January 06, 2012

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•Adebamigbe Omole, the Branch Chairman (middle), leading members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, marching on Alausa, the seat of power ... yesterday

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Petrol protests spread Demonstrations in Ibadan, Benin, Gombe, Oyo, Akure, Kaduna, Bauchi

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COFFIN held aloft by youths singing anti-government songs, lawyers in black suits, marching and crowds setting up bonfires – the fuel price protests gathered more steam yesterday.

More cities joined the action, which is aimed at forcing a reversal of the New Year’s Day’s removal of fuel subsidy. The policy sent petrol price shooting up from N65 a litre to between N138 and N200.

From Osagie Otabor (Benin), Vincent Ekhoragbon (Gombe), Bode Durojaiye (Oyo), Sulaiman Salawudeen (Ado-Ekiti), Bisi Oladele, Tayo Johnson (Ibadan), Leke Akeredolu, Damisi Ojo (Akure) and Ernest Nwokolo (Abeokuta)

There were protests in Ibadan, Bauchi, Gombe, Benin, Oyo and Akure. The police aborted the protest in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. The protests followed those of Kano, Ilorin and Abeokuta.

Thousands of protesters, drawn from civil society groups, commer-

INSIDE •NBA urges National Assembly to impeach President Jonathan •NANS threatens action •Ajibola: It’s time bomb •Right step, wrong direction, says Akume •Falana urges EFCC to probe PPPRA, NNPC •Nigerians should embrace policy, says Minister •Why governors backed subsidy removal, by Suswam •See pages 2, 3, 5 & 53

cial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada, Non-Governmental Organisations and students, marched in Benin, the Edo State capital. Traffic flow was disrupted at the popular King’s Square.

All major roads leading to the city centre (King’s Square) were blocked by the protesters who sang anti-

subsidy songs.

The protest was organised by the Coalition to Save Nigeria (CSN).

The protesters carried a mock coffin, which they said symbolised the death of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party at the centre.

Many businesses located within the King’s Square were closed down over fears of looting.

Attempts by the protesters to force some commercial bus drivers,

Okada riders and pedestrians to join the march were unsuccessful as they went about their normal businesses.

Speaking at a rally, CSN Chairman Dr. Phillip Ugbodaga said the Federal Government should restore the country’s four refineries into full capacity and revert to N65 a litre.

Ugbodaga said the masses should Continued on page 4

Up up go food prices F THE ILORIN PROTEST VICTIM – PAGE 3

OOD prices are reacting to the sudden rise in petrol prices. They are going up.

For instance, at Oyingbo market in Lagos, a small bowl of tomato now costs N100. In September, the same portion sold for N50.

A tomato and pepper seller attributed the increase in the price to the hike in petrol price. A small bowl of crayfish costs N1000. It was N500 in December.

A small size of stock fish sold for N500 yesterday, as against N350 last November.

A small tin of gari, which cost N300, now sells for N400. But loaves of bread still cost N50, N100 and N150.

A small bundle of vegetable sells at N300. It was N50

From Ernest Nwokolo (Abeokuta), Daniel Essiet (Lagos), Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson (Ibadan)

before petrol subsidy was removed. Palm oil price jumped by 20 per cent. A gallon is N6000. A gallon of groundnut oil now sells for N7,500, up from N7000.

From what The Nation gathered, the prices vary at various markets.

For now, the concern is how to stabilise the prices of corn, sugar, rice and other commodities, which remain unchanged.

Speaking with The Nation, a goat meat seller, Mr Akin Akanni, said the price of a goat has increased from Continued on page 4

•COURT UPHOLDS AJIMOBI’S VICTORY P10 •10 KILLED IN EDO CULT WAR P9

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SUBSIDY REMOVAL

NLC denies talks with government From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday denied holding meetings on fuel price hike with the Federal Government.

A statement by the Acting Secretary-General, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, described the report as “an absolute falsehood.”

He explained that labour leaders are busy mobilising for the indefinite strike and mass protest which will begin from Monday, and have no time for frivolous, unsustainable and unproductive ‘dialogue’ with the Presidency or any of its Dialogue Committees.

According to him, there was a planted Internet report yesterday that the leadership of the labour movement was meeting with some government officials on the increase in fuel prices.

NLC also debunked another allegation that petroleum marketers were financing the labour movement to embark on an industrial action.

The congress, however noted that: “We see these stories of “meetings” with the Federal Government as mischievous and part of government’s strategy to break the fuel hike protest.

“We restate categorically that the labour movement has no intention to hold any discussion with the Federal Government or any of its officials on the issue of increases in petrol prices until the price is reverted to N65 per litre to allow for a level-playing field.

“We call on workers and the Nigerian people to ignore all such stories and remain focused and committed to participate actively in the general strikes, mass rallies and street protests, starting from Monday, January 9, 2012.”

Lawyer urges support for Labour

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IGERIANS were yesterday urged to give unflinching support to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on its planned industrial action billed to begin on Monday over the contentious removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Lagos based activist lawyer Bamidele Aturu who made the call maintained that the strike action called by the labour movement remained the only reasonable way to make those in government realise that Nigerian cannot be taken for a ride.

His words: “Nigeria is not a fiefdom that belongs to them exclusively to be used and treated anyhow. We will do everything possible to make the strike total and effective. Nigerians must realise that the strategy of the government is to play a wait-andsee game in the sadistic hope that strike fatigue would set in sooner than

Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

•Youths protesting in Bauchi…yesterday

later. To this end, Nigerians and the labour movement, in particular, must devise a strategy of well-structured and staggered strike that enables the artisans and peasants earn a little to survive and return to the strike periodically.

“The aim should be to weaken the economy until the government collapses or capitulates. The arrogance of the alleged subsidy withdrawal demands that we should do everything possible to make the strike work and reclaim our society. If the National Assembly does not resume immediately to begin actions against the Executive for the blatant contempt for the people, we should take steps to make them irrelevant by making sure that after a week they will not be able to access the National Assembly forever.”

SNG backs NLC/TUC strike

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

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AVE Nigeria Group (SNG) yesterday asked Nigerians to support the indefinite, national wide strike proposed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to protest the removal of fuel subsidy. The industrial action kicks off on Monday.

The organisation also unfolded plans to demonstrate in Lagos on Monday against the policy, which its Convener, Pastor Tunde Bakare, said had trumatised Nigerians across all walks of life.

Bakare, who addressed reporters in Ikeja, said: “The members of SNG unanimously endorse the resolution of the NLC/TUC to embark on a total strike that will paralyse the government on Monday, unless the government reverses its decision to remove the oil subsidy before Sunday. This resolution is a welcome development and clearly has the support of every true Nigerian who has been trumatised by President Jonathan’s clueless government”.

With Bakare at the briefing were Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Dr. Okei-Odumakin, Mr. Femi Kuti, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, and Mrs. Chima Ubani.

Calling for the probe of the oil-sub-sector, SNG lamenting that nobody, except a few Nigeria and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) know the amount accruing to the country from crude oil.

The group therefore, urged the government to probe the activities of the corrupt officials in the sector responsible for embezzling the money earmarked for the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the refineries.

Bakare said: “Now that the beneficiaries of the oil subsidy scam are known, we demand their immediate prosecution, as well as the officials of NNPC, CBN governor, and Minister of Finance, for their complicity in paying for refined petroleum products not consumed”.

NANS threatens govt over action

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HE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday vowed to champion a nationwide protest against the Federal Government over the removal of fuel subsidy, a development that triggered increment in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) In a statement signed by the NANS Senate President, Kolade Olaoluwa, the legislative arm of the students’ body condemned the action of President Goodluck Jonathan on the removal of fuel subsidy and described the action as barbaric, inhumane and anti-masses.

NANS Senate President said “the decision of the Federal Government on the removal of the fuel subsidy is very pathetic, unthinkable and inhumanity. We wish to advise the Federal Government to reverse the fuel

price to N65 or face the wrath of the students”.

He hinted that all NANS Joint Campus Committees in all the tertiary institutions are ready for the rally as Nigerians students have resolved to fight the Federal Government with the last drop of their blood over this matter.

“The withdrawal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan is inhuman and inconsiderate. The action of Jonathan has inflicted hardship on the people.

“The removal of the fuel subsidy is a way of taking away Nigerians living standard. It’s condemnable and barbaric and we call on individuals, peasants, market women, students, youths and Nigerians at large to join hands and fight against this removal.”

•Pastor Bakare (second left) at the news conference…yesterday. With him are Dr. Okei-Odumakin (left), Mr Odumakin (third

NBA urges National Assembly •Orders lawyers to embark on strike

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HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has advised the National Assembly to begin impeachment moves against President Goodluck Jonathan, if he fails to return petrol subsidy.

The umbrella body of lawyers also ordered its members to embark on nationwide strike from Monday.

This is in line with the mother of all strikes declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government.

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna by its President, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), NBA said the “much-touted palliative” measures reeled out by the government will “destroy what is left of the lives of Nigerians”.

The association regretted that “government took advantage of its people’s distress arising from the Christmas bombings and killings by the Boko Haram terrorists and insensitively caused the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (a creature of statute) to announce the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy”.

“If government should apply half the vigour with which it has pursued the issue of the removal of subsidy to the eradication of corruption in all the arms of government and in society in general, then trillions of naira would be freed up for developmental projects”, it said.

In the statement, entitled “Holding

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja Government Accountable and Responsive to the People”, the NBA said the Justice Belgore Committee raised by government to negotiate with the labour and the civil society organisations is a waste of time “because there is in reality nothing to negotiate”.

“The minimum position is the immediate reversal of this provocative and uncalled for increment of petrol”, it stated.

The association recalled how it cautioned government against the subsidy removal and advised it to adopt a different strategy.

The statement reads: “The impression given by government was that the issue will be debated and the views of Nigerians properly considered. Government led its people to believe that the earliest time any possible action would be taken in the direction of subsidy removal was the April 1, 2012. Instead, government took advantage of its people’s distress arising from the Xmas bombings and killings by the Boko Haram terrorists and insensitively caused the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (a creature of statute) to announce the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy, thereby escalating the price of PMS from the already suffocating N65 to the unbearable range of N141-N250.

“Nigerians have in the past four days reacted angrily to government’s action described above. It is considered not only premature, but wicked

and insensitive. Nigerians have now concluded that their leaders are truly detached from the reality of economic hardship endured by Nigerians.

This is so because virtually all high government officials and their families feed and live off tax payers’ funds, yet they enjoy outrageous salaries and other emoluments. In some cases the amount budgeted for feeding and catering is as much as N1 billion.

Government officials travel limitlessly round the world for the flimsiest of reasons collecting estacodes in billions even where the object of most of these journeys can be achieved by simply browsing the Internet. Consequently Nigerians have reacted spontaneously to this unwise and illmotivated manoeuvre by demonstrations and other forms of protest nationwide.

“Government clearly does not understand the seriousness of the situation. It has failed to understand that all governments, be they dictatorial or otherwise, enjoy power because the people allow it to remain in power. No government can outlast the will of the people. It is clear that Nigerians do not and will not tolerate subsidy removal under the terms and conditions set out or laid down by government. Any removal of subsidy based on the importation of petroleum products is unacceptable to Nigerians. Government must create the infrastructure for the refining of 100 per cent of petroleum products in Nigeria and by Nigerians. It had been done in the past, it was sabotaged, and it can and will be done again.

to

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SUBSIDY REMOVAL There is controversy over the death of Muyideen Mustapha Opobiyi, who was killed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Tuesday during a protest against the removal of fuel subsidy. He was allegedly killed by police bullet. But the police have denied the allegation, claiming Opobiyi was stabbed by one of the protesters, reports ADEKUNLE JIMOH

Who killed Citizen Opobiyi?

W

t), Mr Odumakin (third left), Alhaji Ayinde, Seun and Femi Kuti

y

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

to impeach Jonathan “The response of government has been to say that there is no alternative to the removal of subsidy; with all due respect there are many alternatives.

•If government should apply half the vigour with which it has pursued the issue of the removal of subsidy to the eradication of corruption in all the arms of government and in society in general, then trillions of naira would be freed up for developmental projects.

•Government should identify areas of wastage in governance, such as the allocation of largesse and booties in the name of allowances and withdraw same forthwith.

•Government must embark on a re-orientation of its own values and ethics and those of Nigerians.

•Law and order must be enforced in accordance with the Rule of law.

•And many other urgent and indeed numerous measures.

•Where and if government persists on this suicidal course of action, the options open to the people are limited but clear.

They include: “ A call on the National Assembly to officially and formally declare its position on the removal of fuel subsidy.

“If as we believe the National Assembly sides with the people, then it must in the same transaction call on the President to rescind or reverse its actions on subsidy removal. “ Should their call not be heeded by the President, then National Assembly should seriously consider impeachment proceedings; the President having lost the confidence of

Nigerians to continue to rule or lead them.

“If the legislators fail to take the desired actions then Nigerians will commence the constitutional process to recall them.

“The Nigerian Bar Association believes in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Rule of Law. Where its elected officials believe that government and governance have become private property run at the master’s whims and caprices, then the time has come for these officials to be reminded that that the people are in charge.

“It must be mentioned that it appears to be more than a coincidence that government chose to remove subsidy at a time when the nation was reeling and mourning from the activities of anarchists and terrorists.

Be it noted that Nigerians will not be cowered either from the activities of terrorists or those of an insensitive government. We shall deal with and resolve these issues with or without Government.“ Daudu said the NBA had since the purported removal of fuel subsidy been in active consultation with the NLC, TUC, NMA and other professional bodies and civil societies.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all members of the NBA shall participate in the nationwide strike commencing on January 9, 2012.

“The strike shall be comprehensive with all lawyers withdrawing their services from courts and elsewhere except as it is necessary to facilitate the continuation of pressure on government to rescind its actions.”

HO killed Muyideen Mustapha Opobiyi? This is the question on the lips of many Kwarans. The question may require high technology to unravel.

The late Muyideen, 23, was a casualty of the protest against fuel subsidy removal in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The deceased, a product of Army Day Secondary School, Maitama Abuja, hailed from the Agbaji family of Ilorin.

He was allegedly felled by police bullets. But the police have denied the allegation, claiming that the deceased was stabbed by one of the protesters for not joining the fray.

Commissioner of Police Peter Gana absolved the command of culpability.

His words: “I’m aware that some media houses have given report that two or three protesters were killed; that is not true.

One person was killed and it was not from police bullet. Police had no cause to fire any bullet into the crowd and did not fire any bullet into the crowd.

“We are aware that hoodlums, who hijacked the protests, were armed with cutlasses, locally made pistols and other offensive weapons. We are being careful about it and it is our responsibility to see that Kwarans are protected from the activities of hoodlums.”

The deceased came to Ilorin for a three months computer training course which he completed last Saturday.

The deceased’s father, Alhaji Mustapha Oke-Odo, said he has accepted it as the will of God, but wants the perpetrators to be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.

Muyideen’s half brother Rafiu said the news of his death came as a shock to the family.

Rafiu, who works with one of the new generation banks in Ilorin, said: “We feel very sad. In fact, it is an ugly and unfortunate incident. They have thrown us into mourning but as Muslim we take it as an act of God. We believe that God gives and takes life.

We are not interested in suing the government. But we want Nigeria and world to know that the picture the police have painted is false.

“The news said the police shot him but the police are claiming that he was stabbed by one of the protesters. It is not true at all because eye witnesses told us that he was felled by the police bullet.

When we went to the mortuary to claim his body for burial the police came, went in with the doctors and chased our brother out when the autopsy was being carried out.

“I know that the police had ulterior motives. It was clear to us that the wounds showed to us that it was gunshot. The police should be cautioned to be civil in handling protests. People are angry against a policy government is trying to implement. The protest was peaceful. All the police needed to do on that day was to guide them from vandalising people’s property. I watched the Abuja and Lagos protests on television,

•The late Opobiyi

police didn’t shoot at people, they didn’t kill anybody. They only shot teargas canisters to scare people away. I don’t know what came over the police in Kwara?”

A former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State, Emmanuel Ayeoribe, described Opobiyi’s death as a confrontation by the establishment against the citizens, saying “it is the most wicked act.”

His words: “People should be allowed to hold their views in a democracy. But surprisingly, yesterday while some people were protesting this increment in the prices of PMS, the police came out and murdered one of us. We see it as deliberate attack on civilians who have nothing except the power of expression. What is worrisome is that it is the people’s money that is used to buy these guns, but ironically they are turning the guns to maim and murder us.

“We condemn in very strong term the wicked murder of Opobiyi. We want to assure the authorities that this action can in no way intimidate us, but rather it will strengthen us. The minimum the state government can do is to constitute a probe panel into the death of Opoboyi to determine the remote and immediate causes of the slain protester and whoever is involved must be brought to book.

“But more importantly, I want to assure the security agencies that killing Nigerians is not the solution to this problem. Even if they like they can go and import bomb, I want to remind them that events in the Arab world where some leaders have chosen to kill, maim and assassinate the people in no way stalled the protests in the Arab world. Nigeria cannot be the same until the issue is resolved.”

Also, the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemned the murder of Opebiyi.

In a statement signed by the branch’s chairman, Rafiu Balogun, said: “We were totally puzzled, bewildered, flabbergasted and worried by the ugly situation whereby an innocent Nigerian will be killed simply because he is expressing his disapproval of the obnoxious policy of the Federal Government. It is dishearten-

ing that the police will kill innocent Nigerians they are paid with taxpayers’ money to protect.

“We have expressed our condemnation of extra-judicial killing by the police on several occasions but to no avail. We, therefore, join other civil society groups, or Non Governmental Organisation (NGOs) and well meaning Nigerians in calling for a total reorganisation of the police and orientation of the officers and men of the force with a view to making them more civil in their approach and have respect for human lives.

“It should be emphasised that every Nigerian has the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution and we are astonished that live cartridges will be used by the police to disperse or intimidate citizens of this country while exercising their right to condemn government policy that affects their existence and well being.

“We note with dismay the attitude of the police in Ilorin on Wednesday during the emergency meeting of the association. Two police utility vehicles drove in front of the High Court premises and the policemen therein shot sporadically into the air and people were running for safety. The gunshots led to immediate adjournment of a court sitting at the time.

“We also urge the Inspector General of Police to give direction that no live cartridge be used to disperse protesters. We also enjoin the IGP to investigate the killing of Muyideen in Ilorin with a view to making the erring police officer face the full wrath of the law.”

The Kwara State government described the death of the deceased as an unfortunate development.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold said: “The death of Muyideen was particularly painful to the state because at that youthful age, he had a brighter future and would have become another glory to the state.”

The SSG spoke during a condolence visit to the family.

He urged the police to fish out the killers.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SUBSIDY REMOVAL

Up up go food prices Continued from page 1

•Anti-subsidy removal proteters in Kaduna ... yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

More cities join petrol price protests Continued from page 1

not be made to pay for the inadequacies of the government to tackle corruption.

There was a massive traffic jam on Oba Adesida Road and others in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for over three hours, following a protest led by rights activist Morakinyo Ogele and a group, the Movement for Better Governance (MBG).

The protest, which began around 9am took off from Akure Town Hall through Oba-Adesida and NEPA, ending at Alagbaka. The protesters, who sang anti-government songs, were monitored by security operatives.

Ogele said the protest was to show that citizens are against the removal of petrol subsidy, adding that President Jonathan had increased the pains of Nigerians by removing their only benefit from government.

He said: “Almost 90 per cent of Nigerians are living in abject poverty and Jonathan believed the only thing he could give us as New Year’s gift is to remove petrol subsidy.

“With the pains Nigerians are feeling now, Jonathan’s N18,000 minimum wage cannot solve it.”

Human rights activist Tolu Babaleye, who described the government’s action as “undemocratic”.

In Gombe, youths and students from various institu-

tions called for President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation.

They filed out in a peaceful protest in the state capital, displaying placards with various massages.

Some read: “President Jonathan must go”; “Jonathan should step aside”; “Fuel subsidy removal is evil”; “We have suffered enough”; and “Nigerians are united against removal of subsidy”.

The protesters stormed the Government House where they were received by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Sule Bage, on behalf of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo.

Their spokesman, Abdulmalik Suleiman, said the removal of subsidy has brought untold hardship to the people, especially the less-privileged, who constitute the largest population of Nigeria.

They asked the governor to relay their message to the Federal Government.

Bage promised to take their plea to the President.

He urged them to remain peaceful.

In the ancient city of Oyo, a crowd of angry youths, under the aegis of Oyo Youth Forum, chanted solidarity songs and carried placards with inscriptions, such as “Jonathan, your Administration is a disaster”; “No to subsidy removal”; “It’s fight to

the finish unless pump price returns to N65"; and “Reps, senators, start impeachment of Jonathan now”.

The peaceful protest, which started from Atiba Hall around 9am,took the youths to Idi-Ope, Owode, Ojongbodu, Akunlemu, Bode Ogbomoso and Agunpopo.

The protest attracted support from traders, commercial motorcyclists and other road transport workers. Businesses were partially paralysed.

Motorists plying the Oyo/ Ogbomoso highway were stuck in a traffic jam that lasted for about an hour. But there was no breakdown of law and order.

The protesters also besieged the three local government secretariats in the ancient town, where messages were delivered to council officials for transmission to Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

The Forum’s co-ordinator, Comrade Wahab Daud, described the removal of fuel subsidy as a “wicked”, and an “ungodly” decision.

It was the lawyers’ turn to protest in Lagos yesterday.

They expressed their displeasure over the government’s decision, which they described as “a declaration of war on the people”.

Numbering over 100, the lawyers, mostly members of the Nigerian Bar Association

(NBA), Ikeja branch, marched from the state High Court in Ikeja, through the Obafemi Awolowo Road and the House of Assembly to the governor’s office around 12.

40p.m.

The protesters, dressed in black suits, demanded an immediate reversal of petrol price to N65 per litre. The group was led by the association’s Chairman, Mr. Adebamigbe Omole. It also included son of the late legal luminary Gani Fawehinmi, Mohammed.

The lawyers sang as they marched to the Governor’s Office in Alausa. They brandished placards and distributed flyers on their way.

Some inscriptions on the placards read, “This increment is criminal. It is a declaration of war against Nigerians; and ‘N600 per day, N800 cost of transportation. Haba Jonathan”. Others read, “On N65 per litre we stand, nothing else”; “Resign if you are bereft of ideas”; and “Jonathan, remember you had no shoes, are you cutting our legs”?

Mohammed, who joined the protest at the Governor’s Office, called on Nigerians to fight against the government policy through all legitimate means. He urged Nigerians to support the planned labour strike, which slated for Monday.

Continued from page 53

N12,000 to N17,000.

Meat prices have increased in Oyingbo and other markets. A small portion, which sold at N500 now sells for N1,200. The cost of frozen fish has increased. A medium-sized carton of fish is selling for between N250 and N350 as against N130 and N180. Prices of fruits such as orange have also risen. A small heap of oranges sells for N300 instead of N100.

Five tubers of yam, which which is sold for N500 now sell for between N800 and N1,000.

At Daleko market, a bag of sweet beans is N7,500. A bag of big brown beans sells for N12,500.

Women, and other shoppers are groaning in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital as they watch prices of foodstuff climb.

A congo (local container measuring 10 tin cups) of rice which used to sell for N270 has been jerked up to N350.

A measure of beans which used to sell for N300 now goes for N350 while maize has moved from N120 to N160. A measure of garri which sold for N150 has been jerked up to 200 while Soya beans has moved from N80 to N130. A measure of yam flour now sells for N320 up from N250.

Others prices include tubers of yam which sold for 250 but now N370. Bread is also hit by the increase as a loaf which sold for N50 is now N70 while a bag of sachet water rose from N60 to N120. A bottle of 150cl Eva water, which was sold for N120, now costs N150.

In Abeokuta, a 50kg bag of rice, which was sold at N7000 during the Yuletide, now goes for N7,800 at the Kuto market. A 25 litres keg of palm oil sold at N3,500 is now N5000.

Also, a medium size tin of Bournvita has increased from N650 to N750. The refill pack rose from N600 to N650.

Sachet water is now N10, as against the pre-subsidy N5.

Also affected are the prices of fish, which climbed from N10,000 to N11,500 a carton.

A carton of chicken and turkey N5200 has moved up to N7,500 while fifty pieces of stock fish rose from N4,000 to N5,000. A bag of beans now sells for N12, 000:00. It was sold for N10,000.

In Abakaliki a paint can of beans, that cost N480 before the subsidy withdrawal now costs between N500 and N550. A bag of imported rice

that cost between N9,000 now costs N10,500 while a basket of pepper that cost between N3,000 now costs between N7,000 and N7,500.

A carton of stockfish that cost N45,000 now N60,000, a carton of ice fish which cost between N8,500 is now N10,500; one kilo of meat now sells for N900 instead of N1000 while 25 litres of palm oil is N550 instead of N460 before now.

In Jos, a measure of beans which was N150 and N200 depending on the species is now N200 and N220, a measure of garri which was N100 is now between N110 and N120, a N25-litre of palm oil, which was N6,500 is now N7,000, a bag of sugar which was N9,600 sells for N9,800, spaghetti which was N110 per pack is now N120.

In Bauchi metropolis, Wunti market, a kilo of plain beef (red Meat) now sells at N10 from N8:50. A cup of OGBONO which before the subsidy removal sold for N300 is now N500. While a large size bottle of palm oil sold at N400 is now N600.

A tin of Gino canned tomatoes which sold for N40.00 now sells for N60.00.

Imported Rice (Mama Gold) which sold for N8,500 sell for N9,000. A tuber of new yam which sold for between N250/N300 now sells for N400.00.

The same is the case with other brands of rice such as Mama Africa which sold for N8500 but now sells for N8,450.00,Caprice sells for N9,100.00 from N8,800.00 while Royal Stallion which sold for N10,000 now sells for N10,500.

A small paint can of garri which sold for N220.00 now sell for N260.00. A bottle of four corner bottle of palm oil which sold at N220.00 now sells for N300.00.

A packet of Tom-Tom sweets which sold for N180.00 now sells for N190.00 while Cabin Biscuits which sells for N850.00 now sells for N200.00.

A packet of Biloxxi biscuits which sells for N670.00 now sells for N680.00.

A survey at the popular Akpan Andem Market, Uyo showed that prices of staple food items have doubled.

Her words: “What we are still selling is our old stocks.

We have not gone to the market to renew our stocks.

When we go to the market, the prices of food items are likely to go up.

Continued from page 53

Why Governors backed subsidy removal, by Suswam

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will meet with governors today as part of the response to the protests that greeted the sudden removal of subsidy on petrol.

Indications also emerged yesterday that governors might not back down on their support for subsidy removal as the prospects of getting more revenue from the Federation Account is top of their consideration.

Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam gave this indication yesterday after a

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House. He urged the labour unions not to play politics with the removal of subsidy on petrol.

He said Nigerians should give President Jonathan a chance to deliver on the promises he made on the proceeds of the removed subsidy.

He said: “The President will be meeting with us tomorrow for us to further look at how states can key into

some of the palliative measures put forward by the President because states for the first time will be getting more money.

Suswam said his state will be getting N7.6 billion allocation. “If I decide that the N7.6billion is is for building of classrooms, I can achieve that.

“That subsidy now goes to the common man who ordinarily has never benefitted from subsidy”.

He said the decision on subsidy is meant to move the country from being a con-

suming nation to a producing nation.

“If we just want to be a consuming nation, then, we don’t have a future. Over the years, that is what we have been doing. So, we need to stand up together and sacrifice so that we can guarantee the future of this country.

“These are genuine efforts to make a difference. I think that labour and well-meaning Nigerians should come together and give the President a chance instead of people playing politics with the removal of petrol subsidy. I

think it is beyond that.

“The President genuinely and sincerely has promised that money will be realised from savings that will be ploughed into improving the living standards of Nigerians and I think the man deserves to be given a chance”.

The Governor said the timing of the decision should not be an issue considering the diversity of the country, saying, “When is the right time?

What is the substance of the issue? Is it timing?

Continued from page 53

•Suswam

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

5

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

‘Nigerians should embrace subsidy policy’

A

MID growing nationwide protests by Nigerians and threats of strikes by organised labour against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, has warned protesters not to resort to violence or strike.

The existence of the so-called subsidy in times past according to Moro, has only led to decayed infrastructure and unemployment.

He noted that the current security challenges confronting the nation needs to be confronted by all Nigerians to ensure that law and order return to the country.

Speaking at the decoration of the newly appointed Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Zakari Ohinoyi Ibrahim, the minister said the withdrawal of subsidy was necessitated by Federal Government’s policy of transition from poverty to riches.

He said the policy informed the decision to accompany the withdrawal with some palliative measures.

According to him, it was in the wisdom of the government to remove the subsidy since the money being spent has never trickled down to the masses.

The minister expressed the hope that in the next few years, Nigeria would be able to refine its crude oil and meet its domestic needs.

Emphasising that the current astronomical increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) would soon succumb to market forces, Moro said: “It is the hope of government that if we all collaborate on this, Nigerians will say ‘bye’ to poverty because the recourse to violence and strikes will do us no good. It is pertinent to note that there are some chronic critics of government policies who are angered because such policies do not emanate from them.”

Falana urges EFCC to probe PPPRA, NNPC H UMAN right crusader Mr Femi Falana has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged multi-billion naira fraud allegedly committed by officials of two government agencies in their handling of funds voted for fuel subsidy last year.

In a petition yesterday to EFCC’s Acting Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde, the frontline lawyer identified the agencies as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He noted that N240 billion was voted for fuel subsidy in last year’s Appropriation Act, but in what amounted to a violation of the Act, N1.4 trillion was paid by the PP-

By Eric Ikhilae

PRA for fuel subsidy from January to December, last year.

Falana alleged that the NNPC, which collected 50 per cent of the fund and other importers of petroleum products, engaged in unprecedented fraud.

Giving instances of how the fraud was allegedly committed, the lawyer noted that fuel subsidy of N240 billion was illegally increased to N1.4 trillion without a Supplementary Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly.

He said out of the N1.4 trillion, only 62.9 per cent was paid as subsidy on PMS

(petrol) in 2011.

Falana said: “Whereas N421 billion and N673 billion were paid as fuel subsidy for 2009 and 2010, respectively, the NNPC was paid over N400 billion as arrears of subsidy claims for 2009 and 2010.

“Demurrage payments made by NNPC translated to an average of $6.6 million per month. Variations between NNPC claims and verifications by PPPRA led to overdeductions of several billions of naira.

“Professional fees of billions of naira were paid to two private auditors for covering up the perpetrators in the fuel importation scam.”

Beside, Falana alleged that exchange rates used by NNPC were lower than the average exchange rates approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He also alleged that contracts for fuel importation were awarded marketers that were not included in the approved pre-qualification list.

“As a result of late settlement of invoices from suppliers, NNPC paid interest rates running into millions of dollars,” he said.

The lawyer blamed the PPPRA for allegedly failing to regulate the supply and distribution of petroleum products, saying the agency failed to prevent collusion and restrictive trade practices harmful to the petroleum sector.

Works minister denies report on bad roads

By Eric Ikhilae

T

HE Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, has denied a report that federal roads, particularly the Lagos-Benin road, are in bad shape.

The minister was reacting to a report that motorists were trapped on the Lagos-Benin road during the Yuletide owing to its bad state.

He said most federal roads were well attended to before the festive period.

In a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Tony Ikpasaja, the minister noted that the report was misleading and meant to embarrass him.

“To put the record straight, shortly before the Yuletide season, the minister took time to ensure that such highly trafficked roads across that country received due attention ahead of the end-of-year traffic rush.

“The Benin-Ore-Shagamu road, Abuja-Abaji-Okene road and Onitsha Head Bridge, to name a few, received urgent rehabilitation and were opened to motorists. Not a few motorists were pleasantly surprised at the transformation of the hitherto bad roads,” the statement said.

Kwankwaso alleges plot to hijack protest From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

K

ANO State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso yesterday alleged that a political party and a students’ religious group were attempting to hijack the current protest against fuel subsidy withdrawal in the state to cause confusion.

He said: “The situation in Kano is now being politicised.

Information available to us indicates that there is a calculated attempt by a political party and a faith-based students’ body to take control of the situation.”

The governor, who spoke when he received the leadership of the National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS) in his office, cautioned the residents to avoid being used to cause instability.

“Kano State alone cannot make a decision over the removal of fuel subsidy. It is a collective decision of the Federal and state governments as well as other stakeholders,” the governor said.

He urged the people of Kano to show civility in presenting their grievances to the government, warning that the state government would punish anyone found breaching the peace.

• Policemen on guard at the palace of Emir of Bauchi during a protest by youths over removal of petrol subsidy in Bauchi ....yesterday

It’s time bomb, says Ajibola

F

ORMER World Court Judge, Prince Bola Ajibola, has urged Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan to urgently have a rethink on the removal of subsidy from petroleum products.

He warned that its sudden removal was not only “politically inexpedient but also a time bomb that might explode with unpleasant consequences.

Ajibola said the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government and the attendant increase in the pump price of petrol across the country “added new dimension of economic nature to the groans of Nigerians at a time everybody is wishing everybody a Happy and Prosperous New Year.”

The former Attorney–General of the Federation and Justice Minister under Gen-

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

eral Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime spoke yesterday in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home.

He urged the President to reverse his decision in the interest of the suffering masses to ensure the nation’s political stability.

Ajibola noted that given the challenges traumatising the nation, which have been worsened by the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the North, the timing of subsidy removal, however good the intention, was wrong.

He said: “Why should anybody in his or her own right senses advise you to ignite this time bomb by blowing your own time rocket all at the same time, left, right and centre?

“With all these socio-po-

litical and ethno-religious equations prevailing at the present time in the country, Mr President, you have now added a new dimension of economic nature to them by this removal of the so-called oil subsidy, just at the end of the year, while everybody was wishing everybody a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

“I think that it is not politically expedient to take all these problems together at the same time. You (President) have been badly advised having regard to the fact that both in the North and South about 73 per cent of the population living in this country are poor. The removal of the oil subsidy will patently and immediately increase their sufferings in real terms.”

According to him, the subsidy removal should

have been in phases.

Ajibola said: “It should be a matter of gradual reduction and not a removal at once.”

The former minister said removing the so-called subsidy in one fell swoop would hurt the masses.

He blamed the President’s advisers for the ill–advised step, saying at this critical time of the nation’s history, the President needed only good and sound advice from his aides.

“This is the hour that our President needs a good and sound advice to run the affairs of this nation rightly.

But unfortunately, I strongly believe that those who are close to him are misguiding him because certain facts are absolutely patent. These ought to guide him in his deliberations and lines of action, which are being ignored,” Ajibola added.

Akume: Fed Govt’s action is right step in wrong direction

S

ENATE Minority Leader George Akume yesterday spoke on the contentious removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. He warned that the policy would further impoverish the masses.

The senator, in a statement, urged the federal authority to hold those who ran the oil industry aground accountable, rather than punish the innocent.

According to him, the withdrawal of petrol subsidy can only by justified if allowed to be beneficial to all.

The statement reads: “Following the announcement by the Federal Government of the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry and subsequent removal of subsidy on petroleum products, there have been public outcries and demonstrations in most parts of the

country. Deaths have unfortunately been recorded. The government’s argument for subsidy removal is that more funds will be untied to execute some vital infrastructural projects.

“We, however, wish to point out that the issue of subsidy should be looked at beyond the limited scope of revenue generation. Subsidy, in our view, is a good policy which is beneficial to all. What is bad in our case is its management.

Rather than eliminate subsidy and punish the innocent, bad managers of subsidy should be held accountable.

“We are aware that most Nigerians travel by road.

Without a comprehensive review of the whole transportation system in Nigeria, the singular removal of subsidy on petroleum products will bring extreme hardship to the

people. Already, as a result of the announcement, transport fares have been hiked beyond imagination. This hike will shoot up an inflationary trend that is neither healthy nor welcome to the economy.

“We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to first and foremost revamp the collapsed rail system, repair the illmaintained roads and improve marine transportation, even as he looks inwards to ensure fiscal discipline in government expenditure profile...

“The government should also critically re-examine its policies on Joint Venture Cash-calls (JVCs), bunkering and the ‘turn-around maintenance’ of our local refineries to eliminate waste and inefficiency; promote transparency to ensure availability of more funds for productive purposes.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

6

NEWS PREVIEW 2012 NEW YEAR MESSAGES

•Papalanto Power Plant

Can Nigeria scale the hurdles before u Government after government has always expressed determination to ensure uninterrupted power supply. The Goodluck Jonathan administration is not left out. But there are obvious hurdles the administration has to scale to achieve this task many have given up as unattainable, writes Assistant Editor (News) OLUKOREDE YISHAU

I

F the Minister of Power, Prof.

Barth Nnaji, had his way, the country should have achieved grid stability of 5,000 mega watts last month. He also planned to add another 1,000 mega watts before the end of this year. This clearly is in consonance with the administration’s power reforms, which was unveiled in its comprehensive action plan christened: ‘Roadmap to power reforms’ .

The major thrust of the plan was the total unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into generation and transmission companies, which would be sold to private investors. If the plan succeeds, the six generation plants and the 11 distribution stations scattered all over the country would be taken over by private companies, with government only controlling minor stakes in the generation plants due to strategic national interests.

Nnaji’s enthusiasm was premised on the installation of a new system control and data acquisition known as SCADA. It is a technology, which comprises centralised systems that monitor and control the quantity of power wheeled into the grid as well as power supply (transmitted) to every part of the country. It is aided by high performance Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), which also enhance Energy Management Systems (EMS).

The minister said: “There is an ongoing new system called SCADA, which is planned to be installed by December as promised by the contractor so as to detect faults from the transmission network in any part of

the country. The system will be controlled from here and the automatic control will ensure better power regulation, supply and stability.”

Nnaji said the plants of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) and some units lost in the existing assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) would generate the 5,000 mega watts.

“We have set in motion plans to increase electricity generating capacity before the year runs out. The power stations nearing completion under the NIPP as well as existing power plants, would add about 600MW to the grid between now and December,” Nnaji said.

The minister’s plans have fallen like a pack of cards. Now, the nation’s electricity transmission hovers between 3,700 to 3,800 megawatts.

Perhaps as a back-up plan, the government has signed a deal with Global Biofuels, a local biofuel producer, to build 15 biofuel plants in the country, costing about N414 billion (•2.02 billion).

The project will power 15 states with 30MW each. A pilot plant will be built in Ekiti, with construction beginning within the next few months to be completed before the end of the year.

Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga said the project has been researched over a number of years and feasibility and market studies had already been carried out.

About 70 per cent of the total cost of the project will be financed by the Chinese government and the rest of the funds will come from other finan-

cial institutions, including the Nigerian Export Import Bank, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, Africa Finance, Fond Gari of Togo and First Bank of Nigeria.

But beyond the challenge of generating enough power to feed into the national grid, Nnaji’s biggest challenge so far is the uncooperative attitude of some staff of PHCN, who reports say, have become a major threat to the actualisation of the new power reforms.

Several meetings have been held between Nnaji and PHCN workers’ union to work out adequate monetisation benefits and severance package to be paid to all the staff that would be affected by the inevitable lay-off.

Nnaji also has the NIPP power plants to worry about. The Egbin Power Plant, which provides 25 per cent of the country’s electricity needs, has an installed capacity of 1,320 Megawatts, but now manages to generate 1,080 megawatts. The plant ought to be overhauled every five to six years. But this has not been the case. About three of the six units have been overhauled.

The chief executive officer of Egbin Power Plc, Mike Uzoigwe said the plant needs N1.5 billion to rehabilitate and effect repairs in order to add 220 megawatts to the national grid. About N33.6 billion is needed for complete overhaul of the six units.

Olorunsogo Plant, which was started by the Obasanjo administration, was planned to increase power generation to 10,000mw on or before 2010. But the company suffers from

inadequate funding. “The current level of funding is grossly inadequate.

No appropriate budgetary provision from inception till date,” said its immediate past CEO. The plant is faced with a lot of challenges, the major one being limited gas supply. Of the about 120mmscf / day it requires, it only gets 40 mmscf.

The plant relies on temporary gas supply line from Ewekoro. Its permanent gas line from Itoki is still under construction.

Last year, Nnaji and his Information counterpart, Mr Labaran Maku were disappointed by what they discovered at the N30 billion ($220 million) first phase of Olorunsogo power plant. They found out that the 304MGW installed capacity eight turbines power plant, built and inaugurated ed five years ago had practically packed up, as six of the turbines have broken down, leaving only two to function at about 60 MGWcapacity.

The turbines went off due to lack of spare parts and operating manuals in English language.

Speaking during the tour, Nnaji said: “Our problem is not with the plants but the distribution companies.

About 40 percent of the power generated gets lost on transmission because the distribution companies are unable to pay for the power generated from the plants. It is worrisome that the distribution companies are not doing enough to justify the power generated because of over bloated staff.”

The Alaoji Power Plant is also far from being completed. Of its four

turbines , only one is nearing completion. This can generate about 112.5 megawatts. Its gas need is also an issue which has not been sorted out and is bound to affect its operation.

The Ihovbor Power Plant is also facing serious challenge. At the moment, the facilities are still at erection stage. Its Gas Sale Agreement is yet to be sorted out. Its transmission lines and substation that would evacuate the power are still under construction and are not likely to be completed. The Calabar Power Plant is also in the same condition.

It is also doubtful if the Gbarain Power Plant will be completed this year as planned. Issues such as gas supply are expected to further slow it down. The Omotosho plant, planned to be ready this December, is also doubtful for similar reasons.

Instructively, the challenge in the power sector predated the present administration. It is a tale of years of negligence. This is why power plants that were functional in the 1970s and 80s are no longer capable of meeting the electricity demand of the nation.

The chief reason for this was that the plants were over-used without backup plans. For over 20 years, successive governments did not build new plants. So bad was it that power generation level dropped to as low as 1,500 megawatts in 2000.

The three hydro-power plants in Kainji , Jebba and Shiroro have seen better years. The Kainji power plant, which has installed capacity of over 740 megawatts, now generates less than 50mw. Jebba now manages to generate about 300MW from the

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

7

NEWS PREVIEW 2012

•NnajI

•Afam Power Plant

re uninterrupted power supply?

We have missed some of our targets, says Nnaji Minister of Power Barth Nnaji spoke with reporters on state of the power generation and distribution

M

repaired like Sapele, Egbin and Kainji; those and even Afam, so as we affirm they are on. Some have already been recovered, rehabilitated and some that we expect to be completed soon.

EETING the benchmarks contained in the road map The Roadmap has Nigerian Independent Power Plants, (NIPPs) specific expectations in terms of what should be done. So what we have is that we are following a chart, we are off in some areas in terms of timeline but we are not off in terms of others. If we look at the targets of power delivery in the short time, we are off in terms of target.

A lot of things we are doing, we must be able to offer time limit in everything; this government is about transparency, and we are not trying to forge figures and facts. The Roadmap was developed with special intentions and developed in such a way that will rigorously implement the Power Sector Reform Act. So in terms of the short term, yes, we are off but not so much because when you look at the recovery of the federal government power assets, we are on target. But with the implementation of the NIPPs we’re off, that’s where they have major short fall in the energy they are delivering.

tion programme, we are on target.

So I think overall, there are some areas where we are off and there are some areas where we are on. I will say that even though we are off in energy delivery, that does not mean we will not deliver. It seems to me we have more offs than on course?

That does not mean that at all, I said the Federal Government power plant is not doing as well as expected, I have also said that the reform itself is on target…

That suggests that the whole timeline may not be met judging from what you have just said?

That is not what I said. I am saying that there are certain things on the Power Roadmap; one is Short term delivery, short term delivery towards long term delivery. Now I am saying that in short term delivery, we are off, what I mean is that we are off in those things that make short time delivery. But on the Federal Government asset recovery that we are ok, and that the power sector privatisation programme reform and those that have nothing to do with the NIPP power, those we are on.

PHCN power station But when we look at the other areas in the reform like the privatisa-

What are these assets that have been recovered?

We have turbines that are being

But what are they generating presently?

When the PHCN Roadmap was launched, I’m not sure if you recall we were less than 3,000MW but now we are over 4000MW, about 300MW is being preserved and it is what we have and there is every possibility that we will improve on that once the NIPPs deliver. Recently, there was a story on a price tag in one of the dailies and that investors are being scared away by this. Secondly, in view of the fact that the revenue estimates for the distribution companies, DISCOs, fall short of expectations; Ikeja Zone is the highest with about N20billion in 2010, how do you justify the price tags put on the Distribution Companies (DISCOs)?

It may not be correct but according to the figures, revenue estimate N20billion 2010, Eko N17 billion, Jos N1.5billion, Ibadan N13 or N14 billion. They performed given the number of staff that re in those units. The estimated revenues are not encour-

500MW it used to generate. Shiroro fluctuates between 300 and 400MWs. The thermal stations are not faring better.

When Obasanjo came in, electricity generation and supply were at the lowest ebb. His answer was the National Independent Power Plants

(NIPPs) which are mostly gas-based .

Many of them are yet to be completed. They were planned to be completed before the administration’s tenure lapsed in 2007. But by then, the issue of how to fund the projects had not been clearly sorted out. Some state governments that were supposed to

help fund them were not keen.

The projects were stalled when the late Umar Yar’Adua took over and did not hide his disdain for the project. It was also under him that the House of Representatives undertook a probe of the NIPP projects and came up with startling revelations,

aging enough and if you are supposing revenue plus the five cards you will discover there is a lot of disparity in those things and watch your comments on those things they are not.

Revenue generation The revenue that we talked about today is true but I’m not sure about the exact figures but the revenue generation by the various distribution companies cannot possibly justify the price tag put on it, that is what the investors are lamenting on.

But really what they were looking for is not just to base price on the current revenue, we are expecting the people that are coming in should be able to do better. We are looking at future projections rather than just current because if we look at how the system is functioning then there will be very little to attract investors.

Securing power plants First of all, on the issue of evaluation, the evaluation was done by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. But that first evaluation has not been optimised and what is the optimisation that they want to do? If for instance, you come to this building and install 1mb and which bordered on transparency.

For over two years, Yar’Adua starved the projects of funds, despite the fact that the various tiers of governments had spent about $2.8 billion on it.

It was not until late 2008 that Yar’Adua realised that the projects

this building costs N500, you should expect that the building be paying for the cost of one mega byte on earth.

With regard to the soldiers, what we have to think about is in which part of the world would power assets be left insecure? Is it in America, Britain, Germany or wherever?

Whenever power goes out for one hour billions are lost, that is what Nigeria should be about because if the government decides that privatise power assets it should also maintain appropriate security for them.

You people should be applauding the government, so what I would suspect is why would someone want to remove security at these power stations, and you should ask why do you want the security removed?

Then on the issue of the Chinese investors, I don’t know what the BPE has done, but the full essence of privatisation is to bring in investors, if they, the BPE, brings in Chinese investors in the power plant then that is fine. I think the goal is to bring in these investors so they can be able to see it, if you are going to invest in anything or buy anything would you not want to see it, When you go to the market to buy tomato don’t you want to look at the tomato? Do you just say you want tomato, and they just bring tomato blindly? must be completed. An additional US$5.375 was approved for the projects from the Excess Crude Oil Account. It was tagged Power Emergency Fund.

-Additional reports by Emeka Ugwuanyi

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

8

NEWS

Two EFCC officials for trial

OUTRAGE OVER SUBSIDY REMOVAL

•Agency promises efficient investigation of trial

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WO officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will soon face trial for alleged corrupt practices, Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde said yesterday.

He said their prosecution marks the beginning of internal cleansing of the commission.

He also added that corrupt cases will be thoroughly investigated and tried within the six-month deadline given by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher.

Lamorde, who made the disclosures at a consultative session with media executives in Abuja , confirmed plans to recall experienced officials that were redeployed out of the EFCC in the last four years.

He said: “One of the issues that requires immediate and urgent attention is internal integrity. What we are trying to do is to clean up the EFCC. For us to address corruption, we must be above board.

“Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. We have so far arraigned two EFCC staff in court. When the court resumes, their trial will begin.

“We are also trying to revive collaboration with other security agencies all over the world to be able to trace corrupt elements that look for safe havens abroad.

“To track these corrupt elements, you can only do that with the active cooperation of other jurisdictions.”

On handling of cases, Lamorde added: “I want to assure

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

you that we will do our work professionally and whatever we do will meet up with international best practices.

“We will not take any case to court unless it is thoroughly investigated and all the evidence in place.

“We will be tidy so that the issue of amendment of charges will not reoccur. Any case we are handling is going to be 100 per cent beyond any fault.

“We want to take advantage of the pronouncement of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, to prosecute a case within six months.

“We have been receiving reports from well-meaning Nigerians about media trial of suspects. They alleged that we are trying people on the pages of newspapers. We will ensure that any case we are handling is thoroughly investigated.”

To manage investigation of cases, the EFCC chairman said the commission will soon recall some experienced and well-trained staff that were redeployed or sent out of the agency in the last four years.

He said: “We are trying to bring back some staff of the commission trained by international organisations. We are going to bring back these people because a lot of resources were injected to train them.

“We are also going to reevaluate methods of receiving

complaints from the public.

Some people and whistleblowers have been complaining that they find it difficult to send petitions and information to us. They also say that issues raised are not timely addressed.

“We want to make sure that online reporting is made robust so that you do not have to bring physical papers to us.”

Lamorde unfolded plans by the EFCC to probe corrupt civil servants.

He said: “With the work we have done on pension fraud, we may have to look into the activities of some civil servants. A lot of attention is being put on our political class but corruption in the civil service is so high.

“People are saying that most of the choice properties in Abuja are owned by civil servants. They are claiming that even most of the contracts are executed by civil servants.

These are areas we want to focus attention on.”

He sought for the cooperation of the media in the fight against corruption.

He added: “The tasks ahead are not easy, the expectations are high. We may not have solutions to all the problems but we need input from all stakeholders to win the war against corruption.

“We want to have input from each one of you. We have ideas about how we want to do things but since you are closer to the people, we need more suggestions from you.

We think you have something to contribute to this fight against corruption.”

•AKURE: AKURE: Activist-lawyer Morakinyo Ogele (middle), Tolu Babaleye (fourth left)leading the protest in Akure, the Ondo State capital...yesterday

•LAGOS: LAGOS: The late Gani Fawehinmi’s son, Mohammed(third right) with his lawyer colleagues protesting in Lagos...yesterday

‘How security chiefs stopped Boko Haram’

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ECURITY chiefs took measures that prevented total breakdown of security in the country during the yuletide, it was gathered.

Sources said if not that they worked in unison through the sharing of intelligence, the spate of bombings would have embarrassed the nation.

Fundamental sect Boko Haram reportedly planned a series of bombings which they however could not carry out.

But there is a growing pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack his security chiefs, a situation described as an attempt to unseat the

President by a powerful group.

A source said the President is under pressure to drop National Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Owoye Azazi as part of the solution to end the Boko Haram menace.

“The presidency is not unaware of the antics of this powerful group from a section of the country strategising on different fronts, especially with a sermon that Boko Haram is a northern challenge that requires a northern solution, in terms of the top hierarchy of the nation’s security outfits”, the source said.

According to him, the President cannot be deceived that

only people from one ethnic group of the country can provide Nigerians with adequate security. All those heading the various security outfits, merit their appointments.

The source said: “Nigerians are aware that if not for the determination of the NSA”, the Christmas bombings would have turned out to be the worst terrorist attacks on Africa soil. There was intelligence report that Boko Haram planned to carry out multiple bomb attacks in most states of the North. But through the efforts of our security forces, these plans were reduced to the barest minimum.”

Fed Govt orders security agencies to stop HE Federal Governshooting protesters ment yesterday directed security agencies to

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stop shooting fuel subsidy protesters.

It asked security agencies, especially the police, to apply “necessary and reasonable force”.

But the Amnesty International criticised the excessive use of force against protesters.

It demanded the repeal of Police Force Order 237 being exploited to shoot innocent protesters.

An official in the Presidency, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said the government has already communicated the directive to the Police and other security agencies.

He also said that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has written the

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

agencies to halt the killing of protesters.

The source said: “All the security agencies have been directed by the government not to shoot protesters against fuel subsidy or any issue in the country. They are well guided on the position of the government.

“The government feels it is the legitimate right of Nigerians to embark on peaceful protest to draw the attention of the government to issues like the removal of subsidy.

But they have no right to disrupt the peace of the society.

“The security agencies are expected to protect protesters so long as they do not take the law into their hands and

do not engage in violence, killing and willful destruction of properties.”

Replying a question, the source added: “The Police and other security agencies have been asked to apply necessary and reasonable force to restore law and order.”

But the Amnesty International yesterday insisted that the Federal Government must immediately end excessive use of force against protesters.

A statement by Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Africa , Paule Rigaud, said: “AI has documented numerous incidents of excessive and unlawful use of force by police and other security forces, especially during demonstrations.

•IBADAN: IBADAN: Protesters in Ibadan, Oyo State…yesterday

•BENIN: BENIN: The Coalition to Save Nigeria in action in Benin City...yesterday

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

9

NEWS

Low turnout mars senatorial rerun in Rivers T

HE Rivers East Senatorial District rerun election yesterday recorded a low turnout of voters.

Inter-state travellers were stranded as stern-looking soldiers and riot policemen refused vehicles and their passengers entry into Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Banks, offices, markets, business centres and other commercial outfits were closed between 10am and 4pm, as directed by Commissioner of Police Suleiman Abba.

Thousands of travellers from Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, were stranded on the Imo River Bridge, the boundary between Rivers and Abia states, on the Port Harcourt-Enugu Expressway..

Travellers passing through Ogoniland; Port Harcourt International Airport Road from Owerri, Imo State; East-West Road from Warri, Delta State and Yenagoa in Bayelsa State

•Travellers stranded From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

and other exit points, were stranded.

Eleven candidates participated in the election, which was held in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Emohua, Ogu/ Bolo, Okrika, Etche, and Omuma local governments.

At Unit 9 Ward 5, Umuelemuma in Okomoko-Etche in Etche Local Government, the voting started at 12:11 pm.

The Presiding Officer, Felix Ondoma, a youth corps member, described the turnout as low.

Of 690 registered voters at the Etche polling unit, 100 were accredited but only six voted as at 1:10 pm.

At Unit 021, Ward 13, Umannadi/Akuru at

‘

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Aniedi Ikoiwak, described the election as free, fair and credible.

’

Ulakwo-Etche, Etche Local Government, Miss Helen Egwuonwu, the Presiding Officer said 141 of the 151 registered voters were accredited while 100 persons had voted as at 1:40 pm.

Also at Unit 11, Ward 1, Umuebie Town Hall, Omuma, Omuma Local Government, Andrew

Crisis in UNIBEN over bursar’s position RISIS is brewing in

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the University of

From Osagie Otabor, Benin, Edo State, Onyemachi, also a youth Benin corps member , said 165 of over the position of a burthe 211 registered voters sar, which has been adverThe petition was signed tised . were accredited. by the group’s SecretarySplinter groups have Only 158 persons had General and Publicity Secreemerged within the instituvoted as at 2:07 pm. tary, Dr. Silas Oghenovo tion calling for the removal The Resident Electoral Orhege and Mrs. A. Commissioner (REC), of the incumbent, Dr. May Imarhiabe-Ukachukwu.

Nwoye.

Aniedi Ikoiwak, described It urged the minister to Others have vowed to enthe election as free, fair and sure checkmate any attempt by that she gets a second credible. the university’s manageterm.

But the opposition, espement to reinstate the incumA group, the UNIBEN Decially the Action Congress velopment Stakeholders bent or stop her from proof Nigeria (ACN), faulted Forum (UDSF), has peti- ceeding on the mandatory annual leave at the expirathe claim. tioned the Minister of Edution of her tenure.

ACN’s Publicity Secre- cation, Prof.

Rufai Mrs. Nwoye refused comtary Jerry Needam said the Ruqayatu, on plans by the ments, saying she was a civil election was rigged. university management to servant.

The candidate of the Ac- retain Dr. Nwoye.

“I cannot talk to you as you The group urged the mintion Alliance’s (AA’s) candidate, Leslie Chizi ister to investigate the al- know that I am a civil servMichaels-Atata, filed a pe- leged fraud perpetuated by ant. You can go and see the VC for comments”. tition at the Election Peti- the bursary department. tions Tribunal, challenging 10 killed in cult war his exclusion by INEC during the April 9 election.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin Justice Mohammed EN persons have been killed in a renewed cult war in Dattijo of the appellate Edo State. court, on December 7, More than 12 persons were killed last year and over sacked Sekibo and upheld his October 24 nullification 400 arrested when rival cult groups clashed.

The recent killings occurred at different places in the state by the election petitions tribunal. He ordered a rerun capital.

Five suspects have been arrested in a crack down on the within 90 days.

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warring gangs. Arms were recovered by men of Ogida Police Station.

Police spokesman Peter Ogboi said any cultist arrested would be treated as enemy of the state.

FRSC: no death recorded in crash

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HE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said no death was recorded in the accident which occurred at Ohosu village in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State.

It was reported in some national newspapers that 10 persons, including some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), were killed in the

crash.

But, the FRSC State Sector Commander, Henry Olatunji, said 14 persons, 10 men and four women, were injured in the accident.

Olatunji said 16 persons were in the Lagos-bound vehicle when the crash occurred.

He said the injured victims were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

Delta panel to probe crisis

D • Uduaghan signing the budget.... yesterday

Uduaghan signs 2012 budget into law Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday signed the 2012 Appropriation Bill of N437 billion into law.

He vowed to pay attention to the transport, education and power sectors.

Uduaghan said the transport sector would enjoy prompt attention to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy

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From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

removal.

He said his administration has acquired over 200 buses and will buy more by April.

His words: “We are paying special attention to the transport sector because we are providing palliatives to reduce the hardship the removal of fuel subsidy would cause the people.”

Uduaghan said the energy sector would enjoy special funding so that there would be uninterrupted supply of electricity and reduction of generator use.

The governor said the government would acquire 300 transformers in few months and promised to install them to increase electricity supply.

“We are expecting about 300 transformers and we

hope to use them to boost electricity supply.

“Once this is done, people will reduce the use of generators.”

He assured Deltans that his administration would perform better this year and accelerate infrastructural development.

Uduaghan called on residents to support his administration and provide useful and constructive criticism.

Police chief debunks allegation

Court throws out Ogboru’s appeal

S

UPPORTERS of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) almost fought yesterday after the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal filed by DPP candidate Great Ogboru.

Ogboru is challenging the election of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ogboru filed an appeal contesting the judgment of the lower tribunal, which affirmed Uduaghan’s victory during the April 26 last year

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

election.

The supporters were quarelling over the money to be paid to them for attending the court session.

In a brief judgment, which lasted less than 10 minutes, the five-man panel headed

by Justice Datido Mohammed, said Ogboru’s appeal “lacked merit.”

The judges, in a unanimous judgment, struck out

all the preliminary objections.

The panel upheld the cross-appeals filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP and Uduaghan.

Delta State Commissioner for Justice Charles Ajuya said the judgment was a reflection of the peoples’ verdict at the elections.

DPP Chairman Tony Ezeagu said the party would go to the Supreme Court.

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has sworn-in a three-man Judicial Commission of Enquiry to probe the Uzere community clash.

Uduaghan said the government was disturbed by the ugly trend and would not compromise its peace and security agenda.

He described the incident as a desecration of the traditional institution, explaining that a palace is a traditional and public property which should be revered.

The governor regretted the loss of lives and property and warned against a repeat of such incident .

“I do not believe we should be burning our property, as a government this is not acceptable and we will not condone it,” he warned.

The governor urged the commission to be emotionally detached and carry out the assignment with dedication.

Members of the commission are Justice Sylvester Eliwarioas Chairman, Rev.Fr. Chris Ekaba and Sheddy Agbagbara.

Sunday Monye is the counsel and Felix Okobi secretary of the commission.

The governor said members of the commission were appointed based on their integrity, transparency and diligence He urged them not to betray the confidence placed in them.

The commission is to submit its final report within 30 days of its first public sitting.

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•Ogboru

HE Delta State Police Command yesterday debunked the allegation that it has lost the battle against criminals in the state.

A group, Niger-Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, had called for the transfer of the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Tsafe, because it alleged he has lost the battle against criminals.

But the police, in a statement by its spokesman, Charles Muka, said the pub-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

lications “are false ,malicious and calculated to tarnish the good work and reputation of the Commissioner of Police and to undermine the good effort at fighting crime in the state.”

Muka said last month, the police paraded nine kidnappers, 12 robbery suspects and recovered arms.

It, however, said in 2011 only 21 police officers were killed as against the 25 claimed by the group.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

10

NEWS Ashimolowo hails Aregbesola’s initiatives RESIDENT of the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in the United Kingdom (UK) Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo yesterday praised the initiatives of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration.

He said the creation of jobs for 20,000 youths within its first 100 days in office, the effort to ensure food security and the OClean programme showed that the administration is visionary.

Ashimolowo spoke when he visited Aregbesola at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital.

He said: “We are excited that you have the vision to make these happen again. I am proud of the governor for employing 20,000 young people. I believe any man who is indolent cannot make a difference. We salute you for that vision.

“I am proud to tell anyone anywhere in the world that I am from Osun State.

We feel that Osun State has a great future. That was what prompted me to challenge our church in London to build an institution here.”

KICC is building a university in Ode-Omu. As part of activities marking his 60th birthday, the preacher promised to provide a 40-man team of doctors and pharmacists to carry out a medical mission in the state.

He also promised to establish a vocational centre.

Aregbesola praised Ashimolowo for establishing the largest church in England and hailed the plan by frontline pastors, who are indigenes of the state, to build a 200,000capacity revival centre behind the College of Education, Ilesa.

He presented the state’s flag to the cleric and thanked him for his support.

Oyo Task Force denies harassing residents

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•Aregbesola (middle) showing the prototype of Osun Model Schools to Pastor Ashimolowo (2nd left)...yesterday. With them are Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (left); Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Wale Afolabi (3rd left); Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon (3rd right); and others.

PHOTO: GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HE Oyo State Joint Security Patrol Squad, tagged “Operation Burst,” has denied the allegation that it has been harassing innocent citizens.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Secretary of the Squad, Mr. Isaac Beyioku, said it has been carrying out its task in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures/ Rules of Engagement.

Beyioku said: “We wish to place it on record that this professional conduct of the Task Force is responsible for the Yuletide passing without any major instance of crime or violence.

“It is noteworthy that this is the first time the state has enjoyed such peace in a very long while.”

Appeal Court dismisses PDP’s case against Ajimobi

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HE Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday threw out the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the judgment of the lower tribunal, which upheld the election of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, last November, dismissed the petition filed by the PDP challenging Ajimobi’s victory in the April 26, 2011, election.

The tribunal said the petitioner failed to prove that

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Ajimobi possessed the dual citizenship of Nigeria and the United States at the time of the election.

But the PDP approached the appellate court, urging it to determine if the lower tribunal was right to dismiss the petition.

Delivering judgment yesterday, Justice J. S. Ikyegh upheld the decision of the lower tribunal, insisting that the appel-

lant failed to prove its case.

The panel also held that the petitioner did not prove that Ajimobi, who is a Nigerian by birth, had renounced his citizenship as at the time of the election.

The court said the appeal lacked substance, explaining that any Nigerian by birth can acquire the citizenship of another country and still enjoy his rights as a Nigerian, but that the law forbids a Nigerian by naturalisation or registration from contesting certain

elections.

In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Festus Adedayo, after the judgment, Ajimobi described his victory as “the victory of truth over falsehood.”

Dedicating his victory to God and the people of the state, he said the judgment has strengthened his belief in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

Ajimobi said the judgment has reinforced his resolve to deliver good governance.

ACN State Chairman Chief

Akin Oke said: “I am overwhelmed. Although we knew all along that they had no case, it is good that it has now been finally put to rest.”

A chieftain of the party, Mr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, described the judgment as “a victory for the over 400,000 persons, who voted for Ajimobi in the election.”

Counsel to the PDP Mr. Olatunde Lawal said his client only exercised its rights as expected in a democracy.

ACN members and supporters danced around the court premises, singing victory songs.

Osun rescues stranded commuters as fuel price crises bite HE Osun State Government has come to the rescue of thousands of stranded Nigerians, following the sudden increase in transport fare as a result of oil subsidy removal.

Such persons benefited from the state government’s free train service from Lagos to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, and vice versa.

Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Alagbada said: “About 500 passengers left Osogbo with the train. Besides, hundreds of others joined the train on

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•Aregbesola urges peaceful protests From Soji Adeniyi, Osogbo

the route to Lagos, such as Ede, Ibadan, Abeokuta and others.

“The passengers were not only people from the state, but those who managed to find their way to Osogbo from Ilorin, Offa and other places, having learnt of the free train service being offered by the Osun State Government.”

The train, named Omoluabi, made its maiden trip from Lagos to Osogbo on Decem-

ber 23. It arrived in the state with over 700 passengers, who were received at the station by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The service is a product of an agreement between the state government and the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

Aregbesola has advised labour leaders and human rights groups to ensure that today’s protest over oil subsidy removal is violence-free.

Speaking on Wednesday in

Osogbo, the state capital, after meeting with labour leaders, Aregbesola said it is legitimate for people to express their views about issues concerning them.

He said his government and party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), have always been against fuel subsidy removal.

Aregbesola said: “It is legitimate for workers to express their views about issues concerning them and the society, but that must not degen-

erate into violence, crisis or anarchy.

“I have confidence in the ability of the Labour leaders to manage their affairs peacefully. I am confident that Osun will remain a model of peace and good conduct. We have established from the beginning that this is the state of the virtuous and Labour will establish that in whatever it does.”

Two human rights activists, Waheed Lawal and Abiodun Agboola, assured the governor that the protest would be peaceful.

Lagos to transform LASU with N6.3billion vote

•Bans use of covered number plates •.Police say protesters were not harassed HE Lagos State Government has appropriated N6.3 billion for the transformation of the Lagos State University (LASU).

Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget Ben Akabueze spoke with reporters yesterday in Alausa, while giving an analysis of this year’s budget.

Akabueze said N9 billion is required annually to run the institution and the balance would be generated from school fees.

He said the increase in the fees of new intakes is to improve infrastructure at the institution.

Akabueze said the government has made provisions for scholarships to assist indigent students.

He said: “In this budget, the government has a provision of

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By Miriam Ndikanwu

N688 million for scholarships and N250 million for bursaries to indigent students of LASU. “We have done this to support this category of students, to motivate and get the best out of them.

“It is not true that the government is trying to abdicate its responsibility of funding LASU with the increased fees, as the expected proceeds of N600 million is far from the N6 billion subvention to the university.

“What the government is only asking is for parents to sacrifice a little more and assist the government to reposition the university.”

The government has also banned the use of covered number plates.

Speaking with reporters on

Wednesday after the State Security Council meeting presided over by Governor Babatunde Fashola, Deputy Commissioner of Police Tunde Sobulo said: “We are not going to accept that again.

We have seen some people putting Chief or whatever on the number plate. You can put your village or whatever you want on your windscreen, not on the space specified for your number plate.

“When we leave here, we will send signals to all the agencies, including the military, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

“We are going to start impounding such vehicles until they are properly registered. The number plates will be fixed on the vehicles before they will be re-

leased.”

Sobulo thanked Lagosians for cooperating with the police during the Yuletide.

On Tuesday’s fuel subsidy protest in Lagos, he said the police handled the situation civilly.

Sobulo said: “We are not against anybody protesting; it is their civic right. But when they are not careful; hoodlums will hijack the protest and they would not be able to control them. That was what happened yesterday.

“The police did not manhandle any of the genuine protesters. But in a situation where hoodlums brought tyres and fuel to create a bonfire on the road, we could not stand aside and watch. We had to arrest such persons and charge them appropriately. That was what happened yesterday.

“We are appealing to the leaders of the protesters to manage their protests effectively. Let them tell us where they are going to pass through, so that we can provide security for them and corridors for vehicles to pass while they are protesting.

“Yesterday, they blocked all the roads, which was quite unfortunate. The situation was so bad that we had pregnant women and children crying in vehicles because of the traffic gridlock. And criminals seized the opportunity to rob people.

“They went into BRT buses, snatching phones and asking passengers to take off their jewellery.

We could not stand and watch; we had to arrest them. But we did not have any unnecessary confrontation with the genuine protesters.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

The economic trend in the country demanded that stakeholders should make necessary sacrifice to enable the country to come out of the woods.

- Minister of Science and Technology, Prof.

Ita Okon Bassey Ewa

Fears ease over impact of strike on Nigerian crude

I didn’t say I’ll resign, says Okonjo-Iweala From Nduka Chiejina, Asst.

Editor

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TRIKES and protests across Nigeria against a hike in fuel prices are unlikely to disrupt oil output, industry players said.

Oil industry players told Reuters yesterday there would probably be minimal disruption to facilities.

“If union members strike, management will take over their roles in the short term,” a spokesman for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said by telephone.

“If talks fail and there is a strike, we will make sure all our facilities are secure. We are reliant on oil production for our foreign exchange earnings, so we will sustain production.”

Officials at major oil companies, none of whom could be quoted, also shrugged off any likely impact on output.

“Most of the processes are automated, so there won’t be an impact on production,” a senior official at an international oil company told Reuters.

“If they eventually go on strike ... We’re going to have people who are non-union members working,” he added.

The only risk to output could be that demonstrators attempt a total blockade on production, which happened during an election dispute in 1993, but few in the industry expect the protest to be that well organised and determined.

“If they go ahead and shut everything down, that would have a major impact for which we have no contingency plan,” said one oil worker.

“We’re monitoring the situation.”

Oil prices fell on Thursday, pressured by an unexpected build in U.S. crude stockpiles that outweighed concerns that rising tensions between the West and Iran will disrupt supplies.

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

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

-

FOREX

0.2958 206.9 242.1 156 1.9179 238 40.472

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• From right: Lagos State Commissioner for Economic & Planning and Budget Hon. Ben Akabueze addressing newsmen during the 2012 Budget Analysis in Lagos yesterday. Next to him are Mrs Iyabo Aluko Special Adviser to the Governor on budget and the Parmanent Secretary Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget Mr Bayo Solade.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Nigeria’s crude oil output rises 280,000bpd as Bonga, EA resume

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T is cheery news for the petroleum industry yes terday as Shell’s Bonga and EA assets were back on stream, restoring the country’s shut-in 280,000 barrels per day oil production.

Shell’s Bonga deep offshore facility that produces 200,000 barrels per day had a leak, which spilled about 30,000 barrels of oil, was shut down on December 20, 2011, while the EA field, which produces between 80,000100,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), was closed on November 9, 2011 for maintenance of its floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.

Shell according to a statement, resumed operation at its Bonga facility after it stopped the leak, fully cleaned up the spill and ensured that all safety and integrity issues have been taken care of, to forestall future occurrence. The EA as-

• Shell declares force majeure on Bonny Light

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

set had a long shutdown when production was shut in February 2006, as a result of militants’ attacks and was restreamed in July 2009.

Besides, the company also announced that it has declared force majeure on the Bonny Light loading schedule as a result of deferments caused by crude theft activities on Nembe Creek Trunkline. The force majeure took effect from yesterday and would last until the repairs on the leaking pipelines are completed.

Force majeure excuses a party from liability if some unforeseen event beyond its control prevents it from performing its obligations under the contract.

Typically, force majeure clauses cover natural disasters or other “Acts of God”,

war, or the failure of third parties - such as suppliers and subcontractors - to perform their obligations to the contracting party.

Shell said: “Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) had shut down the line on December 24 last year following leaks with the installation of two illegal bunkering points by crude thieves near Tora manifold in Nembe area in Bayelsa State. We are working to repair the line and resume production as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, the sample of the controversial oil found on the shoreline that Shell said was not from Bonga, which was taken by a joint investigating team comprising the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Depart-

ment of Petroleum Resources and a few international oil companies including Shell, it was gathered, is being examined in United States.

A statement issued by Shell’s Corporate Media Relations Manager, Tony Okonedo, said: “Clean up of the 20 December leak from the Bonga offshore oil field has now been completed successfully. Production resumed at Bonga on January 1 2012, following reinforcement of asset integrity and safety programmes.

“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) had shut down production from the field after a leak occurred on one of the three export loading lines as oil was being transferred from the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to a loading tanker.”

S&P upgrades FirstBank, GTBank, Zenith outlook

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OREMOST rating agency, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said yesterday that it has revised the outlooks of First Bank of Nigeria PLC, Guaranty Trust Bank PLC (GTB), and Zenith Bank PLC to positive from stable.

This it said in a statement, follows its revision of the outlook on Nigeria to positive from stable on December 29, 2011.

It also affirmed the ‘B+/B’ longand short-term counterparty credit ratings on the three banks.”In addition, we raised our longterm Nigeria national scale rating on all three banks to ‘ngA+’ from ‘ngA’. We affirmed our short-term Nigeria national scale rating at

By Ayodele Aminu, Group Business Editor

‘ngA-1,” S&P said.

The agency however, said that the ratings on the other Nigerian banks that it currently rate - Access Bank (B+/Negative/B) and First City Monument Bank (B+/ Watch Neg/B), are unaffected by the sovereign outlook revision and today’s rating actions.

“Justifying its rating actions on FBN, GTB, and Zenith, S&P said :”They were prompted by our December 29, 2011, outlook revision on Nigeria. The outlook revision on Nigeria indicates that there is at least a onein-three likelihood of an upgrade if Nigeria’s reform

initiatives support economic growth, build stronger buffers against Nigeria’s dependence on petroleum revenue, and reduce pressure on the exchange rate.

“A potential upgrade would also be predicated upon no worsening of the political tensions between the Islamic north and Christian south and no significant deterioration in the country’s corruption and business environment indicators.

Besides, S&P said the raising of the Nigeria national scale long-term ratings is based on its expectations that improvement in the economic environment will have a positive effect on the banks’ financial perfor-

mance, translating into lower cost of risk and continued focus on bad debt recoveries.

Over the past few years, Nigeria has improved its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and recently tightened its fiscal and monetary policies. The authorities have also strengthened the banking sector following the 2009 crisis. In addition, further reforms aim to address infrastructure and energy shortfalls and increase transparency.

In its opinion, S&P noted that Nigeria is difficult to govern because of deep income inequalities, a complex ethnic and religious structure, and weak institutions.

OORDINATING Min ister and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has denied allegations that she threatened to resign if the government rescinds its decision to end the fuel subsidy. The threat was supposedly made during the emergency Federal Executive Council meeting which held yesterday.

She said there is no iota of truth to the allegation. “This speculation, like numerous others, is absolutely false,” she said in a statement signed by her Senior Special Assistant, Paul Nwabuikwu.

“Dr Okonjo-Iweala was not at the meeting because she was out of the country when it was going on. In other words, they are saying that she made a threat at a meeting that she did not attend.

She made no such threat physically or through any other means. She had no reason to,” the statement, said.

She explained that “deregulation will also help to end the waivers enjoyed by powerful cabals at the expense of the Nigerian people. In addition, the vast majority of Nigerians will also gain as the proceeds will be redirected into safety nets, other identifiable social interventions as well as provision of sorely needed infrastructure projects nationwide.”

The statement indicated that “ the agenda behind the alleged threat and similar stories is to inspire public hatred and odium against her person by manipulating public opinion so that she is seen as the sole person pushing for the removal of subsidies.

Oil drops on unexpected inventory increase

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IL declined for the first time in three days in New York, giving up a gain in the last 40 minutes of trading.

Crude for February delivery fell 93 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $102.29 a barrel at 2:19 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange after reaching $103.31 at 1:49 p.m. It fell as low as $101.95 in earlier trading after the Energy Department said crude inventories rose last week.

Brent oil for February settlement declined 21 cents to $113.49 on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Oil stockpiles (DOESCRUD) increased 2.21 million barrels to 329.7 million, the Energy Department report showed.

Total petroleum demand (DOEDTPRD) fell 2.6 percent to 18 million barrels a day.

Inventories at Cushing (DOESCROK), Oklahoma, the delivery point for futures traded on the Nymex, dropped to 29.3 million barrels, a two-year low

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

15 FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

Vol 3 No. 157

Your brand is the face of your business. Yet, many business owners don’t give the look and feel of their brands enough attention. In this article, HP Print Station provides some tips for smaller businesses.

Tips for branding W

HAT is business branding? Branding is more than a name or logo - it’s the creation of an overall image that consumers hold of a company or its products, crafted and communicated by the company.

A brand is not communicated only through products, but through any ‘touchpoints’, i.e.: the places and ways your customers interact with your brand; from the branded product to company websites, logos, business cards, customer service, storefronts, advertising, even to the ways your staff dress.

It’s up to you to ensure that your customers’ brand experience is consistent with the values and attributes of your product or service.

One way to ‘polish’ your brand is by reviewing your marketing materials. Customers often make snap judgments about a product purely on the quality of the marketing materials they interact with.

We look at 10 practical tips to achieve high-quality marketing materials, which will help you to market your business more effectively:

Know your customers Understanding your market is essential. Envisage your typical customer -what is the environment in which your product or service is used and how does your product enhance your customer’s life or address a need? Answer those needs in your marketing collateral. Develop your materials from a viewpoint of answering your customers’ needs rather than selling your product.

Be consistent Know your brand rules. Everything should work back to a central brand or message as well as a consistent look and feel-a unified palate of colours, fonts and images.

The size and positioning of your logo on your materials and use of colour should be governed by basic rules to ensure your brand always looks the same and therefore is recognisable.

Focus

effective.

What is the single most important thing you can do to ensure a successful, professional outcome?

Understand what role a specific item of marketing material plays in the sales cycle and how it will be used.

Design accordingly.

Always proof your work carefully-no exceptions

First impressions last Your collateral marketing material may be the first piece of information a prospective customer sees about your company. What can it tell them in the first glance?

Boldness stands out Emphasise elements of design, style or communication, to display your company’s strengths, specialties and unique selling points.

Speak clearly Get a good copywriter. Too often business over-communicate or use the incorrect register and style of language and their messaging gets lost.

Keep it simple Ensure you have a clean layout and limited copy on your materials.

DIY doesn’t work Don’t try to develop the face of your business on your

PC if you aren’t a specialist in design. Professional design is important and there are a range of cost-effective design solutions on the market.

Quality production When it comes to printing your materials, you want the best quality; but the deciding factors always include: budget, the print quantity required and your customisation needs. Digital printing offers a cost-effective solution for smaller print jobs.

The taste test Before you produce your materials, test them on a few potential customers if possible to test whether they are

Proof your work carefully, and ask three other people to do the same - no exceptions. Double-check the following: content, colour, edges and bleeds, line breaks, paper choice, placement of images, graphics and white space balance.

You may think this is overkill, but in today’s competitive business climate you simply can’t take the chance of damaging your brand with a spelling error, crooked graphic, badly broken line of type or any other overlooked item. This lack of correctness reflects directly on your company’s attention to detail and quality.

Ask an experienced editor, designer or proof readerthey’ll tell you that ‘fresh eyes’ on any project are a necessity. As you work on your marketing materials through several drafts, you’re bound to start overlooking small errors-errors that someone new to the project will probably notice immediately.

•This article was provided courtesy of HP Print Station. HP Print Station believes that organisations of all sizes should have the opportunity to conceptualise, create and print great-quality brand materials.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

Brandnews

Etisalat fetes customers N

IGERIA’S fastest growing telecoms company, Etisalat, took customer care and appreciation a step higher when it hosted a bash in honour of its high value customers from different regions of the country.

The event, showcased the best of comedy, music, dance and other activities from top notch entertainer and groups.

The atmosphere at the marquee of the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, venue of the event, was light and the audience roared with laughter as the nation’s frontline comedian Elenu did what he knows how to do best. When it got to the turn of Whiz kid and Ice Prince, the current youth icons, all the guests got to their

feet and joined the artistes in doing the Pakuromo and Oleku dance steps.

Speaking at the event, Director, Regulatory & Government Affairs, Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, said the company hosted the ball to express appreciation to its customers for supporting its business in the outgoing year.

Dikko said: “Undoubtedly, customers are significant contributors to any business. No matter how innovative or affordable an organisation’s products and services may be, its survival would be threatened without the support of the customers. We use this occasion to extend our gratitude to you and to all our customers who were

bold enough to try our relatively young brand and whose support has kept us in business.”

The highlight of the event was a dancing competition amongst the guests where customers won the latest Samsung Galaxy Note while lots of other guests won prizes for the best dressed people at the grand event.

Emeka Ejiofor, a customer, commended the telecoms giant for the event and for building a premium and reliable network in the country.

Among the guests who attended the event were the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Mr Okechukwu Itanyi and Director, Consumer Affairs, NCC, Mary Uduma.

MTN rekindles family ties

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EADING telecoms company, MTN, is living up to its promise to promote family ties and relationships through its popular family TV game show called MTN Y’ello Family Game Show, now in its second season.

The TV show, which draws families from across the country, to participate in various games to drive the family spirit towards finding love, friendship and building strong bonds, has already started making an impact in the lives of many families as over 25 families have benefited from the game since the new season started.

The Adimora family from Anambra State emerged winner of the maiden edition with 300 points beating the Abangs from Cross River State, with a difference of 40 points. The two families went away with prizes ranging from 42 inches LCD TV, Home Theatre Systems, 1.5 Horse Power Split Unit Air Conditioner, 2.7KVA Power Generator, among other valuable gifts.

Chukwuma Adimora, the

Head of the Adimora family, said the show was exciting and that it can help build team spirit and bonding among participating family members.

“My family has never had such an exciting opportunity to play together in a long time. The TV game show has helped us learned a lot about our strengths and weaknesses and, most importantly, it teaches us that we can achieve more if we stick together,” he explained.

Speaking on the essence of MTN Y’ello Family Game Show, the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Kola Oyeyemi, said the TV game show was part of the firm’s effort in enriching Nigerian families.

“MTN Y’ello Family Game Show celebrates the true essence of the family and its role in the society. It tends to enhance the society by establishing proper standards of family life,” he explained.

The programme airs on the NTA Network Service on Sundays at 8 P.M and on STV on Tuesdays at 8 P.M

Interswitch brings Welcome Real time to Nigeria

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•From left: Head, Commercial, Mouka Limited, Mr Jude Abonu presenting an award to the Silver category winner, Alhaji Olanrewaju Olaniran, and his wife, Iyabode, during the Mouka Distributors’ end-of-the-year Awards, at Ikeja, Lagos.

Coca-Cola Nigeria holds media party

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EMBERS of the media have been hosted to an end of year party by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, at the Events Centre, Ikeja.

Clem Ugorji, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria, thanked the media executives for their support to his organisation during the year.

He said: “At Coca-Cola Nigeria, we recognise the important role that journalists play in educating

and enlightening the society on the hallmark of quality we provide as a company both at the brands and corporate levels. It is in recognition of your salient contribution that we are celebrating you today.”

Guests were entertained by comedian MC Bash after which a video recording of the welcome speech by Kelvin Balogun, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria was played to the audience. This was followed by a

slide presentation of articles about Coca-Cola Nigerian written by some journalists.

Other activities at the event included a lucky dip, presentation of awards to outstanding journalists and announcement of Coca-Cola sponsored training courses for journalists.

Ugorji thanked the reporters for attending the event. They went home with gifts which included some Coca-Cola products.

•Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Prof S. A. Olagoke (left) inducting Mr Joseph Onotasamiderhi, Assistant Director, Audit, Office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation, Abuja, as a Fellow of the Institute of Administrators and Researchers, at the University of Lagos.

O give more to Verve cardholders in Nigeria,

Interswitch, a pan-African integrated transaction and payment processing firm, has gone live with the Welcome XLS loyalty solution.

The scheme, known as Reward Money, is a merchant funded programme and helps Interswitch to differentiate Verve card from other payment cards in the country. The scheme is facilitated by Welcome Realtime, the global leader in innovative loyalty solutions.

The money scheme allows Verve cardholders to get instant

rewards while using their cards at any of the over 1,000 merchant outlets participating in the scheme. The Reward Money earned is based on each merchant’s pre–agreed discount and is instantly converted to spendable money on the customer’s card. The attractiveness of the scheme will help drive usage of the Verve card among consumers.

Implementing the Welcome XLS loyalty solution enables merchants and card issuers to execute loyalty programmes across multiple channels, such as at the Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, ATM or via the web.

PHOTO NEWS

•Beads traders waiting for customers at Ikeja in Lagos

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

LG home theatre gets recognition With its elegant metallic finish design and state-of-the-art sound engineering, the new LG HX976TZW has emerged the best rated blue-ray home theatre system by ‘What Hi-Fi’ magazine among competing brands.

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HE new HX976TZW from LG boasts of 5.1ch Full HD Surround Sound with a rich 3D playback. It is uniquely designed on wireless wall-mountable speakers and has direct access to a world of multi-media content with LG Smart TV functions that gives users a new definition.

The LG HX976TZW rode on its distinction of being the only wall-mountable system at the ‘What Hi-Fi’ brand review as it shows lots of respect for user’s living room. From its sleek brushed-metal styling to the distinctive disc-playing hub, this is a tasty design. It’s also cleverly thought out hub links wirelessly to both the subwoofer and a smaller receiver/amp with the sub powering the front three speakers and the receiver feeding the rear speakers. The end result: no need to trail cables across the room.

What’s more, although the tall speakers look superb fully assembled, you can dismantle them for wall mounting.

Completing the home settings feel the LG HX976TZW helps clear the main hurdle to most home cinema installs – people don’t like having wires everywhere – and allows for a subtle installation, especially as the built-in Wi-Fi serves up both excellent DLNA streaming and LG’s excellent Smart TV online services. In fact, one of the few wires on show is for the external iPod puck.

No matter how well thought out the design LG’s true beauty lies in the persuasiveness of its picture and sound. Both in 2D and 3D, image quality is exemplary, with stable motion handling and a sure grasp of lowlight details, while its audio performance is every bit as assured. Tonally consistent from speaker-to-speaker, as clear and controlled as you’d like and capable of substantial volume with little sign of distress; it’s simply an excellent listen.

As the only award-winner, the LG HX976TZW sets a high bar. Its first impression comes from its brushed metallic styling to its disc playing hub, this is a gorgeous design and one that uniquely stood it out in the ‘What Hi-Fi’ test.

Each of the four main speakers in the system can be mounted atop tall or curved stands based on how it suites the users interest.

Users can hang the speakers’ component directly from their wall on simple keyhole mounts. The centre channel can be installed in a similar fashion too.

•LG home theatre

Beyond these arrays of functionality, the LG HX976TZW is very slick and is built to eliminate cable clutter. It also supports wireless communication to the subwoofer that provides speaker output to power the front three speakers and to a smaller, separate receive/amp that feeds the rear units. This configuration allows for a stealthy installation, especially since it also supports wi-fi for its excellent Smart TV online services.

On the quantum leap of technological innovation that has become synonymous with LG Electronics as a brand, the General Manager, Media, LG Electronics, West Africa Operations, Mr Jaesang Lee, said: “There is no limit to what technology can do to better mankind in spheres of life. This is the platform on which LG Electronics has built its commitment in a bid to meeting our teaming consumers’ needs”.

Lee further said this is a brilliant example of a thoughtful design and we are glad that the LG HX976TZW looks superb and performs to equally high standard.

With the introduction of the LG HX976TZW Blu-ray Home Theatre that lets you experience a whole new depth in sound, it is a guarantee that consumers senses would be awaken to real entertainment that lets them enjoy a truly cinematic experience.

To further re-emphasise its market leadership, LG Electronics would be introducing yet another powerful sound system “HX906TX” into the market. The HX906TX delivers truly 360-degree sound that envelopes listeners in audio – both horizontally and vertically – like never before. The key feature in creating the HX906TX’s sound is its 9.1 speaker system, which adds four Upright 3D Speakers to the conventional 5.1 channels on a home theatre system.With 10 speakers, delivering an optimised multi-directional audio, the HX906TX creates an immersive sound that is also powerful enough to capture the delicate background sound of everyday life.

LG Electronics is in the business of making consumers happy through its products and services. It is also improving on its technology for better performances that meet their needs.

Bad roads, poor QoS

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HE roads are bad. The roads are in a perpetual state of disrepair. No one seems to care about the porous state of our roads. If the roads are not spongy, they are rocky. If they are not bumpy, they are drenched. If they are not deathtraps, they are route to the orthopaedics. Every street in every local government in every state has the same woes of bad roads to tell.

At one local government, you had to park the car and completed the journey on foot. At another, you had to hop on a bike. At yet another, the okada rider used the bad portion of the road as a bargaining power. If you cannot afford it, leg it.

At yet another, a man had to carry you on his back to wade through the flooded portion of the road.

You cannot do anything about this. You are powerless. You are not in position of authority. Those who are in privileged positions either turn a blind eye or buy jeeps.

With that, you cannot complain about their inability to repair the bad roads. The roads have been in this state before they “arrived” on the scene. However, the roads were not this bad, or were they?

Answer the question. Thought your niche is technology and its peripherals.

Why the sudden turn? Why are you writing about bad roads? Soon, you would write about the Senate and the Presidency and the Police. Why have you suddenly noticed the bad roads?

No. The state of the Nigerian roads is similar to the state of the telecom service.

The governments have spent billions of naira, yet the roads are still bad. The telecoms operators in Nigeria have equally ploughed about N450 billion ($3.5 billion) into infrastructural development and upgrading of their networks in one year. Yet, the quality of service remains poor.

Okay, tell us about it. You seem to have some information we do not have. Like all columnists, you usually come across as if you know the number of sand grains on earth. Anyway, go ahead with your explanation.

Thanks. Take one scenario. The N450 billion had gone into three key areas. The telcos spent part of that money to provide network security, which is to protect the various sites across the country against vandalism and theft. The other part was for transmission network, to haul telecoms traffic over long distances. In addition, the remaining portion went into their core businesses. That is the provision of telecoms services.

Ok, if the telcos do not engage in this, who should?

Let us phrase it the way an insider did.

For the telcos, doing all of these is a major distraction. However, this can be avoided had there been a major improvement in supply of power; had the government

guaranteed reliable security services; had the government done what it should do.

Now, in spite of this huge spend, the QoS is still poor.

Again, you like to throw up foreign words, thinking everybody should know what you mean. That is not a good article.

Moreover, you know this, so tell us what is QoS? In a non-professional’s language, it means Quality of Service (QoS). QoS in telecommunication network is the ability of the network to transmit, to receive, and to process clear signals without unwanted noise. QoS is dependent on the following factors such as data loss, jitter (consistent delay characteristics) and latency, which leads to echo.

According to an engineer friend, QoS is a set of technologies for managing network traffic in a cost effective manner to enhance user experiences for home and enterprise environments. You have thrown up several jargons. What are data loss, jitter and latency? Truth be told, your QoS is poor! Anyway, just go on.

However, because the government has not done what it is supposed to do which is provide telecom infrastructure the telcos are being hampered. As a result, they are unable to deliver on their core area, which is the delivery of telecom services.

That is the problems. Columnists are very good at bringing up problems. You have done similar things now. Ok, give us the solutions.

The solutions are in the problems. The telcos need to build more cell sites. If they do not, as the GSM subscribers continue to increase in number, traffic on the networks will be congested. If this happens, QoS will be very poor. In the past one year, the Federal Government has not granted approval to the telcos to build cell sites.

Aha, do the telcos need approval from the government before sites can be constructed?

Yes. Government agency does carry out environmental assessment impact before any cell site is built. This usually takes months.

Why? You would need to dash to Abuja and find out. However, while you are in Abuja, would you let the minster of Communication Technology know that government is shirking its responsibility by failing to grant speedy approval to the telcos.

No, that is your responsibility! You are the one with the pen. Therefore, tell the minister that obviously she could not do anything about the bad roads. That is not her portfolio. However, she could wield her influence on the parties involved to ensure that the issue of poor QoS has become a thing of the past. Is that too hard to ask? Truth be told, the road to your house is bad and your QoS is poor!

‘The state of the Nigerian roads is similar to the state of the telecom service. The governments have spent billions of naira, yet the roads are still bad. The telecoms operators in Nigeria have equally ploughed about N450 billion ($3.5 billion) into infrastructural development and upgrading of their networks in one year. Yet, the quality of service remains poor’

*Editor - Wale Alabi *Consulting Editors - Rarzack Olaegbe, Sola Fanawopo * Correspondent-Jimi David * Human Relations Executive - Owolabi Afolabi *Operations Executive - Isiaka Hassan *Creative - Oluwaseyi Sulaimon*Front Office Executive - Blessing Nkeanya * Business Development - Kenny Hussain * Legal Adviser - Olasupo Osewa & Co Brandweek is powered by Drumbeat Media and published every Friday in THE NATION newspaper. Corporate Suite: 20 Akinremi Street, off Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

All correspondence to the editor - 0808.247.7806, 0805.618.0040, , e-mail: korede2000@gmail.com © All rights reserved.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

AGRO-BUSINESS

Sub-Sahara Africa loses $4b FAO grains yearly, says report N • Expert advocates use of silos

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HE Federal Government has been urged to build grain silos to eliminate waste.

Speaking with The Nation, the National President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria, Mr Tola Faseru, said there is need for sufficient modern silos for grain storage.

Post-harvest losses, which occur because of the absence of viable storage and processing facilities, Faseru said, have impoverished farmers. To stem the trend, he said, the government must work out an average annual storage level for the country.

At present, there are 12 silos in the country, with a combined storage capacity of 300,000 tonnes for assorted grains, beans and garri.

He said farmers are producing food, but they do not have the facilities to preserve them.

Faseru advocated that states and local governments be involved in providing storage facilities for farmers, to minimise post-harvest losses and make for food availability allyear-round.

According to him, few farmers have the means to build and operate their own storage facilities and, even at that, such capacities will be limited for the quantum of produce from their farms. Speaking with The Nation, the Programme Manager, Research Into Use (RIU) Nigeria, Dr

• Faseru Stories by Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

Grace Jokthan, said more action is needed to help farmers to achieve better preservation and storage of produce.

Through value addition, she said farmers ensure enhanced shelf-life for produce and improvement of quality and safety.

According to her, building silos for storage is one option, but improving on the shelf life through value addition, is what should be encouraged.

Large amounts of food in sub-Saharan Africa are wasted because of inappropriate storage, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said in a report recently which calls for investing in

• Dr Jokthan

post-harvest technologies to reduce losses and boost the continent’s food security.

The joint FAO-World Bank report, entitled: Missing food: The case of postharvest grain losses in sub-Saharan Africa, estimates the value of grain losses in sub-Saharan Africa at $4 billion a year.

“Reducing food losses is increasingly recognised as part of an integrated approach to realising agriculture’s full potential, along with making effective use of today’s crops, improving productivity on existing farmland, and bringing additional acreage into production,” said Jamal Saghir, the Director of the Sustainable Development Department of the World Bank’s Africa Region.

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle), flanked by his Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, Dr. Olajide Basorun, during his visit to the Automated Rice Mill Factory, Imota Ikorodu.

How to transform agric, by VC

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ICE-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, has canvassed a review of existing farming methods to transform agriculture.

To take agriculture from its present peasantry pedestal to a higher level requires such review, he said.

Addressing a forum in Zaria, Mustapha said Nigeria is still listed among the Low Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDC), adding that the slow pace of agricultural development requires concerted efforts to ensure real and sustainable transformation. He said the nation needs a clear focus to address extreme poverty and hunger, noting that extension must be properly positioned as a wheel for agricultural growth and national development.

Acknowledging moves to

reorganise the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) championed by the Minister, Mustapha welcomed the plan to create a Federal Department of Agric Extension .

This, he said, will help to reposition extension services as the critical ingredient for rapid and sustainable transformation of the agric sector.

He canvassed the reorgani-sation of the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) for research priority and the promotion and development of agricultural value chains.

This, Mustapha said, will help to sharpen the realisation of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, with pact on Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) nationwide.

He said there were challenges confronting agricultural research and extension delivery, urging the

government to take steps to tackle them. This, he said, will reduce poverty which has become endemic in rural areas. Mustapha called on the government to strengthen agricultural extension services through the engagement of rural actors who specialise in the promotion of improved and relevant technologies.

He said new technologies are needed to achieve a huge “sustainable intensification” of agriculture.

According to him, improvement in infrastructure and the revitalisation of agricultural extension services are essential interventions.

He said the key to effective agricultural science will be to ensure it is locally adapted and developed together with the farmers to fit crops to local circumstances.

He urged the extension service to help small farmers meet new demands to produce better crops and that will improve incomes and reduce poverty.

to eradicate hunger

EW Director-General, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) José Graziano da Silva of Brazil said in Rome that total elimination of hunger and undernourishment from the world would be his top priority.

Graziano da Silva stated this at his inaugural news conference two days after assuming office, a statement from the FAO said.

The helms man said with a term in office of only three and a half years, there was no time to lose.

He said the United Nations agency would begin by scaling up its support to a number of low-income, food deficit countries, especially those facing prolonged crises.

“Ending hunger requires the commitment of everyone; neither FAO nor any other agency or government will win this war alone.”

He also said he wanted to work “in the most transparent and democratic way”, with membercountries, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders.

Hunger eradication, he said,

By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

was the first of five strategic priorities he intended to pursue.

The others are moving towards more sustainable systems of food production and consumption and achieving greater fairness in the global management of food.

The list includes the completion of FAO’s reform and decentralisation, expanding Southsouth co-operation and other partnerships.

“We need to rebuild trust between the Secretariat and member-states to move forward, and I plan to do so by promoting a transparent and constructive relationship with member states and FAO governing bodies.”

He also emphasised that he would strive to make FAO more effective and responsive by administrative cost-cutting and efficiency gains.

He said that efficiency savings would not cut into FAO’s technical work and that he would try to use them to strengthen the organisation’s direct assistance to countries.

Million jobs for Kano youths

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HE Kano State government is to create over one million jobs for youths in its 44 Local Government Areas, using agriculture as a springboard.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Baraka Sani, who disclosed this at an interactive session with reporters in Kano, said the proposed budgetary allocation of N8.3 billion for the 2012 fiscal year, would be utilised to generate wealth and job opportunities for the young men and women in the state.

Sani said the ministry would focus on more efficient means of fertiliser supply and distribution to ensure that the fertiliser subsidy gets to farmers.

According to her, the ministry will also promote capacity building for farmers, as part of measures to boost agricultural production in the state, pointing out that 900 youths have already graduated from the Farm Mechanisation Institute.

To revolutionise the agricultural sector, the Commissioner disclosed that the state government, through the Ministry established capacity building institutes, six of which include farm mechanisation, poultry production, fisheries production, livestock production, horticulture and irrigation development.

To create a conducive environment to actualise the set goals, the Commissioner appealed to the Federal Government, including

•Dr Sani From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

its international partners to continue with the promotion of a successful public-private partnership deal.

According to her, each trainee has received a post training package of one pair of work bull, including ridger subsidised by 20 per cent, pointing out that as part of the Mechanisation training, the youth are also given practical training on how to operate and maintain tractors.

Outlining the achievements of the Ministry in the last six months that the Kwankwaso-led Administration came on board, Baraka claimed that it has implemented the three years long awaited Tractorisation programme introduced by the Federal Government in partnership with the state government, tractor manufacturing companies/suppliers and farmers organisations.

Soap making workshop ends

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HE Co-ordinator of Fadama III project in Nasarawa State, Mr Muhammad Alkali, has urged small scale entrepreneurs to acquire modern technology for making black soap to improve its quality.

Alkali told participants at the end of a workshop on soap making in Lafia, the state capital, that they should assist to improve the economy of the state.

He said the aim of the workshop was to train businessmen and women on modern methods of making black soap, locally known as “Sapulun Solo’’.

Alkali said if the participants put the knowledge acquired to use, they would add value to their prod-

ucts.

“It is all about capacity building in order to help small scale entrepreneurs enhance their businesses,’’ he said.

The resource person, Sunday Apeji, said that since the training was mostly practical, the knowledge acquired would go a long way to help the participants in their businesses.

He charged them to be diligent in soap making to avoid any mistake that could cause failure in their businesses.

Two participants, Mrs Victoria Yakubu and Mr Benjamin Dauda, commended the efforts of Fadama III and promised to use the knowledge gained to improve their income.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Avoidable tragedy • The youth killed in Kwara over subsidy protests would have lived if the police had exercised restraint HE widespread protests across the country in response to the surreptitious removal by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, of the controversial subsidy on fuel could certainly have caught nobody, including the government, by surprise. Removing the contentious subsidy in one fell swoop was akin to a shock therapy that immediately began to have a biting effect on the populace. Petrol prices went as high as N200 in some places, compared to the former pump price of N65 before the government action.

The abrupt removal of the subsidy prompted street protests in major urban areas of the country, including Lagos, Ibadan, Osogbo, Makurdi, Kano and Ilorin. There is no doubt that the timing of the fuel subsidy removal and the unnecessary secrecy that shrouded the entire affair is partly to blame for the vehement protests against the implementation of the policy.

True, President Jonathan had never hidden the determination of his administration to remove the subsidy and plough back whatever accruing savings – estimated at some N1.3 trillion - back to building infrastructure, tackling poverty and stimulating job creation. However, both the President and key members of his economic team gave the impression that the policy would be given no effect until they had concluded and reached a consensus in discussions with labour, civil society groups and other critical stakeholders.

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Alas! Many Nigerians who had travelled to their home states and towns for the Christmas and New Year festivities were yet to return to their places of residence when the fuel subsidy was removed. The implication was that many of them had not anticipated and planned for the resultant astronomical rise in transport costs.

It is unfortunate that at least one man was reported killed during the anti-fuel subsidy removal protests in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. Areas of the state capital covered by the protests include Oja Oba, Maraba, Zango, Offa-Garage, Adangba, Taiwo and the Post Office. But the victim reportedly fell to police bullets as the law enforcement agents attempted to prevent the protesters from reaching their destination, which was the Government House on Ahmadu Bello Way. Now, it is pertinent to wonder what is so sacrosanct about the State House in a representative democracy that aggrieved citizens cannot stage peaceful demonstrations there and make their plight known to the relevant authorities.

If the police had not violently disrupted the Ilorin protests, the participants would most likely only have made their pains known to the state authorities and dispersed to their various homes.

As it were, we now have one life to mourn due largely to police highhandedness. The attempt by the Kwara State Police Command spokesman, Debo Ezekiel (ASP), to put the blame for the tragedy on an unknown ‘Okada’ rider who struck the deceased on the chest with a sharp object for purportedly not

participating in the protest sounds far fetched.

However, we commend the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, for ordering an immediate probe into the incident. It is all too easy for some of us to conclude that the loss of one life in the course of a mass protest is negligible or, at least tolerable. However, our collective humanity is diminished when even one life is snuffed out unjustly.

We urge the governor to ensure that this matter is thoroughly investigated and the culprits brought to book.

Furthermore, it is not unlikely that there may be more vehement demonstrations against the fuel price hike in the near future. The police authorities must ensure that their men act with restraint and professionalism, without prejudice to their duty of maintaining peace.

‘Now, it is pertinent to wonder what is so sacrosanct about the State House in a representative democracy that aggrieved citizens cannot stage peaceful demonstrations there and make their plight known to the relevant authorities. If the police had not violently disrupted the Ilorin protests, the participants would most likely only have made their pains known to the state authorities and dispersed to their various homes’

Communal carnage • The Ebonyi communal massacre provides a template for ending all such barbarity

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HE massacre of hundreds of people in the Ezeillo community of Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria, is an act of barbarity that is beyond belief.

What is apparently a reprisal attack by the Ezza community on their Ezeillo neighbours started at the wee hours of the eve of the New Year day. In a seemingly well coordinated action, the attackers armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, surrounded the Ezeillo community, roused them with gunshots and proceeded to slaughter them as they made to escape.

There has been conflicting figures of the death tolls. While one source said that no fewer than 250 bodies have been counted, the traditional ruler of EzeilloIshielu, Eze Chima Onyibe has claimed that about 800 people are still missing from his community. The casualty could well be any number in-between these

‘With the number of deaths recorded, there must have been so much shooting, burning and general commotion in the area, yet, the marauders consummated their heinous act and escaped into the night. Not one person was arrested. This simply signposts how insecure and vulnerable our communities and even the entire country can be’

figures for as reported, the attackers seemed bent on exterminating everything in sight. Apart from men and women, the raiders at dawn allegedly killed children, old people and even animals. There were also tales of arson as houses, filling station and Afor Ezeillo Market were reportedly burnt.

There had been communal clashes in Nigeria in the past but the high casualty figure arising from this suggests the wanton nature of it. It also reaffirms the poor security situation in the country which has left the citizenry harassed and helpless. How could such butchering of so many people have gone on for so many hours without help coming from any detachment of the security agencies?

With the number of deaths recorded, there must have been so much shooting, burning and general commotion in the area, yet, the marauders consummated their heinous act and escaped into the night. Not one person was arrested. This simply signposts how insecure and vulnerable our communities and even the entire country can be. The invaders could have crept in from the nearest borders for all we know. Besides, in this age of instant communication, where was the police while the madness was going on?

The state governor, Chief Martin Elechi, has accused the traditional rulers and some unnamed politicians from Ezza community of being complicit in the mayhem. He stated in an address to the people over the crisis that it started with a mere squabble over the construction of a public telephone booth in 2008.

According to Elechi, this current episode

is but a phase in the cycle of destruction and bloodletting which started about four years ago.

If there had been a cycle of bloodletting as the governor was quoted to have said, what has he done to stem it and ensure there was no recurrence over these years? While we cannot say that the problem is a creation of his administration, it must be stated that it erupted during his time in office and it behoves him to find a lasting solution to the bloody cycle.

On the part of the police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 9 Police Command under whose territory the carnage took place has appealed to the affected community not to seek revenge.

Speaking on behalf the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), he appealed to the affected community not to contemplate revenge but to leave the matter to the police. He hinted as well that the police would consider the possibility of building a Mobile Police Station in the community as a way of containing the crisis.

We urge the Federal Government to work closely with the state to manage the Ezza-Ezeillo communal war. It is the duty of government to ensure that this type of bestiality has no place in our lives. They must act firm and decisively to see to it that no lives are lost again in this crisis. The police and other security agencies must also be primed to be alive and responsive to crises of this magnitude anywhere and anytime they may occur in the country.

A small sign of progress toward Mideast peace

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OMETHING SURPRISING happened Tuesday in a Middle East diplomatic landscape that most people assumed was frozen over: Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met face-to-face for the first time in 16 months. That they did so was partly to the credit of Jordan’s King Abdullah, who has been working feverishly to restart negotiations, and partly to the credit of the “Quartet,” the diplomatic amalgam of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, which has been pressuring the two sides for months.

Encouragingly, the session ended with an agreement to continue the low-level contact.

Unfortunately, the odds remain high against real movement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas toward a peace deal. At worst, Tuesday’s session could be the kickoff to a season in which Palestinian and Israeli leaders do their best to isolate, sanction and punish each other — at the expense of their own people and their own long-term interests.

Mr. Abbas dispatched his negotiator to Tuesday’s meeting to avoid being blamed by the Quartet for causing the stillbirth of its latest peace plan. But his disinterest in dealing with Mr. Netanyahu is manifest in his continuing preconditions for formal negotiations, including a freeze on all Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

The Palestinian leadership says it is merely waiting for Jan. 26, which according to its interpretation of the Quartet plan is a deadline for each side to submit proposals on the borders and security of a future Palestinian state. Israel, for its part, is still waiting for Palestinians to meet the Quartet’s requirement of unconditional negotiations. At best, the informal talks could be a way around this impasse. Mr. Netanyahu could help by matching the Palestinian proposal with one of his own.

If he doesn’t, the Palestinian Authority will probably renew a self-defeating international diplomatic offensive against Israel that so far has seen Palestine win admission to the international cultural agency UNESCO (at the crippling expense of its U.S. funding) and unsuccessfully petition the U.N. Security Council for full U.N. membership.

Mr. Abbas’s next steps reportedly could include another attempt to have the Security Council censure Israel’s settlement construction, which would succeed only in embarrassing the Obama administration.

More significantly, Mr. Abbas’s secular Fatah movement may finally proceed with a long-promised, if likely superficial, reconciliation with the Islamic Hamas movement. Since Hamas still refuses to recognize Israel, this would definitively end the possibility of negotiations and prompt a cutoff of U.S. funding for the Palestinian Authority. But Mr. Abbas, who at 76 has pledged to retire this year and seeks a legacy, could claim to have achieved Palestinian “unity,” even if it retards statehood.

For his part, Mr. Netanyahu has done nothing to encourage a Palestinian shift toward negotiation.

On the contrary, Israel recently moved ahead on thousands of new housing units in the settlements around Jerusalem. Limited by his own right-wing coalition, by his poor relations with the Obama administration, by his distrust of Mr. Abbas and by his apprehension about the consequences for Israel of the Arab Spring, Mr. Netanyahu shows no inclination to take risks for peace. In the short term, that may make sense; in the longer run, Israelis, like Palestinians, stand to lose.

– Washington Post

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

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: As new year started with the anticipation of another bombing by the Islamic sect known as Boko Haram, the federal government led by President Jonathan instead unleashwed its much awaited New Year bombing on Nigerians.

The removal of fuel subsidy by PPPRA is more than the Boko Haram bombings. It was a sign that the year 2012 would be a tough one for the over 60 per cent of Nigerians who live on less than $1 a day .

Indeed, it was a wrong way to start a new year. Nigeria is in the news again for taking a wrong step.

The issue of fuel subsidy and its removal has been around for many years. Past governments have threatened to remove fuel subsidy but have failed due to different protests and agitations by poor Nigerians. Leaders of government have not been able to convince Nigerians on this issue besides there is no justification for an increment in pump prices in an oil

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An unwanted New Year gift rich country like Nigeria. Citizens of oil producing countries around the world do not have to pay through their noses before they enjoy these services. Conversely, Nigerians have been through a hard time purchasing petroleum products in their motherland.

There are four refineries across the federation but these refineries are not functioning. Attempts by well-meaning Nigerians to get federal government and NNPC to explain how the country’s wealth is been managed have proved abortive. Some people have said that there is a cult in the oil industry. These cabals are believed

to be the masterminds of the incessant hike in pump prices.

Petroleum marketers who are also part of the oil industry down-tool at will due to lack of transparency among major players in the industry.

Removal of fuel subsidy has been bandied around by federal government and NNPC. Government claim that they are subsidizing the cost of fuel for Nigerians. Those in the know have said that there is nothing like subsidy as far as the current prices of petroleum products are concerned. One wonders why President Jonathan who many

Nigerians voted for during the last general elections would be bent on inflicting more pains on Nigerians.

Many Nigerians were having a hard time when PMS was sold at N65 per litre. It is obvious that there are tougher days ahead as government announced the increment in pump price from N65 to N141 per litre. Most service stations have started selling at N150 per litre. People in the northern and eastern parts of the country who buy petrol at over N100 per litre when the price was N65 per litre will definitely get petrol at about N300 per litre.

The population is going to be

New year shocker from Finland

IR: Finland, a country known for highly rated free tuition tertiary educational system, located in Northern Europe, may have taken stricter measures for prospective Nigerian students vying for admission into their universities.

Hundreds of young Nigerians gain admission to Finland annually to further their university education. Education in Finland is goverment sponsored and therefore free to Non -EU or third country nationals.

Information reaching us indicates that the Finnish network for International programmes steering committee, the body responsible for international programmes administration may have decided to exclude Nigerians from writing the annual entrance examination in neighboring Accra,Ghana for the next academic session 2012/2013.

Instead Nigerian applicants will have to travel to Finland to write a one day entrance examination.

Nigerian applicants will have to go

through a stressful process of securing a visit visa first to Finland, just for the sole purpose of writing few hours entrance Examination while other African applicants will write the entrance examination in Africa.

Nigerian applicants that eventually fail the entrance examination would incure financial losses in travel costs.

There were rumours that advance fee fraud, corruption and

documents falsification associated with Nigerians abroad might have been the major reason.

A source from FINNIPS said: “ The entrance examination locations and the countries from where the eligible applicants will be invited to participate in the exam, are decided separately for each year. The situation will be re-evaluated for the 2013 application period”.

Efforts to contact Nigerian organisations in Finland have

started yielding results. The Nigerian ambassador should be willing to take up issues that relate to the welfare of Nigeria. Some concerned Nigerians are of the opinion that we need some sort of concerted voice to intellectually engage the authorities to back pedal on this decision.

• Olalekan Oladepo Smart Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland.

worse off with this new government policy. We do not need an economic expert to us the truth of the matter neither do we need a soothsayer. The removal of fuel subsidy has begun to have ripple effect son all aspects of the Nigerian economy. Prices of commodities and goods have escalated within the twinkle of an eye. The president has shown that he does not have the interest of the poor masses at heart. One would have thought that Dr. Jonathan would listen to the voice of the masses on this issue of national discourse but the president has decided to disappoint Nigerians at a time when they needed him to alleviate their suffering.

Several debates organised to discuss this burning issue by stakeholders points to the disapproval of Nigerians on the removal of fuel subsidy. But despite ongoing discussions and consultations, the president succeeded in removing the socalled “fuel subsidy”.

It remains to be seen what the actions of Nigerians would be towards this new price increase.

Many labour unions have threatened to clamp down the nation’s economy in protest against the fuel subsidy removal. This is obviously not the best of times for many Nigerians. It is however hoped that the NLC and the FG would find a middle ground on this issue and reduce the pains experienced by Nigerians.

• Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola, Lagos, Lagos-State.

Fuel subsidy removal: harvest of shame

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IR: Shame on a government that lacks integrity. Shame on a government that says removal of subsidy on fuel will take effect not earlier than April but like a thief in the night, increased the price of fuel by more than 100% three months before the set date, even when the people have not agreed to it. It is just in its character. That is why it signed an agreement with ASUU and

more than two years after, the terms of the agreement are not implemented.

When our government says it is morning, chances are it is night. Shame on a government that is insensitive and integrity-bankrupt.

Shame! Shame!! Shame!!!

Shame on a government that prefers to side with the kidnappers of our economy. Now we know that 100 thieves are more powerful

than 160 million Nigerians. Shame on a government that betrays the people it is supposed to protect.

Shame on a government that budgets a figure with many zeros to buy plates and food for Aso Rock but denies the people a decent wage. Shame on a government that declares a fast for the people but goes ahead to feast and drink itself to stupor.

Perhaps Nigerians deserve

Goodluck. People get the government/leader they deserve.

Governance cannot be predicated on luck. For Nigerians, Goodluck has become bad luck. Shame!

It is time to take our country back from the thieves and their collaborators in government. They stole the nation dry and now they ask for our lives. It is our spring!

• E. Ogidiyan Lokoja, Kogi State

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012 16

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Reality Bites C

Citizens’ prayer

Olatunji Ololade

REATOR, we have come forth, when heaven lies at the tick of a bomb, when hell blazes in the spoken word. We come for hope and truth’s pure ray.

We come to wish our strife away.

Life is not what we prayed for, under Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The boy who had no shoes has grown to snatch our dog-eared shoes from our feet. That self-confessed son of a poor fisherman has come to snatch the few fingerlings we have in our nets; when we protest, he dishes us tadpoles to eat and claims it’s “fish.”The one who we hoped will accord us a breath of fresh air has emerged to blow as another clean breath of fresh stench.

Today, our grief is of fuel subsidy. Ebele baba has removed that mythical subsidy we barely enjoyed. Fuel we used to buy at N65 now sells at N141, N150, N160. As a result, the price of everything has gone through the roof. A decent meal has become a luxury now: vegetables and tubers, palm oil and vegetable oil, kerosene and gas, now sell at abominable prices.

The price of cement has sky-rocketed and our dreams of owning a house has suffered stillbirth. We cannot afford to fuel our cars: N3, 500 can no longer fill our vehicle tanks, we have to spend N8, 100 or more. The price of public transport isn’t any better. Yesterday, we spent N250 from Sango Ota to Ado Odo; today we pay N600 just to get there. Iyana Ipaja, Ikeja to Owode and Agbado respectively now cost N700 to and fro vis-à-vis the initial

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N300. It’s scarier for those of us who work on Victoria Island.

But our almighty CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Ebele baba; incumbent governors and company would have us accept such heinous fate as the next best palliative to endemic poverty, unemployment, moribund refineries, electricity shortages, insecurity, administrative ineptitude and corruption among other monstrosities they impose on us.

Ebele baba has forgotten his roots. He has declared war on us whose fates he swore to advance and protect. Like the proverbial alligator, he has chosen to wade deaf, against the storm and current of public opinion. Goaded by ballsy and gigantic Okonjo-Iweala, he has decided to dole the most savage policies on to our battered souls. Prodded by wiry and disdainful Sanusi, he has chosen to manifest as the corruption of every economic thought and the approximation of the shame that our ruling class has become.

And to stem the tide of those of us who love to pick faults in the ruling class, he has made casualties of those whose strength we hoped would rid us of our gruesome ruling class. We miss Reuben Abati; the knight who pawned his armour to become Ebele baba’s court jester. Thanks to him and a great many more amongst us, nobody respects the columnist these days; they think we are leprechauns fencing in knights’ armour.

Do not be deceived by the furor

IGH-wire blackmail and well designed propaganda targeted at Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole is at work. A recent one has ensued; who is actually working on Dawson Road/Urubi/Ugbowo federal roads?

After PDP elements claimed glory for Oshiomhole’s giant stride in education for which the governor sank billions of naira with 50% counterpart funding from the Federal Government, another false claim is in the offing; all targeted on Oshiomhole’s 2012 gubernatorial ambition or what else?

There is no controversy about ownership: the Benin-Ore road commences from Dawson road (beginning at the Akpakpava road junction) through Urubi road, Uselu Ugbowo road onto Oluku then to Ekiadolor junction onwards Ohosu (Ofosu) which is the boundary with Ondo State. This road had been abandoned over the years and became particularly dilapidated during period starting around 2003 up on till now. The road has been the reason for public outcry and outrage for over a decade being the primary cause of various fatal accidents and unreasonably extended journey times due to its scandalous state that had even elicited tears from a serving federal minister.

The Ugbowo-Uselu-Urubi-Dawson axis of the road had been a recurring nightmare, dreaded by inhabitants and visitors to Benin City especially during the rainy season. This axis passing through the heart of the city is along the main route connecting the western part of the country through Shagamu to the eastern part of the country with its attendant heavy flow of people, goods and services from Lagos ports onward eastern Nigeria.

That the Federal Ministry of Works shirked its responsibility to keep this axis motorable by not fixing the Dawson-Ugbowo-Oluku axis for over a decade is particularly painful to residents of Benin City. For years on end, this road continues to subject millions of Nigerians to untold hardship and undue exposure to personal and material danger due to its parlous state.

Shockingly, rather than redesign the road to take care of the flooding challenges confronting the road, the Federal Ministry of Works chose to only patch the potholes, relay the asphalt overlay and install “New Jersey”

of our hastily conceived citizens’ protests and strike actions, we shall tire of the novelty of revolutionary slogans and mass actions, very soon. Our backs shall remain against the wall and when Ebele baba and company push harder, we shall simply crawl into it like we’ve always done.

Our revolutionaries, labour leaders and columnists of note shall quietly eat up their own words following crucial meetings with Ebele baba on the way forward.

They shall come back to tell us to ditch the placards and save our chants till more auspicious hour.

Whispers of currency shall smother our rant and the revolutionary cry. At the end, everything shall remain the same; our fates shall bend and break according to the whims of the ruling class.

Thus we seek the comfort of your infinite mercies against the scourge of our merciless leaders. We pray that you repay our leaders back in their own kobo. Dear author and finisher of faith, please rewrite our pitiful fates as the Christians pray.

And even though “the pen has been lifted” as the Muslims say, please rework our fates as you do to your most favoured faithful.

But if our leaders are truly on the right path; if truly, they lead us honestly and with unpretentious fear of you in their hearts, treat them the way you would treat your most favoured among humankind.

However, if they lead us with disdain and deceit in their hearts, treat them the way you treated Abu Ashram and the Abyssinians when they rose against Mecca.

Afflict their mansions to tear down the comfort they build to our discomfort. Upset their bellies and purge them of the provisions they gorge like gluttons although it’s meant for the collective good. As we spend our finest moments in

darkness, make their access to light a luxury of the past; reorder their fates that they too may go to bed and rise in darkness.

Make their wives hiss and fret for want of fresh air. Make their kids and grandkids flail and choke in the grasp of unforgiving heatstroke. Bless them with noontime heat and bedtime heat even in the rains. And every time they seek from you the mercy they have refused to accord us, treat their prayers the way you would, the wantonness of the gluttonous and accursed. Make their prayer points and praise-worship trail off in confusion. Smite their patronizing prophets till they become not much in sight.

They claim the N1.3 trillion they save by removing fuel subsidy shall be used to improve other sectors – like agriculture and health sectors; if they fail to live up to their words, make their kids expire to indecipherable sickness and malnutrition right before their eyes; like peasant kids dying in agrarian communities nationwide.

Deny their trophy wives and newborns of oxygen and the best medical care as they deny kids of poor folk breathing their last while their mothers are still pushing, in hospital labour rooms of death nationwide.

Bless their kids with gifts of patricide and mindless violence as they enable our jobless youth for political gains, every day. Turn their swimming pools to raging deeps to drown their progeny and trophy wives, like the Oke Afa canal that claimed our poor, beloved folk fleeing from death, to their death; during the Ikeja bomb blast.

Subject their lives and those of their loved ones to the elements of bad roads as they do to us. Blind their pilots’ to the safest course every time they flee our land for

Oshiomhole and Edo federal roads

By Inwalomhe Donald

median. The contract does not include any drainage works in Benin City, a strange decision considering the fact that flooding remains the main cause of the road’s failure over the years. It was quite clear to Edo State government that the federal solution would only last until the first rains came along before we were back to square one. It was at this stage that the state government decided to intervene on the side of the good people of Edo State particularly the people and residents of Benin City.

However, there is an attempt by the Minister of Works to obfuscate the facts of the issues under contention. The vague reference to gutters and parking lanes or drive ways etc. are not helpful and shed little light on the issues under discuss. For clarity the government of Edo State is constructing two brand new additional lanes to the road. These new lanes ranging from 3.65meters 5.25meter in width includes site clearing, earthworks, sub base and crushed stone base as base course before two layers of asphalt and stretch from Dawson road to Ugbowo.

From Chainage 0.0 to 2.025, a distance of 2.025 kilometers, these two lanes have been built of 150mm thick reinforced concrete rigid pavement spanning over drainage lines also constructed by the state government with a final layer of asphalt outstanding. The rest of the road up to Ugbowo is being constructed as flexible pavement with crushed stone base as base course and two layers of asphalt.

Along the entire length of the Dawson Ugbowo axis, the state government is also constructing two lanes of two meters wide concrete interlocking tiles walkways along with street lights (complete with backup generator) and solar powered traffic lights at key intersections and junctions. Recognizing the simple fact that the main problem of the road is flood related, the state government has undertaken a massive drainage project

for the road as well. The drainage from Adolor junction to the Traditional Grounds area is being reestablished and reconstructed.

A brand new underground drainage line has been laid and completed from the Traditional Grounds area to the moat at Eghosa Grammar School area.

Furthermore, reinforced concrete box culverts are being constructed at the Five junction area as part of a complex network of drains in that area to take the flood waters away from the area to a receptacle again at Eghosa Grammar School moat. Finally to ease congestion and enhance the beautification of the city at the Five junction area, a roundabout project has been awarded to Messrs RCC to enable our people enjoy the full benefits of the road. These facts speaks for themselves on a visit to the various project sites.

In all of this, the federal government’s project is only to patch the numerous potholes on the old carriage way, overlay with asphalt and introduce “New Jersey” median barrier on the road. More importantly, from 2009 to date, only about 300meters cumulatively of the road from Dawson to Ugbowo (a distance of eight kilometers) have received partial attention from the Federal Ministry of Works!

No part or section of the federal project is fully executed or completed!! What a gift to the people of Benin City, nay Edo State!!!

We leave the people to judge for themselves on who is doing the substantive work on the road. The claim of expending or planning to expend N24 billlion on the rehabilitation works by the works ministry simply borders on opaque use of public funds that can definitely benefit from extra scrutiny and proper auditing.

In the same vein, the state government has expended billions of naira in expanding, reconstructing and upgrading of several federal roads in the state without a single word of gratitude (or complaint) from the

overseas medical checkup; make their planes plummet to crash on humid rocks and plunge in the sea, as our beloveds’ in the throes of bird-strike, and our dreams in the face of stillbirth.

Let them not enjoy the fruits of their labour; make their Princeton and Harvard educated wards the causes of their everlasting sadness; make them the bad harvest of their inordinate lust for wealth, at our expense. Despite their wealth, afflict them with the poverty of good health, peace and contentment. And for every one of them seeking our downfall, we pray: “Faja’alahum ka’asfinm ma” kulin” Amen.

‘The boy who had no shoes has grown to snatch our dog-eared shoes from our feet.

That self-confessed son of a poor fisherman has come to snatch the few fingerlings we have in our nets; when we protest, he dishes us tadpoles to eat and claims it’s “fish.”The one who we hoped will accord us a breath of fresh air has emerged to blow as another clean breath of fresh stench’ For SMS only 08038551123

Federal Ministry of Works.

For example, Akpakpava road from the Oba Ovoranmwen Square (former Ring road) to Ikpoba River was expanded and reconstructed into six lanes, complete with walkways, covered drains, streetlights and thermoplastic road markings.

Sapele road was also expanded, dualised and reconstructed into a six lane road from the Third junction to Oba Ovoranmwen square complete with covered drainage, walkways, street lights, traffic lights and thermoplastic road markings.

The New Lagos road is another federal government road that has been long abandoned and allowed to fall into total disrepair. For over 10 years, the road had inflicted untold hardship and anguish on the people of Benin due to congestion and gridlocks occasioned by its shocking state.

However, thanks to the Edo State government; the road is now dualized, expanded to six lanes and entirely reconstructed complete with covered drains, street lights and has achieved almost 90% completion. Other works on the road include the construction of box and pipe culverts to conduct the flood waters from the Five junction and Midwest areas of Benin City to a receptacle by Eghosa Grammar school moat.

This project is entirely funded by the Edo State government.

The same applies to the Auchi – Ikabigbo dualisation project; which is a section of the Auchi – Agenebode road terminating at the Ojio river. Furthermore, Sakponba road (which is part of the Benin Abraka road) was rehabilitated from the Oba Ovoranmwen Square to the Third junction complete with street lights and walkways and covered drains.

The Edo State Government thus compelled to take on these roads due to their fundamental importance to the economic activities and the wellbeing of the people of the state. We are however glad to hear from the Honourable Minister, Mike Onolomemen that the Federal Government is preparing to refund to the states what they have spent on federal roads. The earlier they do, the better than sponsoring advertorials with taxpayers’ money over none issues.

• Donald sent this piece from Benin City

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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EDITORIAL/OPINION ‘Any government that saddles its people with hardship loses all rights to humane reciprocity’ ——Mahatma Ghandi HAT kind of country is Nigeria? This question becomes pertinent in view of the contemptuous treatment that successive administrations have been inflicting on the citizens of this nation. May be because Nigerians are renowned for docility; may be due to their proclivity for good life or even their fear for voluntarily assumed discomfort associated with revolt, past administrations in the nation have capitalised on these avoidable inadequacies to impose draconian policies on them.

What happened in other countries that triggered instant peoples revolt had occurred in the country without any significant repercussion. The constitution states that sovereignty belongs to the people through whom the government derive its powers.

Every Nigerian government have always behaved as if it gave itself power. Whether under the military or even now under the so called constitutional government, the story remains the same. And sadly, Nigerians rather than act have imbibed the habit of complaining to themselves instead of taking drastic actions that can safeguard their destinies.

President Goodluck Jonathan, an obviously weak leader, must have studied and exploited this human frailty in Nigerians before insisting and eventually implementing, with the active connivance of agents of neo-colonialism around him, his very unpopular policy of removing fuel subsidy on petrol on January 1st, 2012. This was done without any iota of respect for the feelings of Nigerians that were still in festive mood on the first day of the New Year The truth is that 2012, to many Nigerians that are not in the privileged class, is New Year, new pain. Despite Jonathan’s knowledge that petrol is the driving force behind this economy that can not boast of stable power supply, he, as president confirmed his meanness when he went ahead to increase petrol price from N65 per litre to a cruel official N141 per litre. This is an increment of over a hundred per cent in a country where over 70 per cent of the population live below poverty level despite the nation’s crude oil and other natural mineral endowment: Where there is no workable transportation system and where the minimum wage is a meagre N18, 000 per

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T is so very simple to kill an honest columnist without as much as lifting a finger: just bedevil him with dishonest and greedy leaders and watch him write himself to his merry end. Depending on your turn of mind, you can actually choose your manner and method of dispatching your miserable muse. If you want to put down the irritant quick and sure, blight him with a mob of tricksters, gamblers and knaves; let them parade the land dressed in the garb of leadership, let them occupy all the seats of authority in the land and watch the writer go down and out as if zapped with laser rays.

On the other hand, if you are possessed of a sinister turn of mind you could choose to stalk him slowly, roil him; make him write the same things over and over again until he grows completely grey in the head (and anywhere else). In no time, he is sure to grow grey in the mind too and surely, turn the bend. The trick is to dissemble or play ‘craze’ if you like. Become anti-rational; repudiate the basics, head for Sokoto when your destination is Okrika; unleash whirlwinds when people are looking out for a breath of fresh air.

To illustrate my point, I had used the exact title as above once before about eight years ago during the reign of king Olusegun Obasanjo. As an editor and columnist, I was caught in the bind of commenting upon the same things over and over. I was foolishly thwacking my head against the obdurate walls of an irreclaimable potentate. Looking back after his eight years of disastrous rule, I found that I had written more than 300 articles which I have recently collected into a book titled, ‘A Drum for the Deaf’. These articles are very unique in their sameness. You will find in the book, the first version of ‘How to Kill a Columnist’ when it is published later in the year.

Talking about fresh breath and whirlwind, which columnist can survive writing about the prospect of a gust of new breeze only last June only to be confronted with a maelstrom six months down the line? How could a columnist keep his head if he has been beating his head

Jonathan’s New Year pain for Nigerians

•Jonathan

month.

Jonathan and the leader of his economic team, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala sent dummy to Nigerians that the removal will take effect from April but they had other hideous plans.

Ngozi gave the impression sometime ago that fuel price will be N120 per litre but she reneged on this unaffordable per litre price that Nigerians then rejected outrightly by coming up on January 1st with a higher per litre price of petrol; Ngozi, an agent of the imperialists, also mischievously shifted the commencement date forward, jolting the people in the process.

It is unfortunate that President Jonathan is now running the country’s public affairs with deceit that is drastically eroding the trust that

Nigerians ought to have in him and other henchmen in the corridors of power. What then is governance without trust from the governed? When is Nigeria going to get a leader that can be trusted? When is the time going to be ripe to get a leader that is truly Nigerian and one that will have empathy and sympathy for Nigerians?

President Jonathan has proved in speech and conduct that he is not such a leader that would take the country to the level anticipated by its foremost nationalists at independence in 1960.

Nigerians do not deserve to be paying exorbitant price for petrol that is derived from crude oil that is in abundance in the country.

For the umpteenth time, let me repeat in this column that what is called subsidy on fuel is the laxity, ineptitude and official corruption/ criminal connivance with independent oil marketers that have become problematic for government to solve overtime. This is the price that the government wants ordinary Nigerians to be paying today in the nation. What then is the essence of a government that can not solve official criminality in the oil sector of its economy?

Assuming the Jonathan administration can solve the problem of official corruption that is spiting him in the face, he would realise that the least of his problem is the removal of subsidy on petrol. This same president that was shedding crocodile tears when he belatedly visited St Theresa’s Catholic Church,

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS O8055001684 email:steve_osuji@yahoo.com

Fuel subsidy: how to kill a columnist

• Okonjo-Iweala against one huge wall of illogic for 27 years? Consider this trend: in 1985 when our refineries had started failing while our petroleum products consumption was rising, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, the maximum ruler at the time went for the easy way out, he started the fuel importation binge. When our income could not sustain our imports any longer, he introduced ‘appropriate pricing’ for petrol, deregulation and all that. He did not think of a plan to expand our refining capacity or develop our rich petrochemicals potentials. He just increased pump prices outrageously. Nigerians protested and a slight adjustment was made and that ended it all.

It was the same with Shonekan after Babangida, the same with Abacha,

Abubakar and Obasanjo and now President Goodluck Jonathan. Over a period of three decades, our leaders mastered the wicked art of ripping off the country through massive importation of petroleum products. We have always known that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is a horrific house of corruption from the outset that knows not how to do anything else, yet we just live with it. How could a class of people that has embarked on a fraudulent importing binge for three decades and that neglected to develop a sector that remains its milk cow turn around to insist that a dubious, self-imposed subsidy must be removed ? And come to think of it, who asked for this socalled subsidy. This thing called subsidy is only the result of corruption, inefficiency and lack of vision coming home to roost. If we had local refineries running (no matter the ownership) would we not simply pay the price emanating from such refineries?

How could a man who told us he had no shoes; who knows a thing or two about privation and penury now have the capacity to inflict poverty on a populace without flinching. Now that he has shoes, the very best of shoes money can buy, has he learnt that shoes are not mere adornments of the feet but instrument of intimidation and oppression? How could a bedraggled citizenry, most of who live by the day, sur-

Suleja that was bombed on Christmas Day ought to be concerned more about how to solve the more critical problem of Boko Haram that is threatening the nation’s national stability.

The current impasse created by the unreasonable increase in the pump price of petrol is the beginning of a chain of events, the end of which no one can predict. A government that has no regard for the true feelings of the people can not be validly said to have any tinge of legitimacy. President Jonathan is fast losing legitimacy by his inactions when it mattered most and insensitivity in situations where he reluctantly acted.

Well, it is becoming a regular pattern for Nigerians to be trampled upon, using state instrument of coercion, by their government any time they feel aggrieved. It happened during the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida’s Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) riots in late eighties and the June 12 Presidential election annulment protests of 1993. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also quelled peoples’ protests against fuel price increments during his draconian reign in power. Because these despots succeeded in subduing Nigerians, Jonathan is toeing the same infamous path. Let’s wait and see the outcome of next week’s general strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress in tandem with Civil Society groups on the removal of subsidy on petrol. Even if the strike fails or can not in the end achieve acceptable results, it would have succeeded in sending a signal to initiators of bad policies in the corridors of power that the day of reckoning is around the corner. I am saying ‘No’ to removal of subsidy on petrol on behalf of myself and family. Let fellow Nigerians and more importantly, all the agents of imperialism in the seat of power know that no degree of spurious imperialist arguments will sway my aversion for removal of subsidy on fuel.

‘President Jonathan is fast losing legitimacy by his inactions when it mattered most and insensitivity in situations where he reluctantly acted’ vive under a regime of wild and sudden increase in petrol price? The so-called subsidy (by default) happens to be the only benefit citizen could claim to enjoy. He doesn’t have roads, no water, no kerosene, no power, no food, lacks quality education or health care… nothing.

This columnist has grown grey making this same point. This point has been made to President Jonathan by nearly all wellmeaning Nigerians high and low. This point is very simple for even a kindergarten pupil to understand. But six successive heads of state of Nigeria failed to see this basic point. However, it is only Jonathan who has chosen to ride the tiger; to swim the swift currents of the people’s anger. What is the hurry, under which appropriation law is he acting when the one under which he proposed to cut fuel subsidy is still in the National Assembly to be effective in April? Why are already ‘subsidised’ products being sold at deregulated rates? Again, people ask, why this time that the country seems besieged and the citizenry are on tenterhooks, disappointed and forlorn. Will he wade through, will he sink or swim? Time will tell.

Meanwhile, yours truly is sick of having the same argument for 27 years. I sincerely hope that this is the last time. What a way to kick off the year; can we afford to say happy new year still?

‘We have always known that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is a horrific house of corruption from the outset that knows not how to do anything else, yet we just live with it. How could a class of people that has embarked on a fraudulent importing binge for three decades and that neglected to develop a sector that remains its milk cow turn around to insist that a dubious, self-imposed subsidy must be removed ? And come to think of it, who asked for this so-called subsidy’

NIGERIA/ANGOLA FRIENDLY

NFF explains decision to dump Abuja Pg. 24

Home-Eagles go on break

Pg. 24

Nation PAGE 23

Friday, January 6, 2012

Angola prefers Eagles clash in Cotonou

•Okonkwo Chibuzor

Pg. 24

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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NATION SPORT Falcons to get foreign coach

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IGERIA’s Super Falcons will be coached by a foreigner if the recommendation of the NFF Technical sub Committee is ratified by the exco.

The senior women’s team have been without a coach since Uche Euvharia was sacked last year, and the NFF has been in no hurry to name a replacement.

Earlier this week, a statement from NFF’s Spokesman Ademola Olajire said the new coach will be named this month, and KickOffNigeria.com gathers that the Technical Committee recommended a European coach with the choice being among a woman coach from France, Holland or Germany.

A number of locals, including former coaches and former internationals, had been rumored to be in the running for the job, but a source within the committee informed KickOffNigeria.com that they had opted against any of those.

NATION SPORT

Home-Eagles go P on break LAYERS of Nigeria’s Super Eagles will go on break today following their latest tune-up game against Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club, Lobi Stars on Wednesday.

A 3-1 success against the Makurdi club

Ameobi: Man United struggles with aerial game

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IGERIA-BORN international Shola Ameobi admits Newcastle United shocked Manchester United thanks to a physical aerial game.

United lost 3-0 on Tyneside on Wednesday night.

Ameobi, who set up Demba Ba’s opener, reckoned United’s 3-2 defeat to Blackburn on Saturday boosted the Geordies’ belief.

He said: “We saw what Blackburn did a few days ago and we thought that was something we could work on with our height.

“We had an aerial plan and it worked for us.”

earned lavish praise for coach Stephen Keshi who has now confirmed that the players will proceed on a break today.

“Yes, they will be going on break to help their respective (domestic) clubs in the NPL (which commences on Saturday),” Keshi told SuperSport.com.

With domestic games set to be decided at the weekend, fears have been raised about the players coming down with fatigue ahead of potentially physically demanding fixtures.

Media Chief of the team, Ben Alaiya was, however, quick to douse such fears.

“The players will not be tired. They have been training seriously and their clubs will stand to benefit greatly as a result of this.

“And besides, this is not the first time such a scenario will be playing itself out. When (Clemens) Westerhof was the coach of the team, something similar happened so I think the boys will cope fine,” he said.

Liverpool, Spurs eye Moses •Agent says he is happy at Wigan

T •Aminu Maigari

Niger Delta Polo tourney gets new date From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt HE 2012 Niger Delta Polo Tournament scheduled to hold from the January 7–14, 2012 has been postponed due to the fuel subsidy removal crisis that has hit the nation.

The tournament which is expected to host about thirty two teams from within and outside the country, was scheduled kick off this weekend at the Port Harcourt Polo club.

Speaking at a Press briefing held on Thursday, the club’s President Ibifiri Bobmanuel said that the organisers of the tournament had thought it wise to shift the tourney forward due to the recent security unstability that the country is currently experiencing.

“It would interest you to know that we have temporarily postponed the Niger Delta Polo tournament from the January 7 to 21 as a result of the impending strike action due to the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“We as a club would love to have a beautiful tournament. We also have to show solidarity with the Labour Union, and would also like to be part of it. We can’t afford to be hosting a tournament when there is strike. It means our turn out is going to be low.

“And the tournament has been fashioned to attract so much players from within and outside the country and we will not want anything to disrupt our plans. Every other aspect of the tournament is in top gear, we are ready to go, infact we’ve been ready for about a week but we have to put it on hold till the 21st. I assure you that this is not going to take away the shine from the tournament. The most important thing is security first”.

The organisers also noted that they’ve been in touch with all the participating thirty two teams and that all are in agreement with the new date.

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OP Premier League clubs including Tottenham, Liverpool and Sunderland have been the alerted to the availability of Wigan’s Victor Moses, after the winger’s agent revealed that talks over a new contract have stalled.

Moses has been one of the Latics star performers in the last six months, having only previously shown flashes of his ability following a much hyped transfer from Crystal Palace in January 2010.

As his stock has continued to rise, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez opened talks over a new deal just over a month ago, but despite initial contact being made, the negotiations have since stalled, much to the frustration of his agent Tony Finnigan.

“We talked to Wigan about a contract five weeks ago but still haven’t seen anything,” he said.

The news has alerted Moses’ of many potential suitors, with Finnigan also confirming he’s been receiving calls from clubs up and down the country about his much sought after client.

“My phone goes all the time. Victor’s got his admirers out there,” he added.

One of those admirers is Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill, who is on the look out for new talent in the wide areas, amid speculation that Stephane Sessegnon is unsettled in the North East, and could be on his way out of the Stadium of Light.

Wigan would be hopeful they could fend off interest from Sunderland, but should Spurs, Liverpool, or even

Chelsea, who have all previously scouted Moses, come calling, it would be a different matter.

A bid of around £8 million would almost certainly convince Martinez to sell, as he plots a January reshuffle of his squad, to aid his sides battle against relegation.

However, Moses agent says the Nigeria international is happy to stay at Wigan.

“He is obviously on the radar of other clubs, he is a young player in the Premier League playing really well,” his representative Tony Finnigan told skysports.com.

“He is one of the most exciting young talents in the country, but he is contracted to Wigan and is very happy with life at the club. Yes we have had talks, discussions, but there has been nothing in writing. But as I said he is contracted to Wigan, happy and until he is told otherwise, he will remain committed to the club.”

•Moses

Angola prefers Eagles clash in Cotonou O

NE of the finalists for the 2012 Nations Cup Angola have now asked for Nigeria’s second team to play against them in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on January 11.

There has been a bit of confusion over the venue for this 2012 AFCON warmup earlier fixed for January 11 after the Angolans first claimed the game will be played in Lagos, but Nigerian officials were disposed to staging the clash in Abeokuta.

F

where he played for Waltham Forest in the Ryman League Division One North.

However, he has put that behind for a new start in the NPL. Okunowo made a good impression as a second half substitute when Sunshine played a 1-1 draw against Warri Wolves in a friendly on Wednesday.

"He has been a true professional since his arrival at Sunshine Stars. It appears he will be part of the team for the new season. We are happy to have him here as his experience will be useful to the team," a Sunshine source told naijapremierleague.net Besides Okunowo, Sunshine also have Vietnam returnee, Osas Idehen, at their Oleh camp.

Idehen left Enyimba for H?i Phòng F.C. in 2010, but is back in the country.

He made his international debut for Nigeria in March 2010 and scored a brace against Congo DR in a friendly match.

The Gbenga Ogunbote tutored side have since lured former JS Kabylie and Al-Ittihad star, Izu Azuka, to boost their squad for their African campaign.

“We are therefore making arrangements in this regard now.”

Officials also informed MTNFootball.com that the Nigeria ‘B’ team, who have been training in Abuja since last month under Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi will finally go on break on January 17.

They will then resume next month preparatory to a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier away in Rwanda on February 29.

NIGERIA/ANGOLA FRIENDLY

NFF explains decision to dump Abuja

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IGERIA Football Federation’s (NFF) General Secretary, Musa Amadu has explained why the football house jettioned Abuja as venue of the international friendly match between the Super Eagles and their Angolan counterparts slated for next week.

Explaining, the scribe who spoke to

8 players die in auto crash IGHT footballers who were based

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From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja NationSport in Abuja said, “the problem we have with Abuja is a very peculiar one.

“You know that the Abuja Stadium is a very magnificent, which would need a lot of mobilization to get it fill to capacity. I don’t think we are prepared for that now, especially since it is a friendly encounter. We want the players to play under a very compact atmosphere. We want them to feel the

crowd and know how to react at such as an occasion,” Amadu stressed.

He assured that every assistance would be extended to the team to make them a force to reckon with in Africa. He appealed for the understanding of all Nigerians in this quest.

“Building a new team needs a lot of patience, and that is exactly what we are appealing from all Nigerians especially the sporting press. They should join hands with us ensure we achieve this singular desire which would be the benefit of all Nigerians,”he concluded.

in Bauchi State in Northern Nigeria died instantly in a accident that occurred on Tuesday along Zubo-Azare road in Katagun Local Government area of the state.

The bus in which the footballers were travelling collided with a Honda car and the four persons comprising the man, his wife and two children in the car also died on the spot.

Several other travellers were injured in the auto crash and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Eyewitnesses account said the bus which the footballers were travelling in collided with a Honda car and the two vehicles went up in flames and the victims who were burnt beyond recognition have already been given mass burial.

The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC in Bauchi has confirmed the accident and the deaths.

The FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Mamman Zakariya told newsmen in Bauchi on Wednesday that the accident involved a Toyota bus with registration number AE 108 FTA and a Honda car marked AE 499 DKU. Zakariya blamed the accident on reckless driving. He urged motorists to always obey traffic rules. The deceased were given mass burial, while the injured were taken to Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Azare.

Okunowo moves to Sunshine Kwara United ORMER Barcelona and Super Eagles right-back, Gbenga Okunowo, is set to return to the Nigerian scene with CAF Champions League campaigners, Sunshine Stars. naijapremierleague.net can reveal that Okunowo who made a surprise move from IICC (now 3SC) to the Nou Camp in 1998 is presently training with the NPL runners-up at their Oleh camp, in Delta State, ahead of the 2011/2012 season.

Barcelona scouts were impressed with his performance at the inaugural UEFACAF Meridian Cup, in 1997 and he eventually sealed a deal worth $50 000, a massive transfer fee for an untested player at that time.

He was also at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, in Nigeria and the 2000 Summer Olympics, in Sydney.

Injuries affected the vast majority of his professional career, which was spent in Spain (Barcelona and Club Deportivo Badajoz), Portugal (Benfica), Romania (Dinamo Bucaresti),Albania (KF Tirana), Ukraine (FC Metalurh Donetsk and FC Stal Alchevsk), Maldives Island (VB Sports), Greece (Ionikos), and England,

A nationwide strike action declared by the country’s labour union to protest new fuel prices beginning Monday was in danger of also scuttling this match-up, before Angola requested for the game to be played in Benin Republic.

“It looks that we have finally reached an agreement as regards where this match will be played after Angola asked that it be played in Cotonou,” said a top NFF official.

captures Uweru

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OALKEEPER, Michael Uweru has pitched tents with NPL side, Kwara United for the 2011/2012

season.

The agile goalkeeper was impressive at the former NPL side, Crown in the 2010/2011 season.

The Ogbomosho-based team will campaign at the lower division whenever their financier, Oyo state government reconstitute the team.

Uweru told SuperSport.com that he has completed his movement to Kwara United.

“Yes, I have moved to Kwara United for the 2011/2012 season. I’m satisfied and happy with what I am offered.”

Uweru, however, is not sure for a starting shirt against Ocean Boys in the 2011/2012 opener in llorin on Sunday, January 08.

“I can’t say I will start against Ocean Boys. I am fresher in Kwara, most teams have their traditions, I won’t want to alter it. But be rest assured that I will fight for the number one shirt.”

Martins sets aside $2.5 Otonye Iworima: My for charity N eyes on London IGERIAN striker Obafemi Martins has told MTNFootball.com he plans to spend over N400 million (over $2.5 million) to help the poor in his country through his Obafemi Martins Aid Foundation.

“I have a budget of about N400 million for my charity. I always said that if I became successful in my career, I wish to help the less privileged in our society,” Rubin Kazan of Russia striker told MTNFootball.com “Since I moved to Europe about 10 years ago, I have always helped my friends and family and even people on the streets, but now I wish to do even more.”

Nigeria is an oil-rich country but the majority of its citizens live below the poverty line with basic needs like food, shelter and medical care in very short supply.

“Nigerians deserve to live a better life, but the government alone cannot do everything. It is left for organisations and individuals who are in a position to also help those in need,” offered Martins, who has also featured for Newcastle in England and Italian club Inter Milan.

“I’m mostly in Lagos and so can see for myself what the governor (Babatunde Raji Fashola) has done to cushion the sufferings of the people. He has done this sometimes at great expense and sacrifice.

“For instance, my father’s house in Orile was demolished so as to make way for a massive expressway for the neighbourhood. It was painful but when you see what he has done, you cannot but support him.”

The Obafemi Martins Aid Foundation is dedicated to the memory of the striker’s mother and brother, who are now both

S

•Martins deceased.

“My mother was a very big influence on my life and my career. She was an Alhaja (prayerful Muslim woman leader) and I remember she will come round to pray for me when I struggled with injuries and wasn’t scoring goals,” Martins revealed.

“I also miss my brother Ladi, he was my best friend.”

‘Obagoal’ kicked off his charity work during the recent holidays with a visit to a motherless children’s home in Lagos, where he donated food items to the 100 inmates.

Several of Nigeria’s top stars like Nwankwo Kanu, Joseph Yobo, John Utaka and Rabiu Afolabi have founded foundations to help with the health, education and the general well being of the country’s poor.

QPR, Wolves battle for Onuoha

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•Shola Ameobi

UEENS Park Rangers (QPR) and Wolverhampton Wanderers have both made moves for Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, skysports.com understands.

QPR are launching a bid of £4million for Onuoha while he wants £50,000 a week.

The former England Under-21 star is very much in demand, with a host of Premier League clubs battling for his signature. Bolton were leading the chase as they targeted him to fill the void should Gary Cahill complete his move away.

But, whilst Cahill remains at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton cannot make their move, which has now seen other clubs come in.

Both QPR and Wolves have now made offers believed to be in the region of £2.5million for the 25-year-old stopper.

West Bromwich Albion are also joining the fray, but they are believed to be looking at a loan with a view to a permanent deal. North East duo Newcastle and Sunderland are also monitoring the situation but City are hoping a deal is concluded sooner rather than later. City boss Roberto Mancini has told Onuoha, who came through the club’s own youth system, that he does not figure in his plans.

HE was at the center of triple jump controversy at the last All African Games in Maputo, being award a gold spot only for the medal to be withdrawn after complaints from a fellow competitor that recordings of their jumps were not properly done. Otonye Iworima, Nigeria’s silver medalist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games was honest enough to acknowledge she couldn’t possibly have leapt the distance accorded her. That sincerity would cost having her name place against any medal at the Mozambique Games and months after she says the whole episode is now forgotten. Speaking on Wednesday to OLUSOJI OLUKAYODE, the jumper complained of neglect of the home based athletes by sports authorities.

However, with all the odds arranged against her Olympic appearance, Iworima says her Olympic dreams are still alive.

But she touched on other important issues. Excerpts HOW was your overall performance last year?

It was okay I hope you have shaken off the Maputo issue It has passed now.

So what targets have you set for yourself this year?

To qualify for the Olympics What are the challenges?

It’s the same thing now, it has not changed, lack of support, adequate support from the federal government especially as home based athletes What are the specifics?

It’s basically that. If you don’t take care of your athletes eventually the results you want to get you won’t get them.

Are these the general concerns of your colleagues as well?

These are the basic concerns of anybody in track and field What steps have you people recently taken and what were the reactions?

Why should we react? What steps should we take? These are basically things you are supposed to give your athletes, so that they can perform excellently. There are little reactions people will take, probably, they can put in their own effort, their own money so that they will go and do (what they want).

What are the steps you’ll be taking to see that you make it against all odds to get to the Olympics?

That’s it now, I will carry my own money, train myself, carry my own money, go and put myself in competitions, try and qualify for the Olympics, that’s all What competitions are you looking at now?

I want to go for the Indoors That’s in Europe, when?

February, March Any positive from Maputo?

Any positive like what?

Any encouragements drawn from it?

Hmm, no, the opposite. They say they are not paying home based athletes

training grant. I don’t know what sort of message they think they will be sending by that action. It just clearly shows that to be a home based athlete is a disadvantage. I really don’t know what they want again. If that is not chasing home based athletes away, I don’t know what that is.

At least your training schedule is still intact?

I still train. To train inside the national stadium now is another issue.

How do you mean They keep locking it So what happens when they lock it?

We find somewhere else to train if we can find it. They keep discouraging us every time; I don’t know what they expect. With one hand you’re pulling us down and with another you are expecting us to perform miracle, for what?

•Iworima

AFCON 2012: Pardew turns to Shola

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IGERIA born Shola Ameobi has been identified as one of the shoulders that will bear the burden of Newcastle when the Nations Cup gets underway in Gabon and Equitorial Guinea January 21.

Ameobi who enjoys perfect blend up front with Senegalese international Demba Ba, will be expected to bring out all the arsenal in his armoury as Ba is already tidying up to leave for the Nations Cup. Elated fans of Newcastle who have already began permutations over how the team will fair in the absence of impressive Ba, believe Ameobi who grabbed a medal in 2010 when the club won Championship trophy is equal to the task. “He is a good guy, he is able to deliver when it matters," they enthused shortly after Newcastle handed Manchester United a 3-0 defeat Wednesday.

Ameobi who played for England U21 in 2000-2003 scoring seven goals in the bargain, was cleared to play for Nigeria by FIFA in November

By Julius Okorie last year, and would have been on duty for Nigeria had Super Eagles not failed to qualify for the Nations Cup, the first time the team will be missing in 25 years.

Teranga Lions of Senegal who have

been tipped alongside Black Stars of Ghana and Elephants of Cote'd Ivoire to rule proceedings in Gabon/ Equitorial Guinea, are banking on the magic of Ba to carry the day. Ba's screamer against United Wednesday, takes his goals this season to 15 in in 15 premiership matches.

Early goals affected us –Okpotu

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OBI STARS forward, Tony Okpotu, has attributed the failure of his team to comeback against the Super Eagles in Wednesday's friendly to early goals.

Goals from Kabir Umar, Sunday Mba and Izu Azuka gave the Super Eagles a 3-1 victory over the Nigeria Premier League side in the friendly organised to prepare both sides ahead of their forthcoming assignments.

The Stephen Keshi tutored Eagles composed of top stars in the NPL are preparing for two international matches against Angola's Palancas

Negras, on January 11, before flying to Monrovia to take on the Lone Stars at the Antoinette Taubman Stadium, on January 15, while Lobi used the match to prepare for the new season.

"It was a good match for us though we made some mistakes that resulted in early goals. We've learnt our lessons and look good for the new season," Okpotu, who debuted in the elite class for Lobi told SuperSport.com.

The Makurdi side featured former Enyimba goalkeeper, John Lawrence and former Dolphins'star, Jonah Abutu in Wednesday's friendly.

CAPACITY

CRIME

APPEAL

Fadama III trains people on soap making

Trainee driver, others held for alleged robbery

Society urges selfless leadership

Nasarawa 28

Lagos

FRIDAY JANUARY 6, 2012

38

Delta

40

Page 25

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Okorocha challenges the Army on sacrifice

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•Okorocha

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has enjoined officers and men of the Army to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice in the discharge of their duties.

Governor Okorocha who gave the advice at the Annual Training Programme of Chaplain Services of the Catholic Church held at Catholic Pastoral Centre, Owerri, maintained that sacrifice has become expedient in the quest to move the country forward.

He praised the commitment exhibited by the Army in defend-

From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

ing the nation’s democracy during the last general elections, attributing the triumph of democracy in Imo State to the neutrality of the Army during the exercise.

He also said that the sacrifice of reducing the security vote appropriated to the office of the governor and other privileged top government officials from N6.5b to N2.5b is in line with his deter-

mination to move the state forward, adding that such sacrifice has not been exhibited by any other governor in the history of the country.

The governor commended the Army for the programme which he said further underscored the significance of chaplaincy in institutions, saying it has always encouraged good behaviour.

Also speaking, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, said the Army has always maintained religious cohesion and tolerance in the bar-

racks.

He explained that the programme is designed to ensure counseling for good conduct as well as transform the lifestyle of officers and men of the Nigerian Army.

The theme of the programme, he said, was “The Role of the Chaplaincy (Catholic Church) in Transforming the Nigerian Army into a Force Better Able to meet Contemporary Challenges.”

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HEY came in large numbers, and all were so well treated that they wept for joy. For being cared for and given a sense of belonging like their able-bodied counterparts, the less-privileged who were called together for merry-making by Godwin Ezeemo Trust Fund Organisation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), wept profusely. The foundation showered various gifts on them.

They are blind, deaf or dumb, but the happiness they exuded made a huge impression on the donors and the audience.

The NGO had visited some homes for the downtrodden in order to fete them during the Yuletide.

The homes visited by the organisation were the Special Education Centre for the Mentally Ill located at Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Basden Memorial Special Education Centre for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb at Isulo in Orumba South Local Government Area.

Others were Orphanage Tender Love Home in Awka, Mother of Christ Compassionate Home for the Needy and Abandoned and Lucy O’Charity Orphanage at Ihiala.

Each of the homes received a donation of N50,000, over 10 bags of rice, cartons of Indomie, toilet tissues, cartons of biscuits, rolls of toilet soaps, among others.

The exercise was not only entertaining but also amazing in the sense that the deaf and dumb had nice time as they twirled their hairs in appreciation of the songs by the crowd that touched even the stonehearted.

Despite their disability, they expressed happiness in their own way, trying to prove to the audience that there is ability in disability.

Mr. Sunday Steve Nwafor, who received the items on behalf of the Special Education Centre for the mentally ill described the founder of the NGO, Godwin

•Mr Ilo presenting cash to sister Ndupu of Christ Compassionate Home

Foundation fetes the needy Recipients appreciative of gesture Benefactor promises more From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Ezeemo as a true and free-minded philanthropist.

He further said that the donations had been constant as the organisation had been donating to

the homes even before the festive period. He prayed God to blessing him.

He also pledged to make judicious use of the items, just as he disclosed that recently, some of the children of the home went to

Greece on a competition and won silver medals as a testimony that there is ability in disability.

At the Basden Memorial Special Education Centre (school for the blind, deaf and dumb) in Orumba South Council Area, the blind

sang praises to God while the deaf and dumb clapped enthusuiastically.

The Administrative Secretary of the Home, Mrs Assumpta Ifensor who received the gift items thanked Ezeemo for his humanitarian work.

She called on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the good work of the philanthro•Continued on Page 26

THE NATION

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

Foundation fetes the needy •Continued from page 25

pist, even as she added that the children needed more help from wealthy individuals.

The Manager of the Ezeemo Trust Fund Organisation, Mr. Uchechukwu Anozie, who stood in for the founder, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, told Newsextra that the organisation was set up as a result of several demands by people that always approach the founder for financial assistance.

Anozie said: “The organisation started in 2006 with a few members. Since then, we have been giving scholarships to indigent students yearly at the rate of N50,000 each. This brings the amount given to 20 students on yearly scholarships at over N1m.”

He further disclosed that visiting the less-privileged homes and orphanages started modestly long ago. He, however, expressed the hope that certain projects would be carried out. These, he said, include establishment of business centres and cyber cafes through which the less-privileged in the society could be involved in skills acquisition.

Furthermore, he expressed dismay that the organisation had challenges in getting land for the project, even though he hoped that they would overcome such difficulties.

The manager stated that in order to spread the assistance evenly in 2007, the organisation started a football competition in schools in order to catch them young to enable students who were not brilliant academically but could be-

A

FIRM, Eldon Biological Nigeria Limited (EBNL) has introduced a dry format card for accurate and rapid blood grouping.

The card is said to be easy to use and requires minimal effort from health providers.

Speaking in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of Nigerian Directors of EBNL, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Rev. Donald Maike explained that the product was invented by a Danish physician called Knud Eldon, after whom the product was named.

•Basden Memorial Special Education Centre school for the blind, deaf and dumb in Isulo

come something in life through sports to participate actively.

Recall that Ezeemo was awarded the 2011 Entrepreneur Man of the Year by the Anambra

State chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). On that occasion, he appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to be involved in charity work for the less-privileged

The organisation was set up as a result of several demands by people that always approach the founder for financial assistance…The organisation started in 2006 with a few members. Since then, we have been giving scholarships to indigent students yearly at the rate of N50, 000 each

individuals, and orphanages in the society, stressing that it would give them a sense of belonging.

Ezeemo also promised to complete the two-storey building of the Anambra State Secretariat of the NUJ which would cost about N50m.

Also, the Secretary of the organisation, Mr Kenneth Ilo, who was touched by the vibrancy of the lessprivileged, urged other eminent Nigerians to join in the crusade of helping the needy in the society.

He said that apart from giving assistance to the orphanages, Ezeemo Trust Fund had series of programmes in education, offers scholarships to over 120 students

some of whom he said had graduated.

The Sports Consultant and coordinator Sports Logistics of Ezeemo Trust Fund, Coach Christopher Aniorah told Newsextra that the organisation had organised series of sports competitions in various schools in Umuchu Community.

The competition by the Trust Organisation had been extended to three local government areas (Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South), adding that the organisation has sensitised four senatorial zones that would take part in sports competition which Aniorah told Newsextra would kick off this month.

Life-saving instrument for care givers From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

Maike spoke on the functions of the device, saying it is easty to operate and that, after test, the result only takes a couple of minutes to be ready.

The beauty of the card is its accuracy, he said, adding “Eldon cards are handy, not messy, do not denature, demands no special storage facility and thus of-

fers advantages in emergencies besides testing in remote locations without electricity.”

The boss of EBNL also said that clinical experiences have shown that “testing of blood bags of donors against the recipient blood is the only sure safeguard against blood transfusion disasters and the card is such that even the ward nurse can easily perform this bed-side confirmation before setting the blood.”

He said that since researches

From left: Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor and Obi’s wife, Margaret, after the dedication of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Awka, the state capital PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

in Britain, France, America and Germany proved that about 50 percent of blood transfusion accidents are fraught with handling errors therefore the testing of blood prior to transfusion is now mandatory in France, Australia, Germany and Hungary.

This practice is also gaining ground in other countries such as Russia, Spain, China and

Chile. It is also expected that there would be adoption of this life-saving precautionary measure in other countries of the world.

It was further disclosed that the health authorities in a number of countries have approved the use of Eldon cards in Nigeria and the cards have been approved and registered with NAFDAC.

Clinical experiences have shown that “testing of blood bags of donors against the recipient blood is the only sure safeguard against blood transfusion disasters and the card is such that even the ward nurse can easily perform this bed-side confirmation before setting the blood

THE NATION

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

Experts want cassava production revitalised

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ITH the completion of audit training for 12 Nigerian Engineers and six Socio-Economists on the development of cassava small and mediumenterprises (SMEs), the Federal Government has commenced re-routing of cassava for real development of Nigeria’s economy.

United Kingdom-based Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich facilitated the training with manpower such as Andrew Marchant, a private consulting Engineer; Kolawole Adebayo, a notable agricultural-economist assisted the Federal Government to purchase state-of-the-art equipment towards accomplishing ‘white gold vision’ for Nigeria from cassava value additions.

The Nigeria office of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a fivenation Cassava Adding Value for Africa, C: AVA headed by Prof. Lateef Oladimeji Sanni of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta offered vast experience as back-up to Nigeria’s novel populist economic initiative called Cassava Transformation Action at the training which aimed at sustainable high quality cassava flour (HQCF) value chains.

Prof Lateef Sanni hinted that Andrew Marchant was in Nigeria to ‘interact with Nigerian Engineers to enable th country to bring out the best technology for cassava’ while Andrew Marchant corroborated his view by saying that he was in Nigeria to ‘improve the profitability of cassava production by assisting on designs improvement.’

With the deliberate intervention by the Hon. Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, 12 Nigerian Engineers and six Socio-Economists drawn from private sectors, government agencies and research institutes across Nigeria spent days to understudy the invaluable roles cassava is set to play in the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

According to Prof. Sanni, the Cassava Value Chain Team was after ‘cost reduction in drying; observa-

From Kayode Bhadmus, Abeokuta

tion of overall efficiency in processing; recommendation of tools to achieve optimal result; upgrading of thriving processing plants; revival of closed SMEs to boost needs nation-wide; and targeting between 300,000 and 400,000 tons of High Quality Cassava Flour required to service the regular desire of the flour mills.

The experts exchanged ideas on engineering applications in cassava value-additions while they simultaneously analysed the socio-economic prospects beckoning Nigeria from the Cassava Transformation Action if properly implemented, especially in the area of high quality cassava flour expected to be blended with virtually imported wheat in the production of bread.

Some of the Nigerian experts in attendance praised C: AVA precedence on cassava before the present national intervention for this infamous African root saying, ‘C: AVA is the greatest opportunity for us in Africa. They remarked that “SMEs must develop. We must take the unemployed off the streets. There is the need for us to do something drastically that will take care of the future. This is radically important.”

In recent times, Nigeria spent $635bn annually to import wheat grains required for the milling of whole wheat flour needed to produce bread, one of Nigeria’s most staple foods and other confectionaries. Within the same period, some 22 months ago, researchers at Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi, FIIRO, in conjunction with Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology, NIFST, treated Nigerians to high-grade loaves and great taste of bread made in Nigeria produced from imported wheat blended with 10 per cent High Quality Cassava Flour, through Nigeria’s master-bakers across Ondo, Ogun and Lagos in a back-up offered to C: AVA Nigeria project.

It has been discovered that with further improved technology, policy

•Cassava heaps consistency, culture of quality among cassava processors including patriotic relations by other stakeholders including the media, Nigeria can still save more than $63.5bn which is10 per cent annual import bills. This way, it can boost per capita income of peasant cassava farmers which constitutes the nation’s populous grassroots on cassava bread alone.

The practical perspectives of the audit rehearsal of the SMEs took the team of engineers and socioeconomists to two essentially different cassava processing plants: Peak Products Limited and Morafel Limited both in Ogun State for instant assessments after Dr. Engr Andrew Marchant and Dr Kolawole Adebayo had led the participants in initial brainstorming on the scope of the training which emphasis at targeting continuous access to High Quality Cassava Flour for composite flour needs of Nigeria and the ultimate production of regular made in Nigeria breads among others.

Throughout the training period,

high-powered representatives of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development led by Mrs Olajumoke Adewolu, Principal Agric Officer, encouraged the experts at the training programme with words of assurance from the minister, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina.

It was stated that the Federal Government’s transformation of agriculture ‘is about reversing the downward trend of cassava which is easily grown in Nigeria. “Government is interested in upgrading the yield per ton of cassava and improving the processing of the root while zero per cent tax relief will be enjoyed by cassava farmers.’ ”Federal Government wishes to have real farmers registered; upgrade the quality in cassava values; treat stakeholders on quality management; get SMEs registered and certificated; and yet, continuously encourage end-users to further analyse the product while government will do everything possible to offer growth enhancement supports to SMEs.”

With the ongoing developments, ‘Federal Government is trying to look at global standards to make cassava marketable; to create jobs and improve the livelihood of Nigerians through cassava transformation.

To realise the ‘white gold vision’areas of infrastructural development such as rural link roads across farms, non-hydro and nonpetroleum-based electricity supply to power cassava processing plants and cottage industries should be given proper attention.

Experts at the training session which was put in place by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development concluded that the available technology for cassava processing in Nigeria was desirable but further improvement of the flash dryers could reduce fuel consumption at the processing plants while quality road networks could increase productivity, quality and patronage The stakeholders urged government to utilize the rare opportunity before it.

Lawmaker makes case for oil producing communities From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

•Hon. Dakuku

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ORRIED at the way coastal erosion is threatening to annihilate some oil-bearing communities in Rivers State which is tagged the “treasure base

of the nation,” Hon. Dakuku Peterside, the lawmaker representing Andoni/ Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to save these areas.

The affected communities which Peterside listed are about 35 and they are spread across Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Akuku Toru, Okrika, Bonny and Ahoada-West local government areas.

The lawmaker who disclosed this during an interactive session tagged “An Evening With Your Representative” with members of his constituency in Port Harcourt lamented that these communities are unknowingly sitting on a keg of powder because “if nothing is done urgently, they stand the risk of losing over 40km strip of the land mass.”

Apart from losing the land mass,

Dakuku has invited us here not to seek for votes but to tell us how far he has gone in the House of Representatives…We have given our best to the country and I believe that at the appropriate time, we will be rewarded

the sea level in these areas “is most likely going to rise up to 30cm in the next 20 years if the situation is not addressed. And this is authoritative because it is based on research.”

Stressing on the urgency of saving the communities, he stated that “government can no longer afford to wait until there is one form of agitation or the other before taking action on an issue as important as people’s rights and privileges to their natural and God-given wealth.”

He prayed that oil-bearing communities in Nigeria do not face the same fate that befell Ecuador, where an oil company brought the country to ruins after exploiting its oil, Peterside, who is also Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources, used the opportunity to give account of his stewardship to his people since he became a member of the National Assembly.

He listed some of the bills which he sponsored to ensure the welfare of Nigerians in general and Rivers people in particular to include the bill for the establishment of legal and regulatory framework, institutions and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian petroleum industry.

He also stated that ethnicity and religion have not hindered him from supporting or making meaningful contributions on the issues that affect the welfare of other Nigerians outside his constituency.

For instance, following the collapse of the Gorongo Dam in Sokoto

State, “Peterside co-sponsored the motion calling on the Federal Government to urgently proceed with the reconstruction of the dam in order to assist farmers in the area.”

Another motion he co-sponsored was that which called for painstaking investigation into the petrol tanker fire outbreak at the Central Police Station Prison Roundabout in Enugu State.

In his speech, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru who was the special guest o f honour at the occasion described Peterside as a dedicated and committed legislator.

Ikuru, who incidentally is one of the constituents of Peterside, said: “Dakuku has invited us here not to seek for votes but to tell us how far he has gone in the House of Representatives.

“We have given our best to the country and I believe that at the ap-

propriate time, we will be rewarded.”

Also speaking, Senator Magnus Abe who was chaired the occasion praised the people of Andoni/ Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency for choosing a very able representative because Nigeria is in very difficult situation and moving it forward poses a great challenge.

For this reason Abe said that “for a constituency that does not chose a person who is committed and able to serve them, they are short-changing themselves and Nigeria.”

He thanked Peterside for gathering his people to tell them what he has done since they voted him into office and assured that he would be at the beck and call of his colleague lawmaker.

Highlight of the occasion was the inauguration of a seven-member Andoni/ Opobo-Nkoro Economic Summit Group for this year.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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Fishermen, boat operators lament removal of oil subsidy

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• Governor Akpabio

T

HE cost of marine transport, goods and services in some coastal communities in Akwa Ibom State has risen by between 120 per cent and 150 per cent.

A n investigation showed that the sudden increase in prices was due to the removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government on January 1.

The worst affected is marine transport.

The new marine transport which took effect on Monday showed that a boat shuttle from Ibeno, headquarters of Ibeno Local Government Area to Itak Abasi, a fishing community within the council area, rose to N100 per passenger as against N30.

A boat ride from Ibeno to Ntafre-Akata now

Fadama III trains soap makers

HE Co-ordinator of Fadama III project in Nasarawa State, Mr Muhammad Alkali, has urged small-scale entrepreneurs to acquire modern technology for making black soap to improve its quality.

Alkali told participants at the end of a threeday workshop on soap making in Lafia that they should put the knowledge gained to use to improve the economy of the state.

He said that the aim of the workshop was to train businessmen and women on modern methods of making black soap, locally known as “Sapulun Solo’’.

Alkali said that if the participants put the knowledge acquired to use, they would add value to their products.

“It is all about capacity building in order to

Nasarawa help small scale entrepreneurs enhance their businesses,’’ he said.

The resource person, Sunday Apeji, said that since the training was mostly practical, the knowledge acquired would go a long way to help the participants in their businesses.

He charged them to be diligent in the business of soap making to avoid any mistake that could cause failure in their businesses.

Two participants, Mrs Victoria Yakubu and Mr Benjamin Dauda, commended the efforts of Fadama III and promised to use the knowledge gained to improve their income.

Speaker warns agencies against poor performance

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HE Speaker , Plateau State House of Assembly,Mr John Dabwan, has said that any ministry or parastatal agency, which fails to perform in 2012, will be sanctioned.

Dabwan told journalists in Jos that the assembly was dissatisfied with the performances of most government organisations.

“We have directed that each ministry, parastatal and department should submit a quarterly financial report to us beginning from next year to monitor the implementation of the budget.

“Anything that falls short of our expectation in terms of performance will attract serious sanction from the house.’’

He said that many of the agencies performed below 50 per cent, stressing that such a “dismal record should not be allowed to repeat itself in 2012’’.

T

T

HE Delta State government has promised to complete all inherited uncompleted projects, as well as those embarked upon by the current administration.

The Political Adviser to Delta Government,Chief Fred Majemite, made the promise in Asaba in an interview with reporters Majemite said that the state government had paid for most of the contracts it awarded and inherited and urged contractors to give government value for monies expended on projects by doing quality jobs.

The political adviser said: “Unless such action is taken, most contractors will continue to provide sub-standard services.

“That is the reason why most infrastructure that have to do with building and construction do not last in the country; they collapse before their expected life span.”

He appealed for patience and understanding

Govt plans public enlightenment on state of emergency

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HE Borno State government will put in place machinery to enlighten the public on the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan on some areas of the state.

The state Commissioner for Information Mr Inuwa Bwala, told newsmen after an emergency meeting of the State Executive

Dabwan said the lawmakers believed that the submission of quarterly reports by the government agencies would assist them in assessing the progress in the implementation of the budget.

Commenting on the removal of fuel subsidy, the Speaker praised the Federal Government for engaging Nigerians in a dialogue on the matter.

“The government has taken the right step in the right direction, which I believe, will help us to reach a meeting point,’’ he said.

Dabwan advised the government to continue with dialogue to know the minds of Nigerians on the plan.

The Chairman of Mushin Local Government,Hon Olatunde Adepitan appealed to politicians to take a cue from the philanthropic gesture of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by giving back a token of their resources to the needy. The beneficiaries included widows from churches, mosques, market, Community Development Associations and other segments of the society.

The wife of the council chairman, Mrs Rachael Oludayo Adepitan, urged wives of politicians to advise their husbands to remember the poor, so that they too can have joy during celebrations. Over 100 bags of rice and vegetable oil were distributed at the occasion.

• Hon. Adepitan, his wife, Oludayo, and one of the recipients at the council secretariat

•Chairman, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, Hon. AbduiFatai Oyesanya (third ) his wife 2nd right during the instection of the on going rehabilitation of Oladele Street, Ikosi-Isheri

‘Govt must guard against subsidy fraud’

T

HE Chief Exective of Kombined Technologies Ltd, Lagos, Dr Gbenga Omolayole has said government needs to assure Nigerians that the removal of fuel subsidy is not meant to achieve a hidden agenda.

He told Newsextra that the public has the right to reject the removal of fuel subsidy because they had been told the same story in the past without much impact on their standard of living.

Omolayole said: “For me, the issue of subsidy is quite straight forward, let us know how much we are spending to subsidise and the companies and people who are collecting the subsidy.”

The medical practitioner noted that the people enjoying the subsidy were the same that had allocation for oil blocks. What they were doing was to ship the crude oil out of the country and refine them along the West African coast or West Indies and bring it back to the country.

He said: “If I am convinced that there is no scam going on, this is my own recommendation to the President. Nigerians must know things in clear terms, the subsidy removal will thrust forward. Equally importantis the fact that their access to food, shelter, health, education and security must be guaranteed.”

He maintained that there were certain people who do not want the refineries to work and those refining the crude outside the shores of the country. “Apart from the fact that we are paying more to buy the product from them, they are also collecting out of our collective

By Musa Odoshimokhe

wealth; this to me is the first level of subsidy which constitutes a scam.”

“The second level of subsidy from privileged information is all the allocations of petroleum products that are going to the north so as to bridge the gap in price difference with the ones in the south since it will be costlier to get the product to the north”.

He stressed that the formula adopted by government had not worked because there had always been fuel scarcity in the north and people there pay even three times more than their counterparts from the south.

“I know that NNPC used to purchase the crude oil at a price lower than International price. We need to know what happens to the daily allocation of oil. Even if the refineries are down, I can tell you that at any point in time, there’s what we call ‘down time’ in the industry.

Nigeria can easily move up from it, because our demand can be met by distilling about 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day, ” he said. •Dr Omolayole

Borno Council that “Council met and deliberated on the declaration of the state of emergency.

“After brainstorming for some hours, council agreed on the need to educate our people on the development.

“Council stressed the need to disabuse the minds of our people on the misconception that all democratic structures have been removed,” Bwala said.

The commissioner said the meeting also resolved that council members should to go back to their various local government areas to educate their people on the true situation.

“Council also agreed to collaborate with the Federal Government and support whoever is coming to take charge of the security situation.

“We are appealing to our people to show understanding and cooperate with the security agencies as they battle with the security challenges facing us.”

Bwala said the emergency meeting also agreed to set up an inter-ministerial committee to work out modalities on how to compensate people affected by the Boko Haram crisis.

“The meeting agreed to set up a committee chaired by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha, to work out modalities for the distribution of relief packages to victims of Boko Haram crisis in the state.

“We also resolved to close down nine secondary schools in the state for complete rehabilitation in line with the state of emergency declared on education by Gov. Kashim Shettima,” Bwala said.

Briefly

Senator remembers constituents THE lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa has initiated a constituency project tagged: Senator Gbenga Ashafa Infrastructural Initiative. The project, which began with the grading of roads. Ikorodu and its environs are the first to benefit from the project and this has eased the transportation problem in the area.

Among the streets graded so far at Agbede major road linking to Ita-Oluwo under Ikorodu North Local Government include Association Avenue, Joshua Alabi, Kareem Olatunji, Bayo Omotosho, Wumi Oshikoya, Chief Deji Olasehinde, Omotayo, Niyi Taiwo, Alafia, Aderemi, Freedom, Prince Oshinusi, Victoria Christ Apostolic Church, Sangosanya and Famoritade.

The exercise which began on December 24, last year, has been successful as one of the residents said that the project was a big relief to transportation problem of the area.

According to one of the residents that preferred anonymity, the initiative is unusual in their locality and that kudos should be given to Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa for this project.

Delta from the people of the state.

Majemite explained that government some times had to borrow money from banks to cushion the effect of hardship on the masses as its overhead was also heavy.

He also called on the Federal Government to provide adequate infrastructure, especially those that had direct bearing on the people.

According to Majemite, the Federal Government is presently doing every thing possible to ensure steady power supply that will fast track the nation’s economy.

He said: “This is because with steady power supply, suffering and poverty will be at its minimal in the country.

“I am sure more people will rather learn trade and be self-employed than waiting for government to provide them with jobs.

• Governor Uduaghan “Come to think of it, how many people can the government truly employ.

“Government cannot employ even half of the graduates that graduate yearly from our higher institutions, much more the backlog,’’ he said.

‘Give us people-friendly policies’

•The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji carrying the 2012 Abia Baby of the year, Master Emmanuel John C

Plateau

Foundation remembers the needy HE National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been praised for showing love and care for the less-privileged.The commendation came from one of the beneficiaries of the Bola Tinubu Foundation Xmas Outreach at Mushin Local Government Area in Lagos.

During the distribution of branded bags of rice and vegetable oil in the council the recipients who are mainly the aged, the widows and the weak, thanked the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria for deeming it fit to remember them during the Yuletide period.

Delta to complete projects

Akwa Ibom cost N500, compared with earlier fare of N200 for the 45 minutes journey on the Atlantic Ocean.

Commercial motorcyclists, ferrying passengers along the sea shores from Ibeno Beach to the Okposo fishing community, now charge N500 per passenger, up from the previous N200.

John Etim, a boat operator, told journalists that the subsidy removal would cripple economic activities in the state’s fishing settlements.

“The poor people are at the receiving end of this fuel price increase announced on New Year day.

“Since our communities have no access road, we depend on boats powered by outboard engines and canoes for our transportation.

“It is common knowledge here that outboard engines consume a lot of petrol and each of the boats you see here uses an average of 100 litres of petrol each day.

“Before now, we spent N7, 500 on fuel daily, now it is N20, 000. Even with the fare increase, we still cannot make any profit so we still have to increase further if we must remain in business,” Etim said.

Akwa Ibom Chairman of Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN), Mr Samuel Ayadi, said that the fuel price increase would have a negative impact on peasant fishermen.

“We have been very worried because of the increase because petrol is the highest input in fishing business.

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clarion call has gone to President Goodluck Jonathan and other political leaders to evolve policies and programmes that would improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

The appeal came from the Leader of Mahdiyyat Congregation Worldwide, Ashraf Kamarudeen Otubu, at the 70th anniversary of the advent of Sheikh Muhammad AlMahdi which took place on Monday in IjebuOde, Ogun State.

He expressed his disappointment over the kid-glove manner governments at all levels are handling the security matters in Nigeria.

He, therefore, called on government to improve on their safety measures so that Nigerians would have respite from all manners of threat to lives and property.

Ashraf Otubu commiserated with the victims of bomb blasts and prayed that God would touch the minds of the perpetrators of the evil act.

Also speaking, Alfa Mufasir, Ijebu-Ode, Alhaji Bashir Elewuetu, said that all the political unrest, insecurity and economic meltdowns are among the signs of end time accompanying the appearance of the Messiah.

Elewuetu revealed that the much awaited Messiah by the whole world has already appeared in Nigeria.

According to him, the second-coming of Jesus Christ has been fulfilled by the advent of Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mahdi in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State Nigeria.

“In 1936, Sheikh Muhammad Jumah Adesina Imam started abolishing paganism among Muslims in IJebu land, Southwest

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Nigeria, later in the night of 30th of August, 1941, he received a Holy Spirit and God anointed him as Mahdi.”

He went further to narrate that on March 1943, God asked him to meet Him at Igoya, a small village Ijebu-Ode to receive His

•From left: Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim; Bashorun of Lagos Alhaji Sikiru Macfoy and Sheikh Tijani Gbajabiamila during the condolence visit to Sheikh Ibrahim over the death of his wife at Lagos Island

Abia spends N10b on federal roads

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BIA State government says that it has spent about N10 billion on the rehabilitation of various Federal roads across the three senatorial zones in the state.

The roads include, Uzuakoli/Ohafia Federal Highway, Arochukwu- Ohafia, PortHarcourt and Owerri roads in Aba and Ogbor Hill, Ikot Ekpene road also in Aba, old tower to Isieke, Osisioma ring road junction among others.

Speaking with journalists after inspecting on-going road projects in the state, the Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Works, Jude Nwokoro ,explained that over 25 other roads are also being rehabilitated by the state government across

covenant which he did and he was asked to build an Ark to symbolize the covenant and to give believers the seal of mark on their forehead. “In April 1944, on Good Friday, he laid the foundation of the Baitu-l-Ma’amur (The New Jerusalem). In 1945, God asked him to travel to Mecca to tell them that he is the Mahdi which he did and arrived in 1946.”

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

the state.

Nwokoro said: “Already the state government has mobilised all the contractors to site with the sum of over N2.5 billion which has resulted in the on-going massive rehabilitation going on in all parts of the state including Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State.

The Special Adviser said that the state government is utilising the current dry season to ensure that all the deplorable roads in the

state are rehabilitated to ameliorate the sufferings encountered by Abians as a result of bad network of roads in the State.

He said: “In the next one month, with the rate of work by the contractors, it is expected that majority of the roads would have been completed as the State Governor Theodore Orji is committed to fully implement his transformation policy through road reconstruction in the state”.

Nwokoro said that many of the roads are being rehabilitated in Aba including the Ohanku, Obohia, East road by Ngwa road, and other adjourning roads to East road, among others, so as to enhance the movement of people and business within the city.

Vehicle owners warned The Lagos Police Command has warned owners of vehicles parked at Area F Command Headquarters, Ikeja, to remove them immediately or have them forfeited through auction.

They are: 1. Accidented Ford Expedition Jeep – RU93KJA 2. Honda Acura - DR792AAA 3. Honda Civic Saloon car HQ639KJA 4. Geely C.K2CC Saloon carFQ239EKY 5. Greely C.K. 2CC Saloon carFQ245 EKY 6. Volkswagen Vento Saloon carBK496 AKD 7. Toyota Camry – SY164 KJA 8. Toyota Camry – AL 816 EFR 9. Mitsubishi L300 bus- AU 853 ABJ 10. Skoda saloon car – GX 641AAA 11. Nissan bus -M965 TSA 12. BMW Wagon -LR 914 KJA

From left: Chief launcher, Mrs. ‘Bimbo Orekoya, Managing Director, Thots and Works; author, Mrs. Oluwaseun Ogunleye, her husband, Mr. Babatunde Ogunleye and Managing Director, HealthPlus and Guest Speaker, Mrs. Bukky George at a public presentation of EBook entitled: Basics of Branding written by Ogunleye at the 2nd Anniversary of Brandforum held at the NECA Building, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

29

PEOPLE THE NATION

A SEVEN-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

Professor Bolaji Akinyemi has been in public limelight for long that his name has become synonymous with academic and political activism. When he turned 70 last Wednesday, friends, associates and family gathered to rejoice with him. SEYI ODEWALE was there

•The celebrator Prof Akinyemi assisted by his wife Rowena to cut the cake

70 garlands for ‘a patriot’ L

AGOS Island was cool that morning, with the harmattan wind blowing gently. People moved up and down.

Many were in commercial vehicles, others in their cars. The scene was Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in the heart of Lagos.

In front of the square is Our Saviour's Church. This Wednesday morning a lot of traffic headed towards the church. Gaily dressed personalities chauffeur-driven in dainty cars alighted and dashed into the church. Onlookers watched in askance as they looked towards the church. What's cooking? they seemed to ask.

It was Prof Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi's day.

Akinyemi, former Foreign Affairs Minister, turned 70 last Wednesday and Lagos virtually stood still for him. A reception at the nearby MUSON Centre, followed the commemorative church service.

The church premises indicated that a big event was going on. Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) stood on the link road to the

church, with the entrance and the exit literarly blocked.

Resplendent in their dresses, they exuded class, power and honour. They all came to honour a man they dubbed as a pragmatic foreign affairs minister.

Prof Akinyemi shone in his flowing royal blue Aso Oke Agbada . His wife, Rowena, and the children, completed the chain in their superbly sewn Agbada and Iro and Buba dresses. They stood out in the crowd.

The service kicked off at 11am with the opening hymn: “O happy day.” The order of service was strictly followed in the almost two-and-half hours it lasted.

In his sermon, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, and Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev Ephraim Adebola Ademowo, described Prof Akinyemi as a quintessential person whose humility and strength of character are unparalleled.“Prof Akinyemi is humble and at the same time firm. Very

many lessons we can learn from his life,” he noted.

The cleric recalled the growing days of the professor whose father he said he knew. “I happened to know his father very well and I want to say that Prof Akinyemi is a replica of his father. I want to say that without any apology. His father was the principal of Ilesha Grammar School and St Andrew’s College, Oyo. And in those days, when you are a principal, you are like a Vice Chancellor of a University. His father was a Commissioner for Local Government and he was a Vicar of All Souls’ Church, Bodija, Ibadan. And when I was a student in the University of Ibadan I was also going to Bodija to see Papa then. Prof Akinyemi was nurtured with the water and bread of the word of God,” he said.

According to the cleric, God has been kind to the Akinyemis for the gift of the erudite professor who has impacted positively on the nation.

After the sermon were other ‘rituals’ like

the Holy Communion, thanksgiving and the Benediction before the guests left for the Muson Centre for the social reception.

In a congratulatory message sent by President Goodluck Jonathan, the president noted that Prof Akinyemi’s family, friends and well-wishers have great cause to celebrate him considering the distinguished life of dedicated service to humanity which he had lived in the past 70 years.

“Till date, your unwaivering patriotism and abiding faith in Nigeria are evidenced by your willingness to continue to give of yourself in the service of the nation,” the President wrote.

The Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, venue of the reception, was tastefully decorated.

Its proximity to the church made it easy for guests to get there on time for the party to begin in earnest. At the entrance were private security personnel whose duty was •Continued on page 30

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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SOCIETY

•The celebrator flanked by his family

•From right: Justice Uwais and wife Mariam and Mr Smart-Cole

•Gen Gowon (left) and Otunba Adebayo

•Pa Williams (right) and Mr Toye Madojutimi

•Aremo Osoba (left) and Ken Olumese

•Senator Ike Nwachukwu

•Gen Danjuma and his wife Senator Daisy •Continued from page 29

to check the incursion, as it were, of uninvited guests into the hall.

The hall was decorated in shades of blue and white chiffon fabrics, interspersed with tiny flickering lights. The chair and tables, arranged in circles, were draped in the same colour. In the words of the Master of Ceremonies, Femi Segun, a polyglot, the occasion was not for speeches, but one for wining and dining to honour Akinyemi.

On hand was the ace comedian, Ali Baba,

...’a patriot’ whose jokes sent guests reeling with laughter. On the band stand were the duo of Tunde and Wumi Obe (TWO), the couple whose De ja vu Band, played scintillating tunes from old school music that serenaded the guests.

In attendance were former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon; former Minister of Defence, Gen Theophilus Danjuma and his wife,

Daisy; former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Muhammadu Uwais and his wife, Mariam; a justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Adekeye; former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; former Health Secretary Prince Julius Adeluyi-Adelusi and his wife Julianah; Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu and Deputy Governor of Central Bank, Dr

•Chief Akande

Kingsley Moghalu. The Adimula of Ifewara, Oba Hezekiah Awolola, the monarch of Prof Akinyemi’s town, also graced the occasion.

Others are Chief Nike Akande; Ambassadors Olujimi Jolaoso Femi Ani, Olu Adeniji and Dapo Fafowora; the doyen of accounting in Nigeria, Pa Akintola Williams; Chief Olusegun Oshunkeye; ace photojournalist, Sunmi Smart-Cole and Director-General of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Bola Akinterinwa.

•More pictures on page 31

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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SOCIETY

•From left: Rev. Akin Odejide, Rev. Ademowo, Rev. George Bako, and Rev. Akinde

•Bashorun Jaiye Randle

•Chief Tunde Aluko (left) and Chief Segun Oshunkeye

•Mr Adeluyi-Adelusi (right) and Yemi Akeju

•Tunde and Wumi Obe

•Mr Odion and Rev Cynthia Okobi

•Prof Jide Osuntokun (left) and Mr Dele Agekameh

•Prof Kofi Duncan and his wife Stella

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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All for a loyal wife

Chief Michael Abraham, a politician, an engineer and chairman, Seg-Masen Engineering Company, last December 27 hosted friends, dignitaries and well-wishers to a lavish birthday party when his wife, Olubunmi Omobolaji, turned 50. NNEKA NWANERI was at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the party.

I

T was a gathering of movers and shakers in Lagos. Royal fathers, political big-wigs and captains of industry were there.

They came to honour Olubunmi Omobolaji, wife of Chief Michael Abraham, a water engineer and chairman, Seg-Masen Engineering Company, who turned 50 last December 27.

Abraham, a businessman and politician from Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, has friends cutting across political divide. The Ikoyi Baptist Church, Ikoyi, venue of the thanksgiving service, was filled with dignitaries.

They came in exotic cars and the women made fashion statement with their attires.

It was, a grand day for the Abrahams who tapped their vast social contacts to make the day memorable. The guests came from all over Nigeria, some African countries and other parts of the world.

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, was there.

The monarch’s presence at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the birthday party, caused a stir. “Who is that? Tani yen? Oba ni yen, some said as they strained their necks to catch a glimpse of the monarch as he quietly made his entry into the hall. He was dressed in a cream safari suit with white cap to match and his designer’s spectacles. He was simply regal.

Strolling into the hall brightly painted in gold, everyone stood in honour of his royal highness. The Oba could not resist the melodious tunes from the King of Juju Music, Sunday Adegeye (aka King Sunny Ade, KSA). He headed straight to the podium where KSA and his band were busy dishing out irresistible tunes, and exhibited brilliant dance steps to the admiration of all. His half-an-hour performance drew applause as other dignitaries joined him, trying to out dance themselves.

Notable personalities at the event included a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Abike DabiriErewa; Chief of Staff to Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who chaired the ocassion; Ekiti State Commissioner for Intergovernmental Affairs Prof Bunmi Salami; Justice Funmilayo Atilade; Managing Director Skye Bank, Mr Kehinde Durosimi-Etti; Managing Director, LASACO Insurance, Mr Ladipo Ajayi and his Chairman, Chief Durotimi Etti; Mr Divine Dzegbla from Ghana to mention a few.

The celebrator’s husband described her as a woman of inestimable value and a trusted partner. Olubunmi, according to him, has brought a lot of peace, joy and sunshine into his life.

“I am very happy that God has spared our lives. It’s a time of celebration and so we thank Him for allowing us to celebrate in peace and harmony. She has been a very loving, loyal and dedicated wife. She’s a good mother. I will continue to love her more and make her happy,” he said.

Mrs Abraham could not hide her joy as she counted her blessings. “I perceive the glory of God and I am one of the happiest women in the

•Oba Akiolu

•Sir Pius Akinyelure

•The celebrator flanked by her husband Chief Abraham (left) and Oyetola

•Prince Abayomi Olusi

•Justice Atilade (right) and Lizzy Agbontaen

•Chief Yemi Adaramodu and Olori Folashade Momoh

•Dr Isuwa Dogo and wife Rifkatu

•Mr Durosinmi-Etti (left) and Hon Dzegbla

•Mr Jaiye Balogun and Bisi Quadri

•Hon Dabiri-Erewa

•Chief Sola Faleye

•Omooba Taju Momoh

•Rev Isaac Olawuyi

world now. I am grateful to God and my husband who made it a beautiful day for me,” she said.

Asked the secret of her success, she replied: “I have made God my foundation and since then life and everything have become easy. He speaks to me daily and guides my way. Indeed, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”

Her son, Yinka, was short of words on what his mother meant to him.

He told The Nation what an amazing mother, friend and companion she is.

“She thinks of others before herself, extremely selfless and self-sacrificing. There are many qualities God has blessed her with. I cannot but, highlight her humility, emotional intelligence and exceptional godly

wisdom which have made her the pillar of the family,” he said.

Her daughter, Sola, noted how “infectious” her mother’s laughter is.

According to her, her laughter brings life into any dull moment and brightens any room she enters. She prayed to God to grant her the strength to be like her mother.

Another daughter, Abiola, described her as a very loving mother.

PHOTOS: RAHAMAN SANUSI AND ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

“Although she’s 50, she has this beautiful nature about her and has this wisdom she shares with everyone. One can feel her aura even 50metres away from her. So, now I want to tell her that she’ll always be dear to my heart and I’ll continue to do what will make her proud, today, tomorrow and forever,” she said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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SOCIETY

•From left: The couple Ibrahim and Yetunde and Sheik Abdul-Rahman

•Mr Olapade

•Bride’s parents: Alhaji and Mrs Gbade Ibrahim

With love from US

•Groom’s parents: Mr and Mrs Saula Jimoh

The Aqdun Nikah (wedding) between Ibrahim Olalekan Jimoh, a Computer Engineer with AT & T, and former Miss Amdalat Yetunde Ibrahim, a medical doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, both at Boston, United States (US) was held at the Multipurpose Hall ‘A, University of Lagos, Akoka last Saturday. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was there.

T

HE setting at the Multi-purpose Hall ‘A, University of Lagos, Akoka last Saturday was awesome.

Multi coloured lights flickered on and off.

The roomy hall was ornately decorated in purple and cream silky materials. It blended well with the table overlays.

On top of the tables were choice drinks and glass cups.

The guests looked resplendent in their well-sewn attires. The men wore Agbada and Sokoto; the women were in Iro and buba with their headgears competing with the roof.

Few shone in foreign dresses – lovely suits and stunning gowns.

But it was the couple ‘s outfit that stole the show. It confirmed the saying that no matter how beautiful guests turn out, they cannot outshine the celebrator.

It was at the wedding of the lovebirds that met in May 2009 and tied the nuptial knot in May last year in the United States.

Last Saturday, it was a three-in-one event that featured engagement, Wolimatul Nikah and reception.

The groom - Ibrahim Olalekan Jimoh, a Computer Engineer with AT & T at Boston, US looked striking in white guinea, Lailac Agbada with purple stripes. He crowned it with a cap.

While the bride - former Miss Amdalat Yetunde Ibrahim, a medical doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre also at Bostonappeared radiant in sequence lace, lovely purple headgear and a golden handbag.

Itinerant photographers were attracted to the venue like bees. They got new naira notes from the guests with instant photo.

The officiating minister, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, congratulated the couple for being wonderful children to their parents.

Sheikh Ahmad, the National Missioner Ansar-Ud-Deen society of Nigeria (ADS), also congratulated the couple’s parents because their children did not engage in same-sex marriage.

He described lesbians and gays as animal.

The revered cleric urged the couple to always exhibit mutual respect and love each other.

He prayed the union would blossom with blessed children.

Afterwards, the former National Secretary of the society Alhaji Rafiu Adejare presented the marriage certificate to the couple.

Chairman of the occasion Chief Adeyinka Olapade described the couple as wise children.

He prayed that the union would have good fruits.

The bride’s father, Alhaji Zakariyau Gbadegesin Ibrahim, wished the couple success in the endeavour.

Alhaji Ibrahim expressed satisfaction with their relationship.

He described his son-in-law as a responsible personality.

“He has a very likeable character, very religious and from a very responsible home.

I wish them well,” he said.

The groom’s father Alhaji Saula Bamidele Jimoh described his in-laws as god-gift.

He prayed Allah to bless them.

“They should be patient, tolerant and see this world as a world of challenges and they should be equal to the task. I pray they live happy life with all good things of life,” he said.

Ibrahim, a native of Ogun State, said his wife composure on phone was the attraction.

“She is the kind of person I have been looking for.

She is a very nice girl, very intelligent; she possessed all a man is looking for in a woman and very keen in improving her deen (religion). She is a levelheaded person. She is soft-spoken and opinionated.She is very beautiful and supportive; kind heart and loving nature. Anybody who meets her would reckon her wonderful nature,” he said.

Yetunde as the bride is fondly called could not take eyes off her beau.

“He is my all-in-all. A gentle man with caring heart, so amazing, loving and understanding.Above all, he is very religious,” Ibadan-born Amdalat said.

From left: Alhaji Bade Adesina, his wife Nike and Mrs Olapade

•Mr Ade Odunewu and his wife Ronke

From left: Dr Teslim Sanusi; Alhaji Abiodun Adedeji and Mr Coker Akinsoye

PHOTOS: RAHMAN SANUSI

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

SOCIETY Last December 17, in Jalingo, Taraba State, Andrew Haruna Shitta, a medical doctor, was joined in holy wedlock with Nancy. The ceremony, which held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral, Mile Six, Jalingo, drew friends and wellwishers from far and wide. FANEN IHYONGO reports.

W

HEN former Miss Nancy Stephen Sunama received a telephone call from the calm voice of an unknown caller some years ago, she was transfixed.

She was charmed by the sonorous voice. Her mind quickly told her she has got a husband.

“I had never seen him before, but I fell in love with his voice when he first called. After receiving the call, my spirit told me that he would be my hubby,” she said.

The caller was later to identify himself as Dr Andrew Haruna Shitta, who was also searching for a virtuous lady to marry.

Unknown to Nancy, Shitta had collected her number from a friend. And when they both met in June 2009 at an National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Kaduna, the two found themselves irresistibly drawn to each other.

“When he arrived, he called me. He had not seen me before. But when I got to where he was waiting, he just deduced I was the one, even as there were many other girls passing by,” said Nancy.

According to Shitta, it was a friend who facilitated his meeting with Nancy.

“And when we met, I found that she has all I wanted in a wife. She is truly my missing rib,” he said.

After about two years of courtship, they have tied the nuptial knot.

At Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral, Mile Six, Jalingo, where the wedding took place, were friends, colleagues and well-wishers of the couple who came from far and wide to witness the solemnisation of their wedding.

It was officiated by Rev. Fr. Charles Nyameh and Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Pamu. The first reading was taken from the book of Sirach of the Roman Catholic Bible, Chapter: 26:1-4, 1316 and 18-28, where it said: “Happy is the husband of a good wife, for the number of his days would be doubled; a good wife is the best gift, reserved for those who fear the Lord, rich or poor.”

After the declaration of consent and exchange of rings in the church, the couple and their guests later proceeded to the Jolly Nyame Sports Com-

‘His voice on phone charmed me’ plex, Jalingo, venue of the reception, where they cut the wedding cake and danced to the admiration of guests.

“It is an exciting, joyous moment for us,” said the groom.

The reception hall was beautifully decorated in a mixture of gold, silver, lemon and ash colours. The audience, mostly medical professionals, was entertained by a live band. It was a wedding of the high social class and style.

Chairman of the occasion Mr Christopher Nzoutu advised the couple to trust one another.

“That is the only way to prevent anyone from infiltrating into your marriage to put it asunder,” he said.

The chairman, who said he had known Shitta’s family for 21 years ago, described the groom as a simple, level-headed personality. “Add your simplicity to Christ, patience and self control, and you would make a good husband,” he told the groom.

Dr Ahmed Tony, an Egyptian doctor at the Radiology Department of the Specialist Hospital, Jalingo, prayed God to grant them a happy married life.

“We thank God that the couple understand each other. They know what to do now that they are formally married,” said Mr Samuel Malgwai, a principal Accountant with Police Affairs, Abuja, who was in attendance.

The Chief Bride’s Maid, Miss Safina Pindar, Nancy’s younger sister, also prayed God to bless the marriage. She described her sister as a nice woman.

The Bestman, Dr Hussani Banaya, who met the groom back in 2005 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), said Shitta and Nancy would make a happy home.

The 40-year-old groom, a surgeon at the JUTH, hails from Wukari, Taraba State, while Nancy, 27, a native of Garkida, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, works with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Abuja.

MARITAL BLISS

•The couple Andrew and Nancy

TURBANNING

•Former Miss Busola Oniyitan and her beau, Adeyinka Adedayo during their wedding at Ewekoro •Hajiya Binta Kuraye, Hakimi Bindawa and Hakimi Kuraji during Kuraye’s turbaning as Local Government Area of Ogun State Garkuwa Sabon Gari Ikara in Zaria, Kaduna State

UNION OF LOVEBIRDS

•Former Miss Monica Ojo and her beau Seun Adaramola during their wedding at Ibadan, Oyo State

WEDDING

•Mr Abiodun Ayodele Jacob and his wife former Miss Lilian Ugyim during their wedding at Indian Language School, Ilupeju, Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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SOCIETY The Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a foremost socio-cultural organisation in Akwa Ibom State, has inducted some aides of Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio and a lawmaker, Hon Onofiok Luke, writes AHMED YEKINI.

Honour for Akpabio’s aides, lawmaker

T

HE hall was lively throughout the period the event lasted.

Men and women in the community trooped out in large numbers to witness the ceremony.

They were clad in various colourful traditional attires.

The sitting arrangement and setting of the hall showcased the status of the event.

There were songs at various intervals, and banters.

Even those who could not be accommodated in the hall peeped through the window to catch a glimpse happenings.

It was a day honour came to two aides of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, and a lawmaker and a frontline broadcaster.

They were Senior Special Assistant, Technical Matters, Mr Etudo Inyang; the Special Assistant to the Governor on Project Monitoring, Mr David Etuk; a lawmaker representing Nsit Ubium in the State House of Assembly, Hon Onofiok Luke and frontline broadcaster,

•From left: Mr Etudo Inyang; Mr Onofiok Luke; Hon David Etuk and Pastor Michael Bush

Pastor Michael Bush.

The quartet was inducted into the fold of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio.

The organisation is a prestigious socio-cultural group built on the foundation and ideals of the popular Ibibio Union of the 50s and 60s, which had the renowned jurist and former Chief Judge of Uganda, the late Justice Udoma Udo Udoma as one of its founding members.

The organisation, according to its International President, Mkparawa Nse Ube, is committed to the promotion of discipline, cultural val-

ues of the Ibibio Nation as well as the lofty ideals of good governance, excellence and accountability in public service.

He said the inductees were nominated based on their commitment and impressive contributions to the governance of the state and nation in general.

Ube explained that for anybody to be admitted into the Mboho, such a person should have a track record of excellence in his area of service or career, adding that political positions and wealth do not

automatically qualify one to belong to the group.

Ube charged government appointees and other Nigerians to be committed and selfless in their service to the nation and humanity.

He urged political office holders to use their positions to better the welfare of the people as history will be unkind to those who abuse their offices for personal aggrandisement.

In his response, Etuk said he was highly humbled to be inducted as

•Ube

a member of the group.

He described it as a call to better service to the state and Nigeria.

“I am completely humbled by the fact that a socio-cultural organisation, such as Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio has seen in me qualities that they would like to celebrate. This is, indeed, a humbling experience that on a day like this the Mboho has chosen to honour me. I thank God. Like I said earlier I feel I am born again into the Ibibio race. This is a call to better service to the people,” he said.

Scores of dignitaries from all walks of life converged on St Paul’s Anglican Church, Esa-Oke, Osun State, for the investiture of some new chiefs. LEKE AKEREDOLU reports.

Reward for selfless service I

T is a great thing to serve in God’s Vineyard and that was what happened on December 24, when 10 eminent communicants at St Paul’s Anglican Church, EsaOke in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, bagged various chieftaincy titles.

Among the honourees were onetime Chairman, Odua Investment Company, Mr Abiola Oni, (Otun Baba Egbe Ijo); former President, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors and Estate Valuers, Sir Dosu Fatokun (Balogun Ijo); the Osun State Commissioner for Lands and Physical planning and an architect, Muyiwa Ige (Baba Isale Ijo) and Mr Damisi Ojo of The Nation Newspapers, Akure office, (Baba Ewe Ijo).

Others included Mr Jacob Ogunley -Otun Balogun Ijo; Mrs Aduke Ogunwumi - Iyalode Egbe Aya Bisoobu; Mrs Funmilayo Majekobaje - Obinrin Ijo and Mrs Florence Iyabo Adediran - Iya Ewe Ijo.The rest were Mr Michael Adebiyi - Otun Baba Isale Ijo and Mr Araoye Segilola - Baba Egbe Akorin Ijo. The ecumenical service was presided over by the Lord Bishop of Ijesa North Missionary Diocese, Rt. Reverend Titus Fajemirokun. He was assisted by the retired Bishop of Akoko Diocese, Rt. Reverend Olowookure, several Venerables from within the diocese and be-

•Muyiwa Ige (left) and Abiola Oni after the installation.

yond, Canons and Reverends.

In his homily, Revd Fajemirokun pointed out that leadership involves responsibility and accountability.

Quoting copiously from the scripture, 1 Peter Chapter 5, verse 1-2, the cleric described those bestowed with the church chieftaincy titles as Elders who should do everything possible to ensure the development of the church and its congregation.

His words: “You are appointed as Elders in the church with great re-

sponsibilities. This is a call to divine assignment, you should always endeavour to seek for mercies rather than judgement.”

Fajemirokun regretted that “Christian nowadays majors in the minor and minors in major”, stressing that many church title holders would distant themselves after their installation.

He urged the new church chiefs, especially those in the diaspora, to move closer to their home church, emphasising that Anglican

Churches today have ceased from being undertakers.

He said:“while away, you should contribute greatly to the development of your home church, since after your sojourn elsewhere, you will come back home as your final place of abode”.

The cleric maintained that there will be a day of reckoning when everybody including Bishops, church elders, choristers, clerics and other ministers of God would be called upon to render their stewardship.

The new chiefs appreciated the Provisional Church Council (PCC), the Vicar-in-Charge, Venerable Lawrence Kupolati, and the entire congregation for reposing confidence in them.

They promised to contribute their quota to elevate the church to promote God’s work.

Highlights of the investiture service included a parade by the Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Thanksgiving, lyrics and special rendition by the church choristers.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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COMMENTARY

“W

HOEVER (amongst you) sees an abomination should endeavour to change it with his hands; if he is incapable, let him change it with his tongue (by condemning it); and if he is still incapable, let him change it with his mind. That (changing it with mind) is the weakest sign of faith”.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

History will never cease repeating itself for man to learn from its lessons. But man seems to have become so much deaf and dumb that he hardly finds any lesson to learn from history. The current ongoing heresy by a group of rascals called Boko Haram in Nigeria is not new in history.

Shortly after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), two groups of evil elements emerged in Arabia with a sectarian heresy similar to that of Boko Haram. One was led by a man called Musaylimah (the liar) from Yemen. The other was led by a woman called Sajjah from Yamamah.

These two heretics falsely proclaimed themselves as Prophets of God and dished out certain hallucinatory utterances which they called revelations. Both of them had started operating skeletally in the last days of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) when the latter had no time to tackle them. And when Sayyiduna Abu Bakr became the first Caliph, they intensified their evil activities with a view to eradicating the message of Islam and replacing it with their heretic ideologies. Their proclamation of a government and declaration of Islamic government illegal led to an outbreak of war between them and the forces of genuine Islam.

In the melee, many Qur’an memorisers among genuine Muslims lost their lives as the conflict named ‘RENEGADES WAR’ lasted for quite some time before it came to an end. It took a strong will of the Muslim leadership and loyal cooperation of the Muslim Ummah to surmount that obnoxious situation. Before the outbreak of that war, the Caliphate had made overtures to those renegades with a view to making them see reason. But when all efforts to resolve the crisis failed as the renegades kept killing innocent citizens who refused to renounce Islam and follow their heresy failed, an official Fatwah was issued to excommunicate them from Islam and formally declare them as heretics.

Fatwah is an official declaration of the position of Islam by the topmost echelon of Islamic clergy on a matter affecting the public. Thus, the Fatwah so declared in those early days of the Caliphate became an immediate precipitate of the war of renegades. The rest is history.

Today, over 14 centuries after that episode, a similar situation seems to be rearing its ugly head in Nigeria in the name of Boko Haram. Disturbingly, the faceless rascals who constitute that group continue to perpetrate their dastardly acts under the cloak of Islam while they allegedly demand for the imposition of deeper Shariah in northern Nigeria as a pretext for claiming to be Muslims. The irony in this is that most non-Muslims and even ignorant Muslims now perceive Islam through these vandals and use such wrong perception as a generalized yardstick for measuring the values of Islam. If atrocities of some adherents were to be used as the mirror with which to view any religion, then no religion in the world today would possess the validity of divine message.

Islam is not to be judged by the outward appearance or activities of its adherents.

On the contrary, it is Islam that serves as the mirror through which Muslims are to be assessed. Anybody who does not understand Islam cannot recognise genuine Muslims. When Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked how Islam could be recognised in a person he told his disciples that “Islam resides here” (touching his heart). And when he was asked who a Muslim was he said “A Muslim is a person who ensures the safety of other peaceful people from the evils of violent tongues and deadly hands”.

The atrocities of Boko Haram have abundantly proved that such an evil group could not have had any connection with Islam. And by now, the Nigerian ‘Ulamau (learned scholars) ought to have come together to issue a strong Fatwah excommunicating that atrocious group from Islam if only to save the divine religion of Allah from heretic tendencies of some deviants. If the truth must be told, it is the Muslims who can and should checkmate the abominable excesses of Boko Haram

FEMI ABBAS ON Femabbas@yahoo.com 08051101861

Boko Haram: Time for Fatwah

‘

When will Nigeria be ripe for State Police?

When most Nigerians might have been killed in cold blood by the likes of Boko Haram?

Sincerely, politics must not be pushed beyond its elasticity limit. If there is any time a State Police is most desirous in Nigeria, it is now •The late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf

in Nigeria. This is not only because members of that group live among Muslims but also because the group still claims to be of Islam even when it’s evil activities are objectionable to the tenets of Islam. Killing and maiming of fellow human beings under any guise are universally acknowledged to be abhorrent to Islam.

Even in a war situation, Prophet Muhammad strongly warned Muslim soldiers not to kill women, children armless people and people found in places of worship no matter their religion. He also warned against the cutting down of fruitful trees, destruction of farmlands as well as places of worship. Whoever contravenes these instructions has committed heresy by transgressing against Islam and should be made to face deserved sanctions.

Personally, I see human killers of fellow human beings as beasts that are not fit to live in a civil society. In an article published in this column on March 12 2010, entitled ‘ISLAM’S CHARTER WITH CHRISTIANITY’, I stated as follows: “Each time I hear of killing, maiming or resorting to terrorism in the name of religion I feel scandalised. This is not just because I belong to a religion and I am involved in its propagation but also because I know the value of life and the vice in terminating it extra judicially. Personally, I see those who kill people of other religions for the simple reason of difference in faith as animalistic vandals waging war not just against humanity but also against God. Anybody who kills or maims or indulges in terrorism may claim to belong to a religion but cannot genuinely claim to be acting for that religion. No divine religion prescribes killing or maiming as an act of worship.

Religion may be used as a cover for such heinous acts but the real motive is far from religion”.

The peace of every individual is in every other individual. Whoever wants peace must give peace a chance. This is without prejudice to the factors of security which every responsible government must provide. In modern time as in some times past, security in a pluralistic society is beyond the use of weapons against armless people as is usually the case in Nigeria where ordinary commercial drivers are killed by the Police for not dropping N20 in the extortion market. Such factors of security include adequate feeding for all citizens;

‘

jobs for able-bodied people and reasonable education. If all these are provided, the citizenry will take care of the rest. No sane human beings will want to kill themselves for whatever reason. And if anybody is pushed to that level he or she will have no respect for the lives of others.

Frankly speaking, the time to reform Nigerian Police has come. What we call Police in Nigeria today is by far worse than the colonial Police used by the British colonialists to hound the Nigerian agitators for minimum freedom in the 1930s and 1940s. And that is quite different from the civil and humane Police (seen in civilized countries) that Nigeria of today deserves. As of now, the greatest threat to peace in Nigeria is the Nigerian Police. What we now call Police in Nigeria is nothing more than what people perceive as an institutionalised enemy. An average Nigerian Policeman mounts road block on public major roads not much for societal security but for self-enrichment.

And if anybody calls for their removal from such roads they will create such an insecure scenario that one will be forced to support their avaricious stay. The greatest mistake of the federal government with regards to national security is its retention of the colonial Police even after 50 years of independence simply because that Police serves the rulers’ political interest.

In a sensible federal system no serious country takes less than a million Policemen for a security that is capable of watching over about 170 million people especially in a crime prone situation like that of Nigeria. The federal government’s monopoly of Nigerian Police as a sign of might rather than right without minding the consequences of such a monopoly is a clear evidence of political selfishness based on naivety.

By now, one would have expected that since the Federal Government alone cannot afford to bear the cost of security in Nigeria, the issue of State Police ought to have been resolved. If it was once reasonable to post Policemen from Katsina or Anambra States to Oyo or Plateau States in the past, it is no longer reasonable. Such Policemen cannot maintain any security because they are neither familiar with the terrain, nor understand the language spoken by the local people. That is why Presi-

dent Jonathan’s recent statement that Nigeria is not ripe for State Police is suspicious. When will Nigeria be ripe for State Police? When most Nigerians might have been killed in cold blood by the likes of Boko Haram? Sincerely, politics must not be pushed beyond its elasticity limit. If there is any time a State Police is most desirous in Nigeria, it is now. This is also the right time for the restoration of the Traditional Rulers’ authorities which the colonialists usurped for their selfish exploitation motive. It is those traditional rulers who know which boy or girl comes from which house. It is a sheer delusion on the part of the Federal Government to think that voting as huge amount of money as almost one trillion naira for security will solve the problem of insecurity in Nigeria. If only half of that amount is earmarked for job creation the problem would have been half-solved.

As for Christian/Muslim relationship which is grossly misconceived in Nigeria, it is necessary to recall an excerpt from the above mentioned article published in this column last year as a reminder of Prophet Muhammad’s attitude to Christianity. In the year 628 CE, a Christian delegation from St. Catherine’s Monastery approached the Prophet and sought his government’s protection against any possible aggression of the then Persian Empire. In response, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) granted them a charter of rights as follows: “This is a message from Muhammad son of Abdullah serving as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far that we (Muslims) are with them. Verily, I and all the servants of God, as well as the helpers of Islam hereby make promise to defend Christians because they are my citizens and by God! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them (concerning their way of worship). Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one should destroy a house of their religion or damage it or loot it. Whoever violates this has breached God’s charter and disobeyed His Apostle. Verily, Christians are my allies and have my secure charter against all they hate. No one should force them to fight for a course in which they have no belief or compel them to migrate against their wish. Neither is the sacredness of their covenant to be violated nor their Churches to be disrespected. And if any damage should happen to their Churches, they must not be prevented from repairing them. No Muslim should disobey this covenant till the Last Day (end of the world)”. For details, see www.aljazeera.com and check Aljazeera Magazine under Middle East Online.

By this charter, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) asserted that Muslims and Christians were brethren in faith and no one of them should fight against the other on the basis of religion. And by validating the charter till the great Day of Judgment, the Prophet had precluded any future attempt to revoke the privileges therein by any nation, group or individuals. By implication, those privileges are inalienable.

A remarkable aspect of the charter is that it did not stipulate any condition for those Christians to enjoy the privileges.

Believing that being followers of Jesus Christ was enough a condition, the Prophet had assumed that the Christians, as civilised people, would surely reciprocate this unprecedented gesture wherever they coexist with Muslims not only by tolerating the latter’s mode of worship and way of life but also by refraining from any act of provocation against them which could advertently or inadvertently precipitate religious rancour.

Another noticeable aspect of the charter is the Prophet’s silence on any payment by the protectorate Christians which was the practice in those days. Thus, that ‘Charter of Rights’ was a free gift.

From this charter, the reason becomes clear why the Islamic State under the command of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) or any of his rightly guided disciples never crossed swords with any Christian group or nation in their lifetimes. If any fight like the crusades ever broke out subsequently between Christians and Muslims it was centuries after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). And that was because either or both sides breached the charter. Thus, the above charter is a confirmation that there is no conflict between Islam and Christianity.

THE NATION

38

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

CRIME WATCH

Alleged robbery: Trainee driver, others held

T

HREE members of a fiveman robbery gang have been arrested by operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), of the Lagos State Police Command.

The suspects are said to date wealthy women with the intension of robbing them.

Since their arrest, the three men have been telling investigators how they operate and why their targets are mainly rich women.

Those arrested are Chimezie Iheaka (24) an indigene of Ikenga Ohakpu, Oru West Local Government Area, Steve Alozie (22) from Umuokpala Village Umuleke Local Government Area, Ekene Eze (26), native of Oru town, all in Imo State.

Two of the suspects who are still at large have been declared wanted by the police.

Alozie, one of the suspects who claimed to be a trainee trailer driver with Julius Berger construction company, told Newsextra that what the gang does is to monitor their girlfriends who are daughters of the rich, especially those who work as accounts in their fathers’ companies and know when they visit banks for financial transactions.

The suspect, who said he resides at No. 16, Sibiri Street Ajangbadi, Okokomaiko area of Lagos, explained that immediately members of his gang are sure of the lady’s movement and cash transaction periods, they will trail her whenever she is going to deposit money and dispossess her of the money.

He noted that the operation which landed them in trouble was the one involving Iheaka’s girlfriend.

He said: “It was on Monday December 19, 2011. We saw the girl going to bank. We followed her. Ekene said I should snatch the bag and give it to him. I thought it was a play. I did not know that what we were doing was armed robbery. When I snatched the bag, I threw it to Ekene Eze. As we wanted to es-

Stories By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

cape, the Area Boys blocked us and started beating us. They collected the bag and handed it over to the girl. The money in the bag was N700,000.The Area Boys put tyre on my neck and nearly set me ablaze. If not for the timely arrival of policemen, I would have been dead by now.”

Making his confession, the prime suspect, Iheaka said: “I am a trader. I sell musical instruments at Pen Cinema Road, Agege. I reside at No. 21, Sadiku Street, Agege, Lagos.

“I was arrested in my shop by policemen in Agege for robbing my girlfriend Jennifer when she was going to a new generation bank to deposit money realised from sales in her father’s shops in Agege.

“Her father is a rich man and they have provision stores all over Agege Market and in some streets around the area. She is the one who normally goes round the stores to collect money for the day’s sales and after collecting the monies, she will head straight to the bank to deposit them. I love her so much but could not resist the temptation of watching her go to bank everyday to deposit monies that could change my life. So, I decided to plan on how to steal the money from her.

“One day, I called her and asked her if she would be able to

•The suspects

give me 10 per cent of all the money she deposits in the bank everyday so that I can use it to better my life, but she warned me never to discuss that kind of issue with her again.

“I was not happy with her response and so I approached my friends for advice. After narrating my encounter with Jennifer to members of my gang, Eze, who was the first to speak, said: ‘You don’t know anything about big men. They can laugh with you

You don’t know anything about big men.

They can laugh with you but when it comes to issue of money, these big men and their so called daughters will show you their true colours. They love money so much and find it difficult to help the poor. If she finds out that you are too poor, she will stop loving you

but when it comes to issue of money, these big men and their so-called daughters will show you their true colours. They love money so much and find it difficult to help the poor. If she finds out that you are too poor, she will stop loving you. The best thing to do is to rob this girl. We have to monitor her and anytime she is going to bank we snatch her bag period.’

I accepted the suggestion and we set out with our plan.’”

He noted that on the day they struck, “it was unfortunate that the Area Boys in Agege blocked us as we attempted to escape with the money. They beat Ekene black and blue and were looking for condemned motor tyres to set us ablaze, but I was able to escape.

Policemen from Agege Police Station rescued Eze and Iheaka and took two of them to the police station and later transferred their case to SARS. “At SARS, the officer in charge

Mr Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), promised Eze freedom if he could lead operatives to arrest me and others. I was in my shop when they came and arrested me,” he said.

Eze, who claimed that he sells electronics at No. 40, Oshodi Road, Orile, confessed that “Chimezie is my close friend and after telling me about how Jennifer treated him, I suggested we rob her.

I went and brought one of my relation’s brothers called Remmy to assist us with the plan.

The success of our operation was marred by the interception of my gang by Area Boys. They attacked us and collected the bag of money from me and gave it back to the girl. They beat me black and blue and when they brought tyre to set me ablaze, policemen came and rescued me. I and Steve were arrested at the scene. So, Abba Kyari used me to get others. I saw death as people came with tyre but God rescued me. I will never rob again even in my next world.

‘I regret not obeying my father’

A

•Deji (left) and Tajudeen

N armed robbery suspect, Rilwan Tajudeen, aged 21, who hails from Ipo Village, Kwara State, is now cooling his heels in the cell of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Lagos State Police Command.

The suspect has confessed that he was arrested by SARS operatives because he failed to take his father’s advice to operate as oneman gang.

Tajudeen, who confessed his involvement in various crimes before he met his waterloo said: “My father advised me not to join any gang in Lagos, even as he explained the danger inherent in joining gangs in Lagos.

“I was succeeding on my own until I decided to follow three street boys to engage in bagsnatching. In one of the operations, one of us was arrested and taken to SARS, GRA Ikeja and the three members were fished out later.

“That was in February 2010.

We were all detained in the same cell, but they later exonerated me by telling the police that they

knew me quite well but, that I did not follow them to rob; that I was just a friend to them.

“It was by the grace of God that I survived that incident. Later, I started one-man robbery squad again. I can rob two places a day without anybody knowing or finding out that I operated in those places.

“I used to plan my one-man operation very well. First, I will look for my victim. When I find him or her, I would think out how to carry out the operation.

At times, I make between N50, 000 and N100, 000 every month and I was happy. It used to be a silent operation. I plan and execute alone.”

Continuing, he said: “Nobody knew that I was a one-man robbery squad. As a bricklayer (mason), I still go out to look for work.

“Anytime I get work to build house for a client, I used to put all my efforts to get the job done according to specifications.

“However, my trouble started again when Deji and one Femi

now at large met me. They came on a motorcycle and had gun on them. They told me that they came to inform me that they would operate that day. They came with gun after soaking themselves in alcoholic drinks. They said we would leave quickly to do the job and retire to our various hotels.

“On our way to Yaba, we saw a girl and stopped her and threatened to waste her life (shoot her) if she failed to comply. We collected her bag, phones and money.

As we wanted to escape, policemen from Sabo Division blocked and arrested us while others escaped.

Deji Akeem, aged 22, who was also arrested in that operation said: “I was a good bricklayer before somebody took me to Awka Township to join this gang.

“I used to get N800 any day I work and I was contented with whatever amount I made per day.

It was greed that pushed me to follow the bad boys again. If I regain my freedom, I will never rob again.

Armed robbery is a dirty job.

THE NATION

39

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

Suswam gets peace award

B

enue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has been named the most peaceful northern governor in the year 2011. The award was bestowed on him by the Arewa Nationalist Movement (ANAM).

The group said Suswam was given the award in recognition of his promotion of peace and political tolerance.

The movement’s national president, Alhaji Abdulkadir Waziri, stated that the aim of the award was to encourage Suswam in his determination to maintain peace in and around Benue State.

“This is to show that you are among those national leaders that have constantly and persistently made sure that peace is maintained in Benue state and the middle belt.

•Suswam

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

It is therefore based on your determination to maintain peace in Benue State,” Abdulkadir noted.

He further poured encomiums on the governor, stating that the major reason Suswam was considered

for the award was his ability to stomach the opposition’s provocations in the state.

He said: “What has moved people and the Arewa Nationalist Movement, is your ability to stomach the deliberate criminal activities by disgruntled political leaders to provoke violence. Your refusal to use state machinery to in-

This is to show that you are among those national leaders that have constantly and persistently made sure that peace is maintained in Benue state and the middle belt

‘Empower Customary Court of Appeal’

T

HE chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Titus Ihyundu has called on relevant authorities in the judiciary to review Section 282 of the 1999 Constitution to empower the Customary Courts of Appeal to exercise appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in customary laws.

Mr Ihyundu made the call in Makurdi at a special session of the Customary Court of Appeal Makurdi held in honour of the late Justice Gbim Gbande.

The NBA chairman noted that the legal and constitutional framework of the Customary Court of Appeal needs to be ur-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

gently revisited.

“I make bold to state that in order of jurisdiction, the area courts which are historically Custom-

ary Courts are under the control and supervision of this court.

This is not the case in Benue State. I seize this opportunity to appeal to the relevant authorities to seriously look into this issue.

He also appealed to Governor

I make bold to state that in order of jurisdiction, the area courts which are historically Customary Courts are under the control and supervision of this court. This is not the case in Benue State. I seize this opportunity to appeal to the relevant authorities to seriously look into this issue

Gabriel Suswam to implement the provisions of section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) which provides thus: “Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the consolidated revenue fund of the state shall be paid directly to the Heads of the courts concerned.”

According to Ihyundu, the implementation of this provision of the Constitution will not only eliminate the current seeming beggar status of the Head of Court but will also, to a large extent, guarantee independence of the judiciary.

timidate and oppress opponents we see not as a sign of weakness but as true leadership quality”.

The association which also declared its political but non-partisan position did not hide her desire to support Suswam in 2015, as it declared that the future was “pregnant for the north” and Suswam had a bright chance in that future.

“We are highly political but not partisan and do not pretend about it, so we wish to draw your attention to the fact that the north is politically pregnant and political hopefuls like you are already drawing negative comments and provocations, blatant lies aimed at destroying your reputation.” He said.

While receiving the award Gov. Suswam thanked the movement for the kind gesture stating that the award will endear him to further embrace peace, stressing that peace is an importance ingredient for development. The governor further blamed the prevailing poverty in the north on the recent insecurity.

“If as northerners we live peacefully with one another there is a lot we can do. I believe that the poverty that has over taken the north could be explained in the light of the crises that have engulfed the north,” Suswam said.

Meanwhile Suswam at the occasion drummed support for the recent removal of oil subsidy stating that even though it was going to condition some level of difficulty, the move will in the long run payoff.

“Consider removal of oil subsidy as a thing of joy to this country all of us in the short run will experience some form of difficulty but we must commit some level of sacrifice to prosper. I also want to appeal to labour not to take to the streets so that people will not take advantage of the opportunity to create mayhem,” Suswam pleaded.

A

COMMUNITY leader and renowned accountant, Bashorun Jaiye Kufolahan Randle has handed over a property (one-storey building) located at 14, Bashorun Street, Ikoyi South West to the leadership of the Lagos Central Mosque in accordance with the Will of his late sister, Esther Adebakin.

The late Adebakin was born a Christian, but later converted to Islam and adopted Munirat Muhammed as her new name.

She died 20 years ago.

In her will before her demise, she bequeathed the property to the Central mosque.

“My Aunt, Esther Adebakin, who later became Munirat Muhammed, bequeathed the house to the Central Mosque in her Will and picked me as the executor with somebody else who is now the late,” Bashorun Randle said.

The renowned accountant explained that the execution of the Will was delayed because the exercise led to litigation that passed through the High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court for 20 years, adding that “the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Central Mosque to inherit the property.”

He seized the opportunity of the event to condemn incessant killings of innocent souls, using religion as an excuse.

The peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the good old days, Randle narrated “was so close-knit that we considered it a collective shame if any side failed to accomplish a religious feat like building of mosques or churches.”

According to Randle, when an Islamic cleric, Apalara was murdered in Lagos in 1953, “the whole state shook to its very foundation as if the end of the world had come.”

Randle lamented that “today, if

•Bashorun Randle (left) presenting the document of the house to Sheikh Abou

JK Randle hands over building to Muslim community

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

100 people are massacred in cold bold in Nigeria, people go about their normal businesses as if it is part of normal life.”

Baba Adini of Lagos, Sheikh

Abdul-Hafeez Abou who received the property’s papers on behalf of the Central Mosque, thanked Bashorun Randle for being upright.

Abou expressed appreciation of the entire Lagos Muslim Community on the invaluable donation

assuring that “the property would be put in proper use that will gladden the spirit of the donor.”

Also present at the handing over ceremony were, Lagos Central Mosque Secretary, Alhaji Muhammed Raji Adelowo, Arch.

Nasiru Kekere-ekun, Alufa Agba of Lagos, Sheikh Tijani Gbajabiamila, Alawiye of Lagos Alhaji Mujitaba Giwa, Bashorun Sikirullahi Alabi Mac-Foy, Osupa of Lagos, Alhaji Bolaji Daranijo and Akewusola of Lagos, Chief Adebayo Awelenje among others.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

40

The main purpose of the feast is for Christians to come together to study the scriptures so as to fear God and observe his commandments with all sincerity and truth

T

HE Oil city of Warri, Delta State stood still for the annual Christian Feast of Tabernacles of the God’s Kingdom Society (GKS). The event took place at the church headquarters, Salem City, along Warri-Sapele Road, in the city.

The week-long event featured Christian music festival, lectures, seminars, prayer sessions and counselling, and attracted people from Nigeria and such countries as Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, United Kingdom, Canada and United States. The feast began on December 15.

The Chairman, Executive Board of the church, Brother Godwin Ifeacho, spoke on the importance of the feast. He said the Feast of Tabernacles was instituted by God through Prophet Moses which ancient Israel celebrated. He added that it was also intended to be observed by all people of the world in this age to the last days.

“The main purpose of the feast is for Christians to come together to study the scriptures so as to fear God and observe his commandments with all sincerity and truth,” he said.

Referring to the statement, the acceptable year of the Lord, he said Christians are to obey the scriptures because the feast is a blessing to those who observe it.

Speaking on what Christians are to benefit from the feast, he said it refers to the era of God’s plan of salvation when he would permit His word, the unadulterated truth of the gospel to be preached and for his people to be reconciled to Him; it is for Christians to worship God in spirit and in truth for their blessings and salvation.

The Chairperson of GKS Women Fellowship Nigeria and Abroad, Dr Gladys Otomewo, said with her years in the ministry, it has a fulfilling experience to minister to the less-privileged and widows particularly. A good leader should serve and have a passion for the led.

She urged First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to empower women, fear God and use her position to carry women along because the suffering of widows and orphans is much and cannot be ignored.

“The grassroots need to feel the impact of the present administration.

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POLITICAL pressure group, Delta Central Political Movement (DCPM) has promised to politically reposition the Urhobo ethnic group in a bid to promote good governance, justice, equity and fair play.

In a press release signed by the group’s interim chairman Mr. Olori Magege and the Secretary Dr. Peter Ebireri, it said: “After a thorough

•Children performing at the event

Society urges selfless leadership

By Charity Williams

Mrs. Salome Omatseye, 69, mother of the Editorial Board Chairman of The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Sam Omatseye, spoke of her membership of the church since age eight. She said her late parents and uncle introduced her to the church. Speaking on what attracted her to the fold and what she has benefited, she mentioned dancing,

music, soul-lifting lectures one cannot forget in a hurry. She admonished all to be guided by the spirit of God. She also challenged leaders to be servant-leaders, and not dictators.

Omatseye urged the First Lady to be democratic, receptive, accommodating and come down to the level of the people for sustainable development. The church is to care for the needy, she added.

During the Christian musical festival

on Friday, many dancing groups from various parts of the world entertained the audience including; Ilesha Cultural Group GKS Ilesha, Ijaw Orchestra GKS, Warri.

Chukwumeke Choral Group GKS Agbor, Cultural Dance GKS; Itsekiri Cultural Group GKS, Warri; Egbe choral, GKS Egbe; Zumuta Dancing Group (GKS), Suleja/ Abuja; Accra Dancing Group GKS, among others.

‘Urhobo to be repositioned’ From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

and careful examination of the present socio-political cum economic realities of the state, viz-a- viz the present role of the Urhobo na-

tion at the height of government, it has become imperative that the status of the Urhobo nation be reinvented through a re-engineering of her political standing, via credible and trustworthy leadership.”

Answering questions from news-

•From left: Chairman of Zinox Computers, Mr. Leo Stan; winner ofthe 2011 Nigerian Academy of Science Media (NAS)), Onoche Udeh ofthe Daily Independent newspaper, and President, NAS, Prof. Oye IbidapoObe at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

men after their closed-door meeting, the protem chairman Chief Olori Magege said “after a thorough and careful examination of the present socio-political cum economic realities of the state concerning the present role of the Urhobo nation at height of government, it then became imperative that the status of the Urhobo nation be reinvented through a reengineering of her political standing, via credible and trustworthy leadership.”

“Recent events have seen the Urhobo nation playing the role of isolation, grandstanding and politics of hatred and bitterness. This has left her in disadvantage and underdevelopment. Consequently, the Delta Central Political Movement is formed to give the Urhobo nation a new sense of direction politically.’’

He added that “we are purely out to promote PDP. It is absolutely independent in all ramifications.

Uduaghan is pro-Delta. He carries the interest of every group including the Urhobo; PDP is a big party accom-

modating all sorts of persons with diverse interest. If people of different interests chose to be in groups, it is for fledgling democracy.”

The release further emphasised that the Delta Central Political Movement (DCPM) would rather go for a credible leadership with the interest of Urhobo at heart and never to promote selfish interest, just as the DCPM will, as a policy and principle, foster love and good neighbourliness among all ethnic nationalities in Delta State.

He further noted that “the Delta Central Political Management is formed to give the Urhobo nation a new sense of direction politically and has resolved on the three point objectives as stated above in order to properly achieve her aims and objectives.

Chief Magege noted however that the group was not formed to question or criticises other Urhobo political groups already in place and do not discriminate against any ethnic group or persons, provided such persons or groups work or exist within the ambit of DCPM objectives which are in the interest of the Urhobo and Delta State in particular.

After a thorough examination of the role of the Urhobo nation at height of government, it then became imperative that the status of the nationality be reinvented through a re-engineering of her political standing

OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

43

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

44

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08022664898

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

DOWN

1.Farm House (4)

1.Magistrate (4)

3. Squalid District (4) 7. Insect (3) 8. Sailor (3) 9. Gave Food (3) 11. Acid Salt (7) 13. Recede (3) 15. Sphere (3) 17. Fuss (4) 18. Intense (4) 19. Discard (4)

2.Decay (3) 4. Allow (3) 5. Horse (4) 6. Shake (7) 9. Enemy (3) 10. Wipe (3) 12. Still Water (4) 14. Blinder (4) 16. Gathering (3) 17. Ruins (3)

SCRAMBLEWORD Unscramble the word below to reveal an 11-letter word that has to do with motivation.

RAINTIOSPIN WORD MATCH Match the words in Box A with those in Box B to form whole words. An example is BASKETBALL

SHOWbitZz THE ROOMMATE This lurid claptrap avoids graphic sex or overly graphic violence, thus holding onto its PG-13 rating (a rating that grows more untrustworthy and meaningless by the week), yet it is emphatically not for middle-schoolers. In fact, “The Roommate” approaches soft-core porn in the way it hyper-sexualizes and dumbs down 18-yearolds. It also links mental illness with sexual identity, which is equally unenlightened.

Talented designer-toMinka Kelly be Sara (Minka Kelly of TV’s “Friday Night Lights”) likes her new college roommate Rebecca (Leighton Meester of TV’s “Gossip Girl”) at first. Then Rebecca gradually exhibits jealousy, possessiveness, and a sexual obsession with Sara. She also hits and cuts herself and threatens Sara’s friends. The tabloid-ish tale culminates in strong violence.

JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER Justin Bieber’s fans 8 and older will love this backstage peek at his life. The 3-D “documentary”/ marketing video traces Bieber’s start as a talented toddler, crooning and playing drums on home videos, to his YouTube breakthrough, to the big 2010 North American tour that culminated in a sold-out Madison Square Garden concert. It portrays the Canadian-bred pop idol as a squeaky-clean, super-nice kid who wants desperately to be a star Ludacris without losing what’s left of his childhood.

The most interesting section occurs when Bieber gets inflamed vocal cords just before the New York concert, all because he spent too much time yelling with his buds back home in Ontario.

Bieber’s mentor, Usher, makes cameo appearances, along with Miley Cyrus, Jaden Smith, Boys II Men, Ludacris and others.

POETRY Ecstasy of Living I remember the days when my mind used to be overrun with emotions and thoughts of all things good and the worst; as time went by,

LORD ET BASK HOR ANC BED R WATE PINE RASP K BOO ER MAST

KEY APPL E AGE SHIP SHO P MELO N BERR Y ROO M BALL

with each new day, and with a brand new life to look forward to,

HUMOUR Family

my mind emptied itself in a flash, just like that; with a cup of coffee in hand, i sit back and think about the yesteryears, smiling at the change that has taken over me and the life that i have been blessed with now; strolling down the memory lane, unafraid of the future, blinded by the ecstasy of living eventually, with eyes wide open, i’ve come to understand, that

One day, a woman asked her son to call her husband to ask him what he wanted her to cook for dinner. After the sixth time the boy complained to his mother that a female voice was what he heard everytime he called and the lady would not let him speak to his dad. By the time the man got home that evening, his wife was fuming seriously.

She was so angry that she met him at his car and grabbed his shirt right there in the front yard.

“How dare you cheat on me?” she shouted, attracting the neighbors instantly. “How could you? After all we have been through?”

The confused man stared at her - he could not fathom why she was so mad at him. The neighbors tried to calm her down but she refused, and when someone asked for evidence, she recounted the phone call episode and called on Junior to repeat everything the lady on the phone said.

“The number you are calling is not reachable at the moment.

Please try again later,” Junior said.

Words & Origin hullabaloo

some things, including life, change for the better - Praveen

Riddles Awake at Night You can see me awake at night, I am so dark I can be out of sight, Some are scared of me when I come around, I make a little squeaky sound.

What am I?

\heh-leh-beh-LU\ (noun) - Ruckus, clamor, fuss, uproar.

“There was such a hullabaloo in the department store when they announced women’s bathing suits half off, three people had to be sent to the infirmary.” The word is a reduction of the rhyme reduplication “halloo-baloo,” which comes from an alteration of “hallo,” an ancestor of “hello” and an alteration of obsolete holla “Stop! Wait!” “Holla” may come from Old French “Hola!” based on ho “Hey!” + la “there,” the latter from Latin illac “that way.” Its development was probably influenced by earlier hurly-burly “strife, turmoil,” an ancient reduction of “hurling and burling.”

Pep We are either progressing or retrograding all the while; there is no such thing TalkTalkthis life. - James Freeman Clarke

as remaining stationary in

45

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

•Kawu Baraje, PDP

• Bisi Akande, ACN

•Tony Momoh, CPC

•Victor Umeh, APGA

De-registration: Parties battle for survival The fallout of last year’s elections exposed the weight of the political parties. Not a few had dismal outing; thus, the need for them to either shape up or crash out. Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN takes a look at the remaining parties as they journey through the new year.

A

T the birth of most political parties in the country in frenetic preparation for the April 2011 elections, even featherweight parties whose chairmen would find it pretty hard to win elections in their nuclear families beat their lean chests, boasting: ‘We are the parties to beat!’

As would be expected, the elections held, but it turned the litmus test that allowed the grains to be sifted from the chaff. Out of the 63 parties that threw their hats into the ring, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); Congress for Progressive Change (CPC); All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) recorded varying pass marks.

To many the result of the senatorial election was an eye-opener: It showed that gone were the days when the ruling party enjoyed monopoly of the votes cast.

The PDP’s outing took a tumble in both chambers. It took 202 seats in the House of Representatives and 71 seats in the Senate.

Notable PDP candidates whose electoral value took a somersault at the polls included former House of Representatives’ Speaker Dimeji Bankole. Senator Iyabo ObasanjoBello, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s daughter could also not pop the champagne after the poll.

The ACN showed its rising clout and came second in both chambers. It clinched 66 seats in the House of Representatives and 18 in the Senate. The CPC took 35 and seven seats at both chambers respectively. The ANPP followed with 25 and seven seats. The remainder went to light-weight parties.

However, the CPC’s feat at the polls was to become a nine days’ wonder late September last year when two of its senators and eight members of the House of Representatives from Katsina State lost their seats as a tribunal nullified their victories.

The tribunal, which ordered repeat elections in the affected constituencies, said the 10 lawmakers were not validly nominated candidates of their party because the Court of Appeal had nullified the primaries that gave them tickets to stand in the polls.

It was ruling in a case filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which partook of the governorship and other elections in Katsina State.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Solomon

A. Akintaye and Justice Halim Saleeman, ordered the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in the affected constituencies and senatorial districts within 90 days.

The affected senators are Abdu Umar YanDoma and Ahmed Sani Stores of Katsina North and Katsina Central districts respectively. The House members also affected are Abdu Dankama (Jibia/Kaita), Murtala Isa (Faskari/Sabuwa/Kankara), Mukhtari DanDutse (Funtua/Dan-Dume), Musa Salisu (Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa), Aminu Ashiru (Mani/Bindawa), Umar Adamu Katsayel (Daura/Mai-Adua/Sandamu), Muhammad Tukur Sada (Katsina) and Tasi’u Doguru (Mashi/Dutse).

The matter was eventually taken to the Supreme Court, which, on December 16, last year, upheld the tribunal’s judgement on the cases of the ten lawmakers. Hence, the PDP leadership has been asking the INEC to issue certificates of return to its candidates at the polls.

However, if the PDP had thought that it would sweep the governorship polls as it did especially in the South West in 2007, it might have been day-dreaming. After the poll, the PDP could only control 23 states; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), six; All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), three; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), two; Labour Party (LP), one and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one.

The ruling party’s misfortune did not just come overnight. While the ACN in particular was consolidating and strategising, relying on the goodwill it was enjoying through remarkable performance in the few states it was present, the PDP sore of internal wrangling festered.

It profile was also punctured by the bad image given the party by the lack-lustre performance at the PDP-controlled federal government.

The cracks in the party in states like Osun, Ogun, Lagos and Kwara among others did the party no good. In the past few weeks, the news everywhere has been about the efforts of stakeholders of the party to mend fences and close ranks to prepare it for future elections. How effective such efforts will be is waiting to be seen.

Worried by the ill-health of some of the parties, authorities at the INEC slipped its statutory daggers through the fabric of some of the rudderless parties in what was termed de-registration of some of them. The axe fell on seven among the political parties. Chairman of the agency, Professor Attahiru Jega, on August 17, wielded powers vested in the commission by the Electoral Act 2010. He proscribed the parties that he described as inactive.

The ‘victim’ parties did not field any candidate for the April elections. They are Democratic Alternative (DA); National Action Council (NAC); National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP); Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN); Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP) and the National Unity Party (NUP).

Expectedly, the axing of the parties has been generating ripples across the country. Some lawyers and leaders of some of the organisations dub the act a violation of Nigerians’ right to freedom of association reportedly affirmed in a subsisting Supreme Court judgment in a suit instituted by the late constitutional lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

But the Electoral Act 2010 in Section 78 (7ii)

‘The PDP-led federal government must do all it can to polish the party’s dwindling image caused by the various ills plaguing the nation on virtually all fronts at present.

Among the parties, the ACN looks good to spread its tentacles even beyond the next one year, thanks to the widely-acknowledged impressive performance being recorded in all the states it controls across the nation’

empowers INEC to de-register parties for a breach of any of the requirements stipulated for registration in the constitution; and importantly, for failing to win a seat in the National or State Assembly elections.

But will INEC further axe more of the parties in times to come? What is the future of the remaining ones?

Chief Press Secretary to Jega, Mr. Kayode Idowu told The Nation last Friday: “Of course, the exercise is an ongoing effort to sanitise our political system. The de-listed seven political parties were de-listed after the general elections in April because they did not perform and we must note that the commission acted in strict compliance with the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution. It is also in line with section 78 (7) (ii) of the 2010 Electoral Act which empowers INEC to de-list any party that failed to win any seat in the general elections. What we are doing is for the overall good of our system. It is no witch-hunting.”

Kayode explained that some political parties were yet to be de-registered though they failed to win elections because they were one way or the other involved in litigations.

“Owing to the fact that they are in one way or the other involved in legal processes since after the elections, we can’t act further now.

Those that did not win elections and have no cases in court either directly or by association have been de-listed. Those remaining are those that did not win elections have cases pending in court. And with this development, we can’t take action until those legal issues and processes are resolved,” Idowu added.

Now, with the ugly past behind most of the troubled parties as they re-strategise to consolidate in the coming year, there is no gainsaying the fact that there are mountains ahead for them to climb.

The PDP-led federal government must do all it can to polish the party’s dwindling image caused by the various ills plaguing the nation on virtually all fronts at present.

Among the parties, the ACN looks good to spread its tentacles even beyond the next one year, thanks to the widely-acknowledged impressive performance being recorded in all the states it controls across the nation.

No doubt, the next 12 months will be a period of challenges for most of the parties, thus the onus falls on their leaderships to sit up or watch as their parties go under.

46

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

POLITICS Eagle Square in Abuja will once again host the convention of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party’s leaders say it is aimed at repositioning it. MUSA ODOSHOMOKHE writes on the newly released guidelines and the intrigues preceding the convention.

PDP set for rebirth at convention?

T

HE national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for February will no doubt attract local and international attention. Being the ruling party at the centre, decisions arising from the convention will have its impacts on the citizenry.

Given the excitement which previous conventions had generated, the 2012 PDP gathering will further open a score card for the ruling party as vested interests will use the opportunity to make in-road into the soul of the largest ruling party in Africa.

Although the party is said to have a neo-liberal stance in its economic policies and maintains conservative disposition on social issues, the outcome of the convention may shape government’s position in the years ahead.

This implies that the presidency will be keenly involved and expectedly, the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the convention will be a beehive of activities that will lead to the emergence of the national officers of the party who will make up the new National Working Committee (NWC).

As usual, the delegates would include all elective office holders in the party, those nominated by their state chapters and political appointees in the various tiers of government.

Ahead of that convention, the leadership of the party has not only zoned the national chairman’s position to the Northeast, but has also thrown the National Secretary to the Southwest which appeared to be disproportionately favoured in the party’s power apparatus.

Even at that, it has been said that the party would soon come out with a comprehensive blueprint on the party’s zoning formula for the next four years, while allotting the various party positions to the different geopolitical zones.

There is no geopolitical zone where the PDP does not control at least three states, except in the Southwest where the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) controls five of the existing six states, conceding Ondo State to the Labour Party. The 2012 convention may be more exciting for the Southwest where the PDP looks forward to relaunching itself, having been whipped silly in the last election.

It was said that PDP has been holding crucial meetings ahead of the February 2012 convention where a wide range of issues were expected to be addressed to give way for a new leadership.

The meetings, it was said, started with the national caucus and followed by that of Board of Trustees which its National Executive Committee would equally rectify. It is believed that the meetings would deliberate on the guidelines for the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party.

It was also said that the guidelines for the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party had settled for the removal of statutory delegates in place of only

• PDP members at a convention at Eagles Square, Abuja.

elected delegates; the inclusion of three wards, five local governments, 10 state delegates, governors, principal officers of the National and State Assemblies.

Notwithstanding the zoning of the chairmanship to the Northeast, the gladiators who are contesting the office parade credentials which eminently qualified them for position they are jostling for.

Among the chairmanship contenders in the party are former Gongola State governor, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Jubril Aminu, Mallam Ibrahim Birma and a former special adviser to President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abba Aji. Others are Alhaji Gambo Lawan, Alhaji Shetima Mustafa, former Bauchi State Governor, Adamu Muazu and former Minister of Commerce, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri. Three members of PDP NWC have also shown interest. They are the incumbent acting National Secretary of the party, Dr. Musa Babayo; National Publicity Secretary, Prof.

Rufai Ahmed Alkali as well as the National Vice-Chairman, Dr. Paul Wampana.

The party caucus is expected to ratify the zoning of the remaining 10 offices in the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC), which is the second highest decision-making body of the party. It was further

gathered that the national caucus, which will be presided over by the Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, will ratify the guidelines for the congresses and national convention.

The congresses are expected to commence from the ward level in January 2012 which will culminate in national convention late February. It is there that new officers who will run the affairs of the party from the ward to national level for the next four years will emerge.

Although the chairmanship of the party had been ceded to Northeast, it had not attracted much applause as it had been argued that it would place a brick-wall on its ambition for the presidency in 2015 because the chairman of the party and presidential candidate could not come from the same zone.

Presumably, no one envisaged a situation like this, but in its calculation, the Northeast was very hopeful that it could still run for the presidency in 2015, given that the chairmanship position expired by 2016.

Besides, there is nothing in the party’s constitution that forbids the chairman and president to come from same zone.

President Goodluck Jonathan had cleared the air about the zoning thing. He said that the party zoned position after the

president and his vice must have emerged, and afterwards all other positions were zoned including the party chairman.

So, there may not be any problem with the chairman and president coming from one zone.

The PDP stakeholders may have chosen to forge ahead with the new arrangement. It has been argued if the chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT) of the party, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has not shifted ground, the issue of zoning cannot be rested.

It is believed that Obasanjo thinks that Southwest deserves the Speaker-ship being currently occupied by Northwest.

The party has made its position clear with the Secretaryship of the party to Southwest; it is believed that Obasanjo is not one whose threats can easily be waved aside.

The 2012 convention will certainly see increment in the number of women participating.

President Jonathan has already raised the stakes. The percentage of women that will participate has risen to 35 per cent from 15 per cent as provided in PDP constitution and the amendment is expected to stay.

The amended constitution will also move the party from using indirect primaries in picking their candidates for elective of-

The road might also be made cumbersome for those who think they could just sneak out and come back to the party at will. There is already an amendment in the party’s rule on waivers for decampees. This, it was said, would check members who had always reveled in disloyalty.

fices to direct primaries where every registered financial member of the party will be involved in the choice of who become the candidates of the party at any level.

The road might also be made cumbersome for those who think they could just sneak out and come back to the party at will.

There is already an amendment in the party’s rule on waivers for decampees. This, it was said, would check members who had always reveled in disloyalty.

The party had decided that its door would no longer be shut against members who henceforth decamp from the party as they would be required to queue up for not less than two years before they would qualify for clearance to participate in the party primary at all levels.

Those who fall within the category won’t make it to the convention where they would have made decisive input against the ambition of some candidates.

Likewise, they won’t have the opportunity to pass a vote of confidence on those they want to scale through.

As was learnt, the governors have already reached an agreement to oppose any aspirant that enjoys the backing of the President for the post. It was noted that they had chosen to take their pound of flesh for refusing them when they sought his blessing for Governor Timipre Sylva in Bayelsa primaries.

The source maintained that the governors, who are yet to pick their candidate for the chairmanship position, are waiting for the President to unveil his candidate first.

The 2012 convention is expected to elicit passion, intrigues and interests it has never witnessed in previous ones.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

47

AGRO-BUSINESS Expanding agric frontiers in Anambra

By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

A

• Bags of rice

Firm to produce Thai rice A

NIGERIAN firm has gone into production of Thai rice to stem importation of the commodity from Thailand.

Maganiya Agro Allied Limited (MAAL) has signed an agreement with agricultural experts from Thailand to that effect.

The rice plantation will be located at Wukari in Taraba State, the firm said.

The Vice-Chairman of Broron Group, Mr Henry Ojogho, said his company entered into an agreement with Maganiya, on the projects. He said the Wukaris Tsokundi road will be constructed for easy evacuation of the product.

Ojogho said the Thai tech-

By Daniel Essiet, Agric Correspondent

nical team has visited the plantation to collect soil samples from three different locations, adding that samples of rice plant from the site have been taken to Thailand for analysis. According to Ojogho, the Thai agricultural experts also visited the Wukari and Yola Rice Mills, where they observed farmers harvesting rice and collected some samples which have also taken to Thailand.

The Thai technical team comprising Dr. Chaiarre Witith, Mr. Chindarat Somchai, Mr. Lewsa-Ngar Popkid and Mr. Michael Abdullah Adegbesan, vis-

ited the plantation with officials of Maganiya, led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ajaebili, technical manager.

At the Wukari Rice Mill, where the expert saw three varieties of paddy rice: TR, CP and short rice, and at the Yola Mill, they watched farmers harvesting rice.

The partners have agreed that inhabitants of the hostcommunity be engaged to work on the farm.

The district head of Tsokundi, Dr. Shekarau Masaibi, while conducting the team round the water house near Tsokundi river, promised the community’s support for the use of the water house.

The team also visited I.O. Farms Limited in Agbede,

Edo State, which is an integrated farm with poultry, piggery, fish pond, grass cutter, goat, cattle, pineapple, plantation among others It met with the farm’s Chairman, Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

At the farms, the team proffered advice on ways to improve the faltering of pigs, fish, poultry production and pineapple cultivation.

About 6.7 million bags of rice were ordered from Thailand for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Last year, Nigeria emerged the biggest buyer of Thai rice. It imported 1.44 million tonnes Thailand rice representing 15.7 per cent of the 9.04 million tonnes of total rice exports.

AfDB hails IITA’s work in Africa

T

HE African Development Bank (AfDB) has praised the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for its marvelous work in Africa.

IITA Secretary-General Ms Cecilia Akintomide said the body is not only increasing knowledge in the sciences through research, but also transforming lives in Africa.

“The impact is real and I am proud of the results coming out of this African-based research institution,” Akintomide said when she IITA in Ibadan, Oyo State. This is not the first time IITA is being

praised for its impact in Africa.

In 2007, an impact assessment team by the Science Council of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) reported that about 70 per cent of CGIAR’s impact by the CGIAR in Africa came from research output of IITA. Akintomide noted that IITA’s gene bank has become useful in post-conflict countries. The bank, she said, is the source of the seeds and plants used to restart farming in post-conflict countries, such as Angola, Democratic

Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.

She recalled that in Nigeria, before the discovery of oil, agriculture was the key driver of the economy, with cocoa playing a leading role, particularly in the Southwestern region. The early infrastructure in the region were built with revenues generated from cocoa, she said.

Akintomide said AfDB’s Medium Term Strategy (MTS) included in its pillars; infrastructure, higher education, science and technology.

These MTS pillars provide areas of convergence be-

tween AfDB and IITA. IITA Director-General, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, lauded the bank for its investment in research and development.

He said besides improving the quality of research, IITA would continue to focus on capacity building and the strengthening of partnership with international and local institutions.

These areas of focus by IITA, he said, would help in addressing the challenges facing the continent and compliesment the bank’s efforts towards improving lives.

‘Combating plant diseases will boost food security’

A

DON has called for measures to prevent loss of crop yield and impact on food availability.

The Head of Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Prof. Abel Ogunwale, said intensifying efforts on pest and disease management will prevent loss of crop and improve food security.

He said early pest and disease management approach has become necessary to maintain maximum crop

yield in the face of climate change.

Ogunwale said a whole lot is needed beyond use of pesticides to nurture crops to make them sustainable crops.

The don advocated a reliable crop production and sustainable food production system.

He warned against destruction of crop diversity centres, adding that securing genetic diversity is the key to food security.

Ogunwale reiterated that protecting crop genetic diversity is vital in ensuring

future food security.

Except these varieties are preserved, the expert noted that the nation would lose traditional crops, which are better placed to combat pests or diseases.

He said the pillar of the local farming system are locally-bred varieties, which have resistance to pests and diseases.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said about 75 per cent of the genetic diversity of agricultural crops has already been lost in the last century.

• Ogunwale

GRICULTURE is one of the priority sectors for development in Anambra State. The state has large hect ares of arable land suitable for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Agriculture provides food and employment for about 80 per cent of the population.

The land is fertile for production of tropical crops, such as yam, cassava, rice, maize and cocoyam. Anambra has high potential for agricultural development. The lfite Ogwari Dam on the Anambra River provides water for 3,500 hectare irrigated land at Ornor for the cultivation of rice, maize, and out of season vegetables.

Several raw industrial materials and agro-products are located in various parts of the state and they include yam, cassava, rice maize and cocoyam.

The major food processing areas are Aguleri, Anam, Atani, Inoma, Ogbaru, Ufuma and Nzam. Rice, yam, cassava and other staples are produced in commercial quantities in these areas. Livestock is raised state - wide. Poultry and piggery are the major products. Oil Palm is also grown in the state with its by products palm oil, kernel oil, kernel cake used in the manufacture of margarine and compound cooking fats, soap, cosmetics, crayon and candles. The state has high potential for agricultural development, because of stretches of fertile land.

Forest reserves in the Mamu river basin, Akpaka and AjaliUmeje reserves provide valuable forest products, protect the watersheds and main tain ecological balance, thereby helping to prevent sheet and gully erosion. Services and programmes geared towards increased agricultural production and forestry, including the organisation of farm groups.

The state government believes agribusiness is a key sector in, helping to increase opportunities for people living in rural areas, by helping to create jobs and fuel economic growth. The government is inviting foreign and local investors to invest in the agricultural sub-sector. Investors have the opportunity to get involved in food processing activities.The following investment opportunities have been identified - production and processing of baby vegetables; production of biofertilisers, crops such as yam, maize, mangoes, bananas, avocadoes, guava, cashews, oil palm, coconuts, mushrooms, peas, cowpeas, beans, • Governor Peter Obi etc. The government is pushing the agricultural sector in this direction through food security strategies that are already bearing fruit. Development of the agribusiness sector is very high on its agenda. It plans to attract further foreign investment in areas such as large-scale farming, animal feed production, cattle breeding and high value added food processing.

The sector offers potential for value adding processing for local and international markets. Several raw industrial materials and agro-products are located in various parts of the state and they include oil palm, maize, rice, yam, cassava, and fish. The government is ready to allocate plots of land to private, local and foreign investors. There are opportunities for livestock and poultry production such as sheep, goat, swine and rabbits, fowls, ducks and turkeys for eggs and white meat.

Investors are needed for poultry and fish (aquaculture) feeds production and for manufacture of, veterinary drugs for the animal industry. Pesticide plants are needed for the manufacture or fabrication of pre- and post-harvest pesticides.

The state is supporting local efforts to help accelerate agric development according to international standards. There is effort to develop modern poultry production and food processing. The present regime has continued support the agricultural sector through innovative agreements with international organisations. Increased productivity and incomes in the rural sector remain central to the efforts. The government wants food production scaled up to feed a growing population.

What is needed is a change of agricultural paradigm. The government is scaling up industrial solutions and adopting agro farming methods as a model of land use and food production. The government is promoting agriculture as a strategy to reduce poverty by creating employment opportunity in rural and semi-urban areas through increasing agribusiness activities. An effort is made to expand activities of rural enterprises engaged in commercial agriculture including production, input supply, marketing, processing, and transportation.

These will generate employment in rural and peri-urban areas, raise the value added of non-traditional crops and commodities, and increase rural incomes. The state ministry of agriculture is working to increase women’s participation in agribusiness development to enable them provide contributions to economic growth.

The overall programme is to support agro-industries and value chains, options include linking small farmers with commercial farmers, exporters or agro-processing firms in long-term relationships, initiatives that improve the capacity of small farmers and small agro-enterprises to participate in chains for high value products, and innovative mechanisms to link public funding with private sector resources.

48

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

SHOPPING

49

THE NATION

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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

e-mail: janicenkoli@yahoo.com 08033349992 sms only

email:- shopping@thenationonlineng.net

‘Fuel subsidy removal is anti-people’ Five days after the removal of fuel subsidy, there is still outrage in the land over the Federal Government’s action. The high cost of petrol, a fall out of the removal, many claim, has added to their burden. JANICE NKOLI IFEME spoke with them.

• Traders lamenting at Iddo market, Lagos.

D

ESPITE the forewarning

by President Goodluck Jonathan and some of his close aides, the public was caught unawares when fuel subsidy was removed. The removal came at a time the public least

expected.

Nigerians never thought that subsidy would be removed on January 1 when they were celebrating the New Year.

Moreover, some were still mourning the death of loved ones in the Christmas Day bombing of St Teresa Catholic Church in

Madalla, Suleja, Niger State.

Up till today, many are yet to get over the shock of the removal five days after. In public and in private, the issue is the subject of discussion, with many asking: “why did the President do this to us?” To them, the implication of

Tips for office outfits Page 50

the removal far outstrips whatever gains the president and his men think will come out of the exercise. The man on the street does not believe that the government took his interest into consideration before removing subsidy.

A survey by The Nation Shopping

showed that many are not impressed with the government’s promise that “the DPR (Directorate of Petroleum Resources) will ensure that the interest of the consumer in terms of quality of

• Continued on Page 51

Most anticipated tech products of 2012 Page 51

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

50

SHOPPING

• Men’s office suit

• The smart look

Did you skip shopping for office wears during the Yuletide? If you did, now is the time to upgrade your wardrobe for work in the new year, with tips from JANICE NKOLI IFEME.

L

AST December, the shopping season was at its peak. Many, who spoke to The Nation Shopping, said they went shopping mostly for food items and party wears, given the events that took place during the Yuletide. Now, the season is over, and everyone is back to business and at the top of the shopping list is workers need. This is so because they are upgrading their office wardrobes.

There are many reasons people upgrade their wardrobes. Sometimes, old clothing is no longer your size or does not fit as well as it used to. Other times, a clothing item becomes outdated or faded. You may also be moving to a different job or role and need new clothes. You may also want to look new for the New Year. Regardless of the reason, a wardrobe upgrade requires an honest assessment of what you possess and what is missing.

Upgrading a wardrobe is easy if you have the money and can buy a new look for yourself. Most people do not have that kind of money to spend solely on clothing. Here are some budget-savvy tips to guide you.

Analysing your wardrobe Begin with an assessment of the clothes you already have. Consider your style and needs, identify what items your wardrobe is missing, then create a shopping strategy to meet your need. Go for styles that flatter your body and fit your taste. With your budget in mind, distinguish between absolute necessities, and items that could wait for another trip if necessary.

If you want to start from scratch to create an entirely new wardrobe, you also need to identify your style and create your customised shopping strategy.

Before you buy or throw away anything, it is important to assess your current selection.

Create an inventory of all of your clothing.

It does not need to be complicated. Then look to see what categories of items are missing.

Tips for office outfits Are you lacking professional attire? Does your clothing not fit? Does it feature a longago trend? Keep an open mind during your assessment. Once you have pinpointed what the major issue is, separate the items into two divisions: items that will work with your upgrade goals and items that will not work.

Modifying and altering pieces Take a look at all the pieces in the “do not work” section. Anything that is too small can be immediately taken away-donate the nice pieces and toss the rest. Separate clothing that fits but is out of fashion next. Take a hard look at each item. Fashion tends to cycle.

Pieces that look great on you but are too trendy can be stored away in plastic bins if you have the storage. Clothing with out of date details, such as certain sleeves, collars or buttons can be modified to omit the dated details. If you cannot sew, take the garments to a tailor or seamstress and get a quote for each. Torn or irreparably stained clothing should be tossed. Clothing that is too big can also be taken to the tailor for alteration. The rest of your pieces should be fine in all other ways except that they do not fit the look that you are building towards. Keep them and wear them on occasions where the new look is not necessary

Classic essentials Buy a few basic wardrobe pieces that you can use in multiple ways. A collared, white dress shirt is almost compulsory for men and women alike if they are looking to upgrade a professional wardrobe. Black or gray slacks can be combined with many different items.

Do not buy for labels; buy for the quality of

the garment. Do not worry about changing bags and purses to stay current. Instead, invest in a classic, high quality leather bag. Do not buy into any fads. These put a time limit on your wardrobe. Stick with classic pieces that look good on you personally. Care for your clothing. Follow the label directions and pre-treat stains as soon as they happen.

Get larger pieces (pants, skirts, and jackets) in neutral colours that mix and match. Neutral colours — black, navy blue, gray, tan (or taupe or camel), cream, white - work best, as they not only mix with each other, they do not stand out so you can wear them repeatedly and not make it obvious that you are wearing the same thing.

Five well-chosen shirts combined with two pairs of pants will give you ten combinations, but two outfits that do not go with anything else will only give you two combinations.

Here are some suggestions you can aim for: Men: three to four jackets, three to four pair pants, five button-front shirts, five pair dress socks, three to four ties, two pair of shoes.

Women: two to four jackets, three to four bottoms (pants or skirts), five tops (buttonfront shirts or solid-colour knit tops), two twin sets (matching tank and cardigan), five pairs dress socks and/or pantyhose, two pair of shoes (low heels, or flats if you cannot wear heels at all). Consider suits. People often assume suits will be more expensive than buying separates, but you often get a jacket and pants/skirt for less money than if you bought them separately. Suits in solid colours or with subtle patterns are best for splitting up and using each half separately.

Keep one or two professional outfits on hand for formal occasions (interviews, gatherings or meetings with customers) even if your office is casual or you don’t currently

work in a setting that requires them. Store them in a breathable garment bag so that they do not gather dust. Those same couple of outfits could keep you going for a few days if you do get an office job.

Shoes should be comfortable and well-fitting, preferably leather. Do not try to squeeze into a pair that does not fit.

Shoes for women If you can only start with one pair of shoes to go with everything, choose black. For your second pair, choose a colour that will go with more of your wardrobe. If you have a good deal of blacks, whites, greys, blues, pinks, and reds, navy shoes would be a good choice.

If you tend to have more earth colours, such as beige, brown, tan, yellow, green, and orange, look for tan or dark brown shoes. Do not dismiss the importance of avoiding very high heels in the office - remember, you will be wearing them for at least seven hours or more, and may have a job which entails getting up from your desk and walking to many locations in the office. Shoes with heels over two inches high will likely feel very uncomfortable at day’s end.

Shoes for men As for women, black is the colour to choose if you can only start with one pair of shoes.

For your second pair, dark brown or oxblood (a dark burgundy or maroon) is recommended. Navy is usually not an option for men. Dress shoes for men should be simple, with four or five holes for laces and no design or contrasting trim that stands out. Dress loafers or dress boots can also work if very plain leather. Socks should be black or dark

51

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

SHOPPING

Most anticipated tech products of 2012 Apple iPad 3

M

ANY tech geeks are anticipating the release of Apple’s new iPad 3. There are already rumours posted online saying it will be equipped with super high resolution retina display and would be powered with quad-core A6 processor. If this is true, then the third generation iPad may launch in first half of 2012.

When iPhone 4S was launched in October 2011, many Apple fans were slightly disappointed. The iPhone 4S has some nice changes than iPhone 4, like voice assistance Siri but, the physical appearance which was identical to its predecessor iPhone 4.

Now there are rumours floating around online about the launch of Apple’s new iPhone 5 which is making the iPhone fans cheer while they wait for the launch. iPhone 5 may have many changes in its appearance and specifications and is expected to have a quad-core A6 processor along with 4G support.

The Nintendo Wii U is an upcoming video game console and it is the successor of the Wii. It is expected to be released in the second half of 2012 but Nintendo has not yet announced the exact release date. It is expected to come with a powerful 1080 pixels capable box with beautiful controller which has 6.2 inch touch screen with stylus, a front facing camera, full set-off gaming buttons, two analog stick, gyroscope for motion gaming, a built in microphone and stereo speaker.

One of the motives for holding money is to make transactions. This means that shopping is inextricable! However, projections should be made to avoid festivity-shopping- cramming. This would help individuals buy high quality commodities at reduced prices that are relatively friendly, thereby playing down the supposed side effects of sky rocketing prices emanating from demand-push inflation. Merry Xmas to all readers of The Nation Newspaper and more rewarding, revamping, rejuvenating, recapitulating and invigorating New Year.

Olaolu Ayoola, Architect, Corps Member, batch ‘C’ 2011.

Dear Aunty Janice, I really appreciate the way you enlighten us on shopping.

Dear, I understood vividly all the issues you raised about shopping right for Christmas. I love you for that. Keep it up. Auwal Gadole, Plateau State • Apple iPad3

‘Fuel subsidy removal is anti-people’ products is guaranteed at all times and in line with international best practice.”

Mr Joseph Nzube said: “I bought the essential things my family needed for Christmas but reserved the rest of my shopping for January. I never anticipated that the subsidy removal would come as a New Year’s gift. I thought it was going to be around April but I got the shocker of my life. They just did it without any notice. I can tell you that, indeed, President Jonathan can bite”.

Another shopper, Mr Tunji Adebayo said: “What do you want the man earning N18, 000 per month to do? I understand that the money is needed for the development of the country. However, this is not the time.

Prices of everything will skyrocket and road transportation is the main mode of transport. We do not have 24/7 electricity and people need to fuel their generators most of the time. This is an anti-people move, a decision the masses will suffer for.

It is a very sad start to the New Year”.

For Mrs Mary Efosa, “People should look up to God. God’s kingdom is the only hope for mankind because one thing that I am sure of in this country is that once anything starts, no going back, as if the Lekki toll is not enough and now this,”she asked.

Mrs Mariam Usman said: “This is just wrong. It is saddening. Do our comments really count? It seems the government still does what it wants to do no matter what the public says. It is just too bad for the people not to be taken into consideration.

Here is a country that one of our natural resources is oil. This is just too bad to think that the government just sits up there carrying out decisions that would not in anyway affect them but the masses. The point here is that the people are suffering. How many of those government officials go to the filling stations to buy fuel? They do not know how hard it bites. They are inconsiderate and we demand an explanation for this decision.

Mr Paul Odeh, who just came from the United States to celebrate the Yuletide, said: “I was thinking of staying back but because of the condition of things, I may have to go back to the States. I am concerned about the erratic power supply and bad infrastructure.

Welcome to the first edition of The Nation Shopping of 2012. Thanks for standing by us throughout last year.

You are the reason we remain relevant and knowing that you are always reading us even spores us to serving you better. Today being the first Friday of the month, during which we publish your comments, we shall dedicate this space for your response last month being December. Being the First Friday of the year makes it even more special.

Please bear with us if yours is not published in this edition.

Many thanks, Janice.

Hi Janice, you are so beautiful and intelligent. Secondly, I was addicted JANICE NKOLI IFEME to shopping and spending recklessly everyday. When I read your article, I decided to apply and adopt your ‘Buy Nothing Day’ principle four days in a week; locked up my wallet and ignored my credit cards. I discovered I’ve saved a whole lot of moneyinstead. My God! This is remarkable to me. My eyes are open. Now I am a consumer hero. Thanks Janice, you’ve helped me tremendously. I love you so dearly, Yusuf, Musician, Producer.

iPad Mini

• Continued from Page 49

FROM MY MAIL BOX Dear reader,

duce large sized smartphones.

There is also rumor that Korean LG Display and Taiwanese AU Optronics have recently sent a sample of 7 inch display for iPad Mini, says Digitimes. It is also said that Apple will feature Retina Display with 2048x1536 screen resolution in this Mini iPad.

Apple iPhone 5

Apple might introduce a 7 inch iPad Mini in the fourth quarter of 2012 to compete with 7 inch tablets like Kindle Fire, Nook and also with major technology giant who pro-

Shopping Right with

They say the money expended on subsidy would be used to develop the country.

When will this be? It is frustrating you know”.

Miss Funke Olufunmi, an undergraduate, said: “Even as things were before subsidy was removed, was the poor man making any headway? Who will provide for his health care, food and social amenities? No, when people absolutely have no way to make do, they do without. It is the mentality that no matter what, something will work out, is what drives people to think that they can get away with anything. Yes, a little wining here and there, but Nigerians will always survive eventually. May be when they die.”

Mrs Stella Oluranti, a business woman said: “Suffering and smiling, Fela has said it all. Whoever believes this move is to develop the economy is simply naïve. If they really want to help Nigerians, they should reduce their salaries and perks; after all they are supposed to be ‘public servants’. Another thing, please let’s not be preachy about this (remember the first commandment), we have been blessed with too much human and natural resources. The heart of a wicked man does not change until experience teaches him otherwise (even then, not all the time). Nigerians fight for our right or else let’s just continue ‘suffering and smiling’ and stop name calling, it has no effect”.

‘What do you want the man earning N18, 000 per month to do? I understand that the money is needed for the development of the country.

However, this is not the time. Prices of everything will skyrocket and road transportation is the main mode of transport’

Hello Janice, your piece in Shopping Right of December 30, 2011 is okay. I think our last minute shoppers to check product expiry date to avoid buying mixing expired products with good ones. Mr M. E. Agbajileke, Lecturer, Zamfara State.

Hello Janice, How are you? I am reading your column for the first time and I wish I had been doing this from day one. It’s true! I relish the good comments readers passed about you, especially the one from one K.O.K that your column is well researched and informative; that you are a combination of beauty and brain.That is also true! I promise henceforth not to ever miss you and your page!

Never again! Keep on the good work. Adeyemi Ayo, Abeokuta.

Everyone likes a bargain and it is this time of the year, when sales are in full swing that we head out to the stores in search of a great bargain. The question is, are you really getting a bargain when you buy clothing that does not fit well a pair of boots at 70 per cent off but a size too big - or a sweater that you will never wear because it does not match a thing you own.

Before you hit the stores looking for bargains, decide how much money you want to spend. A great sale has the potential to be a spending trap that will leave your pocketbook empty and your closet overstuffed with items that you will wish you had never bought - like the boots that are too big and keep slipping off.

Here are five shopping rules that will help you come home with clothing items, which are real bargains that will make you look and feel good.

• Know exactly what you need. Take inventory of your clothing and write a list of items that will expand your wardrobe - a red top that you can wear with five other items in your closet.

• Buy only what you need. If you have five white t-shirts that are in good condition and exactly the same cut you probably do not really need another one.

• If you are working with a budget stay away from that great plaid, flowery or embellished bag if most of your wardrobe is patterned and none of the colours in the bag match the clothing you already have.

• Do not be seduced by a low price. No matter how expensive it was if it does not fit do not buy it. You might find the best looking designer jacket at a low price but if it is the wrong colour or does not suit your body type you will not likely wear it.

• Shop prepared. If you are shopping to find a blouse to match a certain pair of pants, wear the pants shopping. Or if you are buying a skirt wear heels or take an appropriate pair of shoes with you to get a better idea of how the skirt will look.

Eleburuike B. Ahmad, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

Write to us, express your views, observations and experiences. Let’s have your comments about shopping. Your comments, questions and answers will be published first Friday of every month. With your full name and occupation, send e-mail to: janicenkoli@yahoo.com SMS - 08033349992

52

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

53

NEWS Why governors backed subsidy removal, by Suswam Continued from page 4

“No, it is not timing. It is about the fact that at some point in time, the decision must be taken. In a country with 160 million people, there is no way you can reach a consensus on any issue but it is incumbent on leadership and it is imperative on leadership that decision must be taken for the interest of the country”.

“Where religious leaders have been invited, where labour themselves have been engaged, different sectors and shades of the opinions have been engaged over the past three months. Should this go on open ended? No. “Government is taking decision not for its own interest

but for the interest of the generality of Nigerians so that we can move forward”.

He said that more money is needed to be able to deliver of democracy dividends. “I have not been sleeping because I am looking for money to pay minimum wage because the money is simply not there. We need money to provide some of the basic infrastructure which is lacking everywhere.

“Under the present circumstance, if you don’t have the money to pay the minimum wage, where will you get the money to run some of the paraphernalia that you people are complaining about?

“But it is beyond the issue of cutting expenses. We are prac-

ticing a very expensive system of government. We cannot run away from it. The presidential system of government is very expensive. It is either we continue to practice the system or go for a less expensive system of government.

“But as far as we continue with the presidential system of government, those incidental expenses must be there.

You cannot run away from them”.

He sued for dialogue with labour rather than shutting down government, saying, “Most of us will want to travel to America but w have forgotten that leadership in those countries at one point in time made sacrifice to make those countries what they are today.

Up up go food prices Continued from page 4

“The price of a carton of knorr maggi has gone up from N5,000 which we sold during the Christmas period to N6,800. Even a create of Egg which used to be N650 is now selling at N750.

In Niger State, the effect of the subsidy removal is yet to take its toll on the people, as cost of things are yet to jump

up.

In Minna, the state capital, prices of food items have remained stable. A 50kg Thailand Rice sells between N8,300 and N8,600; a 10kg bag of Semovita goes for N1,600 while beverages of different brands range from between N1,250 and N1,350.

However, the prices of farm produce, such as yam,

locally grown rice and beans have jumped up by about 50 per cent. A set of five tubers of yam that sold for N300 before now goes for N450, while the local rice has jumped up from N150 to N230. Brown beans now goes for N250 from N180.

A bag of 20 sachets of water which sold for between N50 and N60 now sells for N120.

•Protesters in Kaduna ... yesterday

PRICES OF FOOD STUFF City

Item

Lagos

Cray Fish Garri Vegetable Ground Nut Oil Congo of Rice Congo of Beans Maize Congo of Garri Tuber of Yam Bottle of Water Rice 50 Kg Palm Oil(25 Litres) Fish Carton Chicken Carton Stock Fish (50 Pieces Bag of Beans Rice (50 Kg) Kilo of Meat Bean (Paint ) Tin Bag of Rice Basket of Pepper Carton of Stock Fish Carton of Ice Fish Bag of Rice Tuber of Yam Basket of Tomatoes Carton of Fish Basin of Cray Fish

Ibadan

Abeokuta

Kaduna Abakaliki

Asaba Benin City

Before Subsidy Removal N500 N300 N350 N7000 N270 N300 N120 N150 N250 N120 N7,000 N3,500 N10,000 N5,200 N4,000 N10,000 N8,000 N800 N480 N9,000 N3,000 N45,000 N8,500 N8,000 N300 N2,000 N7,500 N4,000

After Subsidy Withdrawal N1000 N400 N500 N7,500 N350 N350 N300 N200 N350 N150 N7,800 N5,000 N11,500 N7,500 N5,000 N12,000 N9,000 N1,000 N550 N10,000 N7,500 N60,000 N10,000 N9,000 N400 N4000 N8,000 N6,000

Strike won’t stop Adamawa poll, says INEC

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Yola has said that the governorship election in Adamawa scheduled for January 14 will hold.

The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Kassim Gaidam, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola yesterday that the planned strike by NLC would not affect it.

Gaidam said: “The strike notice by the NLC and TUC will not affect the conduct of the poll,” and gave the assurance that all arrangements for the conduct of the election had been concluded.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner said that even though the strike, which has been slated to

‘INEC is going ahead with all the arrangement contained in its Adamawa governorship election time table’ start on Monday, Jan. 9, was worrisome, it would not stop the commission from going ahead with the election.

He said, “INEC is going ahead with all the arrangement contained in its Adamawa governorship elec-

tion time table. “‘We are praying for the Federal Government and NLC to come together for a reasonable compromise.

“But should there be any challenge for the election that may emanate, we have to take decisions with all appropriate stakeholders.”

The Commissioner also commended the five political parties, participating in the governorship election, for been peaceful during their campaigns.

He said, “‘INEC is very happy with the way and manner the political parties’ campaigns are going on in the state,” he said.

The commission said that most of the political parties’ campaigns were based on issues of development as contained in their manifestoes.

Bonfires, placards as more cities join petrol price protests Protesters stand firm in Kaduna

Continued from page 4

However, the lawyers dispersed in disappointment at about 12.54pm when the security personnel at the gate of the Lagos State Governor’s Office denied them access into the Government House.

The Ibadan protest took another shape, with bonfires on major roads in the Oyo State capital.

The protesters included hundreds of students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

The Joint Action Front (JAF), Oyo State chapter, asked the Federal Government to pay N52,200 minimum wage, in view of the prevailing cost of living.

JAF is a coalition of civil society organisations, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU).

Its State Co-ordinator, Dr Ademola Aremu, said the group would mobilise artisans, traders, workers and the private sector to participate in a rally planned for Monday.

The protesters marched

C

HRISTIAN youths yesterday formed a ring around their Muslim counterparts as they observed the afternoon prayers to prevent them from being attacked by security agents at the Lugard Hall roundabout. It was another day of protest in Kaduna.

The youths who were heading for the Kaduna State House of Assembly, but were turned back by security agents, converged on the Lugard Hall roundabout which they renamed Freedom Square, carrying placards with various inscriptions.

Some of the placards carried by the youths read: “Jonathan, Namadi through Sango-Poly Road, Mokola, Adamasingba, Dugbe, Oke-Bola, Oke-Ado and other major streets in the state capital, making bonfires and singing anti- government songs.

Soldiers and policemen attached to “Operation Burst”, the security outfit recently launched by the state government, maintained law and order during the protest. The security agents also put out the

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Sambo are Boko Haram, this is bad luck, “its N65 or revolution”, Nigerians wants subsidy back; “Jonathan, wicked leader without the interest of the masses at heart among others.

The youths who began arriving for the peaceful procession as early as 7.00am vowed to remain at the roundabout till the government listened to the cry of Nigerians and revert the price of petrol to N65.

President of the Arewa Defence League, Mallaam Murtala Abubakar said they were prepared to overcome religious differences to ensure that the

bonfires. Traffic was disrupted while the protest lasted – about mid-day.

Aremu, at a news conference, said the rally would hold simultaneously with the nationwide strike declared by the NLC. Other activists at the news conference were Chairman, UI Chapter of ASUU, Dr. Segun Ajiboye; Vice Chairman, Oyo NLC, Ayobami Ajayi, the Co-ordinator of

protest against fuel increase succeed.

“We know that the government would want to capitalise on our religious differences. But we are determined to overcome this. As you can see, this group is made up of Christians and Muslims.

When we were observing our prayers, the Christian youths were there to provide us cover. With this, we believe that we are making some progress.

“We will not allow them to implement this bad policy because if government is sincere, why won’t they check their own life style and stop embezzling public funds?

They came with packets of water and food .

the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Moshood Erubami, Mr Femi Aborisade, and Dr. Doyin Adebowale and Mr Awa Bamiji, among others.

For the third time in five days, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital witnessed another anti – subsidy removal protest yesterday. A coalition of concerned professionals and students of tertiary institutions organized it.

The protesters who took off at the OPIC roundabout trekked through IsaleIgbehin, Sapon, Ake palace, Ijaye before terminating it at the Governor’s Office at Oke Mosan. They called on the President to reverse his decision over the fuel subsidy.

Their placards read: “Jonathan, please listen to us, we are your children”, no to subsidy removal, avert nationwide strike, suspend re-

moval now,” “say no now or we will remain modern slaves,” “No more badluck, Jonathan must go” among others.

Spokesman of the protesters, Lamide Lawal, urged the federal government to reverse the decision and return to the N65 price, saying the removal of subsidy amounts to “gross insensitivity to the plights of Nigerians” by Jonathan’s Government.

Receiving the letter from the protesters, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, commended them for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves.

“I appreciate you and I identify with what you are doing with the protest. I’m also happy you did it in a very civilized manner and in decorum.

“This is quite commendable. I know what you are saying and on our part as a government, we will do all within our power to let the Federal Government know what you have told us. We will communicate your feelings to them,” Amosun said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-1-12

NSE recovers with N7b marginal gain

T

HE Nigerian capital market yesterday turned positive for the first time this year but the overall market situation remained cautious.

Aggregate market capitalisation of all equities moved up by N7 billion to close at N6.509 trillion as against N6.502 trillion recorded as opening value. The All Share Index (ASI) increased by 0.11 per cent to close at 20,657.00 points compared with opening index of 20,635.07 points.

However, the market remained on a year-to-date negative return of 0.36 per cent.

Specifically, a total of 154.593 million shares were traded across 2,593 deals worth N1.059 billion. The Financial Services sector as usual dominated the activities of the day with 128.793 million shares worth N616.726 million in 1,536 deals.

The sector, which is mainly controlled by the banks and the insurance stocks recorded 116.546 million shares worth N609.884 million and 1.246 million shares at N6.842 million respectively.

This was followed by the

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

Health Care sector with 8.386 million shares worth N18.302 million in 49 deals.

Also, the Consumer Goods sector (CGS) which comprises of six different sub-sectors, recorded a significant performance. These sub-sectors in all has a total of 14 stocks of which six are in the food products–representing 42.86 per cent of the whole sector. The CGS recorded a total of 7.048 million shares worth N319.678 million in 518 deals.

However, market analysts are of the opinion that the equity transactions on the floor of the Exchange closed higher yesterday after indicators accounted for marginal gains recorded on Dangote Cement, First Bank, Flour Mills, GT Bank and Skye Bank.

Despite the upward rally, they said the market outlook for today, appears blurred indicated by low market breaths as well as bearish stocks’ dictate of statistical log. Bearish/declined stocks dominated trade log by 39.9 per cent, 61.8 per cent and 40.3 per cent of totally transacted deals,

volume and value respectively.

Diamond Bank emerged the most actively traded stock with 51.301 million shares valued at N106.632 million in 46 deals. ETI (19.247 million shares), Skye Bank (13.062 million shares), First Bank (9.255 million shares), May & Baker (7.624 million shares) and Sovereign Trust Insurance (5 million shares) were other equities that recorded significant volume yesterday.

Honeywell Flour topped the gainers’ log by 4.96 per cent or N0.12 capital gain, to close at N2.54. Other strong gainers in the top five’s table were; Custodian & Allied N0.11 to close at N2.34, Dangote Flour N0.27 to close at N5.75, Fidson N0.04 to close at N0.90 and May & Baker N0.10 to close at N2.28.

On the losers table, Ashaka Cement led with 5 per cent maximum price drop or N0.58 to close at N11.03. Access Bank N0.26 to close at N5.03, Eterna Oil N0.14 to close at N2.71, Vitafoam N0.26 to close at N5.05 and Continental Reinsurance N0.04 to close at N0.79 added up for the top five losers.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-1-12

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

Banks hire consultants to achieve IFRS target

D

EPOSIT Money Banks (DMBs) have resorted to appointing consultants to guide their financials to align with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) mandate slated for this year.

The Nation leant that banks, which have adopted the IFRS, that requires full disclosure on a range of issues, including risk management measures and changes in accounting policy, want to ensure that their results for this year are compliant with the international guidelines.

Already, First Bank, Access Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank, among others, have adopted the IFRS. A common financial year-end of December 31, was also introduced by

Stories by Collins Nweze

the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure even comparison of results within the banking sector.

Nigeria’s minimum reporting standards only demand the quarterly publication of gross earnings, pre-tax profit and net profit, leaving analysts with little data on which to gauge future trends for the business or make international comparisons.

Chairman, IFRS Interpretations Committee, at the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB), Bob Garnett, advised banks to step up their processes of compliance because of adverse implications of default.

NDIC increases surveillance HE Nigerian Deposit Insur on PMIs, MfBs ance Corporation (NDIC)

T

has stepped up its surveillance on the primary mortgage institutions (PMIs) and Microfinance Banks.

NDIC, in a release, said it has opened a special desk with a view to accessing information on fraudulent practices being perpetrated in the two sub-sectors.

The statement said: “ In addition, the special help desk is to provide a platform for whistle blowers who may want to supply confidential information to the corporation on unethical or any other malpractices by the operators of the microfinance banks.”

The agency, said the desk would assist depositors, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders of micro finance banks and primary mortgage institutions to lodge their complaints for prompt actions.

According to NDIC, the estab-

By Akinola Ajibade

lishment of the desk is meant to effectively address enquiries, complaints and petitions by depositors and other stakeholders on timely and continuous basis.

NDIC had declared 22 out of the 100 licensed primary mortgage institutions technically insolvent after carrying out a special examination on them.

In the same vein, the corporation liquidated 103 microfinance banks in 2010 after a litmus test was conducted on them. Thereafter, it embarked on the sales of assets of the banks in early 2011, a development that enabled it to ascertain the level of toxic assets of the banks. As part of its mandate to redeem debt obligations and further sanitise the banking industry, the corporation has paid majority of the depositors of the affected banks.

parency and improve reporting standards that will help prevent or reduce systemic risks. He said investment in infrastructure is also key in ensuring that foreign direct investment (FDI) is attracted into the economy.

Garnett, said Nigeria, ranked 34th among 142 largest countries in the world, adding that Nigeria needs to pull more levers to improve its global competitiveness. He explained that aside infrastructure development, IFRS implementation can affect positively the qual-

Garnet, who spoke at IFRS Conference in Lagos, said accounting has become less risky than it was before the introduction of IFRS. He explained that the global knowledge and expertise reduces the risks of getting things wrong. He added that the adoption of the model will further enhance transparency and facilitate the restoration of investor confidence in the on-going efforts to sanitise and rebuild the financial services sector.

He further stated that the adoption of the IFRS will enhance trans-

Wema restores service after fire incidence

W

EMA Bank said normal banking operations have been fully restored across its entire network after a fire incident which affected its power generating house.

The service channels restored include e-banking platforms such as Automated Teller Machine (ATMs), internet banking & mobile

Banking in all its branches. This followed the successful installation of brand new backup generators at its head office replacing those that were lost.

The bank, said in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Femi Adeniran, that no damage was done to the main building and other sensitive installations.

T

HE euro fell to an 11-year low against the yen and the weak est level in 15 months versus the dollar on concern Europe’s debt crisis is worsening and the United States labour market strengthening.

The euro fell 0.6 per cent to 98.66 yen after reaching 98.48 yen earlier, its weakest since December 2000. It dropped 1.2 per cent to $1.2786 and tumbled below $1.28 for the first time since September 13, 2010, reaching $1.2777. The dollar appreciated 0.6 per cent to 77.17 yen. The pound rose to its highest level against the euro since September 2010, reaching 82.52 pence.

It depreciated 0.8 percent to $1.5493.

“The market is very cognisant and has been for quite some time

that there’s some very significant downside risk as far as the euro is concerned,” Alan Ruskin, global head of Group-of-10 foreign-exchange strategy at Deutsche Bank AG in New York, said.

A 7.5 billion-euro ($9.7 billion) share offer announced yesterday

by UniCredit SpA, Italy’s biggest bank, spurred concern European banks may struggle to raise more capital to weather the sovereigndebt crisis. UniCredit owns about 39 billion euros of Italian government bonds.

According to Bloomberg News report, the 17-nation currency weakened against most major peers after France’s borrowing costs rose at a bond sale yesterday as creditrating companies threaten to cut the nation’s top AAA ranking. Ster-

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

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 5-1-12 SYMBOL

HONYFLOUR CUSTODYINS DANGFLOUR FIDSON MAYBAKER JAPAULOIL LIVESTOCK LAWUNION TRANSCORP FIRSTBANK AGLEVENT

O/PRICE

2.42 2.23 5.48 0.86 2.18 0.98 0.78 0.52 0.57 8.80 1.38

C/PRICE

2.54 2.34 5.75 0.90 2.28 1.02 0.81 0.54 0.59 9.00 1.40

CHANGE

0.12 0.11 0.27 0.04 0.10 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.20 0.02

LOSER AS AT 5-1-12 SYMBOL

ASHAKACEM ACCESS ETERNAOIL VITAFOAM CONTINSURE DANGSUGAR UBA AIRSERVICE GTASSURE AIICO CCNN

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

11.61 5.29 2.85 5.31 0.83 4.89 2.59 2.17 1.35 0.54 4.77

11.03 5.03 2.71 5.05 0.79 4.66 2.47 2.07 1.29 0.52 4.60

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

ling rose to a 15-month high. The Australian and New Zealand dollars weakened against the greenback for a second day as investors sought safer assets.

“Europe trumps better US data right now. The market is very concerned about the sovereign debt and also the bank debt on the European side. Sentiment is very severe, “said Boris Schlossberg, director of research at the online currency trader GFT Forex in New York.

The dollar extended gains versus the euro after ADP Employer Services reported US companies added 325,000 workers in December, beating the highest projection in a Bloomberg News survey and following a revised 204,000 gain the prior month. The median estimate was for a gain of 178,000.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

“We regret any inconveniences you may have encountered during this period and wish to reassure all stakeholders that we remain committed to offering you exceptional, value adding services at all times,” the statement said. The bank’s head office in Lagos, was on January 3, gutted by fire which emanated from the power generating set.

Crisis pushes Euro to 15-month low

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

ity of reporting in the financial system.

However, he said it was wrong to think that by signing into the IFRS operational modalities, frauds and malpractices in the system will be stopped. “The IFRS does not stop fraud and malpractices in the system, but represents a significant improvement by the firm to abide by international laws.

The standard does not stop crooks.

It is simply an acceptance to adhere to international laws and best practices,” he said.

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 03-01-12 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 161.0000 (S/N)

162.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

155.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

156.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 98.43 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,642.73 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,351.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 97.65 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,635.25 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE

0.58 0.26 0.14 0.26 0.04 0.23 0.12 0.10 0.06 0.02 0.17

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

56

NEWS Obi’s wife gives to 20 babies From Adimike George, Onitsha

PDP suspends congresses indefinitely

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday suspended its THE wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Margaret Obi, congresses, which were scheduled to begin tomoryesterday donated gifts and row at various wards across cash to 20 babies born on the country.

January 1.

New leaders will emerge Mrs. Obi gave the mother of at the wards, local governfirst baby of the year, Mrs ments, states, zonal and naBeatrice Ezeugwuonye, tional offices.

N50,000 with packs of toiletThe PDP National Secreries, cartons of beverage and tariat had on Wednesday reclothes.

A statement from the office leased materials to state chairmen for sales to interof the Director of Child ested aspirants.

Development Ministry of But the party, at the end of Women’s Affairs and Social its National Working ComDevelopment, Emeka Ejide, mittee (NWC) meeting, yesreports that Baby Favour Ezeugwuonye was born at 12:05am and weighed 3.9 kg.

The governor’s wife visited the hospitals with the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ego Cordelia Uzoezie, and other officers of the ministry.

•Urges Organised Labour, Nigerians to embrace dialogue From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

terday postponed the congresses indefinitely.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, reads: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met yesterday and reviewed developments in the party and the nation.

“Specifically, the National Working Committee (NWC) reviewed preparations for

the forthcoming congresses and the National Convention of the party.

“To ensure a smooth and successful exercise, state chairmen were invited and briefed on the state of preparations, on Wednesday.

“After thorough deliberations on reports arising from the meeting with the state chairmen, the NWC, conscious of its resolve to ensure credible and transparent congresses and National Convention, has decided to postpone the take-

off of the exercise in order to give the state chapters enough time to mobilise members nationwide.

New dates will be announced in due course.”

The committee also urged Nigerians, including the Organised Labour, Civil Society organisations and student associations, to exercise restraint in their reactions to the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.

“Similarly, the National Working Committee (NWC) wishes to call on the Organ-

T

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

•From left: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, Mrs. Thelma Iremire; Electoral Officer in charge of Ikwerre Local Government , Mrs. Beatiy Anuebunwa and Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aniedi Ikoiwak inspecting the Rivers East senatorial re-run election at Isokpo…yesterday

Banker president elected A chief, Adeboro Eniola, has been elected president of the Ajuwa Old Students Association.

Eniola graduated from the Yaba College of Technology and the University of Lagos.

A banker and activist, Eniola was Head, Credit Recovery Division, UBA PLC, Southwest Region.

He was the National Auditor and Treasurer, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance & Financial Institutions and President, ASSBIFI, UBA. Eniola is Grand Patron, Man O War, Lagos Mainland; National Patron, African Lads & Lasses Brigade Nigeria & Overseas. He is a member, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Ondo State.

HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has announced the time table for its forthcoming national convention.

Speaking on behalf of the Convention Committee and the Electoral Committee, the Chairman of the Electoral Sub-Committee, Prof Jonathan Chinenye Nwigwe, said submission of letters of intent and collection of nomination forms commenced from Monday till yesterday.

He said the completed forms should be returned today.

According to Nwigwe, screening of candidates will start today and election to the various offices tomorrow.

In line with the party’s terms of reference, Nwigwe said forms for the office of the national chairman would attract N50,000, national secretary N30,000, all other positions would attract N20,000.

He assured of the party’s determination to conduct a credible hitch free convention.

His words: “We shall do our best to fulfill this great honour bestowed on us as the instrument of change to right the wrongs of yesterday and to build a solid formation for future APGA conventions.”

Ex-Times editor’s mum’s funeral for Jan 27 •Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi speaking at a two-day retreat for workers in the offices of the Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service and Civil Service Commission, at Iloko-Ijesha, Osun State... yesterday. With him from left are: Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Sulaiman Ogunlayi; Head of Service Bunmi Famosaya and Secretary to the State Government,Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi.

T

• Eniola

APGA set for convention From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

INEC hosts African election bodies THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to convene an international Conference of African Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in Abuja, from January 23-24.

The conference, according to a statement yesterday by INEC’s Chief Press Secretary Kayode Idowu, will draw participants from 26 African countries.

The conference, he said, will focus on Planning, Conduct and Security of Electoral Operations under Conditions of Transition; and Operational Plans, Deployment, Voter Registration and Education, Training and Security.

ised Labour, Civil Society organisations, student associations and Nigerians to exercise restraint in their utterances and actions over the recent government policy on the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

"We should do everything possible to support President Goodluck Jonathan in his deep commitment and determination to transform Nigeria into one of the leading nations in the world."

Akwa Ibom to workers: return to work

HE Akwa Ibom State Government has urged labour leaders in the state to call off the on-going strike and allow workers to return to work.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Aniekan Umanah, the government said since the state has implemented the N18,000 minimum wage, it was unnecessary for labour leaders call out their members on strike.

The statement reads: “As a listening government, the Akpabio-led administration welcomes talks with Labour

•Extends cinema bonanza because of the premium placed on workers’ welfare.

“The administration was the first to implement the new minimum wage, a decision that led to the release of over N16.2billion for payment of salaries and outstanding arrears occasioned by the increment, with effect from last April.

“Labour never went on strike before government introduced the 13th month salary christened ‘Akpabiomber’ and other benefits to workers.

“Pension payments were

raised and the government implemented a 27.5 percent salary increment for teachers without waiting for any industrial threat.

“The policy of the government this year is alsoworker-friendly, as the budget provided N66billion for recurrent expenditure, to carter for workers’ needs.

“For meaningful development to effectively continue in the state, there is the need for labour unions to embrace dialogue with the government.

“Caution should be taken before decisions are reached to avoid mortgaging the future of the state.”

The Executive Council announced the extension of the N100 bonanza regime at the Tropicana Entertainment Centre to January 31.

The viewing time for the cinema is now 11am to 10pm daily.

The council directed the immediate installation of close circuit gadgets, scanners and round the clock surveillance at the complex to ensure the protection of life and property.

T

HE funeral for Madam Catherine Anyawu Ughamadu (Nee Ogbuogwalu) will hold on January 27.

She will be interred in the family compound in Nibo.

Born April 20, 1930 in Nibo, Awka South Local Government of Anambra State, she had her primary education at St Matthew’s Primary School, Nibo.

She was a successful business woman who lived in Maiduguri, Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Sokoto and Katsina.

Madam Ughamadu, popularly called “Oduko”, was the coordinator of discharged prisons inmates’ resettlement camp, Ekwulobia, Aguata, during the Civil War. She is survived by children, grand children, great grand children and relatives among whom is Chief Ndu Ughamadu, a former editor of Daily Times.

57

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

NEWS Fashola meets monarchs, ethnic leaders AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday met with traditional rulers, chiefs and ethnic leaders at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Ikeja.

The governor said Nigerians should see themselves first as human beings before any other considerations.

He said: “My wife is from Oyo State, but her mother is Urhobo. So, she is half Urhobo.

She has married me and we now have children who are Lagosians. But they have Urhobo ancestry and Oyo ancestry. Who knows who they are going to marry next?”

“Although I am a Muslim today, but I went to a Methodist School. Am I going to remove that part from my body?

That is where I received the education that gives me the privilege to stand here to serve you.

“Let us always see victims of such crises as human beings first, instead of whether they are Muslims or Christians.

Every human life that is lost diminishes man.

“Each time you want to drink water, do you always ask if the water you are about to drink is Yoruba or Hausa water? You simply drink to quench your thirst. When blood transfusion is carried out on people, the ethnic origin is never a consideration in transfusing the blood.

“For some people, the only time they make money is when there is chaos. In the 2012 Budget estimates, the Federal Government has budgeted over N900million for security.

But how much did it budget for road construction? It’s just a fraction of it!”

He added: “Let us look at the real issue. There is crime here.

It is not about our religion and it is not about our ethnicity. I just want to say that in the way that we have lived together as brothers and sisters, let us continue to do so. If there are problems, as there will be, let us be honest with ourselves. That is why we have governments.

The day the problem finishes, the work finishes. The problem does not finish until we die.”

L

Taraba gets boundary commissioner From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

Suspected Boko Haram members killed in their hideout Two sect members arrested in Borno

T

WO suspected members of the Boko Haram sect have been arrested in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, after they killed two people, the military said yesterday.

Their arrest followed increased surveillance and crackdown on members of the dreaded Islamic sect.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in two northeastern states of Borno and Yobe with some local government areas in Plateau and Niger states on December 31, last year.

The sect is agitating for the implementation of the Islamic Sharia law across the country.

An official of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on security in Borno State, Col. Victor Ebhemele, confirmed the arrest.

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

The JTF members were said to have trailed the sect

He said: “We have arrested two of the Boko Haram members who killed a man and his son in Dala on Wednesday night. They left behind their handsets through which we were able to trace them.”

Dala is a ward in Maiduguri, a remote dusty region which sits on borders with Cameroon, Niger and Chad. These borders have been closed as part of Jonathan’s emergency rule measures.

Ebhemele said there were three bomb blasts in Maiduguri on Wednesday evening but there were no casualties.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a series of bomb attacks across Nigeria on Christmas Day, including one at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.

Thirty-seven people were killed in the suicide attack and 57 were wounded.

members to their hideout where an exchange of gun fire occurred.

The two Boko Haram sus-

pects were killed during the gun duel.

The woman is said to be receiving treatment at the

University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

The JTF spokesman Lt.Col. Hassan Mohammed confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.

He said the two civilians were shot dead by unknown gunmen at about 9pm on Wednesday at Dala Ward in Maiduguri.

According to him, the JTF trailed the gunmen to their hideout shot them shot dead after an exchange of gunshots.

Lt.-Col Mohammed said the bodies of the two gunmen have been deposited at the UMTH. The JTF spokesman urged the public to report the hideouts of Boko Haram members to the task force for necessary action.

He added that this would make it easy for peace to be restored to the state.

Kwara butchers fight over cow slaughter From Adekunle Jimoh,

T

• Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa (left); Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Kaduna State chapter, Col. Haliru Ibrahim (rtd) (middle); and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Maj.-Gen. Joseph Shoboiki, at the launch of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund in Kaduna...yesterday

Gunmen kill two at Gombe relaxation spot

T

WO people were on Wednesday night shot dead by unknown gunmen at Jubilee Hotel in Gombe, the Gombe State capital.

An eyewitness said three armed men walked into the hotel on Sabon Layi Road at about 10pm and shot ran-

A

FORMER Taraba State Surveyor-General, Ishaya Abdu Garba, has been appointed the state’s Boundary Commissioner.

The commission’s job is to resolve intra- and interboundary disputes and related matters.

Governor Danbaba Suntai approved the appointment yesterday.

Elated by the appointment, Garba said: “I received the appointment with excitement.”

Garba holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Masters degree in Land Surveying from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State. He pioneered the surveying and development of the Jalingo metropolis, the Taraba State capital, when it was created in 1991 during the administration of Navy Captain Afolahan.

•Sect members kill father, son in Borno

T

HE Joint Task Force (JTF) on security in Borno State has killed two suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in their hideout in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The sect members were traced to their hideout after they killed a father and his son in a shop at Dala Ward of Maiduguri.

The killers had reportedly asked for a bottle of soft drink from the man, who also had his wife and son with him, on Wednesday night.

As he was attending to the “customers”, one of them reportedly brought out his gun and shot the man and his son point blank.

His wife was shot in the leg.

The woman raised the alarm, which attracted the neighbours and members of the task force.

T

From Vincent Ekhoragbon, Gombe

domly with AK 47 rifles.

The armed men, who reportedly came on a motorcycle, fired over 50 shots and killed two. Many others were injured.

Those killed were identi-

fied as Muhammad Adamu and Ibrahim Baba.

The hotel was closed yesterday.

Police Commissioner Ebikeme Gandi Orubebe confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.

He said the police were on top of the situation.

The Wednesday attack is the second at such a place in Gombe within weeks.

The first was at Tumfure Resort, which was attacked on December 28, last year.

It was learnt that the victims might have been the reason for the attack.

No explosive was used.

Why Shekarau, others will face Conduct Tribunal, by Adoke

HE Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) yesterday explained why former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and former Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Hassan Kangiwa will face the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). He alleged that they failed to declare their assets when they held public offices.

Adoke’s allegations are contained in the charges filed at the Conduct Tribunal against the two former public office holders.

Others charged with them are former AccountantGeneral of Kogi State, Itodo

From Kamarudeen Ogundele and Gbenga Adanikin, Abuja

Opanachi; Bassey Ating of Akwa Ibom Water Company; former Chairman of Fakai Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Mohammed Fawa Mahuta; and a former Comptroller of Customs, Hussaini Kangiwa.

The charge sheet also showed that Olusola Sunday Aina of Border Communities and Development Agency; Adeniyi Samuel and four others of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in Rivers and Ondo states, will face

trial for similar offence.

According to the charge signed on Adoke’s behalf by Prosecutor Z. S. Abba, Shekarau on June 13, last year, failed to declare some of his property in form CCB-1 before the High Court of Justice, Kano State.

Following investigation, it was reportedly discovered that he did not declare some assets. These include: “A house at Kano Low-Cost Housing Estate, which you bought when you were a Permanent Secretary with then Kano State Government”; his Abuja campaign office and a shopping complex at Area 11, Abuja.

A Director and Special Adviser to the CCT Chairman, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Badisha, confirmed the charge to The Nation.

He said the accused would be arraigned on different dates next week.

Kangiwa, allegedly refused to include about 12 landed properties in his form CCB-1. They include two farms in Argungu and Birnin-Kebbi; Zango Kangiwa mango and fish farm, on Sokoto Road; another Zango mango farm in Argungu; a house at the Government Reserve Area in Birnin-Kebbi, Zango Kangiwa Petroleum (1 and 2) on Sokoto Road, Zango Kangiwa Transport Terminal Birnin-Kebbi.

Ilorin

WO groups of cow butchers in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, were yesterday locked in a battle over whether or not to support the anti-petrol price strike.

One group supported the need to down tools as the petrol subsidy protest continues; the other opposed the plan.

The commotion caused panic in areas such as Ipata and Zango, two popular markets where cows are slaughtered in the metropolis.

Shops and businesses were hurriedly closed as people scampered for safety. Security agencies were promptly drafted to the areas to restore order.

It was learnt that some butchers had warned that no fresh cows should be slaughtered yesterday, given the backlog of beef that could not be sold on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A meat seller said he and some of his colleagues received some fresh meat on Wednesday along with older supplies.

He said they were told that no fresh meat would be available yesterday because their refrigerators would have been filled.

But some other butchers were said to have disagreed.

They reportedly slaughtered more cows for sale, leading to a violent confrontation with their colleagues, who had opposed the move.

Eyewitness said machetes were freely used during the fracas, which caused panic among the residents, who were still trying to get over the two-day bloody anti-subsidy removal protests in the city.

Though no one was reported killed, it was learnt that scores of people were injured during the fracas.

Many shops were either burnt or looted during the mayhem. Fire fighters were reportedly called to the scene.

Police spokesperson, Ezekiel Dabo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) confirmed the incident.

He assured that the situation had been brought under control as men and officers of the police had been drafted to both scenes.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

58

FOREIGN NEWS

Obama unveils smaller US military

T

HE US military will become “leaner” while maintaining superiority as it switches focus to the Asia-Pacific, US President Barack Obama has announced.

In a rare appearance at the Pentagon, he unveiled a farreaching defence review under which thousands of troops are expected to be axed.

PUBLIC NOTICE This to inform the General public that all the title documents, purchase receipt, deed of assignment, survey plan, building plan in respect of the property at 450, Abeokuta Express Way Abule Taylor, Lagos. Belonging to Chief Jonathan Ladipo Jones are missing and could not be traced. if found please return to the owner at the above address.

CHANGE OF NAME Emmanuel I, formerly known addressed Miss Emmanuel Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Vicente Laurent Grace. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

The tide of war was receding and the US must renew its economic power, he said.

The strategy is designed to accommodate at least $450bn (£290bn) in Pentagon cuts over the next decade.

The defence budget could also lose another $500bn at the end of this year after Congress failed to agree on deficit reduction following a debtceiling deal in August.

“So yes, our military will be leaner,” Mr Obama told reporters, “but the world must know the United States is going to maintain our military superiority with armed forces that are agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies and threats.”‘Moment of transition’ No specific cuts to troop numbers or weapons programmes were announced on Thursday - those are to be presented as part of the federal budget next month.

But a 10-15% reduction to

the US Army and Marine Corps is being considered over the next decade - amounting to tens of thousands of troops, Obama administration officials have told US media.

Anticipating criticism from his Republican rivals in an election year, the president stressed that the defence budget would still grow, but at a slower pace.

On Thursday, Mr Obama said the US was “turning the page on a decade of war” and faced a “moment of transition”.

“Even as our troops continue to fight in Afghanistan, the tide of war is receding,” he said, joined by Defence Secretary Leon Panetta.

President Obama added: “At the same time, we have to renew our economic strength here at home, which is the foundation of our strength around the world. That includes putting our fiscal house in order.”

The president said the new strategy would end “longterm, nation-building with

Death penalty sought for Mubarak

P

•Obama

large military footprints”.

The Pentagon would instead pursue a national security strategy based on “smaller conventional ground forces”.

Mr Obama said in November on a visit to Canberra that the Asia-Pacific was now a top priority for the US, a speech seen as a challenge to the rising regional power of China.

“As I made clear in Australia, we’ll be strengthening our presence in the Asia-Pacific, and budget reductions will not come at the expense of this critical region,” he told media at the Pentagon.

ROSECUTORS at the trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have demanded the death penalty for him.

Mr Mubarak is being tried in Cairo on charges of ordering the killing of demonstrators during unrest which led to his overthrow last year.

The demand also applies to former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly and six other former security chiefs.

More than 800 protesters were killed during an 18-day revolt before Mr Mubarak was ousted on 11 February.

“Any fair judge must issue a death sentence for these defendants,” prosecutor Mustafa Khater said, according to AFP. “He [Mubarak] can never, as the head of the state, claim that he did not know what was going on,” chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman told the court.

“He is responsible and must bear the legal and political responsibility for what happened”, he added.

Given the severity of the charges, the demand for the death penalty does not come as a surprise, but many Egyptians will be shocked to hear the demand put so bluntly for the first time in the trial, the BBC’s Jon Leyne in Cairo reports.

31 killed in Mexico’s jail fight

T

HIRTY-one inmates have died in a fight between gang members in a prison in northern Mexico, officials say.

They say the prisoners were killed with knives and makeshift weapons at the prison in the city of Altamira.

At least 13 others were injured.

Altamira is in Tamaulipas state, where the Zetas and Gulf cartels have been fighting a bloody war for control of smuggling routes into the US. Gang rivalries frequently

spread into Mexico’s prison system.

Inmates used homemade weapons and knives in what the authorities described as a mass brawl inside the prison.

Order was only restored once troops entered the jail to help prison officers.

Many of Mexico’s prisons are overcrowded and plagued by violence linked to drugs cartels.

Last October, 20 inmates died during clashes at a jail in Matamoros, also in Tamaulipas.

NEWS NCC rates Visafone leader in quality service

V

ISAFONE Communications Limited has beaten other networks in both the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to emerge tops in the Nigerian Communication Commission’s (NCC) 2011 Quality of Service Key Performance Indicators.

Its annual 2011 summary report tagged: “Report

on Quality of Service Key Performance Indicators” dated December 19, 2011 and released recently ranks Visafone, of the eight networks, in both the GSM and CDMA segments with an overall assessment score of Excellent.

The report is signed by NCC Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department, Dr. B. M. Sani.

Breaking down the ranking, the commission ranked Visafone Excellent in three service areas: CSSR, TCH Cong and CCR, while in the PSR, the network received Improvement ranking.

The report benchmarked five key service delivery areas such as Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR) representing the number of the unblocked call attempts divided by the total number of call attempts; the Traffic Channel Congestion (TCH Cong), which is the ratio of the number of unsuccessful TCH requests to the total number of TCH request attempts expressed as percentage; Call Drop Rate (CDR) represents the number of dropped calls divided by the total number of call attempts.

“We are set to provide our loyal customers a rewarding experience more than they have ever known as we are poised to expand our network capacities in both voice clarity and broadband coverage. Our focus this year would be to showcase CDMA’s technological superiority in service delivery and prove that, to the customers, this is the right path to chart,” he said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

NATION SPORT

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TRANSFER WINDOW

Wilshere’s return excites Walcott

• Barton

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HEO Walcott believes the return of Jack Wilshere will be as good as a new signing for Arsenal.

Wilshere has not played for the Gunners since he hobbled out of their Emirates Cup tie with New York Red Bulls with an ankle injury on July 31.

The 20-year-old has undergone surgery to cure the problem and, after successful rehabilitation, could be back in the Arsenal first-team as soon as February.

But Walcott, while clearly delighted by the prospect of his England team-mate’s return, has warned not to expect too much too soon from the midfielder.

“Seeing Jack in and around the dressing room and treatment room, he is as happy as ever,” Walcott told Arsenal Player.

“He’s had a new step in his life with a new-born baby, which is great, and he is also a very important player for us. Obviously he won the Young Player of the Year award last year which was deserved.

He’s also played for England and now he just needs to get back out on that pitch.

“You have to ease him back into it because he’s had a long time out and he’s only just turned 20. He has a long career ahead of him so we don’t want to be overplaying him. But we’ll use him the right way, I’m sure of it.”

Joey Barton: Is it time to sue referees?

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OEY BARTON says it is only a matter of time before a referee is sued for making a bad decision

as the row over his controversial sending-off against Norwich rumbles on.

Joey Barton was sent off by Neil Swarbrick for an alleged butt on Bradley Johnson on Monday.

QPR lodged an appeal and Barton said: “I wonder how long it is before a football club sues a referee? There’s too much at stake to not have technology.”

Johnson had his own message to taunt Barton. He was at the World Darts Championships when he held up a sign to show his feelings, which could land him in trouble with the FA. Barton said: “Don’t worry people I’ve seen Boris Johnson from Norwich with his sign at the darts.

He’s irrelevant really, absolute no mark.”

Spearing hoping for City revenge in semi-final

Lampard: I can still light Chelsea’s fire

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IVERPOOL’S Jay Spearing insists the team will do everything in their power to seek revenge for their 3-0 loss at the hands of Manchester City when they face the Blues in the League Cup. Goals from Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and James Milner on Tuesday saw off the Reds in the Premier League on Tuesday and allowed City to open up the gap once more at the top of the table.

Spearing admits his side have themselves to blame for their defeat in the league, but is adamant Liverpool will be much improved when they return to the Etihad for the first leg of the semi-final.

“The goals we conceded were our own fault and we could have done better to prevent them,” Spearing told the club’s website.

“I thought as a team we did quite well overall. We used the ball well at times and just some lapses in concentration cost us the game.

“Sometimes it is the small details which can cost you in these games.

When it was still 0-0 Jordan Henderson put a great ball through to Stewart Downing, and he was unlucky not to score when Joe Hart made a great save. If that had gone in it could have been a different story.

“We know what we have to do better when we come back here next week in the League Cup and we will be better.

“We will get at them right from the off and I still feel we can cause them a lot of problems. They are going to be two massive games and I don’t see any reason why we can’t make the final.”

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RANK LAMPARD wants manager Andre Villas-Boas to pick him to fire Chelsea back into the -title race.

The two are at odds because Frank Lampard feels he is not playing him enough. Villas-Boas refused to praise him after his late winner against Wolves ended Chelsea’s slump which has left them a long way adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Lampard was not one of the players who ran to embrace the manager after Ramires’ opening goal in the 2-1 win at Molineux.

Villas-Boas is restricting his appearances because he believes at 33, Lampard is not capable of the high-energy performances that have made him a Chelsea star for 11 years.

Lampard, however, rejects this, saying: “It’s much easier for me when I’m starting games, playing regular matches, 90 minutes, to get into the rhythm I’ve found since I’ve been here. That’s what I love doing. That’s when I’m at my best.

“The boss is the boss. He picks the team. I’ll always stay completely behind the cause of Chelsea because that’s me. Chelsea are my club.

“I hope I took charge in some way against Wolves. We need big players like John Terry, who was magnificent at the back. The spine of the team is what’s made us what we are over the past seven years. It’s important whether we’re changing the team or not.

“I understand things change with time. But what we’re about is that spine. So it’s nice to see big players who have been there a long time producing the goods. I hope now to keep contributing to the group and move us up the table. I’m a fit boy, I try to live as well as I can, I feel young.”

Villa must earn respect—Petrov

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STON VILLA captain Stiliyan Petrov insists the Midlanders must find some consistency if they want to be ‘recognised and respected’ in the Premier League.

Villa sprung a surprise 3-1 upset at Chelsea on New Year’s Eve, producing a commanding display at Stamford Bridge.

But only two days later Alex McLeish’s men suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Swansea, marking the promoted side’s first Premier League away success.

Bulgarian midfielder Petrov admits Villa’s performance against the Swans was “poor” and insists they must find

a cure for their irregular form.

The skipper told the Daily Mirror: “It was really poor, we know that after the way we performed in the previous game.

“I said after the Chelsea match that it wouldn’t mean anything if we didn’t win against Swansea. They scored early and we tried, but ran out of ideas.

“We need the consistency, that is how you get up the table. We don’t have that at the moment.”

Villa’s form on their own turf is a worry to Petrov, with his side having lost their last four encounters at Villa Park, with just three home wins overall this term.

• Wilshere

Redknapp: Nothing is impossible ARRY Redknapp insists for Spurs “nothing is impossible” after

H

Tottenham maintained pace with title chasers Manchester City and Manchester United with a 1-0 win over West Brom.

Jermain Defoe got the only goal of the game against the Baggies to maintain the team’s impressive run of form which has seen them lose just once in their last 17 outings, while finding the net in 18 successive games.

The north London club’s form leaves them just three points away from United and six away from leaders City and with a game in hand

still to play, Redknapp is feeling confident following a successful first half of the season.

“We’re there or thereabouts,” Redknapp told reporters. “We’ve just got to keep believing and keep going with it. You never know do you?

Nothing is impossible.

“It’s been a great first half of the season for us. The amount of points we’ve got has been amazing considering we lost the first two games. We’ve just got to keep going and see where we end up.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

NATION SPORT EUROREAN FOOTBALL... EUROREAN FOOTBALL... EUROREAN FOOTBALL...

Xavi: Size doesn´t matter B

A R C E L O N A midfielder Xavi believes talent is more important for becoming a successful player than a strong physique.

The Spain international is one of the smallest footballers around in Europe at just 1.70 metres, but has developed into one of the best players in the world, and was recently nominated for the FIFA

Ballon d’Or for a third consecutive season.

And the Barcelona playmaker said he did no believes his small stature had held him back in his career.

“Talent is the decisive factor in football, much more than physical presence. I’m convinced that it’s technical quality that makes the difference,” Xavi told Sport.

“Back in 2002-03, people told me that I wasn’t suited to play in the centre of the pitch as you needed to be physically strong. I have shown you don’t need you be a physical player to be a top midfielder.”

The 31-year-old faces competition from teammate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or.

Nilmar denies return to V Brazil

ILLARREAL striker Nilmar has quashed rumours that he is considering a move back to Brazil in the January transfer window, stating that he is focussed 100 per cent on regaining fitness and resuming Liga action for his current club.

The Brazil international, 27, has struggled for fitness in the 2011-12 season, and recently underwent knee surgery which has necessitated a long spell on the sidelines.

During his recuperation he

has been linked with several Brazilian clubs, including Sao Paulo, but Nilmar is insistent that he will not be moving away in the next month.

“I have been disconnected during the holidays, but in Brazil [a transfer] has been talked about a lot,” he explained to ESPN. “It is natural, as the transfer window is open, but I have made it clear that I am feeling good here, that I do not want to leave and that is the situation. I want to help the team in the second half

New striker, a must —Deschamps

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ARSEILLE coach Didier Deschamps says that signing a new striker in the January transfer window is ‘vital’ to his side’s chances of enjoying a successful second half to the season.

With the Ayew brothers André and Jordan, who have scored six and two league goals respectively, departing for the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), there is more than one hole to fill in the OM attack but Deschamps admits that the club’s current financial difficulties will seriously limit his options in the transfer market.

“It is difficult. Everyone knows that we are very limited financially just now and that it is not possible for us to buy players at the moment,” he said from Peralada in Spanish Catalonia, where OM are on a winter training camp this

week.

“That means we will have to look for a loan deal, and it is not easy to find a quality player who is willing to come when you are restricted to loans. But it is vital for us because we know that four players will be away at the CAN, and on top of that Dédé Gignac is still not fully fit. That means we need at least one extra player. But I don’t want to sign a player just for the sake of it. It has to be someone who will bring us something both in the shortterm and long-term. It won’t be easy but we must find an affordable player with the right profile.

“I already have options in the wide areas so it is unlikely to be a wide player.

It will be an attacking player - at least one, possibly two.

It is vital that we bring somebody in.

• Deschamps

• Xavi

of the season.”

Nilmar also stated that he is on the way to a full recovery from the injury, and he hopes to make up for lost time with his club in 2012.

“I know that a lot is expected of me and I do not want to let anyone down. I feel good, without pain, and with the desire to win back the confidence of everyone,” he stated.

“I am very confident and the key now is to play and show that. We will throw everything at these next five months.”

The striker moved to Villarreal in 2009, following spells with Internacional, Corinthians and Lyon.

Low: Germany not like Barcelona

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OACHIM Low has stated his belief that Germany are nothing like Barcelona as they have a completely different style of play.

Low pointed out that the Catalans are mainly about possession football, whereas Germany aim to find the net as soon as possible with quick counterattacks.

“We have developed a good mix of passing and running, ball-winning, and fast counterattacks. We are not like Barcelona in keeping possession for very long,” Low was quoted as saying in an interview with DAPD. “I tell my team: ‘if we win the ball, I want to see the ball in the goal in eight seconds’.

That’s my philosophy.

“What can still be improved further is the personal development of young players like [Mario] Gotze, [Toni] Kroos and [Andre] Schurrle.”

The Germany boss also discussed the value of psychology in football, and stressed the mental aspect of the game plays a huge role.

“The Spaniards do not win with aggressiveness and strength in the challenge,” he continued.

“They are mentally very fast. And that’s an important function in the development of all football players: it’s about becoming

faster in the thought.

“If a player has good technique and a good basic speed, but is slow in the head, this may reduce his value to the team.

“Before the 2010 World

Cup, I saw how fast players like [Mesut] Ozil, [Thomas] Muller, and [Holger] Badstuber understood everything. They learned so quickly, it was just super. I hope that before the

European Championship, we can again have such a good preparation.”

Germany will have to deal with Denmark, the Netherlands and Portugal in Group B of Euro 2012.

Huntelaar wants revenge against Germany

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• Low

Nesta: No retirement plan

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ETERAN AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta insists he currently has no plans to retire from football at the end of the season.

Nesta’s contract at Milan is due to expire in the summer and speculation has suggested this could be the 35-year-old’s final campaign as a professional footballer.

But the former Italy international, who has started half of Milan’s Serie A matches this season, is determined to play on despite concerns over injury problems he has endured in recent years.

“I have no intention of

quitting just yet,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday. “I don’t have that desire.”

Nesta played a part in helping Milan claim Scudetto glory last term, and the centreback is determined to propel the club to further success, with the Rossoneri currently level on points at the Serie A summit with Juventus.

“I’m convinced that Milan will win something important again this season,” Nesta said.

“We are the favourites to win the Scudetto and we would be favourites in the Champions League too if Barcelona weren’t in it...

ETHERLANDS international KlaasJan Huntelaar is desperate to beat Germany in the group stages of Euro 2012 after their 3-0 loss in an international friendly in Hamburg back in November 2011.

The Schalke forward stressed that the Dutch have set their sights on winning the European Championship at Poland & Ukraine this summer, and will need to overcome Joachim Low’s men in Group B. “We want to become European champions.

Therefore, we must get past the Germans. Although there are two more teams in our group, I want to win against Germany,” Huntelaar said to Bild.

“The defeat in November was so painful. That was not a nice feeling and should not be repeated. But we have learned.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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NATION SPORT

‘WBC should remove Mayweather’s title’ T

• Mayweather

HE World Boxing Council (WBC) should follow its rules and strip unbeaten American fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the welterweight championship, UK Daily Mail columnist Jeff Powell said.

According to the WBC’s rules, “In the event that the holder of a WBC title is convicted and imprisoned for a crime involving moral turpitude, the WBC Board of Governors shall declare the champion’s title vacated.”

Mayweather, who won the WBC welterweight title from Victor Ortiz last September, was sentenced to 90 days in jail following a guilty plea to a 2010 domestic violence charge.

The rules also say that a boxer who is imprisoned shall be removed from the WBC’s ratings.

In Mayweather’s case,

however, the sanctioning body is seemingly making an exception. WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman has said that Mayweather’s career and title should not be touched.

Sulaiman noted that “beating a lady is highly critical, (but) it is not a major sin or crime,” adding they are expecting Mayweather to fight Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

Powell said the WBC’s reluctance to strip Mayweather of his title shows that the sanctioning body is “more concerned with the significant sanctioning fees they receive from fights involving Mayweather, the highest revenue generator on pay-per-view television in America.”

Mayweather is a bona fide pay-per-view star in the United States; his 2007 fight with Oscar de la Hoya holds the record for the most

number of pay-per-view buys for a boxing match, with over 2.4 million.

His last bout against Ortiz also topped the 1-million PPV mark.

But Mayweather’s status as one of boxing’s biggest draw does not mean the WBC should allow him to remain their champion, according to Powell.

“It is essential that the WBC set aside financial greed and any celebrity preference for Mayweather,” Powell said.

“It is their duty to abide by their own rules, strip Mayweather and thereby make it clear that boxing respects the rule of law, the dignity of man and the protection of women.”

Powell said Mayweather will be free to resume his boxing career once he gets out of jail, but while incarcerated, Mayweather “has forfeited his right to be a champion.”

Murray focuses on Slam win

A

NDY Murray’s ringrustiness was clear as he laboured to a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Mikhail Kukushkin in his first match of the year on Tuesday, but the world No 4 admitted afterwards: “I’m hoping I’m not going to play my best tennis this week.”

Murray, who will aim to

Schumacher turns 43 insisting ‘I can still win’ ICHAEL Schumacher’s “final year-old Nino Farina in 1954.

The oldest World Champion was Juan Manuel challenge is against time,” according to Italy’s La Gazzetta Fangio, who was 46 years old in 1957. dello Sport.

The newspaper on Tuesday marked the seven-time World Champion’s 43rd birthday.

“I can still win,” the German and Mercedes driver is quoted as saying.

Since returning to F1 last year, the former Ferrari driver is yet to add a single podium to his tally of mesmerizing records.

Schumacher’s current Mercedes deal runs out late this year.

“I’m sure Mercedes and I will succeed,” he insisted.

“We need another small step and we will go to the top.”

Should the 43-year-old secure his 92nd career victory this year, he will leap to sixth on the all-time list of oldest race winners.

And he will be still a decade behind the record holder Luigi Fagioli, who was 53 when he won the 1951 French Grand • Schumacher Prix.

Nigel Mansell, the 1992 World Champion, won his last Grand Prix in Adelaide at the age of 41, while the oldest ever pole sitter was 47-

M

peak at the Australian Open beginning in 12 days’ time, was particularly sluggish at the start of his opening match at the Brisbane International.

He was broken in his first two service games, trailed 30 and appeared to be suffering from a variety of aches and pains.

Nevertheless, the Scot was

playing much better by the end while Kukushkin, a 24-year-old from Kazakhstan ranked No 91 in the world, was unable to sustain his flying start.

“He started very quickly and I was half a step slow,” Murray admitted afterwards.

“I wasn’t getting to the balls like I would have liked to, but I managed to turn it round well.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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SPORT EXTRA FRIENDLIES

Eagles must win Angola, Liberia –Keshi •Says only the best will play the matches

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ONTRARY to views in some quarters that the national team is being distracted by the planned strike by labour unions over the removal of oil subsidy, players and officials were in gay mood at Thursday morning training, led by head coach Stephen Keshi.

Addressing the players moments before serious training started Big Boss Keshi, said he was sure that the two friendly games scheduled will be played as the NFF was working out the modalities for the test friendlies.

He, thereafter, took the players on shooting, dribbling skills, headings and under pressure reaction by national team players.

All the players in camp seemed to have gained equal level of confidence making it difficult for the coaching crew to decide on those that will feature in the games against Angola and Liberia . However, from Azubuike Egwueke, who captained the team against Lobi Stars to Papa Idris and the

four alert goalkeepers it has been great expectation on what Angola and Liberia will offer.

Keshi himself has repeatedly told the players to go ahead and prove that they have the capacity to play big games and help him reduce the number of foreign based players that will be invited, otherwise there will be no sentiments.

However, it was confession time for Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi on Thursday, but this time not about any vice on his part, but the fact that not all the 25 players still remaining in the national team’s camp will make it to the two international friendlies against Angola and Liberia.

Addressing players and officials Keshi, who is yet to make a decision on those who will make the trip, told the squad that all of them are good for the games ahead but went biblical, when he said “many are called but few are chosen. If you don’t make it this time, you might be the first to be called next time, so no bad blood

please.

The message was clear and the determination on players faces to impress the coaching

crew was obvious at the end of the day, Nigeria will present the best home-based squad against Angola and Liberia on August 11 and 15, in that order.

•Keshi

PUBLIC NOTICE GLAD TIDINGS TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN MISSION This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Part C of the C. A. M. A. 1990.

THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES ARE:1) Rev. (Dr.) Augustus Shola Agboola 2) Elder Etim Brown 3) Chief (Dr.) James Babatunde Adeyemi 4) Rev. (Mrs.) Mercy Agboola 5) Mrs. Enyogu Nnenne Brown Ayitu 6) Mr. Matthew Hassan 7) Sister Rebecca Shehu

- President - Secretary -Treasurer - Member - Member - Member - Member

AIM: To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sports have changed Nigeria image –Ubale

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LHAJI Ubale Mohammed,Bauchi State Commissioner for Youths and Sports,yesterday declared that sports have changed and enhanced positively Nigeria's image globally in recent times.

Ubale has also charged the state's new Sports Council Board to create new avenues for funding sporting activities in the state instead of depending on the state government.

He gave the charge when he inaugurated Bauchi State Sports Council and the state owned Wikki Tourists Football Club in the main bowl of the Multipurpose Indoor Sports hall,Bauchi.

The Commissioner also unveiled Wikki Tourists Technical Adviser, Ladan Bosso, who is expected to place the state's football club among international honour seekers this football season.

Ubale who observed that Bauchi had been sports center in the past stated that there has being a growing understanding of the role sports played in improving Nigeria's image, and bridges it builds across religions, ethnic and international divides,adding that ''there is every need for Bauchi to return to its front role as a sporting state''.

"You will all agree with me that in recent times, there has been a growing understanding of the role of sports play in changing and enhancing the image of Nigeria as a nation, Nigerians can now go anywhere in the world with pride and respect as a result of the honour sports have brought to the country.

The commissioner noted that since the inception of the Governor Isa Yuguda

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi administration in the state in 2007, it had accorded sports priority attention with the upgrade of all sporting facilities in the state, increase financial support for the Wikki Tourists FC, recruitment of athletes, among others.

He said that in view of the governor's vision to move sports forward in the state, the new boards should liaise with local government areas in the state, corporate organisations and other private partners with a view to creating new avenues of funding sports in the state.

The boards, Ubale instructed , should increase the maintenance of sports arena in the state, create avenues to use sports as a means to generate employment for the youth in the state as well as standardise the existing facilities to serve as sources of revenue generation.

The commissioner, further, charged members of the boards to "always put the interest of the state above any other personal interest and work tirelessly to move sports in Bauchi State and the nation at large to greater heights."

Responding on behalf of the boards, the chairman of Bauchi State Sports Council, Taminu Sa'idu, noted that the inauguration was historic and urged members to do their best in promoting sports development in the state.

He thanked Governor Yuguda for appointing them, assuring that they would do everything possible to justify the confidence repose in them by the government.

NPL threatens to expel Kaduna Utd

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: MARY ADEYEMI & ASSOCIATES (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS) 12, ATAMUNU STREET, CALABAR

T

HE board of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has threatened to throw Kaduna United out of the league if

by Wednesday next week they have not paid the salary arrears own the players and officials.

To this end, the board resolved to shift their week

From Andrew Abah, Abuja one match against Jigawa Golden Stars to Wednesday, failure to pay up will mean forfeiture of the point.

The board also resolved that all the league matches will now be played on sunday.

Shark: John Obuh laments poor preparation

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HE Technical Adviser of Sharks Football club of Port Harcourt, Coach John Sam Obuh has decried the poor preparation of his side towards the new league season.

Speaking with NationSport after his morning training session on Thursday, Obuh noted that the preparation for the new season has not been quite as expected especially with the several challenges arising from various angles.

"My preparation has not been very smooth as I had expected.

You know quite well that there is nothing as good as when you are preparing a team, you take them out but unluckily, we don't have such time, so we could not do it and that is why you see a lot of issues arising around the preparation of the team.

"But you know that in football you don't need such excuses, in

Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt the Nigeria system of today, excusesare not important. What is important is the results and as such we coaches have been in the system and are expected to use our experiences to deliver, but our preparation this time has not been anything close to what it should be".

Asked if he can still pursue his dreams of a continental ticket this season with this kind of preparation, Obuh said he cannot be deterred by any obstacle.

"One thing I know is that nothing can kill my dream. I remember one story that my father told me of someone who was attacked and all he had collected but he still maintained that what he had was much more than what was taken, they

never realised he referred to his life, so even if am been stripped of the several needs required to attain my dream, I can always use what is left behind to do the best I can and am working towards that", he said. Asked the reason for the several recruitment in his club, the coach revealed that it has not been his way of doing it in the past.

"It is not my style to recruit and change so many players but am not the sponsor of the team; neither am I the manager of the team, I mean financially. So from the order and the new regime that we are, we need to make some adjustment so that we can be able to absorb new people and at the same time indegenes which we should be able to watch during their trainings to see how they can form an integral part that would participate in the club this

season".

On the psychological preparation of his players for their first match of the season against 3SC this weekend, Obuh said he has tried the much he can to gear them up.

"I've tried as much as possible to psyche up the players.

Psychologically they are not very strong because there are a lot of issues that came up at the last minute but like I said before, its not supposed to be an excuse because as far as am concerned, issues like that are bound to happen in the Nigerian League. So I've made them to understand that in such issues all you need to do is to go and get your victory and then come back to show your grievances because its not good for you to be fighting for something and you are not getting the results.

THE NATION FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

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SPORT EXTRA

‘Home-based Eagles Aisha Falode demands 100% performance from women teams won’t be dumped’ S A S almost all national women’s teams c o m m e n c e qualification battles for major continental and global championship, National

Women’s Teams Coordinator, Aisha Falode, has charged all the teams to gird their loins as excuses will not be permitted in the New Year.

Falode, who has been speaking to the coaching crew and players of all the teams, said with her appointment by the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, she has the full mandate to motivate and ensure that women football at the national level return to its dominant position not only in Africa , but as one of the best in the world.

“My interaction with the teams has been wonderful, all the players and coaches on ground so far want to win and I know the NFF will also appoint coaches for the senior national team who want to win, so for us at the Women football level, it’s a win, win situation, because

we want to return to the pinnacle of football in the world.

The CAF Media Committee member, whose amazing pedigree in women’s football has never been in doubt, declared that she will go out of he way to pull strings at the NFA and if possible, the corporate world to ensure that Nigerian women teams qualify and perform well at all major international championship. “We won’t be distracted and the girls know that we have a mission to take women’s soccer not only to the height it was before now but better and the NFF has assured us of total support.

FIFA targets informers to help fight match-fixing

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•Precious Dede

AKS Governor’s Cup Final holds on Sunday

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FTER weeks of uncertainty, the final of the 2011 Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Cup Tagged ‘Godswill Akpabio Cup’ will be played on Sunday, January 8, 2012, it has been confirmed.

Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Football Association Chief Effiong Johnson who confirmed the date for the final said the 2011 final will be the biggest in the history of the Governor’s Cup. “We’ve put everything in place for the final. This time around, it will be played at the Oron Township Stadium. The Uyo township stadium which is usually the traditional venue for the final of this competition is currently undergoing renovation.

Everything is being done to

ensure that this turns out to be the biggest final ever witnessed in Akwa Ibom State,” Johnson said.

In this Sunday’s final, Itu L.G.A who beat Etinan L.G.A 2-1 in the semi-final will play Uruan L.G.A who in the other semi-final saw off Eket L.G.A 4-2 on penalties after regulation time had ended goalless with the winner of the match getting three million Naira in price money and runner up getting two million Naira.

Eket L.G.A had already beaten Etinan L.G.A 2-1 in the third place match played at the Oron Township Stadium on Saturday December 17, 2011 will be awarded the sum of one million Naira at the end of Sunday’s final in Oron.

IFA is working with informers inside organised crime syndicates to help protect the World Cup from match-fixing and betting plots.

FIFA’s security director Chris Eaton outlined an increasingly aggressive strategy on Thursday as football’s world governing body seeks to stop international matches being fixed for tens of millions of dollars in profit.

“What we’re doing now is developing sources both in criminal organisations and football that will advise us,” Eaton said in an interview published by FIFA’s website.

“We are creating a hostile environment for match-fixers to make them realise we will expose them, name them, and make them subject to investigation somewhere in the world.”

FIFA’s pro-active plan to get information from inside crime syndicates is a direct response to its 208 national member bodies being targeted to help fixing plots.

“The infiltration of serious criminals into our associations and football generally is the most pressing issue,” Eaton said.

Nigerian football in ‘passing phase’ –Hamilton

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WAY from the general notion that Nigerian football is on the decline, former Super Eagle coach, Paul Hamilton holds a contrary view, saying that the country’s football is in a passing phase.

Speaking recently to NationSport in Lagos, the exinternational explained that the development is not peculiar to Nigeria, as he added that the world over, football leading countries have had their share of the phenomenon.

“Well it is part of life. Those who have been following football know that certain periods in the game of football are like this all over the world. We are at the moment in a passing phase and In no distant time God willing, Nigeria will come back.

“Everybody mentions ’94 every time, but we don’t know that ’94 was not built in ’94. It came before ’94. So what is happening now, like I have said all the time is a

By Innocent Amomoh

passing phase. When you consider life itself, there are good times and there are bad times. So it is the bad times we are seeing at the moment, But the good times will be back again,” he said.

‘Wonder B’ as he is fondly called by admirers continued: “Even the good Lord has said it that there are good times and bad times. So what we are experiencing now is the bad times. Take your mind back to the ‘60s if you were in this country, there was a time they were calling the national team the Green Eagles, and now the Super Eagles which started ’94. It is for us to be patient; it is a question of time”.

Asked what he suggests as the way forward, Hamilton said football administrators and players alike must work hard, and be sincere with themselves to return Nigerian football to glory days.

“If you are doing something from your hearts of hearts and you know that what you are doing is right, God will assist you. Sincerity plus hard work and success will come,” he submitted.

On his expectation for the new year, he said that with the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers around the corner, coupled with the contracting of a new coach for the Eagles, Nigerian football may just be on its way to glory days.

“We thank God that the new gaffer for the Eagles, Stephen Keshi has told us what he wants to do. We should support him.

Especially you members of the media. I had him say that first and foremost he has to make friends with the media, which I quite agree with. So please help him build another team. He has been there as a player and now as a coach and when we support him sincerely, he will succeed.”

From the fixing scandals and allegations which have emerged since the 2010 World Cup, FIFA believes crime gangs have received inside help from football officials to organize international matches and select corrupt referees.

FIFA will open a whistleblowers’ hotline next month offering rewards and amnesties if players, referees and officials provide detailed information about their involvement or offers to help fix matches.

The three-month campaign comes before qualifying for the 2014 World Cup intensifies this year.

Eaton said he believes FIFA’s showpiece tournament is most at risk during the 832 scheduled qualifiers involving teams which are unlikely to reach the finals in Brazil.

UPER Eagles’ handler, Stephen Keshi has declared his homebased Eagles are no training material meant to just occupy the space till the foreign legion return to base.

According to the former national captain, the lads, who spent the holidays sweating it out in Abuja ahead of next month’s Nations Cup qualifier, will definitely get their place in his final squad provided they reach the height he expects of them.

He said on brilafm: “I’m expecting them to get better to the level that I want them to be and if they are, they will

By Olusoji Olukayode

definitely play. I’ve done that in Mali, I’ve done that in Togo. We didn’t go for Christmas; we didn’t go for New Year, so I’m not here to just sit down in hotel nursing my family. I’m here to make something with players and give them opportunity to play.”

The foreign-based are expected to join the lads close to the encounter and as has been the tradition for a long time, concerns are that the local stars will be dumped immediately their Europe based counterparts surface.

Gombe United sacks, hires seven for new season

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OMBE United FC has dropped seven players and hired the same number as part of preparations for the next soccer season, says the Club’s Chairman, Alhaji Auwalu Musa Umar aka Auwalu Chansi.

He said the club may drop more players before next season begins with the aim of having a more reasonable sized and resourceful team to prosecute next season.

Auwalu Chansi explained that two of the new signedon players were from outside the country while the others are made up of players from the domestic professional league and local boys.

The Gombe United FC Chairman also opined that the next soccer season should have been postponed by one week in view of the impending Nigerian Labour Congress strike billed to start on Monday.

From Vincent Ehoragbon, Gombe “Should the strike hold, away players and match officials may find it difficult to go back to their stations after their matches and that according to him is not good for their security,” he explained On the general disgruntlement over commencing the league season so soon, Chansi said “it is better for the league to start late than the other way round.”

He said this to say that the proposed weekend date for take-off of league is too early and that the break should have been allowed more time to rest and recover fully from the previous season.

He appreciated the need to harmonize the league but insists “we cannot do so at the expense of the teams and players.”

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TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 7,

RIPPLES WHY GOVT WITHDREW SUBSIDY ON JAN 1–President’s Spokesman

It’s to wish Nigerians ‘GOODLUCK’!

NO. 1996

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

I

HAVE been away for four weeks of working vacation. Part of these was fulfilling an additional responsibility of my day job. The other part was an engagement with the Ministry of Family Affairs, joyfully discharging a cultural responsibility that every parent looks forward to as my son and his sweetheart got engaged in a Gusaba ceremony in East Africa. It is good to be back.

In addition to my family members, a number of friends were in my company, none having visited Uganda or Rwanda before, and each with fascinating experiences.

What appears to be common to all is the feeling that we share a cultural affinity with these countries, but that they are both making visible efforts to tackle the challenges of development head-on while we seem contented with our lot.

First, we landed in Entebbe around midnight on December 26. The drive from the airport to Kampala was about one hour. We noticed that electricity was on in all the houses along the stretch; we observed a bustling night life with night clubs all over the city full of revelers. Throughout our five nights in Kampala, there was one incident of power failure that lasted less than five minutes.

Second, the streets of Kampala and Rwanda were clean. Even though Kampala and Kigali have their share of slums, it appears they make serious efforts to keep them clean. Dirty streets are swept and there are no litters flying around, talk less of mountains of trash. In the case of Kigali, we were told that any infraction of the law against trashing and littering attracts a jail term of six months.

Third, while there was a visible presence of the police in both Kampala and Kigali, more so in the latter than in the former, they were disciplined beyond imagination.

In Kigali, it is an offence punishable with six months imprisonment to offer a bribe to a police officer. And one can see that this law was enforced. Vehicles were policed but there were no road blocks. We passed through the streets without police molestation or harassment.

Of course, there are issues of liberty and genuine democracy. The President of Uganda has been in power for 25 years in a system that allows him unlimited opportunities for reelection. It appears that he alone has the capacity and the will to tackle the nation’s problems, including the challenges of security. But he is only a mortal and what happens if he eventually has to leave the scene? Then the nation will deal with a succession problem. That is a huge deficit that

‘The current offensive against Nigerians would only make sense if the President and his cabinet have resolved that a disintegrated country is better than one with a collapsed economy.’

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Heralding a New Year

‘

•Map of Nigeria

can be dealt with now and not later.

In the case of Rwanda, the nation is modeled after Singapore, which I wrote about a little more than a year ago after I visited that country. I am told that President Kagame is a huge fan of the East Asian country with no resources other than tourism and finance. Kigali has no resources, but is benefiting immensely from the World Bank projects and is attracting foreign aid from Europe and America. In the next few years, Rwanda may become the Singapore of Africa. But while the state of generalised discipline is commendable, it should not be allowed to infringe the human rights and civil liberties that come with a truly democratic regime.

As we departed East Africa, my family and friends marveled at what we saw and wondered why, with our cultural affinities, our development efforts are so dissimilar. One answer volunteered by one politician in our

What now is to be done? The executive has shown its hand as the enemy of the people that elected it to serve their interests. The legislature is playing the ostrich in the matter of people’s interests. The people must now decide if they would defend their interests and welfare against a no-nonsense and an uncaring leadership

‘

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

group had to do with the difference in numbers. We have more than 160 million Nigerians. Uganda has 33 million people, while Rwanda has seven million.

Frankly, I don’t see huge population as a serious negative issue if we know what we are doing. Large population has not been an obstacle in the progressive development of China or India, both of which are part of the BRIC countries which are set to overtake the G7 economies by 2027. Population can be an asset when it is well managed and the benefit of good education is not denied to the vast majority of citizens. This is what we need to focus on. A large number of our youths have no access to good education.

We are inadvertently building a nation of illiterates, who have nothing positive to contribute to its development.

I wasn’t done pondering the lessons of

HARDBALL

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ERHAPS stunned by the intensity and breadth of the initial protests against the removal of fuel subsidy, the Federal Government says it is convinced that some six Nigerian oil marketers, out of the over 100 registered to import fuel, funded the exercise. The government puts it quite dramatically: “We are investigating some of them (marketers) for taking undue advantage of issues raised by Labour to cause mayhem nationwide. We have invited six of them engaged in the plot to bring down the government. They have voted over N1 billion to sponsor the labour strike in order to make the nation ungovernable.” The suspected marketers were also alleged to have secretly met members of the National Assembly to lobby them against the removal of subsidy. According to one newspaper report of the same story, these desperate marketers wanted their false declaration of oil imports to continue.

If a group is involved in financing antigovernment plots and making secret moves to bring it down, does it make sense to invite its members for questioning? Would the natural thing not be to arrest and confront them with the facts of their treasonable engagements? By alleging the plotters met with the National Assembly, it is presumed the

VINCENT AKANMODE

other countries and economies when, on January 1, the Federal Government decided to herald the new year with the withdrawal of oil subsidy. On the positive side, the announcement is a testimony to a strong nononsense leadership. On the negative side, the announcement is a testimony to an insensitive and uncaring leadership. Between the two, there is a difference of a half dozen and six. A no-nonsense leadership is an uncaring leadership.

A no-nonsense leadership doesn’t care about the consequences of its actions. It is only concerned about the appearance of action and consistency. This is clearly demonstrated in this matter. If the government was caring, it would ensure that all necessary palliatives are in place before making the final move. It was after the announcement and the reaction of labour and the public that government came up with ideas to ameliorate the impact of the decision. It is going to take delivery of 1,600 mass transit buses soon. Meanwhile the price of fuel has jumped more than 100 per cent to between N150 and N200 per litre. With this jump, one can expect the prices of all commodities, including food, to skyrocket. But why can’t the government wait until all the palliatives are put in place? Because it is uncaring!

In its haste to show strong leadership, the Federal Government did not get its act together and there is now a crisis of disunity in governance. Surprisingly, the House and Senate have claimed what amounts to ignorance about the executive arm’s action.

The House of Representatives claimed to have taken no position on the matter. This is the people’s house; whose members are representatives of the entire country, more so than the Senate. Yet it has taken no position in a matter that affects the livelihood of a 100 per cent of its constituency! In fairness to the executive arm, the legislative wing cannot pretend that it didn’t know what was going on. Why has it not acted promptly to make legislation that serve the interests of the people and let the executive use its veto power?

What now is to be done? The executive has shown its hand as the enemy of the people that elected it to serve their interests.

The legislature is playing the ostrich in the matter of people’s interests. The people must now decide if they would defend their interests and welfare against a no-nonsense and an uncaring leadership. It always comes down to this: we are the architect of our own fortune.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Fed Govt and its red herrings government knew where the meeting took place and who were present. Why hesitate to arrest all of them? The security source, who was probably speaking the government’s mind on the plot, also said that the marketers wanted the subsidy they were drawing, consequent upon false declaration of oil imports, to continue. Incredible! So, the government knew some oil marketers were all along making false declaration of oil imports.

Why has it refused to do anything about the fraud until the marketers became so rich and powerful to begin plotting the government’s downfall?

The Senate ad hoc committee probe into the management of fuel subsidy is yet to be concluded, but it has already revealed a horrendous amount of abuse. If the government is in possession of facts indicating false declaration of oil imports, as it now seems to be suggesting, the Senate committee would have found them useful. False declarations imply unlawful subsidy payments and both prove that we were right all along to conclude that the subsidy statistics upon which the government has based the deregulation of the down-

stream sector is hopelessly fraudulent.

If the government has a problem with oil marketers, it is at liberty to handle it according to the law. But as far as the protests of Tuesday were concerned, particularly the fact that it was virtually nationwide, there is little doubt that they were not contrived.

This is not the first time the government is transferring the burden of its own incompetence and weakness to the public. Under the military, the government claimed that refined petroleum was being smuggled across Nigerian borders to neighbouring countries. Rather than police the borders, as any responsible government would do, it shifted the burden to the people by attempting to raise fuel prices to match prices across the borders. Now, apart from other insults, among which is the government’s suggestion that we don’t have a mind of our own to organise protests except oil marketers induce us, they hope to dampen our enthusiasm by terrifying us with stories of oil marketers and subversion.

Nigerian governments are obsessed with placing red herrings before its people. But the people are used to ignoring the distraction.

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