be displayed on shelves, adding that the process would involve the launch of product identification marks on products under the category under review, and that any product without proper iden-

tification marks would be barred from the country’s market.

“This is something we believe would help the manufacturers, the dealers and the SON. It is all in the bid to ensure safer products, safer Nigerians and a healthier economy.

“What we are doing is introducing initiatives that would help us achieve our target of reducing the prevalence of substandard products in the country. It is based on current realities in products registration all over the world.

“We enjoin stakeholders to embrace the e-products registration scheme. At the end of the day, any product which does not bear a registration mark of the SON would of course be confiscated,” he said.

Odumodu said the agency is leveraging on available opportunities and platforms to make its work become easier for both the regulator and the nation.

He reiterated the agency’s determination to further reduce the prevalence of substandard products from its current level of 60 per cent to about 30 per cent in the next three months.

Explaining the e-registration process, Odumodu said: “It would assist us in developing a data base of consumer products in the country. The scheme will enhance traceability in our compliance monitoring activities that is making it easy for us to trace any product and its manufacturer any time the need arise.”

quisition of the complex, which we believe has little or no regard to our multibillion investments which existed long before the concession.

“We had an agreement with the then Federal Ministry of Trade and Commerce that the already commercialised portions should be excluded from privatisation. Despite all efforts by the consortium of traders operating in the complex, which include Balogun Business Association, Auto Spare Parts and Machineries Dealers Association, to receive fair hearing during the concession, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), still went ahead and sold the complex to Aulic Nigeria Limited.”

Chijioke said the traders had invested over N85billion in the infrastructure, and called on the Federal Government to step into the issue and ensure that justice was served to the traders, who had occupied the place for many years.

“Nigerian traders and their huge investments at the complex is worth more than N85 billion and we, therefore, call on the Federal Government to protect our rights as responsible and law-abiding citizens of the country by reviewing this acquisition by the company,” he said.

Chijioke said some of the challenges facing the traders include: bad roads, illegal check points by the police and customs as well as dilapidated infrastructure within the complex.

“Our relationship with the state and local governments are very cordial.

But the new management of the complex is not helping matters. Despite all the revenue collected daily from the traders and our customers, nothing is done to reduce our sufferings, at least by upgrading the roads and infrastructure within the trade fair complex,” he said.

New trade policy ready in June

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HE Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mr Dauda Kigbu, has said Nigeria’s new trade policy, which is going through the final review may be ready in June.

Kigbu, who is also the Chairman of the Enlarged National Focal Point (ENFP), spoke in Abuja, during the ENFP meeting.

He said the last trade policy was adopted in 2002.

Kigbu said: “This stakeholders meeting is looking into a draft trade policy, which is a continuous engagement of stakeholders.

We have had one in Geneva to look at international perspectives of what we are trying to do.

“The last time we had trade policy was in 2002 and because the society is very dynamic, policy needs to be reviewed at most every five years to make the outlook dynamic to the society. This time around, we want to have it around June, 2013.”

The Enlarged National Focal Point on trade matters is an interagency body charged with preparing Nigeria’s position on trade.

Kigbu urged the committee to complete the review so that the country could have a policy that can give direction to its national and intellectual trade.

The stakeholders recalled that Nigeria has pursued an unstable and unpredictable tariff policy with high rates in some cases, and duty charges imposed with little or no consultation with interested parties. He added that Nigeria follows consistent and predictable policy having adopted the ECOWAS Common External Tar-

iff (CET) in line with its West African partners.

The meeting noted that Nigeria has imposed Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) on the import of some products.

Among other things deliberated upon were sector analysis and policies, cross-sector issues, trade regulatory framework, domestic trade, international trade agreements and the promotion of international trade policy implementation Framework.

The Federal Government began a review of Nigeria’s trade policy two years ago with the inauguration of a 23-man technical review committee, which was given three months to submit its report.

During the inauguration, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, said the country required a sound trade policy that would be investmentfriendly to attract substantial local and foreign investment and increase its share of the global trade in the next four years According to him, some of the trade practices are outdated. This often resulted in the ad-hoc and sometimes conflicting approach to implementation, he said.

He said: “Nigeria does not have a comprehensive and coherent trade policy framework to adequately govern and guide the nation on domestic and international trade in view of the dynamism of the global market environment.

“Some of the existing trade rules, regulations and practices are outdated and applied haphazardly, thus resulting in the ad-hoc and sometimes conflicting approach to implementation.”

•From left: Director, Trade, Ministry of Trade and Investment, David Adejuwon; Kigbu and Vice Chancellor, Veritas University, Prof. Mike Kwanashe, during the meeting in Abuja.

‘Why Unilever succeeded in the North’

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ESPITE the challenges in the North, Unilever Nigeria has increased its sales in the region, the company’s Managing Director, Mr Mabe Thabo, has said.

He attributed the growth to the company’s ability to adapt to the market and keep its team safe and motivated to go the extra mile.

He spoke at a customer forum and award night for the company’s key distributors and partners in Lagos.

The best sales person went home with a brand new car.

Thabo said the reforms that necessitated the sales increase was when they got to the point where they realised they had to be flexible in the volatile environment and the level of empowerment given to the company’s team.

He said for any business to succeed in the year, it should be able to move

By Ajose Sehindemi

its products fast, adapt to the environment and be flexible.

On the business environment,Thabo said: “It will be tougher, and the environment which I call volatile, ambiguous, complex, will be easy to predict in our segment because as in every

environment, how do we see ourselves as our job is to reach store by store, channel by channel, customer by customer and to provide the best products.”

He said the firm was celebrating its partners because in two years, the share price have more than trippled from N18.5 to N47 per share.

Fourth Lagos mega fair holds March 8

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HE Fourth Lagos Mega Trade Fair, will hold from March 8 to 17 at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan, Lagos.

The theme of the fair is “Consolidating global economic and political gains.”

The organiser of the fair, according to the statement, is Osworld Associates Limited.

The Managing Director, Osworld Associates Limited, Mr Wole Osunkunle, said the fair offers an opportunity for businessmen and women, corporate organisations, government parastatals, state governments, small and medium scale entrepreneurs, industrialists, manufacturers and service providers to promote their goods and services.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

INDUSTRY Dangote, bricklayers meet Fed Govt moves to end traders’ harassment in Ghana C T

HE Ministry of Trade and Investment is working with its Foreign Affairs counterpart to end the harassment of Nigerian traders in Ghana.

Speaking at the inauguration of the National Organising Committee (BOC) for the Seventh Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Fair in Accra, Ghana, in October, Minister of State for Trade aand Investment, Mr Samuel Ortom, said the ministries would work with their Ghanaian counterparts on the matter.

He was responding to the recent closure of about 40 shops belonging to Nigerian traders in Ghana.

Ortom said: “We are working with our foreign affairs

Stories by Toba Agboola

counterpart to ensure that we interface with Ghanaian officials to stop the harassment of our traders in Ghana.

“You know that existing ECOWAS protocols require us to operate in Ghana just like Ghanaians are also allowed to do same in Nigeria.

“But as long as we are not harassing them, they are not supposed to be harassing our traders.”

Ortom said the Federal Government has taken the first step to address the situation.

“We have already constituted a committee to visit Ghana, and we will first of all hear from the traders themselves and then, some Ghanaian officials.

This will help us to chart a way

forward,’’ he said.

Officials of Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry had raided the shops owned by Nigerians located at Okaishie in Accra.

The Ghanaian officials, who carried out the operation, had based their action on the alleged failure of the Nigerian traders to regularise their businesses.

On the fair, the minister said the event would be a good opportunity for both countries.

“It will help to strengthen our relationship and the resolve to work together as a family in the region,’’ he said.

Ortom said the government was determined to take advantage of the fair to attract more direct foreign investments to the country.

“Nigeria, in the last three years, has witnessed strong

economic growth which has positively impacted on poverty reduction and unemployment levels in the country. The government is determined to maintain this tempo.

“A central focus of the government, therefore, is to ensure an employment generating growth process capable of addressing the issue of development and poverty reduction,” he said.

The minister said Nigeria’s share of global and regional trade was still low, both for exports and imports.

He said economic activities in Nigeria had not gathered enough momentum to improve trade performance in the regional market, despite the country’s enormous human and material resources.

•From left: Aganga; President, Manufacturers Association Kola Jamodu, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) Oscar Onyema and Mrs Seriki during the visit.

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HE Federal Government is considering recapitalising the Bank of Industry (BoI) to make it more responsive, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, has said.

Speaking during a visit to Omatek Computers Plc’s factory in Ikeja, Lagos, Aganga said: “The Bank of Industry has been helping the country to drive its economic development through the disbursement of special fund for key sectors of the economy to thrive, especially manufacturing sector.

“We hope to take this further by looking for how we

Govt to recapitalise BoI can recapitalise the BoI to deliver more for the various sectors of the economy,” he said.

Expressing the commitment of the government to support manufacturing firms, including those in the Information and Communication Technology Industry, Aganga promised to support Omatek to manufacture indigenous computers for educational institutions.

He said the partnership was in line with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan and the Local Patronage Initiative

of the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

“We will be able to achieve the much-needed linkage between our abundant natural resources and the application of appropriate technology and production processes through the application of ICT in our Schools and Industries,” he said.

“We are, therefore, designing a strategy for a workable partnership between government, Omatek and the banks to make available your Madein-Nigeria computers to all

our Schools and Colleges.”

Omatek Managing Director, Mrs. Florence Seriki said her company was ready to promote local contents, reduce unemployment, boost technology transfer through various ICT innovations Omatek is embarking, saying that achieving all these required government supports in terms of patronage and favourable policies.

“We are positioned as a company to deliver quality ICT products for Nigerians.

This we have been doing for almost two decades.

“Favourable policy in monetary policy is needed to drive our business. Currently we source for funds outside the shore of Nigeria as sourcing fund at double-digit rate is not going to encourage the growth of manufacturing industry,” she said.

EMENT giant, Dangote has met with bricklayers at its head office in Lagos to promote cordial relationship.

The firm’s Regional Manager, Marketing Services, Mr Johnson Olaniyi, assured the bricklayers of the company’s assistance.

He said the firm would focus on their training and retraining , adding that the company has been to 15 states.

The company said, plans to train more artisans, adding that tools would be provided for them.

Responding, the Chairman, State Planning Committee for Block and Concrete Builders in Lagos State, Mr Segun Banjoko, said the group discussed with the company on how to sustain their relationship, adding that both parties would chart the way forward.

A few weeks ago, the Lagos State Bricklayers Association protested the alleged insensitivity by the management of Dangote Cement and shoddy treatment of its members.

The General Secretary Mr Akinmoladun Olaniyi said the group on the protested because Dangote Cement neglected its members who constitute the highest users of the firm’s product. He said efforts to get the Dangote’s attention did not yield remit.

He said: “The fact remains that the association is the highest patrons and users of Dangote Cement throughout the state, with over 40,000 members, 500 zones, 57 sub-head offices who are directly involved in the sale of the products.

“Eighty-five per cent of cement used in Lagos is from Dangote and he did not deem it fit to better the lives of the end users,” he said.

The members who carry placard bearing different inscriptions called on the cement maufacturing giant to address their plight, or risk blacklist ing of its products in the state.

Olaniyan stated that despite the support from it members in ensuring that the products get good patronage from its consumers, Dangote Cement had not made any impression in their lives.

He said: “Up till date the association still lacks a befitting secretariat and other basic amenities. There is nothing to improve our health as our members toil in the sun and rain endlessly making billion of naira for Dangote Cement.”

He said having written several letters and sent representatives to Dangote Cement, their request had not receive any response; rather its members were treated were fairly treated.

“The man thinks we are illiterates and, therefore, we cannot do anything. We have approached the company several times, but no good response is forthcoming. Look at other big companies like Dunlop and other paint companies, they have made life better the members who make use of their end products but in the case of this we are really relegated,” he added.

There is never a time that the Dangote is ready to reckoned with. This different in other sectors. For instance, Dunlop has done something for the association of vulcanizes. Why cant Dangote emulate this,” he said.

Indomie rewards distributors

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UFIL Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie instant noodles, has rewarded its trade partners with over 250 prizes worth several millions of naira through its trade promo.

Speaking on the initiative, the Public Relations and Event Manager of the firm, Mr Tope Ashiwaju, said the Sub-Distributors Trade Promo is the company’s little way of appreciating its partners who stood by it over the years.

He noted that the sub-distributors have not only demonstrated their commitment to the achievement of the company’s objectives, but have also supported its vision of becoming the number one noodles brand in the country. “It is, therefore, deserving of them to be rewarded and encouraged for offering the invaluable support they have given the business over the past years”, Ashiwaju added.

He said for sub-distributors to be qualified, they are expected to buy in multiples of 10 cartons of Indomie 120 grams size (super pack) from their distributors. A coupon is given out for every 10 cartons purchased and sub distributors are allowed to collect as many coupons as possible based on their purchases. All coupons are collected with a copy given to them to claim their prize during the lucky dip draw at an announced date in each of the 12 locations.

The prizes to be won during this sub-distributors trade promo includes; 12 Skoda Fabia Cars, 120 Generators, 70 Air Conditioners, 50 Refrigerators and other consolatory prizes which would all be given out immediately after the draw at each location.

Other fixed locations and relevant information would be communicated to sub-distributors and relevant stakeholders accordingly.

MultiChoice customer wins N1.6m

M •Member, Board of Trustees, PZ Cussons Foundation, Mr Tunde Oyelola (3rd right); Country Director, VSO, Sriramappa Gonchikara (2nd right) and Provost, College of Education, Gumel, Jigawa, State, Dr. Dahiru Abdul-Kadir with VSO volunteers, college officials and representatives of the foundation after the launch of an ICT project at VSO office sponsored by PZ in Abuja.

ULTICHOICE has handed a lucky subscriber, Mr Segun Adeyemo, N1.6 million as the first winner of DStv’s reward initiative.

DStv rewards, according to a statement from the company, is a follow-up to the recently concluded DStv mobile mega promo, which saw the company give away five SUVs, 20 all-expense paid trips to AFCON com-

petition, 100 units of 40 inches LCD TV sets, 500 Walka handheld devices as well as numerous other prizes to subscribers.

Presenting the cash to the first winner, General Manager, DStv,Mr Mayo Okunola, said: “This is not a mistake; it is a well-thoughtout initiative to compensate subscribers that stay loyal to the brand by paying their subscriptions regularly. It is

also in the spirit of MultiChoice’s celebration of its 20th anniversary in the country.”

He enjoined Nigerians to pay their DStv subscription regularly or in advance as they also stand a chance of winning the weekly draws.

Head of Public Relations, MultiChoice Nigeria, Segun Fayose, said active DStv subscribers would benefit from the promo.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

For Syrian peace, prepare for war

Traffic JAMB • The shortage of UTME examination centres is disgraceful

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HE reputation of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has waxed and waned over the years since its establishment in 1978.

Set up to ensure a smooth and coordinated process of admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, the board has come to be perceived as symbolic of the socalled crisis of access that is the distinguishing feature of the admissions process in the country.

In spite of its efforts to improve its performance, it appears that JAMB’s system of examination centre allocation has made things worse for the long-suffering candidates who are compelled to utilise its services. It has become apparent that many candidates residing in Lagos will not be able to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) in the state. Over the past fortnight, alternative venues have ranged from Osun State to a variety of locations in northern Nigeria. The situation appears to be similar in other parts of the country, with many JAMB centres said to be completely filled in the south-east.

The board’s response is that it has sought to ease the situation by offering dual-based and computer examinations as alternatives to the widely-preferred paper and pencil test. Its registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, has argued that allegations of inadequate spaces are untrue and that it is simply trying to ensure that its centres are not overcrowded in order to prevent examination malpractice.

Regardless of its excuses, there can be little doubt that JAMB must take responsibility for this ridiculous situation. After decades as the body in charge of the ex-

aminations, it should have undertaken a thorough assessment of the logistical and other challenges involved in organising the UTME. It could have identified more centres; it could have staggered the examinations; it could have done more to encourage alternative forms of testing.

Instead of utilising such options, the board chose the easy way out by imposing clearly unreasonable venues on its candidates.

The consequences of this are all too apparent. Candidates will be forced to undertake long journeys on Nigeria’s notoriously unsafe roads to strange towns and cities. On arrival, they will lodge in unfamiliar surroundings with all the associated security risks. In spite of the additional expense, and the physical and mental stress of extended journeys, they will still be expected to write the UTME as best they can. It goes without saying that these added burdens could make poor performance even worse than it has been.

JAMB’s seeming indifference to the consequences of its centre-allocation process is yet another demonstration of the way in which examination bodies ride roughshod over the legitimate concerns of those they are supposed to be serving.

Rather than recognise the implicit contractual obligations inherent in the registration exercise, they tend to see it as an opportunity to exploit candidates to the fullest.

Thus, they cancel the results of whole centres on often-unproven charges of mass cheating. In spite of the payment of registration fees, candidates are obliged to purchase scratch cards to obtain their results. The registration pro-

cess is often so convoluted and tasking that candidates can spend several days attempting to complete them. And now, candidates have no guarantee that they can sit for the examination in the state of their choice.

If things are to change, examination bodies like JAMB will have to become more accountable to the citizenry. This will involve greater oversight from the Federal Ministry of Education and from the relevant committees of the National Assembly. JAMB’s obligations to its candidates must be clearly spelt out, with specified sanctions and penalties when they are breached. An examination body which cannot ensure that its candidates can conveniently take its examinations is a contradiction in terms.

‘JAMB’s seeming indifference to the consequences of its centre-allocation process is yet another demonstration of the way in which examination bodies ride roughshod over the legitimate concerns of those they are supposed to be serving. Rather than recognise the implicit contractual obligations inherent in the registration exercise, they tend to see it as an opportunity to exploit candidates to the fullest’

Nigeria’s stolen trillions • It is sad that the country’s leaders are the ones looting the treasury

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N its most recent release, a Washingtonbased research and advocacy organisation, the Global Financial Integrity (GFI), reported that out of the 20 biggest exporters of illicit financial flows for the past 10 years, Nigeria stands at an incredible 7th position, with $10.66bn or N3.047trillion stolen money. Also, between 2000 and 2010, Nigeria, as the 7th biggest money laundering country in the world, had N3trillion exported to foreign lands by its leaders. The report, as co-authored by GFI’s Lead Economist, Dev Kar and GFI’s economist, Sarah Freitas, is said to be “the first by the organisation incorporating a new, more conservative estimate of illicit financial flows”.

The report is designed to facilitate comparisons from GFI, update and identify crime, corruption and tax evasion as the biggest channels from where nearly $6trillion

‘In China, corrupt people like our corrupt leaders are summarily executed. But in Nigeria, very few people, if any at all, are punished for corruption. Even when some are reluctantly apprehended, they seek refuge under our porous and corrupt judicial system, preferring to be tried at home than abroad where there is no hiding place for corrupt leaders and government officials. It’s high time the government went tough on corruption before corruption kills the country. Things definitely cannot continue like this’

was stolen from some countries. According to the report, China is leading the group with $274billion, with cumulative average of $2.74trillion, followed by Mexico $476billion, Malaysia $285billion, Saudi Arabia $210billion, Russia $152billion and The Philippines, $138bilion. Nigeria happens to be the only African country cited among the countries where astronomical amounts had been siphoned and is still being siphoned out of the developing world to the banks of developed countries. Indeed, it has even been suggested that the estimate provided by these harmful outflows of stolen money in which Nigerian leaders are alleged to be active participants is likely to be extremely conservative, as they do not include trade mispricing services, invoice trade mispricing, secret transactions and dealings concluded in bulk cash.

This mindboggling report should act as a wake-up call to Nigerian leaders, past and present, and to all Nigerians, especially the labour unions, civil society groups, the media, men and women of God in the churches and mosques, academic unions, students and the masses, to stand up in unison against these criminal activities of the country’s shameless leaders. Such a mass action is inevitable because the criminal looting of the treasury has very big consequence on the Nigerian economy and development. What it means is that Nigeria lost N3trillion that could have been invested on education, healthcare, electricity and potable water supply and other infrastructural facilities just because of the greed of a few leaders who are supposed to serve but have kept Nigerians under perpetual economic bondage.

Surely, what we have read about our leaders is an indication of massive corruption in the country. Unfortunately,

there seems to be no hope that this almost incurable disease will soon be wiped out in Nigeria. Our anti-corruption agencies have become docile; they merely bark, but cannot bite. They operate under the apron of the same leaders who stole and are stealing our money with reckless abandon. No wonder these anti-corruption agencies cannot function where and when they should.

How are we to calculate the huge amount of money regularly stolen through monumental fraud and illicit self allocation of funds going on in the National Assembly, the states and local governments which we hardly remember, as if it is only at the centre that money is furiously stolen?

A colossal sum of money is stolen every year from the national budget through criminal inflation of contract awards; money is stolen through pensions and gratuities that are never paid.

Apart from deepening underdevelopment, this deep-rooted corruption in high places explains the widespread poverty, inhuman standard of living and the consequent low life expectancy in Nigeria.

In China, corrupt people like our corrupt leaders are summarily executed.

But in Nigeria, very few people, if any at all, are punished for corruption. Even when some are reluctantly apprehended, they seek refuge under our porous and corrupt judicial system, preferring to be tried at home than abroad where there is no hiding place for corrupt leaders and government officials.

It’s high time the government went tough on corruption before corruption kills the country. Things definitely cannot continue like this.

Kerry should push the case for arming rebels

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OHN Kerry, US secretary of state, believes there may be a window of opportunity for a negotiated solution to

the bloody civil war in Syria. As a new member of Barack Obama’s cabinet, he is right to explore all the options on his first foreign outing. However the rising death toll, now at more than 70,000, is a grim reminder that time is not on his side.

The US secretary of state may be hoping to take advantage of recent comments by senior members of both opposition and regime forces that they would be open to dialogue. He may also want to exploit growing frustration in Moscow with Syria’s dictator, Bashar al-Assad, who relies on Russian support to stay in power.

It is encouraging that the noises out of Moscow are positive about a co-ordinated effort with Mr Kerry despite otherwise tense relations with the US. Nonetheless, this is a road that has been travelled before.

Mr Assad is well versed in the game of appearing to concede in order to gain time. Meanwhile, Russia will resist any effort that smacks of regime change and Mr Assad has said he intends to stay until the next election in 2014.

Finally, the political opposition remains disconnected from fighters on the ground, who refuse talks while he is in power. The battle is at a desperate stalemate. Mr Assad has been unable to regain control of Syria, while the disparate rebel forces cannot topple the regime as long as the west refuses to deliver the weapons they need. In the interim, the civil war is being hijacked by jihadist forces positioning themselves for a post-Assad era.

A negotiated settlement would be the ideal solution. But the chances of striking a deal appear remote. In this context, the new secretary of state cannot allow talks to drag on interminably. He should also press President Obama to re-examine his refusal to consider arming rebels.

If Mr Kerry is to have any diplomatic force in discussions he must be able to threaten an alternative. Mr Assad has cynically exploited the west’s reluctance to intervene to stay in power. This bluff has to be called. This applies equally to the EU, which last week rejected a UK call to lift its arms embargo to allow shipments to rebels.

If western powers continue to stand on the sidelines, the war will drag on. The longer it continues, the more likely it is that jihadis will build a bridgehead in the eastern Mediterranean that will contaminate the region and beyond. In that case, the west may have intervention forced upon it.

- 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 28, 2013

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) received the shocking news of the brutal killing of four students of Nasarawa State University by armed soldiers invited by the university management to quell the protest of students against water scarcity and power outage. We condemn in strong terms this shocking killing and arrest of the unarmed students. No official explanation or excuse can erase the guilt of the army as this is brutal murder of unarmed protesters demanding improved and decent welfare conditions. We place the responsibility on the university management who invited soldiers to quell a legitimate protest and the state government whose neo-liberal capitalist policy of education underfunding is the root cause of this killing.

We offer our condolence and most importantly our solidarity to students of the university as well as parents and families of the slain students.

This killing has again thrown to the fore the ruthlessness of the capitalist ruling elite in preventing every effort by students to organise to fight for improved conditions on campuses and in the education sector.

Notwithstanding this, the fight for improved welfare conditions on campuses, against fee hike and the criminal anti-poor policy of education underfunding must continue.

Rather than a deterrent, this killing has to be a lightning rod for a more determined resistance of students on all campuses against anti-poor education policies.

To prosecute this struggle, it is very crucial that local unions are rebuilt with leaders capable of fighting.

Equally vital is the need to build a democratic and radical national student leadership that can unite all students in a common struggle against

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IR: Kindly permit me to commend Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the report of his recent trip to the United States where he, among other things, delivered the guest lecture at the prestigious Whetherhead Center at Harvard University. The lecture wherein he discussed the problems in the way of Nigeria’s development was widely reported in the dailies. According to him, ethnicity, poverty, unemployment, lopsided federal-

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 1000 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.com

Death of Nasarawa varsity four neo-liberal attacks on public education, and in the demand for the provision of free and quality education at all levels.

We urge all student unions, student groups and activists to offer solidarity to Nasarawa state students through actions like parliamentary and/or congressional resolutions and public statements condemning the killing as well as to organise immediate protests and demonstrations to lend support to their struggle. This is essential to ensure

that this brutal killing is not swept under the carpet like numerous others in the past.

We also call on all the academic and non-academic unions in the university to condemn this vicious action of the armed soldiers and the university management and give solidarity to students in their demand for justice and improved welfare conditions.

The ERC demands justice for the four murdered students. We demand the immediate removal of the Vice

Chancellor and dissolution of the management of Nasarrawa State University for inviting soldiers into the campus to kill protesting students; the immediate and unconditional release of the arrested students; the re-constitution of a new management through a democratic electoral process in which members of staff and students of the institution can have a say in who become principal officers and members of Senate of the University Furthermore, we demand the im-

mediate arrest and trial of the soldiers and/or their commanding officers responsible for the shooting of unarmed protesting students; the setting up of a democratic panel of inquiry composed of elected representatives of staff unions, the trade unions in the state, students union, and civil societies to investigate the immediate and remote circumstances surrounding the killing, identify members of management responsible for the invitation of soldiers, recommend punishment as well as recommendations to forestall future occurrence; the immediate granting of the demands of students for adequate water supply and improved welfare condition which led to the protest in the first place; and the immediate reopening of the University.

• Hassan Taiwo Soweto National Coordinator Education Right Campaign, Lagos

Foreign reserve brouhaha: Let’s thank Okonjo-Iweala

S

IR: It is heart-warming to see some influential Nigerians coming out of their gilded cage to demand accountability from the present government. It shows that we are now waking up to our civic rights by taking the government to task on the expenditure of our collective wealth, and alerting them that it won’t be business as usual anymore. After all, we are in a democratic dispensation where freedom of speech is a given.

Worthy of note is the recent harangue by former Vice President (Africa) of the World Bank and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and her demand for the account of how the $67billion left in the foreign reserve by the administration of her erstwhile boss, Chief

Olusegun Obasanjo, was spent.

I think Nigerians should start asking questions instead of allowing anyone or a group of individuals to manipulate their public sentiment. We need to analyze the questions raised by the opposition to determine their merits and, at the same time, examine the motives behind their clamour.

Year 2015 is fast approaching and politicians are deploying all tricks in the book to get into the proverbial corridor of power, or to regain what they lost in previous elections. And those in power are also busy strategising how to extend their stay in government. Therefore, we have definitely not heard the last of allegations and counter-allegations from different political quarters. The accusation flying around now is the man-

agement of Nigeria’s reserve. While Madam due process claims that the $67 billion (about N11 trillion) left behind by President Obasanjo has been squandered by the incumbent government; the government, in its own response, is claiming that it has added $2.17bn to the foreign reserves since former President Olusegun Obasanjo left office in 2007.

Surprisingly, Dr. Ezekwesili lent credence to this government’s claim on Twitter while responding to the query of one of her followers. The follower had asked why she didn’t consult the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, before making her allegations. And in her response, she said the only reason the crashed foreign reserve and Excess Crude Account are once again creep-

Kudos to Aregbesola ism, neo-colonialism and other other factors have hampered the country’s development and fuelled the spate of violent ethno- religious strife in the country and unless these are well addressed, the problems will continue and escalate.

I am very proud of the governor when I watched him deliver the lecture live on the internet. He has distinguished himself and he is indeed a great leader. Many governors travel outside the country to attend to their harem and engage in capi-

tal flight and have left their states ruined. But our governor was consumed by state service and his itinerary was published everyday and has promptly returned to the country.

It was also reported that he was able to connect with the diaspora and is mobilising them for massive investment at home. I am happy for this. He was also able to showcase his IT invention, the computer tablet for use by secondary school called Opon Imo. We were told that

the chief executive of the city of Pittsburgh has bought into this and has expressed his readiness to purchase for all the schools in his county. This is an unprecedented development in Nigeria that a white man will emulate any state governor in innovation.

Thank you very much sir for upholding the glory of our state and portraying us as true Omoluabi, the virtuous.

• Francis Bamidele, Osogbo, Osun State

ing up is because of the awesome effort of the Minister of Finance, “so you must thank her.”

That means, even while the debate is going on, we need to pause and thank Mrs Okonjo-Iweala for ensuring that Nigeria’s economy is run with prudence. Since she returned in 2011 to manage the nation’s economy, all of us can see the several battles she has had to fight those within and outside the system in her bid to ensure that Nigeria’s finances are in good shape. But for her, the present situation would have been dismal and the narrative would have been totally different. Who knows how many more trillions we would have continued to lose to greedy fuel marketers and their allies in NNPC? Who knows how many trillions of naira the country would have continued to pay hundreds of thousands of ghost workers in monthly salaries? Who knows how many trillions we would have continued to lose in unaccounted for budgetary allocations on a yearly basis? Who knows how many more trillions we will continue to lose to the various holes in the Nigerian system that this woman is blocking with such ingenuity? How much more?

While demanding more from our leaders, the least we can do is to appreciate this woman who has brought sanity into our national expenditure.

• Oluwaseun Joseph Lagos

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

21

COMMENTS

T

APC: Nigeria’s political Macedonia

HE coming of APC following the merger of ACN, CPC, ANPP and APGA to form a formidable political party is like the call to Paul of Tarsus to come to Macedonia and liberate it from paganism. I have always wondered who would liberate Nigeria from the death grip of the PDP after almost 14 years of non- performance. Fourteen years is a long time in the history of man and in the history of nations. A child of 14 years would be a strappling teenager who would not be oblivious of his or her environment. So it should be with a nation. The PDP appears to me tired and totally bereft of what to do to advance the interest of our country. Nigerians are generally not too demanding of their government. What they want are regular electricity, regular supply of water, security, good roads and good schools as well as other appurtenances of modern life. These are services some of which they are ready to pay for if available. When the PDP came to power in 1999, we were told that within six months there would be regular supply of electricity. We were also told that within four years of their administration, power generation will hit 10,000mega watts. We were also told that once we liquidated our foreign debts, whatever we were using to pay the debts annually will now be diverted to roads construction. None of these promises and commitments has been met. Our hospitals have remained consulting clinics, our roads have become death traps, our infrastructure generally have remained backward and almost nonexistent. It will be very difficult for anybody to find an area in which we have made progress. Internal security has collapsed; we are still generating less than 4,000 mega watts of electricity for a population of more than 170 million compared to South Africa’s 35 million

‘I am sure the PDP itself would be relieved if it loses power in 2015 because it has run out of any idea of governance and it is too ashamed to surrender power unless this power is wrested from it’

B

ETWEEN governors and the people, there is no love lost. Many will not touch the governors with a 10foot pole because of their excellencies’ perceived imperialistic attitude. Our governors love power and they like to flaunt it by dominating their environment. Governors like to dominate everything even though they are not generals, who former military leader Gen Ibrahim Babangida once said ‘’like to dominate their environment’’. In the IBB school, only generals dominate their environment.

Our governors seem to have put a lie to that statement with the way they have taken over the political landscape not only in their states but across the country. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, in particular, are not only chief executives of their states, they also hold sway in their party.

The governors have a lot of say in the party. With their number, they determine who becomes the national chairman, the presidential candidate and so on and so forth. When they band together, they are a threat to the leadership of their party, which does all it can to appease them on such occasions. When the governors take on their party, it is quiet interesting because the friction exposes the underbelly of the acclaimed largest party in Africa.

PDP is large no doubt, but its socalled behemoth size always seems to be the source of its frequent internal crises. To a large extent, parties are defined by conflicts and crises and their ability to manage such problems.

There is no political party in the world without its internal strife, but the ultimate test is in the party’s management of the crisis so that it does not get out of hand.

More often than not, PDP’s crises threaten the polity for no other reason than the fact that it is the ruling party. When there is a cri-

people who enjoy their country’s generation of close to 150,000mega watts.

When I was young, our universities compared and competed with those of Canada, Australia and the UK. My B.A. Hons 2nd Class Upper Division of Ibadan gave me access to PhD programme without having to have a Masters degree. Today products of our universities have to do one make up year abroad before they can register for Masters Degree. All these have taken place under the PDP’s watch yet the PDP is hanging on our neck like an incubus against which we are helpless. Elections have been held three times since 1999 and all attempts to throw off this yoke have failed because elections in Nigeria are neither fair nor free. The poorer the party performs, the greater the votes they award themselves at election time. Who is therefore going to rescue us from this malevolent political party called the PDP? We have prayed, fasted and in some cases demonstrated against their policies to no avail. We are victims of the dictum that a country deserves the government it gets.

In the meantime, corruption has become the second name of Nigeria and like a strong gale it is blowing everything before it and one is afraid that if there is no change it may destroy all of us.

This is why the coming together of all progressive forces constitutes an answer to the call of patriotism and it behoves on all people of good conscience to rally round the party and deliver this country from the jaws of destruction and from political precipice and economic ruination brought on us by the PDP. I am sure the PDP itself would be relieved if it loses power in 2015 because it has run out of any idea of governance and it is too ashamed to surrender power unless this power is wrested from it.

This is why the APC is a welcome development. At least we will have a chance to try another party that has a totally distinct idea of what to do in power rather than the present situation where most of the leaders of the ruling party are involved in primitive accumulation of money and a feeding frenzy on collective national resources. A party whose credo as exposed by one of their former leader was that service in government was a call to come and eat rather than to serve.

This is the party that the APC has come to rescue from its own vomit. If all things go well and if the APC lead-

ership is selfless, patriotic, self-abnegating, self-sacrificing and driven by the desire to rescue and salvage the nation, they should put aside all ethnic, personal, regional and religious consideration in selecting their leaders and in fielding the combination

Jide Osuntokun

that will bring victory and succour to Nigeria in 2015.

There is no dearth of leaders in the APC who can be president but emphasis must be on competence, incorruptibility and experience. The problems of this country are so many that we need energetic leaders; energetic leadership does not mean youthful leadership. The time to start preparation for 2015 is now. In this preparation, the APC must ensure that government facilities are not used against it and this will include the Police and the electoral commission as well as the armed forces. We must ensure that a non- performing political party is not returned to power by hook or crook.

I want my children to inherit from my generation a country better than I met it. What presently exists is a travesty of governance and I am ashamed that this is all that this resourceful and cerebrally endowed country has. The fault is in us not in our stars. It will not matter where the president of the country comes from if he performs well. Our problem is that the routine performance of government duties by those in authority is a cause for celebration. Victory at recent football competition has been made the opium of the people and money left from the denuded coffers of government is being frittered away without budgetary provision on footballers. Governance has been shoved aside in parliament and in the executive to celebrate a mere football victory. This sterility of idea about what governance is will come to an end when APC comes to power in 2015.

The final showdown sis in the party, the polity quakes, with governance coming virtually to a standstill.. This is especially so when the president and the governors are quarrelling.

And their spat has become a recurring decimal in recent times.

If they don’t fight over who should become national chairman, they are sparring over which candidates should be fielded in an election.

Better still, there may be a clash of personal interest between the president and the governors. At the moment, the president is fighting the governors over his political future. The governors have a body under which they meet and take certain decisions in their states’ collective interest. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) comprises all the 36 governors, meaning that the membership cuts across party line. As presently constituted, 23 of the governors are from PDP; six, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); three, All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP); two, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA); one each for Labour Party (LP) and Congress for Progressives Change (CPC). Although the president has some differences with the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, he has extended the fight to the group.

By interfering in the affairs of NGF, the president seems to have forgotten that it is not an extension of the PDP of which he is the national leader. The NGF, in case Jonathan seems to have forgotten, is a body of states’ chief executives elected on different party platforms. So, he cannot dictate to the group how it should be run. There is nothing that will please the president more than to destabilise the Forum because of his feud with Amaechi, who he suspects of

harbouring presidential ambition. Though Amaechi has repeatedly denied having an interest in the 2015 presidential race, Jonathan and his loyalists are not satisfied with the governor’s explanation. Jonathan and his men believe that Amaechi is using the NGF to gain political leverage and boost his chances for the presidency.

This is why they are desperate to oust Amaechi as NGF chair and castrate him politically. In politics as in war all is fair, I concede, but it is wrong for the president to use federal might to destabilise an association all because of one man. The NGF is an association of duly elected governors; what is more as Nigerians, they are free to associate within the ambit of the law. Has the body done anything illegal? The answer is no. Is it wrong, that is assuming it is true, for Amaechi or any other PDP governor for that matter to harbour presidential ambition?

The answer again is no. Should the president use underhand tactic to get rid of a political foe all because of that person’s perceived interest in an election which may even be held behind many of those now showing overt and covert interest in the poll?

“Let tomorrow take care of itself,” the Bible admonishes us, but we will never take heed. We are always scheming and struggling for power when we don’t have control over tomorrow. The president may use Amaechi’s per-

ceived ambition to kill the NGF, if the governors do not come together to resist him. This is not Amaechi’s fight simplicita; it is all the governors’ fight because of the crude manner in which Jonathan wants to get him out of the way. If he succeeds, who says Amaechi’s successor may not suffer the same fate in future once he stops being a ‘good boy’. maechi may have stepped on Jonathan’s powerful toes, but that does not give the president the right to use his enormous powers to deal with the governor. We are hearing about videos being showed at the Villa to reveal the governor’s ‘sins’ as if we are back in the Abacha era.

Pray if a governor could be recorded at a public function and the video later used against him without his knowledge, only God knows what will happen to mere commoners if we fall prey to Jonathan whose eyes are now everywhere. Yet, our president, to quote him, is neither “a general” nor a “Pharaoh”. If this is how meek presidents behave, I would rather go for a general or a Pharaoh because at least, we will know where we stand with such a leader. With Jonathan, you don’t know anything until you are hit by a tonne of brick. The NGF has never been in this kind of bond in its 14 years of existence.

Not even former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as tough as he was, took on the NGF the way

A

‘Obasanjo, as tough as he was, never took on the NGF the way Jonathan is doing. Will the governors allow him to have his way or will they fight him to finish?’

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204

Jonathan is doing. Will the governors allow him to have his way or will they fight him to finish?

There may be something yet we don’t know about this our ‘affable, amiable, gentle and meek’ president. Very soon, he will unravel in our presence, that I am sure of.

With him instigating the PDP governors to form a parallel forum, Jonathan has shown that he will stop at nothing to impose his will on us. With this kind of attitude from the president, we may be in trouble as a country. This is why I align myself with the submission of Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu at the NGF’s meeting in Abuja on Monday that “there is no basis for forming the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF). The PDP-GF is a deliberate move by the Presidency to split the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and turn it into a tool to be used.

By forming another forum within a forum, it means forces from outside are at work. A dictator is going to emerge”. That is if he has not emerged already. The question is are we ready to resist this dictator? It is Amaechi today, we don’t know whose turn it may be tomorrow.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

22

COMMENTS

L

EST we forget how Ekiti a ‘historically and culturally identical’ land of honor was desecrated. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in all his majesty surveyed our land and settled for an Ayo Fayose as a replacement for Niyi Adebayo as governor of Ekiti State. Following a contrived dispute between Abiodun Olujimi, impeached Fayose’s deputy and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, a state of emergency was declared in October 2006. General Tunji Olurin, Obasanjo’s kinsman was installed as sole administrator. It was obvious his mandate was to do a hatchet job of preparing the ground for rigging Segun Oni into office in the same manner Dr Koye Majekodunmi did in Ibadan during the first republic when he reinstated Akintola who had been constitutionally removed from office as premier and prepared the ground for the rigging of the 1965 regional election in his favour.

Two years of purposeful leadership has already eclipsed eight years of political upheaval, violence, uncertainty and anxiety that characterized Obasanjo’s self-serving intervention in Ekiti. Peace has gradually returned to Ekiti, and today, Kayode Fayemi is dedicated to the ‘the restoration of the core Ekiti values of passion, courage, integrity, meritocracy and honour.’

He is building roads and renovating

‘Fayemi has an arduous task in a state where religion has become the most thriving industry, second only to political thuggery; where misguided miracle seeking youths, instead of working, depend on periodic handouts from politicians, and a state where the only value added to the lives of citizens by traditional rulers who share five per cent of local council allocation in addition to gifts of new cars from state government is prayers’

T

HE launch of the NTA-STAR TV Network on July 29, 2010 was widely received by Nigerians. At the time of its launch by Vice President Namadi Sambo on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerians had never seen such technology which allows one to view digital terrestrial TV channels without installing any dish. This revolutionary technology was brought into Nigeria through a joint venture partnership between the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Star Times of the Republic of China. This signaled the beginning of terrestrial digital broadcasting in the country.

Over the years, viewers have become more sophisticated and the only way to keep up with this is the concept of multi channels which entails the transmission of many channels, instead of one. Thus, when NTA decided to have multi-channels, it therefore needed a platform. Setting up such a digital terrestrial television platform is a very capital intensive project which also requires advanced technology.

To this end, NTA decided to look for a partner for the project, hence the partnership between it and Star Communications of China – the NTA Star TV Network Ltd. The core objective of the partnership is to provide excellent and technology-driven digital pay TV services in the Nigerian territory as well as provide excellent and socially responsible television broadcast services in Nigeria. The project in the long run will expand to include the provision of advertisement and signal transfer services, mobile phone television as well as wireless internet services. Star Times relationship with NTA is a strategic partnership that will help Nigeria in actualizing its 2015 digital transition deadline. Star Times will leverage on the existing platform of NTA to provide quality digital ser-

The new Fayemi challenge schools. He has already equipped students and teachers with about 30,000 laptops. He has put in place a social programme that caters for about 20,000 elderly citizens. His free health programme is said to capture about 60 per cent of the population.

But we are left with permanent scars of Obasanjo’s assault on our people and our land of honour. The most visible scar of Obasanjo’s selfish intervention in our affairs is the army of school dropouts following the near collapse of the educational sector of the state during the PDP years of locust. Ayo Fayose, it would be recalled, preferred poultry farms to medical school while a better equipped Segun Oni enmeshed in PDP politics of ‘sharing’ ignored informed suggestions to expend his energies on secondary schools instead of establishing universities the state could not support financially.

One very sad example as governor Fayemi recently pointed out is that Christ School, unarguably the best in the state, and one of the best (like my own St Joseph’s College Ondo) in the federation, was in recent years recording less than 10% success in the West African School Certificate examinations.

Most of the dropouts, spread around the state in the last 10 years have since found new callings as Babalawo (traditional healers), political thugs and pastors.

One manifestation of this development was what happened in Emure last week, when misguided youths took law into their hands, disrupted market, stoned their traditional ruler the Elemure of Emure, Oba Emmanuel Adebowale Adebayo, and chased the community chiefs out of the palace.

Their grouses: harvests of deaths of young people in their community arising from accidents such as those involving “two undergraduates from the community who died in a motorcycle accident in far away Ado Ekiti on Valentine’s Day, and, three persons who also died in an accident on Ikere – Ise – Emure road when the vehicles they were travelling in had a head-on collision”. The youths wanted their traditional ruler and his chiefs to explain how the members of their community met their death in such ‘strange circumstances’ But if the governor thought the misguided youths with wild views were all he had to deal with, he was wrong. He also has the traditional rulers whose bemusing response to what by all accounts was an idiotic demand was a plan to ‘organise an interdenominational religious prayer session’ to curb harvests of deaths through motor cycle and car accidents.

In the circumstance, Governor Fayemi has an arduous task in a state where religion has become the most thriving industry, second only to political thuggery, where misguided miracle seeking youths, instead of working, depend on periodic handouts from politicians, and a state where the only value added to the lives of citizens by traditional rulers who share five per cent of local council allocation in addition to gifts of new cars from state government is prayers.

The task we are giving to the governor will now include the enforcement of God’s injunction that we must all ‘live by our sweats’ and the labelling as 419ers all misguided youths and community leaders who try to

Re: NTA – Star Times agreement

By Maxwell Loko vice to every home in Nigeria and in doing that, the whole country won’t find it difficult to get digitalized even before the 2015 transition.

NTA-Star Times bouquet include local programmes and other well known international satellite channels, which provide news, music, sports, cartoon, finance, religion, movies, reality, etc. The programming platform also captures all age and interest groups. More importantly, the costs, both in terms of decoders and subscription, are affordable and easy to use with an advanced technology that guarantees clean and stable signals.

Laudable as the NTA-Star Times partnership has been, it has come under severe and misguided criticism by one Sunday Adigun writing under the caption, “Issues in the NTA-Star Times agreement” published in The Nation of February 4.

One of his grudges is the impending transition and upgrade from the DVB-T technology platform to the DVB-T2. According to Adigun, it is unnecessary exploitation to make people buy the DVB-T decoder when at the launch of the DVB-T2 decoder they will be made to repurchase the new decoder to enable them continue to view the Star Times bouquet. There is need to put all the issues in the right perspective.

The truth about the introduction of new DVB -T2 decoders by Star Times is that it will enable subscribers to have access to over 70 channels as against the 53 Chan-

nels with DVB-T decoder. However, there is no iota of truth that subscribers with the old DVB-T decoders will have to buy the new DVB-T2 decoders. All subscribers with the DVB-T decoders will have them swapped with the new DVB–T2 at absolutely no cost to the subscriber. The swapping of decoders will be done at the point of subscription renewal. Thus, there will be no payment for new decoder. This does not in any way render the DVB-T decoder unusable as claimed by the writer.

DVB-T2 is only an upgrade of DVB-T. The writer conveniently forgot to mention that even the DVB-S being used by other satellite pay TV providers is a variant of DVB format and even that too has an upgrade (DVB-S2). It is doubtful if any of the Satellite pay TV in Nigeria have upgraded to the DVB-S2. NTA – Star TV is not unmindful of the dynamism of technology, and would always strive to give its subscribers the best.

The issue of NTA’s 30% shareholding in the venture also came under criticism with a counter proposition for a 50-50 shareholding structure. It is important to point out here that the NTA-Star Times partnership is no different from other partnerships in any part of the world and there is no requirement that equity must be 5050 in any partnership. Two parties in every Joint Venture come to the negotiation table with their comparative advantages, and that is what determines the equality ratio. However, this is subject to review from time to time. The analogue switch off is expected to free up frequency

swindle God through endless prayers even after He, our almighty Father has decreed ‘we must all reap what we sow’. Their accomplices-the fake pastors who are insisting our youths can reap where they have not sown, must be declared enemies of the people and handed over to EFCC. For those honest Ekiti youths who want to live by their sweat and reap what they sow, the governor can call their attention to the good news Senator Babafemi Ojudu brought back from his recent tour of Israel. Ojudu cited the case of three young graduate farmers he met in Israel during the tour who post an annual turnover of $12m by cultivating tomato for export through a new irrigation method.

Our hard-working and creative governor who has a way of getting things done must find a way of convincing our fraudulent young prosperity gospel preachers and their gullible miracle seekers that a new wave of miracles currently coming out of Israel, a war-ravaged, desert, land of unbelievers, who killed Jesus the son of God and thereafter unrepentantly proclaimed ‘may his blood be on us and on our children’, are also possible here.

Happily, Ekiti is not a barren land. Ojudu has said arrangements are being made to irrigate 40,000 hectares of land throughout the year and that this is to be parcelled out to youths who genuinely want miracle based on God’s injunction that we must live through our sweat. The overpaid traditional rulers who have been reaping from where they did not sow should be given responsibility to mobilise the misguided youths of their various communities towards productive endeavours. They have lived as parasites for far too long with powers without responsibilities. Fayemi must find a way of making them more relevant to their communities.

The stakes are high but the governor cannot afford to fail in this arduous endeavour because of its far-reaching implications for the future of our state. In another 10 years, today’s youth on whom he is investing so much are going to become doctors, lawyers and other professionals. As a social scientist, he knows today’s fraudulent miracle seekers, if not liberated, will provide only an insecure environment for his dream new generation of proud Ekiti young professionals.

We are today witnesses to such failures in some parts of our country where those on whom huge investment had been made with the hope of bringing development back to their communities have been driven out to seek refuge and fulfilment in other areas including foreign lands.

spectrum. Already the recently inaugurated DigiTeam saddled with the responsibility of implementing the digital transition, is in the process of splitting NTA in two viz; NTA Broadcast signal distributor and NTA Broadcast content provider.

A signal distributor would provide signal to broadcasters on an equitable, reasonable, non preferential and non-discriminatory basis. Needless to say that there would be additional private signal distributors to be licensed. So the assumption that NTA would have unlimited control over broadcasters will not arise.

It is not also true that at the expiration of subscription, viewers are completely disconnected. There are two free to air channels: NTA News 24 and NTA Sports. At the expiration of subscription, the subscriber can continue to watch both channels free of charge.

There is no gainsaying that NTA-Star Times is living up to expectation with its revolutionary technology which allows the subscriber to view digital Terrestrial TV channels without installing any dish. The future even hold more promises.

• Loko, Deputy Director Star Times writes from Abuja

‘There is no iota of truth that subscribers with the old DVB-T decoders will have to buy the new DVBT2 decoders. All subscribers with the DVB-T decoders will have them swapped with the new DVB–T2 at absolutely no cost to the subscriber’

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

INSIDE

Burnt school gets N10m

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

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Candidates just registering for this year's Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in April have two options: travel to other states or write the examination online because of unavailability of centres for the Paper Pencil Test (PPT).

GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has given an initial cheque of N10 million to the Guardian Angel Nursery and Primary School, Abatete, Nnewi to commence the rebuilding of its two-storey building razed by fire earlier this month.

-Page 27

Expand your minds, pupils told

GUESTS at the opening of the science and technology week organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology held penultimate week, challenged primary and secondary school pupils to expand their minds by questioning everything.

-Page 39

CAMPUS LIFE

• Prof Ojerinde (right) with Rector of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Kudirat Ladipo, when he visited the polytechnic as part of JAMB’s sensitization campain for the CBT. YABATECH is one of the accredited CBT centres for the examination in Lagos State.

•An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

How we survived Offa-Erin Ile crisis FOR two weeks, the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State was shut.

Its closure followed renewed fighting between Offa and Erin-Ile, the institution’s host communities. The crisis has thawed; the school has been reopened; but there is an uneasy calm because staff and students are still jittery.

Nobody can say for sure that the crisis will not resurge.

-Page 29

Preparing for UTME in tears I

N 15 days, registration for the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close, but many candidates may miss the examination coming up between April 15 and 27 due to no fault of theirs. Registering for the examination has been hectic.

Where they were able to register, they did not get centres of their choice, they were sent to far-flung places to write the examination.

The unavailability of centres for the Paper and Pencil Tests (PPT) option in almost all the states has thrown up a fresh challenge in the registration for the examination.

All eyes are on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to see how it will resolve the debacle which is giving many candidates and their parents sleepless.

Candidates are being sent to states outside where they reside to write the examination. For now The Nation learnt, that there are no more centres in Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Cross River, Anambra, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau and Kogi states.

Mr Olukayode Ademola, who runs Adetops Internet Services in Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos, said centres in Lagos got exhausted two weeks ago. Because of this, he said, he registered candidates for the exami-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Adegunle Olugbamila, Medinat Kanabe, Sampson Unamka, Nicholas Kalu (Calabar), Nwanosike Onu (Awka), Bisi Oladele (Ibadan), Rosemary Nwisi (Port Harcourt), Yusuf Aminu Idegu (Jos), Kolade Adeyemi (Kano) and Bashir Muhammad (Lokoja)

I bought my form around January. I bought the form in Calabar but they gave me a centre in Akwa Ibom State.

They just said the centre is filled.

They sent me to the Air Force School in Ibesikpo Asutan. They say it is in Uyo main town –Candidate nation in Yobe.

"There was no centre in Lagos about two weeks ago. Sometime last week, the board released one centre in all states. The Lagos cen-

We cannot just increase the number of centres because the candidates are more than the number we anticipated for the examination.

Before we accredit a centre, they have to meet some requirements. Candidates that cannot find centres can register for the CBT –JAMB

tre did not even last up to two hours before it was full. The Ogun State centre got filled up the next day; the others got filled up the day after remaining only Yobe State,

which I registered for about three customers," he said.

A café operator in Ojo, Lagos, who simply introduced himself as Samson, said as at last week, applicants were still registering at centres in Lagos until this week when accessibility became difficult.

"As I am talking to you now, there is no centre in Lagos again.

We are hoping JAMB might open the Lagos centre, perhaps few days to the examination. ‘Even on (last) Saturday, some applicants who could not register in Lagos settled for Ogun and Oyo but as at now, it's like centres in those states have been exhausted. I helped to register an applicant yesterday but she was able to find a centre to do the written examination in Edo State," he said.

Wale Olakinye of Cynosure Café, Jakande Estate, Lagos, also confirmed that all centres are full.

"A candidate that came here yesterday had to pick Nasarawa. Her only saving grace is that she is from Benue. We found space at Bauchi and Nasarawa so she picked Nasarawa," he said.

A parent, who does not wish to be named, fumed that his son • Continued on page 26

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

26

EDUCATION

Preparing for UTME in tears

• Continued from Page 25

could not write in Lagos and blamed JAMB for selling forms when there are no centres. "I was surprised when they called me that they could not register my son because all the centres in Lagos are filled; that the only centre available is in Osun. How can he leave Lagos to travel all the way to Osun just to write JAMB?" In Plateau State, where candidates had only two places to register for the examination, PBT centres were filled weeks ago, according to a candidate, Ann Awulu. She said: "What JAMB did online was to delete names of states already filled and leave you with option of states where vacancy for centres exists but you are only advised to select states closer to you."

The story is not different in Anambra, Oyo and Rivers states.

At the Search Field Consult, a cyber café in Diobu, Port Harcourt, the Manager, Mr Prince Okezie, said registration is now for the Computer Based Test (CBT).

"Space for registration for manual UTME has long been filled in the state. We are now registering candidates for the emethod. Before now, however, we register them and send to other states like Bayelsa, Abia, and Delta, among others. But in the past few days, there have been no more spaces in these states but we learnt that the only available spaces now are in the North," he said.

A computer operator in Aroma in Awka, Anambra State, Ifeoma Ezeigwe told The Nation on Tuesday that students now fill in centres in Kebbi, Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa and Katsina states She said: "Students are going through hard times now on this Jamb issue. The entire Southeast is congested. The only state where there is vacancy is Benue but I believe that area has been filled up too."

Candidates in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital who prefer PPT option, are still hopeful of writing the examination in centres of thir choice.

At some of the cyber cafe visited in Agbowo shopping complex, students were seen still registering for UTME in large numbers; oth-

I

ers are opting to sit for the examination in other states.

Candidates are complaining of the cost of travelling to other states to write the examination. Some have decided against writing this year, others are waiting with the hope that JAMB would still release some PPT centres before the March 15 registration deadline.

"I am not happy, I don't even know the place," complained Miss Juliet Enang about being sent to a centre in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital when she lives in Calabar, Cross River State.

She said she bought her form last month and filled Calabar as her examination location, but was given a centre in Uyo after she completed the online registration.

She said officials at the JAMB office in Calabar told her that all the centres in Calabar are filled.

She said: "I bought my form around January. I bought the form in Calabar but they gave me a centre in Akwa Ibom State. They just said the centre is filled. They sent me to the Air Force School in Ibesikpo Asutan. They say it is in Uyo main town.

"This is giving more problems than I expected. I think I would go there before the examination to know the place. Then I have to find my way down there and I have to sleep there in Uyo on the day before the exam so I can make it, because if I say I would leave here on the exam day and I don't even know the place, I may miss the exam and nobody would want to know the reason. I don't know anybody in Uyo and that means I have to pay for a hotel to write JAMB. I have not even talked about the transport fare. So, you have to help yourself."

Candidates, who still desire to write the examination in states where they reside, have to choose the CBT option because the PPT and event the dual mode of paper and computer (Dual Based Test - DBT) are no longer available.

Last November, JAMB flagged off the CBT option in Abuja, with its Registrar, Prof Dibu Ojerinde saying the 2013 UTME would be the pilot year to test-run the use of computers in writing the exam. He said from 2015 the examination would

•Ojerinde (second left) flagging-off the CBT campaign with the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi (third right) in Port Harcourt last November

‘I have no option than to register because, for me, one year is a long long time and too precious to waste. What I have decided to do is to go for computer training while I prepare for the exam. With God on my side, I believe I can make it’ only be taken online.

The board has accredited centres with Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities that met its standard in all states of the federation where candidates who select the CBT option would take the examination. These centres are more in number in well-developed cities than in the hinterland. The board’s plan is for candidates taking the CBT option to write the examination between April 15 and 27 - according to the schedule they are given.

The majority writing through the conventional PPT will write on April 27.

Before the PPT centres got filled up, cyber café operators interviewed by The Nation said many candidates shunned the CBT option because they are not computer literate, and fears that things may go wrong and their results would be lost.

TSS: Discordant tones in Anambra

N 2009, Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, approved payment of the 27.5 per cent Teachers Salary Structure (TSS), but some persons in the state claim that what he pays is Teachers Enhancement Allowance (TEA) However, the chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Sir Nzemeka Olisa insists that Obi has been paying (TSS) since 2009 Those, according to him, who do not receive the full complement of the 27.5 per cent are those that classified themselves as non tutorial workers.

"You can not be a member of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and you say you are a non tutorial staff; that one is non academic; such thing can not happen in accountancy profession, or advertising profession.

"Our Governor, Mr. Peter Obi approved it in 2009 and he has paid but only that group of people have not been received theirs in full because they see themselves as non teachers because they do not carry chalk," Olisa said.

The state chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ifeanyi Offodile also said Obi has paid the (TSS) since December 2009. He however blamed over zealous civil servants in the office of the Head of

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Service for the seemingly partial implementation.

Offodile said the office of Head of Service removed names of teachers who work in the ASUBEB without consultation.

He said that the 27.5 per cent was classified as follows: 15 per cent for special allowance for professional teachers, five per cent for hazard allowance, another five was for teachers in classroom activities, while 2.5 per cent was purely professional.

"We are showing good faith with Governor Obi because he is a good man. He has paid as he promised but along the line, teachers in the boards were denied, that is (ASUBEB) and post primary school service commission (PPSC)," he said.

According to him, teachers in PPSSC receive 17.5 per cent as against 27.5 because they do not receive hazard and classroom activities' allowances.

"But in ASUBEB, their names were completely removed by the office of the HoS. (NUT) has made a case and we believe our Governor is making a head way with the office of the (HOS)," he said.

When the Nation visited the office

• Olisa

of the chairman of (PPSSC), Mrs. Joy Ulasi, she claimed to be too busy, though, she admitted that Obi has paid (TSS) in the state.

On further investigations on the issue, The Nation gathered that a lot of intrigues were going on in the state concerning the payment of (TSS), while some claim that the government has paid, some others claim that what Obi has paid is what they refer is as (TEA) According to a source, "We are enduring the entire thing, if you tell them to pay TSS, honestly, many people will slump because they believe the state has no money for that "the source said.

JAMB allays their fears, saying the level of computer literacy needed to write the CBT requires the candidate to be able to use the mouse to click the correct answer or the keyboard to enter the correct option.

No matter, some candidates have decided to go for training; others are willing to wait until next year to write the PPT. At De Masters Concept in Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt, the operator, simply identified as Elvis, said: "Prior to the completion of Rivers State space two weeks ago, no candidate opted the e-testing, but after the closure, most of them are accepting the method with visible reluctance."

Rather than choose the CBT option and write in Lagos, a candidate, simply called Jide, chose to travel to Esa-Oke to write the PPT. He said his reluctance for the CBT lies in the fact that whatever JAMB does for the first time always suffers teething problems.

He said: "Do you remember that when JAMB started the UTME three years ago, many candidates had problems? But it was the students who paid for it and not JAMB. Now they (JAMB) are introducing 'computer examination' to it again. If along the line there are big mistakes, it is we applicants that will pay heavily for it and not them.

That is why I opted to write in Esa Oke since there in no more centres in Lagos."

Auwalu Umar, a prospective candidate in Kano, who opted out of the examination, cited the CBT as his reason. He said he has no knowledge of computer and would not want to spend his money on "try your luck" "I will rather wait for next examination year; before then, I must have gone for computer training and would have been well-equipped to sit for the examination. My dreams of going to the university cannot be dimmed just for one year," he said.

But Miss Cynthia Bukola Fanaiye, another Kano resident, is not ready to wait that long. She has registered for the CBT and is now going for computer training.

She said: "I have no option than to register because for me, one year is a long long time and too precious to waste. What I have decided to do is to go for computer

training, while I prepare for the exam. With God on my side, I believe I can make it."

A café operator in Navy Town, Ojo, Bakare Surajudeen Lekan, said candidates are also afraid of the CBT. "There are no centres around again because people are not choosing the computer based exam. No shading again. They are travelling to other states to use the pencil and paper based even to the North especially Kebbi. They are scared of writing the exam with computer. People are no longer registering; they are waiting to see if JAMB will open pencil and paper again."

A candidate, Mosunlola Olurotimi, looked dejected as she registered for the CBT option at Kay Educational Consult, Agbowo, Ibadan. She said she was scared of the CBT exam and anxious about how the questions will be set and what duration the time to be alloted for each subject.

In an interview, JAMB Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Fabian Benjamin said more candidates than estimated have registered for the examination. He put the figure at 1.3 million. (Last year, 1,503,931 candidates wrote the examination.) He also said about 40,000 candidates have registered to write the CBT, while another 40,000 chose the DBT. He added that the board would not extend the March 15 dead line, adding that there are no plans to release special centres as some people are insinuating.

"The March 15 deadline for registration is sacrosanct. The CBT starts April 15 until 27. The paper and pencil test will hold on April 27. We have more than the estimated number of candidates registered for this year's examination. But there is nothing like special centre this year. JAMB is not releasing more centres," he said.

He had said the same thing in an earlier interview, "We cannot just increase the number of centres because the candidates are more than the number we anticipated for the examination.

Before we accredit a centre for the examination, they have to meet some requirements. Candidates that cannot find centres can register for the CBT. There are centres available in Lagos and elsewhere.”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

EDUCATION TV College awards scholarship From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

T

HE NTV TV College Jos has awarded scholarship to three of its diploma students who topped their classes in the 2011/2012 academic session.

The recipients are: Awoseyin Anthony, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.39 (TV Production); Dogara Danbaba, 4.27 (Journalism); and Comfort Ayohk, 4.43 (Engineering).

Presenting the award letters to the students, Rector of the college, Mr Aleichenu Odumu, described the gesture as the "dividend of hard work, dedication and drive for academic excellence."

"With these scholarships, the recipients will not pay tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic session. It has been the tradition of this institution to recognise and award students who distinguished themselves through hard work and dedication to academic excellence. It will also encourage others to take their academic pursuit with all seriousness," he said.

The rector lamented the poor attitude of some students to their academics which accounted for the massive failure and withdrawals of students from the college in the 2011/ 2012 session.

"Rather than paying more attention to academic work, students dedicate more of their time to clubbing, partying and other social activities at the expense of their academic work. I am glad that some of the students have remained focused on their primary goal and today they are being honoured," he said.

He called on other students to emulate their hard work and pursue academic success with all diligence, so as to earn good grades and meet the demands of the competitive labour market after graduation.

Responding on behalf of the recipients, Anthony thanked the rector and his management team for the kind gesture and promised they would always do their best to make the college proud.

He urged other students to study hard and live up to expectations, stressing that hard work pays.

Varsities urged to comply with NUC guidelines

T

HE Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie has called on Senates of Nigerian universities to ensure adequate compliance with all guidelines from NUC for the establishment of programmes and the establishment of department.

He said the days of running programmes in unapproved centres without qualified academics are gone.

"Departments and programmes should not be mounted as a means of creating empires for ourselves in the system. I have always warned my colleagues in the university that if we cannot regulate ourselves then we will leave our Senate to be regulated by politicians," he added.

Delivering the 18th convocation lecture of the Lagos State University (LASU) entitled: Quality Assurance and the Challenges of Mandate Delivery in Nigerian Universities, Okojie said some of the challenges affecting the delivery of quality mandate in Nigeria include funding, which

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

By Medinat Kanabe

affects the quality of teaching, learning and research facilities. He said the quantity and quality of learning resources to be provided to make a conducive environment is dependent of the volume of financial resource made available to the institution.

Represented by Prof Adebisi Balogun, former VC of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Okojie said other problems are dilapidated physical infrastructure, inadequate manpower, student enrolment and access, leadership and governance.

Defining quality assurance as the policies, systems, strategies and resources used by the institution to certify that its quality requirement and standards are being met, he said the job of a QA agency is to see that standards processes and policies are in place and carried out.

Saying that some universities have developed their master plan and

G

•Prof Okojie

strategic plan with identified goals and action plan for 25 years, he asked if LASU has one.

For efficient service delivery, he said the NUC encourages universities to have a SERVICOM unit, continually develop a system that seeks to improve the provision of service with emphasis on future results, develop statistical tools to understand sub-systems, uncover problems and identify processes for further improvement, and set goals for the measurement of results that will prevent future failures.

OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has given an initial cheque of N10 million to the Guardian Angel Nursery and Primary School, Abatete, Nnewi to commence the rebuilding of its twostorey building razed by fire earlier this month.

Obi presented the cheque when he visited the school with some top government officials.

He said the gesture was in fulfillment of his promise during an earlier visit to assess the level of destruction wrecked by the inferno.

Obi said the government would support the school to complete the structure and reinstated the determination of his administration to continue to assist schools irrespective of ownership status.

The governor appealed to privileged individuals and groups to contribute in actualising the project.

The Headmistress of the school, Reverend Sister Maria Goretti Ngwuagu, who expressed gratitude to the Governor for his kind gesture, noted that his prompt intervention brought a lot of relief to the school.

Reverend Sister Ngwuagu said the Governor has remained responsive to the needs and yearnings of the people, assuring that they will continue to support his administration with prayers.

Also speaking, Reverend Father Ignatius Okeke of Most Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, Abatete said the Governor's intervention had consoled them and praised the high level of success recorded in the church's partnership with government in promoting the education and health sectors.

Productivity reduced cultism in Auchi Poly •Representatives of first-placed Red House (middle), second-placed Green House (left) and third-placed Yellow House (right) showing off their trophies at the Pampers Private School Inter-house sports competition held at the UNILAG sports centre

Ex-minister chairs scheme for indigent students

Centre offers online training to students

A

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

T

HE former Minister of State for Water Resources, Chief Precious Ngalale has been appointed as the chairman board of trustee Fast-track Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) responsible for the welfare of indigent students and youths empowerment in the state.

Ngalele was appointed with Pastor George Izunwa, Dr Charles Numbere, Hon John Imegi and Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, the administrator of greater Port Harcourt.

Delivering the acceptance speech at the inauguration ceremony held in Le-Meridien, Hotel, Port Harcourt, Ngalale, who served during President Obasanjo's first term, said he is delighted to be given the responsibility to cater for the indigent students in the state.

He said: "I want to thank the initiator of Fast-track Development Initiative for the trust reposed in me.

As a one-time minster of this great country, I have had the opportunity of touching the life of the youths and helping the indigent students. Today I have been given another opportunity to cater for indigent students.

"The youths are suffering; the poor students are out of school and most of us are not happy about it. But one thing is certain we must be

Burnt school gets N10m

•Ngalale

committed to the development of Rivers State and one of the ways to do that is to assist the indigent students," he said.

The former minister also noted during his speech that the best way to reduce crime and other social vices among the youths is by creating an avenue for youth's empowerment.

"If you want to reduce crime think of how to empower the youths," he said.

Responding on behalf of the organisation, its secretary, Mr InemeAwaji Okitumu John said they look up to Ngalale to provide leadership.

"One of the objectives of our organisation is to ensure that indigent students and youths in the state who have nobody to assist them in life become what they wish to be through the NGO. We are happy that we got the right people to pilot the affairs of this organisation, especially by having a philanthropist in the person of Chief Precious Ngalale, to lead the board of trustee."

LEADING computer training institute, Computer Aided Design Centre (CADC) Centre, has extended a hand of fellowship to students and tertiary intuitions in Nigeria to improve their human capacity with the knowledge of computer-based training.

The centre said it is ready to partner with tertiary institutions on training and other areas of collaboration.

In line with this, CAD has opened a new centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, to cater for school leavers, undergraduates and fresh graduates.

The centre, a franchise training institution from CAD Centre Training Services, India, in collaboration with Riverbank Technologies and Engineering Centre, offers a wide range of courses for professionals in the field of oil and gas, energy and telecoms.

Managing Director, CAD Centre Training Services, India, Saravanan Karaiadselvan, said the centre boasts of well-equipped classrooms with the latest digital gadgets, computer laboratory, digital library and counselling room, among others.

Said Karaiadselvan: "We take-off with engineering, and then move on to other non-engineering courses in the second phase - like Interior design, graphics design and fashion design. We understand that companies place high premium on technical skills of graduates of engineering so we will make them employable by giving them the best training by experts."

By Adegunle Olugbamila

On entry qualifications, he said, "There is something for school leavers with Senior School Certificate Exams (SSCE) from age 17. We call them draftsmen in the industry and they are of different shades such as mechanical draftsmen, civil draftsmen and architecture draftsmen among others. So, the choice is theirs. They can choose what they want to become."

Karaiadselvan added that resource persons are a synergy of experts from India and Nigeria. "The truth is that we can't have all our trainers from abroad. Our job is to create employment for local people and make them employable in this country as well as outside," he said.

At the inauguration of the centre in Lagos, Ernest Ndukwe, an engineer and former Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) described the institution as a big boost for aspiring professionals.

Ndukwe said: "In those days, we decided to set up the Digital Bridge Institute in Abuja to help train manpower and that institution is still running. In fact, I would mention the CAD Centre to the President of the school because there might be some areas of collaboration that can happen between them. I think cooperation with the CAD Centre will do Nigeria a lot of good."

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

T

HE Rector of the Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Dr Philipa Idogho, has attributed the near eradication of cultism in the school in the last three years to the continuous productive engagement of its students.

In an interview with journalists, Dr Idogho said: "Students want to learn and that is why we are exploiting that avenue. We keep them busy with academic and entrepreneurial activities, leadership training and all of that; that is why we have experienced this phenomenal reduction on the issues of cultism in this school.

Mrs Idogho, who answered questions on a variety of issues, appealed to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to increase the carrying capacity of the institution so it can admit more students.

"Every year, we see up to 24,000 students coming to do the postUTME screening but many of them are not admitted because of our carrying capacity. That is why we are building more facilities. We are asking the NBTE to give us additional carrying capacity to enable us to admit more students into the school," she said.

Besides, she said the school has established a Centre for Flexible Skills that would enable primary school leaving certificate holders and its equivalents to develop themselves in their pace through the use of radio, face-to-face learning and lecture notes.

She said the programme was important because the students would graduate from one level to another based on their ability to comprehend what they are taught.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

EDUCATION

OOU SSANU pleads for facilities

EKSU FILE

29 students expelled TWENTY-NINE students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), AdoEkiti have been expelled from the institution while 10 were suspended for examinations misconduct.

Those expelled were found guilty by an investigation panel on examination misconduct of various offenses including use of fake examination permit, procurement of fake scanned permit, use of mobile phone, handbook and written materials relevant to the paper, and impersonation.

The 10 students suspended for two semesters were found guilty of bringing sheets of paper containing information relevant to the courses into the examination hall, exchanging question papers and writing on the back of answer scripts.

E-learning experts visit ANOTHER group of IBM experts have visited EKSU in relation to enhancing e-learning facilities of the university.

The EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oladipo Aina said the visit was relevant and in tandem with, the vision and mission of the University becoming an institution of repute.

The group, made up of experts on e-school promised to study the strategic plan of the university, particularly, on ways to enhance a standard Distance Learning Programme.

Members of the e-school group were: Laora Sharp from Canada, Peter Thompson from United States of America, Bianka Boguar from Hungary and Bhuvana Natarajan from India.

Students hail VC on electricity STUDENTS have applauded the installation and provision of electricity on the EKSU campus at night.

A cross-section of the students said that they could not recollect anytime before now when there was electricity on campus at night, talk less of during examination period.

Secretary General of the Students Union, Johnson Folarin, said the Vice-Chancellor has improved infrastructure and students' welfare in the past one year.

He said that with electricity on campus at night, students were able to study harder than before.

A final year student of Banking and Finance, Isaac Omoniyi said that the Vice-Chancellor has tried in providing adequate security for students and at the same time waging war against cultists and

T

HE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago - Iwoye, has urged the state government to assist the institution in improving her infrastructural facilities to foster better working condition, teaching and learning.

SSANU said the ongoing infrastructural renewal projects by the government - "road construction and building of model schools," are laudable but added that similar gestures should be extended to OOU. He said the university needs well constructed road network and a Senate building, as well as hostel facilities for the students.

The OOU-SSANU Chairman, Comrade Taiwo Egberongbe, who made the appeal at the 44th meeting of the Western Zone of the association hosted by the university, said it is regrettable that 30 years after, OOU cannot boast of a befitting Senate building and other basic necessary infrastructure, urging government to do something about it.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

According to him, the said infrastructure when provided would make teaching, research and learning easier.

Egberongbe urged the government to increase the subvention to the institution and strive to also take up its entire salary bill, stressing that a situation where the state government shared the wage bill burden between her and the varsity in the ration of 70:30 is killing the institution.

The meeting which was attended by delegates from 18 branches that make up the SSANU Western Zone was declared open by the university Vice-Chancellor, Prof Saburi Adesanya.

Also, SSANU Chairman, Western Zone, Com. Alfred Jimoh, appealed to OOU management to look into the issues raised by their colleagues and find ways of addressing them particularly delay in payment of salaries, outstanding arrears, to ensure peaceful academic environment.

T

HE Principal, Federal Science and Technical College, (FSTC), Yaba, Lagos, Mr William Iweama, said the school could turn around the fortunes of Nigeria technologically, if given the necessary support.

In an interview, Iweama said the 65-year old institution is producing students that would be relevant in the science and technology sector given their huge talents.

"I want to call on the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to invest more in this institution because it is where we have future scientists and technologists that are needed to take this country to the next level.

"In this period where every economy is technologically driven, we need to encourage these children by providing the necessary facilities needed to bring out their talents," he said.

Iweama said to encourage the students, the school organises an annual science week programme.

"During this occasion, the science department of the institution assembles students from both the technical and science arms of the school, and asks them to practicalise and showcase what they had been able to produce in the course of their

Principal seeks tech. support study in the school," he said.

Also speaking, the Head of Science Department of the college, Mrs Magerate Nyah, identified lack of equipment as the bane of the study of science and technical courses in most schools across the country.

She said the absence of such facilities made it difficult to practicalise lessons, which she attributed to why a lot of the students do not show enough interest in such courses.

Nyah said that the institution had been improvising facilities that were being used in practicalising what was being taught.

"The Federal government has invested in the development of Science and Technical studies in this school but I feel they can do more especially in the area of provision of more teachers in this field.

"I am optimistic that once this is put in place along with a well equipped laboratory, the country will not have any cause to worry when it comes to technological advancement," she said.

UNILAG donates space, equipment to Braille centre

T

HE University of Lagos (UNILAG) has provided the Soroptimist International Braille Centre located inside the university with bigger space and 30 Braille computers.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Rahamon Bello, announced the donation when the club's federation President of Great Britain and Ireland, Mrs Pat Black visited the Soroptimist International Eko (SIEKO), the owners of the centre.

This means the centre will be relocated from its present location behind the main auditorium to a place the university is yet to disclose.

Represented by the Deputy ViceChancellor (Academic and Research), Prof Babajide Alo, the Vice-Chancellor said the university management decided to assist them in upgrading the centre because of the good work the club is doing.

He promised to assist them more than half way and told them that the University Librarian Dr Okanlawon Adediji has been charged with the responsibility of meeting their needs whatsoever.

"We don't have an option but to support the project. We want to cater for all our students especially our

•From right: Mrs Steele, Mrs Funlola Ademiyewo, Dr Adediji, Prof Alo, Mrs Black, and Mrs Barber (left) at the event

By Medinat Kanabe nated some computers," she ex- into Braille and internet facility for

special students," he said.

In her address, Cordelia Barber, SIEKO President told Mrs Black that three years ago, the Eko club saw the need to start a Braille centre in the university to help the visually-impaired.

"The renovation of the site and purchase of specialised equipment was and is still financed by the Late Chief Ayo Rosiji's Family. The centre is managed by, Mrs Jean Obi. She is also our technical adviser while Guinness Nigeria and UNILAG do-

plained.

She said apart from the Braille centre, the 30-year old club has sponsored many female students from primary through secondary and higher institutions in the country.

Chairperson of the centre, Norma Jackson Steele said there are 40 visually-impaired students in the centre.

She said the equipment in the centre include the Braille machine, which translates words into Braille, scanner machine, which scan words

Don advocates world class varsity

P

• From Left: Dr Adewale Adeleke, Miss Faderera Omosowoeni, Dr Tunji Azeez, Dr Kemi Adesina, Prof Oyeweso, and Mr Raifu Isiaka at the 52nd birthday lecture of Oyeweso at IkIre Campus of the Osun State University.

the blind.

She called for support from individuals and organisations saying about N1.5million yearly to keep running the centre. "We have created awareness with the university that is why they have decided to assist our centre."

In her remarks, Mrs Black said the project is dear to her heart as she is also almost blind and anybody helping people who are visually-impaired are dare to her heart.

ROF Hakeem Tijani of the Faculty of Arts, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State has said the establishment of world class university will go a long way to bridge the widening gap between manpower and resources available for development.

Tijani was a guest lecturer at the 52nd birthday anniversary of Prof Siyan Oyeweso, Provost, College of Culture and Humanities Osun State University, Ikire Campus.

Tijani argued that world class universities hold the key to development and are accessible to knowledge. He added that the kernel of his lecture was how to turn existing universities in Nigeria to world class so Nigeria can develop the necessary manpower required for economic stability.

Speaking further, he said Nigeria could learn from world class universities such as Oxford, Harvard, whose immense impact in their countries has resonated worldwide.

"The international rankings have attracted even more attention than originally anticipated, and the impact has

been dramatic. In a number of countries, the results are a source of national pride," he said.

On his part, the celebrator, Oyeweso, said the country must evolve education framework that would guarantee the best attitude to research and scholarly input. He said additional fund to institutions of learning would enable scholars obtain grants to undergo research.He said for a world class university to exist, it must be capable of attracting international scholars who would blend their ideas with those within the system.

"All world-class universities are research universities, and they always play a critical role within the tertiary education system in training the professionals, scientists and researchers needed for the economic development and generating new knowledge in support of the national innovation system," he said.

Oyeweso noted that the Osun State University is moving toward this direction and in due course would be amongst the sought after institutions in the country.

29

Governor’s gift to a best student

*CAMPUSES ‘They *NEWS served *PEOPLE *KUDOS& well’ KNOCKS Last week, all hell was let loose at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) following the death

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 28, 2013

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State, has been reopened, two weeks after it was shut, following renewed clash between Offa and Erin-Ile, its host communities.

Though normalcy has returned to the communities, the students are jittery that things may get out of hand again. AKINOLA OLUYI (ND II Mass Communication) writes.

‘Writing develops the mind’ Taiwo Ajireloja is studying Crop Production and Protection at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, but his writing skill stands him out.

The 500-Level student won the 2012 edition of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Essay Competition.

He spoke with HANNAH OJO (English).

•OFFA POLY gate

How we survived Offa-Erin Ile crisis F

OR two weeks, the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State was shut. Its closure followed renewed fighting between Offa and Erin-Ile, the institution’s host communities. The crisis has thawed; the school has been reopened; but there is an uneasy calm because staff and students are still jittery. Nobody can say for sure that the crisis will not resurge.

The age-long animosity between Offa and Erin-Ile resurged last month when commercial bus drivers from both communities disagreed on the terminus for vehicles plying the route. An accident involving vehicles belonging to an Offa and an Erin-Ile indigenes led to the clash in which properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Guns, daggers and cutlasses

•Students relive ordeal as school reopens were used by the rioters. There were reports of casualties on both sides. During the clash, off-campus hostels near the borderline were destroyed. Before the government drafted riot policemen to the scene, a popular mosque in Offa, Masjid Noor, and the newly-built Offa Descendant Union building had been vandalised. Erin-Ile too came under attack.

The management evacuated the campus to prevent any untoward situation. Some students were killed in past crises between the communities. Some students, who live among the indigenes, fled their hostels, leaving their properties.

An Erin-Ile indigene, Mr Ayo Majekodunmi, told our corre-

spondent that the situation was terrible as students living in the community escaped through the bush before they could get vehicles to take them home. “I heard cries of a student calling her mother in her room. She later escaped through the window and ran for her life when the fight was very serious,” Majekodunmi added.

Though no student came to harm, many who lived off-campus abandoned their hostels and moved into the school. Those living close to the troubled boundary packed their personal effects and moved to populated areas in Offa.

An Offa indigene, Mr Kazeem

Babajide, said the management and security personnel did their best to protect students. He said: “When the crisis started, there was panic everywhere. Students living in my house ran helter-skelter. I pitied them because some of them left their properties and ran away. They left their doors opened without thinking that their electronic gadgets could be looted. I helped them to pack their properties to a safe place. I thank God none of them was killed in the crisis.”

When the campus was reopened, students relived their ordeals.

Samson Olusegun, ND II Food Technology, said: “The clash caught •Continued on page 30

•Taiwo

•UNN bars 137 from writing exam-P32 •’Hijab is symbol of morality’-P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

30

CAMPUS LIFE

A day of national mourning

Pushing Out with

Agbo Agbo

I

HAD an encounter with a group of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members who passed out recently that left me really depressed. These ex-corps members were disillusioned because they see a very bleak future where the government is “advising” them to be job creators when they know next to nothing in that aspect. “Sir, how can I create jobs, am I the government?” one inquired. Another said: “My father kept telling me there was a time when jobs will be waiting for you once you’re through with your studies, they even had choices back then I was told”! Another blurted out “the government must declare a day of national mourning for the youths of this great country; we cannot continue like this, things must change”. What an appropriate title for a write up!

Without watering down the gravity of the issue at stake, I’d like to recount an Associated Press (AP) story about a southern Philippine town that declared a day of mourning and held funeral rites –wait for this, not for jobs or other issues but - for the world’s largest saltwater crocodile and then preserve its remains in a museum to keep tourists coming and prevent their community from slipping back into obscurity. The one-tonne crocodile was declared dead two weeks ago a few hours after flipping over with a bloated stomach in a pond in an eco-tourism park in Bunawan town, which had started to draw tourists, revenue and development because of the immense reptile.

The Mayor of the town, Edwin Cox Elorde was reported to have said: “The whole town, in fact the whole province, is mourning. My phones kept ringing because people wanted to say how affected they are.” During a news conference, Elorde fought back tears as he recalled how the town took care of the crocodile not as a beast but like an “adopted son.” Guinness World Records had proclaimed it the larg-

08052959489 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com est saltwater crocodile in captivity last year, measuring it at 6.17 meters (20.24 feet). The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile that measured more than five meters (17 feet) and weighed nearly a tonne.

The crocodile was named Lolong, after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after travelling to Bunawan to help capture the beast. Estimated to be more than 50 years old, it was blamed for a few brutal deaths of villagers before they came to love it. The villagers later performed a tribal ritual, which involves butchering chicken and pigs as funeral offerings to thank forest spirits for the fame and other blessings the crocodile has brought. A group of Christians separately offered prayers before the autopsy. All this for a Crocodile!

It is against this backdrop that I want to situate the call for “a day of national mourning” for the youths of Nigeria. If a town can devote so much for a beast then my ex-corps’ member friends definitely have a point, it is indeed time we take an introspective look at ourselves as a nation to see where we derailed on issues bothering on these future leaders and how to retrace our steps so that we can get back on track again.

My friends almost resorted to fisticuffs when one of them said the issue of unemployment is a worldwide phenomenon. He pointed out that Greece and Spain has a youth unemployment rate of close to 50 per cent. A colleague countered his assertion by saying “the governments in these countries are doing all in their power to address the situation. What is ours doing?”

At the point I had to come in to ask if they’ve heard about the much touted Fed-

eral Government initiated Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria, otherwise known as YouWin. One of them gave a cynical laugh and said it is kalokalo (lottery) and does not have the capacity to create employment; he challenged me to name one of such businesses that has successfully taken off and employed the myriad of unemployed graduates. Since I did not have such information, I filed the challenge away for future research.

I took out time to reflect on what our youths are facing after the encounter and came to the conclusion that it is tough growing up in present day Nigeria; most of our youths still get pocket money from their parents, and from relatives who helped sponsor them in school. Few are willing or ready to get married today talk less of having children. It is not uncommon to see some putting up with friends, while others still live with their parents and relatives. Some even have to falsify their age in order to participate in the NYSC if only to “buy time”.

Twenty or 30 years ago, scenarios like these are rare or did not exist at all. Before then, the average age for a Nigerian woman to get married was 20, and for men 25. In the past, people went from childhood to adolescence and from adolescence to adulthood with relative ease as if it was preprogrammed. But today the society is being redefined by a whole new set of rules that is currently forcing our youths to remain perpetual adolescence postponing their graduation to the much desired adulthood with responsibility, most times for no fault of theirs.

While our deliberation went on, two groups of youths emerged. One group said their parents don’t seem to be complaining and are doing everything possible to cushion the effect of unemployment on them.

When I probed further I found out that most of them come from relatively comfortable homes where the parents are well to do. The second group are those that virtually crawled through the finishing line of their education.

Members of this group will recount how tough it was to pass through the university eating once or twice daily, they can actually count the number of times they had three square meals throughout the duration of their studies!

This group is in the majority and they’ve

‘Writing develops the mind’

Students relive ordeal

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•Continued from page 29

us unawares. I thought it was a joke but before I knew what was going on, I saw people running in different directions. When I came out of the campus, my hostel, Kes Villa, had been destroyed. I saw vehicles and houses on fire. I have never witnessed such terror before.”

Samson urged the management and government to help students affected by the crisis. “They must reassure students that such incident will not happen again because it was a scene of terror,” he added.

Omolade Oyebode, HND 1 Quantity Surveying, lamented the swindling of escaping students by commercial bus drivers in Offa.

“When we were travelling out of Offa during the mayhem, the transport fares were unexpectedly increased. Fares rose from N500 to N2,500. I left Offa to Ajase where I stay. The fare was increased from N100 to N400 that day. I left some money in my room which I was unable to take. When I came back, I did not see anything again.

“It is very sad that some of the students who were affected by the incident are now facing accommodation problem because they cannot stay in their off-campus hostels due to fear.”

Omoniyi Olagoroye, ND II Business Administration, complained that the security personnel de-

•A row of shops vandalised during the clash

ployed to maintain peace in the community have abandoned their responsibilities to exhort students.

“The soldiers and policemen came to the viewing centre where we watch football matches last week. They scattered everywhere and beat up students. They asked us to pay N50 each if we wanted to escape their punishment. This is very bad. Is that what they were sent to do here?” Omoniyi said.

A student, Abisola Alonge, ND 1 Office Technology and Management, who lost her property, said: “All I can say is ‘thank God’.

I could only escape with my credentials that day. Everything my parents bought for me was burnt.

When I got to know that governments wanted to help us, I came back to school immediately and I did everything they asked me

devised another strategy; the acquisition of more certificates. This quest has also thrown up another challenge which I’ve termed “certificate glut.” Upon graduation, since there is no job waiting and to improve on their chances of gaining employment, they go back to school to acquire higher degrees. Even with that, there is no guarantee that the candidate will get a job.

Now, because many Nigerian graduates are acquiring higher certificates, there has been a relative reduction in the value of these degrees. The value of wages has also depreciated. It is now a common feature that the take home for jobs available to a graduate can be as low N20,000, that is if you can even find one.

How far can that go when you factor in the fact that the worker must have a roof over his head, food to eat and transportation to work. A two-bedroom flat on average, depending on location in cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt or Abuja ranges from N250,000 to N450,000. And most Lagos landlords will still want you to pay at least a year and half rent, if not two or three years, with agency and agreement fees, never minding the new Lagos tenancy law. What about PHCN and their “crazy bills?” and oh yes, money to fuel I beta pass my neighbour generator. Who’s talking about a car here, we are talking raw survival. You have to feed, you have to wear clothes.

So, when you discuss adulthood and the responsibility of marriage and family life with such a person you could as well be speaking Greek. Even if we don’t want to accept it this group is now in their mid to late 30s or even early 40s. Are we surprised that kidnapping has taken on a whole new dimension? There is nothing as dangerous as leaving intelligent and educated people with virtually nothing to do. If this becomes the norm, sophisticated crime will also become the norm.

Our government pays lip service to issues concerning its youths, and will not let them have a voice. Programmes that government says is for the youth is usually hypocritical, paternalistic and anachronistic and often avenues to enrich those in the corridors of power.

For them, youths are statistics for primitive accumulation rather than resources. If they are not used as political thugs, they are killed serving their fatherland. Why will they not call for a day of national mourning?

to do. When I went to submit the document detailing everything I lost, they said it was late. As I talk to you now my brother, I don’t have more than two clothes. I am staying with my friends; I don’t have a hostel again.”

The Students’ Union Government (SUG) has told students not to panic, promising to do its best to ensure that the crisis did not recur.

The statement was signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the union, Johnson Eleko.

The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Mr Adeyemi Adeyinka, assured the students of their security. He praised them for cooperating with the management during the crisis.

Adeyinka said the polytechnic had written to push the case of students, who lost properties in the crisis before a panel was set up by Kwara State government to probe the clash.

HAT motivated your participation in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) essay contest?

Well, apart from the fact that I am a student, which made me eligible for competition, I was inspired by the topic of the essay which is: Corporate Governance and the Nigerian Capital Market Development. It is in line with my area of interest. So, I took my pen and wrote the essay.

Can you describe your feelings when you were announced as the winner of the competition?

Of course, I was overwhelmed with joy. But, it was actually on the award day that the winners were called. The regulation of the essay was strict because the test was in two phases. A the first 20 contenders were called to write another essay, which was strictly supervised by the organisers.

The topic was given to us on the day we wrote the essay and the results determined the winners. The cash prize which I won, was N300,000.

This was in the form of shares in quoted companies, then a certificate and plaque.

What were the points that made your essay outstanding?

I started my essay with explanation of the two key terms in the topic.

I explained corporate governance and what it means. I wrote about its principles and importance to the development of the capital market. I also explained some things about the capital market; how it operates and I established a relationship between how corporate governance can bring about the development of the capital market. That was how the essay was organised.

Your discipline borders on agriculture, how did come about writing?

One thing about writing is that, it

helps to develop the human mind and make people knowledgeable in all fields. If somebody plans to write on a particular thing, he has to conduct a research on that topic.

It is in the process that one acquires knowledge. The knowledge can then be applied even to one’s discipline or organisation, regardless of field.

So, writing is a process of knowledge acquisition. It can make somebody to add values to his course of study through the application of what has been learnt through writing essays.

How long have you been writing and how did you hone your writing skills?

I cannot really say how long but I will say throughout my secondary school days, essay writing was a thing I enjoyed. Also, I developed my writing skill by reading materials, especially those that have to do with economics, entrepreneurship and other areas of interest that I can benefit from. It is the knowledge that I gained from reading these materials that I put into writing when needed.

What should young people learn from you?

Anybody that wants to be knowledgeable must be ready to learn in different areas. Widening one’s scope by reading materials from different fields of human endeavour is also important. I encourage the youth to be determined because determination helps in overcoming challenges. Young people should also know that they can achieve anything through the power of God. What plans do you have for the future?

I see myself as an entrepreneur. I want to put into practice all the skills I have learnt over the years with a view to impacting positively on people and the society.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

31

CAMPUS LIFE Roseline Oluchukwu Ejindu grew up with her father, following her mother’s death when she was a toddler. She didn’t allow the loss to affect her. She graduated with a First Class in Electronics Engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). INYA AGHA and OLANREWAJU AJALA write.

Governor’s gift to a best student

S

HE was unassuming as she strode to the rostrum amidst thunderous applause from more than 18,000 graduating students at the Margaret Ekpo Convocation Arena of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State.

Miss Roseline Oluchukwu Ejindu is the overall best graduating student in the 2011/2012 session. She graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.77 on a scale of five points.

Presenting a valedictory speech on behalf of others, the Electronics Engineering graduate thanked the Prof Barth Okolo-led management for providing an enabling environment and facilities that aided the successful completion of their programmes.

Roseline attributed her success to the hard work and moral discipline, which she said her family inculcated in her “I learned by associating with Christian organisations in the university.”

She said: “While not denying the place of hard work in this achievement and privilege I enjoy today, I

must admit that my background and experience in life contributed immensely to my success. I come from a home where I have always been encouraged to work hard for academic excellence.”

She said, as an electronics engineer, she believes the economic development of Nigeria depends and would be driven by technology. She noted that Nigeria is endowed with mineral and human resources, which should help the country in its journey to prosperity.

“The path to Nigeria’s vision of becoming one of the top advanced countries could only be accomplished through uncommon technological innovations. It is possible, very possible for Nigeria to be the number one advanced nation in the world. I believe that e-development is the answer,” she insisted.

Roseline, who hails from Anambra State, dedicated her achievement to her father, whom she said provided everything she needed as a student, following the death of her mother when she was a toddler.

The valedictorian was given mul-

•Roseline with Prof Okolo during the convocation

tiple scholarships from the government and corporate organisations including Exxon Mobil, MTN Foundation, Etisalat Nigeria and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

A day before the convocation, the university organised an award night for the best graduating students. Roseline carted away awards, which included UNN’s Overall Best Graduating Student, Faculty of Engineering Best Graduating Student, Department of Electronic Engineering Best Graduating Student, Indira Gandhi Memorial Prize to the best graduating student of the session and Best Graduating Female Student.

Other awards she received included Honourable F.A MbuluAmadi Prize in Resource Develop-

ment to the Best Graduating Student of the session, UNN Community Bank Prize to the Best Graduating Student and Ifenyinwa Ezechukwu Memorial Prize to the Best Graduating Student in Electronic Engineering.

Roseline said she would like to further her education to enable her make meaningful contribution to the country’s growth.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who was at the ceremony, said he was thrilled that an indigene emerged valedictorian of the university. The governor, who said his administration believed in rewarding excellence, said the state would sponsor Roseline to further her education in any university of her choice in any part of the world.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that a woman also won the Best Graduating Student award in the 2010/ 2011 set. Dr Edith Nwosu, who anchored the ceremony, called on male students to pick up the challenge for excellence posed by their female counterparts.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the university’s history is replete with excellent performance by female students. Female alumni of the institution, who graduated on top of their classes include the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, former Education Minister, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Director-General of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Dora Akunyili, a poet, Chika Unigwe and Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo.

While their mates were celebrating Valentine’s Day, some students in Imo State went to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NTBS) to donate blood. JOHNPAUL NNAMDI writes.

•One of the students donating blood

Their Their brothers’ brothers’ keepers keeper •The donors cutting Valentine’s cake in NTBS laboratory

F

OR many youths, every February 14 – St Valetine’s Day - is a day to visit eateries, amusement parks, restaurants and related joints to have fun. But some students chose to mark the day in a different way. They opted to donate blood at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NTBS), Owerri, Imo State to save lives.

The donors were mostly undergraduates of higher institutions in Imo State. When CAMPUSLIFE asked why they volunteered to donate blood, some of them said it was to show love and serve humanity.

Chibueze Nwokike, a student of Imo State University (IMSU), was prompted to donate blood to show love to the sick. He told CAMPUSLIFE that he loved to en-

gage in humanitarian activities. In order not to be selfish and “serve humanity”, Chibueze said, he considered donating blood on the last Valentine’s Day. Many students donate blood regularly but Martha Arigbonu, who is studying History and International Studies at Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri, said it was her first time of doing so. She said she donated blood in order to take a different path in the way she had been celebrating Valentine’s Day. “I am a regular donor and I was supposed to donate blood in January, but I purposely delayed it for today,” said Bismark Ojimma, Medical Laboratory Science, IMSU. Tony Akalonu, a student of Psy-

chology, IMSU, recalled the event that prompted him to become a blood donor. He said: “I have once witnessed an illness, which required blood donation to keep the patient alive. Some people at the hospital volunteered to donate blood for the patient. After some weeks, I heard the patient survived because of the blood that was made available by the donors. Since then, I chose to start donating blood to people, who are in need of it.”

Tony said donating blood on Valentine’s Day was not a special moment for him. “I see blood donation as a necessary exercise. I do not attach any importance to it because it happens on Valentine’s Day,” he said.

Valentine Tochukwu, a student of Polymer and Textile Engineering,

Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) donates blood every February 14. He said the day means a lot to him for the reason that it was his birthday.

“It is a normal thing for me to donate blood on Valentine’s Day. I use it to thank God for all He has been doing in my life,” he quipped. Valentine stated that even though his friends were visiting him with gifts, this would not stop him from donating blood on the day.

Every donor who visited NTBS to donate blood left with a feeling of satisfaction. But this could not be said of Joy Nnebugo, 400-Level Computer Science, IMSU. From her countenance, one could tell that she was embittered. When our correspondent approached her, she explained that the Donor Care Manager confirmed that she didn’t have enough blood to donate. “I am not happy at all; I feel that the reason why I came here is not fulfilled,” she said.

The highlight of the event was the cutting of the Valentine cake by

some of the donors. The donors were advised not to engage in strenuous activities for that day. They were also cautioned against taking alcoholic drinks and standing for so long. They were told to drink a lot of water and beverages.

The Donor Care Manager, Mrs Gladys Aguocha, praised the donors, saying their gesture was uncommon. She said the body would improve on its awareness and enlighten people to always donate, adding that regular blood donation would benefit the donor in the end.

She said: “Donating blood regularly stabilises the body system. It also reduces the tendency of dizziness; you will know your rhesus status and blood group. After each donation, the donor’s body has a way of reproducing fresh blood which in turn makes him look much younger.”

She noted that the donors did not ask for financial reward for the exercise, adding that the blood would be made available to people in dire need of it.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE UNIABUJA: Accreditation to complete in two years From Okechukwu Ezike UNIABUJA

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•Some of the affected students discussing their fate

UNN bars 137 from writing exam

S

INCE the first semester examination began at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), over 137 students have been barred by the authorities from writing the exams.

The students were said to have defaulted terms of school fee payment. But before they can be allowed to write the papers, management said the students must tender evidence of payment of the school fees.

The university’s action followed the alarm raised by the finance department of the institution when it estimated the number of students, who had not paid their school fees.

This made management to insist that students must complete the payment of fees before they could be allowed to write the exams.

Before the exam started, management released the list of students that owed school fees to their vari-

From Oladele Oge UNN

ous departments. Some of the students, who had money, immediately paid the fees. Their names were removed from the list. But others, who did not have money to pay, hoped the management would be lenient and allow them to write the exam. They were, however, sent out of the exam halls by the university’s staff.

Affected students at Faculty of Physical Sciences challenged the institution’s taskforce, saying it had no right to drive them out of the exam hall. But final year students among them pleaded with the management to allow them to pay after the exam.

Students of the faculties of Social Sciences and Education were dazed when debtors were being sent out of the exam hall. The deans and staff

of the both faculties were in support of the management’s action. Students of the two faculties also owed departmental and faculty dues, payment of which was a condition to make them sit for the exam.

In Faculty of Arts, the story was not different. But students, who did not attend 75 per cent of lectures, were disallowed from entering examination venues. A staff in the faculty office, who did want his name to be mentioned, said management had changed the rule for retaking carry-over courses, saying authorities wanted carry-over students to attend lectures of the carry-over courses.

Meanwhile, hope may have dimmed for students, who have extra years following the new regulation which states that no result should be computed after two years when the extra-year students is supposed to have graduated.

OLLOWING last week’s disruption of second semester examination of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) by Engineering students, presidents of departmental associations under the aegis of Departmental Presidents Forum (DPF) have convened congress to chart the way forward.

Students from various departments attended the congress, which was held in the New Law Theatre (NLT) in Gwagwalada campus last Friday.

The president of the Engineering students was absent at the congress.

Addressing the students, President of Computer Science students, Samuel Nwoye, said officials of the National Universities Commission (NUC) met with the school management last Thursday. He said he was informed by reliable source that the accreditation team gave the management three options to either distribute the affected students across other departments in the school or move them to other institutions in Nigeria or at best, wait for two years for the full accreditation.

With the disclosure, the Faculty of Engineering may be closed for two years pending the accreditation of the courses. By press time, there was no official statement from the university on the visit by the NUC team.

But the management announced that the second semester examination had been shifted to next Monday.

OAU is best From Dhikrullah Akinola OAU

T

HE academic value of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe has, again, been confirmed, with its ranking as the best university in Nigeria and 14th in Africa.

According to the latest ranking released by the Cybermetrics Labs, the parent body of owners of Webometrics Ranking of World Universities Initiative, a leading assessor of institution worldwide, OAU was ranked as the best university in Nigeria.

The Cybermetrics Lab is devoted to the qualitative analysis of web contents, especially those related to the processes of generation and scholarly communication of scientific knowledge.

The university is keeping firm in its commitment to be seen as one of the top-rated institutions in Africa and the world.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, Mr Biodun Olanrewaju, told our correspondent that the management was elated by the feat, adding that OAU would leave no stone unturned in its bid to reclaim its place in the comity of higher institutions. He urged students to cooperate with the university administration to make improve on the gains.

Female students lectured on rape From Ibrahim Yusuff UNILAG

T

•The inaugurated PGSG officers with some members of the union

Leaders for postgraduate students

M

EMBERS of the Post Graduate Students’ Government (PGSG), University of Calabar (UNICAL), have elected a new set of leaders to oversee the affairs of the body in the 2012/2013 academic session.

Anthony Attah, a Ph.D student, was elected as the president, Joseph Okey, vice president while Edwin Ejesi is the Secretary General.

Others are Friday Edidiong, Assistant Secretary General; Cletus Odey, Financial Secretary; Deborah Onabe, Treasurer; Sarah Nweke, Director of Social; David Nnana, Public Relations Officer; Emmanuel Iwaka, Director of Welfare and Kingsley Nkanor, Provost.

The inauguration of the new

From Sam Ibok UNICAL

leaders was held at the UNICAL old Senate Chambers. In his speech, chairman of the electoral committee, Emmanuel Ugbe, thanked all members for conducting themselves peacefully during the election. He congratulated the incoming leaders, urging them not to betray the confidence reposed in them.

The outgoing president, Augustine Aju, in his valedictory speech, thanked members of the union for the privilege given to him to serve them for a year. He outlined the purchase of a bus for the union’s activities, fumigation and tiling of Post Graduate hostel, installation of water tank in the hostels among

other things as part of his administration achievement. Augustine, who is a Master’s degree student, charged the incoming leadership to consolidate on the achievements recorded during his tenure.

In his acceptance speech, Anthony, a Phd student of History and International Studies, promised to promote unity and harmony among members by adequately addressing student-related issues as well as embarking on projects that would take the union to another level.

In his remarks, the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Prof Eyong Eyong, congratulated the new leadership, calling on all members of the body to demonstrate “practical responsibility”. He enjoined the new leaders to carry all members along in the body’s affair.

HE Deputy Dean of Students’ Affairs, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Rebecca Soremekun, has urged female students of the institution to study their environment and be conscious of boys’ tricks in order not to be victims of rape and sexual assault.

The don made the charge last week during a seminar organised by the Counselling Unit of the Students’ Affairs Division. The workshop was held in the Julius Berger Lecture Theatre.

Soremekun noted that some girls were victims of rape because of their low self-esteem and carelessness. She urged participants to be confident and careful in their dealing with the male gender.

“Be confident and know what you want. Avoid being alone with guys in dark or isolated places. Sometimes, sexual harassment precedes rape. Therefore, you need to use your instincts and be conscious of your environment. Be assertive and make sure you say no to sexual harassment,” Soremekun advised.

In case any girl is raped, the don said: “You need to talk to someone and seek medical help because keeping it to yourself is not good.”

Dr Taiwo Nona, who delivered a lecture on Compatibility blood test: A prerequisite for choice of life partner, encouraged the youth to undergo premarital medical test before marriage. This, according to her, would help partners to know if they were medically compatible for marriage and prevent future crisis that may arise as a result of their failure to carry out necessary tests before marriage.

She said: “The importance of premarital test is to know the blood group, genotype and Rhesus factor of the two partners in order to know if they are compatible to marry each other. In addition, the test will also help to determine if any of the partners has a disease that can be carried on to their unborn baby.”

The event which was co-sponsored by Indomie Noodles, MTN, Unilever, NORDICA, K’ARAOLE and SLOT System, was attended by students from the faculty of Arts, Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Law, Engineering and Business Administration.

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CAMPUS LIFE ‘Hijab is symbol of morality’

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HE sight was reminiscent of a carnival procession because of the pink colour that was conspicuous as the students moved round the campus. But they were no revellers. They were female members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter.

The sisters walked round to sensitise the university community on the use of hijab. Tagged My hijab my identity, the walk was meant to raise the consciousness and emphasise the significance of the veil worn by Muslim women as a symbol of modesty, privacy and morality.

Speaking on the essence of hijab, the Amirah (female head), Latifah Olupitan, 400-Level Zoology, said: “Proper wearing of hijab reflects the morality and religiosity of the wearer”. She told the Muslim sisters that the intention of the walk was for Allah’s sake and not to show off. The Amirah charged the sisters to propagate Islam on campus and live by example.

The procession started from the

•The MSSN sisters displaying posters to promote the use of hijab From Nurudeen Yusuf LASU

LASU central mosque. Participants, who were clad in various shapes of hijabs, moved from one faculty to the other, preaching the necessity of the veil as commanded by Allah.

After the long walk, the sisters returned to the mosque for lectures by female Islamic scholars.

Dr Airat Sulaimon, a lecturer, spoke on Hijab and the personality of a pacemaker.

She described Muslim women as pacemakers. She enjoined the Muslim sis-

ters to stand out among their peers by looking good in their hijab and project Islam. “You must serve as a model for others on the academics; you must not engage in any form of indecent dressing,” she charged.

Hajia Lateefah Kolawole, who spoke on Modesty: The making of a Muslima, said respected sisters would feel more honoured using the hijab. She said though there were challenges being faced by users of hijab, but added that since it was the choice of the wearers, nobody should feel ashamed by following Allah’s injunctions.

•The procession of the Muslim sisters moving round the campus

She advised the Muslim sisters to portray Islam in good light through the way they wear hijab and their conduct as Muslims. “The impression we create matters a lot,” she said, citing Qur’an 24 verse 33. Kolawole enjoined the sisters to lower their gaze at the sight of men, guard their chastity and not to display their beauty except to their lawful partner.

Mariam Arole, 300-Level Law and the chairperson of the hijab sensitization planning committee,

said: “We give glory to Allah for making the event a reality and we hope that the sisters will start making putting on the hijab rightfully and stop portraying Islam in bad light.”

Kawthar Bakare, 300-Level Chemistry, who is the Naibatul Amirah (deputy female head), said: “The sensitisation will go a long way to correct the improper way of putting on the hijab and make the the users believe in themselves and remind the unconscious ones of the importance of it.”

•Students listening at the workshop

Teaching seminar for education students

•Freshers taking the oath in the ceremony

Rivers’ college swears in freshers

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HE Cross River State College of Education (CRSCOE), Akamkpa has matriculated over 1,600 freshmen admitted for the 2012/2013 academic session. It was the fourth matriculation ceremony of the institution.

The event, which was held at the college’s pavilion, began with a procession of the matriculating students, who were followed by the body of the college’s principal officers. The freshers beamed with smiles as they filed into the expansive pavilion. They were clad in ceremonial gowns.

In his address, the Provost, Prof Anthony Owan Enoh, congratulated the freshers for scaling through the selection regulation of the admission process. The college’s helmsman remarked that the institution had recorded landmark achievements in different areas in the last four years of its establishment.

According to the Provost, the institution was popular for vices such as

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HE National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) has elected new leaders to occupy its vacant executive positions. The election, which was held recently, produced Olaleye Kolawole of the Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy (OAU), IleIfe, as president.

In his acceptance speech, Olaleye, a 400-Level student of International Relations, thanked members of the association for electing him

From Isaac Mensah CRSCOE

cultism and examination malpractice among others four years ago. He stated that the fortunes of the institution had been turned around through the efforts of the state government and college’s management.

Prof Enoh urged the freshers to take their studies seriously, advising them to explore all avenues towards achieving self-realisation, self-discovery and opportunities.

Administrating the matriculation oaths on the freshers, the Registrar, Barrister Uno Ogban, advised the students to denounce activities capable of ruining their academic careers, stating that they should adhere strictly to the terms of the oath.

The Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Prof Offiong Offiong, who was represented by Mr Emeka Inaku, Secretary of State Advisory Committee on Private

Schools, challenged the management not to rest on its oars in developing the institution, saying the government was determined to see the college competing favourably with its peers in the country.

He said: “While the government will not rest on its oars for the development of the institution via acceptable standards as exemplified in the recent accreditation exercise of the college’s various programmes, the management of the institution should do its own assignment to attain the best standards in the institution’s academic pursuits by eschewing any form of malpractice.”

In his vote of thanks, Dean of School of Education, Dr Ayang Mbeh Akwa, thanked the guests for turning out for the ceremony, praying for journey mercy back to their respective destinations.

One of the freshers, Elizabeth Adie, thanked God for her admission, promising not to betray the confidence of her parents.

Ogun students get leaders From Dhikrullah Akinola OAU

as their leader. He promised to carry all members along in the discharge of his duty. He said he would ensure government plays its role in the progress of the association.

Olaleye praised Governor

Ibikunle Amosun for the transformation work going on in the Gateway state, praying for God’s guidance and wisdom to steer the affairs of the state to the promised land.

The president affirmed that the era when union leaders use the association as conduit pipe to amass wealth had gone.

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O fewer than 500 students of the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, gathered in the institution’s 1,000-capacity lecture theatre for orientation seminar on teaching practice programme, which they were to undergo.

The seminar was to intimate students on what the six-week exercise entailed. The programme is usually held by the faculty for students, who want to go into a teaching profession.

In his address, the Dean of the faculty, Prof P.O. Jegede, said the exercise was to remind the students everything they were taught over the years and gave tips for classroom training and management.

Mrs A.O. Adeniyi, Principal of OAU International School, charged the students to be teachers of excellent characters, saying the teaching profession was based on nobility and discipline.

She stressed the need for the students to make the best out of a bad situation, saying it was the only way they could

From Oluwafemi Ogunjobi OAU

excel in the profession.

The chairperson of the Teaching Practice Committee, Dr Yinka Ajibade, warned the students against misconduct, which has marred the exercise over the years. She noted that strict measures had been put in place to curb excesses of the trainees.

In his lecture titled Ensuring effective teaching in the 21st century classroom, the Principal of Deeper Life High School, Osogbo, Mr Peter Osiki, explained that technology was at the centre of classroom learning and interaction, which the 21st century educators must be acquainted to.

He said: “As much as we live in a world highly influenced by electronic gadgets, so also the students must be exposed to the media through learning because it encourages interactivity, connectivity and networking.”

Rasheedah Owolabi, a 200-Level student, described the workshop as necessary to make the exercise smooth for the trainees. Anthony Olusola, 300Level English Education, praised the faculty management for the seminar, which he said was important to groom future teachers for teaching profession.

The faculty’s Vice President, Munirah Alabi, advised her colleagues to see the training beyond academic pursuit, adding that it was a platform to impart knowledge.”

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CAMPUS LIFE Staff and students of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) have sought God’s face for the school. TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE (HND II Computer Science) writes on the prayer session to usher in 2013.

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T was not all about books, books and books at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).

Penultimate week, members of the Joint Campus Fellowship (JCF) literally brought the institution on its knees. All Christian students’ fellowships on the campus gathered to pray and give praises to God at a session with the theme: The King of glory.

The programme, tagged LASPOTECH on her knees, was described spiritual warfare by students who gathered at the convocation ground on the Ikorodu Campus. It started with a hymn, Praise my soul the king of heaven, at 3pm by the choristers of the fellowship led by the Director of Music in the Department of Mass Communication, Mrs Felicia Adedoyin. The prayer enlivened the congregation.

After the prayer, worshippers were entertained with two drama ministrations, which depicted “the mighty and healing power of Jesus Christ”.

The first story portrayed a woman, dressed in a tattered wrapper with blood stain, struggling to gain access to Jesus; the people around mocked and blocked her way. She eventually got to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment and her 12 years suffering suddenly ended.

The second story was of Lazarus, who had been dead for four days.

The student, who played Lazarus, was wrapped in white cloth from

•Students in prayer session

•Characters in the drama

LASPOTECH prays head to toe and tied with rope. He was brought to the stage by two men, crying and seeking the help of Jesus. ‘Jesus’ walked towards them; squatted to touch the ‘dead’ man, and shouted “Lazarus!” The body started rising and came back to life.

The stories, which were picked from the Bible, were part of the miracle works carried out by Jesus while on earth.

Pastor Felix Ishola from God’s Power Global Mission, Abeokuta, Ogun State, who was the guest minister, charged the atmosphere when

he prayed: “I command everything that is dead in me to rise in Jesus name.” The congregation roared “amen” in unison.

In his sermon entitled: “Experiencing the fullness of His glory”, Ishola said it was God’s glory that defined the glory of man, adding that anything that was not found in the exemplary life of Jesus Christ should not exist in the life of a true believer.

He based his exhortation on John 17:22, which reads: “And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them; that they may be one,

even as we are one.” The cleric said the glory of God was in His limitless power, quoting 1 Chronicle 16:27 to support his claim.

Ishola highlighted how the glory of God can manifest in a believer’s life. He said a true believer carried fire and the glory of God in him wherever he went, noting that such a person could destroy the work of devil.

Towards the end of his sermon, the pastor made an altar call. Many students responded and he prayed for them. Afterwards, the worship-

pers prayed for the school, staff, students and the host community. Lagos State and the country were not left out.

The president of the JCF, Pastor Pearse Folorunsho, said he was happy with the outcome of the programme.

“The yearly LASPOTECH on her knees has become an avenue to pray and seek God’s favour in our lives,” he said, adding that the purpose of the programme was to enforce righteousness and holiness on the campus.

Zainab Ademuyiwa, ND 1 Food Technology, who accompanied her friend to the programme, said: “I met God today and I felt the touch of the Holy Spirit within me. From today on, I have chosen to be a Christian.”

‘They served well’ Members of the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF) have honoured former Corps members, who served the fellowship and their host communities diligently.AYODEJI ADESINA (one of the honorees) writes.

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HEY came from the 21 local government areas of Anambra State to honour their colleagues, who complete the National Youth Service two weeks ago. It was a weekend full of fun and glamour as the Corps members under the banner of Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF) gathered to send off the Batch “A” set.

The annual conference of the fellowship also took place that day.

The Corps members arrived from their zones in different vehicles and converged on St. James Anglican Church, Umumya for registration.

Beaming with smiles, the Corps members were excited on sighting their colleagues. With heavy traffic in the otherwise sleepy community of Umumya in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, locals trooped out to catch a glimpse of what was going on. It was a three-day programme.

The event offered the Corps

•The honourees displaying their plaques

members a platform to appreciate God for a successful service year and to chart a new course for their lives through divine guidance. The participants shared their experiences for others to learn.

It was an emotional moment as Corps members bade their departing colleagues farewell. To continue their friendship after service, having been together for 11 months, the Corps members exchanged contact addresses and phone numbers.

The fellowship appreciated some of the departing members who distinguished themselves in selfless service to their host communities and the state. Fifty youths were honoured with the fellowship’s certificate of merit and plaque. In Awka South alone, 21 of the Corps members were honoured by the fellowship. Other honorees were spread across the rest of the local governments.

CAMPUSLIFE correspondent, Ayodeji Adesina was among those honoured. The Mass Communication graduate from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was the Publicity Secretary of the fellowship during the service year.

Pastors Dotun Adebayo and

Kolawole Ojo, who were the guest speakers invited from Lagos and Plateau states , took turns to admonish the fellowship members on the need to put their trust in God as they moved to the next phase of their lives.

Ojo, ex-president of the fellowship, who spoke on the theme: Of His fullness, charged the participants to always put God first in everything they do.

Adebayo counselled the Corps members not to rely on connections but on God. He stressed that faith and trust in man would always end up in disappointment, adding that it was only God that could make everything possible for the youth if they could put their trust in Him. Adebayo, a senior pastor at Great Light Ministry (GLM) in Lagos, conducted the power night session and the marriage seminar.

The president of the fellowship, Olatunji Ojuola, praised his colleagues for attending the programme in large number urging them to allow God to lead them aright in their future endeavours.

An awardees, Ayodeji Folorunsho, who was the coordinator of the fellowship in Awka

•CAMPUSLIFE’s Ayodeji (left) receiving the plaque from Ms Lilian Ugwu

North, expressed appreciation to the leadership of the NCCF for considering the need to recognise coordinators and their assistants in all zones. He said the gesture would rededicate members to the service of God.

Another awardee, Christiana Ojecho, an indigene of Kano State, thanked the fellowship’s leadership for recognising her efforts. She added that she would miss members she had met in the last one year.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

EDUCATION

Minister: Almajiri school will reduce loitering, begging

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HE Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike has disclosed that building Almajiri schools in Port Harcourt will reduce loitering and begging.

Wike made this disclosure in Ikwere Local Government Area of Port Harcourt during an inspection tour to some of the ongoing projects in state.

He said: "The Almajiri schools, particularly in Port Harcourt is needed because we have some of them who are beggars and how do we bring them out of the street? The only way to do it is to provide a school for

•Fed Govt not comfortable with Almajiri From Faith Yahaya, Port Harcourt

them and move them over there.

"If you go to town, you will see them there from morning till night doing nothing apart from begging for alms and we don't want to encourage that. So, we decided to build a school there and then encourage them to move there so that they can have access to education and also reduce their level of loitering and begging around the streets and city."

Wike explained that the government is not comfortable with Almajiri.

"We are not comfortable with that, and that is why we did it knowing full well that Port Harcourt is a metropolitan city and people have being coming in. The only way to stop it is to provide a school for them", he said.

The Minister inspected projects sited at Almajiri School in Ikwere Local Government, Junior Girls

Team praises Rivers model school

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part of those using the library and in that way the culture of bring back the book would be inculcated and they will be committed to their studies.'

He, however, expressed dissatisfaction over one of the projects which is yet to reach finishing stage.

"We are not impressed with it because I do know that the project was one of the early projects that was awarded when I became a minister. It is the only one lagging behind and I really want to know why we are at that stage."

Expand your minds, pupils told G

• Mr. Tokunbo Fashola, Consultant to the Governor on Software Testing & Hardware Configuration presenting a gift to one of the winners at the Closing ceremony of Lagos State Science & Technology Week.

HE National Good Governance (NGGT) Team has described the new model primary and secondary schools built by the Rivers State government as "wonderful infrastructure that would guarantee good education of the children at the foundation level.”

Leader of the team and Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, made the remarks while inspecting the Ambassador Nne Kurubo Secondary School, Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

Maku who praised Governor Chibuike Amaechi for the infrastructures, noted that the foundation level of education is very crucial in the educational growth of the child. The minister however advised the governor to also take the issue of teachers' motivation seriously because of the negative impact poor remuneration could have on the morale of teachers in the school.

The advice was given based on the observation made by one of the participants that wages of teachers in the Model Schools managed by Educomp Solutions Nigeria Limited, a foreign outfit, is lower than what their counterparts in the government- run public schools receive.

He further advised the governor to take steps to ensure that infrastructure in other public schools in the state were also upgraded to avoid creating class differences.

Said Maku: "While you keep model schools going, it is important that you fix the other schools to also motivate the teachers and pupils in them."

He advised the governor to encourage competition in the management of the model schools by involving not only foreigners but Nigerians, stressing that the spirit of competitiveness results in improvement.

Speaking earlier, Amaechi said the Ambassador Nne Kurubo Second-

School in Obio Kpor in Aluu Community; Federal Government College Port Harcourt; Community Secondary School; and Federal Government Girls College Abuloma also in Port Harcourt.

Speaking on why the government embarked on some of the projects and library, he said: "We are focusing on it because it will improve the quality of education. Without library, I don't think there will be any improvement on the teachers and the students. And whether you like it or not, the teachers are also supposed to be

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

ary School was a model and replica of Achimota Secondary School in Ghana with all hostel, laboratory,

recreational facilities, and class facilities for teachers and students built in the school. The school which he said is first of the 24 that would be built in the state has international standard.

UESTS at the opening of the science and technology week organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology held penultimate week, challenged primary and secondary school pupils to expand their minds by questioning everything.

That way, they would learn new things that would contribute to science and technology and consequently improve societal wellbeing.

In his goodwill message, Mr Tunde Lagner, one of the dignitaries, told the students not to accept all they have been told as gospel truth but seek out their own answers.

"Stay inquisitive; challenge authority; doubt everything and come to your own conclusion. Think through problems, understand what you want to do and go and change your world," he said.

To achieve this, Mr Adetunji Elesho, who delivered the keynote address, urged the pupils to learn to think deep to develop useful ideas.

He said: "Science and Technology is driven by ideas. The position you are in as students is one where your minds should be constantly working. The space of 24 hours provides enough opportunities for you to generate ideas. As science and technology students, it is important you are in the realm of dreaming.'"

The week-long programme which featured lectures, exhibition, and quiz competition for primary and secondary participants was declared opened by Governor Babatunde Raji

• The Blue House during the match past

‘Govts must sustain fight on mushroom schools’

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OVERMENTS have been urged to step up the war against mushroom schools which still operate at various states, especially Lagos.

The Proprietor of Cridy Children's School, Abule Osun Lagos, Mrs Edith Odiaka, said this during the school's second annual inter-house sports competition held at Amuwo Grammar School Stadium, Agboju last Saturday.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

"We want to make a call here to the governments to intervene more on this operation of unapproved schools because it is giving us a cause for worry," Odiaka said.

"This crusade started in Lagos State a few years back, but to our dismay it was not sustained to a logical conclusion. The situation has always been there; a man or a woman wakes up, opens a shop and

brands it a school. But of course, since times are hard, parents who want their child to go to where they will pay a palty sum as school fees through these substandard schools which in turn pose a challenge to registered schools like ours.

"Sometimes we get children on transfer from Primary three and Primary four many who interestingly can neither read nor write.

So what do we call that, teaching or

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Fashola, represented by Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Femi Hamzat.

In his address, the governor said the state is increasingly adopting practices that have helped western countries develop, including enhancing science and technology.

Underscoring the essence of the programme, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Adebiyi Mabadeje said the ministry seeks to stimulate the interest of young ones in science and technology, and entrepreneurship to aid development.

He said: "The primary objective of organising the LASSTECH Week is to promote science and technology by raising peoples' awareness on various scientific development and innovations. It is also designed to encourage our young ones to take active interest in science and technology and develop a passion for it.”

Winners of the quiz competition were rewarded at the closing of the programme. They are: Olaniyi Mariam of Our Lady of Fatima Primary School (primary category); Kamson Olaniyi, State Junior High School, Oyewole, Agege (junior secondary category); and Ojanomare John, Oke-Odo Senior High School, Ile-Epo, Alimosho (senior secondary category. just ripping off parents?" " We are calling on the governments, especially in Lagos State to do something about this."

Nevertheless, the occasion was a spectacle of various sporting activities, such as match past, filling the bottles, picking the balls, sack race, and various relay races, among others.

Invited schools such as Caritas Nursery and Pry school, BarracksOjo way, Grace Chryshole College, Abule Ado and Disney School, Ojo also featured in invitational relays.

In the end, Blue House stood tallest with 11 gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals . Green and Red houses emerged first and second runners up with eight gold, five silver and five bronze medals, and four gold, five silver and eight bronze medals respectively. Yellow House came last with four gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals.

Giving his vote of thanks, Edith's husband Mr Chris who is the Chairman of the school, said Cridy is out for more schocker .

"It's of great joy to have this project today, we thank everybody.

We assure you that great things are underway in this school. This year is going to witness great developments, we are going to furnish our computer rooms with more computers. Our arts room is going to receive more attention, the library would be updated and we are going to elevate the beauty of the school environment because the joy you have planted in our heart today is so much that we cannot measure it," Odiaka concluded.

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EDUCATION

Rector warns students

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HE Rector Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, Prof Mathew Idowu Ajibero has warned that the school authority has zerotolerance for deviants or violence of any kind in all its campuses.

The Rector, who said this during the matriculation for students admitted for the 2012/2013 session, said the institution would continue to wage war against crimes such as cultism, theft, fighting, examination malpractices and rape among others.

He warned that any student caught committing any of the crimes would not only be expelled from the school but handed over to the law enforcement agents for prosecution.

While stressing that "there is no

From Muhammad Bashir, Lokoja

liberty without corresponding responsibility", Ajibero called on the students to take their personal security seriously, saying that "eternal vigilance is the price of freedom".

Warning the students not to constitute themselves into nuisance, he said any breech of the school rules and regulation would be met with the appropriate disciplinary measure.

"Management would therefore, not tolerate any situation whereby any student or group of students constitute themselves into a body that terrorises, harasses or intimidates other law-abiding students for whatever reason. Anyone

caught in such despicable acts would be summarily expelled," he warned.

The Rector, who praised the Kogi State government and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for their assistance in the provision of basic infrastructures in the polytechnic, said management would continue to make all its campuses conducive for teaching and learning.

"As you settle down on our campuses, it would become clearer to you as the days go by that management has also ensured that you are provided with conducive environment to carry out your academic activities to enable you accomplish your mission here within the time specified," he said.

• Final year students of English, University of Lagos during their excursion to the Corporate Headquarters of The Nation Newspapers, Mushin, Lagos PHOTO: GBENGA KULELU

Firm boosts engineering training

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E C H A N I C A L / A U T O M O B I L E Engineering students of Lagos State University (LASU), Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, need not seek workshops off campus for practical automobile training thanks to ABC Transport which donated demonstration buses to them.

Representatives of the three tertiary institutions were presented the buses by Mr Frank Nneji, MD/ CEO of the transport company at its headquarters in Lagos.

Nneji urged the representatives, which included the IMSU ViceChancellor and former ASUU President, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie, to ensure that the buses serve the purpose for which they were given, and not for transportation.

"ABC Transport will hand over three buses to selected tertiary institutions. The beneficiaries are: Lagos State University (LASU), Imo

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

State University (IMSU), and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede. These buses will not be used for transport purposes, but for practical and demonstrations in the automobile/mechanical engineering departments of these schools. ABC Transport believes education is a public service that demands collective trust and responsibility," he said.

He expressed hope that the buses would fill the practical gap in the training of automobile/mechanical engineers in tertiary institutions, which he said has been lacking. He added that Nigeria has produced enough graduates since the company has been in business to assemble its own vehicles.

Appreciating the gesture, Awuzie said the vehicles would assist hands on learning as well as boost accreditation of the programmes, and may ultimately help Nigerian institutions learn to assemble vehicles locally.

He said: "This is very good. It means the department will have a full vehicle at their disposal which they can dismantle completely and begin to examine the parts. It becomes hands on learning. This is one of the requirements for accreditation.

It came very timely. To teach our students before this came, we were getting the components; we might not get the full system. We also took the students to someone's workshop for practical demonstration.

"As the MD said, this can be a beginning for us to assemble our own vehicles. This is a trial for us if we are talking about actually achieving technological development."

Last year, the firm instituted the ABC Transport National University Scholarship Award which provided scholarships for 12 students from various Nigerian universities.

At the event, the firm also launched cameras for security surveillance on all new buses it acquires from now.

LASPOTECH elects council members

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R Olufemi Adesoji Adebanjo, a Deputy Registrar, and Mr Olusegun Abayomi Sodeinde, a Chief Lecturer have been elected members of the 11th Governing Council of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu.

Adebanjo and Sodeinde of the Chemical Engineering Department emerged winners at the elections by the Congregation of the polytechnic which was held penultimate Wednesday.

Adebanjo who garnered 246 votes, will be representing the nonacademic members of staff, while Sodeinde who got 174 votes, will

By Sampson Unamka

be representing academics of the institution on the Council.

Other positions contested and their winners include: Staff School Governing Board, Mr Ibrahim Kamaldeen (277 votes); School of Part-Time Studies (SPTS) Evening Governing Board, Dr Adebayo Asafa (182); Sports and Games Committee, Mr Ojikutu Olabode (187); Housing Board, Rev. Josef Bolarinwa (331); and Academic Representative On Academic Board ACB, Metilelu Olusola, (153).

Some workers were elected unopposed.

They include: Mr Fatunmbi Adedamola, Staff Wel-

fare Committee; Oseni Ismail, Ceremonies Committee; Mr Olorunfemi Adewunmi, LASPOTECH Guest House Committee; Mrs Ayinde Folashade, SPTS (D) Governing Board; Mrs Idowu Akinkugbe, SPTS(R) Governing Board; and Mr Adefolu Abayomi Board of Survey, among others.

There were 457 accredited voters of which 291 were academic staff and 238 non-academic staff.

The Rector, Dr Abdulazeez Lawal presented a report of achievements under his administration to the Congregation before the election began.

EDUTALK

with

e-UTME: Last minute campaign

F

OR whatever it is worth, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) should embark on an emergency campaign to prepare candidates choosing the Computer-Based Test Kofoworola (CBT) option and the Dual Based Test (DBT) for the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination Kofosagie@yahoo.com (UTME) coming up in April.

08054503077 (SMS only) By now the management of the board, led by Prof Dibu Ojerinde, should have noticed that the percentage of candidates writing the conventional Paper Pencil Test (PPT) dwarves the other two options. As at Tuesday, we learnt that about 1.3 million had registered for the examination- with only 40,000 each choosing the CBT and DBT options. Being the pilot year, it should be expected.

However, there are other reasons this is so. One is that many candidates are not confident about their computer literacy skills; while those who are are afraid something may go wrong with the e-testing thing all together. As a result of these two fears, most of the 80,000 candidates that had registered for the CBT and DBT as at Tuesday, did so because there were no more PPT centres. Given an option, the number of candidates for the CBT and DBT would even be lesser.

The candidates have reasons to be concerned. Many of those living in rural areas without electricity or access to computer or internet facilities would be afraid to write an examination which would determine their fate in the next one year using a format they are not used to. They would want to be sure they do not fail, not because they lack knowledge of their subjects, but because they did not know how to use the tools.

However, this is the lot of candidates presently trying to register before the March 15 deadline. They can no longer choose the PPT because there are no more centres. They have to opt for the CBT. Some are so afraid to try that they have decided not to write the examination this year. They are willing to wait until next year to register for the PPT. The level of computer literacy skills JAMB says they need is basic enough - just clicking the right answers with a Mouse or entering the right option with the keyboard. But many do not know it is so. They need to know and I think JAMB owes them the responsibility of increasing the awareness. The board should embark on another campaign during the 46 days left to the start of the examination on April 15 to educate them. They could partner with state governments, corporate organisations and even cyber cafes to reach the candidates. If the candidates are better prepared, they will be more receptive to the CBT and confident about taking the examination.

Belo-Osagie

‘The candidates have reasons to be concerned. Many of those living in rural areas without electricity or access to computer or internet facilities would be afraid to write an examination which would determine their fate in the next one year using a format they are not used to’

From My Inbox Re: 'What a Pity' (Published Thursday, February 21, 2013) Hi Kofoworola, I so much enjoy your write up in the newspaper. That is a very good job. Please keep it up. From Oluwashina, Lokoja.

I read your article, 'What a pity' in the Nation News paper of Thursday 21st February and I identified and agree with what you stated. In my own case, my Parents speak their local dialect since I was a child till date. As a result I understand it very well but not so fluent, same with my siblings.

This is not because we don't like the language but because my Parents didn't make it compulsory for us to speak it at an early age. Now I realize that if I don't develop speaking it well my children will not have an idea of the language. Though language is an essential part of culture, I am not too bothered about it.

I am improving my French and want to acquire at least one more foreign language (Spanish). As a result, all my children must speak two languages apart from English.

As for 'Titilayo Story' at first when I saw the video sometimes in January, I was surprised. But after doing some search on her, I realized it was not a big deal at all! Why? She studied Yoruba in the US and had some exchange programs with the University of Ibadan. I watched at least three videos on Youtube all on 'Titilayo' (The difference I see is that she is white-American and she documented her learning by way of videos). I have a friend who studied French in a private University and very proficient in it, in fact she will be probably through with DALF C1 C2 examination (http://www.ciep.fr/delfdalf/DELF.php). 'Titilayo Story' is interesting; the difference is she documented her learning. There are a number of other persons out there just like her. I heard of Asian (Korean, Chinese…) that go to University of Ibadan to learn Yoruba. But all the same I believe I understand why you cited her example. Nice write-up.

Ugba, Osedebamen A., Obafemi Awolowo University.

Hi Kofoworola, i saw your article in The Nation newspaper. Please where can i download the video where the Oyibo spoke Yoruba. Mayowa, Abuja.

Are you an Edo woman? I have read your articles. I delight in them.

Otaru.

"This was another setback after the loss against AC Milan, but we have to move on. Yes, we miss out on a trophy, but it's the least important one. We are still in the running for two important titles.

We have to return to winning ways against Madrid at the weekend and hold our heads high."

Thursday, February 28, 2013

PAGE 42

FC Barcelona player Xavi Hernandez, insisting the Copa del Rey trophy was the least important in the team’s consideration, after they were beaten 1-3 at the Camp Nou on Tuesday night.

AFTERMATH OF TRIUMPH OVER BARCA

MOURINHO SENDS Casillas to press conference

•Casillas (l) and Mourinho

Chelsea removes Di Matteo’s picture from Stamford Bridge

Xavi: Copa del Rey not important

C

HELSEA has removed a picture of former boss Roberto Di Matteo posing with the Champions League trophy from Stamford Bridge's iconic West Stand wall.

The image, which depicted the Italian and his players in a traditional squad photo complete with silverware, has been replaced with a shot of Blues stars celebrating following their Champions League success last term.

The original picture was reportedly in place for the club's home game against Wigan on February 9, but was replaced in time for the Blues' FA Cup clash with Brentford on February 17.

Di Matteo led the west London club to two trophy successes last season after taking over from the sacked Andre VillasBoas in March.

Those wins did not prove sufficient for the 42-year-old to keep his job during a poor run of form earlier this term, however, as he was •Di Matteo replaced by current interim coach Rafael Benitez.

Maicon ruled out for a month

D

OUGLAS MAICON'S Manchester City tenure has suffered a further setback after he was ruled out for a month due to a knee operation.

The Brazilian defender joined City in the summer from Inter and has been on the receiving end of limited game time, making just three appearances in the last two months.

It seems that his misfortune will continue as he has had to undergo a knee operation in order to fix a niggling injury.

“He has had surgery on his knee, but in a month he can recover. The operation was to clean his meniscus,” Roberto Mancini told reporters.

In total, Maicon has played 11 times for the Citizens since rekindling his working relationship with his former Inter boss Mancini.

X

AVI says the Copa del Rey was the least important trophy on Barcelona's radar after they were knocked out of the competition at the semi-final stage

by Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Catalans were beaten 3-1 in the second leg of their tie after recording a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu, meaning Barcelona miss out on the Spanish

•Xavi

Cup. However, while admitting the defeat was yet another disappointment on the back of a difficult February for the club, Xavi is doing his best to remain upbeat and focused on the prizes still at stake.

"This was another setback after the loss against AC Milan, but we have to move on. Yes, we miss out

on a trophy, but it's the least important one," Xavi told reporters.

"We are still in the running for two important titles. We have to return to winning ways against Madrid at the weekend and hold our heads high."

Barca take on Madrid in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon.

Balotelli commissions statue

M

ARIO BALOTELLI has taken his self-admiration to another level by commissioning a statue to be made of himself.

The AC Milan striker has asked an artist near his home in Brescia, Italy to encapsulate him doing his famous death-stare flex goal celebration.

Balotelli did the famous pose after scoring for Italy against Germany in the semi-final of Euro 2012, a game the Italians won 2-1 with the striker netting both goals.

The sculpture could also double up as security and scare trespassers away after Balotelli had his camouflage Bentley has been urinated on by a Manchester United

fan before he left Manchester last month.

'I received the commission, but have never actually met Balotelli, so I am working from photographs,' local artist Livio Scarpella told Il Giornale di Brescianewspaper.

'I presented various sketches, but Mario wanted to be immortalised in the pose after a goal: muscles in evidence and an expression to challenge the opponents.

'I imagined him as an athlete from ancient times. The statue will be between the classic and pop style, in platinum and coloured bronze with the eyes made of precious stones.'

Balotelli has made a good start to his career at Milan, scoring four goals in

as many games since his move from Manchester City at the end of January.

But it has not been a completely happy homecoming for the 22-yearold after he was subjected to monkey chants by a minority of Inter fans, some holding inflatable bananas.

Where does the Balotelli rate in the other statues at football grounds? Here are two from the last few years, Bobby Moore at Wembley and the slightly odd statue of pop singer Michael Jackson at Fulham's Cravan

OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...

Pacquiao, others named ambassadors against hunger

I

N T E R N A T I O N A L humanitarian group Global Village Champions Foundation (GVCF) on Wednesday named their newest Asian goodwill ambassadors against hunger, among them People's Champ Manny Pacquiao.

GVCF, which advocates eradicating hunger through humanitarian relief and feeding programs, also named socialite Tessa Prieto-Valdes, actors •Pacquiao Cesar Montano and Alvin Anson as its Philippine goodwill ambassadors.

Representatives of the GVCF, led by its founder Yank Barry, arrived in the Philippines mid-February together with former heavy weight champion Evander Holyfield. They were here to provide 2 million meals for typhoon victims of Pablo. The typhoon battered the southern Philippines late last year and took the lives of more than 1,000 people.

The Global Village Champions Foundation introduced their Asian goodwill ambassadors (L to R) Camilla Sundman, Tessa Prieto-

Valdes, GVCF founder Yank Barry, Cesar Montano and Alvin Anson. Photo by Rouchelle R. Dinglasan “I would like to thank Evander Holyfield and Yank Barry for personally coming to the Philippines, especially to my province to help me feed the typhoon victims and the needy,” Sarangani Rep. Pacquiao said in a statement.

•Balotelli

43

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

• Mark

• Dr Jonathan

• Tambuwal

Correspondents VICTOR OLUWASEGUN and DELE ANOFI write on the 2013 budget row between President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly and its implications for budget implementation and good governance.

Budget 2013: Walking a tight rope W

ILL the implementation of this year’s budget not cre ate a deep friction between President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly? Now that the budget has been assented to by the President, stakeholders expect that attention will be focussed on how to make it achieve its objectives in the national interest.

Until Wednesday, there was anxiety over the refusal of the President to assent to the budget. As the budget row deepened, some posers were raised: who blinks first between President Jonathan and the National Assembly? Will they close ranks in the spirit of compromise and harmonious working relationship? Will the President and legislators stick to their guns and damn the consequences?

Observers contend that how the final decision on the budget was reached may shape the federal legislative/executive relationship. Whatever compromise that the two arms of government may have reached, two things are certain. The late passage of the 2015 budget is injurious to the socio-economic and political health of the country. The parliamentary skeptism may be have also been premised on the fear of imminent poor budget implementation and failure.

The N4.987 trillion 2013 Appropriation Bill passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly on December 20, 2012 has generated controversy, since it was transmitted to President Goodluck Jonathan on January 14, 2013.

Nigerians have been weary of the delay in passing the budget in the past. They now feel that the budget row may further deprive the country of the turn-around expected across the sectors. Thus, when the House of Representatives said that it would take a definite action on the budget, the public anxiety became heightened.

House of Representatives spokesman, Zakari Mohammed,said last week that “it is either the President will assent to it or the National Assembly will veto it.” He added: “The National Assembly is not afraid to apply the provisions of the constitution on the issue because the budget is about the generality of Nigerians”.

Now that the euphoria over the early presentation of the 2013 budget by President Goodluck Jonathan has fizzled out, the question on the lips of many Nigerians now is: what next?

The National Assembly has engaged the Presidency to save its face. The Presidency has refused to retrace its steps, based on the advice by its economic team. But the impasse, according to analysts, is to the detriment of the people.

The issues causing friction between the two arms of government include the benchmark, which the National Assembly has pegged at $78, to a barrel of oil, as opposed to the executive’s $75, the controversy over the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), the capital component of 2012 budget and the quarterly budget performance briefing by the Finance Minister. All these are in the public domain.

But there are other issues, which are not in the public domain.

One of them is the allegation that the constituency projects components of the budgets for the past three years have always had a shortfall of N40 billion. According to a source, the

National Assembly leadership often fails to account for the shortfall annually and this is one of the sore points withholding the assent of the President from the 2013 budget.

Another reason for the friction, according to another source, is the allegation that the National Assembly leadership is requesting for some “advance” from the benchmark, which it jacked to $78 from $75 proposed by the Executive. Yet, the National Assembly is always quick to point out that its hands are clean and that it has not only done a good job on the 2013 budget, but it had concluded the assignment in time. Also, the legislators have always explained that the funds for the constituency projects are not given directly to them.

When President Jonathan refused to assent to the budget, many people expected the National Assembly to override him, in consonance with the provision of Section 58 (5), of the 1999 Constitution. The section states that “where the President withholds assent and the bill is again passed by each House by the two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required”.

The House spokesman, who had disclosed the National Assembly’s preparedness to override the President’s veto, reiterated that the legislators would thread the path of the constitution. Mohammed said: “The issue of the Director General (DG) of SEC and zero allocation for 2013 budget, the issue of roll over of 2012 budget is also there.This is because we took the decision in the House that the capital component of the 2012 budget should roll over to April of 2013 “As at the time we were passing the budget for 2013, by Christmas, the fourth quarter allocation for 2013 was just being released and, if you are now going to mop up the funds by December 31, 2012, what happens to the funds? The tradition is that people would just misapply the funds and they will end up in private pockets. What can they accomplish with the funds within two weeks?

“So, our position is that, why not give the agencies some

‘This week’s decision is critical to the federal legislative/executive relationship. Whatever compromise that the two arms of government may reach, two things are certain. The late passage of the 2015 budget is injurious to the socio-economic and political health of the country. The parliamentary skeptism may be have also been premised on the fear of imminent poor budget implementation and failure’

time, so that the monies can be better applied in the needed areas. That is the spirit behind our position on that”.

Mohammed further said: “Another area of contention is the matter of quarterly briefing of the House by the Minister of Finance.

“The National Assembly is asking for this because we have been variously accused of not doing our oversight function properly and we are now saying quarterly, let the Finance Minister come around and brief us about budget performance.

“The other areas is that of benchmark, but it is as serious as others. We have heard people saying we padded the budget and that was the reason for the delay, but this is not so because, before anything could be done, it has to be brought before the House again”.

The on-going parliamentary and executive drama is confounding to many Nigerians. While the National Assembly has hesitated, despite its threats, to veto the President, the President has been questioning the power of the National Assembly by asking the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bello Adoke, to interpret the constitution in order to decide who has the final power over appropriations.

But why has the House, which that had earlier chided the Presideny for poor budget implementation, hesitate to carry out its threat to invoke Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers it to take the final decision on the budget, following the refusal of assent by the President?

Sources close to the National Assembly confided that many legislators, especially those from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are afraid that the President may move against their second term ambition, using the instrumentality of the party.

This current executive/legislative faceoff, observers point out, has implications for good governance. As the President receives bashing for poor budget implementation, the heat is also turning the heat on the legislators by indirectly proposing the prunning of the constituency projects and blocking other channels of concealed corruption.

A source said the President’s economic team is worried that huge sums are being frittered annually by the MDAs and agencies that refuse to abide by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. But the legislators are also worried that the Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) are treated as personal funds, projects are abandoned and resolutions are waived aside by the executive, making the National Assembly to look like a toothless bulldog.

The mismanagement of the IGR was one of the factors that motivated the House of Representatives Committee on Finance to declare that it would set up an audit committee to conduct a forensic analysis of the expenditure and revenue generated by the federal government’s agencies.

The chairman of the committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said that the audit committee would investigate the claim by the agencies that they have been operating at a loss and therefore, could not remit funds to the Federation Accounts as stipulated by law.

44

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

POLITICS Secretary to the Osun State Government Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who clocks 60 today, spoke with SOJI ADENIYI on his political career, Aregbesola Adninistration and other partisan issues.

‘No marginalisation in Osun State’ Y

OU led your party, ACN, to victory in Osun State. What were the challenges?

It is a thing of joy for me to have led a giant party like the Alliance for Democracy (AD) from the doldrums. Shortly after the 2003 general elections, the activities of the party had gone down and the party was at zero level. For someone to lead the party from that zero level to victory in the April 2007 governorship elections, despite the fact that we were riggedout and our mandate was later restored at the Appeal Court, I feel highly elated. Even, if I don’t hold any position in this government, I believe I have paid my dues and my name has gone down into the Book of Records as someone who led the party from a zero level to the present position it has attained.

How did you weather the storm as an opposition leader?

It all started in January 2004. I became the chairman of the party in December 2003 and before that date, the party in government had decided to hold the local government elections on March 27, 2004. Immediately, we set the ball rolling; myself and other members of executive of the party realized that we must close ranks among the members of the party because the party had been factionalized along Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa’s lines. Incidentally, I was alleged to have emerged from Akande’s faction by the faction that was loyal to Senator Akinfenwa.

It took me about two months before I could reconcile the two factions. With the executive members, we were able to engage the government in power in the 2004 local government elections. And because the election was rigged we decided to pursue the election in the Tribunal.

My ordeal started from that tribunal because there was a day when Hon. Salensile and Rasaki Salawu’s case came up for hearing at the Osogbo High Court, I was nearly killed.

That was where my problem started with the party in government and I can recollect again that after that episode at the Osogbo High Court, I was at the Oroki Day celebration when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola escaped from being lynched. To cap it all, immediately the results of the 2007 governorship election were announced, people went on rampage and we were accused of instigating people to go on rampage and we were accused and charged to court.

They first declared 23 of us wanted before 15 were charged to court for assault. Incidentally, I was in Iwo throughout that day. I stated it in my statement of defense and I mentioned about six people, including the late Oluwo of Iwo, as one of my witnesses. How would I be in Iwo and at the same time raze houses in Osogbo? About a month later, there was a bomb blast at the state secretariat in Abere, Osogbo. I was in Ibadan that very day. Along with Governor Rauf Aregbesola and others, we were accused of masterminding the bomb blast. We were incarcerated at four different occasions.

First, I was at Ilesa Prisons. The following day, I was brought to Osogbo to appear before Magistrate Falola.

I was thereafter sent to Ile-Ife Prisons and released on bail after spending 35 days there. I was re-arrested again and I spent another 14 days at

Ile-Ife Prisons before I was released on bail. I was arrested and arraigned in 2009 over the bomb blast case and I spent another 32 days behind the bars, making four different times that I was in jail. But I thank God that all is now history and our dreams all these years have come to reality.

When I assumed office as the party chairman, we promised the members of the party that we are going to send the ruling party in the state packing and thank God that we have delivered on our promise.

Would you say that your ordeals were considered before your appointment as the Secretary to Osun State Government (SSG)?

Well, it may be part of it, but I heard members of our party saying some things before my appointment that, since the governor and his deputy reside outside the state, it will do the government a whole lot of good, if the state chairman of the party, who lives in the state and is familiar with all the nooks and crannies of the state, is appointed as the secretary to the state government.

That was their main reason because, at all the levels of the party, be it at the youth, women, elders caucus and executive level, everyone said they wanted Alhaji Adeoti to become the Secretary to the State Government.

Is it a coincidence, considering the fact that your predecessors in the last eight years are from Iwo like you?

My appointment could be linked with the position of Iwo in the South west politics and Osun State politics, in particular. I can’t say the appointment of Akinbade and Adio could be said to be because of the nature of politics in Iwo. Iwo is a progressive stronghold and the two are not from the progressive fold. But, one thing was certain. When Akinbade was appointed as the SSG; you know he took over as the chairman of the party from Chief Ogunrinade. What actually helped him to become the chairman at that time was because of the criterion that, for somebody to contest for the position of the chairman in that party, the party must have won the local government and House of Assembly elections in the person’s local government. Incidentally, Ola-Oluwa was the only local government, where Akinbade came from, that met the requirement. That automatically paved the way for Akinbade to emerge as the party chairman.

Since Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola hails from Osun Central and his deputy, Erelu Olusola Obada, is from the East Senatorial District, Akinbade was the most appropriate person for the position of SSG. One can say these appointments are mere coincidence.

Members of the ACN in Osun State alleging that they have been marginalised or sidelined by the Aregbesola Administration. What is your reaction?

That notion is in bad faith. There is no truth in it. I know some of our people expected that some of our people who reside in Osun State

would be made commissioners and special advisers. But the governor knows his onions. He knows those that can work with him, being a workaholic. Some of those in the executive have been with him before 2007. Not every one of us can be in the executive at the same time. I had cause to explain some things to some of those who are close to me about it. The position we found ourselves when this government came into power was very ridiculous. How do you expect an administration that borrows money to pay workers salary to appoint people? How do we pay them? They were even saying that the governor should appoint commissioners, that they can wait for six months before being paid. But when they were appointed, it wasn’t so. Unlike when the Chief of Staff to the governor and I were appointed, it took us about five months before we were paid our first salary. We came into office in January and got our first salary by May. It wasn’t easy. Also, there are limited positions in government. Some of them are expecting board appointments.

The expectations were high. We have to take one after the other. We have been compensating members of our party and what we are doing in Osun State right now hasn’t been done anywhere, even since the First Republic. Let me draw an example for you. There are 332 wards in Osun State and we have engaged, at least, 35 people in each of the wards across the state. They were constituted into committees and given stipends at the end of the month. May be, some people, who are supposed to be in one board or commission and I know that the governor will attend to their request before the end of this month. He said that when he recently spoke with the elders of the party. I am speaking from my own assessment, not because I’m part and parcel of this administration. I knew what we went through before our assumption of office and what is in the coffers of the state government.

I know the governor has been trying all he could to satisfy the yearnings of the members of the party.

Talking about the supremacy of the party, as a party chieftain, can you say that is effective in the Osun State ACN? Yes, I can tell you authoritatively that party supremacy is in place in Osun ACN. For example, before the commissioners were appointed, the governor asked the elders of the party and the members of the executive to go to their respective federal constituencies to draw a list of three names out of which he picked one for appointment. Except in one or two federal constituencies that produced two commissioners and special advisers, and in the appointment of the caretaker committee for local government, the party was fully involved. So, I can tell you authoritatively that there is virtually nothing the administration is doing without carrying along the party.

• Adeoti

At what time did you enter politics?

Since the Second Republic, I’ve been playing active role in the politics of my area. When I was in the university, during the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) administration of late Chief Bola Ige in the old Oyo State, I visited home from Benin every weekend to participate in the political activities. That has helped me a lot to familiarise with my people and I still do it till date and I find it comfortable to spend weekends with them. Hardly would you find me in Osogbo during the weekends.

I served as a councilor in my local government between 1988 and 1989.

I served as a supervisor in the local government between 1991 and 1993.

I served as the chairman of the council between 2002 and 2003 before I got promotion to be the state chairman of the party for seven years, from December 2003 to January 7, 2011, I have been comfortable with that. Though as the SSG, there are more assignments for me to execute than when I was the state chairman of the party. Whether I like it or not, I must be in the office every morning from Monday to Friday. As a party leader, I could decide to stay back at home and give directives to both the administrative staff and party executive to carry out different assignments for me. Now I must be in the office latest by 9 am. That is where I’ve been having problems with my people who are fond of coming to see me on Monday morning and I do tell them that my office is in Osogbo, not in Iwo. What motivated you to enter politics?

In the begining, I hated politics, but there was a particular occasion that made me to like politics. It was the time the local government election was to be held in 1976. The late Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Olatunbosun Tadese, my adoptdd father, was to contest the election. He asked me to write his resignation letter, being a teacher then. I queried his decision to plan to leave certainty for uncertainty. He said he was tired of his teaching appointment and that he

‘I know some of our people expected that some of our people who reside in Osun State would be made commissioners and special advisers. But the governor knows his onions. He knows those that can work with him, being a workaholic. Some of those in the executive have been with him before 2007. Not every one of us can be in the executive at the same time’

wanted to go into full time politics.

I said I won’t write the letter, until I was able to see for myself those people who have asked him to go and resign to contest. Within 48 hours, he gathered about twenty elders in his ward and asked them in my presence to answer the question that I asked him. Their responses convinced me that this man must be allowed to contest. He contested and won the election. When he got to the council, Iwo Local Government, he was appointed the Vice Chairman. As fate would have it, the Kabiyesi was appointed as the council chairman in acting capacity after his chairman was removed for his involvement in some shady deals.

Later, he became the substantive chairman in 1979 in the old Iwo Local Government, now comprising Ayedire, Iwo and Ola-Oluwa local governments. Most of the structures that he put in place through which the council generate funds are still in place till date. In 1979, Iwo Local Government was adjudged the best among the 310 local governments in the state, in terms of revenue generation. That was what endeared me into politics. So, I can say that Oba Ashiru Tadese was my political mentor and I am always proud of him anywhere I am.

Does your position gives you time for family life or when last did you go on picnics with your wife?

It’s quite difficult to take my wife to outings outside Iwo because no one knows who is hiding to attack me. If I’m somewhere with every member of my family and some people start to foment trouble with me, how will I defend them from being hurt? I attend functions outside Iwo axis with party members, but whenever I’m within my senatorial district, I attend functions with my wife.

How do you intend to celebrate your forthcoming birthday?

It’s going to be a little bit better than that of last year. Last year, it was an in-house thing because the government had just started, but now, everyone will be involved.

Now, we have gone halfway to Mr. Governor’s first term in office and there are a lot of achievements.

Therefore, the celebration will be a little bit higher than that of last year.

I intend to organise prayers in the morning and enjoy with friends and party faithful in the afternoon. Last year, it fell on Monday but this year, it is going to be on Wednesday which is incidentally our executive council meeting day. So, everyone will be there, but it is not an elaborate one.

45

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Remedies for menstrual cramps

‘Include alternative medicine in practice’ M

EDICAL doctors have been urged to incorporate Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) into their practice.

Prof Magnus Atilade, a chiropractor, who gave the advice, said: “Many of these alternative therapies can help patients achieve reduced arthritis pain, healthier coronary arteries, improved diabetes management, better memory function and much more.”

A Chiropractor is a doctor that treats back pain, and deals with spine and spinal deformations.

Atilade said: “Patients could soon be enjoying great relief from chronic pain and other conditions that conventional medicine just doesn’t have complete answers for should conventional doctors take to CAM. “Aside the afore mentioned, CAM/natural remedies boasts of benefits of lower costs and lower

risks than many drugs; therapies that treat the whole person — body, mind and spirit. The famous Mayo clinic, in the United States, is also introducing CAM in the treatment of its patients and has even produced a book on CAM, Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine, just to ensure good understanding of the subject matter by all and sundry, especially for medics and patients alike, who may want further clarifications.

“So, if the world is advancing in health care delivery, Nigeria should not lag behind. Even if you’ve tried many other treatments.

Or even if you’ve suffered for years with little or no relief, the Mayoreviewed and approved therapies in this book are worth a closer look.

They may bring the relief you’ve sought for so long.”

He added: “Mayo Clinic Book of

Alternative Medicine’ is a guide to safe and effective therapies from the world of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This book offers steps you can take on your own to achieve and maintain health and wellness. Developed by Mayo Clinic physicians and editors, this easy-to-understand information book addresses natural therapies for 20 top health issues.

“Put this natural-healing wisdom to use for better health. Mayo is a reputable clinic, and it’s assessment of more than 40 of the leading herbs, botanicals and vitamins on the market today in the book is commendable. It will afford readers to find out what vitamin may be used to help improve cholesterol levels. An effective topical pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is revealed.”

Prof Atilade, who was running St. Paul Chiropractic Centre in the early 70s and a former Consultant

•Surface of the new satchet

•The new 100 capsules pack

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

M

•Atilade

(CAM), Mayo Clinic, was proud that some of the ideas shared with the clinic while it was researching into CAM were documented and the vision encapsulated in the book.

“CAM is the in-thing for any health professional, especially, medics. We professionals in CAM are willing to collaborate and consult for whoever wants to buy into the idea.”

Jobelyn rebrands

H

EALTH Forever Product Limited, manufacturers of the acclaimed herbal/dietary supplement, Jobelyn, has rebranded the product to protect it.

The action was informed by what the firm called the faking of the product.

The 30-capsule and 100-capsule packs have been rebranded; they are now in olive green colour background. They used to be white. The surface of the blister foil is now in two colours, i.e., green and black fonts.

According to its Managing Director, Otunba Olajuwon Okubena, customers are advised to return the old packs to where they bought them or to the company at 11, Dipeolu Street, Off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos to be exchanged for the new packs not later than two weeks from today.

“Health Forever has decided to

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

make Jobelyn available to all pharmaceutical shops across the country on demand and orders could be taken through our telephone numbers, 08035657284, 08078516953 and 234-1-881966

and e-mail, orders@healthforever.com. Customers are requested to complete our application forms for accreditation,” he said.

The company said Simba Pharmacy at 18 Church Street, Idumota is the only accredited

distributor for Idumota drugs market, Associated Innokings Pharmacy for Onitsha Drugs Market, Chuks International Merchants Co. for Aba Drugs Market, and Mark Etim of 65 Abak Road, Uyo for Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

How to manage sleeping disorder naturally

D

O you have problem sleeping at night?

A traditional healer, Dr Lambo Adebisi, of LAMDEBS Clinic Ojota, a Lagos suburb, said the problem could be addressed naturally without medication.

He identified anxiety,stress, extreme temperature fluctuations and environmental noise or changes, among others, as problem causing insomnia also known as sleeplessness or sleeping disorder.

Others are medication side effects, hormones, or disruption to the regular sleep pattern.

“Also, depression, chronic pain, a variety of health issues and sleep apnea can also contribute to insomnia. Lifestyle can also affect insomnia, as studies have shown that alcohol and caffeine intake and smoking cigarettes before bedtime dis-

By Wale Adepoju

rupts sleep, as can excessive napping in the afternoon or evening,” he added.

According to him, there are many reasons why people have a difficult time staying asleep. The good news is that common problems with sleep are often easily addressed without the use of medication, he added.

Adebisi said there are no guaranteed natural cures for insomnia, but there are effective steps people can take to reverse it.

He advised that people should sleep on a comfortable bed and support their head with a pillow to ensure a good night’s sleep.

“This is because worn out bed and pillow may actually impede a good night sleep,” he added.

He said some people only need to relax and clear their thought to get good sleep.

Advising those who frequently urinate, especially at night, he said they should eliminate caffeine and alcohol before bedtime.

He described insomnia as a relatively common sleeping disorder, affecting about one-third of the adult population worldwide.

Adebisi stressed that the condition is more common in women, but quality of sleep often decreases equally in both women and men as they age.

Adebisi advised that people should have a warm bath, relaxing stroll, or practice meditation/relaxation exercises as part of their regular nighttime routine.

“Get plenty of exercise during the day.

Studies have shown people who are

physically active sleep better than those who are sedentary. The more energy you expend during the day the sleepier you will feel at bedtime,” he said.

On recommendations, he said, people should avoid large meals late in the evening, learn and use a relaxation technique regularly. Breathing exercises, meditation and yoga are good examples.

On natural treatment, he said: “Valerian is a sedative herb, used for centuries. You can find standardised extracts in health food stores and pharmacies. Take one to two capsules a half hour before bedtime. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the wake/ sleep cycle and other daily biorhythms.”

He said breathing exercises, meditation and yoga are good examples, although these are not sure-fire natural cures for insomnia.

ENSTRUAL cramps, also known as dysmenorrhea, typically feel like a dull pain in the lower abdomen before or during menstrual periods. The pain sometimes radiates to the low back or thigh area. Other symptoms may include nausea, loose stool, sweating, and dizziness.

There are two types of menstrual cramps: primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea, which usually starts within several years after your first menstrual period, involves no physical abnormality. Hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which are produced naturally in the body, are thought to cause these menstrual cramps and be responsible for the pain and inflammation.

Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, has an underlying physical cause, such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, or uterine polyps.

Natural remedies If you are experiencing symptoms of menstrual cramps, it’s important to see your doctor to be properly diagnosed. Although certain natural remedies show some promise, there hasn’t been enough research at this point to conclude they’re effective.

Here are some of the more popular natural remedies for menstrual cramps.

1) Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. They are also available in fish oil capsules, which may be the preferable form because many brands filter out any pollutants in fish, such as mercury and PCBs. At least eight studies involving a total of 1,097 women have investigated the relationship between diet and menstrual cramps and have found that fish oil intake seemed to have a positive effect on menstrual cramps.

Animal studies suggest that the two compounds in fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may decrease prostaglandin levels.

In one small study, 21 young women took fish oil (containing 1080 milligrams eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 720 milligrams docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and 1.5 milligrams vitamin E) daily for two months followed by a placebo pill for two months. Another 21 young women took the placebo for two months followed by fish oil for two months. The results suggested that the women experienced significantly less menstrual cramps when they were taking the fish oil.

Fish oil capsules are sold in drug stores, health food stores, and online.

Look for the active ingredients EPA and DHA on the label.

Fish oil capsules may interact with blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin) and aspirin. Side effects may include indigestion and bleeding. To reduce a fishy aftertaste, it should be taken just before meals.

Magnesium Magnesium is a mineral found naturally in foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

It is also available as nutritional supplements. Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions.

•Culled from: altmedicine.about.com

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

46

NATURAL HEALTH

Could CoQ10 & Co. have helped Goldie's health?

I

HAD almost grown too tired of writing about invaluable contributions of CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to robust, radiant health when I heard the news that Goldie died suddenly of "headache" which turned out to be bleeding in her brain. You may have a tiring job on your hands when you keep telling people this food supplement has been clinically proven in other countries to help heart and circulatory disease, diabetes, even breast cancer, and they keep returning to you to say their doctors tell them not to touch it even with a long pole!. My last such experience must be a woman who was suffering from mitral valve prolapse. This is a condition in the heart in which one of the non-return valves was weak, from whatever cause(s) and not permitting the heart to pump blood efficiently. As Dr. Ray Strand, once an enemy of food supplement says in his book, WHAT YOUR DOCTOR DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT NUTRITION MAY BE KILLING YOU, this condition like his wife's fibromyalgia which he couldn't cure with drugs, can mean "living short, dying long". The attitude of that woman and her cardiologist led to the last review of CoQ10 literature in this column. I have returned to CoQ10 today because of the sudden death of Goldie and because of one of the latest medical alerts I got from REAL DIABETES TRUTH, courtesy of my wife by email, since diabetes is now spreading in Nigeria like malaria fever and because many people are in Goldie's shoes without realising so, as I once mentioned in the column on the" walking corpses" that many people are, irrespective of age. After all, Goldie was only 31 years old by calendar dating, although, biologically, her system was probably twice as old.

Again, what is CoQ10?

I will restrict myself to answering this question through the answer provided by Dr. Strand. He is the doctor who forbade his wife and patients to supplement their diet with nutritional extracts. He changed his mind when he couldn't help his wife and a medical lay woman did, using herbs and vitamins and minerals. Dr. Strand went on to research nutritional medicine after this experience, and wrote his fabulous book which should be in every home health library.

Coenzyme Q10, also called Ubiquinol or Ubiquinone, depending on the quality, is an antioxidant fat soluble, Vitamin - like nutrient isolated from the mitochondria in the heart of a cow in 1957 by Dr. Frederick Crane. The mitochondria are structures in every cell where the cell makes the energy it requires for its living process. The more the CoQ10 in a cell, the more the mitochondria, and, so, the more the energy output. It can, therefore, be said that people who are low in energy are deficient in CoQ10 either because their bodies are not making enough of it or because they are not getting enough materials from the diet to make it, or because their bodies are so ravaged by oxidative stress and damage that they are getting far less CoQ10 them they require in that circumstance. Oxidative Stress or Oxidative damage is a condition in which free radicals, poisonous by products of living processes which may also be ingested through food, water or air, stress or damage the cells. Antioxidants protect the cells against them. CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant in this regard. Dr. Strand says the mitochondria are like furnaces in which sparks (free radicals) are flying about, causing damage, and the ash left over after the burning constitute a dangerous free radical menace. CoQ10 helps not only to start the fire but, also, to neutralize the free radicals. In the heart, low levels of CoQ10 would mean fewer mitochondria; pour energy output, physiological weakness, tissue disease and degeneration through Oxidative stress and damage.

N 1958, Dr. Karl Folkers began a lifelong research on CoQ10 that would make him, till this day, the father of CoQ10 research of our time in that year, he and his colleagues at Merck figured out the chemical structure of CoQ10 to pave way for its manufacture. The Japanese soon took over and by the 1970s, using superior technology, produced pure grade CoQ10 and have remained the world's biggest supplier of this product. As Dr. Strand report: "Not only have numerous investigators established that normal blood levels of CoQ10, they have identified what seems to be a direct correlation between the severity of heart failure and the correlating depletion of CoQ10. Significantly, decreased amounts of CoQ10 have been noticed in periodontal disease, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Deficient levels of CoQ10 have been most clearly established, however, in the blood levels of patients with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy" Dr. Strand reports that the largest study ever at the time he wrote his book was that run by Baggio and Associate and named the Itahan Multi-Center Trial. It involved 2,664 heart failure patients.

"In this particular study" says Dr. Strand, nearly 80 percent of patients improved. When they started taking CoQ10 and 54 percent of their patients in three major symptom categories.

Put simply, studies and real -life examples show that CoQ10 is an enormously helpful supplement interesting heart conditions. While it doesn't cure them, it certainly hinders the progress of the disease" One of the studies cited by Dr. Stand is that run by Dr. Folkers and Dr. Langsjeon in 1992. Says Dr. Strand: "They placed 11 exemplary transplant candidates on CoQ10.

Three of the patients moved from the worst classification, CLAS IV, to the least classification, CLASS 1", under the New York Heart Association guide. Four patients improved from CLASS III -IV to CLASS II and two others improved from CLASS III to I. I took 100mg of UBIQUINOL over breakfast as I write this Sunday morning, mindful that my body, at my age, may not be producing enough CoQ10. There are two types, the other

I

she flew to Lagos from an awards ceremony in Europe. I hadn't heard about her before the incident, perhaps because I am not into "today's" music and entertainment. But, everywhere, young people were talking sorrowfully about her. As is the nature of this spiritually abnormal zone" of the earth which is suffocated by demons and phantoms', many of the mourners believed she was killed psychically by her enemies When I heard of her headache, I thought of hypertension and/ or a stroke caused by a blood clot lodged somewhere in the blood vessels of the brain which would block blood flow and lead to a stroke or a "brain attack". This sounded logical because she'd just came off an airplane complaining of a headache, and may have developed, as a cause of that, a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which sometimes occurs during plane flight. In DVT, a blood clot forms and / or lodges in the deep vein far, far under the fold of the knees. That's why people who have to sit for too long, as in an airplane or women who have to cross their legs to "sit well" are advised to always exercise the lower limbs for proper blood flow in the deep veins. Hypertension too was a credible culprit in this condition. In this case, the autopsy pointed to it.

The hyperactive heart

being UBIQUINONE. Ubiquinone is less bioacvailable as Ubiquinol. It has to be converted to Ubiquinol before the body can use it. This makes Ubiquinol more preferable although it is more expensive. CoQ10 is present in organ meat. But we all know the dangers in consuming them. I'd rather go for Macred fish and peanuts. But, again, peanuts have to be eaten in moderation. When I crave beef, I prefer the heart, because, as research has shown, that is one of the places in the body where CoQ10 is most concentrated. The body can make CoQ10. But to do this it requires Tyrosine, an amino acid. But the process can be complicated and ineffective as it requires about eight Vitamins and many minerals and the process may derail if any of the links is missing.

Diabetes and CoQ10 As I said earlier, a report on how CoQ10 may help the diabetic encouraged me to undertake another review of this nutrient after I read the email of my wife who tracks health information with dedication and often fills me up on them.

Obtained from REAL DIABETES TRUTH the report on CoQ10 is entitled: SLASH RISK OF HEART DISEASE BY 53%, and says: “A ground-breaking five year study published in the International Journal of Cardiology has shown that a daily supplement of CoQ10 cuts the number of deaths from heart disease by more than 50 percent The Swedish researchers led by professor Urban Alehangen concluded a trial on 43 volunteers aged between 70 and 88. Half the participant took daily supplements of 200 mg of CoQ10 together with mcg of Selenium while the other half were given a placebo.

“After a five-year following researchers found that TWICE as many people in the placebo group had died of cardio valuable disease than in the CoQ10 group. What's more, they found that those in the CoQ10 group had significant improvement in heart muscle function " NDER the subtitle GROW OLDER 51 PERCENT SLOWER WITH THIS NEW FORM OF CoQ10, the report adds: But CoQ10 isn't just good for your heart, it fuels just about every function in your body… and its proven benefits have been confirmed by thousands of research papers over the past 50 years.

“In one landmark study scientists at the Department of Ageing Biology, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, studied the anti-ageing effect of the new form of CoQ10 called Ubiquinol, using a speciabreed of mice that age quickly. “ They divided the mice into three groups, giving the first group no CoQ10, the second group old-style Ubiquinone CoQ10 and the third group the special Ubiquinol CoQ10 “At nine months, both CoQ10 groups were ageing much slower than the group who didn't get any CoQ10 “Then at 10 months a point that equates late middle age in humans… the three rates of ageing diverged significantly.

"The Ubiquinol mice were ageing 40% slower than the old style Ubiquinone mice ….and 51 percent than the group that the group taking none.

“Then by 12 months of age the difference was truly remarkable.

“The poor old mice which got no CoQ10 were at death's door. They were suffering all the classic signs of human ageing: they couldn't move or respond to any stimulation … they had eye damage… bent backs… and patchy, dislocated skins.

"The group who received old-style Ubiquinone had begun to experience signs of ageing but were in much better shape, whereas the Ubiquinol mice looked perfectly normal and healthy In spite of being old, they showed no signs of ageing . They had glossy coats and no physical deformities. Plus, they were running around as alert responsive and energetic"

U

Goldie's death According to a PRIME NEWS publication, Dr. D.O.Oyewole of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) signed an autopsy report on February 19 which suggested the cause of her death to be "intracellular hemorrhage caused by hyperactive heart" Goldie, 31, singer and actress, was reported to have complained of headache as soon as she disembarked from an aircraft in which

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

Such a heart is overworking due to many reasons. Some of the common causes are (1) Arteriosclerosis, or blockage of the blood vessels, (2) Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the blood vessels caused by the infiltration of calcium into the soft muscles, (3) Resistance to blood flow in any of the major organs, such as the liver, pancreas, or kidneys, for example (4) Insufficiency of certain ectrolytes (calcium, magnesium, sodium or potassium) in the circulatory system.

(5) Dehydration at the cellular level.

Goldie's death at a tender age of 31 would encourage all of us, young or old, to imbibe the culture of regular yearly general examination of health parameter in this regard. This goes especially for people who are overworking such as doctors, policemen and soldiers, journalists and entertainers. I imagine Goldie spending sleepless night at rehearsals, recordings and performances, not to mention the long hours it takes to conceptualise a song or stagecraft.

HEN the heart pumps, the entire blood vessel system is expected to be free and supple to dilate as blood flows past. If they are hardened (atherosclerosis), there will be resistance to blood flow and this will raise blood pressure.

If the vessels are blocked (atherosclerosis), a similar effect will occur. If the liver, for example, is hard (Cirrhoesis) or its intracellular spaces blocked, the resistance to blood flow will cause the heart to pump blood with more force to break the resistance. This too elevates blood pressure. Sometimes, the kidney or the pancreas or the spleen is blocked by toxins or calcified matter. The resistance to blood flow within them challenges the heart to pump harder still. This weakens the heart, may lead to its enlargement and, probably, heart disease and, someday, heart failure. When the heart pumps with abnormally high force to overcome resistance to blood flow, the force may be right for the organ causing the problem, but not quite so for well-behaved organs. That's why hypertension often weakens the heart itself and damage the kidneys, for example in Goldie's case, the blood vessels in her brain burst and bled into the brain because the pressure was too much for them. In Alternative Medicine, the first step in hypertension therapy is to employ nutrition where it is a case of primary hypertension (i.e. electrolyte deficiency) or to detoxify all the organs, if the trouble is secondary hypertension i.e. resistance in the organ(s) Mr. Charles Akintobi should be glad to know the gentleman who suffered from kidney failure is now certified fit by his consultant doctor who, like Dr. Strand, wishes to know sources of the nutritional supplements which helped him. Among these were Apple Cider Vinegar taken with lime or lemon as in Stanley Burroughs's LEMONADE DIET, Bell's Kidney Cleanses and Function Tea, Kidney Health and Kidney Rescue.

In hypertension due to dehydration, loss of water in the vascular system leads to a narrowing of the lumen (space) to prevent air filling the space vacated by water and creating deadly gas lock. It is not enough to drink water to hydrate. Potassium and Sodium help to hold water.

These may be taken as biochemic cell or tissue salts. Rutin and Silica may help to strengthen blood vessels so they don't easily "tear" under high blood pressure.

Shepherd's Purse, like Calamus root or Comfrey root, stop internal bleeding as does Apple Cider Vinegar Magnesium Frees the blood vessels of calcification, thereby relaxing them and lowering blood pressure. When the blood vessels are blocked, the Biochemic cell salt ferrum phosphate does help. So do Nattolkinese, Cayenne, Lea thin, Vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, Neprinol (a systemic enzyme). CoQ10 Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Selenium, Beta carotene and Alpha Lipoid Acid (ALA) all antioxidants, among many, protects the LDL component of cholesterol against oxidation which then forms it into a sludge which blocked the blood vessels. When the heart is enlarged, it is time to summon Hawthorn berries and Vitamin. Vitamin B1 which should be taken with a good B-Complex Vitamin.

Vitamin E and Selenium, working as twins, support the effort.

We are all always careless with our health. In the White House as President Bill Clinton suffered 95 per cent blockage of the coronary arteries and had to have bypass surgery. That's not a good thing. Today, the once vibrant orator looks like a 90-year-old man. He granted Newsweek or Time magazine in an interview which he lamented that, under work pressure in the White House, he was careless with his health by eating fast food, junk food. I wondered: where was Hillary, the First Lady? Busy with her own political future to become President of the United States?

Goodbye, Goldie. We never met. But I feel you everywhere.

W

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

47

THE NATION

e-Business Software: An untapped goldmine To grow the software subsector of the economy, the Federal Government plans to build two incubation centres in Lagos and Calabar, Cross River State. One year after, the project has not taken off. LUCAS AJANAKU reports that there is the need to revisit the projects because of its economic potential.

A

FTER graduation, Bayo Puddicombe, the Chief Executive Officer, Pledge 51, ventured into mobile application development in Lagos.

Today, he is not regretting his action as his applications run on some Nokia devices.

He said mobile application development could be the answer to unemployment, adding that the requirement to enter the industry is simple.

Puddicombe said:“This is probably one of the many answers to youth unemployment in our nation. The conditions to join the industry for an aspiring developer are relatively low. If well- harnessed, this can be transformed into a huge industry with significant potential for growth. When critically analysed, the major resources required to develop mobile applications are your mind, a half-decent computer and internet access.”

He said the requirements for the development of software are similar to those for mobile applications, emphasising the importance of the internet through which the tools will run.

It is probably in realisation of this that the Federal Government has made available about $4.5 million (N700 million) through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)/National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDEVF) for the setting up of the software incubation centres. It is a seed fund for Venture Capital fund intended to attract local and international investors to grow the industry through the establishment of six software incubation centres in some parts of the country.

Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said as part of efforts to grow the software sub-sector of the ICT industry and make it contribute substantially to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the government decided to set up the centres with the pilot project to be based in Lagos and Calabar, Cross River State capital.

She said the e-Learning Centre would host the software incubation centre in Lagos while Tinapa Knowledge City would house its Cross River State counterpart. After the promise of the minister, nothing has been heard except the inauguration of the Governing Board of the National ICT Incu-

•A software development centre in Lagos.

bation Programme tagged IDEA, last week.

The software industry has been identified by experts as one growth area for Nigeria.

It is reputed to be the strength of the Indian economy, contributing substantially to the growth of the country’s economy.

President, Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria Ltd (ITAN),Mrs Florence Seriki, said the government should make the ICT sector the driver of the economy. According to her, while Taiwan used hardware to push her economy to global relevance, India leveraged on the software sub-sector.

The incubation centres, according to the plan, rather than being government-owned, would be ‘government-inspired’ or ‘government-catalysed’, but would eventually be run by a non-profit organisation to be set up.

The Programme Manager in charge of the implementation of the programme, Ms. Helen Anatogo,said the Federal Goverment plans to establish six incubation software incubation centres by the end of 2015.

Abeokuta, Enugu, Ile-Ife and Abuja have been chosen as likely centres for the project.

The choice is based on parameters, such as presence of large students and availability of contiguous tertiary institutions in the areas.

The focus of the software incubation programme and centres include enterprise software development, linguistic software, custom programming, mobile software, business intelligence and gaming.

Essentially targeted at students, start-ups and software development companies, the programme would offer business and tech-

nological training, free access to software development tools, use of facilities and computer resources for development purposes, mentoring, assistance with marketing and promotion, as well as access to finance.

Anatogo said there is significant and positive correlation between maturity of the software sector to economic productivity and, by definition, to national competitiveness.

She added that use of software technologies increase the capacity of firms to achieve higher levels of productivity, thereby increasing per capita (GDP) which in turn increases overall national productivity, standards of living, and competitiveness.

She said research showed that effective coupling of innovation and entrepreneurship requires an ecosystem with active linkages between financiers, academia, policymakers and the business community.

“Business incubators play a key role in the ecosystem as they should interact with all the actors in the ecosystem, directly or indirectly. For the successful implementation of Nigerian ICT incubation strategy, it is crucial that these incubators are built in collaboration with stakeholders. This is the only way to ensure the successful implementation as the Nigerian environment, like many other developing economies, is challenging for new entrepreneurs,” she explained.

Speaking on the primary purposes of the programme, she explained that it is to nurture, grow and help new software technology businesses succeed, thereby creating wealth and employment opportunities for

‘Business incubators play a key role in the ecosystem as they should interact with all the actors in the ecosystem, directly or indirectly. For successful implementation of Nigerian ICT incubation strategy, it is crucial that these incubators are built in collaboration with stakeholders. This is the only way to ensure the successful implementation as the Nigerian environment, like many other developing economies, is challenging for new entrepreneurs’

Nigerians.

“The purpose of a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) is enterprise creation focused on technology based ventures, broadly defined. Essentially, the TBI is an environment with a small management staff that provides the physical space, shared facilities, counseling, training and information specific to selected technology ventures (in this case software), with access to university research, finance and technical support services in one integrated and affordable package. Such caring and sharing have been shown to facilitate business start-ups by reducing initial costs and delays, and to diminish the chances of failure at a fledgling enterprise,” she said.

The government said the programme should build growth-oriented companies with impact on employment in the ICT sector and place Nigeria on the international ICT map.

She said in South Africa, the ICT sector attracted the lion’s share of venture capital funding in the three and a half years to July last year, receiving about R265.6-million (equivalent of N5 billion). Venture capital investments reached R830-million (equivalent of N15.5 billion). Venture capital firms backed by the government were the most active, accounting for 51 per cent of deals compared with 46 per cent of deals executed by private-equity players.

Jordan, often referred to as the ICT leader in the Arab world, accounts for only two per cent of the region’s population, but produces and manages 75 per cent of all Arabic-language internet content.

The country has a per capita GDP of $4,666 in 2011, placing it 103rd among nations with high per capita. It has no oil deposits yet 14 per cent of the country’s GDP comes from ICT. Accelerator Technology Holdings’ $30 million Badia Impact Fund provides earlystage finance for Jordanian tech start-ups and has raised a total of $80 million from investors and invested in 20 companies.

One of its most successful investments is Rubicon Group Holding, an Amman-based computer animation company set up in 1994 with just $150,000 but now generating about $40 million annual revenue.

It is in the light of these that the Federal Government should get its acts together and not allow the laudable dreams of the software incubation centre to fall through.

48

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

e-Business

NITDA chief decries high cybercrime rate D IRECTOR-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Officer CleopasAngaye, has decried the high cyber crime in the country. He said a situation where the country falls within the same bracket with super powers, such as the United States (US), China and the United Kingdom (UK) is worrisome.

Angaye told The Nation in Lagos that though the country aspires to develop like these countries, such development should not bein the area of crimes.

“Nigeria is rated as one of the worst cybercimes (nations in the world). If you go to the internet (and click) cybercrime Nigeria, you will see that Nigeria is one of the four (leading cybercrime countries of the world).

It becomes of utmost concern when you count the US and may be China and the UK and Nigeria is there. We shouldn’t be there. Nigeria is not as advanced as these countries. We want to be advanced in other areas, but certainly not in crime. So, we are con-

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

cerned. We want our cyberspace to be free,” he said.

He explained that the cybercrime bill at the National Assemby was a ‘baby of necessity’ as the nation was becoming notorious for cybercrimes among the comity of nations. He said when the bill is passed into law, it will help address emerging cyber crimes in the country.

According to him, there are two strands to the bill. The cybercrime and cybersecurity.“There is the cybercrime and the cybersecurity issue. The cybersecurity part of the bill spells out penalties for that will be meted out to the people who contravene the bill. Security is about how we prepare ourselves and make sure that we secure our cyberspace against crime,” he said.

Angaye, who said Nigeria is leading other African countries in the use of the short message service (SMS),

added that the development translated to the readiness of the country to continue to take leadership position in the application of information communication technology (ICT) tools to its daily lives.

Though he could neither say specifically what the development translated to in terms of revenue to the operators nor the actual volume figures, he said with the development, the country is ready for e-mobile computing.

“Nigeria is leading in text message volumes in Africa. (This means that) Nigeria is ready for e-mobile. It is not about being bad or good. What we are saying is that Nigeria, as country in sub-Saharan Africa, is ready to capture the (market). We have many applications for mobile computing.

We can even utilise SMS and save the stress of going from Lagos to Abuja or to Maiduguri to know what is there,” he added.

T

HE Federal Government has concluded plans to launch a single window portal in the country next month. It will allow people to access Customs HS Codes, NIPOST post codes, file for passport issuance, register for exams and check exam results online (UTME) and other functions.

Speaking in Lagos at the Social Media Week in Lagos, Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said the primary objective of deploying a National Portal, an initiative of the Ministry of Communication Technology and the Ministry of Information, is to create a single point of entry for all to access government information and services online.

According to her, processes like the evaluation and accreditation of

Fed Govt to launch national single window portal certificates, school inspection report, registration of a rrademark, registration of an industrial design, registration of a patent, application for product certification, application for SONCAP certificate, webbased drug authentication, application for full registration of drugs, farmers registration, mega suppliers / distributors of fertilizer registration, registration of seed importation and exporting companies and application for non-commercial spectrum license are nearcompletion for automation on the national portal.

Enugu Chamber praises Globacom

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HE Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has acknowledged Globacom for its contributions to the success of the fair in previous years.

According to a statement, the commendation was given during the chamber’s visit to the corporate headquarters of the company in Lagos.

President of the Chamber, Dr. Theo Okonkwo, thanked Globacom for its strategic partnership with the Chamber, particularly, its sponsorship of the Fair at various times.

He commended Globacom for providing quality network coverage at the fair and its environment.

“We came in to thank you, and let you know that we will not take you for granted,” he said.

The Director-General of the Chamber, Mr Emeka Okereke, reit-

erated the strength of the Glo network in Enugu State and other surrounding areas. “The network is better, viable and more pocketfriendly,” he said.

He expressed the desire of the Chamber to make Globacom the telecoms partner of the Fair, having been favoured by “most council members” for that position. He said he believes that this strategic partnership will deepen the relationship between the two organisations.

The Coordinator, Commercial, Globacom, Mr Ike Oraekwuotu, reaffirmed the telco’s willingness to continue to partner with the Chamber and the yearly fair.

He also announced the company’s resolve to improve quality of service in Enugu State and its environs, noting that there is no place Glo has not reached in the whole of Enugu State.

Firm launches convertible tablet • From left: Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr Akinwale Goodluck; Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr Brett Goschen; Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr Foluso Phillips and DirectorGeneral, Mr Frank Nweke, during NESG executives’ visit to MTN’s head office in Lagos.

NCC to focus on data provision

T

HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it is working on how to make cheap data available to Nigerians. The data would be delivered through the Digital Awareness Programme (DAP) and Digital Awareness Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI).

NCC Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Eugene Juwah spoke during the inauguration of DAP at Erijiyan Government High School in Ekiti State.

Juwah, represented by Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, a Commissioner of the NCC, said more than 222 higher institutions across the country have so far benefited from DAP, adding that 93 at the higher institution are ben-

eficiaries of another programme called Wireless Cloud.

He said by making internet facilities available to the youth, the commission is helping to bridge the digital divide.

“DAP is part of the major objectives of the Commission to achieve universal access for ICT. Having conquered the voice telephony, the area of data has become our major focus at the NCC. DAP, and the related programmes, are some of the ways that the Commission has strived to key the Nigerian youth into accelerated universal access. By making Internet services available to the younger generation, we are helping to build the bridge to connect

this generation to the next,” he said.

He said DAP and related programmes in schools by the commission are designed to equip the students and the lecturers with the resources to improve on their various skills and endeavours using the latest technologies.

Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, praised the NCC boss for his leadership, adding that the project is an indication of how the commission has utilised the budgets appropriated to it by the government, especially at this period when the availability of infrastructure has become the basic criteria for performance measure-

How Galaxy Backbone is tackling graft, by MD

T

HE Federal Government is using the integrated information communication technology (ICT) company Galaxy Backbone Plc, to fight graft and enthrone transparency in government, the firm’s Managing Director, Gerald Ilukwe, has said.

He spoke during a discussion at the e-Learning Centre, Lagos.

Ilukwe, represented by the Head of Marketing, Galaxy Backbone, Amara Nwankpa, said the firm was able to do this through 1Gov.net, which has about 4,000 nodes that provide connectivity to over 350 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

“A key objective of 1-Gov.net

is to facilitate efficient and effective service delivery to the citizens of the country. From prompt processing of travellers at the Immigrations’ desk or issuance of drivers’ licenses, to prompt payment of workers’ salaries, to efficient conduct of the Federal Executive Council deliberations, Galaxy Backbone is enhancing egovernment and good governance in Nigeria,” he said.

“We are also supporting the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) to track the movement of petroleum products from the various depots in the country, facilitating accountability in ensuring the uniform pricing of these products across the nation,” he added.

According to him, the firm’s services also help improve government’s internal efficiency, by making it to be more effective and responsive.

The Electronic Documents Management System/Council Chambers Automation System (EDMS/CCAS) that has transformed the mode of preparing council memos from manual to digital; and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) that has revolutionised the payroll system to reduce incidence of fraud and time spent on computation of workers’ salaries are some of the ways the platform has helped to check leakages in the economy.

H

P has extended its business tablet portfolio with the announcement of its next-generation convertible tablet, the HP EliteBook Revolve—a touch-enabled notebook that pivots to let users share their work and folds to go mobile as a tablet.

According to a statement by the firm, the HP EliteBook Revolve is designed for business and government customers who require both an ultrathin notebook and a touch-enabled tablet.

Driven by the latest, third-generation Intel Core processors and optimised for Windows 8, the HP EliteBook Revolve offers the incredible performance and visuals of a full-power notebook alongside the flexibility to quickly switch to a tablet with a touchenabled high-definition (HD) display.

The firm also showcased a new HP multi-tablet charging module

which quickly and easily charges and stores up to 10 tablet PCs with just one power outlet. Suitable for a range of different work environments, the module secures all docked tablets with a locking mechanism and a keyed lock on the fold-back doors.

Speaking at the launch, Gerwald van der Gijp, director, Commercial Products, Personal Computer Business Unit, HP EMEA, said: “Employees want computing devices that work the way they do—flexibly and able to adapt to any situation. HP is committed to ensuring its Elite portfolio of tablet solutions will provide customers the features their employees need for maximum productivity, with a design they’ll be proud to carry everywhere they go, all without sacrificing the enterprise services and protection that take the headache away from IT.”

Minister inaugurates technology board

T

HE Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, has inaugurated the Governing Board of the National ICT Incubation Programme tagged IDEA. She charge the members to oversee the centres and ensure it becomes a success.

According to a statement from the ministry, the programme is aimed at supporting ICT entrepreneurs to create successful businesses that will have global impact.

It will offer support to promising entrepreneurs through ICT incubation centres that will be established in some cities with the first two located in Tinapa and Cross Rivers State.

The minister said while the centres will be established and funded by government through the National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDEVF), they will subsequently be funded and managed

independent of government through a special purpose vehicle supervised by the Governing Council.

The members, according to Mrs Johnson, are required to provide strategic support and leadership to the National ICT Incubation Programme, commission and evaluate the strategic plans and key performance indicators at the national and individual incubation centre level, guide the establishment of the centres and provide management oversight functions.

Members of the Governing council are Mr Adedotun Suleiman of Arian Capital; Pius Okigbo Jr of Infosoft; Osayi Alile Oruene of Fate Foundation; John Obaro of Systems Spec; Teemu Kiijarvi of Nokia, Wiebe Boer of Tony Elumelu Foundation; Juliet Anammah of Accenture; Mohammed Balarabe of Fidelity Bank, Vincent Olatunji and Aristotle Onumo, all of NITDA.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-2-13

Equities rebound with N40b gains

M

ID-week rally transformed at the Nigerian stock market to positive as equities broke away from bears territory that had characterised price trend since Monday.

With nearly two advancers for a decliner, aggregate market capitalisation of all equities recovered by N40 billion in capital gains to close at N10.796 trillion as against its opening value of N10.756 trillion.

The All Share Index (ASI), the main value-based index that tracks all equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), rallied by 0.37 per cent to close at 33,736.81 points compared with its opening index of 33,613.87 points. The recovery yesterday pushed up the average year-to-date return to 20.15 per cent.

Investors increased stakes on equities with 19.2 per cent and 51.5 per cent increase in turnover volume and value respectively, overwhelming sale market orders by profit-takers.

Turnover rose to 563.93 million shares worth N5.99 billion in 5,678 deals. Zenith Bank was the most active stock with a turnover of 96.04 million shares worth N2.02 billion in 372 deals. Transnational Corporation of Nigeria followed with a turnover of 67.64 million shares valued at N117.38 million in 253 deals while Academy Press placed third

•UPDC REIT woos investors

By Taofik Salako

with a turnover of 54.56 million shares worth N136.39 million in 10 deals.

Nestle Nigeria topped the gainers’ list with a gain of N2.97 to close at N903.06.

Okomu Oil Palm trailed with addition of N2.55 to close at N53.55. PZ Cussons Nigeria added N2.40 to close at N40.40.

Nigerian Breweries gained N2.30 to close at N166.30 while Presco gathered N2.21 to close at N24.34 per share.

On the other hand, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) led the losers with a drop of N1.12 to close at N14. Zenith Bank lost 39 kobo to close at N21.11. Nigerian Aviation handling Company dropped by 15 kobo to close at N8. RT Briscoe lost 11 kobo to close at N2.22 while Livestock Feeds dropped by 10 kobo to close at N2.40 per share.

Meanwhile, Chairman, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC), Mr Larry Ettah, has said the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) being sponsored by the company represents a major opportunity for investors to diversify their investments and earn stable incomes.

Speaking yesterday at the presentation of salient facts about the initial public offering of UPDC REIT to the investing

public at the NSE, Ettah expressed confidence that investors would buy into the collective investment scheme given the prime underlying assets.

He said funds raised from the offer would be used to consolidate the company’s activities and unlock more value-generating businesses for the company.

“We have projects in Abuja, Lagos, and all these are existing assets. Of course, investors know that UPDC is a company that has been around for a long time; so, we are confident that they will subscribe to the offer. Also, it is important to note that this offer presents an opportunity for investors, who are looking to diversify their portfolio from the normal bonds and equities on the NSE; so, we are sure of high level of patronage,” Ettah said.

Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) Plc, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran said investors would benefit immensely from the REIT given the fact that its assets are existing assets with high income-generating capacities.

According to him, what the company has done was to put together its premium assets and then combine them into the trust, which it’s now offering 60 per cent to the public.

“Our REIT is unique because these assets already exist. You are therefore, investing in a UPDC REIT that has earnings certainty and has little risks in terms of whether or not you earn the required investment on your returns,” Ogunniran said.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-2-13

THE N

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

MONEY LINK Non-financial businesses KYC get April deadline

Cashless policy moves to Rivers, Ogun states

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has concluded plans to extend the cashless policy to Rivers and Ogun States from July 1.

The decision to extend the cashless project to these states was made at the last Bankers’ Committee Meeting held in Abuja.

The CBN had earlier announced that the policy will take off from July 1 in four additional states after the Lagos pilot scheme. The states are Kano, Anambra and Abia States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) .

CBN’s Head, Shared Services, Chidi Umeano said the aforementioned states and the FCT were chosen because of the large volume of cash transactions in some of their major cities such as Aba, Kano, Port Harcourt and Onitsha among others.

The cashless policy implementation began in Lagos in

Stories by Collins Nweze

January, last year. It is aimed at reducing the dominance of cash in the system. The policy specifies penal charges for individuals and corporate organisations that want to withdraw or lodge cash above prescribed limits. Under the policy, the CBN pegged the daily cumulative cash withdrawal or deposit limit for individual accounts at N500, 000 per day and N3 million per day for corporate accounts.

Umeano explained that the policy earlier planned to be implemented in other states in January 2013 was deferred due to some infrastructural challenges. He said the CBN is also being careful to ensure that it makes use of resources in a smart way.

This was corroborated by the CBN Deputy Governor Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo. who explained: “When we talk

T

about nationwide roll-out, we are also being careful to ensure that we make use of resources in a smart way. Cash doesn’t flow in the same volume in every state of the federation. What we would do in July is to look at those other market clusters where large volumes are transacted and add them to Lagos”.

The Deputy Governor added: “It is cheaper that way because resources needed to cover the entire 923 square kilometres in Nigeria are huge. But you can achieve almost the same thing by looking at the pattern of cash distribution and you can cover about 90 per cent of that by adding about more locations to Lagos.

“That is basically what we want to do. We would get those clusters and add them to Lagos. When we add those locations to Lagos, then we would have covered about 90

• CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

per cent of the cash volume.

We would see how far that goes and once we perfect that, we then begin to look at contiguous.”

Banks have continued to roll out more innovative electronic payment platforms to meet customers’ expectations.

The cashless policy has been very successful in Lagos considering when it started and how far it has gone in terms of Point of Service (PoS) deployment. At the initial stage of Cash-less Lagos, there were less than 10,000 PoS in Lagos, but currently there are over 150,000 PoS machines in the state alone.

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended Know Your Customer (KYC) deadline for Designated NonFinancial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) from February 1 to April 30 this year.

In a statement, the CBN Acting Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Nwaoha I.T advised DNFBPs that have not registered with Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML) to do same before the deadline ends.

The CBN had earlier issued a circular, mandating DNFBPs on the need to provide additional KYC requirements to their banks and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs).

The banking watchdog said implementation of risk-based supervision to combating money laundering and terrorist financing depends on a sound understanding of the threats and vulnerabilities of the menace to each financial institution in particular and entire financial industry in general.

Don advocates budget reform

T

HERE is need to reform the budget to enable the country achieve enhanced economic growth, Professor of Social and Political Environment of Business, Lagos Business School (LBS) Olawale Ajai has said.

He said there was need to reform the budgetary process and for more effective participation in its preparation.

Ajai will tomorrow, deliver a lecture, entitled: The 2013 Budget: Implication for Businesses and the Socio-political Environment, at the LBS Alumni Session.

In a statement, LBS said Ajai will address the basis for predicting the performance of the budget, the direction and flows of costs-benefits, winners and losers among the stakeholders in the polity. He will also talk about opportunities for businesses and players in the socio-political environment.

Shareholders endorse Union Trustee’s results

S

HAREHOLDERS, yesterday approved the results of Union Trustees Mixed Fund. They also commended CDL Assets Management Limited for successfully managing the fund amid harsh economic environment.

They said the fund’s net asset values of N1.8billiion and four kobo dividend are good enough, given the inherent

By Akinola Ajibade

problems in the nation’s macroeconomic environment.

Speaking during the 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the fund in Lagos, the National President, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Sunny Nwosu said there has been an improvement in the financial

claimed dividend by contacting the affected investors.

Also, the Chief Executive officer, CDL Assets Management Limited, Mr Bade Adesina said plans are underway to grow the fund to an enviable height, add values to investors. Adehsina said the Fund is one of the few active mutual funds in the country, adding that it is

year ending April 30, 2012.

Nwosu said investors are oblivious of the problems in the economy, and therefore believe that the Fund is being managed well.

He said activities in the financial market are looking good, advising CDL to improve its returns on investment. He urged the firm to address the issue of un-

FGN BONDS 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

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 27-2-13

SYMBOL UNITYBNK WEMABANK PRESCO DNMEYER STERLNBANK AIICO PZ HONYFLOUR OKOMUOIL NASCON

O/PRICE 0.70 0.90 22.13 2.42 2.35 0.92 38.00 3.00 51.00 9.04

C/PRICE 0.77 0.99 24.34 2.66 2.58 1.01 40.40 3.15 53.55 9.49

CHANGE 0.07 0.09 2.21 0.24 0.23 0.09 2.40 0.15 2.55 0.45

PRESTIGE UAC-PROP WAPIC RTBRISCOE CONTINSURE LIVESTOCK CUSTODYINS NIGERINS FTNCOCOA AFRIPRUD

O/PRICE 0.72 15.12 1.41 2.33 1.08 2.50 2.00 0.54 0.56 2.00

C/PRICE 0.65 14.00 1.34 2.22 1.03 2.40 1.92 0.52 0.54 1.94

Rate (N)

Date

350m

150m

150m

155.2

2-7-12

350m

138m

138m

155.8

27-6-12

350m

113m

113m

155.7

22-6-12

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N) Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N)

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

153.0000

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%

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

CHANGE 0.07 1.12 0.07 0.11 0.05 0.10 0.08 0.02 0.02 0.06

Exchange

Sold ($)

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

LOSERS AS AT 27-2-13

SYMBOL

Amount

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

Fund stood at N1.8billion. Based on these, we have been able to declare dividends in the past four years.”

He said the offer and bid prices currently stand at N1.55 and N1.52, implying that the fund is growing well.

According to him, efforts are being made to aggregate potentials in the market by investing in high yielding portfolios.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

growing despite volatilities in the financial markets.

He said: “As at April 30, 2012, the gross income of the Fund has increased by 94.3 per cent to N248.7 million from N128million recorded in the previous year. The Fund also posted a net income after tax of N75.3million in the period under review. The retained earnings were N429.6million, while the net asset value of the

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 137.30 147.01 0.80 1.13 1.02 100.00 1,000.00 1,756.93 14.66 1.39 1.87 10,616.45

9.08 1.00 136.89 146.64 0.78 1.13 1.00 100.00 1,000.00 1,753.94 13.95 1.33 1.80 10,305.95

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2012

07, Aug, 2012

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

56

NEWS Pensioners decry late payment

Protesters block Eket-Ibeno Road

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

T

HE Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Cross River State, Benjamin Ettah, has decried delay in pension payment.

He spoke at the inauguration of the new executive committee members of local government pensioners.

He said: “Those responsible for the delay in payment should realise that sooner or later, they will also become pensioners.”

He urged the government to improve the payment of pensions and gratuities as many pensioners are suffering.

•Give two-week ultimatum

Y

OUTHS from Eket/ Ibeno local governments of Akwa Ibom State yesterday blocked the Eket-Ibeno Road to protest its deplorable state.

The road is being handled by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The protesters gave a twoweek ultimatum to the Federal Government and the NDDC to mobilise workers to the site or risk total closure of the road.

Speaking on behalf of the youths, the Ahafa Eket President, Emmanuel Sakey, said Governor Godswill Akpabio last year stopped Fountain Construction Company (FCC) from continuing the project, promising that within three months another firm will complete the project.

Sakey said nothing has been done and no construction company is on the site.

He said: “We are aggrieved because this is the only link road.

“The delay in the execution of the project is from the governor and NDDC. “In my own assessment, the governor is not fair to us.

‘

We are giving the government a two-week ultimatum to mobilise workers to site and if they fail to do that, we will block the road

EFCC arraigns seven ‘oil thieves’

’

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

There is no single road that has been built by the government in Ibeno.

“Fountain Construction Company (FCC) has been building the road but the governor stopped them last year and nothing has been done since.

“We are giving the government a two-week ultimatum to mobilise workers to site and if they fail to do that, we will block the road and stop Mobil workers from going to their operational base at Qua

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

T

•The protesters ... yesterday

Ibom Terminal (QIT).

“Two weeks from now, there will be no vehicular movement on the Eket-Ibeno road.”

Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah said it was not true that the government neglected Ibeno

people.

He said Akapbio was concerned about the state of the road and would want to see it completed.

“There is no question of neglect where the government built a new hospital for

a local government which had no hospital.

“Even when the government promised to complete the project, it is necessary for NDDC to hands off for the government to complete the project,” Umanah said.

Edo commissioner-nominee absent at screening

A

COMMISSIONER nominee, Jemitola Anena, has failed to appear before the Edo State House of Assembly Committee on Rules, Business and Government House for screening.

The committee, headed by Philip Shuaibu, ended its screening yesterday with only 18 nominees appearing before it.

Those who appeared included Osarodion Ogie, Louis Odion, Omerede Osifo, Ekpenisi Omorotiomwan, John Inegbedion, Blessing Maigida amongst others.

Abdul Oroh and Patrick Aguinede were requested to take a bow on account of their status as former lawmakers.

But Clem Agba and Ekpenisi Omorotionmwan had their nominations chal-

From Osagie Otabor and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

lenged, following petitions from the public.

Shuaibu, who is also the Majority Leader, said Ms Anena had foreclosed her opportunity of appearing for screening.

He said names of those screened would be presented at plenary on Monday.

Shuaibu said: “There was no resume or correspondence from Ms Anena.

“She is out of our radar and is foreclosed as far as this exercise is concerned.

“We are submitting these names on Monday.”

The Chairman said three petitions were received by the committee and that those who wrote the petitions were invited for hearing.

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned seven suspected oil thieves before Justice A. M. Liman of the Federal High Court 1, Benin City.

The accused: Paul Ojo, Oduwere Edobor, Lucky Okorie, Andrew Anthony, Kadiri Aloysious, James Aker and Lucky Egbede, were arrested at different locations.

A truck, bus and kegs loaded with substance suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered from them.

Justice Liman granted them bail of N500, 000 and a surety.

The matter was adjourned till March 26 and April 17.

EDSEIC screens candidates From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

T

HE Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) has begun the screening of candidates for the April 20 local government elections.

The screening, which started with chairmanship and vice chairmanship candidates, will run through the week.

Thieves steal fire victims’ goods

T

HIEVES yesterday carted away goods retrieved from a fire that gutted a boutique at a building on New Lagos Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

When the fire started at about 1:30pm in a shop,

From Osagie Otabor , Benin

other traders rushed to evacuate their goods.

One of the traders, who gave his name as Emmanuel, said the goods were stolen by some boys, who pretended to be helping in putting out the fire.

He said his goods and

money were carted away.

Another trader, Nnamdi said they called the tate Fire Service but they were told there was no water.

One of the fire fighters, who pleaded for anonymity, said only one shop was affected in the fire incident.

Former Lagos NBA chair dies at 56

•Akinbote

A

FORMER chairman of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Anthony Akintola Akinbote, is dead. He was 56.

He passed on at his Obanikoro, Lagos residence after a brief illness, his wife, Adenike said in statement yesterday.

He attended the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1976 to 1981 and graduated with a B.A (Hons) in French.

After his tutelage at the Abayomi Sogbesan & Co law firm between 1986 and 1989, he established the Akin Akinbote & Co in 1990.

He was the principal partner till his death.

He is survived by spouse, four boys, brothers and sisters.

According to the widow, the Christian wake for Mr. Akinbote, who was a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), will be held at the premises of Baptist Academy in Obanikoro on March 6.

A valedictory court session will also be held in his honour on March 7 by 9am at the Lagos High Court Foyer, Race Course.

It will followed by a church service at the RCCG, Olive Tree Parish, Main Arterial Road, Banana Island, Ikoyi.

He will be interred thereafter at the Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi Cemetary.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

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NEWS

Army denies killing varsity students T

HE Army has denied that soldiers were involved in the killing of four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi during a protest on Monday. The protesting students were allegedly shot dead by soldiers who were reportedly invited to the scene by the school authorities.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, at a briefing yesterday, said it took the combined efforts of the Army’s 177 Guards Battalion troops with other security operatives to disperse the rampaging students.

Gen. Attahiru said: “On February 25, students of the Nasarawa State University came out en masse and barricaded the Keffiyeh- Akwanga Expressway, which is part of the 177 Guards Battalion patrol routes.

“This road was blocked with logs of wood and burning tyres, which hampered vehicular movement, leaving travellers stranded for hours. Vehicles were vandalised by the violent crowd.

“It was also reported that the irate crowd looted travellers’s belongings and threw stones, bottles and metal objects at the security operatives on the scene of the incident.

However, it is believed that the protest was hijacked by some hoodlums and cult memos, who are students of the university.

“As a result, the violent crowd burnt down two vehicles at the police station located near the campus and seized a tanker loaded with fuel with the intention of burning down the station.

“The combined efforts of the 177 Guards Battalion troops with other security op-

•Police probe incident •NANS declares Almakura personal non-grata From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja and Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

eratives prevented the hoodlums from carrying out this act. The violent action of the crowd led to three soldiers sustaining injuries, following the stones, bottles and metals thrown at them.

“It is important to note that the combined efforts of the troops, in conjunction with other security agents, assisted in dispersing the crowd and removing the blockades from the road to ease the movement of vehicles.

“At present, law and order have been restored to the area and our troops are monitoring the security situation.”

The police yesterday said they have begun investigation into the circumstances that led to the killing of students of the Nasarawa State University, during the Monday protest.

Police spokesman Michael Ada told The Nation on the phone that the police had begun investigation into what he called “the circumstance that led to the killing of the students.”

He said the police report showed that some protesters on that day hurled stones at the soldiers deployed to quell the protest.

Ada noted that the police could not say whether there were shootings. He confirmed that two students were killed during the protest.

He said the police had invited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Shamsudeen Amali, Chief Security Officer, Mr. John Aboh and some students to make statements that would aid investigation.

Ada said the police would write a report from the investigation and send it to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

“Police action on the killing

allegation will depend on the advice of the DPP,” he added.

But the university spokesman, Jamil Zakari, said on the phone that he was not aware of any police invitation to his boss. He said the VC had returned from Lafia where he presented the report of the incident to the Deputy Governor, Dameshi Barau Luka. The Leader of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) in the university, Comrade Rabiu Omame Tijani, told The Nation that he was not aware if the police had begun investigation into the killing.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the removal of the Commandant of the 177 Guard Battalion over the killing of Nasarawa State University students.

It also declared Governor Tanko Almakura a persona non-grata.

Speaking yesterday in La-

fia, the National President of NANS, Yinka Gbadebo, represented by his deputy, Comrade Ahmed Jibrin, demanded the release of the students arrested by security operatives during the crisis, saying their bail money should be returned to them.

NANS is also demanding the probe of the incident that led to the killing of the students. It said it is stopping cooperation with the government until their demands are met.

“We hereby declare the suspension of cooperation with the government and declare Governor Tanko Almakura a personal non-grata at all public functions until those culpable are brought to book,” NANS said.

The association said the families of the slain students should be compensated, and government should foot the hospital bills of the hospitalised students.

AFTER 38 days in London, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero with two of his sons, Nasiru and Sanusi Ado Bayero, returned to Kano last night amid tight security.

Emir Bayero travelled to London on January 20, a day after his convoy was attacked by terrorists when returning from an Islamic programme at Massalacin Murtala on Zoo Road.

The Nigeria Air Force jet with registration number 5N—FGU, carrying the Emir and his sons, including some aides, landed at the Presidential Lounge of the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) at 7 p.m.

Dignitaries comprising District Heads, top government functionaries, members of the business community and officials of the Emirate Council were at the airport to give him a rousing welcome.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

BENUE State House of Assembly has passed the 2012 supplementary appropriation bill of N871,271,727 presented to it

by Governor Gabriel Suswam.

The passage followed a debate on the report of the House Committee on Appropriation on the supplementary Benue State Financing and Appropriation Bill, 2012 in the Committee of Supply.

Speaker, Terhile Ayua, a lawyer, said the House passed the bill because the total revised estimates and the total 2012 approved estimates are the same.

New Atta Igala emerges

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

S

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Assembly passes bill

‘PDP heading for mutually assured destruction’ PEAKER of the Kwara State House of Assembly Razak Atunwa has said if the internal wrangling in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not nipped in the bud, the party might be heading for a mutually assured destruction (MAD).

Atunwa, a PDP legislator, spoke to reporters yesterday in Ilorin, shortly after bagging the Lawmaker Award of the Year from the Correspondents’ Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council.

He urged the party’s leaders to desist from playing a political macabre dance with the party.

He said: “It is troubling to view the machination that has been going on in our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party. But I have every confidence that in the shortest time possible all the intra-party differences will be resolved amicably.

“Otherwise, we will be heading for a mutually assured destruction (MAD) situation if we don’t bring these intra-party differences behind us. Our leaders should stop playing political assontos with our party.

They should sit down at the round table and come to an agreement for the betterment of our country.”

Bayero returns to rousing welcome

From Muhammad Bashir, Lokoja •From left: Emir of Azara in Nasarawa, Dr. Kabir Ibrahim, Bishop Sunday Onuoha and Governor Sule Lamido, when the duo led members of the Nigeria Inter-faith Action Association on a visit to the governor in Dutse…yesterday.

‘Adamawa PDP primaries breached constitution’

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HE Appeal Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State capital, on Tuesday confirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election held last year was replete with the breach of the constitution, Electoral Act 2010 as amended and provisions of the PDP Constitution.

In his lead judgment, Justice Ignatius Igwe said the evidence before the court proved that the fundamental human rights of Dr. Umar Ardo, who showed interest in participating in the primaries, were trampled upon by denying his supporters nomination forms to participate as delegates.

He ruled that Governor Murtala Nyako was not duly nominated as stipulated by the provisions of the Electoral Act, the PDP Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Justice Igwe, who accused the second defendant (PDP) of

criminal discrimination against Ardo, noted that the Adamawa PDP primary election of which Nyako was declared the winner, lacked legal ingredients and that it was an invalid exercise that had no legal taste or fragrance.

The judge said his court was constrained by Section 31 Subsection (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, to order for a fresh primary election.

He further said that Ardo failed to prove before the court that he participated in the primary election, which Nyako was declared to have won.

After citing several legal authorities, including Supreme Court judgments, the judge ruled that Ardo lacked the constitutional power to challenge the outcome of the election since he was not a participant in the controversial primaries.

On the issue of court jurisdiction concerning the party’s activities, Justice S. Den-

ton-West held that Section 87, Sub-section (4) empowers the Federal High Court, state High Court and FCT High Court to preside over such complaints brought before them.

Justice Denton-West, who appealed to politicians to embrace peaceful resolution of party issues, said peace is the only pillar of democracy.

Ardo, who said he would challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court, added that of the five prayers he sought at the Appeal Court, he won four. He said the ruling was based on language technicality and not law.

“One of the exhibits my counsel tendered before the court was my election result, which shows I was scored zero. The result was signed by the chairman of the primary election, so, how can the court say I was not part of the primary election?” he said.

Counsel to Nyako, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who was rep-

resented by Ayo Akam, hailed the judges for the ruling, saying it was a judgment for democracy.

GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has approved the appointment of Prince Idakwo Michael Oboni as the new Atta Igala in Idah Local Government.

The appointment followed the completion of legal processes for the emergence of a successor to the stool of Atta Igala.

PUBLIC NOTICE AWOLU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Funmilayo Dorcas Awolu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Funmilayo Dorcas Kabiawu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

58

NEWS ‘Vote for credible candidates’

Senate: we’ve nothing to hide about Ezu River

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

A

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

T

HE Senate committees on Police Affairs and National Security and Intelligence visited Anambra State yesterday for the second time in three weeks to investigate the Ezu River incident.

Over 20 bodies were dumped in the river, a boundary between Anambra and Enugu states.

After meeting with traditional rulers from Omabala Union, which comprises five local governments at the palace of Kenneth Okonkwo in Amansea, the senators said they had nothing to hide.

The meeting was attended

by Paulinus Nwagu, who chairs the Police Affairs Committee and Mohammed Magoro, the Chairman, National Security and Intelligence Committee.

•SENATORS ALL: Ngige (left), Magoro, Nwagu and Lafiaji ... yesterday From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Also present were Senators Chris Ngige, Mohammed Saleh and Shaaba Lafiaji.

Others were Anambra State Commissioner of Police Bala Nasarawa, his Enugu State counterpart, Tonye Ebitibituwa and State Director of the State Security Ser-

vice (SSS) Alexander Okeiyi.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Nwagu said: “We have nothing to hide; we are the representatives of the people.

“People are afraid to talk to us and that is why we decided to make it a private thing.

“All we want to do is get to the root of the matter.

“We want everybody to be involved, including the media.

“Anybody who has anything that can help unravel the mystery should do so.”

Ngige said: “Let me tell you nobody will rest or sleep

until we get to the bottom of the matter.

“The bodies were dumped in a river in my constituency.

I am involved and concerned.”

The committees would meet with Governor Peter Obi before leaving for Abuja today.

Obi, Bianca condemn demolition of Ojukwu’s edifice

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NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi and the widow of the late Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu, Bianca, yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, condemned the demolition of Ojukwu’s Memorial Library and Resource Centre.

Obi, who was accompanied by former Minister of Information Prof. Dora

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

Akunyili and government officials, said he wanted to have a first- hand assessment of the damage done to the multi-billion naira edifice being built by the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

“I came to sympathise with

Anybody who decides to erect any‘thing in Ojukwu’s memory should be respected. I assure you the renovation will begin immediately. ’

MASSOB leader Ralph Uwazuruike because this edifice is built in honour of our leader, the late Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu.

“Anybody who decides to

erect anything in Ojukwu’s memory should be respected.

“I want to assure you that the renovation will begin immediately.”

Speaking in an emotionladen voice, Mrs. Ojukwu said: “I was shocked when Uwazuruike broke the news to me at about midnight on Saturday after we attended a funeral in Anambra.

“This is very sad and

shocking.”

The MASSOB leader said the incident was a sabotage, conceived and carried out by anti-Igbo elements not happy with the prominence and honour accorded to the late Biafran leader.

Uwazuruike said: “We have an experienced engineer who is handling the project and I wonder why it should suddenly collapse.

“Lately, the boys reported strange movements in the neighbourhood but I told them to ignore it.

“On the day the building collapsed, my boys rushed out and saw the hoodlums as they scaled the fence and escaped in a waiting van.”

Funeral for clash victim

O

NE of the victims of the communal clash between Ebonyi and Cross River states, Mrs Mavis Egbe, will be buried this weekend in Calabar.

A statement by the widower, Pastor Edmund Egbe, a lecturer at the University of Calabar, said his wife was murdered on January 19, when the people of Ndiagu Amagu community in Ebonyi State allegedly attacked their neighbours in Adadama community in Abi Local Government Area of

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

Cross River State over boundary issues.

Until her death, the 38year- old mother of two was a Desk Officer in charge of hostel accommodation in the Student Affairs Department of the University of Calabar.

She had a B.SC in Biochemistry from the Abia State University, Uturu.

Before joining UNICAL, she was a teacher with the Cross River State Post Primary School Board.

Lawmakers probe Calabar Convention Centre

T

HE Cross River State House of Assembly has directed the Special Adviser, Governor’s Office, Nzan Ogbe, to give the total cost of the Calabar International Convention Centre.

The directive was contained in the adopted resolutions of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation on the 2013 State Appropriation Bill.

It mandated the Special Adviser to within 60 days forward the document showing liabilities and obligations of all parties involved in the project.

The government had be-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

gun the building of the Convention Centre, which is expected to have a 200room four-star hotel, 5,000-sitting capacity conference centre, 100-bed multipurpose hospital, 284 housing units, 18-hole golf course, parking space for 800 cars and many other facilities.

The House decried the fact that although the project has reached an advanced stage, there is no clear idea of the cost.

The House said knowing this would help in planning and projection of cost benefit analysis.

NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi yesterday cautioned the people against politicians’ deception during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Obi advised them to vote for a person who is not above 50 and has the energy and stamina to run the state.

“I always pray to God to give the state somebody better than me,” he said.

The governor spoke at the kick-off of four roads in three communities in Awka South Local Government.

Performing the ceremony, Obi said his commitment to the people was total.

He said he would continue to do only things that would benefit the state.

The governor said the state would start rebuilding the dual carriage road from Amansea into Awka.

Police Games’ torch in Anambra From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

T

HE Anambra State Police Command yesterday received the Police Games torch, which is the symbol of the 10th Biennial Police Sports Festival scheduled for March 3 to March 9 in Rivers State.

The torch was presented to the command by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration Zone 9 Umuahia, Nkpa Inakpu.

The Commissioner of Police, Bala Nasarawa, said: “It is hoped that this festival will serve as an avenue to select potential medallists for the 2016 Olympics.”

He used the forum to decorate 11 officers promoted to deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and chief superintendent of police (CSPS) Those decorated include the new police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka (DSP) and the state commander of Anti-Robbery Squad (SAR), James Nwafor (CSP).

Police recover 10-day-old baby •Three suspects arrested From Chris Oji, Enugu

T

HE police in Enugu State have recovered a 10-day-old baby.

Three persons have been arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnap Unit.

The suspects, including a woman, allegedly stole the baby at Garki Awkunanaw axis of the state.

The baby belongs to Chinenye Egwu of Oduma Aninri Local Government.

The police named the suspects as Nwandi Chinenye, Friday Ude and Sylvester Ozollo.

Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said the suspects are helping the police in their investigation.

A suspect, Kenneth Ugwu, who deals in fake currency notes, has been arrested.

Amaraizu said the suspect was arrested by operatives from the Nsukka Division.

The suspect was found with 28 pieces of fake N1,000 notes when his house was searched.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

59

FOREIGN NEWS Iran: Nuke talks end on positive note

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EGOTIATIONS with world powers over how to curb Iran’s nuclear program have reached a “turning point” for the better after nearly breaking down last year, the Islamic republic’s top official at diplomatic talks said Wednesday at the close of two days of delicate discussions aimed at preventing Tehran from building an atomic arsenal.

While still guardedly optimistic, the comments by Saeed Jalili, the secretary for Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, marked a significant step forward in a years-long process that has been rife with suspicions and, if it fails, could lead to a new Mideast war. The Obama administration is push-

ing for diplomacy to solve the impasse but has not ruled out the possibility of military intervention in Iran to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Jalili said a new offer this week by the world powers to compromise is more realistic than what has been offered in the past. He described the new offer “including some relief from international sanctions” as a step to build confidence between the two sides after similar negotiations in Moscow were nearly derailed last June.

“In this round of talks we have witnessed that despite all the attitudes during the last eight months, they tried to get closer to our viewpoints,” Jalili told reporters at the close of two

•Hagel

tagon and was expected to address civilian and uniformed employees of the department later Wednesday morning.

The bitter, seven-week fight over his nomination ended Tuesday as a deeply divided Senate voted 58-41 to confirm him. Just four Republicans joined Democrats in backing the former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska and twice-wounded Vietnam combat veteran.

“I am honored that President Obama and the Senate have entrusted me to serve our nation once again,” Hagel said in a statement Tuesday. “I can think of no greater privilege than leading the brave, dedi-

days of talks in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, speaking through an interpreter. “We believe this is a turning point.”

Jalili did not detail what the sanctions relief might include, or what Iran was willing to do to in exchange.

If they offer steps aimed at strengthening trust, this is important, he said. One important step is dealing with a series of crippling sanctions that the U.S., E.U. and U.N Security Council have imposed on Iran to try to force it to bend on its nuclear program. The sanctions have caused unemployment and inflation in Iran to skyrocket, while depressing its daily oil output and value of its currency, the rial.

Hagel takes over at Pentagon after bitter fight

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HUCK Hagel took charge Wednesday of the Defence Department with deep budget cuts looming and Republican opponents still doubtful that he’s up to the job.

He took the oath of office as Secretary of Defense at the Pen-

LENTEN TALK Rev. Henry O. Adelegan

This is your season to manifest Text Luke 7:11-15 MANIFEST means bringing the latent to the fore, launching out, bringing the latent to the fore or fulfilment of purpose.

King Solomon said that “for everything there is a time and season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). He explained in subsequent verses of that chapter that there is a time to born, die, kill, heal, break down, build up, weep, laugh, mourn, dance, cast away stones, gather stones together, embrace, refrain from embracing, get, loose, cast away, rend, sow, keep silence, speak, love, hate, war and peace.

These scriptural words can be pontificated further to the life axiom which states that if you talk when you are supposed to be quiet, you will enter into trouble and if you keep quiet when you are to talk, you will enter into trouble. Understanding of the principles of times and seasons is therefore very principal to human life, existence and progress.

The only son of the widow of Nain brought joy to his mother until the day he dropped dead and the woman became distraught and hopeless - no husband and no child. On the multitudes’ way to bury her hope, they met the hope of the hopeless on the way. He touched the coffin and her hopelessness gave way to hope. The young man manifested!

Paul told the Romans in Romans 8:19 that the ernest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation

of the sons of God. What Paul told the Romans was that every human being has capacity to do more than what is being presently done and that the world is waiting eagerly for this manifestation. As the Lord lives, you are going to manifest. The powers holding you down shall let you go compulsorily and your life will bring joy to your family, community and nation. Halleluyah!

There is news for you beloved of God, you are not unfortunate. God is about to do something special in your life. Just ask Him to touch your life for fresh ideas to evolve. This shall be your portion in Jesus’ name Brethen, quit excuses, stop looking at yourself as a failure, you are an embodiment of success. In every disability, there is an ability. Bethoven that composed some of the best music was a deaf man. Paul Milton who wrote Paradise Lost and other great poetry was a blind man. Frank D. Roosevelt who was one of the greatest United States President and he served from a wheel chair.

During this Lenten season, stop looking at your failure. A touch from Jesus Christ affected the life and destiny of a miserable Simon and turned him to a successful Apostle Peter.

You will have that encounter too in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: Father, touch my life with your hands and deliver me from the claws of death and give me a brand new life in Jesus’ name

cated men and women of the Department of Defense as they perform vital missions around the globe.”

Hagel promised to work closely with Congress, but he faces lingering reservations about his ability to handle the responsibilities.

Iraq resumes flights to Kuwait

A

N Iraqi plane has landed in Kuwait for the first time since Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of the tiny emirate.

Iraq’s Transportation Ministry spokesman says Wednesday’s flight will open “important horizons for cooperation based on brotherhood” with Kuwait.

Karim al-Nouri also says demand will determine the number of flights in the future.

Government ministers from both Kuwait and Iraq were on hand for the ceremonial landing at the international airport in Kuwait City.

Kuwait’s parliament in January approved a deal under which Baghdad will pay $500 million in compensation to Kuwait’s national carrier for damages caused during the Iraqi occupation. The accord seeks to end a long-running dispute over reparations for Kuwait Airways.

Although the airline dispute appears settled, there are other disputes over war reparations between the two nations.

15-year-old Maldivian rape victim to get 100 lashes

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15-YEAR-OLD alleged rape victim in the Maldives has been sentenced to 100 lashes and eight months under house arrest for engaging in premarital sex.

The girl admitted having consensual sex with a man in an incident unrelated to the rape.

Sex outside of marriage is illegal under the Islamic law of the island nation.

Police were investigating allegations that the girl had been raped by her stepfather when they uncovered the evidence.

The girl’s stepfather is facing 25 years in prison for the rape and allegedly killing a baby conceived from it.

Despite condemnation from the UN and Amnesty International, court officials have said the flogging will be carried out once the girl turns 18.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

NEWS

2013 Hajj: Nigeria urges Saudi on Muharam

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HAIRMAN of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji, Muhammad Bello had urged Saudi Arabia and Nigeria to take a clear position on the Mahram issue to prevent the re-occurrence of the 2012 episode.

He reminded the Saudi authorities of the presentation made on the matter in October last year by a presidential delegation led House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

He also appealed for an upward review of Nigeria ’s Hajj quota taking into account the country’s population; improvement of sanitation in the holy sites and the need to communicate new guidelines on Hajj in good time.

Bello made the submissions during an interaction with the

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Deputy Minister of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, Dr. Sahal Bin Abdallah as-Sabban, as part of preparations for the 2013 hajj.

The Nigerian delegation was led by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia , Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Bunu.

A statement by the Public Affairs Manager of NAHCON, Mallam Uba Mana, said: “The Nigerian delegation which comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), was in the Kingdom to hold talks with their Saudi counterparts as part of preparations for the 2013 Hajj.

“Addressing the Nigerian delegation during the meeting, Dr. as-Sabban said the

Saudi Ministry of Hajj is introducing a Hajj Electronic Data Management System beginning from the 2013 Hajj to cater for all pilgrims, promising that the Hajj Ministry will cooperate with Nigerian Hajj authorities to enhance Hajj operations generally.

“Dr. as-Sabban said Nigeria’s steady improvement in the management of Hajj operations has attracted commendation from Saudi Arabian authorities.”

Leader of the Nigerian delegation, Ambassador Bunu, called for improved communication and better working relationship between the two countries.

The Nigerian Consul-General in Jeddah, Ambassador Ahmed Umar, lamented that Nigerian officials have been denied access to pilgrims ar-

rested during the last Hajj for various offences.

Other members of the delegation were the commissioners in charge of operations, Barrister Abdullahi Muhammad Mukhtar; Policy Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Yusuf Adebayo Ibrahim; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation and NAHCON Board Member Capt. Shehu Usman Iyal; NAHCON board member representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador M. J. Z. Abubakar Waziri and a Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Abdul-Azeez M. Dan Kano, while Deputy ComptrollerGeneral of Immigrations (DCG) Abubakar Kuso represented the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Ezu River bodies: NBA suspects extra-judicial killings

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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) suspects that the floating corpses found in Ezu River, Anambra State might be victims of extra-judicial killings by security agencies.

The umbrella body of lawyers in Nigeria also lamented that over N16 trillion worth of crude oil was stolen between 2003 and 2008, and 2011 and 2012.

The association said it has information that over 200,000 to 300,000 barrels of crude oil were also stolen per day in the year 2000.

It promised to refer the matter to its anti-corruption commission for full investigation.

The NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN) who addressed reporters in Abuja on the outcome of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Makurdi said the Federal Government must set up judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the Ezu

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

River matter.

He explained that the investigation became necessary following the report of NBA adhoc committee. “..NEC resolved that in view of the seriousness of the allegations of the possibility of the corpses being victims of extrajudicial killings, that a judicial commission of inquiry should be set up to look into the matter.NEC hereby calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, to set up a high-powered Presidential Judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the causes of death, source and identity of the floating corpses with a view to bringing any culprit(s to book.

“NEC, again, observed that security of lives and property of Nigerians should be of paramount importance to government and called upon the Fed-

eral Government of Nigeria to take the issue of security more seriously and to make every effort to address the menace of terrorism, kidnappings and assassinations.NEC calls on the government and security agencies to act on the report of the NBA,Peace and Security Summit submitted to them by the Nigerian Bar Association”.

The NEC condemned states that have refused to conduct Local Government elections.

“On the issue of Local Government reforms, NEC viewed the practice in some States where Caretaker Committees are set up to pilot the affairs of Local Governments as a flagrant breach of the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and took the position that all the Chairmen in the 774 Local Government Areas in the country should be democratically elected and given financial autonomy as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended)”, Waki said.

The NEC also commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloma Mariam-Mukhtar, for her efforts to sanitize the Judiciary and promised “unqualified support” in her drive to restore the glory of the Nigerian Judiciary The association stated that the decision of Justice Abubakar Talba of the Abuja High Court on the pension convict, Yakubu Yusuf has brought “compelling need to reform our criminal justice legislations and speedy passage of criminal justice sector bills pending before the National Assembly.

“NEC also condemned in its entirety the situation where the vote for the Judiciary at the Federal and State levels is progressively on the decline and non release of what has been appropriated to the Judiciary in most states and called on the two levels of government to reverse the situation.

‘Jonathan can run in 2015’ Continued from page 4

they have.

That means that the party has agreed on President Jonathan as a candidate for 2015?

But the Governors Forum isn’t the platform for electing candidate; we have our own system.

You just told us that the PDP Governors’ Forum wasn’t created to undermine the NGF. How do you reconcile your submission with the declaration of Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu that President Jonathan was behind this, with intention to supplant the larger body, the NGF? Well, it is an opinion. It doesn’t mean that all our governors agree with him. He can say so but I have explained to you as the chairman of this party that they are all my governors, we may not share the same position on the formation of PDP Governors Forum. But I have explained to you our intention, as a party. We want our governors to come together.

Do you share the opinion of some eminent Nigerians who have dismissed the Governors’ Forum as a threat to democracy?

Well, if you say people are criticising them, it is politics, it is an opinion. People can criticise. That was why I took my time to explain to you the basis of our action.

PDP as a political party hasn’t convened its NEC meeting for quite some time now. Now that you have a Board of Trustees Chairman, when are you going to convene your NEC meeting?

You are very correct. We are going to have our caucus, then we shall have our NEC meeting. It is part of the structures of our party

and we follow due process in line with the structures in our party.

That’s the only way we can continue to keep in touch with our members, fromthe lowest level to the highest. We are going to do that.

How do you react to the statement credited to General Buhari that the PDP doesn’t need any merger, because it has already merged with Police, INEC, the judiciary and Pension Fund?

I don’t think one needs to react to this kind of statement. I think the best thing to do is to ask for evidence, but if you cannot show evidence, there is no need to react. I only react to things that are factual, not rumours, not antics.

Can you give us an update on efforts to resolve the crisis in Adamawa?

There is no crisis in Adamawa.

What crisis. If there is crisis in Adamawa, please, tell me.

There is speculation that the leadership of the PDP and the Presidency was behind the move to remove Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman of the NGF, because they are not comfortable with his leadership style.

No, we aren’t behind it. They have an arrangement of two-year tenure for their chairman. So, neither the party leadership, nor Mr. President is against Amaechi or whoever they elect as their leader for the NGF. Can you tell us whether the party has dropped the idea of eregistration, or will still implement it?

It is in the works, we are going to do it. We believe that now in the age of technology, you don’t need to do a cumbersome process of registration.

Confusion over killing Continued from page 4

the entry was serving outside the country. “For the police to give such a flimsy excuse on such a key issue is unacceptable,” he added.

Oshiomhole insisted that the police were involved in the murder, adding that “Those responsible have prevailed on the police to help shield them

from prosecution.”

The Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong, recounted how the agency was able to track down the perpetrators of the murder, adding that all the testimonies of the suspects point to the fact that it was armed robbery and not assassination as claimed by the police.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

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ear Uche, I am 54 years with two wives although I live with only one. Lately, I discovered I no longer have good erections and sometimes I don’t even have it at all. My penis looks like it is shrinking and it is no longer the way it used to be. I would have reached you long time ago except that I read somewhere that penis enlargement has side effects. Kindly recommend what will bring back my libido. My wife is too sweet. I can pay online for your services – Simon Dear Simon, thanks for writing. First of all, your penis is not shrinking. It appears that way because you have not had a proper erection for a while. Are you diabetic? Diabetes is one of the major causes of erectile dysfunction. Aging also causes men to lose their erections amongst other factors, so it is normal for a man your age to experience erection difficulties. Secondly, if you were okay with your penis size when you used to have full erections, then enlarging it won’t be necessary. All we have to do is to restore your erections and you will be happy again with the whole package. Regarding the issue of side effects, yes some organ enlargers and erection enhancers do have side effects. That is why we research and recommend the safest ones for you.

It is also because of these side effects that people with diabetes and high blood pressure in particular are advised to consult their doctors before taking these medicines. So for as long as you are healthy and you are taking the safe supplements, you will be fine.

So to regain your erections, the safest supplements for you are Sex Voltz, Xzen 1200 and Libigrow and they are also good for diabetics. With Sex Voltz, Xzen 1200 or Libigrow, you will get very hard erections, a very full penis, lots of stamina and the ability to have sex many times within one or two hours. They will make you want sex and you are never tired of performing. Women like that a lot in their men and for a man like you who has to satisfy two wives,

you will definitely need all the help you can get from these supplements – Uche Hello, I will like to find out what product will be most helpful and cost effective for someone who ejaculates too early and a lady who cannot climax and also gets tired easily – Charles Charles you can wear a penis sleeve during intercourse or you can apply a delay cream to prevent premature ejaculation.

I recommend the Nasstoys Penis Extender Sleeve. It will enable you last longer, make your penis look bigger and stimulate your partner for quicker orgasms too. And for your woman, first she needs a libido supplement and an energy booster. Get her Cockstar for Women supplement and Libigirl performance enhancer and energy drink. She will also need an orgasm gel like the 69 Nipple and Clit Arousal Gel and Erotic Stud vibrator. With all of these, your problems will be effectively taken care of – Uche My wife and I are in our early forties. We are healthy, good looking and have no performance problems. The only problem is that we hardly have sex since our three children. Our whole life is about our work and family. I want to have fun again.

Please recommend something that can help us achieve this goal. Thanks – Solomon Hello Solomon, both of you just need something that will enable you focus on romance and sex two or three times a week and nothing does that better than adult movies. So get a feature film like Reign of Terra or Crazy about You. They will do the trick – Uche That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRAURY 28, 2013

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SPORT EXTRA 32 countries to storm Warri for Athletics championships

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VER 421 athletes from 32 countries have so far confirmed their participation at the maiden African Athletics Youth Championships billed for March 27-31 in Warri, Delta State.

The Championships are open to athletes who are under-17 as at this year.

Confederation of Africa

• AFN expects 500 athletes Athletics CAA confirmed Nigeria as the hosts last year, at its congress in Porto Novo, Benin Republic. Some of the countries that have registered include traditional athletics nations like South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia and Algeria. Hosts, Nigeria has the highest number of entry with 80 athletes. Ethiopia has

the second largest delegation with 42 athletes, South Africa is coming with 30 athletes, while Cape Verde, Guinea, Zimbabwe and Comoros Islands have only two athletes representing them.

Athletics Federation of Nigeria secretary-general Maria Wophil said that more countries are still been expected to register for the Championships.

“Our estimate is that about 500 athletes will be in Warri.

This is huge. We are still expecting more entries as the deadline closes on March 4,” she said.

Ideye: I want more trophies

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IKE Oliver Twist, Dynamo Kiev striker Brown Ideye has told club’s official website that he wants more trophies with the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles and his club, Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine.

Ideye was a part of the victorious Eagles’ team that took the world by storm to win the 13 th edition of the African Cup of Nations, expressing hunger for more silverware.

The former Ocean Boys’ striker, who partnered tournament’s top scorer Emmanuel Emenike in the

2013 LAGOS POLO INTERNATIONAL

Ibadan Mapo record wins over BADAN Mapo recorded a Kano Dala 7-3 win over Kano Dala to

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go top of the table in the Dansa Cup as the 2013 Lagos Polo International Tournament galloped off yesterday at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi.

Nurudeen Akibu set the team comprising Femi Awolaja, Kanyinsola Owoeye and Salisu Umaru on a winning path guiding the ball for almost 50 yards as he outpaced Usman Mohammed.

Babiru Bello drew Dala level soon after but Owoeye was to restore his side’s advantage hitting a 20-yead shot.

Usman Mohammed leveled the tie again for a 2-2 scoreline to end an entertaining first chukka.

Awolaja converted a penalty at the start of the second chukka and it was followed up by Owoeye’s goal as

By Stella Bamawo

Mapo’s class soon reflected as they closed the game with a 73 scoreline.

The day’s second game which was also in the Dansa Cup saw a revenge of some sort for Kano as Ibah defeated Eleyele 5-3 to move to second place in the group. Three matches are on the cards today with the Lagos Ericsson vs Lagos Ironclad/Hurstlers and Kano Titans vs Lagos Goodfellows/ Ark the eye-catching clashes.

M e a n w h i l e telecommunication firm MTN one of the major sponsors of the tournament said they are sure that this years’ tournament will live up to expectations owing to the standard displayed on the opening day.

Eagles’ attack, is delighted to win his first major trophy at club and international levels.

Ideye said: ‘’We started celebrating the success in the dressing room, then in the plane and another on our return to Nigeria. ‘’About three days - that’s for sure (laughs). February 12 at full strength went to Abuja, where we had a scheduled appointment with the President. ‘’At the airport in the capital, we met a lot of people. Everyone was rejoicing and shouting congratulations, because our team had won this trophy.

From the airport, we were driven by bus with the cup to the presidential villa.’’

He continued: ‘‘I have never won a major trophy in my life, and the first became the African Cup of Nations. I am sure that is just the beginning

and I’ll be able to win many victories with Dynamo Kiev and with the national team of Nigeria. ‘’ When the Super Eagles returned to the dressing room after their 1 - 0 win over Burkina Faso in the AFCON finals, Ideye revealed that the first person to congratulate him on the feat was his spouse. ‘’It was my wife. We were in the locker room, despite all the screaming and having fun, the call still got through.’’

Brown Ideye has notched 13 goals in 17 matches for Dynamo Kiev in the Ukrainian top division. His tally is 5 less than Shakhtar Donetsk’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the top scorer in the league.

Dynamo Kiev will host Kryvbas in the 19th round of matches on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium.

Former Nigeria international, Victor Ikpeba, Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, and Marketing and TV Director, Confederation of African Football, Mr. Amr Shaheen, during a visit to the Patrick Speech and Languages Centre, Ikeja, Lagos as part of the AFCON trophy tour of Nigeria courtesy of StandardBank Group, parent company of Stanbic IBTC on Wednesday.

PHOTO: Bola Omilabu

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THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

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www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

DAPO FAFOWORA

T

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Lord Lugard and the 1914 Amalgamation of Nigeria

•Dr. Jonathan

‘Whatever we may consider to be the merits of amalgamation, it is not an event for us to celebrate. It is demeaning. We should merely mark it as a major event in Nigeria’s political development’

pended on British rule, while in the South it was feared that it would lead to the introduction of the unpopular system of indirect rule and the curtailment of the few political rights that the Lagos-based educated elite enjoyed under the legislative council system. Sir Arthur Richards, another Governor General, while reviewing the 1923 Clifford Constitution had stated that his main objective was to promote the unity of Nigeria. But through his creation of regional councils in the three provinces into which Nigeria was divided, he reinforced the already existing trend towards regionalism in Nigeria. Richards justified his new Constitution for Nigeria on the ground that Northern Nigeria wanted little or nothing to do with

the South. This view was subsequently echoed in the 1940s by both Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello, who stated quite clearly that they both regarded Nigeria as a mere geographical expression, and not a united country. In fact, Sir Ahmadu Bello complained publicly later that ‘the mistake of 1914 (meaning the amalgamation) has come to light’. It was as a compromise that a federal system was introduced as best suited to Nigerian conditions.

The amalgamation created modern Nigeria, but it was not without some strains as it forced the various ethnic groups of Nigeria into a single political unit. It was like trying to force a political union among France, Germany, and Britain. Belgium is a good example of a country in

RIPPLES

HARDBALL

LAWAL OGIENAGBON

which two separate and distinct nationalities have been lumped together with predictable results, similar to the situation in Nigeria. In fact, it was only in Nigeria that the British colonialists used the word ‘amalgamation’. This term was never applied to any of their other colonies in Africa, or elsewhere. Whatever we may consider to be the merits of amalgamation, it is not an event for us to celebrate. It is demeaning. We should merely mark it as a major event in Nigeria’s political development. I know of no other former British colony that has celebrated its acquisition in this manner. The idea has no precedence in Africa. It was British colonial genius that produced Nigeria.

But they will not be celebrating it for obvious reasons. In fact, if they tried to celebrate the occasion, we should object to it as demeaning to us. Our African brothers will certainly consider the planned celebration rather strange. As a nation, we have worked hard and tirelessly to keep this nation united. But we should not celebrate an event in our colonial history of which we should not be proud.

Of course, the amalgamation was a historic event in Nigeria and cannot be forgotten completely. The intention here is not to completely denigrate British rule in Nigeria as it did the country some good.

It introduced western education in the South and a system of justice that was fair on the whole. But it is my well considered view that we should merely mark the amalgamation with seminars, and not celebrate it as if the idea was that of our people and leaders.

It is a pity that Nigerian and African history are no longer being seriously taught in our schools and Universities. If they were, we would certainly take a different view of this plan to celebrate this episode of our history. Professor Tamuno, the chairman of the planning committee of the celebration, is a historian of note, and a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. He understands fully the point being made here. It would be better for him to advise the government that, instead of the planned elaborate celebrations, we should merely mark the event by holding seminars and lectures all over the country. This would be far cheaper, more relevant, and more meaningful. What we need is a sober reflection on what amalgamation really meant to Nigeria. I intend to discuss this in my next series of articles in this paper.

• For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

PDP BoT: Return of the gerontocrats

IT’CHEAPER TO BUY FUEL FROM VANDALS –Suspected dealer

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OF COURSE, it’s the only way to enjoy SUBSIDY REMOVAL

VOL.8, NO.2,414

‘Obasanjo, as tough as he was, never took on the NGF the way Jonathan is doing. Will the governors allow him to have his way or will they fight him to finish?’

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

•Continued from February 14 HE period between 1900 -12 was one in which the two halves of the protectorate, inheriting fundamentally different forms of administration and underlying political and social structures, diverged radically in administrative and political styles.

The administrative structures in Nigeria before amalgamation were really diverse.

It was as if Britain was really creating two different countries. When Lugard returned to Nigeria as Governor General in 1912 and introduced the amalgamation in 1914, largely for financial reasons, the content of the amalgamation was profoundly influenced by Lugard’s previous experience in Northern Nigeria and his disdainful attitudes towards Southern Nigeria. In effect, there was little or no amalgamation, for Lugard simply superimposed on the colony the existing structures in Northern Nigeria, particularly the obnoxious system of indirect rule. Lugard made no serious effort to bring Northern and Southern Nigeria under a uniform and central administration. For most of the time, he governed the colonial territory from the North in an administrative system that was so evidently incongruous.

From his Political Memoranda, his Amalgamation Reports, and his numerous writings on the new colony, it is doubtful that Lugard, or most of his successors in the colony, really did think of Nigeria’s future in terms of a single political entity.

Lugard’s successor as Governor General, Hugh Clifford, had warned in 1919 that ‘the coordination of all administrative work should be directed from a single centre’.

His successor, Richard Palmer, disagreed with this view, and instead averred that Nigeria ‘was a mere geographical expression, the European label attached to three divergent though contiguous chunks of Africa’. British colonial policy in Africa was vastly different from the French colonial policy of assimilation that envisioned its colonies as possible French states in future. Lugard and most of his administrative successors in Nigeria did not have such a vision for Nigeria.

The amalgamation, now being celebrated by the Federal Government, was certainly very unpopular in both Northern and Southern Nigeria at the time, and was vigorously opposed by the educated Lagos elite. In the North, the powerful emirates were opposed to it, as it was feared that a centralised administrative system would weaken their authority, which in fact de-

TODAY IN THE NATION

HIEF Tony Anenih may be a few months shy of 80 years old, but the aging politician and warhorse shows no sign of his zeal for politics and passion for rough tackles flagging. Instead of heading for the knacker’s yard, he has just been elected to head the coveted Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party at a time President Goodluck Jonathan felt hemmed in by enemies. Between the time Anenih led the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Bendel State and the time he assumed the leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and then on to his tumultuous roles in the PDP, there was no let up on his machinations and ruthless politicking. He will have another opportunity to mould PDP affairs in his image, and he will do it with gusto, especially because he came in as a consensus candidate.

Everyone believes that the second coming of Anenih is tied to 2015 elections. This is probably true. By sheer amateurish display, both Jonathan and the party’s chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, have got themselves embroiled

in so much controversy that desperation quickly crept into the part, sapping it of all its energies as it prepares for the coming polls. Given Tukur’s enthusiastic endorsement of Anenih and the president’s secret admiration for the tested old warrior, it was not surprising that the party did the unusual to get Anenih back in the saddle. He will not want to disappoint them. The news, therefore, is not that an old soldier has returned to his former haunts. The news is to find out what punishment he is capable of inflicting on dissenters within his party and outside. For a man who when he was previously BoT chairman hardly waited to catch his ethical breath as he plotted feverishly and unscrupulously to undermine the opposition, there is nothing to indicate he will be fastidious about principles or ideologies. He knows his brief, and we will hear from him shortly and brutally.

But rather than wait in apprehension, and considering how much of him is known, it will be the responsibility of Nigerians inside and outside the PDP to meet Anenih and his cohorts with courage and hope, in battlefields or at negotiating tables. Old

men are often vulnerable in battlefields as they are usually anachronistic and overconfident in war rooms. The country must, therefore, meet his every whim with intuitive brilliance and indescribable feints.

In the old man’s fading eyes, we will see the desperation of Jonathan, the man unleashing him into battle. And in his jaded dribbles, we will recognise just how much faith the ruling party is reposing in their old soldiers and old war tactics. Commodore Oliver Perry was famously quoted in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1812 to have said, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” The excuse of the Nigerian opposition in 2015 must never be that they didn’t know the enemy, nor that when they met them, they didn’t recognise them.

Increasingly, it seems, the opposition (All Progressives Congress?) will square off with the PDP gerontocracy in 2015. Let the opposition go into that battle with fleet-foot politicians, men and women who understand what it means to be faced by unethical and ruthless warriors, and men and women who once the battle is joined recognise that the possibility of defeat does not exist.

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Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mila 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO