The Nation January 16, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

THE BIG PROTEST

Babangida seeks restructuring of Nigeria Oyo warns hoodlums Atiku urges govt, labour to resolve dispute Analysis PAGES Subsidy stifles private investment, says ambassador SEE 2-3 & 5-9 ACN decries ‘sectionalisation’ of subsidy protests Traders, artisans want end to strike ‘Economy’s growth is stalled’

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2006 MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

N150.00

EFCC to probe fuel subsidy payments

D

•Mrs Alison-Madueke

ETECTIVES are to probe all import subsidy payments, it was announced yesterday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to do the job, which includes payment on kerosene. The time frame to be covered is not, however, stated.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

The letter inviting the antigraft agency, signed by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, is dated 12th January, 2012. It was received by the EFCC on 13th January, 2012.

According to the letter,

EFCC is to immediately investigate all payments made in respect of subsidies against actual importation.

This action, according to the minister, is needed to deepen reforms and ensure that all forms of corruption and abuses within the subsidy regime are rooted out.

“To now deepen my re-

forms and ensure that we root out all forms of corruption and abuse within the subsidy regime, I have sought and obtained the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan to formally invite the EFCC to immediately review and investigate all payments made in respect of subsidies checked against actual

importation and to take all necessary steps to prosecute any person(s) involved in any incident of malfeasance, fraud, overpayments and related illegalities.

“Please be assured of the full cooperation of my office with this investigation, as I Continued on page 4

‘

Government will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector.

However, given the hardships being suffered by Nigerians, and after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has been directed to ensure compliance with this new pump price.

’

Petrol is N97 per litre Jonathan directs PPPRA to reduce price after talks Labour suspends street protests but strike continues

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ETROL price was this morning fixed at N97 per litre by the Federal Government.

President Goodluck Jonathan announced the price in a national broadcast.

“Given the hardships being suffered by Nigerians and after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre.

mentation of the deregulation policy would cause initial hardships. He commended Nigerians “The Petroleum Products Pricing “who have put forth suggestions Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has and credible alternatives in this rebeen directed to ensure compliance gard.”

Jonathan also saluted “Nigerians with this new pump price,” the who by and President said.

He added that “govern- TEXT OF SPEECH large, conducted themment will continue to purON PAGE 4 selves peacesue full deregulation of the fully while expressing their grievdownstream petroleum sector.”

The President said the govern- ances.”

He said the government would ment appreciated that the impleFrom John Ofikhenua, Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja and Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

continue to respect the people’s right to express themselves “within the confines of the law and in accordance with the dictates of our democratic space.”

He promised to reduce the government’s recurrent expenditure, in line with current realities and to cut down on the cost of governance. Besides, there will be more transparency in the oil sector and corruption will be fought.

The President urged Nigerians “to show understanding for the

imperatives of the adjustment in the pump price of petrol and give government your full support to ensure its successful implementation. I further appeal to Nigerians to go back to work and go about their normal duties as government has made adequate arrangements for the protection of life and property throughout the federation.”

He warned that the government would “not condone brazen acts of Continued on page 4

•JOBS P17 •SPORTS P23 •POLTICS P25 •CITYBEATS P31 •CEO P47

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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NEWS THE PROTEST NEWBIG YEAR MESSAGES

•Queue at a filling station on the Lagos/ Ibadan Express way

PHOTO: MOSES OMOSEHIN

Atiku urges Fed Govt, labour to resolve dispute •Muslim clerics call for amicable resolution F

ORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has advised the Federal Government and leaders of the organised Labour and civil society organisations to find a mutually agreeable settlement to the anti-subsidy withdrawal protests across the country.

According to him, the advice was in the larger interest of millions of the citizenry, who have been suffering additional burden of hardship since the strike began eight days ago.

Reacting to the lingering crisis in a statement by his media office, Atiku said the two sides have a responsibility to show flexibility rather than adopting a maximalist posture on their demands.

According to him, both the government and labour leaders should be united by the common interest of ordinary Nigerians who are bearing the crunch of the seeming stalemate.

According to him, unless the two sides are realistic, the nation stands the risk of reaching a culde-sac in the negotiations, thereby compounding the hardship of millions who are earnestly awaiting a speedy end to this crisis.

The former vice president particularly urged the two sides to listen to the voice of reason rather than bending to the dictates of their egos, which might lead to avoidable complications in finding a workable solution to the subsidy crisis.

Atiku said sacrifices were needed by both sides to ensure that the final resolution served the best interest of the economy and the people.

He, however, condemned the killings by the security agents and the violence and arson on public and private property by a section of the protesters.

While urging for restraint by both parties, Atiku advised labour leaders not to allow criminal elements to infiltrate their ranks and discredit the essence of legitimate peaceful protest.

Some Islamic clerics have also called for an amicable resolution

Nigeria: will it fall apart or can it hold?

“N

IGERIA is not Animal Farm!” read one placard brandished during days of furious fuel price protests by Nigerians which have combined with a violent Islamist insurgency to move Africa’s top oil producer closer to what many fear may be a breaking point.

The same political vices of corrupt leadership and abuse of power which George Orwell skewered in his 1945 novella “Animal Farm” have corroded Nigeria’s politics since independence from Britain in 1960. Angry popular backlash against these is fuelling the latest violence and unrest in the African continent’s most populous state.

This anti-establishment fury brought Africa’s second largest economy to a standstill last week. Citizens from all walks of life have taken to the streets after President Goodluck Jonathan’s government announced on January 1 it would scrap a motor fuel subsidy, more than doubling fuel prices.

The volcano of public rage has erupted at the same time that a spate of bombings and shootings by a shadowy Islamist sect is threatening to fracture the country’s sensitive north-south, Muslim-Christian divide. This religious faultline has caused sectarian conflict claiming thousands of lives in the past.

Some are now asking whether this dynamic but troubled country of 160 million, carved by colonial rulers out of a jigsaw of ethnic and religious groups, can still hold together or risks plunging again into allout conflict and even break-up.

Many still remember the divisive 1967-1970 civil war over secessionist Biafra that killed over a million people and caused mass starvation, dislocation and suffering.

“As the ripples of incessant bombings and massacres resonate ... fear, anger and hatred have been woven into the very fabric of the nation’s life,” Soni Daniel, deputy editor of Nigerian daily Leadership wrote in an editorial on Saturday.

“Nigeria has never come as close to the brink of civil war,” he added.

The nationwide fuel protests have become an outlet for thousands to vent their grievances against what they see as a venal ruling political class and incompetent government, which is struggling to tackle an insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamist sect based in the largely Muslim north.

“The bottom line is we don’t trust the government

of the fuel subsidy impasse in the interest of Nigerians.

The clerics told the News

Analysis to do what they say anymore,” said student Remi Sonaiya, sitting on a car blaring out Afrobeat music in the heaving Nigerian metropolis of Lagos, while protesters thrashed an effigy of President Jonathan across the face with leafy branches.

Unions launched strikes against the fuel subsidy removal and these are estimated to be costing the country $600 million a day. They have also threatened to shut down Nigeria’s 2 million barrel-per-day oil industry, rattling global energy markets.

Talks between Jonathan and labor unions on Saturday failed to reach a compromise, and the unions said the crippling strikes would resume on Monday.

But the main oil union said it was not joining the walkouts for the time being.

Jennifer Giroux, senior researcher for the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich University, says the fuel prices issue is “a common rallying point ... A unifying issue that has had an immediate impact on the majority of Nigerians, most of whom are making $2 a day or less.”

The crisis mood is a far cry from the cautious optimism that greeted Jonathan last April, when he won Nigeria’s cleanest ever election on a pledge to fight graft, fix a crumbling power sector and attract investment into its huge oil reserves.

Then, foreign analysts saw a potential take-off for the economy if the former zoology lecturer could push through key reforms and take steps towards healing the north-south rift.

One such recommended reform was ending the fuel subsidy but the president’s January 1 decision to remove it convulsed a country already shaken by a wave of Christmas attacks claimed by Boko Haram, including church bombings that killed dozens and stoked sectarian tensions.

Attacks have continued during the fuel protests.

Targeting of minority Christians triggered reprisals

by Christians on Muslims in the south, even though the majority of the two communities have shown in the past they can live in peace.

During fuel price protests in southwestern Benin City on Tuesday, five people were killed when a mob attacked a mosque, and 3,000 Muslims of northern origin fled.

–Reuters

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos on Sunday that the hardship brought on

Nigerians, while the strike lasted, called for an urgent resolution between government and organised

labour.

Dr Isia’aq Akintola, head of the Department of Religion, Lagos State University (LASU), advised the Federal Government to consider the views of the National Assembly in resolving the subsidy crisis.

He said: “There is no better representation by the people of Nigerians who are at the receiving end than the National Assembly.

“Since the two chambers of the Legislative Assembly have spoken in support of the reversal of the fuel increase, I think Nigerians have spoken their minds.

“I expect the Federal Government to align with the wish of Nigerians, so as not to be tagged as running a dictatorship.”

The university don condemned the killings and destruction of properties during the nationwide strike, descrbing, “the carnage as unfortunate and avoidable”.

He suggested a phased removal of the petrol subsidy, as well as the introduction of visible palliative programmes, so as to stretch and cushion its impact on the citizens over a period of time.

Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Lagos Central Mosque Alhaji Garba Akinola, urged labour and government to continue with constructive dialogue that can bring about the amicably resolution of the feud.

Akinola said: “This strike has only inflicted untold hardship on the citizens who were already contending with the spate of insecurity and low level economic activity.

“I urged the parties to come back to the roundtable and resolve the impasse in the interest of Nigerians.”

Akinola reiterated the commitment of the clerics to continue praying for the survival of the country’s democratic institution and the peaceful co-existence of its peoples.

“We on our part will continue, through our sermons and prayers, to seek for Allah’s favour for the survival of our democracy and national unity,” he added.

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NEWS THE BIG PROTEST

On the trail of protesters Revolutionary music, especially the late Fela AnikulapoKuti’s, livened up the protests against the removal of petrol subsidy; so did marijuana and alcohol, write OLUKAYODE THOMAS and JOKE KUJENYA

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• Sheikh Ahmad delivering his sermon at ‘a million-man special Jumat service’ at Ojota, Lagos.

PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

‘Nigeria has no business with poverty’

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

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ATIONAL Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADS) Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad has declared Nigeria has no business with poverty.

The nation, Ahmad said, has been adequately blessed by God with various natural resources, manpower and intellect.

The revered scholar identified corruption and greediness among leaders as the bane of the country.

Nigerian leaders, he said, do not think of meeting Allah one day to account for their deeds, hence their selfish actions.

He said: “Allah has given us a city that is harmonious and endowed with various opportunities. But in the midst of plenty, poverty becomes our lots. What do we lack in Nigeria? We have water, natural resources, we have everything. There is nothing Allah has not given us in this country. Nigeria has no business with poverty. Nigerians have no business living below the poverty level. Allah has blessed us.”

He urged President Jonathan to rescind the unpopular policy.

Sheikh Ahmad warned Nigerian media to stop referring to Boko Haram as Islamic sect.

His words: “The Muslims are not anarchist, the Muslims are not terrorists, the Muslims are peace loving people, and the Muslims are progressive and nation builders. We are orderly, we are not violent, we are reasonable, educated, cultured and not fools.

“It is rather unfortunate that we have consistently refused to heed Allah’s warnings, we find ourselves where we are today. There is no connection between Islam and Boko Haram; no connection at all! Islam is not Boko Haram and Boko Haram is not Islam; the Muslims who are here today, if we are not peaceful, we will not be here with our families. Boko Haram is killing both Christians and Muslims in the north; it is just that our media have grossly under reporting killings of the Muslims especially, the clerics by this same Boko Haram.”

He urged religious leaders to shun evil people who are hell-bent on destroying the country.

“There is no conflict between us and the Christians. Our problem is bad government and corruption. We should all endeavour to verify information before we act,” the cleric said.

‘Economy’s growth is stalled’

NY ardent follower of the late Afro beat maestro Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who witnessed last week’s protests in Lagos against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government at Empire Bus Stop, Idi-Oro, would have thought the Abami Eda (Strange Being) had resurrected and was entertaining fans in an afternoon jump.

A stone thrown away from Fela’s former Kalakuta Republic, on which now sits a secondary school, one of Fela’s best songs, Teacher don’t teach me nonsense, was oozing from the multiple giant speakers mounted on a lorry. The protesters did not only dance to the music, but sang along.

Many of the protesters wore NLC/TUC tee-shits; others were dressed in shirts with pictures of revolutionary figures such as Malcolm X, Che Guvera, Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela, Fela, Gani Fawehinmi and Bekolari RansomeKuti (Fela’s junior brother). Many described Fela as a philosopher and prophet, who was not accorded the honour he deserved; others said he has resurrected to lead the protest of the masses against the fat cats holding the country down.

The Lagos protests began without any inkling that it would grow into something that could paralyse the nation’s commercial nerve centre for five days. On the first day, protesters from organisations such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and Reclaim Naija Group took off from the NLC office in Yaba and their destination was the Gani Fawehinmi Park.

Before the protesters got to Ojuelegba, the giant speakers mounted on a lorry had overtaken their voices with the popular song of afro-pop musician African China ‘Mr. President’ renting the air.

At the Abati Barracks, the protesters started demanding Fela’s music.

Pleas by the Disco Jockey that the connecting cable that could enable him play Fela’s music was not good failed to calm them.

Bowing to the wishes of the people, Fela’s epic album soon started oozing from the giants speakers.

And from that moment till the protesters joined the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, it was Fela’s master pieces such as Suffering and Smiling, Overtake Don Overtake Overtake, Beast of No Nation, Lady and Coffin for President and others.

One of the protesters, Oluwole

Alabi, said: “Without this Fela music, I probably would not have been able to trek from Ojuelegba to Ojota, but as I danced and I sang along with Abami-Eda, I did not even feel anything; it was fun all the way.

The man was a prophet; things he said years ago are still relevant today. We must fight this injustice.”

But Fela’s music was not limited to day one, nor did it energise only Alabi. When the NLC/TUC monitoring team trekked to Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) on Tuesday through Oyingbo, it was Fela’s music all the way.

On Wednesday when the group moved from Yaba, to Surulere Freedom Park in front of the National Stadium, to Festac Town through Orile, to Agboju, Iyana-Iba, LASU, to Idimu, Egbeda Freedom Park and Iyana-Ipaja, it was Fela’s music all the way, and when they arrived at each venue, they were welcomed by Fela’s music.

The situation was not different on Thursday when the group went to Ogba to visit the Aderintos, whose son Abiodun was allegedly shot to death by a police officer on the first day of the protest; it was Fela’s music all day. At Mushin, the home of many Fuji musicians, Fela’s music provided the needed energy and inspiration for the protesters to march on.

But while a group of protesters which included students, lawyers, bankers and doctors were energised

by Fela’s music and Christian songs reworked to disparage government functionaries, another class of protesters found inspiration in illicit gin in satchets. They include: Pelebe, Alomo Bitters, Paraga and Indian hemp.

They looked rough, dirty and unkempt; with tattoos on different

parts of their bodies. Their grievances against the government are many.

The anti-subsidy removal protest gave opportunity to vent their anger.

Their strategy was simple: mix with genuine protesters, cause confusion and start stealing. Unfortunately this strategy did not work as the leadership of the NLC/ TUC and other group of genuine protesters saw through their tricks and devised a counter plan that ensured they failed.

Few of them that were bold enough to cause havoc were apprehended by genuine protesters and handed over to the police.

On Thursday, one of them snatched the bag of a lady at Ipodo Market. He was caught and given several blows, with blood gushing out of his mouth.

He was rescued by doctors among the genuine protesters who put him in their ambulance.

Also on Friday at Idi-Oro, another one stole a mobile phone from an Okada rider. The phone was not only recovered from him, he got the beating of his life before he was rescued by the leaders of the NLC/TUC. But Lagos residents, especially around Lagos Island, Lekki/Ajah area and some parts of the Mainland who ventured out of the house were robbed of valuables like telephones, cash and other items. Others had their cars smashed and windscreens broken. In some areas, this group mounted road blocks and demanded cash before they allowed vehicular movements. They blocked major streets and highways and made bonfires with used tyres.

Abiodun Aremu, a top official of the Joint Action Front (JAF), told reporters the street urchins could be working for elements against peaceful protests.

Aremu said: “Some of these people who staged attacks on innocent people are out to weaken our resolve to continue with this protest. We cannot be weakened and we must ensure that our purpose of starting this protest is fulfilled. If we remain resolute, we will win this battle.”

Former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Dipo Fasina, agreed with Aremu.

He said: “We have been going to various parts of Lagos in the past three days; bad reports have not been recorded on the struggle. This current trend by the hoodlums will not distract labour.”

The police, said a protester, assisted to clip the wings of the hoodlums. This week promises a lot of drama, if labour and government fail to call a truce.

Subsidy stifles private investment, says envoy

L

AGOS Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire yesterday expressed concern that the lingering strike by the organised labour over the fuel subsidy removal was stalling the nation’s economic growth.

Responding to reporters’ questions in Lagos during the wreath-laying ceremony at this year‘s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Tafawa Balewa Square’s Arcade, she said the strike’s continuation should be discouraged.

Her words: “I want Nigerians to pray over the conflict that trailed the January 1 removal of fuel subsidy, and I also call on the Federal Government and the organised labour to ensure a successful negotiation.

“This is because the people who are supposed to be making their daily income are sitting at home, while the country is losing revenue and public properties are being destroyed.’’

Speaking on the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, she said it was necessary to recognise Nigeria’s fallen heroes and respect them for their sacrifices.

Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire said such recognition would motivate serving soldiers to put in their best.

She commended the armed forces for protecting the country’s territorial integrity. The deputy governor had earlier inspected the guard of honour, set free pigeons and laid the wreaths as was the practice during every Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.

‘

Without this Fela music, I probably would not have been able to trek from Ojuelegba to Ojota, but as I danced and I sang along with AbamiEda, I did not even feel anything; it was fun all the way. The man was a prophet; things he said years ago are still relevant today. We must fight this injustice

‘

SEHIN

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

•Adefuye

N

IGERIA’S Ambassador to the United States (U.S.) Prof.

Adebowale Adefuye, at the weekend, said fuel subsidy was discouraging competition and stifling private investment in the down-

stream sector.

He spoke with a group of Nigerians at a Town Hall meeting in Chicago.

He said: “Due to the lack of deregulation, investors have shied away from investing in the development of refineries, petro-chemicals and fertiliser plants.”

The meeting was convened to discuss issues relating to the fundamentalist Boko Haram sect and fuel subsidy removal.

According to him, subsidy was encouraging smuggling of petroleum products across the borders to neighbouring countries where prices were higher.

His words: “Continuing with the

fuel subsidy system will pose a serious danger to the economic survival of the country.

“With 72 per cent of the country’s budget being spent on recurrent expenditure, there will come a time when there will be no money available for capital projects.

“We would then have to say goodbye to plans to improve power supply, repair our roads, rebuild our railways, improve the quality of our education and attain the objectives of our Vision 20:2020.”

The envoy noted that in 2011, fuel subsidy was more than the aggregate sectoral allocation for education, health, power, agriculture and rural development and water resources.

ums

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

NEWS

•Cross section of some men of Nigerian Army during the parade today in Abuja

Petrol is N97

EFCC to probe fuel subsidy payments Continued from page 1

have directed all officials of Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and related agencies in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to make themselves available in the event of any interviews,” the letter reads.

Besides, the minister announced that a unit in the Petroleum Ministry is to review the KPMG and other audit reports on the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) and other government agencies.

Another unit is to review the management and controls within all government agencies in the petroleum ministry, including the NNPC, PPPRA and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

This unit has 30 days to submit its report, which the minister said would be used for further action in reforming management, personnel, and other practices and procedures in parastatals within the ministry.

The minister said the action was necessitated by the public demand for transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

The Senate last month released names of the beneficiaries of fuel subsidy amounting to a grand total of N3.655 trillion for five years (2006 to 2011).

The upper legislative chamber said fuel subsidy has guzzled N1.426 trillion between January and August last year alone.

Chairman, Senate ad-hoc Committee probing the management of fuel subsidy regime, Senator Magnus Abe, listed the companies benefitting from fuel subsidy at the resumed investigation by the committee in Abuja.

Companies named by the Senate and the amount of money they received last year alone included; Oando Nigeria Plc, N228.506billion; Integrated Oil and Gas Plc, N30billion; MRS, 224.818 billion; A.A. Rano, N1.14 billion; A-Z Petroleum, N18.61 billion; A.S.B, N3.16 billion; Arcon Plc, N24.116 billion; African Petroleum, N104.58 billion; Aminu Resources, N2.3 billion; Capital Oil, N22.4 billion; Con Oil, N37.96 billion; Avante Guard, N1.14 billion; Avido, N3.64 billion; Boffas and Company, N3.67 billion; and Brilla Energy, N960.3 million.

Others are: D. Jones Petroleum, N14.86 billion; DownStream Energy, N789.648 million; Dosil Oil and Gas, N3.375 billion; Inco ray, N1.988 billion; Eternal, N5.574 billion; Folawiyo Energy, N113.32 billion; Frado International, N2.63 billion; First Deepwater Oil, N257.396 million; Heden Petrol, N693 million; Honeywell Petrol, N12.2 billion; AMP, N11.417 billion; Ascon, N5.271 billion; Channel Oil, N1.308 billion; Fort Oil, N8.582 billion; Enak Oil & Gas, N19.684 billion; Bovas & Co. Nig Ltd, N5.685billion; and Obat Oil N85billion.

Abe also named AP, N104.5billion; IPMAN Investment Limited, N10.9billion; ACON, N24.1billion; Atio Oil, N64.4billion; AMP, N11.4billion; and Emac Oil, N19.2billion.

In 2006, only MRS, Total and Oando were listed as beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy recognised by the Federal Government.

The three companies were said to have been listed as “major marketers.”

But in 2007, AP and Mobil joined and were listed under the category of majors.

The same year, NIPCO was introduced and listed under the category of petrol depot owners.

A new category of “independents” included some marketers who had no depots.

AITEO Energy Resources and Triquest Energy were added in 2007, bringing the total to eight beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy.

The list of subsidy beneficiaries increased sharply in 2008 to 23, made up of six majors.

In 2008, Conoil joined, and NIPCO was joined by Capital Oil and Folawiyo Energy, under the category of depot owners.

The list of “independents” also increased from two in 2007 to 14 in 2008 as AITEO and Triquest were said to have been joined by Triquest Oil services, IMAD Oil & Gas, Integrated Oil and Gas, Rahamaniyya, AMG Petro Energy, Brittania, ACORN, A-Z Petroleum, SHIELD Petroleum and MAJOPE Investment Limited.

And in 2010, the beneficiaries of the subsidy payment under the category of major marketers remained six, the depot owners remained two,

Continued from page 1

•EFCC chair Lamorde but the list of independent marketers went up to 28 with the inclusion of many relatively barely known companies.

criminality and subversion.

As President, I have sworn to uphold the unity, peace and order of the Nigerian State and by the grace of God, I intend to fully and effectively discharge that responsibility.”

He expressed government’s desire for further engagements with Labour and called on Labour leaders “to call off their strike, and go back to work.”

But Labour leaders rose from a meeting at about 1a.m. saying street protests should be suspended, but the strike should go on.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abdulwaheed Omar said: “Labour has suspended street protests due to the security challenge involved.

The strike will continue.

“Labour has accepted to work with the Alfa Belgore Committee set up by the government to negotiate a new price for petrol within the next three days.

The NLC president added that the government had accepted to suspend full deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry pending when all issues are resolved.”

President seeks understanding of Nigerians on deregulation

P

RESIDENTIAL address on the implementation of the deregulation policy in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry yesterday Dear Compatriots, •This is the second time in two weeks I will address you on the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. In the last seven days, the nation has witnessed a disruption of economic activities. Although, the economic imperatives for the policy have been well articulated by government, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) went ahead to declare a nationwide strike.

•There was also nearbreakdown of law and order in certain parts of the country as a result of the activities of some persons or groups of persons who took advantage of the situation to further their narrow interests by engaging in acts of intimidation, harassment and outright

subversion of the Nigerian state. I express my sympathy to those who were adversely affected by the protests.

•At the inception of the deregulation policy, Government had set up the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee to liaise with Labour and other stakeholders to address likely grey areas in the policy, but despite all our efforts, Labour refused the option of dialogue and also disobeyed a restraining order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

•However, following the intervention of the Leadership of the National Assembly, and other well-meaning Nigerians, Labour accepted to meet with government, but this yielded no tangible result.

•It has become clear to government and all well-meaning Nigerians that other interests beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy have hijacked the pro-

test. This has prevented an objective assessment and consideration of all the contending issues for which dialogue was initiated by government.

These same interests seek to promote discord, anarchy, and insecurity to the detriment of public peace.

•Government appreciates that the implementation of the deregulation policy would cause initial hardships and commends Nigerians who have put forth suggestions and credible alternatives in this regard. Government also salutes Nigerians who by and large, conducted themselves peacefully while expressing their grievances.

Let me assure you that government will continue to respect the people’s right to express themselves within the confines of the law and in accordance with the dictates of our democratic space.

•Government will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum

sector. However, given the hardships being suffered by Nigerians, and after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has been directed to ensure compliance with this new pump price.

•Government is working hard to reduce recurrent expenditure in line with current realities and to cut down on the cost of governance. In the meantime, government has commenced the implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment projects: including the Federal Government- assisted mass transit programme which is already in place, and job creation for the youth.

•Furthermore, the legal and regulatory regime for the petroleum industry will be re-

viewed to address accountability issues and current lapses in the Industry. In this regard, the Petroleum Industry Bill will be given accelerated attention. The report of the forensic audit carried out on the NNPC is being studied with a view to implementing the recommendations and sanctioning proven acts of corruption in the industry.

•Let me assure Nigerians that this administration is irrevocably committed to tackling corruption in the petroleum industry as well as other sectors of the economy.

Consequently, all those found to have contributed one way or the other to the economic adversity of the country will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

•My dear compatriots, I urge you to show understanding for the imperatives of the adjustment in the pump price of petrol and give government your full support to ensure its successful

implementation. I further appeal to Nigerians to go back to work and go about their normal duties as government has made adequate arrangements for the protection of life and property throughout the federation.

•Government will not condone brazen acts of criminality and subversion. As President, I have sworn to uphold the unity, peace and order of the Nigerian State and by the grace of God, I intend to fully and effectively discharge that responsibility. Let me add that we are desirous of further engagements with Labour. I urge our Labour leaders to call off their strike, and go back to work.

•Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must collectively safeguard its unity.

Thank you. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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NEWS THE BIG PROTEST

NLC, TUC: why Labour, Fed Govt talks collapsed

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HE Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), yesterday said the talks with the Federal Government over the petrol subsidy strike was stalled because of the differences between both sides.

In a statement by the Acting General-Secretary of the NLC, Owei Lakemfa, and the Secretary-General of the TUC, John Kolawole, the Labour Movement said the strike would continue today.

The statement reads: “The talks between the Federal Government and Labour represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abuja on Saturday, January 14, 2012, stalled due to differences on the methodology in finding a solution to the crisis.

“Labour’s analysis of the situation is that tension is very high in the land following the fuel price increase, the resultant strikes, rallies and street protests and the human causalities that have followed. And that a suspension of the new petrol prices will reduce tension and return the country to normalcy.

“We decided to make a plea to President Goodluck

Labour resumes strike today

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RGANISED Labour and its Civil Society allies will continue the removal of fuel subsidy strike and street protests today.

The decision came on the heels of the stalled talks between the Federal Government and Labour movement on Saturday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), in conjunction with Joint Action Force, put the strike on hold for 48 hours on Friday evening to enable protesters rest and replenish their food stock.

In a statement entitled: Why Labour—Federal Government talks stalled and strike/ protests continue Monday, by NLC Acting General-Secretary, Owei Lakemfa and TUC Secretary-General, John Kolawole, the Labour movement said: “For the avoidance of any doubt, the indefinite strikes, rallies and protests continue nationwide from Monday, January 16, 2012 (today).

Labour said the aim of the protests is not for a change of government but for good

By Olamilekan Andu

Jonathan, in the overriding interest of the country, to suspend the PMS (petrol) price increases and direct that talks between government and Labour be concluded on the petroleum industry, especially at it affects fuel subsidy and pricing within a short time frame.

“We made a pledge that

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

governance because: “The Labour movement is wedded to democracy. Therefore, anybody or group that wants a change in the political leadership of the country at whatever level should do so through the ballot box.”

Senate President David Mark said the Saturday meeting was fruitful, adding that the Federal Government was on the right path.

He added that the Government and Labour would shift ground.

Mark said: “We are consulting. We would bring this to a logical conclusion very soon.”

But he did not say when this would happen.

Information Minister Labaran Maku said the reason for the deadlock was that “Labour came to the meeting with a fixed position while the Federal Government came with a clear mandate to negotiate and reach a compromise”. He said Labour refused to shift from its position on the reversal of petrol price to N65 per litre, adding that this was wrong.

once the price increase suspension is announced, Labour and its allies will immediately suspend the strikes, rallies and street protests.

“The summary of Labour’s position at the meeting was that talks and consultations were ongoing before government aborted them by announcing the 120-220 per cent increase in the price of petrol, and that it is necessary to re-

turn to the status quo to douse tension, return the country to normalcy and allow for a conducive atmosphere for consultations and talks.

“However, Federal Government’s only offer was to reduce the new prices while declining to allow a phased price increase. We think that the government’s position will not return the country to normalcy...”

Kwara NLC urges sit-at-home From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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HE Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday directed workers in the state to begin sit-at-home today in continuation of Organised Labour’s and civil society groups’ protest against fuel subsidy withdrawal.

In a telephone interview, the NLC state Chairman, Comrade Umar F. Akanbi said: “Everybody should sit at home.

As for the rally, we will meet with the leadership of the stakeholders tomorrow and come out with a position which we will communicate to our people.”

But the National Vice-President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Taiwo Otitolaye said: “Full street protest continues tomorrow. It is not true that we agreed with the government to suspend the street protest, just like that. I was part of the meeting and you can quote me. No matter what, we are hitting the streets tomorrow.”

Also, the President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Justice Saka Yusuf (rtd) has observed with dismay the recent upsurge in violence which marred the protest in some areas of Ilorin.

He added: “The development is not only unpleasant but alien to our culture. The union also appeals to the Federal Government to reconsider its stand on the fuel subsidy withdrawal.

“While we pray that the issue will be resolved amicably we should not do anything that will tarnish the age-long image of the Ilorin emirate as the home of peace and tranquility.”

Group calls for ‘meaningful dialogue’

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POLICY advocacy group for national initiatives, the National Think-Tank (NTT), has urged the Federal Government and Organised Labour to ensure “meaningful dialogue” in the talks on petrol subsidy removal.

In a statement by its National Director, Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Agekameh, the group said it has been consulting with major stakeholders on the matter and has forwarded its position to the government.

The statement reads: “The National Think-Tank (NTT), a policy advocacy group for national initiatives has been holding consultations over

the crisis engendered by the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol on New Year’s Day. “The NTT has forwarded its position and suggestions on this national issue to the government.

“Furthermore, at a meeting held in Abuja on Friday, January 13, 2012, the NTT arrived at a resolution to call on all the parties in the ongoing crisis, that is the Federal Government and Organised Labour, to engage in meaningful dialogue towards a quick resolution of the lingering crisis in the interest of peace and harmony in the country.

Benue NLC prepares for showdown From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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• From left: Comrade Rasheedat Adesina, Assistant Secretary-General, Joint Action Front (JAF); Comrade Abiodun Aremu, Secretary-General (JAF) and Comrade Achike Chude, Vice-Chairman (JAF) at a meeting/media briefing to strategise for today’s protest against petrol subsidy removal at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) House, Yaba, Lagos...yesterday

Balarabe Musa, Southern Kaduna group disagree on street protest T

HREE Civil Society groups and two former governors of Kaduna State, led by former Governor Balarabe Musa, yesterday urged the residents to disregard to sit-athome protest of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Uniuon Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and come out today to continue the street protest against the Federal Government’s removal of subsidy on petrol.

But a group, the Southern Kaduna Indigenes Progressive Forum, urged southern Kaduna indigenes to respect the sit-at-home protest as ordered by Organised Labour in the state.

It condemned the alleged takeover of the street protest by those it said intended to plunge the state into chaos.

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Civil society groups and the forum addressed reporters yesterday at separate briefings in Kaduna to review the strike.

Both groups agreed that the strike must continue until the Federal Government reverts the price of petrol to N65 per litre.

Speaking on behalf of the civil society groups, Musa urged residents to come out as early as 7am to sign a register to be opened at the Lugard Hall Roundabout in defiance of the curfew imposed on the metropolis by the state government.

Urging security agencies to protect the protesters during the rally, the former

governor asked them to observe the fundamental human rights of the participants.

He urged protesters not to molest anyone or touch any property.

Musa added that anyone found violating other people’s rights or causing any damage would be treated as working against the struggle.

He said: “If the ongoing negotiations between Organised Labour/civil society organisations and the Federal Government fails to achieve the set objectives by midnight today (Sunday), the struggle should continue in Kaduna State with the signing of register at the former Luggard Hall Roundabout, now Unity and

Liberty Square, on Ali Akilu Road, starting at 7am.

“We call on all participants to ensure that there is no injury to persons and no damage to property or burning of any description anywhere. Everything must proceed peacefully.

“Organised labour and civil society organisations, in particular, disagree with the position of the Federal Government and, after five days of costly strikes and popular protests, government continues to refuse to return petrol price to N65 per litre, with a clear threat to peace and the quality of life of 99 per cent of Nigerians and the progressive development of the Nigerian economy.”

HE Chairman of the Benue State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Simon Anchaver, has said Organised Labour and civil society groups would shut down the state ahead of the second round of the strike over fuel subsidy removal beginning today.

In a telephone interview with The Nation from Abuja, where he attended the National Executive Council (NEC) of NLC, Anchaver noted that the second round of the protest would be total.

He urged Benue residents to stock enough food, saying there would be no movement throughout the period of the protest.

On the outcome of negotiation between the Federal Government and Labour, the NLC state chairman said it failed because the government refused to shift ground.

According to him, the only option for Labour was resume the strike.

The Special Adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Solomon Wombo, has directed the 23 local government chairmen to begin the registration of unemployment graduates in their domains.

‘Strike’ll re-define Nigeria’

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NON-governmental organisation (NGO), the National Patriotic Movement (NAPAM) has hailed Nigerians for protesting the increase in the pump price of petrol from N65 to about N150.

It praised the leadership of the protesters - the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Project Occupy Nigeria (PON) and other civil society organisations - saying: “There is future for Nigeria with their protests.”

It noted that if sustained, the struggle by the coalition of the Labour unions, civil society organisations and the masses, would force the hands of the “patently inefficient and profligate” government of Nigeria to address the debilitating corruption in the oil sector and other national ills.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

NPM, an Ogun State-based NGO, urged Labour and TUC to note that 25 Nigerians, whom it referred to as “martyrs,” have been killed in the struggle.

“They should not be allowed to die in vain,” it said.

The group said the Goodluck Jonathan–led Federal Government should be blamed for the deaths of Nigerians, who were killed during the fuel subsidy removal strike and protests.

Addressing reporters at the weekend in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Convener of NPM, Senator Femi Okunrounmu said the only way to ensure that the “martyrs” did not die in vain is for the NLC and TUC not to give up on the N65 per litre pump price of petrol.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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NEWS THE PROTEST NEWBIG YEAR MESSAGES

Babangida praises protesters’ maturity •Urges Jonathan to restructure Nigeria

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FORMER Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday commended the maturity of protesters against removal of subsidy. He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to begin to plan how to restructure the nation after the on-going strike.

He called for the implementation of true federalism for the nation to move forward.

He said the coming together of Muslim and Christian protesters has renewed his faith in the unity of Nigeria.

He also said the government’s anti-corruption programme must have more bite devoid of political witch-hunt.

Babangida, who made his opinion known in a statement last night in Abuja through his Spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the centre is too powerful for Nigeria to move forward.

He said: “In my retirement home here in Minna, Niger State, North Central of Nigeria, I have been watching with responsible interest the unfolding scenario about our dear nation and the reactions which trailed government’s removal of subsidy on oil.

“The maturity exhibited by the protesters coupled with their orderly conduct has since become an innovation in Nigeria with respect to protestations and demonstrations. As a former Military President who survived eleven of such public anger, I should be in a better position to appreciate the maturity of the one under reference.

“I also feel a sense of pride seeing our Muslim and Christian brothers and sisters express such uncommon love and solidarity during the protest. It is a demonstration of the fact that Nigerians appreciate the mutuality of our collegiate existence irrespective of their religious inclinations and beliefs. This has further convinced me about the unity of Nigeria and the communalism of our collective sufferance as one nation under God.” Babangida said a major lesson from the strike action is the need to restructure Nigeria to reflect true federalism.

He added: “Mr. President, I have also sat back to do some sober reflections on the challenges which this strike action has thrown up with particular reference to the structure of the Federation. If my opinion will not be misconstrued again by government spin-doctors and naysayers, I would rather call on President

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Goodluck Jonathan to seize the moment by legitimately embarking on complete restructuring of the country in order to put into practice the real principles of a Federation.

“Under our present arrangement, our skewed federalist status has brought about series of role conflicts between the Federal Government and the federating units. There is too much power concentration at the centre, thus weakening the comparative abilities of the federating units at generating wealth for their constituents. History will be kind on Mr. President if he takes this bold step at ensuring the practice of true federalism.

“My very honest advice is that President Goodluck Jonathan should commence the process of devolving powers from the centre to the federating units; States and Local Governments; in order to gain sufficient time and concentration on several other developmental issues that would help move the nation forward “I have studied government’s blueprint on how it intends to utilize the “gains” of subsidy removal, but I have reservations for the deep level of involvement of the Federal Government at implementing the blueprint as opposed to the States and Local Governments. Under a true federation and with the inherent attractions of an all-inclusive democracy, the three tiers of government are supposed to be complementary in terms of pursuing national goals and objectives.

“The Legislative Houses at the States and Local Governments are supposed to be vested with the responsibility of making laws for the smooth running of their respective constituencies.

That way, certain powers would be devolved from the centre and they would now be more responsive to the needs of their people both at the States and Local Governments levels. “Under a true Federation, for example, the Federal Government has no business in providing primary healthcare services or renovation of Primary Schools when that ought to be in the purview of the States and Local Governments.

Brazil suffered this structural imbalance some two decades ago, but its ability to confront the challenge, has placed Brazil on the threshold as one of the World’s performing economy.

“Let me reiterate the strong need for Mr. President to commence the process of practising fiscal federalism in the area of power devolution, anticorruption crusade, attitudinal re-orientation, bureaucratic reforms, slim government, unicameral Legislature

and transparency in governance.

“Under this new arrangement Mr. President, the Federal Government will be vested with powers to undertake responsibilities in the area of charting the economic roadmap for the nation, defence and protection of territorial integrity of the nation, as well as Foreign Policy. These portfolios would provide the Federal Government the opportunity to generally oversee the affairs of the country, without meddling into the affairs and responsibilities of the federating units.”

Babangida also asked the President to cut down the cost of running government.

He said: “As a part of this restructuring, the Federal Government must commence the process of cutting down on cost of running government by ensuring that a slim and tidy bureaucracy is put in place. The weaknesses in the present arrangement have since been exposed and have to be discarded to accommodate new thinking in global managerial dynamics.

“Even though Presidential system is expensive to run, there is nothing wrong if we devise models that will suit our local peculiarities in view of our present financial predicament.

The nation cannot afford the luxury of sustaining a 72 per cent recurrent expenditure portfolio as against 28 per cent capital expenditure with our weak or near-absence infrastructural foundation.

“We can also begin the process of tinkering with our Constitution to provide for a unicameral legislature since the cost of running a bicameral Legislature has since become apparently unaffordable.

“Government’s anti-corruption crusade must be given teeth in such a transparent and accountable manner devoid of political witch- hunt, favouritism and executive interference. “Our anti-corruption crusade must have identifiable set goals with measured impact assessment so that the citizenry will buy into the program without let or hindrance. Once the crusade on anti-corruption is set on the right footing, it will go a long way to mitigate incidences of corruption and corrupt practices in both public and private sectors of our economy.

“I feel strongly that this new thinking should occupy the attention of President Goodluck Jonathan in his transformation agenda in his determination to make an impression in governance with a marked departure from old practices.”

ACN decries ‘sectionalisation’ of subsidy protests

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said the struggle for the reversal of the removal of petrol subsidy has no ethnic colouration.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party decried those reading ethnic meanings into the protests.

The statement reads:’’Imagine, for a moment, that this inflammatory and inciting statement had been made by a group other than the one from the Southsouth! Those behind such group would by now have been threatened with treason charges, that is if they have not yet been arrested.

Yet, this is the kind of rhetoric that these Southsouth groups have been ditching out since the fuel protests

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

started, and the Presidency has not deemed it necessary to distance itself from such dead-enders or to repudiate them. ‘’Suddenly, a President that was purportedly given a pan-Nigeria mandate only a few months back is now being made to look more and more like a Southsouth President, who must be ‘protected’ by his ‘supporters and kinsmen’ against failed politicians from the other regions, forgetting that the same President won the last election because of the support of the other regions that are now been demonized. ‘’Progressively but sadly, the Jonathan Presidency is being defined as a Southsouth Presidency by those who have failed to see that the mess

the country has been thrown into under his watch - over the fuel subsidy and the Boko Haram issues - is a fallout of a leadership that has lied to and cheated its people on the subsidy issue, and a presidency that has allowed the Boko Haram issue to fester for too long without a decisive and creative initiative to nip it in the bud.

“Simply put, Nigerians feel betrayed by this President by the way he has handled these issues, hence he has lost their trust and confidence.

This is neither a Southsouth Vs the rest of the regions issue, or the result of an incitement by imagined enemies.’’

The ACNsaid, in a democracy, the people are supreme and their voices and opinions must matter on every issue.

•An empty filling station on the Lagos/ Ibadan Express way ...yesterday

•Lagosians rushing to stock kerosene...yesterday

CNPP to labour: don’t sell your conscience

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HE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday advised labour leaders to be careful in reaching a compromise with the Federal Government over the removal of fuel subsidy.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, said: “Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) appreciates the dangerous slide of Nigeria into national paralysis and the imperative of returning Nigeria to normalcy hence the national consensus for organised Labour to negotiate with government in the overall interest of the survival of our fledgling democracy and our dear country; however, we appeal passionately to Labour to be extremely careful in reaching compromise with the Federal Government.

“We are making this appeal on the following grounds:- Labour must not sell out, mortgage our collective resolve nor kill the Nigerian spirit and momentum on display in the street. The issue of probe of the monumental corruption which in the first place led to fuel subsidy must be addressed jointly now; it cannot be left with government alone. Pass and sign the Petroleum Industry Bill into law.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the astronomical increase of fuel subsidy under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan from N622 billion in December 2010 to N1.4 trillion in December 2011 is questionable, fraudulent and indeed breach of the Constitution. It cannot be swept under the carpet as the regime intends.”

PH

terday

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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NEWS THE BIG PROTEST Lawmaker praises Nigerians From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

PHOTO: MOSES OMOTSEHIN

•Lagosians rushing to stock food stuff...yesterday

A MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa, has commended Nigerians for their stand on the agitation for the retention of N65 as the litre price of petrol.

Speaking with reporters in Osogbo, Osun State at the weekend, the lawmaker, representing the Ijesha South Federal Constituency, said majority of members of the House recognised the popular wish on the matter, despite undue pressure.

Describing deregulation in the downstream of the oil sector as a fraud, Famurewa said the protests are sending signals to those in government to tread softly and to take a cue from the recent experiences of Egypt, Libya and other Arab countries.

He said the Federal Government ought to have embarked on tangible projects to promote investments and the welfare of the people before introducing any subsidy removal policy.

He said:“President Goodluck Jonathan should listen to the people.

Oil subsidy removal can lead to agitation for increase in wages and salaries.”

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

PDP chieftain begs From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Chief Abiola Ogundokun, is begging Nigerians to see the long term benefits of the removal of fuel subsidy.

He said every patriotic Nigerian should be more concerned about the gains of the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry, rather than its immediate pains and discomfort.

In a statement, Ogundokun said President Goodluck Jonathan and his cabinet members have variously explained why it has become expedient more than ever before to apply the measure now.

He advised the opposition to stop politicising the issue in the overall interest of the nation.

Ogundokun said: “All our infrastructure are in a state of disrepair and to fix them and create a space for a friendly investment and rapid socio-economic development funds being expended on oil subsidy can now be used to fix these inadequacies. I think, patriotic Nigerians, rather that casting aspersion on the personality of Mr. President and shooting down his laudable policy in the name of politics, we should be along with his vision for this country.”

‘Fed Govt must back down’ •A busy NNPC Mega station in Lagos, where motorists queued to stock their vehicles with petrol...yesterday PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

ANPP insists Jonathan must revert to N65 per litre

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ATIONAL Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan must revert the pump price of petrol to N65.

Onu advised Jonathan to listen to Nigerians and shun those advising him wrongly.

The ANPP chief said: “Our dear country has shed so much blood and, in most cases, those involved are innocent people. Many of the problems confronting us as a nation are self inflicted. They can be avoided.

Nigeria does not deserve all these.

“The position of our great party, as it affects the removal of subsidy on petrol, is well known. As soon as this issue became public knowledge, our party made it known that we are opposed to an increase in the price

•Traders, artisans want end to strike From: Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

of petrol in the guise of deregulation. We are convinced that if the corruption and inefficiencies in the oil industry are eliminated, in addition to ensuring that we refine our crude oil locally that the true cost of petrol can be determined.

“We urge the Federal Government to go back to the original price of N65 per litre. The budget estimates for 2012, as presented by the President, is before the National Assembly. Our dear country should be a country of laws, where no one should be above the law of the land.

The National Assembly, while considering the Appropriation Bill for 2012, should be allowed to discuss

this, taking into consideration the views of both the executive and all Nigerians in the best interest of the nation. This will then form a part of the budget, as is done in all democracies. ” Association of Tradesmen and Artisans of Nigeria (ATAN) yesterday called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call off the nationwide strike which has crippled the economy.

At an emergency meeting of the executive members of ATAN and its off shoot Police Assistance Committee (PAC) held in Abuja, yesterday, the body cried out that thousands of their members nationwide have lost millions of Naira in the last one week

of the labour strike.

In a communiqué, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ATA/PAC, Mr. Isaiah Richard stated that the association as major stakeholders on security matters in the country cannot watch the country slide economically and security wise.

The body reminded the NLC and TUC that the Association of Tradesmen and Artisans are legitimate business people whose businesses are duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and should be allowed to operate without molestation.

They called on the NLC and TUC to shift ground and reach a compromise with the Federal Government and bring the strike to an end immediately in the interest of the suffering masses.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been advised to reverse the removal of petrol subsidy.

A House of Representatives member, Bimbo Daramola, who gave the counsel, said those advising the president to ignore the calls for the reversal of pump price of petrol as his enemies.

Daramola said: “Solution and truth is that we should remove any form of partisan inclination in the assessment of our current problem.

We must play down anything that seems to withdraw us from the people and reality.

“Everything that seems to segregate us from the Nigerian people must go down. All the walls we have erected, the walls of party, the walls of where I come from, the walls of choice, the walls of what I feel I have achieved and become.

“The tune has changed and to save the situation the political office holders must change with it.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

NEWS THE BIG PROTEST

Aregbesola advocates state control of resources O SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday called for state control of resources and true federalism as a solution to the crisis caused by fuel subsidy removal.

Aregbesola spoke at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, during the Eighth Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture.

Speaking on “Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Maladministration: Any Possibility of a Revolution?,” he said insecurity in the country has pushed Nigerians towards the precipice and petrol subsidy removal fuelled their anger.

The governor said the issues facing the country are beyond fuel price increase.

By Adebisi Onanuga

He said: “People were already agitated about the future of the country, considering the grim prospect of ethno-religious conflicts. The fuel subsidy palaver is small, compared to the greater issue of fiscal federalism.

“We have been fighting for political federalism, but this will be futile without fiscal federalism. The people must be given control over their own resources.

“The extraction, processing and marketing of petroleum resources should not have been the exclusive preserve of a behemoth Federal Government, which now gives a monthly

handout to other tiers of government.

“Same applies to taxation. Companies should pay tax to the government of the state where they operate. This should have been an incentive for states to engage in the economic development of their area.”

The governor noted that call s from some quarters for the Arab spring would not work because while Nigeria is a democratic nation, the Arab world is not.

He warned the military and their apologists against taking advantage of the current situation to stage a comeback.

“Democracy anywhere is an unfinished business. There is no problem emanating from democracy that de-

mocracy cannot fix. What we need therefore is more democracy. While the former is avoidable and can be fixed, the later is a common occurrence even in established democracies.”

The guest lecturer, Prof. Omotoye Olorode described the subsidy removal as “a comprehensive economic war against the masses.

Prof. Olorode accused the ruling class of forcing neo-liberal policies on Nigerians.

He denounced the economic policy of successive administrations to encourage self-employment, saying: “That we are going to build an economy where everybody would be self employed is an illussion. In

which modern society is everybody employing himself?

“So far, the government has only succeeded in spreading the illusion of market forces, entrepreneurship and privatisation among ordinary people.

“If the government does not want miscreants in the streets, it should take care of Nigerian children.

“Leaders and the rank and file of popular movements must intensify popular education, teaching the people and learning from them.

“All these must take place in the practical process of enhancing the audacity of the oppressed and our movement in the growing confrontation with the varieties of vultures.”

Amosun, Ajimobi, Aregbesola in Abuja

Ogun ACN cautions police

By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

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HREE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors were yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on their way to Abuja.

Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) left the airport aboard a Nigerian Air Force presidential aircraft at about 2:20pm.

The aircraft, marked 5NFGW, arrived the presidential wing of the airport at 2:06 pm.

The governors arrived at the airport an hour earlier and went into the inner lounge of the wing.

Amosun told reporters that they were on their way to Abuja to meet with the President on how to resolve the crisis between the government and Labour, as well as civil society groups.

Their Lagos State counterpart, Governor Babatunde Fashola, was also in Abuja.

Domestic airlines, at the weekend, operated across the country.

Ex-Lagos lawmaker dies A MEMBER of the Lagos State House of Assembly in the Second Republic, Chief Timothy Akojenu, is dead. He was 76.

Akojenu died on Nov. 29, last year. He represented Badagry Constituency from 1979 to 1983, during former Governor Lateef Jakande’s administration.

The late Akojenu was the pioneer chairman of Badagry West Local Council Development Area, from 2004 to 2008.

Burial arrangements would be announced by the family.

An Assistant Director, Directorate of Legislative Drafting, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Ms Sessi Akojenu, described the late lawmaker as “a politician of great repute, respected community leader and a philanthropist.”

•From left: Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim, Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Ola Ibrahim, Chief of Air Staff Air Vice-Marshal Mohammed Umar, Chief of Army Staff Major-General Azubuike Ihejirika and Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin during the Laying of Wreath at the Armed Forces Rembrance Day Celebration in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

Why Ondo NLC, TUC backed out of protests

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ORE facts emerged at the weekend on why the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade’ Union Congress (TUC) in Ondo State backed out of last Thursday’s and Friday’s protests.

Last Thursday, NLC State Chairman Mrs. Bosede Daramola announced that the union would no more participate in the protests, following what she called unfavourable security reports. She urged members to stay at home and observe the national strike.

But civil society groups, under the platform of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO), kicked against the NLC chairman’s directive.

They alleged that she was acting under the state government’s instruction.

State Co-ordinator of the Joint Action Fronts (JAF) Comrade Gani Mohammed said: “Since day one, we suspected that the NLC chairman may back out of the protests

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

because she had not been supportive. On the first day of the protest, we all agreed that the chairman of strategy, Dr. F. Songa, should lead the protest, but on getting to the protest venue, she hijacked that position until she was called to order.

“The chairman of the committee, who was not happy with her attitude, threatened to resign, but the quick intervention of some leaders, such as Dr. Femi Aborisade, Rev. Patrick Adebayo and Odili, prevented the chairman from resigning.

“During many of our meetings, she always excused herself, claiming that the governor was calling her. When we demanded to extend our protests to other parts of Akure, the state capital, she refused, claiming that we are faceless people and if there was any problem, the state govern-

ment would hold her responsible.

“Last Wednesday, Mrs. Daramola and the TUC chairman tried to stop the protests, claiming that some people were planning to hijack the protest.

“Odili and I contacted the leaders of the groups she claimed were planning to foment trouble, but they denied the allegation. NLC and TUC ordered their members to stay at home, but Odili and I continue with the protest, because we had already mobilised our people for that day’s protest.

“We know they are acting under instruction, but we will continue to storm the streets, until the Federal Government yields to our request.

“Due to Mrs. Daramola’s action, the state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Friday ordered his members to shun the protests. This led to a clash between pro-

testers and NURTW members.

Some members of the union attacked our protesters and destroyed a camera worth N150,000.”

Mrs. Daramola denied the allegations, saying: “We discovered that hoodlums were hiding under the guise of the protests to perpetrate evil. We learnt that some youths were forcefully extorting money from people. We could not continue the protests in such situation.”

She denied taking instruction from the state government and said the union would join future protests if President Goodluck Jonathan failed to revert fuel price to N65.

Mrs. Daramola said: “My people know the role I played during the struggle for the N18,000 minimum wage. I never bowed to the state government’s pressure; I stood behind the workers and ensured that the state government met our demand.”

Steer clear of Oyo, Ajimobi, ACN warn hoodlums

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has warned hoodlums to steer clear of the state.

He said anyone caught fomenting trouble would be dealt with.

Ajimobi spoke yesterday during an interview, shortly after the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Ibadan.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

He was reacting to the fuel subsidy removal protests, which have been taken over by hoodlums.

The governor said: “All the hoodlums, who hijacked the demonstration, will be dealt with. We will not allow thuggery in our state again. We know them and we will get them.”

He urged the people to remain calm.

Ajimobi commiserated with the families of the fallen heroes and called for the spirit of patriotism.

Also yesterday, the state chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) condemned the extortion of residents and destruction of government property by hoodlums.

In a statement, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, said: “The

protest, which was maturely staged by the labour union, was hijacked by hired agents of the opposition to unleash terror on the people and destroy public edifices.

“How can one justify the wanton destruction of public property that visited the peaceful protests against an anti-masses policy of the Federal Government?”

ACN praised Ajimobi and security agents, par-

ticularly the joint patrol team (Operation Burst), in curbing the excesses of the miscreants.

It said no amount of intimidation would stop the Ajimobi administration from providing good governance.

The party praised the determination of labour unions to press home their demands and urged the people to be law abiding.

THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ogun State has urged the police to be professional in the handling of the protests against fuel subsidy removal.

The party was reacting to reports of clashes between policemen and protesters across the state.

In a statement, ACN Publicity Secretary Mr. Sola Lawal said: “The manner this particular expression of resentment over fuel subsidy removal has been carried out across the state has largely been peaceful, making the loss of life in any form needless.

“If the protesters have thus employed uncommon decorum in most cases, it behoves the police to embrace world standard tactics in maintaining law and order.

“As a party rooted in the welfare and progress of the people, ACN stands on the side of the people. As elsewhere in the country, the masses of Ogun State have expressed their displeasure with the Federal Government’s policy and it is our responsibility as a party of the people to stand with the masses in their legitimate quest to make government accountable.”

Group urges elders to intervene THE Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum (YRLF) has urged elder statesmen to intervene in the crisis over petrol subsidy removal.

The group said it is making the call because the political class seems incapable of resolving the matter.

In a statement yesterday, YRLF General Secretary Mr. Akin Malaolu said: “Nigerians are confident that labour leaders have lived up to their yearnings, but same cannot be said of our National Assembly members, judging from their reluctance to enforce their adopted resolution on the subsidy removal.

"So far, labour leaders have conducted themselves well not to breach the National Assembly's resolution, while awaiting the Federal Government to revert to N65 per litre, apologise and compensate the families of Nigerians killed in the peaceful protests.

"We are calling on elders to intervene by calling the political class to order."

9

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

NEWS THE BIG PROTEST

BAYELSA 2012

Daudu, Agbakoba to Jonathan: you can’t fight the people and win T

HE President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu (SAN) and his predecessor, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) yesterday warned President Goodluck Jonathan on the consequences of his refusal to revert the price of petrol to N65 per litre.

While Daudu reminded the President that leader do not impose their wishes on the people in democracy, Agbakoba recalled that his predecessors, who dared the people ended up failing.

Agbakoba told the President that it was impossible for the government to fight its people and win.

Their observations are coming few days after former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) urged Jonathan to respect the resolution of the National Assembly and revert to N65 per litre.

Daudu and Agbakoba spoke with The Nation on telephone yesterday.

Daudu, who argued that democratic government is not made up of the president alone, urged the other arms of government to play their roles.

He said: “I think we are in a democracy. And if we are in a democracy, the President should listen to the voice of the people. But in the instant case, our president has refused

By John Austin Unachukwu and Eric Ikhilae

to listen to the voice of the people.

This may be either because he is being badly advised or that he has a hidden agenda.

“Nigerians have spoken loud and clear that they don’t want subsidy removal. This they did through massive protests from Calabar to Sokoto; from Lagos to Maiduguri. I expect that our president should find a more honourable way to reverse himself and respect the Nigerian people,” he said On the way forward, he said it was left for the National Assembly to determine the next way forward by taking on him (President Jonathan) Agbakoba said: “I am thoroughly flabbergasted that the President has decided not to respect the basic rule of democratic politics, which says that power belongs to the people and the will of the people must be respected by their leaders. If the people say no, you leave them. U can’t fight the people. It is not even your right to insist that your policy

‘If the people say no, you leave them. U can’t fight the people. It is not even your right to insist that your policy must be taken’ must be taken.

“That is why in America the President cannot take major policy decisions alone, not even with the congress, he will put it in a proposition and put it back to the people. If they say yes, it will be carried on and if they say no, that will be the end of it.

“There are two things Nigerian masses are very sensitive to. These are tenure elongation and removal of fuel subsidy. Gen Gowon tried tenure elongation in 1973 and was overthrown; Ibrahim Babangida tried it and was forced to step aside; Sani Abacha attempted it and died in the process, Obasanjo also tried it and failed.

“Everything that government did in removing the fuel subsidy was wrong. There are two things in-

volved: Policy and emotion. The policy involved is the removal of subsidy, while the emotion involved is the people’s belief that they have been hearing all the promises of improved infrastructure after subsidy removal for the past 40 years.

“This is the most massive people’s demonstration that Nigeria has witnessed outside the June 12 annulment. If we carry this demonstration till Wednesday this week, it means that the government and the people have dug-in and I can’t see how government will win the people.

“I find it difficult to understand why leaders act contrary to the will and aspirations of the people. This is called folly in political history.

In history there are two people who have acted this way, as stated in a book titled: “The march of folly”.

“They are Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who told the people of Israel that his little finger was thicker than his father’s loins, that while his father chastised them with whips, he would chastise them with scorpions.

“The other person was the Phillips of Macedonia, who be-

lieves that the king should not do anything. So, when he had malaria fever, they put water in the bucket and put him near the fire, to warm him up and possibly cure the malaria. When the water was getting hotter, he refused to get up and the fire consumed him.

On the lessons of the protest, Agbakoba said the final lesson is that this might be the beginning of the end of magisterial leadership in Nigeria.

He praised the NBA for its role in the protest, saying that in a democracy, power actually belongs to the people.

On the injunction granted by the National Industrial Court (NIC), Agbakoba cautioned against it being referred to as black market injunction, saying that injunction of court of competent jurisdiction, must be obeyed and complied with.

“In this case, labour said it has not been served with the injunction and upon the service of the injunction on labour, I expect them to go to court and vacate it.

“This labour can do by letting the court know that the protest is not solely organised by labour and is already in process. You know no court can grant injunction against an on-going process and the right of people to protest,” Agbakoba said.

Mark, Fed Govt team brainstorm on new proposal ENATE President David Mark and a team of Federal Government negotiators on the vexed issue of fuel subsidy removal met again yesterday to finalise a proposal on how to end the nationwide strike.

Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi told reporters after the meeting that took place at the Apo Legislative Quarters, home of Mark that they came to present to the Senate President the proposal to end the face-off between the government and organised labour.

He said: “Don’t forget that the convener of yesterday’s meeting (Mark) is here. The government delegation came to see him to present what we think is the way forward.”

Asked the nature of the proposal, he said, “If we wanted the world to know what it is and it is not a proposal we won’t have come to him, we would have called you (press) to address you.

“The fact that we came to him, is to say to him this is our proposal and then maybe he will look at it, call labour and say have a look at this.”

He insisted that Mark would invite organised labour based on the new proposal the government team presented to him.

On whether he was comfortable with the progress being made to resolve the logjam, he expressed optimist that solution would be found to the strike.

He added that they were at the verge of finding a solution.

Prodded to say exactly government thinking on the ongoing strike, he said: “Well, you must ask the President.

We have had a meeting and we have looked at the solution and we think that with labour, we can find a joint solution to the problem and you must realise first that Mr. President is patriotic in his decision and all of us in government are backing him.

S

•Members of the Eternal Sacred order of Cherubim and Seraphim praying for divine intervention during a procession in Umuahia, Abia State capital...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Govt is after me, says Bakare

T

HE Save Nigeria Group (SNG) convener, Pastor Tunde Bakare, said yesterday he has been receiving death threats.

He also declared that protests against the petrol price increase will continue at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos because of government’s refusal to revert the price of petrol to N65 per litre.

The SNG is the arrow–head at the Lagos protests at the park, which attracted thousands of people last week.

Bakare told the congregation at the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Ikeja that since government is adamant, Nigerians have no option than to intensify the demonstration against injustice.

The activist-cleric, who alleged that government is after his life, denied that SNG is being sponsored by politicians.

He vowed not to succumb to intimidation and blackmail.

“We are not motivated by another force than the belief

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

that this land must be free and Nigerians must enjoy, if we (SNG) are sponsored by any political force, you will not see such crowd at Ojota.

“I was reluctant to protest, we wanted to dialogue. We contacted those in the corridor of power. When the time comes I will name those I contacted to give the president a soft landing. We are not protesting the removal of subsidy only, but corruption, waste in government.”

He also accused the government of threatening his life and key members of the SNG. “In the past one week, there have been threats to my life.

My wife was called upon one night to tell me not to sleep at home, while arrangement was made for me to go into hiding, Yinka Odumakin also received an anonymous call saying don’t sleep at home this night but that night I slept in my bed room. It’s only the

wicked that flee when no man pursues but the righteous is as bold as lion.

“There were threats of death and arrest, the latest one this morning (yesterday) was a text message sent to me which reads: ‘you are the one motivating the labour not to accept government offer, we are coming after you, we are going to investigate your early years of legal practice’.”

Bakare, who spoke on the topic titled: Subsidy Made Easy (SME) faulted government claims that N1.3 trillion is spent annually on subsidising petroleum for Nigerians.

“Nigerians have been paying N65 per litre for fuel.

Therefore, cost borne by the consumers is N807 billion, consequently, the true cost of subsidy borne by the government is: N943 billion not N1.75 trillion He said the Federal Government cannot explain the difference between the amount actually disbursed for subsidy

and the cost borne by Nigerians (N1.56 trillion minus N943 billion = N617 billion).

He urged the citizens to hold the government accountable and demand “the prosecution of those bleeding our nation to death. Until this government downsizes, cuts down its profligacy and leads by example in modesty and moderation, the poor people of this country will not and must not subsidise the excesses of the oil sector fat cats and the immorality cum fiscal scandal of the self-centred and indulgent lifestyles of those in government.”

The Joint Action Front (JAF) also said mass action will resume today in form of street protests in all states.

JAF Secretary General Abiodun Aremu told reporters at the NLC House in Lagos yesterday: “We want to assure that there is no negotiation than reversal to N65, unless there is overnight reversal, the protest continues.”

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

“Labour agrees to deregulation. I don’t know if there is any point they are not part of deregulation. Their argument is how and when and we are sorting out all those fine details and we will find solution to it.”

Asked to be more specific, he retorted: “what is more specific than the fact that we are meeting and finding solutions to these problems and that before the end of today, tomorrow and all that…”

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke who was also part of the government team said there was no doubt that government wanted very speedy resolution in the best interest of all Nigerians.

Asked whether government is still open to dialogue, she said: “Of course, we shall all be open to dialogue. The most important thing is Nigerians and that we all come out of this doing the best for the country as a whole.”

The Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu also said that consultations on how to resolve the impasse are going on both sides “but there is no definite statement for now.”

Wogu added: “Since the people are talking, ultimately there might be a conclusion and once the conclusion is arrived at, people will know.”

Besides Amaechi, Wogu and Alison-Madueke, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Information Minister Labaran Maku, Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, Deputy Senate Leader Abdul Ningi, Speaker House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha attended the meeting.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

10

NEWS Man killed in Plateau village From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

A MAN in his thirties, Davou Dalyop, has been killed in Vwak village, Jwol District of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Riyom is one of Plateau’s four local governments under a State of Emergency imposed by President Goodluck Jonathan and endorsed by the Senate last week.

Chairman of the local government area, Wyclef Yusuf Wanson, confirmed the attack. He said the deceased was attacked at about 9pm in his house.

Wanson said: “It’s the second of such attacks since the New Year and the third since December, 2011.”

The Police could not confirm the killing.

Spokesman of the police command, Samuel Dabai, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told The Nation that the report was yet to reach the command’s headquarters.

Spokesperson of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises, Captain Charles Ekeocha said men of the task force have visited the scene but could not apprehend the killers.

Landlords eject police tenants From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

FOLLOWING the recent killing of a 25-year-old man, Anas Gambo Basambo, last week, some landlords in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, have begun ejecting policemen from their homes.

The police allegedly shot Masambo dead in front of a mosque during last week’s protest against fuel subsidy removal.

But the police have denied the allegation, saying the protest was hijacked by hoodlums.

A landlord in Madabo Street, where the slain Basambo lived, Alhaji Tijjani Usman told The Nation that the residents could not continue to live with their enemies (the police).

Xmas Day bombing: Police retrieve laptop, documents from Boko Haram suspect

B

ARELY 24 hours after the arrest of a Boko Haram suspect, Kabir Sokoto, alleged to be behind the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, the police have recovered a laptop and sensitive documents from him.

Also, the Police may collaborate with other international security agencies to trace the suspect’s link in London.

The suspected mastermind of Madalla bombing was arrested, alongside a serving military officer, on Saturday at Borno Governor’s Lodge

•May trace link to London From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

in Asokoro, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He had sought assistance on Friday from the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Lodge to sleep overnight before catching a flight to London on Monday morning.

But security agencies on his trail got wind of his presence at the Lodge and raided the place on Saturday.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the police have started investi-

gation into the activities of Sokoto and how he masterminded the Christmas Day bombing with others.

A police source said: “We have started probing the Boko Haram member and the military officer that was in his company as at the time of the arrest.

“The police investigators have recovered a laptop and some sensitive documents from the suspect.

“We are analysing information in the laptop and the documents. One curious area of investigation is about the

mission of the suspect to London. We are trying to find out whether he was going to meet some of the sponsors of Boko Haram or Al-Qaeda leaders.

“That is why we will collaborate with international security agencies to uncover his mission to London. The police are also on the trail of other suspected accomplices in the bombing of the church.”

There was tight security yesterday at the Ministry of Defence; Defence Headquarters; Army, Navy and Air Force; and Police Force

Gunmen kill two in Adamawa

Northern governors deny rumour of planned attack on Christians

T

HE Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has debunked a rumour that Muslims are planning to massacre Christians in the North.

It described the rumour as baseless and an evil imagination of some people who do not wish the country well.

Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu denied reports of alleged plan by Christians to bomb mosques in parts of the region.

He said such rumours do

not have any iota of truth.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Danladi Ndayebo, the governor urged Nigerians not to allow any group to hide under any ideology or religion to perpetrate evil.

He said the government would ensure that the nation surmounts the current security challenges.

On the civil disturbances arising from the protest against the removal of fuel subsidy in Minna, the state capital, Aliyu urged lawabiding residents to respect constituted authority.

The governor assured that the government would provide security for them and their property.

He appealed to the residents not to allow themselves to be used by miscreants who burn public and private property, block roads and extort money from innocent citizens.

Aliyu assured the residents that the current impasse would soon be resolved amicably in the interest of the nation.

He, however, warned those taking the law into their hands to desist, saying

From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

G

•Aliyu

anyone caught breaking the law would be arrested and prosecuted.

Appeal Court upholds Suntai’s election

T

HE Appeal Court, sitting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, has upheld the verdict of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which declared Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai winner of the April 26, 2011 election.

It struck out the two appeals, separately filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Senator

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

Danlami Ikenya, and his Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) counterpart, Ahmed Yusuf, for lack of merit.

Ikenya, through his lead counsel, Festus Idepefo, had told the tribunal that the governorship poll did not comply with the Electoral Act 2010 and the 2011 Election Guidelines issued by

the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He prayed the tribunal to nullify the election and arrange a fresh poll.

Through his counsel,Mr Sule Joseph Gani, Yusuf averred that there were irregularities at the polling units and at the collation centres in 10 of the 16 local government areas.

But the tribunal, led by

Headquarters Annex in Area 10, Abuja.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The government has decided not to take things for granted, that is why we have the tight security measures everywhere.

“All sensitive installations and offices are also under 24 hours surveillance, in spite of the five-day strike action.

We have adopted a preemptive approach to check the Boko Haram menace.

“The government is working round the clock to keep every part of the country safe for all.”

Justice Luka D. Abba, had on November 10, last year, ruled that “the petitioners failed to establish relevant evidence to prove their allegations”.

Ikenya and Yusuf appealed, saying the tribunal had ruled in error. But the Appeal Court, in a unanimous decision, affirmed the tribunal’s verdict, saying the litigants based their arguments on “hearsay”.

UNMEN, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, have killed two people in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

Police spokesman, Altine Daniel, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the incident occurred at a bar.

According to him, a policeman, who was also shot at the bar, was not on duty but was relaxing when the gunmen struck.

The police confirmed that a man, Mai Angwa, was also shot in another attack, adding that he is receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center in Yola.

The security situation in Adamawa State has worsened. Security agencies, comprising officers and men of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are battling to restore normalcy.

Bayelsa poll: PDP petitions INEC chair over exclusion of candidate

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has petitioned Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chair Prof Attahiru Jega over the exclusion of its candidate Henry Seriake Dickson from the list of those who will contest the governorship poll next month.

It accused INEC of taking extrajudicial decision without a judgment or court order.

In the petition by its Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the party said the Electoral Act does not empower INEC to exclude a candidate already accepted under Section 31(i) of the same Act. The party, in the petition dated January 13, asked INEC to review its decision and include Dickson in the list of candidates for the February poll.

It asked INEC to leave the court to determine those who should be the candidate of any political party.

The PDP alleged that INEC’s decision to exclude its candidate may affect its electoral fortunes in Bayelsa State .

Part of the petition reads in part: “We received with profound shock the widely publicized decision of

•Accuses INEC of bias, extra-judicial decision •Govt challenges party leadership over list From Yusuf All i, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

your commission to exclude our candidate, Henry Seriake Dickson, from the list of candidates to participate in the election coming up in February 2012.

“It is regrettable that the above prejudicial decision was taken by your commission without affording us the opportunity of a hearing in the matter.

“Our party is particularly taken aback that your commission volunteered this embarrassing extra-judicial decision without a judgment or court order to the effect.

“We are at a complete loss as to why your commission directed conduct of primary election, received/accepted the name of the candidate that emerged there from, published same in Bayelsa State and now turn full circle to exclude the same name without a prompting known to us.

“May we humbly remind you sir, that we know no provision in the

Electoral Act which empowers your commission to exclude a candidate already accepted under Section 31(i) of the Act. “In our humble opinion, the power to do so is vested exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

The PDP alleged that INEC’s decision to exclude its candidate may affect its electoral fortunes in Bayelsa State.

The party added: “We have no doubt that you appreciate the gravity of the damage your publicised decision to exclude our candidate is capable of doing and has actually done to our electoral fortunes in Bayelsa State.

“Such a pronouncement, coming from an umpire, which your commission is, without a court order, portends a grave danger to our party, as same is seen as a tactical campaign to the electorate and our massive supporters to seek an alternative. This is unacceptable!”

It demanded inclusion of its candidate in the list of those cleared for the governorship poll.

The state government last night challenged the party’s hierarchy to name INEC officials it has accused.

In a statement, Commissioner of Information, Strategy and Culture, Chief Nathan Egba, described the accusations by the PDP leadership as baffling. He said they should be investigated.

The Deacon James Dugo-led PDP in the state was reportedly quoted as saying that it was embarassing that the names of other parties’ governorship candidates have been published without the party’s candidate.

He called for a probe of the alleged suspicion of “collusion” between INEC officials and the state government on the issue.

Reacting to Dugo’s statement, Egba noted that though the position of the party’s chairman on the intraparty crisis was misplaced and bias, “the state government is baffled and amused at the insinuations made on alleged bribery of INEC officials over the released list of candidates.

“We are also baffled and amused

at the insinuations by Mr. Dugo that “some persons in INEC are colluding with officials of the Bayelsa State Government to carry out this sinister act. This is most unfortunate, given the grave nature of the accusations. For us, this weighty allegation should be taken very seriously.

“We, therefore, call on the party Chairman to come up with names and proof of his allegations, as it calls to question the reputation and characters of the Chairman and members of the INEC,” Egba said.

He added: “Since Mr. Dugo is so sure of his allegation against the Bayelsa State Government, we also join his call for a probe starting with him giving the names of those involved immediately. Having made such weighty allegations, we find it rather amusing his call to “the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Atahiru Jega, to speedily wade into this matter and immediately address these obvious lapses”.

“Which obvious lapses? We challenge him to be more specific and direct, most especially, as he has accused the respected Professor and his team of corruption. How can the INEC then investigate itself?” Egba said.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

S&P praises ECB crisis measures

E

UROPEAN leaders are divided and behind the curve in their response to the sovereign debt crisis while the European Central Bank is playing a “constructive role,” Standard & Poor’s said.

The policy response to the crisis “has not kept up” with the risks, Frankfurt-based Moritz Kraemer, S&P’s managing director of European sovereign ratings, said yesterday in a conference call.

A December 9 summit that agreed to pursue stricter budget limits via a fiscal pact, the main thrust of policy makers led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, was no “breakthrough.”

S&P analysts, outlining the decision announced late yesterday to downgrade the sovereign credit ratings of nine of the euro area’s 17 members, said that the challenges posed by the crisis are rising. “The risks in the euro zone remain firmly tilted to the downside” in S&P’s forecast horizon of one-to-two years, meaning more downgrades are possible, Kraemer said.

Europe’s leaders are struggling to keep the euro region intact as the debt crisis that emerged in Greece in late 2009 buffets Spain, Italy and France. Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are due to travel to Rome on January 20 for debt-crisis talks with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, even as the threat of the euro area’s first sovereign default rises with talks on a Greek debt swap stalled.

While policy makers have engaged in an “open and prolonged dispute” over the appropriate course of action, the ECB has been “using its flexibility” through its decisions to lower interest rates, aid banks and step up sovereign bond purchases, he said.

The goal of the National ICT policy is to provide a framework for streamlining the ICT sector and enhancing its ability to help address some socioeconomic and development challenges.

-Mrs Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communications Technology

How we sustained power stability, by CEO W T

Wall Street slips on Eurozone downgrades

HE management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), one of the 18 successor companies from the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has expressed satisfaction for being able to sustain stability in the transmission network despite increase in power generation.

TCN Chief Executive Officer, Akinwunmi Bada, explained how the company has been able to deliver power to all parts of the country, despite the considerable increase in the quantum of electricity generation.

The countrylast week achieved a record 4,420.3 megawatts (MW) generation, an increase of about 200mw from the 4242MW it attained last year and the transmission facilities were able to wheel it to various parts of the country.

In a statement issued at the weekend, Bada, an engineer, recalled that when 3,800MW was produced for the first time in Nigeria’s history in August 2010, “the entire system col-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

lapsed within minutes because the transmission infrastructure was too weak to wheel or evacuate this quantum of power.”

Bada said Nigeria now experiences system stability, unlike in the past when there used to be about four system failures every month. “Many of the historical problems we inherited on assumption of office in the middle of last year are being tackled by TCN General Managers, among others, who are now getting greater funds,” he noted.

The TCN chief observed that the addition of some 150MV power transformers to the national grid across the country “has massively increased the grid’s capability.”

He also said the TCN’s maintenance system has been bolstered by the creation of a tech-

nical services department comprising highly trained and efficient engineers and technical staff members.

He said: “This department, which is highly mobile, gives prompt advice to field maintenance personnel,” he added and praised the work of the “renewed monitoring and evaluation unit, which keeps all of us on our toes through the critical evaluation and analysis of our daily transmission reports.

“We all meet everyday at 9am to evaluate the reports of the previous day which we call the national broadcast.

Once there is a fault, we contact the general manager of the station in the part of the country where the fault occurred, and the monitoring and evaluation unit follows up swiftly to find out really what is on the ground.”

He also said more people

have been assigned to the critical 330KV lines, assuring that when the rainy season sets in later in the year, there would not be system failures arising out of trees falling on or touching transmission lines. “Not to be forgotten as a critical success factor is the frequency support received from power generating stations at Egbin, Ughelli and Kainji, which we call spinning reserve. Spinning reserve, which currently stands at 260MW, is to system stability what the shock absorber is to a car,” he added.

Bada noted that all these achievements would not have been made without the bold vision, dynamism and commitment of the Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, whose rich experience in the power sector as an entrepreneur, as well as a manager of men and materials is well recognised.

IFC plans $1b investments in Egypt, others

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

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES

Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $33.01b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

0.2958 206.9 242.1 156 1.9179 238 40.472

all Street stocks dropped at the weekend, snapping a four-day winning streak, after news reports that Standard & Poor’s would downgrade credit ratings on several euro-zone countries.

The ratings agency, according to Reuters News, was reportedly set to downgrade euro-zone countries, including France and Austria, but leave the ratings of Germany and the Netherlands unchanged. French Finance Minister Francois Baroin, said the country has been notified of a one-notch cut.

After the market’s close, S&P followed through with downgrades of France and Austria as well as seven other members of the 17-nation euro zone bloc.

“This is going to destabilize a lot of those funding packages because they are all based on the AAA rating, and now you are going to have AA+ for France and Austria, and maybe down two notches for Italy,” said Alan Valdes, director of floor operations for DME Securities in New York.

Friday’s slide came as investors’ focus shifted back to the euro zone’s debt crisis.

In recent days, the S&P 500 had reached five-month highs on the back of solid U.S. economic data. The tight relationship between US stocks and the euro has broken down in recent weeks, a sign investors have placed less emphasis on the euro zone’s woes.

The Friday sell-off shows Europe’s debt problems can still make US investors skittish. However, it is notable that the major US stock indexes finished well off the day’s lows.

• From Left: Group Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Funke Osibodu; Deputy Governor, Financial Systems Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu and Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo, during a briefing by the Bankers’ Committee at the end of their retreat in Calabar.

Activists urge CBN to release documents on alleged corruption A

Civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It urged him to “use your good offices to provide documents on the systemic corruption in the subsidy system to enable our organisation to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in order for suspected perpetrators of corruption in the system to be effectively brought to justice”.

In the petition dated January 15, 2012 and signed by SERAP Executive Director,

By Akinola Ajibade

Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “We welcome your recent publicly expressed position that those involved in the fuel subsidy scam to the detriment of millions of Nigerians should be arrested and prosecuted by the appropriate authorities.

“This request is made to obtain the necessary documents for us to swiftly send a petition to the EFCC to achieve the objectives, which you have articulated for many years, that is, to bring about the effective prosecution of suspected perpetrators of the subsidy scam.

“If the problems in the fuel subsidy system are not fully and urgently addressed and suspected perpetrators not prosecuted. This will continue to have a devastating effect on investment in the oil and gas sector while also discouraging the building of refineries, thus making Nigeria perpetual importer on petrol.”

The organisation also expressed concern “that while N250 billion was allocated for fuel ‘subsidy in 2011, by the end of October 2011, over N1.3 trillion had been spent. We have information to the effect that the subsidy claim rose to 1.5

trillion by December 2011.”

“Having found that no supplementary appropriation was submitted to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan, we would be grateful for information on who authorised the release of N1.26 trillion, which was paid by the CBN under your management,” the organisation said.

It added: “We agree with you that this raises serious suspicion of corruption in the fuel subsidy system. We believe that this situation is a major contributory factor for the situation of extreme poverty in the country, which in itself is a violation of human dignity, inhibiting the full and effective enjoyment of human rights.”

I

NTERNATIONAL Fi nance Corp., a unit of the World Bank, plans to invest close to $1 billion by the end of June in countries including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Libya, its regional director said yesterday.

“We’ve invested so far more than a billion dollar since July 2011 and plan to invest another billion,” Mouayed Makhlouf, regional director for IFC in the Middle East and North Africa, said on the sidelines of a conference in Dubai.

“We’re definitely starting to look at Libya, mainly financing trade,” Makhlouf added.

IFC, which invests in developing the private sector in emerging economies, is looking at sectors such as infrastructure, education, financial services and trade, he added.

The corporation had invested $2.2 billion in the MENA region since January last year, Makhlouf said, becoming an important conduit of capital for companies impacted by unrest in the Arab world last year.

12

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

13

ISSUES For long, the Federal Government seemed to relegate the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for national development. Now, things appear set to change with the unveiling of the National ICT Policy by the Ministry of Communications Technology. The policy sets targets for transforming the sector. ADLINE ATILI reports.

•ICT Policy Graph

ICT takes centre stage W

ITH globalisation, governments and people worldwide have started appreciating the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to stimulate growth and development in all economic spheres.

In the past, a nation's wealth was largely a function of its endowment of natural resources, labour force and accumulated capital base.

Now, the 'new' wealth of nations places emphasis on ICT in its various embodied forms. ICT allows information and knowledge to expand in quantity and accessibility. In many fields, there is the possibility of unprecedented new tools for development.

In such fields as agriculture, health, education, human resources and environmental management, the consequences could be revolutionary, in furthering sustainable

development.

The Ministry of Communications Technology has risen to the challenge of utilising ICT as a tool for national development.

Last week, it unveiled the draft national ICT policy document, a platform for the overall development of the industry and creation of a digital, knowledge-based economy.

Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said the policy document is the harmonisation of the disparate policies governing the ICT industry, adding that it will facilitate the creation of a digital, knowledge-based economy.

She said though there have been significant achievements in the telecom sector, the lack of industry convergence in the ICT industry has resulted in fragmentation and inefficiency in the management of resources.

Mrs Johnson said the reality of ICT convergence has not yet been reflected in Ni-

geria where the institutions that regulate and/or develop the ICT sector still function as distinct actors in the industry, without much coordination.

The goal of this policy, Mrs. Johnson, explained, is to provide a framework for streamlining the ICT sector and enhancing its ability to help address some socio-economic and developmental challenges, while facilitating the transformation of Nigeria into a knowledge based economy, adding that it will be used to develop action plans, sub-sectoral policies and specific implementation guidelines as appropriate.

Stakeholders in the ICT sector had for long canvassed the harmonisation of disparate ICT policies in the industry to fast-track the nation's development into a digital economy for sustainable development.

The harmonised policy, according to the minister, is expected to lay the foundation

for the overall development of the nation's ICT sector.

Safety and national security The former President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and Chairman of the Teledom Group, Emmanuel Ekuwem, ICT is meant to leverage national security operations.

Ekuwem, an expert in security technology, argued that the rising wave of insecurity may continue unabated if the government fails to put in place appropriate ICTbased technologies to enhance the automation of our national security operations.

He blamed the growing acts of insecurity in Nigeria, in part, on the slow pace of relevant government agencies to deploy ad-

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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ISSUES • Continued from page 13

vanced technologies that would enhance effective security surveillance, monitoring and policing across the nation.

He said: "Nigeria has a very robust ICT industry with enough experts to help the government devise water-tight security but one wonders why these relevant government agencies are not keen on taking advantage of the enormous power of ICT to leverage our national security operations as it is the case in the advanced countries of the world."

He maintained that other security breaches could be curbed if our security agencies would avail themselves of advanced ICT-based security technologies that are built to enhance intrusion sensing and detection, national identity data capture and management, biometrics data capture and storage, village-wide and city-wide surveillance for crime monitoring, detection and investigation.

Mrs Johnson said as part of measures to ensure ICTs are used for protection of lives and property as well as promotion of national security, the ministry will ensure the provision of ICT services for emergency and distress situations in all parts of the country and support international cooperation.

Software development & hardware production To the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Cleopas Angaye, robust software policy is an essential ingredient for Nigeria to effectively participate in the new global economy.

Angaye noted that ICT has been globally accepted as the major tool for sustainable socio-economic development in the global economy, adding that software development is the driver of this powerful tool.

He said the software industry is of utmost importance for future competitiveness of economies across the globe, especially with its halo effect in creating related business opportunities.

Angaye said there is need to develop a robust software policy for the country, with appropriate strategies to implement it.

He stressed that countries which have formulated robust software policies with appropriate implementation strategies are reaping the benefits that come with such laudable initiative.

He said: "As far back as 1986, India formulated a computer software policy for itself in recognition of the fact that the software industry would be one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy; provide high-quality employment for young people and significant revenue for the country through export of software.

"The value of software exported from that country today is about $20billion a year. In 2007 alone, India's software services industry employed about two million people and contributed about 4.8 per cent of India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Today, India exports software and services to nearly 95 countries across the world."

The NITDA boss regretted that the investments in software in the public and private sectors have been mostly on imported software.

"A recent disclosure by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) shows Nigeria losses about $1billion annually to software importation, whereas the

•Mrs Seriki

•Mrs Johnson

ICT takes centre stage Nigerian software industry is potentially a $6billion and can surpass the contributions from the oil industry, especially as software is not capital-intensive.

"There is an urgent need to develop appropriate policy to guide 'Software Nigeria' in order to diversify our economy from a mono economy mainly based on oil and explore the knowledge economy that can provide alternative source of revenue for the country," he submitted.

Corroborating, Mrs Johnson noted that the software sub-sector has received limited support from government and has generally faced the challenge of intense foreign competition.

She said there is need for the government to create an enabling environment to encourage private sector software innovation and development.

She said the ministry would ensure: indigenous software meet international standards; provide incentives and initiatives that will significantly increase the number software developers in the next few years; build a strong interface between the industry and academia for software development; promote collaboration among software developers, as well as development of open source software; promote international certification of indigenous software; encourage the creation of major software projects as a platform for indigenous software industry to acquire appropriate experience for global competitiveness, as well as promote the patronage of indigenous software products and services.

For hardware production, the ministry said it will promote the local design and manufacture of

‘

ICT hardware; establish appropriate standards for the production of efficient and cost effective solutions and significantly increase the number of Nigerians that own computers.

Broadband Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr Eugene Juwah, while making out a case for broadband Internet provisioning said: "The impact of broadband can only better be experienced. Very soon, relevant applications such as electronic payment, e-learning, e-government, e-agriculture, will ride on broadband to drive all of these processes.

"Even distance learning in universities and certain locations would require broadband for effective delivery, quality and at the required speed. Broadband will revolutionise data communications to drive business processes.

"So, it is going to be an opportunity for us to sell ourselves and also to say despite various challenges, look at where we are.

"We are not only talking about what has happened in the past; we are also looking at the future to say yes there are opportunities that stakeholders can tap into and have good returns on their investments."

With the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)'s strong directive to member countries to bring the benefits of broadband to the places where it is needed most and ensure affordability, too by 2015, broadband Internet provisioning is on top of the agenda of the Ministry of Communications Technology.

According to the Minister, over

70 per cent of Nigerians who reside in the rural areas do not have access to advanced ICT services, adding that some Nigerians who reside in urban areas are also either un-served or underserved.

She said broadband Internet access and proliferation of related facilities and applications are top priorities for the ministry in the drive to transform the nation's economy to knowledge-based.

In the Ministry's draft policy, it plans to accelerate the penetration of affordable broadband Internet and foster broadband usage for national development, through: promotion of policies that create incentives for broadband backbone and access network deployment; facilitation of broadband development and deployment, leveraging on existing universal service frameworks; provision of special incentives to operators to encourage them to increase their investment in broadband rollout and promotion of e-government and other e-services that would foster broadband usage.

Local content development Indigenous ICT manufacturers have for long been clamouring for policies to drive local content development in the industry. Such policies, according to them, should include 'zero import duty' on locally-manufactured products.

President of the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Mrs Florence Seriki lamented that the zero duty rate enjoyed by completely knocked down ICT products during former president Olusegun

The goal of this policy is to provide a framework for streamlining the ICT sector and enhancing its ability to help address some socio-economic challenges, while facilitating the transformation of Nigeria into a knowledge based economy

’

Obasanjo’s administration has been removed.

Mrs Seriki urged the government to put in place, right policies and conducive environment to promote growth of Small and Medium Enterprises, entrepreneurship and manufacturing in order to ensure the survival of businesses and penetration of Information Technology in the country.

She said: "Government must focus on developing manufacturers and SMEs as a major factor in creating employment and empowering our youths. The Asians declared local policies to promote local patronage and compelled all citizens and government parastatals to buy locally-made products. Several incentives were created to promote the locally-produced products.

"Hence, we want to work with the Federal Government and the ICT ministry in inaugurating a major country local patronage campaign championed by Mr President and mandating agencies to enforce this.

"Duty gaps between foreign and local personal computer and products are required to give incentive to locally made products; e.g. zero per cent for locally made products and 10 per cent on imported products. This was in force but now disregarded."

She noted that promoting local SMEs and manufacturing in the ICT sector would create employment for many youths, promote technology transfer, and enhance research and development prospects.

The ITAN boss, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Omatek Computers, said the move will also facilitate new technology knowhow, contribute to driving the economy and empower youths.

Mrs Johnson agreed that local content is underdeveloped in Nigeria. She said: "ICT local content (including software and hardware) is grossly underdeveloped in Nigeria.

"This has resulted in over-dependence on the foreign importation of software and hardware and diminished opportunity for capacity building in ICT content creation. In addition, there has been the related drain on Nigeria's foreign exchange.

In the ICT policy, the ministry plans to remedy this by: ensuring rapid indigenisation and domestication of high technology ICT products and services; production of various categories of ICT equipment and components to meet local and export demands; promotion of the development of the ICT sector as an integral part of the National Industrial Policy of Nigeria; encouraging the establishment and expansion of domestic capacity to produce hardware and software for the ICT sector, among others.

Lofty as these targets seem, there are fears from some quarters that the minister's efforts may be thwarted by the 'Nigerian factor.'

But the Managing Partner, TransitIT, an ICT consultancy firm, Femi Akinyemi, enjoined Nigerians to be optimistic.

He said lack of faith in leadership was one major factor policies fail. According to him, cynicism often beclouds our sense of reasoning and judgement, "this way, we often fail to see achievements but flawas and failure," he said.

President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, Mr Titi Omo-Ettu, on his part, promised to work with the minister for the actualisation of the goals.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

JOBS THE NATION

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

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

17

• Snacks food plant

The food industry is in search of specialists, who can develop new products for the market. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Wanted: Food scientists T

HE food subsector is an integral part of the manufacturing sector.

It contributes 10 per cent to manufacturing and provides direct employment to about 500,000 people and 800,000 others in related areas. But still, the sector needs more hands. In recent times, the industry has provided opportunities for those in search of a career.

There are openings for food scientists and technologists, who are expected to have first degrees. Though they perform different functions, they are needed to grow the industry.

According to experts, the industry is in need of food specialists to ensure

growth.

A don, Prof Dele Fapohunda, of the Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, said most companies are searching for qualified food scientists and technologists to foster growth.

He said they are needed to assist in the production and development of new products. He said the required workers must have good skills, and must be highly educated, preferably graduates with degrees in the sciences.

Fapohunda said the workers are required to ensure the safety of foods. He said there are concerns over food safety, which only

specialists can use their skills to douse.

He said scientists are expected to determine whether certain foods are fit for consumption or not, as well as certifying their nutritional values.

The don said scientists must examine the chemicals used in preparing certain foods to guarantee their safety.

Large multinational companies dominate the industry. They account for 40 per cent of the jobs in the industry. The companies include Nestle, Cadbury Nigeria and Flour Mills, which have a large workforce.

But, there is a misconception about the types of jobs in the industry.

Fapohunda said there is need to ascertain

the nature of food science and the opportunities available in the job market.

Universities, he said, must work closely with the industry to identify the kind of hands needed.

The President, Federation of African Nutrition Societies, Prof Tola Atinmo, said there is little awareness about the opportunities in the industry. He said opportunities abound in the scientific and commercial divisions of the industry.

Atinmo said academics and practitioners must work together to bring • Continued on page 18

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

JOBS

Wanted: Food scientists • Continued from page 17

young people into the industry, adding that the scientific division of the industry needs workers that specialise in developing new products.

He said the roles of food technologists include quality assurance, processing and product development.

Atino, who is of the Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, Ibadan, said the processed food industry is going to experience growth, adding that the government is planning to empower Nigerians on how to transform cash crops into high-value, highdemand food products.

He said there will be openings in production, storage, preservation, canning, packaging and distribution of food products, adding that the industry needs specialists who can work in these areas.

A senior lecturer, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Dr Kola Adebayo, said the agric food industry is a major employer of labour. Adebayo said the industry has created jobs for farmers, food processors, equipment manufacturers, specialists and local food sellers.

He said: “The food industry encompasses a gamut of activities involved in bringing the final product to the consumer, starting with farming to produce input, processing the input and the supply chain involved in delivering the products.

“The industry has lots of opportunities, all the way from manual

• Prof Fapohunda

• Prof Atinmo

• Dr Adebayo

labour to the highest tech- processing,” he said.

Adebayo said positive developments in the food processing sector led to the demand for specific skills. At each level in the value chain, there are deficiencies in technical know how and support.

According to him, there is high demand for skilled workers in the industry.

Central to the recruitment challenge, is the difficulty in convincing young people to pick up jobs in the industry. Young people are not coming into the industry because of poor pay.

The system, he explained, has the potential of creating thou-

sands of jobs.

For example, young Nigerians could sell food products directly to a retail institution in a consolidated food system.

He said there are schemes to provide employment for youths.

At the lower level, restaurants are the source of most jobs in the industry. Many of restaurant managers appear to be taking the low road, creating a predominantly low-wage industry in which violation of employment and health and safety laws is allowed.

The Chief Executive Officer, Bio-Organics Nutrient Systems Limited, Dr Ken Acholonu, said

biofortification has changed the landscape for operators in the sector.

He said industry is aware that micronutrient fortification of staple foods can improve nutrition and health on a broad scale.

Food, he said, is fortified with vitamins and minerals to improve its nutrient value.

He said his company has been building expertise to assist others involved in new product development, working extensively in chilled foods, snacks, ready meals and long-life products.

Adhering to international standards is fundamental to every

‘Large multinational companies dominate the industry. They account for 40 per cent of the jobs in the industry. The companies include Nestle, Cadbury Nigeria and Flour Mills, which have a large workforce’

food producer, no matter the size, or location, he said. With the support of the food industry, he said his organisation has been able to provide technical assistance in food fortification to individual industries.

The company has been urged to assess the fortification capacity of millers, and to provide technical support to encourage the industry’s participation in the fortification initiative.

He said he has employed indigenous specialists, capable of implementing basic technologies appropriate for fortifying foods to international standards.

They focus on improving nutritional value by using new ingredients and new processes, he said.

He added that the general impact includes improved nutritional adequacy of locally produced fortified foods and delivery of fresher products.

He said the company has developed considerable ‘expertise in food fortification strategies and technologies.

Because of expertise, Bio-Organics is involved in conducting experiments, producing sample products and well as designing the processes and machinery for making products with a consistent flavour, colour and texture in large quantities,” he said, adding: “Operators in the industry are facing challenges of expansion. These include reduced corporate budgets, training cuts, rising ingredients prices and consumption trends for healthier products. In the last five years, a dramatic jump in food commodity prices has had an impact on the industry, since some manufacturers use grains and vegetable oil as inputs to many products.”

Acholonu said food manufacturers are in need of scientists that can bring their wealth of experience to bear on the industry, and also ensure that people get value for their money.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

10 home-truths about job hunting T

HE year 2011, with its upheavals is ended. So if you have been in the employment market throughout the year or even before, you will probably be concerned by now by your situation. And 2012 has taken a life of its own. You are probably strategising about this year. The starting point is, why are you still unemployed? I don’t know. Sure, you are the one to find the answers, mine is to ask questions, assist and encourage you. In this article some subsequent ones, I will try and help you to a new and fruitful start in 2012.

Our employment status is crucial and important to our. Why? Most of us start work in the early 30s and retirement often occurs in the mid –60s. This implies that we spend at work • 60 per cent of our lifetime, • 80 per cent of our adult life.

It will then be obvious that we need to get not just a job, but also a job of our choice. We need a job that will give us the greatest quality of work life, one that gives us the fullest opportunity for maximum expression of our needs, interest and values.

Why do we work?

By Olu Oyeniran

Most us will give the most obvious answer: to meet our financial needs. But even a casual reflection will reveal that possession of a job goes with benefits far much more than the getting of income. Job holders may acquire, along with the job: • a purpose in life, or additional purpose(s); • a role and an identity; • personal satisfaction and esteem; • status, and a basis for further status; • influence and power; • public recognition and respect.

Take away the above from a person, and then you have an idea of what the unemployed is missing and feeling. The unemployed is poor, feels loss of control over his/her life and faces social pressure (some unintended). He feels frustrated, angry and has low esteem.

On the other hand, sudden loss of job disrupts family and social life, leads to loss of income and identity. The resultant change results in emotional turmoil, given the magnitude and scope of change. At another level, many are not happy with their jobs-and are passively or actively looking for opportunity for job/career change.

They all are really in the job market. The frank unemployment statistics (or better still, estimates) are not cheering: nine millions Nigerians are unemployed - 25 per cent or about 2.2 million are University/Polytechnics graduates.

Annually, out of about 250,000 graduates who are produced from such higher institutions, only about 10 per cent obtain employment within one year post-NYSC. These were estimates made two years ago. I don’t think things are better now. In all, it may well be true that over 15 millions Nigerians are in the job market-looking for job, a better job or a new career.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that the Nigeria job market is tough. The hard reality is that it requires more than extensive cognate experience and academic excellence to obtain a good job in the job market. The question then is, at the personal level, is there anything you can do to get and stay ahead. Yes, you need to acquire job search skills. It is that simple. Buying an exquisite car will not give you the pleasure and pride of driving it, except you know how to drive.

In the same way, the majority of us will only enjoy the fruit of our formal education and training only through paid employment.

It is, therefore, ironic that few possess the requisite skills for effective job search. That is home truth No1: few of us possess adequate job search skills.

Let’s look at the hiring process, from the point of view of the employer. It is a good strategy of war to have good understanding of the ways of your enemy. The hiring process consists of essentially three stages Recruitment, Selection and Placement.

Recruitment is the set of activities a firm uses to attract job candidates who have the abilities, knowledge and skills required for occupiers of the job position to help the firm achieve its objectives. The process involves: (a) Job analysis; (b) Job description; (c) Man (personnel)-specification; and (d) Attracting candidates (providing information through the relevant media/means to job candidates to generate a pool of interested ones).

Home truth No 2: Most candidates failed even before the start - they do not get to know about job openings. They are not looking at the right places or they are looking in wrong

places.

Selection is the process of choosing the specific candidates for the job. It entails gathering sufficient information about the potential candidates for evaluation.

The sequence may be as follows: (i) Preliminary screening; (ii) Completion of Application Blank; (iii) Selection; (iv) Interview (interaction and exchange of information between the employer and job seeker); (v) Decision to; and (vi) Job offer (contacting and informing successful candidate about the decision of the employer to hire him and the terms of such employment).

Are you positioned to cross these hurdles? See you next Monday. Do have a blessed week.

Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates.

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

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Dangerous tension with Iran

N2N bazaar •Neighbour 2 Neighbour campaigns: whose neighbour, whose money?

A

CERTAIN phantom known as N2N (Neighbour 2 Neighbour) came upon Nigeria like a plague late in 2010 and since then, it has been spending money as if it were water in the ocean. And being a peculiarly Nigerian phenomenon, a country where we have seen unsettling paradoxes become the norm, no one is asking questions about this new money machine in town. Is it a mint, a money factory? Where is all the money being spent with so much recklessness by N2N coming from?

N2N came to limelight IN 2010 prelude to the last general elections when it suddenly emerged as the hub of the Jonathan/ Sambo Presidential Campaign team.

Headed by one Mrs Stella Oduah (currently aviation minister), the body was apparently, the special utility agency through which the Jonathan campaign funds were warehoused and disbursed.

During the tempestuous run-up to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential election primary and the election proper, the Jonathan-Sambo team through N2N, occupied nearly the entire media space – from billboards to electronic and

‘Citing only the example of the print media, N2N seemed to have adopted a very expensive strategy of blocking the front pages of all newspapers in the land with adverts, ostensibly to shield from public glare, the stories and particularly pictures of the mass compliance with the strike action called by Labour and civil society groups ...

N2N must have spent millions daily on this corrupt and corrupting propaganda’

print media – churning out adverts and commercials at a volume not known in Nigeria’s election history. The quantum and rapidity of placement suggested that money was not the issue but how to spend it.

Most of the adverts and commercials had the imprimatur of N2N. It was like a money tree, a queer innovation that cleverly defied the rules about election spending without seeming to do so. Whereas the Electoral Act specified the funding and spending limits for candidates in an election, N2N became an amorphous entity and conduit through which campaign funds of President Jonathan were being copiously channelled, without seeming to break the rules. Thus N2N, an agglomeration of friends and associates of the President was spending voraciously on behalf of the presidential team, while the presidential campaign was quiet and lowkeyed.

Expectedly, the Jonathan-Sambo team won the April 2011 presidential election and we thought it would be goodbye to a profligate agency of a dubious origin. But no, N2N has chosen to live with Nigeria the way her corruption has become endemic. At every turn, N2N would assail Nigerians with a mish-mash of information laced with Federal Government propaganda. When the Jonathan administration was hundred days in office, N2N unleashed a series of so-called achievements that were largely intentions and intangibles. Apart from the improbable content, one wondered whether N2N had supplanted the Federal Ministry of Information and the presidential media aides as the chief purveyor of such government information.

That too passed unchallenged. Now, in the ongoing fuel subsidy saga, N2N has once again reared its - shall we now be at liberty to call it - ugly head? Again, this

strange animal is all over the media leading the Federal Government propaganda war and spending money in its usual the devil-may- care manner. Citing only the example of the print media, N2N seemed to have adopted a very expensive strategy of blocking the front pages of all newspapers in the land with adverts, ostensibly to shield from public glare, the stories and particularly pictures of the mass compliance with the strike action called by Labour and civil society groups. Apart from the newspapers that will not take the toxic cover advert (called wraparound), from Monday January 9, 2012 when the action started, N2N must have spent millions daily on this corrupt and corrupting propaganda.

We do not wish to dwell on the quality and merit of N2N’s messages on the fuel subsidy matter. We are used to seeing the Federal Government lapse into cheap, nauseating propaganda and consciencemauling when it is desperate to deceive the people. We are used to seeing the State television shamelessly say and show the direct opposite of what the people are saying and doing at moments like this. We witnessed it during the reign of General Ibrahim Babangida, as he tried to perpetuate himself in power and when he tried to extirpate the June 12 election matter.

General Sani Abacha as head of state adopted ruinous propaganda when he tried to transmute to a life president. It was President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime that had the honour of introducing the wraparound to our newspapers, seeking to dull their conscience in his bid to twist the constitution and grab a third term in office.

While we take solace in the fact that all the above-mentioned examples never worked, we urge the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to look into the tax papers of N2N while the anti-graft agencies should move to find out whose money N2N is spending.

PHCN, going, going...

•It is gladdening that significant progress is being made in its privatisation process

N

OTWITHSTANDING the failure and controversies that characterised the aborted and privatisation bids of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in the recent past, the imminent liquidation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by the Federal Government offers a glimmer of hope out of the power conundrum.

By the proclamation of the final liquidation of the PHCN by the Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, what began as a process of unbundling the national power behemoth into smaller but privately-owned companies, following the stepped-up implementation of the Electricity Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act of 2005 seems finally consummated. Understandably, the journey to the liquidation of the PHCN could not have been easy. Not only was the initiative and the suggested changes that the Olusegun Obasanjo government’s privatisation policy encapsulate resisted, and brutally so by organised labour, the process itself acquired a life of its own, and therefore propped up latent challenges that left the handlers groping in the dark, without credible antecedents to borrow from, or use as guide in navigating the troubled waters of privatisation. It is heartwarming, and therefore, commendable; that in spite of all these challenges, the Federal Government has soldiered on.

However, now that the PHCN is gradually ceasing to be a corporate legal entity, how does it profit the average Nigerian? It is

rather unfortunate that it has taken more than five years for the task to privatise the Federal Government’s equities in the PHCN to come to fruition. Within these years, all other conceivable things were achieved except the much coveted improved power supply. This explains, perhaps in part, why many Nigerians were not so excited at the news of the imminent liquidation of the PHCN. The point is that the average Nigerian expects a visible and remarkable improvement in the power supply profile of the emerging 18 power companies, akin to the kind of improvement experienced in the telecommunications sector; post-privatisation. Anything short of this will amount to shadow chasing, and a flagrant waste of tax-payers’ money, which will be very unfortunate.

Prof Nnaji will do well to further educate Nigerians on the functional expectations and relevance of these emerging power companies. This may entail specific mode of activities and their access points, so as to afford Nigerians the opportunity of availing themselves of the services of the new companies. Do the companies have presence?

While we identify with the lofty policy and drive of the government, we hasten to warn that the much-longed-for Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) in the power sector may remain elusive if the idea of overcentralisation/integration of power supply is not discarded forthwith. The idea of the national grid is becoming increasingly ob-

solete. Indeed, energy generation and power supply in every society is need-based and is driven by cost affordability.

Furthermore, the minister’s vague statement on the welfare of staff is a bit unsettling. No one will support payment of salaries to redundant staff; but the question left unanswered by the minister is, who made the workers redundant? We do not wish to witness another long list of litigations relating to staff/personnel management issues.

The least the BPE could do is to help absorb those with relevant skills that could still be retrained and ensure that those retired get their benefits as they are handed letters terminating their appointments.

‘However, now that the PHCN is gradually ceasing to be a corporate legal entity, how does it profit the average Nigerian? It is rather unfortunate that it has taken more than five years for the task to privatise the Federal Government’s equities in the PHCN to come to fruition.

Within these years, all other conceivable things were achieved except the much coveted improved power supply’.

W

ITH tensions rising over Iran’s nuclear program, the Obama administration has now warned the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that Iran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz would provoke an American response. Earlier this week, international monitors confirmed that Iran has begun enriching uranium at a new underground plant. The United States and Europe are tightening sanctions to choke off Iranian oil revenues. On Wednesday, an Iranian nuclear scientist died in a bomb attack en route to work, and a government newspaper signaled that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps might retaliate.

Many officials, experts and commentators increasingly expect some kind of military confrontation. No one should want to see Iran, with its contempt for international law, acquire a nuclear weapon. But a military strike on the nuclear facilities would be a disaster.

We don’t know whether any mix of sanctions and inducements could persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. There is another option besides force: negotiations with the United States and other major powers over curbing Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for ending sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Iran’s fractured leadership so far has not committed to serious talks, but President Obama and his allies have not paid enough attention to that alternative.

The United Nations Security Council demanded that Iran stop enriching uranium more than five years ago. Iran claims it only wants access to nuclear technology for electricity and other peaceful purposes.

But that excuse is hollow. The major powers have said that power generation would be guaranteed if Iran abandons its weapons ambitions. Instead, Iran is still enriching uranium and mastering other technologies that would allow it to build a nuclear weapon.

According to the latest report from United Nations inspectors, Iran has created computer models of nuclear explosions, conducted experiments on nuclear triggers and completed advanced research on a warhead that could be delivered by a medium-range missile.

An accelerating covert campaign of assassinations, bombings, cyberattacks and defections — carried out mainly by Israel, according to The Times — is slowing the program, but whether that is enough is unclear.

Economic pressure could be more effective if the United Nations Security Council ratcheted up its existing sanctions. A new round has been delayed by opposition from Russia and China. The United States and Europe have been imposing their own penalties, and Tehran’s recent threat to shut the Strait of Hormuz, gateway to one-fifth of the world’s oil trade, is an obvious sign of its growing economic desperation.

A new United States law that would penalize foreign companies that do business with Iran’s central bank — which they must do to buy Iranian oil — and an oil embargo that European Union foreign ministers plan to approve on Jan. 23 could have an even bigger impact. The Obama administration and European officials seem likely to phase in these sanctions in a way that limits the damage to the world economy. On Thursday, Japan pledged to buy less Iranian oil, China and South Korea were looking for alternative suppliers, and India’s intent was unclear. Tehran is more likely to respond if all the major importers apply pressure together.

The Americans and Europeans are working with Turkey to set up a new round of negotiations with Iran in Istanbul. The Iranians need to know that the economic pressure will not let up until they stop the nuclear program.

New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

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

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

20

9EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: The crises that have rocked the nation as a direct consequence of fuel subsidy removal have underscored the importance of mutual responsibility between the government and the citizenry. The crises also highlighted a simple truth: trust cannot be artificially created by the government which has persistently misplaced priorities. The hard-line towed by the government at least till now has not achieved any result but has further plunged the country into economic woes. The loses are still mounting and would definitely hit the government the more.

The President’s hard line views on the subsidy removal have made him more unpopular and his rating has fallen below approval suggesting that he is not totally in charge of the economy. His easyto-fault proposal takes much away not only from his government but also his personal leadership quality which has severally been described as feeble and unassertive.

The current crises could have been well avoided if the president was in touch with the people and had counted in advance the costs of driving people into the streets. It becomes more dangerous, at a time, when many Nigerians are quite vulnerable and only waiting for a common cause to express their grievances. The timing, a period, when most university students were out of school as a result of government’s irresponsibility that forced ASUU to embark on nationwide strike.

The president’s initial approach that ‘nothing will happen’ and his subsequent broadcast in which he offered to reduce the pay perks of elected and appointed public officers was a big indictment and confirms people’s belief that the bane of Nigeria’s development is the amount of money that goes into salaries and allowances of political class.

It is clear from his broadcast that big men and women in the political circles draw big salaries not for working hard but because they are cementing their financial status in case they leave government. It is

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Subsidy: putting the cart ahead of the horse little wonder then that the executive and the National Assembly have come under fire for their contributions to keep the economic growth subdued. Many of Jonathan’s policies have been criticized for exacerbating the bad economic conditions rather than improving the fortunes of common men and women who work hard to sustain their livelihood. The chaos caused by this unpopular policy is one of the ways of how not to run a country in a democratic setting.

President Jonathan is surrounded by mischievous advisers who have identified the real problem in the past but failed to effect a change.

How can we forget the likes of Sanusi Lamido and Ngozi Okonjo-

S

IR: I was at an Oando filling station along Idimu-Ikotun Road at on Sunday, 8 January to fill my tank. I asked the attendant to fill my tank at the end of which the metre showed that 53 litres had been put into the car, a 1997 Nissan Primera. Now, the tank has a capacity of 50 litres and at the time I arrived at the filling station, there must still have been five litres in the tank. It’s when the fuel is below five litres that the critical low fuel indicator lights up.

How can 53 litres go into a container that can hold only 50 litres?

And the container was not totally empty when I drove into the petrol station.

The attendant had no sensible explanation other than to advise that I should calibrate my tank. You can only laugh at the excuse. The pump had definitely been tampered with. This is a clear case of systematic fraud which must be costing unsuspecting consumers of millions of naira annually. And

lweala who had at different fora blamed the size of government for the country’s economic woes? The thinking of an average Nigeria is that government should cut down the number of ministries, offices and parastatals that have no direct bearing with government’s economic vision. D The president could have been more tactical, persuasive and cautious in the way deregulation was being introduced. Government at all tiers should be seen to have done much in the areas of basic infrastructural amenities such as access to drinking water and well funded primary and secondary education. If these were made available and the government cried to town

that she wanted to divest fuels subsidy into service delivery, many Nigeria would accept and comply.

But a situation where a few persons woke up in a morning and foisted anti people policy on the nation will be resisted at all times. Should President Jonathan decide to re-introduce subsidy removal in the nearest future, he should map out an acceptable strategy that will be met with minimal and controllable resistance. He should learn that no matter how exalted an office is, its legitimacy and authority is derived from social solidarity and mutual identification between the government and the people.

•Tola Osunnuga, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State

Cheating at fuel stations most people won’t notice the fraud because they don’t usually fill their tanks.

I narrate another example of corporate fleece of the Nigerian consumers. I loaded 1,200 naira on my MTN card so that I could spend 500 naira of it to buy the 24-hour internet bundle on January 8. I clicked on the MTN Fastlink icon and clicked on connect and sought to buy the 24-hour bundle which costs 500 naira only to receive a text message from MTN that I didn’t have enough credit on my SIM to carry out the purchase.

I removed the SIM from the surf stick and checked my balance with my phone only to discover that I had nothing left. Because I wanted to send an urgent email, I rushed out to buy 400 and 100 naira cards which I loaded again and followed the same procedure. Again, the 500 naira got lost. I called a friend to

narrate my ordeal to him and he explained that I shouldn’t have clicked on “Connect” before buying the bundles. And because I did just that was the reason why I lost 1,700 naira. What a flimsy excuse to cheat consumers?

These acts of cheating further impoverish Nigerians and make life more difficult for them. The regulatory bodies and especially consumers must rise to defend the value of the money they spend.

And that is exactly the reason why we need effective consumer rights groups to carry out independent checks on the integrity of consumer transactions.

I hope that after the battle for the reversal of subsidy withdrawal had been won, consumers would rise again to fight cheating at the petrol stations.

•Akeem Adekola Adebayo Alimosho, Lagos State

Revolution, not a picnic

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IR: I left Akure Ondo State on Tuesday January 10 at 5am with the hope of getting to Ibadan at 7am or thereabouts. I guessed right that the fuel protests may be hijacked by hoodlums manifesting wider resentment against constituted authority at all level. Unfortunately by the time I got to Ikire, in Oyo State, the hoodlums had woken up and blocked the way and already set fire to the bush on both sides of the road as well as setting bonfires in the middle of the road. My driver and I were terrified, to say the least.

My driver drove as if he wanted us to die with our assailants. My pleading with him to stop fell on deaf ears. We managed to avoid hitting people but soon afterwards we ran into another threatening mob. I had to offer money for my life and I continued to do this hoping that by the time we get to Ibadan, there will be police to help us. I was mistaken. When we got to Ibadan approaching Iwo road, the roads were on fire and somebody smashed into my car.

I paid thousands of Naira to the leaders of the mob who offered to escort me to Radio Oyo from where I escaped to Ashi and found my way to my house in Bodija where I was marooned for four days eating yams which is the only food in the house because I don’t live permanently in Ibadan.

Those calling for revolution will be surprised to be caught in it when their wishes are fulfilled; what is in their minds is quite different from what the lumpen proletariat and the campesinos will do to us. This is the time to pray for this country that God will make away for us where there seems to be no way.

•Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, Ibadan.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

EDITORIAL/OPINION

“Kill corruption, not Nigerians”

C I

NDEED, power belongs to the people. The past week was a hectic one for Nigeria. The nation was shut down in the confrontation between the people and the government over New Year’s Day’s sudden withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, which raised petrol price up from N65 to between N138 and N200 per litre.

Movement became largely restricted, airports and seaports shut and businesses paralysed in all the participating places.

Rally centres in several major cities were livened up in a way hardly witnessed in the country before. It was a people’s peaceful response to a harsh official decision in a collaborative way that surpasses all calculations and computations.

Talk of disparaging a president, the downing of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan could only match the ebb of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha’s despotic juntas. His hitherto inspiring name was creatively twisted derogatively. Google “the most cursed president on facebook”, the posted name of our leader would flush out. His uncaring and impassive dumbness to the desire of the people on the issue of fuel subsidy made his fans of a year ago to turn against him. By the middle of last week, about 678,829 of them were raining unprintable curses on him. Let it be said that while I align with the people’s desire for meaningful living, whoever is the leader do not deserve to be cursed. Rather, he should be prayed for. God can turn a heart of stone to that of flesh.

This is a most unfortunate development in a nation where God reigns and the leadership needs Divine touch. What is it that Nigeria is lacking? God has provided every vital thing needed to be a great nation at the top. But why are the potentials not manifesting, leaving the masses wallowing in penury in the midst of plenty? As this column has repeatedly asserted before, inspite of his name Goodluck, Ebele Jonathan did not become the president of Nigeria by luck or by accident. He must have been enthroned as part of the plan of God for the nation. His defiance to the people’s will and the resultant people’s resistance the way it has been might also just be the path to bring forth genuine transformation to a nation that has for 51 years been in the wilderness journey to the ordained land of promise.

Yes, the people have the right to seek the best for their lives.

But it is only when there is God’s support that an oppressed people can be guaranteed of their liberty to enjoy the available favour in the land filled with stains. Beyond the curses and abuses on the placards, one catchphrase however struck me and makes sense at the campaign rallies. It is the one on shirts

T

HE mass protest all over the country arising from the fuel subsidy imbroglio is gaining increased momentum by the day – and with very good reasons, too! The government is unwilling to back down from the current high price regime for petrol at N140 per litre, an increase of 120%. President Jonathan is making a big mistake because he thinks going back to N65 per litre is a sign of weakness; instead it will be an act of courage and a path of honour.

Lives of innocent and defenseless citizens have been cut short by trigger-happy policemen who should understand the psychology of the moment. As at the last count, over 10 deaths have been recorded during the mass protest. You can imagine the anguish and pain of the families who have to put up with these unbearable losses.

Why is it so difficult to listen to the voice of reason? The President and his advisers cannot be the only ones who are right on this score.

Indeed, the President should be very pragmatic in handling this matter because he has promised to always act in the best interest of Nigerians.

We have travelled this road before, and I find it very strange that we did not learn any lessons. Acts of intimidation or bullying tactics will serve no useful purpose at this time. You do not give something with the right hand and take it away with the left hand. When President Jonathan campaigned last year to be elected, he asked for the mandate of Nigerians which was freely given to him, but the same people are now saying increasing the pump price of petrol by as much as 120% is one mistake too many and he should listen to them.

‘It does not require rocket science to make these things happen in Nigeria. However, what is usually missing is the sincerity of purpose, political will and the commitment to make a difference’

saying: “Kill corruption, not Nigerians.” There is hardly any honest citizen who would contend with the reality of the setback corruption has heaped on the nation. It is one of the foundations of today’s distress. The commonwealth is stolen and stocked in the pockets of the few privilegedly positioned.

The masses are abandoned to labour and sweat in vain, denied of partaking in the good of the land. And the word of God specifically affirms sin as a reproach to any people that would not imbibe righteousness to exalt their nation.

The Federal Government has been insisting that it is the sustenance of the subsidy on fuel calculated by its own men to the unaudited tune of N1.3trillion that would ruin the nation’s economy. It hardly matters the greater amounts that are daily embezzled from the public coffers. The government would only be contented laying the blame of subsidy on identified corrupt cartel without doing anything to sanction the fraudsters who are not above the law. That is the point of error.

Worse is the insincerity of leadership. Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would never admit her being a tool in the hands of her foreign sponsors. She would rather push her jaded economic theories that sound smooth to misguide the nation without the precedence of their workability. Many Nigerians now hardly recollect her prime role in the offsetting of the massive Paris Club debt under the Obasanjo administration without anything to show for the sweet promises today. She kept denying accusation that she once promised that removal of the subsidy would not commence until the take-off of the 2012 Budget in April. Yet, as the coordinating minister of the nation’s economy, she was the driver of the budget that was silent on the subsidy issue and provided nothing for the afterthought so-called palliatives.

No matter the propaganda and belated governmentsponsored Neighbour to Neighbour campaign, it is leadership insincerity that will not encourage Nigerians to trust the government they put in place to meet their needs. Consider the multi-million naira public resources pumped into funding the newspaper adverts, yet the efforts failed to convince anyone that we have a reliable administration that is ready to honour its words.

The president’s announcement of 25% cut in the basic salaries of political appointees in government was comical. For an administration seeking the sacrifice of the downtrodden masses, it was yet another play upon the intelligence of the people. We all know the low taxable basic incomes compared to the massive allowances. Sincerity of purpose would have meant removal of the ‘subsidy’ called allowances.

The challenges confronting the Jonathan administration today is largely that of a president being surrounded by insincere aides who would not tell him the truth. They are the real cabal giving the wrong counsels. And this is what has made the government to be disconnected from the people.

They would have assured the president that since the public protest would not last beyond two or three days, he should ignore the Labour threats and hit the unprotected masses with

the New Year shocker of subsidy withdrawal.

For the whole of last week when vital parts of the nation was shut down, what the economy lost within the first four days was put at N387 billion by Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. This was calculated at the rate of US$617 million per day at the official exchange rate N156.83 to a dollar.

Imagine if the South East and a section of South-South had joined other parts of the country to fight for the people’s right.

Also, were the government arrogance still unbowed, the impact of shutdown of the oil upstream sector by PENGASSAN would be monumental. If the Sanusi’s figures were true, the contentious so-called annual subsidy of N1.3 trillion would just have been swallowed in the loss within two weeks.

Solution to the nation’s economic dilemma is not as sophisticated and complicated as the Okonjo-Iwealas and the Sanusis are projecting. The one fell swoop subsidy removal that catapulted fuel price above 100% inflicted more agonies upon the poor as prices of virtually all goods and services instantly sky-rocketed. The poor who drink ‘pure water’ because of government’s non-provision of drinking water is now forced to pay N10 for a sachet that was hitherto N5. Even the cost of tissue paper has doubled upon the argument that there is no electrical power available to produce; not to talk of the cost of food items and the essentials to sustain mere survival.

People are killed not just by police gunfires or Boko Haram bombings. Poverty kills more. It is not the matter of religion or ethnic affliation. And death was what the insensitive arrogant decision was to impose on the masses. Even if the government policy was to work in favour of the nation’s future, must the present generation be wiped out ahead of the future?

Let corruption be wiped out of government and its agencies first; and let all those elaborate unprofitable budgeted public expenditures be reasonably pruned down. Let those in power be truthful and sincere in sacrificing their unworthy huge benefits for the sake of the nation’s economy. Let even the limited available funds be justly utilised for the good of the people. It is then that true transformation can come.

‘Worse is the insincerity of leadership. Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would never admit her being a tool in the hands of her foreign sponsors. She would rather push her jaded economic theories that sound smooth to misguide the nation without the precedence of their workability’

The path of honour

By Ehi Braimah The government is saying workers who do not return to work will not be paid and that the strike action is illegal. This is not a good message neither is it a good strategy to win because it will only increase the tension in the land instead of reducing it. Since the government claims to be feeling our pains, it will be in our common interest to reverse the prohibitive petrol price increase as the first step, and this will be followed by wide ranging consultations with all the relevant stakeholders on the way forward.

Part of the problem with the fuel subsidy removal is poor communication on the part of government because the messages were mixed and coming from different sources as if there was a competition on who should claim ownership or credit for the campaign.

The undue haste to remove the fuel subsidy, if it truly exits, is also responsible for the present crisis of confidence. Why was the government so desperate to remove the subsidy at all cost, and on January 1 for that matter? Is the country broke or has the money been spent already?

The impression has also been created through ineffective public communication that all our problems will disappear with the savings from the removal of the petrol subsidy amounting to N1.3 trillion. Will Nigeria go under if we do not remove the fuel subsidy? The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, through a television programme recently assured us that Nigeria is not broke except that domestic debt is climbing. Basic economics teaches us that once you are spending more than you earn, you borrow to make up for the difference. That is deficit budgeting which has become the rule with our governments instead of the exception. There’s nothing wrong in borrowing money as long as you have the ability and means to pay back. So who is piling up domestic debt for us?

The irony is that the quality of life is deteriorating so fast at a time Nigeria is making more money from oil. A barrel of our crude oil is selling for about $113 compared to the $70 used in the budget.

Somebody should tell us what is happening to the $43 surplus because we have a right to know.

Not too long ago, we were buying the dollar for about N80, now the price has doubled. We now pay more for electricity, school fees and house rents have also gone up; new vehicle registration number plates and drivers’ licenses have to be paid for, more Nigerians are becoming unemployed and unemployable and the minimum national wage is only N18,000 which some state governments are reluctant to pay. These are the larger issues of the Occupy Nigeria protests.

Simply because the dollar will always determine cost of imported goods, it follows that the price of petrol will always go up once the dollar price goes up. AGO (diesel) was deregulated three years ago, but the price keeps going up, selling for N165 per litre as at today. Why has the price of diesel not come down? What did the government do with the “savings” from AGO after the deregulation?

Another major issue the government has to look into is earning the trust and goodwill of the people. There have been too many deceptions by various governments in this country that is blessed with abundant human and natural resources. The reality is that it is very difficult to believe anything the government says now. Nigerians are now wiser because they have been deceived for too long. The statement they are making with the current strike action is that the time for meaningful and positive changes has come.

Call it another Arab Spring if you like.

One way the government can earn this trust is to lead by example. The high profile spending in government at all levels must

now come to an end as a matter of urgency.

How much does a civil servant earn to be able to send his children to school abroad?

Where does the money really come from? It means our schools are not good enough for their children, so why don’t we do something about funding education and fixing our schools?

Our university teachers are always going on strike because the government has been most insincere in coming to terms with their demands. The government should as a matter of top priority look into the following areas and sources of waste: long convoy of cars should be abolished, security votes should be cancelled, the immunity clause should be expunged from our constitution, salaries and allowances of all political office holders should be cut by 50 per cent, work in the national and state houses of assembly should be part time and the present outrageous salaries and allowances discontinued. Let the government confront the oil subsidy cabal and the enemies of Nigeria, expose corruption in all places, fix our schools, roads and hospitals, stop importing petrol, repair our refineries and build new ones, prohibit public officers from buying properties overseas, provide regular power supply, reduce foreign travels and the huge estacode and size of delegation, stop overseas medical trips and tackle the security challenges.

These deliverables are measurable and with a good plan by the government, we can begin to see the results from six months to three years from now. It does not require rocket science to make these things happen in Nigeria. However, what is usually missing is the sincerity of purpose, political will and the commitment to make a difference.

Our economy has been shut down resulting in huge losses and this could have been avoided. It is not too late for President Jonathan to reverse himself on the petrol subsidy matter so that the gathering clouds can disappear without further delay. It will make him a listening President; otherwise the current stalemate will continue to erode the solidarity and goodwill from those who voted him into office.

•Braimah is a company executive in Lagos

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

T

HE debate as to whether the government should remove the subsidy on fuel appeared rested with the New Year day announcement of the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry. Expectedly, labor has reacted to this through the declaration of an indefinite industrial strike. With these two actions, the issue now is not as much with the propriety of the subsidy removal as to which of the two parties will have their way at the end of the day. The government insists that its decision is not only futuristic but in the overall interest of Nigerians. For organized labor, that decision negates all these. That is why it has called out workers to protest the increase.

The level of support the strike action has so far received has not left anybody in doubt as to its popularity. But the government, basking on what it considers to be the long term benefits of the deregulation exercise is not shifting grounds. It has said very unambiguously that it is not going to reduce the current selling price of fuel. It is further spurred by the seeming inelasticity of the enduring temperament of organized labor in matters as this nature. The general thinking is that after sometime, the strike will disintegrate on account of the inability of labor to sustain it. This feeling is further reinforced by the envisaged inability of the demonstrators to stand out for a very long time since many of them are poor and may be compelled by survival instincts to back out at some point. On its part, organized labor has made it abundantly clear that nothing

‘If Chime could declare the strike illegal in Enugu state, is it surprising that traders in Onitsha and Owerri did not bother to comply with the strike order? Chime did not do his state and the southeast zone any good by such a reactionary and condemnable order’

A

S somebody from Ekiti State and domiciled in Osun State, I heaved a sigh of relief when I read in the Nation and National Mirror of January 4 (pp 3 & 7 respectively) about the Progressives’ stand by governors Aregbesola and Fayemi on the removal of fuel subsidy. Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola boldly came out with the statements “Count ACN governors out of removal of subsidy” (The Nation, above, p.3) and “It is cruel, anti-people” (National Mirror, above, p.7). He made the statements while speaking at a New Year Inter-religious service held in Osogbo. According to him, the removal and subsequent hike in the price of the premium motor spirit (petrol) “showed the inefficiency and maladministration of the Federal Government under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”.

Aregbesola noted that the PDP-led Federal Government had been removing subsidy from petroleum products gradually since it came into power in 1999 and expressed shock and disbelief at the sudden and wholesale withdrawal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan. He said that the action was inhuman and inconsiderate judging by the untold hardship it would bring on the already badly pauperized and traumatized good people of Nigeria. Apparently frightened by the unfolding developments which followed the sudden removal of subsidy across the country, Aregbesola called for serious prayers to avert unforeseeable consequences.

Then came the clincher: “his (Aregbesola’s) government and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have no hands in the withdrawal of fuel subsidy”. By this singular statement, he was speaking on behalf of the good people of Nigeria that the prohibitive hike in the price of fuel, to the tune of 150% and its ripple effect on prices of transportation, food, goods and services and on practically all the things that the people of Nigeria need for good and decent living, must not be allowed to stay. Above all, he was worried and sad about the plight of the citizens of his state as transportation worsened and his people suffer untold but unnecessary hardship. If you rule over a people who elected you into office, it is your primary and non-negotiable responsibility

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Fuel protests: Matters Arising other than reversion to the pre-deregulation pump price will assuage its members.

The current hardship which the exercise has wrought on a great majority of our people appears to have given fillip to the case of organized labor. From the tone of the protests and the sentiments so far expressed, it would appear that we are in for a very long drawn battle the end of which nobody can predict.

But one thing that is certain is that the protests have taken a very serious toll on the economy and security of the country.

Incidentally also, these challenges are coming at a time the federal authority is being taken to serious task by extremist religious tendencies represented by the Boko Haram onslaught. In all fronts therefore, the Jonathan administration is being confronted by challenges that are threatening the very foundation of this nation. The question on the lips of very well meaning people is whether Jonathan can survive all these? How long can he still afford to hold on while the social and economic life of the nation is completely strangulated? These are the searing posers Jonathan may have to come to terms with in the days ahead.

But beyond these challenges, there are a number of issues that have been thrown to the front burner since the strike started. The first is the capacity of the security agencies to contend with civil protests in a democratic environment. The reported killing of a defenseless youth by a Divisional Police Officer in the Ogba area of Lagos without provocation has exposed the inherent dangers in the kind of people we entrust the security of this country. Lagos is not alone in these

unwarranted killings especially on the first day of the protests as there were other incidents in Kano and Kaduna. The case of Kano was very pathetic as it led to the loss of two lives and the injuring of many. The clash arose because the gates of the Race-Course Ground which was originally slated for the rally were locked forcing the relocation of the rally towards the Government House and the Silver Jubilee Square. Thus, those responsible for the locking of the RaceCourse Ground must take the responsibility for the fatalities that were recorded on the first day of the strike in Kano state.

If with all the instructions we learnt, the police authorities left regarding the handling of peaceful protesters, such a high ranking officer could still take laws in his hands, then, nobody is safe. It is good a thing he has been arrested to face the law. The general public is interested in how he is prosecuted and what becomes his punishment at the end of the day. It is obvious from the two incidents in Lagos and Kano that the deaths stemmed from lapses from officials of government.

Perhaps, had the gates of the rally ground not been locked against the protesters, the relocation around the government house would not have arisen. In which case, the deaths and maiming of these unfortunate citizens would have been avoided. These incidents speak volumes on the capacity of our leaders to handle civil protests in a supposedly democratic setting.

Apart from these instances, there were other actions of some state governors during the protests that gave them away as tyrants rather than democrats. Chief among them

Aregbesola, Fayemi on oil subsidy

By Moses Akinola Makinde to religiously see to it that your people do not suffer untold hardship by any guise under the progressive, well tested ideology of EGALITARIANISM, i.e. the greatest good of the greatest number. This is an ideology that should cut across all the ACN states even though it is not attractive to the PDP whose ideology is based on government of the people by the people for a few cabals in our society. I take the positions of these ACN governors as perfectly consistent with that of the party’s leadership in an advertisement “Open Letter to the President” in the Nation, 12 January, 2012 (pp44-45) by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

By coincidence, Governor Aregbesola’s counterpart in the neighbouring Ekiti State, Governor Kayode Fayemi, attacked the removal of subsidy in a different fashion.

Like Aregbesola, he established the PDP connection in the removal of fuel subsidy.

He then reminded Nigerians that a people deserve the kind of government they want.

This, I believe, was the reason he blamed the voters, and not necessarily President Jonathan, for whatever misfortunes befall them now. According to Dr. Fayemi, “the electorate are to blame for the removal of fuel subsidy… they voted the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) which never saw anything bad in imposing burdens on the masses”. He made these statements at a mass rally by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in preparation for the chairmanship and councillorship elections coming up on January 21, 2012. In fact, Fayemi was more forthcoming when he said, “you voted them (PDP) to do what they are doing now. They are returning their appreciation for your voting them the way they know best. See what they have done with your votes! They have continued to show the stuff they are made of”. However, Fayemi was sure that the

removal of oil subsidy is “the last straw that will break the back of the PDP-led government in Nigeria” while he noticed that the removal of oil subsidy is a war they cannot win in Nigeria because they (Nigerians) voted them in before they (PDP) turned against them”.

Surely, by sheer luck of the event and shrewd pragmatic and prudential calculations, the two ACN governors made smart political capital out of the mess the PDP-led government has caused itself to the advantage of the duos’ political party. By our political calculation, the PDP has shot itself in the foot, and this scenario will resonate more especially in the states where gubernatorial and local government elections are to be held this year because the issue of removal of oil subsidy will not go away in a hurry. It will remain the strongest and most potent campaign weapon by the opposition parties across the country. That is the fruit of wisdom or unwisdom in politics where politicians must be careful about what they say or do if they still need the votes of the electorate that put them in power in the first place. In the last election many politicians did not return to their offices because of what they did or did not do, said or did not say, while in office. This is the situation in all democracies in the world where the people‘s power holds sway.

It is a pity that prominent Nigerians, including General Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Richard Akinjide and many others have advised Jonathan in vain against removal of fuel subsidy. Some even blamed his advisers for the mess and embarrassment caused by his precipitate action. Even the European Union (EU) cautioned him on the removal, advising him of the possible social consequences.

Sometime ago, I advised Mr. President (in

was Sullivan Chime, the Governor of Enugu state. Chime it was who went on air to ban all manner of meetings, gatherings and processions in the state on the eve of the nationwide industrial action. Basking on the so-called powers conferred on him by law, he had declared banned the holding of any form of rally or procession on the guise that they will lead to the breakdown of law and order. And since the strike started, stories that have been emanating from that state have been very embarrassing. Not only did he ban such processions, he took immediate steps to station stern looking policemen in front of the secretariat of the NLC to prevent them from joining their colleagues in the nationwide action. Not done with that, he ordered the arrest of a labor leader Festus Ozoeze, tried him at a kangaroo tribunal set up by him at the Police Criminal Investigation Department and had him committed to prison.

It is a big shame that a governor supposedly elected by the people could opt to behave this way in the matter of the strike action.

What is there in Enugu state that goaded Chime into the ridiculous and despicable conclusion that law and order must let loose once the strike is allowed to go on? There does not seem to be any except perhaps, the vaulting ambition to play the good boy and please his boss.

Incidentally, even in Bayelsa state where the President comes from, the strike proceeded well without any attempt by anybody to throw spanners into its wheel.

Events in Enugu state mirror very vividly all that is wrong with some leaders from that part of the country. Look at Chime’s reaction to a national movement represented by the protests against fuel price increase. What made him think that Enugu state can be isolated from the currents that are sweeping across the country? It is acts of indiscretion and cowardice as this that give out people from the zone as very apolitical and docile.

Such actions account in the main, for the relegation that geo-political divide suffers in national affairs.

If Chime could declare the strike illegal in Enugu state, is it surprising that traders in Onitsha and Owerri did not bother to comply with the strike order? Chime did not do his state and the south- east zone any good by such a reactionary and condemnable order. a Press release) not to fall into what I called “necessary mistake” on the removal of fuel subsidy. By necessary mistake I mean a mistake that one must commit in order to make certain things, like calamities, happen as a matter of fate or absolute necessity. In this kind of situation the mistake must be made to make an event happen. For people making this kind of mistake, their hearts must be hardened so that nothing and nobody could stop them from committing the necessary mistake. It was by this necessary mistake that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and which eventually led him and his people to perish in the Red Sea. In other words, what is, was to be and nothing, except divine intervention, could stop what is to be, if it was to be. My belief is that President Jonathan might have been fated to fall into this category of mistake, the effect of which is beyond anybody’s knowledge. As of now, he needs divine intervention as he stubbornly confronts his people whose voice is the voice of God. We should all pray for his spiritual recovery as well as that of his past popularity.

For now, one can only advise politicians to be careful about their utterances on the fuel subsidy. Any Governor or National Assembly member who pitches his camp against the electorate that put him in office has committed a necessary mistake. He or she should know that he/she is being watched by aggrieved and angry people of Nigeria whose anger and pent-up emotion have helped and aggravated the strike and protest by the NLC, TUC and Civil Society Organizations. Some politicians may pay the price of abandoning their people at the time of need when the time of reckoning comes.

The bottom line and escape route to safety is to stand up and be counted among the friends of the masses of Nigeria to whom, ironically, the ultimate power belongs: PEOPLE POWER. President Jonathan should tread softly, listen to the voice of the people instead of the voices of some selfish governors, members of his executive council and his assorted ‘misadvisers’ who have long been lost in the wilderness of unrighteousness.

•Makinde, Professor of Philosophy writes from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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41

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

'Born again' Salami joins Enyimba Anichebedreadsanotherinjury

•Salami

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BOLAHAN Salami has joined Enyimba on a year’s deal with a promise to be of good behaviour after he was booted out of

3SC for “gross misconduct”.

“I’m happy to announce that I have signed a year’s deal with Enyimba,” Salami told MTNFootball.com “I have secured my release from Shooting Stars.

“And now I hope to win trophies with Enyimba and I also promise to be of good conduct.”

Top Oyo State sports official Dapo Lam Adesina disclosed that Lagosborn Salami played “God” when he was at 3SC and he was asked to go because of his arrogance and indiscipline.

Olympic international Salami, who has also been capped at ‘B’ international level, is widely regarded as a super brat after he was banned twice last season.

On the pitch, he finished as leading scorer for Shooting Stars with five goals even though he missed several weeks when he moved to South Africa to join Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Sundowns switch will later fall through and he rejoined Shooting Stars.

•Moyes hails returning Anichebe

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IGERIAN international Victor Anichebe has said he feared that he was back on the treatment table when he fell awkwardly in Saturday’s game at Aston Villa.

The Nigeria international striker has only recently returned from a four-month injury layoff and he said he did not wish to be back on the sidelines.

“At time I do some stupid things (laugh), I wanted to keep the ball in play even when it looked impossible, then I injured my knee, in fact I was afraid and thought I am back injured, remembering my past experience,” Anichebe told Everton TV “I had to ask the physio about the knee. I thought something terrible has happened to my knee, but I was happy when I was able to stand and return to pitch without any pains.”

Osaze’s, others’ morale low Edafe Egbedi: I'm living my dream —West Brom boss LYING Eagles’ forward Edafe

F

Egbedi has described his joining Danish club AGF Aarhus as a dream come true after being without a club for a long time.

MTNFootball.com: How do you feel playing in Europe?

Egbedi: It is great experience. My dream has come has come true. It has been my dream to play in Europe and I am happy I am here now.

You have been without a club since the 2009 U17 World Cup. What was going through your mind ever since?

I wish I was playing at a club then, but I was not feeling too bad because I knew the right time will come which is now.

You have begun training with your club ahead of the resumption of the season, how has it been?

The first training was difficult, very hard but good for me. I am adapting to training and my fitness is improving. I love the way training has been so far. I am fully fit now, you know I am not new to training as it has been part of me from Nigeria.

What can you say about your club in general?

It is a good team. I love it here. It is a team with a lot of young players. The atmosphere is lively. I am comfortable here and I am sure I will be great here. It is a team who promote young players.

What are your chances of making the first team?

They are very bright. I have been doing well in training so far. I am following what the coach wants and he has said good things to me. I am sure if I keep working hard that will not be difficult for me to achieve.

How has it been for you since you arrived?

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•Edafe

It has been wonderful, I had a good welcome and the coach is a good man who has been encouraging me. He has boosted my confidence with his advice and talks.

What do you hope to achieve here?

First, I want to pin down a regular shirt in the first team after which I want to score many goals to help the team and myself. Winning medals and trophies are also on my mind.

How disappointed were you not to win the FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia last year?

We were all very disappointed. I felt really bad because we left for Colombia with very high hope of winning the competition and we were doing well before we crashed out. I now hope to achieve something with Nigeria on a bigger stage.

EST Brom boss Roy Hodgson has admitted that Nigeria international

Osaze Odemwingie and his teammates morale was low at the Hawthorns after the Baggies lost their third league game on the spin.

Goals by Andrew Surman and Steve Morison gave Norwich a 2-1 win and kept the Canaries in the top ten.

Hodgson said: “We gave them three points. The morale is low because, despite pressure, we’re not getting the results.

“We are in a relegation fight, but then we’ve been in one for a long time – and I expect we’ll be in one for a long time to come.

All defeats are painful but this felt a bit harsh. We didn’t play well in the first half but I don’t know what more we could have done in the second half.

We plugged away and we got an equaliser, but then we were mugged for a second time with their winning goal, another counter-attack.

“It is very frustrating for fans who keep coming to the Hawthorns and see us lose.”

Norwich boss Paul Lambert said: “People had us down for the bottom three so to be in the top ten is great.

But there’ll be no complacency, that’s not my way.

“They put us under serious pressure and we defended really strongly – and then we scored with two very good counter-attacks.It was a well taken first goal by Surman, who is really a brilliant footballer. And then Morison scored the winner with a great header.”

Anichebe netted the equaliser for Everton in 1-1 draw at Aston Villa after coming on as a second-half substitute.

“We deserved to get a result from the match and we managed to get it,” he said.

“I am pleased with my goal but I want to keep playing regularly, goal or no goal, even though I am happier when I score. I am strong now and hope for victory in our next game.”

However, Everton boss David Moyes was delighted with Victor Anichebe in their 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.

Anichebe cancelled out Darren Bent's opener for Villa just eight minutes after coming into the action.

Moyes said: "It was a great finish.

Victor has had a terrible couple of years with injury. ""He can be a real handful and has got a good temperament. We need to get him on the pitch more often because we know what he is capable of doing."

Moyes admitted he feared the worst when Anichebe went down clutching his knee after falling awkwardly.

He said: "When I went down, I thought, 'Here we go again' after the bad luck Victor has had. But it was only a wobble in his knee. I think it was just a scare and he should be okay."

Nigeria’s ex international jailed for hard drugs

Keshi cuts back E AFCON TV work

N

IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi and his assistant Daniel Amokachi are to cut back on their work as television pundits during the Africa Nations Cup amid controversy.

Keshi and his assistant Amokachi are due in South Africa as expert analysts for satellite television channel Supersport during the Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

But rather than stay till the AFCON final on February 12 in Libreville, the coaches now plan to return to their duty post on February 6 in time to prepare a team for a friendly in Liberia.

Officials have kicked against the television work of the coaches, arguing that it is a distraction at a time they need to be fully concentrated on building a new team for Nigeria, who failed to qualify for the tournament.

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•Obiekwu

an opportunity for me in Benin Republic and after going there to see what was on the ground and negotiated personal terms, I am very happy to say that I have an opportunity to showcase what I am made of.”

The youthful coach has bagged a year’s deal with an option of renewal and has been handed a target of winning the Benin league at the end of the ongoing season, a target he describes as achievable.

“The aim of any good coach is to emerge victorious in any competition and with the material I have seen there, I strongly believe that we can achieve the target of being crowned league champions at the end of the season,” said the 1996 Olympic Gold medallist Obiekwu, who has a UK level 1 and 2 coaching licences and has coached an academy side in the UK, said he believes that with the experience he has garnered coaching in Nigeria in the last three years will help him succeed with St. Louis d’Karaki.

The training camp will reopen on February 6 and the Eagles team ‘B’ will depart for Liberia on February 13.

Keshi though has maintained he does not have any issues with his employers over his TV role.

“The so-called controversy is a creation of the media,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com “I don't have any problems about the pundit job whatsoever with the FA. They have not said anything was wrong with me and Amokachi doing analysis during the Nations Cup for Supersport.”

RSENAL will head to Nigeria as part of their pre-season preparations as the club’s marketing wing look to expand the Gunners brand in Africa.

Having toured China and Malaysia last summer it looks as though the

club are committed to strengthening their globetrotting credentials by targeting a region with a passionate love for the Premier League.

Speaking to the BBC after a meeting with DanJan sports, Arsenal’s marketing director Angus Kinnear gave an update on the plans.

“Everything is right on track.

Nigeria will happen. We had a successful meeting and covered a lot of ground.

“It’s very important to get the right message across to the fans in West Africa and the entire continent.

“There is a strong desire to connect with our fans in Africa and the first step starts in Nigeria.”

The decision to tour in Africa comes after Ivan Gazidis confirmed that the Emirates Cup would not take place this summer due to policing resources being stretched by the London 2012 Olympics.

The fixtures and timing of the trip have yet to be confirmed, however, with Euro 2012 taking place in Ukraine and Poland during June and July it is possible that any adventure before August could see some high-profile first team squad stay at home.

N

•Newcastle United's Shola Ameobi (L) vies with Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand (R) during an English FA Premier League football match at St James' Park

•Fined N.4b

By Stella Bamawo Narcotics Captain AC. Fish said officers conducted 10 undercover drug buys of heroin and prescription pills in the last 10 months before Wednesday raid. A large amount of cash was seized including approximately $5,000 found in a grease trap. A fire arm was found even in the popcorn machine. Heroin was found in the cash register, one-half pound of suspected marijuana was found in the kitchen area abd an assault pistol with a 32 round magazine. Captain Fish told WTSB NEWS. that Okafor had the business set up to look like a store but it was nothing more than a front for selling drugs. Captain Fish said the coolers shelves were stocked with food and drinks, however, some of the food had expired in 2007 and the coolers were not working.

Arsenal confirms Nigeria tour looks likely Quadri suffers first defeat A

EWCASTLE moved above Liverpool into sixth place in the Premier League on Sunday with a 1-0 over Queens Park Rangers and the west London side's new manager, Mark Hughes.

With leading scorer Demba Ba absent at the African Cup of Nations, Leon Best again started up front for Newcastle and scored the only goal in the 37th minute.

The Ireland international collected a pass from Ryan Taylor, cut inside right back Luke Young and sidefooted into the far corner for his first goal since Sept. 17.

But Newcastle lost midfielder Yohan Cabaye to a worrying ankle injury after a tough challenge from Shaun Derry.

The loss in Hughes's first match in charge left QPR without a win from its last nine league matches and in the relegation zone.

QPR enjoyed the better of the opening stages even without suspended captain Joey Barton, the injured Alejandro Faurlin and African Cup of Nations absentees Armand Traore and Adel Taarabt.

Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul saved from Heidar Helguson and Akos Buzsaky inside the opening six minutes and Shaun Wright-

M

ANAGER Steve Kean admits he was surprised to see a red card brandished at Yakubu Aiyegbeni following his challenge on Danny Murphy in Rovers' 3-1 win over Fulham.

Yakubu was sent off after just 23 minutes for a high-footed challenge on the Fulham captain, but Kean knows that his star striker, who could now miss the next three games, would not deliberately look to injure an opposition player.

"I know the Yak and he's not got a malicious bone in his body," said the Rovers boss.

"If he's going for any ball, he's going to go with the intenttion of winning the ball and not to hurt somebody.

Article continues "So it might look nasty to the ref and he's got to make a decision, but we'll look at it and if it's there to appeal, we'll appeal it.

"If we get the advice that it's not, we'll respect his decision."

with team in Portugal •Jets out for Hungary Open

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IGERIA’s table tennis star, Aruna Quadri has suffered his first defeat of the season at the weekend in te ongoing Portuguese League after his team GDSR Os Toledos fell 4-2 to Sporting Club of Lisbon.

A disappointed Quadri told journalists from his base in Portugal yesterday that despite the loss, his team is still at par with Sporting with 27points from 10 matches, as they were separated with few margin.

“I gave a poor start by losing 3-0 to Adre Silver while my teammate, Sas Lasan also lose 2-3 to Ricardo Oliveira. My teammate Diogo beat Chinese Zheng Shun 3 2, while we won the double 3-0 to level up 2-2 overall. But Lasan also lose 0-3 to Silver, while I narrowly lose the final game to Shun 2-3 to give Sporting a 4-2 victory,” he narrated.

Ameobi, others spoil Hughes’ QPR debut

Benin club lures coach Kingsley Obiekwu ORMER Nigeria international Kingsley Obiekwu has been appointed coach of St. Louis d’Karaki F.C of Seme in neighbouring Benin Republic.

An elated Obiekwu, who once captained Enugu Rangers and played for Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch Eredivisie, told MTNFootball.com that this was a great opportunity that he has been waiting for and will make the most of it.

“To God be the glory. I have been offered the opportunity to show the stuff that I am made of,” said ‘Shagari’ Obiekwu, who won five trophies with Ingas FC of Enugu.

“An agent, who has been following my track record, called me up that there was

“Keshi would be busy preparing his team for a friendly against Liberia. Except something else happens, I don't think there would be time for a pundit’s job,” an official told MTNFootball.com “I also would advise the coach that he peruses his contract properly and see if there is any such window to do such a job.”

A friendly in Liberia for the country’s team of domestic league players has been rearranged for February 15 in Monrovia and the Eagles coaches are expected to be on the ground to prepare the team.

RSTWHILE Nigerian player, Felix Okafor has been jailed for being in possession of hard drugs in the United States of America.

Okafor was arrested last Wednesday after a raid on his shop (Flying Eagles) which is located on the North Wall Street, at North Johnson in Benson, Johnson county, North Carolina.

The NationSport gathered from the WTSB NEWS that a joint 10-month operation led up to last Wednesday's raid. Okafor was arrested on a total of 53 criminal charges ranging from drug trafficking, maintaining or selling drugs within 1000 feet of a school and possession of a non-tax paid alcohol. He was confined in the Johnston country jail under a $2m bond (N.4b ) Authorities alleged that the store owner Felix Okafor, 50 of Wendell was using the business to sell heroin, marijuana and moonshine as well as operating illegal gaming machines.

Blackburn’s boss shocked at Aiyegbeni’sredcard

Phillips clipped the bar with a shot.

Cabaye was carried off after 20 minutes and replaced by Hatem Ben Arfa and Taylor forced a fingertip save from QPR keeper Paddy Kenny as Newcastle started to build some pressure, which told eight minutes before halftime.

Jonas Gutierrez moved forward out of defence to slip the ball to striker Shola Ameobi, who passed to Taylor. Taylor prodded a pass to Best, who scored his fourth league goal of the season.

•Hughes

By Innocent Amomoh

He added: “Our team selection was okay but both we just had a bad day because they were not better than us but they really played well against us. This has shown that we have to change our tactics and work on our weaknesses. At present, Sporting is topping the league table because they played one more game than. This loss has given us a wake up call because it is better we lost in the league round robin than in play-off.”

The Nigeria Civil Defence Corps officer admitted that it was complacent that contributed to his surprise loss, saying, “I was so over confidence in the match. But I did not feel bad because I believe bad start in the year will surely help us to end up in excellently at the end of the year.”

“I have realised my mistakes and I will surely recover from it. I think, the Chinese player had corrected all the mistakes he normally made whenever he played against me during our last three meetings, which ended in my favour. But he did not make this mistake again in our match at the weekend,” he said.

Meanwhile, Quadri will today leave his base in Portugal for Budapest, capital of Hungary to take part in the first International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)sanctioned Pro Tour of the year.

However, the Oyo State-born athlete said he hopes to use the Hungary Open to assess his preparation for the World Championship in Germany and the Olympic Games in London.

“As the year begins with Hungary Open, I am looking forward to perform better than I had done in my previous tours. The tour serves as a testing ground and also to improve my ranking in the world.

Although, international tour is different from the league, so the league lost will not discourage me from doing well in Hungary. I know is going to be tough being the first world tour of the year with most of the top players in the world looking forward to have good start in the New Year. The Open will also help me to know the level of my preparation for the World Championship in Germany,” Quadri said.

•Yakubu

Ofere wants fans’ backing for Eagles

E

DWARD Ofere has asked Nigerians to keep faith with the Super Eagles despite having to endure the disappointment of missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ofere was not part of the team that failed to qualify for the Cup of Nations but was one of a handful of new invitees under new coach Stephen Keshi. He says they are starting afresh to build a team that will be top class in a few years.

“I understand the feeling that we didn’t qualify for the Nations Cup but the coaches are building a new and strong team that will really give Nigerians what they deserve.

“The team is just coming together now and our goal is to play our way back to the top. We are going to build up what we’ve lost and I believe we can take the countr far,” Edward said.

The Super Eagles under new coach Stephen Keshi started with two friendly games against Botswana and Zambia which Ofere was part of, but three weeks ago, the coaches decided to use only players based in Nigeria and after friendly games against club sides, they were forced to a 0-0 draw by Angola last Wednesday.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU takes a look at the political undertone in last week’s protests against the almost 120 per cent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit.

Politics of fuel subsidy removal T

HE clamour for equitable distribution of national resources has been the source of tension in recent years. As the oilrich Southsouth made legitimate claim to the ownership of the crude oil which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy, agitation for resource control filled the air. Now, there is a shift of emphasis in the oil war. As refineries are down in Nigeria, which is the acclaimed sixth largest producer of oil, importation of refined fuel for domestic use became the only convenient option and priority of top marketers. This is the underlying rationale for subsidy. Civil society groups are of the view that, since government cannot maintain refineries, it should continue to subsidise the commodity. Government objected, saying that there would be no money left for development after subsidy. Besides, facts have emerged that a cabal, or cartel, is profiting from subsidy, to the detriment of the country. Thus, the former House of Representatives member from Edo State, Patrick Obaiyagbon, cried out that, “cabalocracy” had displaced democracy in Nigeria. If subsidy is removed, according Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido and Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the gains would be channeled to development projects. But the argument of labour, which is still fighting the N18,000 minimum wage battle, is that should the already pauperised citizens embrace additional burden and pain, due to government’s ineptitude?

Test of leadership Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.

Many Nigerians believe that it is a testy time for President Goodluck Jonathan, who hurriedly removed subsidy without sparing thoughts for its implications in all ramifications. But there are puzzles: Was the timing right? Was the strategy in order? The reality, many observers believe, is that Nigeria has a President who is still learning the ropes. In learning the ropes, he has leaned more on technocrats bubbling with imperialist economic ideas than on politicians who has a reservoir of considerations for political expediency. The main challenge is how the President can bounce back in public reckoning, after winning or losing the subsidy battle.

and civil society arrowheads coordinating street demonstrations. If after the wheeling and dealings, government and labour, based on new understanding and reality, agree on a pump price above the N65 per litre, will civil society call off street protest, following strike call-off by labour?

Protest as image laundering: A lost opportunity can still be regained. House of Representatives members who incurred the wrath of the people when they turned the chamber into a boxing ring bounced back at the Abuja rally.

They received acclamation and commendation. Their past alleged desecration of the hallowed chamber, were forgiven.

What motive?

Many have both objective and subjective perception of Pastor Tunde Bakare’s role in the protest. As the Convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), he fought for the enthronement of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the Acting President and President. Later, he paired with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in a hot contest for presidential power against the President. Bakare’s detractors think that the cleric is more vociferous because he lost his bid for federal power, and as a bad loser, he is an embittered and embattled opposition leader. But many protesters believe that he is on course in fighting what they described as a liberation war to free the country from bad governance.

Wise counsel ignored Former President Shehu Shagari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo have advised the President to halt the strike by dancing to the tune of Nigerians, who have opposed the new pump price. They may have spoken against the policy, acting from experience, because, as former Heads of State, they are not indifferent to the power of massive protests. Ig-

• Jonathan

noring these unofficial pieces of advice was tantamount to giving a deaf ear to the counsel of a caucus of the Council of State.

Abia Assembly makes the difference Abia State House of Assembly is the only state legislature that passed a resolution against the removal of fuel subsidy. Despite the effort of the executive to throw obstacles on its path in this regard, the House sided with the people that elected the lawmakers.

Ironically, Abia State Governor Theodore Orji had advised workers to continue work. The protest in the state became, in part, the enforcer of the strike.

National Assembly resolutions: The House of Representatives took the bull by the horn. The manner of debate on subsidy on Sunday January 8 affirmed its representativeness. The deliberation divided the House into two- pro-subsidy and anti-subsidy legislators. Majority favoured the retention of the old pump price. It was tactical in adopting the final resolution that called on the executive to suspend the policy. The resolution, as weighty as it was, was promptly rejected by the President and his council.

Presidential spokesman Dr. Rueben Abati dismissed it as mere advisory. And the President, as imputed by former Justice Minister

• Omar

Chief Richard Akinjide, missed the opportunity of an escape route. Later, the Senate advised that, since the 2012 budget implementation has not started, the new price regime should take off in April. This did not go down well with the protesters, although it expanded the escape route.

Politics versus technocracy Eminent politician, Akinjide, dissected the tension between politics and technocracy, urging the President not to lean more on technocrats in a period of crisis. Technocrats, Akinjide who had been in government before attainment of independence in 1960 and who is a chieftain of the PDP said, tend to look at World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) first, before giving advice to the President. He however said that a politician considers the imperative of power retention and consolidation in the build up to election and is therefore likely to check the pulse of the people first before advising on any cause of action. Akinjide pointed out that in the United Kingdom and United States, no Head of Government would have the effrontery to turn a blind eye to the resolutions of the Houses of Commons and Lords, and the Congress. His view was that, if experienced politicians were consulted by the President, the crisis could have been averted.

• Continued on page 26

Movement of Nigerian People?: The subsidy war united Nigerians who turned out for the five-day protest. Even, during the ‘June 12’ agitation, the crowd did not exhibit the same elongated resolve and resilience. The lesson of the protest, as noted by Lagos lawyer Femi Falana, is that a wise government will think twice in the future before reeling out draconian policies that inflict pain on the people. Gradually, as Femi, son of Afro-beat king, Fela Kuti, observed, Nigerians are imbibing the culture of resistance to obvious injustice.

Govt, labour and civil society: Owing to communication gap between government and labour, industrial dispute brewed. Government insisted on fuel subsidy removal. In protest, labour suspended work, paralysing economic and social activities. But civil societies sustained the street protests across the major cities. Government and labour unions understand the intricacies of collective bargaining and compromises.

Civil society, which is an interested party, is not part of the talks and dialogue process.

Already, there is suspicion between labour

• Hon. Ojo Oyetunde (Ekiti West/Efon Federal Constituency, Ekiti State),(left), Hon. Umar Ahmed Nafada (Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency, Gombe State) and Hon. Ossai Ossai, (Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency, Delta State), during their swearing- in at the House of Representatives Chamber, Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

POLITICS

Senate has no excuse to fail, says Lanlehin Senator Olufemi Lanlehin is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning. In this interview, he x-rays the performance of the Senate so far, 2012 budget, controversy over fuel subsidy withdrawal and the probe of activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). Assistant Editor ONYEDI OJIABOR reports.

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O what extent is the Senate prepared for the challenges ahead?

To a large extent, we have performed fairly. The Senate has performed well within the constraints we found ourselves. We have made up our minds that 2012 will not be given to excuses. Our people voted and gave us their mandate to represent them to make sure that their interests are protected. So, we intend to do just that. There will be no excuses. In fact, we have no excuse not to carry out our constitutional role for which we were given the mandate to represent our people. It is so unfortunate that, probably by virtue of the way things are, the way the Nigerian state is skewed, the configuration is such that there are basic fundamental flaws in terms of federal structure, the practice of federalism that we have- the federal government, state and local government. The most important aspect of that practice is about naira and kobo, fiscal federalism that we practice. You discover that essentially it is all skewed in favour of the federal government. I mean what does Nigeria do? We are essentially all rent collectors. We sell our oil and share the money to all tiers of government. And then, what happens to the money? A lot of our people are not satisfied with the delivery of services as provided by government. Governments at all levels have also admitted that there is need for some amendments to be made.

What is your assessment of the 2012 Appropriation Bill?

I believe that 2012 portends well for Nigeri,a though the budget as presented has some fundamental flaws. I mean how can we spend 72 per cent of the budget on recurrent expenditure and we deploy 28 per cent to capital expenditure. How do you justify the deployment of one quarter of the budget to what they called security? Securing what? The best security that can be provided for the people of Nigeria should be the provision of good governance. When you have facilities, infrastructure and all the things that make life worth living, you need a minimal amount of arms and ammunition for protection.

When you consider the security challenges facing the country, don’t you think the amount voted for security is justified?

The challenges are self inflicted. The people who are dissatisfied, either rightly or wrongly, are venting their dissatisfaction by way of violence, very wrongly though; you cannot justify the manner in which they are showing their disgruntlement. But, by and large, you have an army of deprived people, unemployed people, hungry people who are dissatisfied with the society in which they found themselves. And who, because of lack of a better means or way of ventilating their grievances, have resorted to unnecessary and completely condemnable violence.

Even the violence that is now being perpetrated in the Western part of the country, bank robbery, invasion of a whole village or town by a new breed of armed robbers, fairly educated, fairly sophisticated, educated men who are jobless, who are probably university graduates is another source of worry. The mindless bloodletting is a result of dislocation in social system brought about by economic deprivation as fostered by the society.

So, if the amount of money voted for security can be deployed to the provision of light, we will all see the difference. How much was voted for power in the budget, how much was voted for water resources, how much was voted for education and agriculture? Our education system has collapsed and we continue to turn out illiterate educated people, people who are not good for any productive economic activity; people who are just pounding the streets looking for white collar jobs.

In the absence of all the things that make a great nation, a very good pool of well educated and productive citizenry, abundance of infrastructure in terms of power, road network, rail system, water ways, ports, airport and others. We spend billions of naira on the rail system. The Chinese are just giving us bills and we are paying and we are

‘What does Nigeria do?

We are essentially all rent collectors. We sell our oil and share the money to all tiers of government.

And then, what happens to the money? A lot of our people are not satisfied with the delivery of services as provided by government. Governments at all levels have also admitted that there is need for some amendments to be made’ • Lanlehin

still using our wide gauge wobbling and crumbling rail system. I will say that that amount of money N921 billion for security alone is not justified.

Are you therefore saying that as you consider the budget you could be making some adjustments?

Yes, essentially budget making is a function of the legislature commenced by the Executive. We have absolute constitutional right to panel beat, to remove, to add, to tear, to sow, whatever we want to do with it reasonably all in the interest of Nigerians.

But the President in 2011 refused to sign the budget on the excuse that the legislature over bloated it until the added figures were removed.

There lies the need to look at the focus and quality of legislators. I won my election free and fair, I don’t owe anybody anything except the people who voted me in. But where you have god fathers or parties that arranged your election for you or rigged for you, of course you will be liable to the Executive.

But if you have watched contributions on the floor of the Senate you will discover that virtually all the Senators are saying the same thing to the effect that the 2012 budget can be much better. Apart from that is the fact that Senators are saying that the budget must be

implemented. The Senate President emphasized that ordinarily budget making should be about all the stakeholders getting together. Ordinarily Senate committees should have been involved in articulating the budget.

If you tinker with the budget and the Presidents insists on what he presented what happens?

The President cannot insist, debate of the general principle of the budget shows clearly that most Senators feel strongly and most members of the House of Representatives feel strongly about the large and disproportionate amount set aside for security. It goes to show that the whole budget must be looked at again reasonably.

The debate on withdrawal of fuel subsidy is still raging with no end in sight. What is your position on the controversy?

I think that is an area the Executive and the legislature must come to terms. I am a member of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (downstream) and I can tell you without jumping the gun, you can see the trend that our problem is not subsidy but the mismanagement, the corruption and the downright thievery that accompany subsidy. The round tripping, the inflation of the book, these are

the problems with subsidy. Before we determine whether we should remove subsidy or not we must determine the actual amount that we spend on subsidy. In 2011 alone at the end of the day we would have spent N1.5 trillion in respect of an item that has N240 billion budgeted for it. If you hear the kind of testimonies that have come to the fore on the issue, you will be amazed. So, let’s first of all clean the Augean stable, let us clean the plate. Let us find out exactly how much we are spending, how we are spending it, who is getting what. When we determine the actual amount we spend on subsidy, we will then determine whether subsidy is necessary or not. But for now going by the demands of our people the attempt to remove fuel subsidy has given rise to suspicion of the government. Most Nigerians believe that government in Nigeria can never be trusted.

Beautiful economic argument, beautiful palliative measures have been.

First of all, build the refineries by fiat, maybe through joint venture and underwrite most of the cost. At the end of the day, sell them. Some people are not interested in investing in it due to un-profitability. Government should find a wayaround it and build the refineries so that products will be provided from the country. Of course we all know that it will provide jobs. The issue of fuel subsidy has become too emotional. Our people do not want to listen to the argument again. They are just hooked on the fact that this government wants to pound us again and we must resist.

The Senate has adopted the report of its adhoc committee that investigated the privatization and commercialization activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprise. Some of those indicted in the report are already kicking to discredit the report.

First of all let me say that the privatization and commercialization of the past administration has been a complete failure because in other climes, privatization and commercialization engendered employment and improved their economy. But here, what has it done? It has impoverished our people. The little employment they were hanging onto has been taken away because the companies that were privatized or commercialized have gone to slumber. Most of them have gone comatose. Most of them have been cannibalized, the machines shipped out of the country thereby leaving our people completely disoriented and disillusioned. So, what exactly went wrong? What went wrong was that the processes by which these companies were privatized were basically faulty.

The personnel that were involved in privatization were not honest. In fact some of them were downright dishonest.

Politics of fuel subsidy removal • Continued from page 25

And governors kept mum Apart from Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole, who is the curator of the subsidy removal in the Governors Forum, other governors kept mum, although it is common knowledge that all of them tacitly supported the new policy which had sparked protest in their state capitals. A source indicated that the National Economic Council was unanimous in backing the withdrawal of subsidy, although the mode, timing and manner of implementing the policy had not been discussed before the federal government gave the public the unpopular and unwanted New Year gift.

A governor told The Nation: “They are just trying to blackmail us. When they say we all backed their policy, they did not explain the context. It is in the public domain that we rejected whimsical deductions from the Federation Account without explanations. They merely attributed such deductions to subsidy.

There was no logic to the deductions. So, when we kicked, especially in face of pressures on our state finances by the new minimum wage, they then suggested the removal as the

way out. Did they get back to us to say how they would be introducing the measure? Was January 1 the best time to do so? Did they call us immediately the people kicked to decide on what to do?”

Governors had seen the potentials of the policy, especially the upsurge in revenue base.

But how can many of them could convince Nigerians that they would be prudent? Underscoring this point, Bakare and Falana stressed that the protest was not only about subsidy, it is also about profligacy in government.

No to military intervention As tension engulfed the country, politicians and leading protesters cried out in panic, saying that the temporary crisis should not become a license for the military to take over.

Bakare, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) leader Olawale Oshun, Falana and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who urged the soldiers to remain in barrack, knew that the worst civilian regime is better than the most benevolent military administration. Many loathe the idea of returning to the barricades for a renewed fight against the military.

Should military strike, politicians would forfeit power and state resources. Demonstra-

tors may even lose their freedom of association, assembly and complaint.

Conference on oil subsidy, national question: Today in Lagos, eminent Nigerians cutting across the protagonist and antagonists of subsidy, would converged on Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja to discuss the burning issue. It is at the instance of the National Summit Group (NSG) convened by Prof. Pat Utomi and Anthony Uranta. Expected are former Finance Minister Chief Olu Falae, former Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah, Sanusi, OkonjoIweala. But is it not going to be another Town Hall meeting?

Is the struggle over now? How would the government handle the new level of sensitization of the people? How has the five-day protest left President Jonathan and his government? Just about eight months earlier, he was a hero, garnering votes from all the six geo-political zones. Today, he is treated by many with disdain. Can he recover from the damage to his popularity? Is the opposition prepared to take him on all the way down to 2015?

What cannot be denied is that in all forms of power struggle, there is underlying politics.

INFRASTRUCTURE

PROJECT

Amosun constructs link roads

Council rehabilitates Ibadan roads

Ogun

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Oyo

MONDAY JANUARY 16, 2012

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GESTURE Electronic wheelchair for the disabled Osun

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Page 27

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Ajimobi’s wife ianugurates widows’ clinic HE wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has opened a clinic for widows and the aged in Oluyole Local Government Area.

The clinic, which is located within the premises of the local government secretariat at IdiAyunre, is equipped with six beds, drugs and other facilities useful for the aged and widows.

Commissioning the clinic, Mrs Ajimobi called on public-spirited Nigerians to rise up in support

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•Mrs Ajimobi

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

of widows, whom she said are usually abandoned by both family members and the society.

She said: “Widowhood is seen as a curse and burden and the death of the breadwinner usually translates into the death of his family. The plight of widows is thus very pitiful.

Many widows and their children are kicked out of their

homes, forced to live in abject poverty on the fringes of society, and are prey to abuse, violence and sexual exploitation.”

Mrs Ajimobi added that the purpose of the visit was to appreciate the people for their support before , during and after the elections which produced her husband as governor, thus restoring a mandate that had been stolen a few years.

She was received at the venue by a crowd including traditional

rulers, staff of the local government, market women, politicians, social groups, artisans and itinerary drummers.

The Chairman, Transition Committee of the council, Prince Ayodeji AbbasAleshinloye and his wife Oluwatoyin, were also present with a number of women decked in aso ebi with head gear to match.

•Continued on Page 28

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OEING the line of Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Caretaker Committee Chairman of Olorunda Local Government Area, Mr. Abdulakeem Okunade has brought cheer to the souls of no fewer than 400 people in the council.

The council purchased and distributed various work tools for them, aimed at putting them in good stead for productive, independent lives.

The beneficiaries, drawn from the 11 wards of the council, received 30 motorcycles, 22 electricity generators, 22 grinding machines, 110 GSM phones, 61 barber’s clippers, 51 fishery nets and some farm tools. Traditional rulers and police stations in the area also got some of the generators.

With a sense of purpose, recipients should make a good living with the tools in their hands.

While distributing the items to the beneficiaries at the council headquarters at Igbona, Osogbo, the caretaker chairman reiterated his administration’s commitment to eradicating poverty among the people.

Okunade, who identified unemployment as a major challenge facing the country, maintained that lack of jobs has led many youths to indulge in antisocial activities.

He said the council had earlier engaged 500 youths in the first phase of its poverty alleviation programme. He said the second phase was targeted at petty traders, artisans and widows in order to improve their living conditions.

He emphasised that the militancy in the southern part of the country, Boko Haram insurgency in the North, armed robbery, kidnapping, assassination, among others, across the nation could be partly attributed to unemployment.

Okunade also noted that people are drifting away from ag-

•Some of the distributed gifts

Osun council provides job tools for 400 Equips them for small-scale businesses From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

riculture which used to be the nation’s economy, disclosing that this has informed the council’s decision to distribute farm implements to boost farming. The

chairman assured the people that efforts would be made to improve their welfare.

Some of the beneficiaries, Yinusa Akanji, Hakeem Balogun, Lukman Ayanleke, Tunde Akeyo, Mutahiru Lasun, Fakunle Raheem and Kaseem Salam, expressed appreciation to the coun-

cil boss and members of his caretaker committee for the gifts.

Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, the Oloba of Oba Ile, Oba Michael Adebisi, who received a generator, lauded the council for the initiative. He called on the people to support the Okunade administration.

•Aregbesola

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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•Protesters on Lagos road

Jonathan urged to build infrastructure before subsidy removal

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been advised to fix the rail lines, electricity, and the refineries before the removing the fuel subsidy.

The coordinator of Good Governance Initiative (GGI), Mr Festus Mbisiogu who gave this advice, also lamented the timing of the subsidy removal which he said was ill-conceived.

Mbisiogu wondered why the president should announce fuel subsidy removal on the first day of January when he knows that majority of Nigerians were still in their villages celebrating the New Year.

He explained that most people are still stranded, especially in the eastern part of the country where people pay as much as N18, 000 on transport fare to return to their locations.

He said Nigerians are not insisting that the fuel subsidy should not be removed but that certain things must be put in place before such an action is taken.

He noted that in all advanced coun-

By Jude Isiguzo

tries in the world, the provision of world-class rail transportation is in vogue. He urged the government to look in that direction.

Mbisiogu said: “It is the people that voted in the government and every responsible government listens to its people. It is not like the people are saying no to subsidy removal but the palliatives must be on the ground before the removal.

“In advanced countries of the world, rail systems work perfectly well and it is this means of transportation that 90 per cent of their citizens patronise. Apart from the super-rich and the elite, nobody drives cars. Why can’t our government develop our rail system and appoint a good manager to handle it? The people will be in support of subsidy removal the moment they know and see that the government means well.

“In China, for instance, you have

the speed train that could travel from a distance like Lagos to any part of the North in four hours. There is an underground rail line of eight lanes, and street trains. So, people do not need to use their vehicles. Our leaders travel out of the country and they see these things. Why it difficult is for them to embraces. If the president starts these project and maybe when it get to 30 per cent completion he will now tell Nigerians that he needs money to complete it and that is why he wants to remove subsidy in order to gather money for its completion, the people will listen.”

The coordinator of IGG, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Diamond Logistics China noted that the average Nigerian family spends about N45,000 every month to fuel their generating sets as a result of the unstable electricity supply in the county.

He said with the removal of fuel subsidy, the same family would now be subjected to spend over N150, 000 for the same purpose.

Mbisiogu however noted that if electricity is fixed at least 80 per cent of the people will not be worried whether or not the subsidy is removed.

“If there is stable supply of electricity, the president can go ahead with his removal of subsidy, if the refineries are working at full capacity, the government does not need to export our crude oil and import it back after being refined for our use and the need for subsidy would not have arisen in the first instance.

“Nigerians are tired of promises.

Past governments promised that if the subsidy on diesel was removed that the proceeds would be used for infrastructural development but it never happened. Now President Jonathan is promising them again that after the removal of subsidy that the proceeds will be used to transform the country. It will be difficult to believe him because of the failure of the past governments. Nigerians want to see government working and not promises. They are tired.”

Mbisiogu noted that even his own

staff has not returned from the holiday because of the sudden and sharp increase in the cost of transportation and that most people that were able to return had to sell their personal effects to be able to achieve this.

According to him the suffering and hardship the subsidy is going to cause Nigerians, if allowed at this time, would be unquantifiable.

He described the timing as very wrong and urged government to listen to the voice of the people and revert to the old pump price.

Mbisiogu challenged government to arrest and prosecute the cabal in the oil sector since they have been identified and be made to return whatever they have stolen from the country, adding that the refusal of the president to take this bold step means that he may be part of that cabal.

He explained that innocent Nigerians are not supposed to be made to suffer because of the sins of others whom the government has decided to allow to walk the streets free.

Ajimobi’s wife inaugurates •Continued from Page 27 widows’ clinic In her speech, the wife of the local government boss, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Abass-Aleshinloye, expressed her gratitude for the exploits and laudable activities of Mrs Ajimobi, stressing that they were equally encouraged and motivated to key into her vision of improving the lives of the people, particularly women and children.

Mrs Abass-Aleshinloye said

•Coordinator, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Imam Abdullahi Shuaib (right), discussing with National President The Muslim Congress (TMC), Luqman AbdurRaheem and Amir Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen (left) at a rally at Jibowu.

the clinic would provide specialized primary healthcare services to the target beneficiaries at no cost in line with free health policy of the State Government.

“Our widowhood initiative is also fully on course as the first set of beneficiaries of our special widowhood support initiative would be presented with cash by Your Excellency,” she said.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

Association donates food to orphanage

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HE National Association of seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has donated food items to an orphanage, Daughter of Charity Home in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

Presenting the food items to the home, the President/Capon of the association, Charles Ukoette, said the token was to assist the home in taking care of the needy.

He said the association has been donating to orphanages from inception.

His words: “We try as much as possible to give a helping hand to the less privileged in the society. Last year, we visited St. Anthony at Uruan Street but this year we decided to visit Daughter of Charity.

“Right now, we know what the catholic mission is going through by trying to arrange the feedings of the children so we decided to bring this little token in appreciation.

“As much as we can, we will be doing this from time to time.

We don’t know where our philanthropic gesture will go to next year, but for this year, Daughter of Charity is a beneficiary.

“We have here tissue paper, bags of garri, bags of rice; we have Indomie noodles, tubers of yams and other food items. We

•Members of Seadogs at Daughter of Charity Home From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

know this might not mean anything, but we say please accept from us and may God continue to bless all of us.”

Responding, the Sister in charge of the home, Ngozi Igwe,

commended the association for helping the home.

Igwe explained that the essential needs of the home are food, drugs and housing for most of the mentally ill in the society.

Her words: “As we welcome you, we will say to you that if you see anyone of these people on the

Niger Delta youths want Jonathan impeached

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GROUP, Niger-Delta Youth Awareness Council (NDYAC), has urged the National Assembly to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan without delay. This, they said, would save the country from total collapse.

NDYAC said the action became imperative in view of Dr Jonathan unilateral decision to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

Besides, the group flayed his inability to curb the activities of the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram which had led to the incessant bombings and killings of innocent souls in some parts of the country.

According to the group, removing the oil subsidy without seek-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ing the approval of both the Upper and Lower arms of the Legislature shows that the President is an autocratic leader who has no respect for the National Assembly.

The group, in a press statement signed by its National President, Dr Patrick Otekpo also described as incompetence the President’s inability to curb the menace of suicide bombers being spareheaded by an Islamic sect called Boko Haram.

NDYAC described President Jonathan’s decision to deregulate the downstream sector as heartless, saying the step was capable of disintegrating Nigeria.

It further said that such devel-

opment must be generally deplored by all patriotic Nigerians.

“Research is still ongoing to ascertain what the offence of Nigerians in their own land may be in the hands of President Jonathan to place a heavy burden on them in the midst of threat of insecurity of lives and properties.

“The recent development of President Jonathan in governing Nigerians high-mindedly is apparently enough to awaken Nigerians to unanimously call for his immediate resignation.

“As such, we hereby call on the National Assembly of Nigeria to commence the impeachment processes of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan to save Nigeria from total collapse,” the statement added.

•From left: Chairman, Oluyole Local Government, Prince Abass Aleshinloye, wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi and wife of Oluyole Local Government Chairman, Mrs Toyin Abass Aleshinloye during the commissioning of the Widows and Aged Support Clinic in Oluyole Local Government Secretariat in Idi-Ayunre,Ibadan

road, approach them; if they are willing to come to the home, please contact us. The home is free for them.

“If we may go further like Oliver Twist, we appreciate what you have brought but we are in need of accommodation. We have only seven rooms and we are 16

already. Because of accommodation, we have to convert one of our stores to a room.

“Even if you come as a group and tell use you want to extend this place by two rooms, we will appreciate it. Our essential needs are food, drugs and accommodation.”

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New prison chief to tackle congestion

HE outgoing ComptrollerGeneral of Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Mr. Olusola Ogundipe has disclosed that the prison population is now 50, 692.

According to Ogundipe, 36, 271 are awaiting trial and 14, 475 have been convicted.

Speaking in Abuja at the formal handover ceremony to the new Comptroller-General Mr. Zakari Ohinoyi, Ogundipe said major challenges which have been confronting the service over the years are how to tackle prison congestion, staff and inmates’ welfare and general improvement of the service.

Ogundipe’s letter of voluntary retirement after 34 years of service was approved by President Goodluck Jonathan with effect from January 1, 2012.

He said: “I wish to refer to Mr. President’s approval for me to proceed on voluntary retirement after 34 years of meritorious service to the country.

Having served as the ComptrollerGeneral of Prisons as appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on June, 30, 2006, I hereby handover the superintendence of the Nigerian Prisons Service to you.

“The Nigerian Prisons Service being handed over to you today is comprises a prison population of about 50, 692 inmates made up of 14, 475 convicted persons and 36, 217 persons on remand awaiting trial, 234 prisons and a staff strength of 29, 264. The salaries of staff have been paid up to December, 2011 while funds have been sent to various states and schools for the payment of prisoners’ ration for the months of October 2011 and December 2011.

“The service is, however, indebted to some contractors for various capital projects executed in 2010 due to the

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

withholding of some capital funds by government. As a result of this challenge, no new capital contract was awarded in 2011. Rather, capital funds released were being used to offset some of the liabilities.”

On the challenged facing the service, Ogundipe said: “The major policy thrust of my administration in the past five and half years has essentially been on the teething challenges confronting the service over the years. We have been particularly concerned with prison congestion, staff and inmates’ welfare and general improvement of the service.”

The new Comptroller-General vowed to continue the good work of his predecessor in ensuring that positive changes are further witnessed in the service.

According to Ibrahim, his first priority is to ensure adequate security within and outside the service.

He praised Ogundipe, adding that he would be remembered for so many developmental projects especially the permanent headquarters built during his administration.

Ogundipe later addressed officers of the service on the need to give the new prison chief maximum corporation without bias, adding that the most important thing is to ensure that the service grows.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

30

Ogun begins construction of link roads I

•Governor Amosun

N its bid to open up link roads and ensure free flow of vehicular movement on its roads, the Ogun State government has begun work on the construction of two strategic link roads in the state.

The roads are Ibara G.R.A.(beside former OGBC complex) road linking Onikolobo road in Abeokuta and Agbato Drive also known as Ositelu road in Ogere Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking on the projects, the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arc.OlamilekanAdegbite said the roads are the first set of link roads to be constructed by the Senator Amosun- led administration to ease traffic jams and stress often encountered by motorists plying the roads.

Ondo Lawmaker urge dialogue over strike A

Senator representing Ondo North District, Prof Ajayi Boroffice has urged the Federal Government to open up discussions with the organised labour to end the prevailing strike.

He expressed disgust at the untold hardship the dispute on the removal of oil subsidy has brought to Nigerian masses Speaking to Newsextra, Senator Boroffice who recently defected to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said the crisis between the Labour and Federal Government had not done any good to Nigeria and its citizenry.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, said the leadership of the upper chamber had been mandated to intervene in the dispute.

He however said “I share in the pains of Nigerians, but will advise that the two warring parties should find amicable resolution to the crisis at hand.”

The lawmaker noted that although protest is the only instrument visible to the people to express their grievances, he admonished Nigerians to shelve the protest and embrace dialogue.

This, according to him, was because of its effects on the citizenry.

Senator Boroffice condoled with the family

Ekiti

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

of those who died in the protest and advised the security operatives to be more civil with the people.

He praised the peaceful manner the protesters, the labour leaders and security officers in Ondo State had conducted themselves, stressing that all stakeholders demonstrated maturity in their affairs.

The senator sympathised with Nigerian workers particularly those in the state for the development,stressing that the development was unfortunate.

Also, Ondo State lawmaker, Hon Olatunji Dairo called for understanding between the Federal Government and Labour movement.

Dairo, who is the Chief Whip of the State Assembly said “deregulation is necessary but the timing is defective”.

According to him: “Palliatives should have come first before deregulation, even the 1,600 buses are not enough for two local government areas talkless of the whole 36 states”

Fuel subsidy: Youth Council seeks probe of petroleum sector

Ogun

T

Adegbite said when the roads are completed, one would serve as a link between Trailer Park along Lagos – Ibadan Expressway and Ogere Remo town while the second one would help those who want to avoid Ibara Round About and Panseke road traffic jams.

The commissioner also disclosed that the two roads are expected to be delivered within six weeks and are being handled by indigenous contractors who will also patronise local people for their materials and labour and thereby provide employment for people around the two areas.

Fire destroys park

F

IRE has burnt the Durumi Recreational Park, Abuja, destroying its administrative building and security

post.

Mr Festus Imozemeh, Principal Fire Officer in the Federal Fire Service, told journalists that the fire fron bush burning spread quickly because structures in the premises had thatched roofs.

He said the service was contacted immediately the incident and the fire fighters were in the premises within ten minutes. He warned the public against bush burning and advised the land owners within the area to clear the bush around their plots.

•Fromm left: Mr Jerome Dagun (Abuja), Mr Lucky Oriaburie,Area Manager North,Fidson Healthcare Plc and Mr. Idris Umar,(Niger) at Fidson Healthcare Plc 2012 National Sales Conference in Ogun State

T

HE Fundamental Rights League International, an NGO, has urged the Federal Government not to share the expected savings from fuel subsidy removal but rather use the money in building infrastructure through the Kolade/Kontagora committee.

Mr Mike Umezulike, Chairman of the group, told journalists in Onitsha, that the over 250 members of the group unanimously support the

H • From right: Prof Tajudeen Gbadamosi; renowned scholar Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi'I; and National Missioner Fatiu Quareeb Society of Nigeria Sheikh AbdurRahman Adangba at a rally in Lagos.

Youths urged to embrace agric

T

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

“Government should show genuine concerns to tackle corruption and reduce the high cost of governance and political waste in order to gain trust of the masses as broadcast by Mr. President.

“The decision of the government is the best for the nation as it will revamp the various sectors of our economy by stimulating foreign investment, creating employment at will, put food on the table of an average Nigerian and setting our economy on the path of greatness.

“We have decided to give this government time; if it deviates, we will also tackle them accordingly.”

The council also advised the Federal Government to begin all palliative measures necessary to cushion the effect of the hardship on the masses which, it claimed, was created by the

•Minister Of Petroleum Resources Deziani Alison-Madueke removal of fuel subsidy such as licensing and construction of more Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation mega stations across the country and increase the number of government assisted mass transit scheme buses launched by the President.

lead to leakages and wastages due to prevailing level of corruption in the country.

He said that splitting the money would also deny Nigerians the benefits of subsidy removal as its benefits would not get to the people it was intended for.

Chairman/Supervisor for Environment; Goodhope Anosike, Market and Revenue Generation; Moji Lawal, Health; Olasode Kamaldeen, Education; Rasheed Subair, Agriculture; Amos Bruno, Works; Onishile Oshinkoya, Budget and Planning; Muritala Jimoh, Boundary and Chieftaincy Affairs; Dupe Oniyitan, Women Affairs; Owolabi Adele, SLG & NFA; Ben Mokunwye, Special Duties and Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS).

Rights group to prosecute killer of Osun protester

HE Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Gbolahan Lawal has urged youths in the state to invest their time in skill acquisition through agriculture. He said they should be job creators instead of job seekers. This is because of the recent growth in the economy requires more hands to feed the nation.

According to him, only government cannot drive an economy, there is the need for investors.

The commissioner said this at a career workshop put together by Business Development Agency Fellowship with the collaboration of the Fountain of Life Church in Lagos recently.

He said due to current increase in population, there is pressure on the government to provide food, shelter, employment and good healthcare and it is now clear that government cannot do everything. Therefore,youths are challenged to pursue entrepreneurship as a development strategy.

Lawal said that what is uppermost in the mind of Lagos State government is to increase funding to assist any youth ready to go into agriculture. This can be fish farming, pig farming as Eko farmers for instance, sells fresh farm products to the public.

He enjoined parents to always encourage their children to be farmers, saying this will make them have a better future. He added that a sound transformation in agriculture will

Abuja

Apapa supervisors pledge service

T

By Musa Odoshimokhe

•Alhaja Sherifat Ajiboye with the council chairman, Prince Hamza Ajiboye donating wheelchair to a disable person

government decision to remove the fuel subsidy but were against outright sharing of the savings among the three tiers of government.

Umezulike advised that rather than share the savings, such funds should channeled directly into monumental development projects.

According to him, splitting the money will

HE newly appointed supervisors in Apapa Local Government, Lagos State have pledged to contribute their quota to ensuring speedy development of the council area and its teeming people.

They made the pledge during their swearing in by the council chairman, Mr. Ayodeji Joseph, who in turn sought their cooperation to do more for the council area and its people..

The supervisors are: Bola Dada, Vice

Lagos

any quarters irrespective of their religious or political affiliation.”

“We have started and as you can see we will ensure equal distribution and that is how it will continue we won’t neglect anybody, as for the youth will call you for the empowerment programme because no development community that want to make impact can afford to toy with its youth.”

The council chairman maintained that plans have been concluded to procure equipments to meet the various vocations that the youth were likely to engage in and would equally be assisted to learn trades of their choice but stressed that the council was not buoyant enough to meet all these challenges and urged private sector to also look at the same direction.

Some of the beneficiaries who applauded the effort of government in taking them off the streets encourage beneficiaries to show appreciation by doing exactly what government had wanted them to do.

HE National Youth Council of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to begin immediate probe and sanitisation of the petroleum sector to restore public confidence in the system.

The group, however, supported the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry.

The Deputy President of NYCN, Dr. Dickson Akoh and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Abiola Hamid, who spoke with journalists before the commencement of a progovernment rally advised organised labour not to see the removal of petrol subsidy as an opportunity to test strength with the Federal Government.

The NYCN said:“The Federal Government should immediately commence serious probing and sanitisation of the oil sector in order to ensure proper utilisation of the funds accruable the deregulation policy.

Group urges govt not to share subsidy savings

Ogbomoso council empowers the less-privileged T

HE infirm, aged and disabled in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State were in high spirit last week as the wife the caretaker Chairman of the council Alhaja Serifat Ajiboye empowered them.

The wife of the council chairman explained that the empowerment programme would not only take them off the street but prevent them from begging for alms.

She said her action was in line with the programme of the wife of the state governor Mrs Florence Ajimobi.She said Senator Abiola Ajimobi had mandated them to embark on programmes to alleviate the suffering of the widow, less privileged and the disabled in their respective local governments.

She said: “This programme will be a continuous programme, we won’t stop it and we won’t politicise it. We want people in this category to enjoy life like every other human being without being a burden or dependant on other people”.

Also speaking the council chairman, Ajiboye said: “The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is a party that revels in the welfare of the people and in truth. Let me assure the people of Ogbomoso that this development will not elude

35

Lagos

By Charity Williams

engender economic growth. He therefore advised the church to invest in agriculture to accelerate growth.

Briefly

Motorcyclists join strike MOTORCYCLE transport operators in Ikorodu, a suburb of Lagos, last week refused to carry passengersto demonstrate their opposition to the nationwide strike.

The operators’ annoyance was that the fuel subsidy removal has stifled their source of livelihood.

During the protest, the operators said they had been made the pawns in the fuel subsidy dispute between labour and the Federal Government.

Motorcycle operators protest which started late on Wednesday affected mostly Bayeku, Oreta, Ebutete, Igbogb, Aga and Grammar School areas of Ikorodu.

Samuel Oke, an operator who bemoaned their situation, also urged government to dialogue with the organisation and revert to N65 per litre.

“Government should return the subsidy because grass roots people will suffer most,” Oke said.

Oke said that their situation was precarious because most of the operators were only taken advantage of the Ikorodu population to relaunch themselves.

UMAN rights groups in Osun State have vowed to prosecute the killer of Mojeed Raheem a.k.a. Apanpa, a muscian, allegedly matcheted last week while participating in anti-fuel subsidy removal protest in Osogbo.

Visited on the day of the attack led by the Southwest Zonal Coordinator and Osun State Chairman of the Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, the human rights groups spoke with the victim and had his confessional statement of how he was allegedly matcheted by Lawrence popularly called D Law. The rights group while visiting the bereaved family of Mojeed assured them that they would get justice.

Osun From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

The rights groups said the victim’s recorded statement before his death would be part of the evidences to be used to prosecute murder case.

Mojeed’s corpse still lies in the mortuary of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

The police source said the investigation still continues while the suspected killer of Mojeed is still in detention.

Deregulation: Govt sets up youth sensitisation committees

T

OWARDS garnering the support of Nigerians for fuel subsidy removal and deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, the Federal Government has set up youth sensitisation committees.

Addressing the youths in Abuja last week , the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ahmed Ali Gulak said that the committees, which are to cover all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will organise town hall meetings in each of the state capitals.

The committees, he said, are expected to sell the programmes of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, especially on the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry to Nigerians.

He said: “The membership of these committees was carefully selected by your leaders. The membership of these committees will sit down and come up with the venues in each of the state capital cities and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The committees are set up because of the confidence Mr. President has on the Nigerian youths. You are to enlighten the general public on the policies and programmes of this administration. To tell the public the projects Mr.

Abuja From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

President is ready and willing to execute.”

“We will equip you properly. We will give you the tools to deliver the goods. You will meet to decide on the venue, date and time for the town hall meetings. The time has come that we should not allow ourselves to be used by these men. The time has come that we must preach peace and unity. The time has come that Nigerian students must say no to Boko Haram,” he added.

Meanwhile, a group known as the Nigerian Unemployed Youth Vanguard has thrown its weight behind the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja , the National Coordinator of the Group, Adodo Solomon maintained that subsidising petroleum products over the years has worked against meaningful creation of employment for the youths.

According to him, deregulation of the sector will go a long way to fight corruption in the Nigerian economy.

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties Dr. Aderemi Desalu, Leader of the Lagos State Cadet of the Nigerian Defence Academy Cadet Pedro Akinkunmi, Representative of the Governor and Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed and other cadets officer during a coutesy visit to the governor .

NGO empowers 30 students

F

OR Taiwo Adenekan, the founder of Solution Founders , it is unnecessary going about begging for job. Instead, he believes every graduate from secondary or higher institution has the potential to feed him or herself. That is why he decided to start the skill vocational training programme. He trained the students on event planning and decoration, cake baking and decoration , snacks and bakery , beads making among others. ‘’In these days of unemployment where graduates are turned out every year and thrown into the labour market, I believe each man has his own talent to exhibit and what he only needs to do is to meet the right person to put them through.” .

He said further: ’’ Thousands of students graduate every year but few companies are available to employ them, even the employed are now being dismissed in the name of cost saving .Where then is the hope of for our youth?

In the face of joblessness , poverty is inevitable , the poor cries in pain , the rich wallows in fear , for there is no maximum security. We cannot continue to fold our hands and watch the future destroyed , that is why we embark on this project to help the youth and avoid them from being introduced into prostitution, robbery and other dirty things.’’

•Mr Adenekan(middle) with the graduands

Lagos Funmi Kasunmu, one of the beneficiaries, said she is a Part Three National Diploma student studying Business Administration , and believes she needs to quickly do the four-month training to enable her to be self employed before and after graduation.

Rita Ojukwu, who is a staff of Youghurt Metropical Company producing juice and other drinks , said she is happy to be one of the beneficiaries. She said: ‘’ I have learnt how to do this , for one cannot tell what the future would say .I want to have the real practical knowledge and know the nitty-gritty of these things’’ .

For Ogunrinola Motunrayo who is in SS1 Isolo Comprehensive High School it is a welcome development.

Ogunrinola Abayomi who has completed his secondary school and still seeking admission to higher institution said he has known how to be an event planner and this will soon be a source of income for him.

Akangbe Oluwaseun and Isaiah Moses who are also beneficiaries described the training as a big opportunity, they both chorused that they did not pay money to acquire the skill.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

CITYBEATS THE NATION

E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

31

Lagosians have responded with great enthusiasm to the protest against the removal of petrol subsidy. Now, they are already showing signs of stress as the domestic cost of coping with the exercise soars, write YINKA ADERIBIGBE, OKOEKI OZIEGBE AND MIRIAM NDIKANWU

T

HE worried look on the face of Feranmi Adekunle tells the story of his pains.

Since the protest against petrol subsidy removal started last Monday, he had not worked. To someone who relied upon whatever he does per day, having nothing to do is bad news.

A plumber, Adekunle, father of six, relied on the patronage of his clients, most of whom live in his neighbourhood, for his daily subsistence.

“My greatest challenge now is how to continue to take care of my family. Though my wife no longer prepares any food until mid-day, since the protest began, yet providing them two meals a day has become a great ‘battle’. We are running short of food supply and we do not have any hope of replenishing our stock as I have run out of cash,” Adekunle said.

Mr Sylvanus Ademike, a commercial motorcyclist, is another. Unable to cope with the

Lagosians recount pains of strike, protests threat posed by hunger, Ademike, hit the street last Wednesday.

Taking this correspondent from Agege to Oshodi, he said: “I have been home since Monday, but when I realised I may soon run out of cash, I had to come out for business.”

A middle aged man was seen almost prostrating for an okada rider at Agege, as he begged to be assisted to Ikeja, the city’s capital.

“I had nothing left in the house and I had to go to Ikeja to see a friend who I hope would be able to assist me. Without this I have no hope of taking care of my family,” the

middle aged man who craved anonymity told CityBeats.

Findings showed that many families across the state are already showing signs of stress as the ongoing mass protest against the fuel price increase as a result of the removal of subsidy on the premium motor spirit (PMS), hit day four last Thursday.

A house wife, Mrs Clara Nwaeje, was more graphic.

According to her, she has had to rely on the goodwill of neighbours to survive. A divorcee mother of four, and a trader, she said making ends meet has been a burden since

• Protesters at the late Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota last Thursday

the protest began. “I have been having it rough taking care of my family,” she said.

Mrs Nwaeje said she had to make do with selling at night and the proceeds is what she uses to take care of the children the following day.

Though virtually all prices had quadrupled since the removal of subsidy was announced on January 1, several households have been going through hell since Labour began the civil protest in demand for a repeal of the policy.

Many residents confessed that the ongoing protest caught them off-

guard and they are finding it difficult to feed.

Their worries had been compounded by the inability to assess money. Workers who had expected that the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to work at a period such as this had been disappointed. Many families are becoming frustrated as prices of food items have hit the roof since the action began last Monday.

Among others, prices of staple food items such as bread, oats meals, noodles, cassava flour (popularly called gaari, as well as frozen diary products, such as fish, chicken, turkey and soup ingredients, kerosene, or that of recharge cards have increased in the last few days as retailers complained of scarcity. Mostly hit among others are MTN recharge cards. Most people who are tired of staying at home have resorted to patronising beer parlours and other drinking joints to burn away SEE PAGE 32

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Bank customers bemoan ATM failure

FOMWAN hails Nigerians

Lawyers, youth mourn man killed at Ogba

BANK customers are complaining about the collapse of the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Customers said the failure of the ATMs to dispense cash had compounded the pains experienced during the strike.

A business executive, who simply identified himself as Oladele told CityBeats last Thursday that he had driven round major banks in Ikeja, Akowonjo, Ogba and Agege areas, all in an attempt to collect a little cash from his account but to no avail.

A bank official, however, argued that the failure observed at most ATMs might not be unconnected with the large withdrawals by customers.

THE Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Lagos Chapter, has praised Nigerians for their resilience during the fuel price strike.

A statement signed by FOMWAN Amirah, Alhaja Fatimat Gawat, said the group as women and mothers share in the struggle of NLC, TUC and other Nigerians.

Alhaja Gawat urged President Goodluck Jonathan to listen to wise advice by making life meaningful for Nigerians.

"We also appeal to the police to be more professional in handling the situation at hand.

Miscreants and looters should be dealt with not innocent citizens," she said.

FAMILY members, friends, human rights activists and lawyers last Wednesday organised a rally to mourn Ademola Abiodun Aderinto,who was allegedly killed by the divisional officer of PenCinema Police Station, CSP Segun Fabunmi, at Yaya Abatan junction in Ogba, last Monday.

The Ikeja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) said it would ensure that justice is done and the case is not swept under the carpet.

The branch President, Adebamigbe Omole, said: "We have decided to demand for a coroner's inquest to take the issue out of the jurisdiction of the police. We assure you that we will follow the case to a logical conclusion to ensure that justice is done."

Omole, however, urged witnesses to come forward and testify when the inquest begins as, according to him, cases are won by evidence.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

32

CITYBEATS Pains of strike, protests • Continued from page 31

their boredom.

A school proprietress, Mrs Taiwo Ogunbiyi, described the removal of petroleum subsidy and the attendant protest against it by the masses of the people is a new year present that is in bad taste for majority of Nigerians. “Most Nigerians who are self-employed are at a loss over the present situation. The repeated appeals of the government for the people to bear with the pump price increase have become unacceptable as it has pushed the prices so high, beyond the reach of the common man,” she said.

A legal practitioner, Mr Abayomi Osibanjo, described the situation as a reflection of the popular anger against bad policies.

“The policy affects every one of us and the leaders must listen to the people. What is going on now is worse than the military era, because this government is worse than the military era, and we just pray that it does not degenerate.

“President Jonathan should have consulted widely before coming up with this decision. This is going to be a big problem constitutionally,” Osibanjo said.

He praised the courage of Nigerians who still continue to protest government’s insensitivity, adding that it would have been much more impactful to have people coming with things that will enable them to stay overnight. “That way, the government will realise that we

Nigerians rise against insensitive policy

m e a n business.”

A student, Mr K i n g s l e y Akande, who was at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park with a sleeping mat, said his plan was to continue to sleep at the park until the end of the protest.

It was total compliance across the metropolis as offices, shops, markets, banks and all other businesses premises remain shut.

Lagosians converged on the late Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, where speakers denounced the evil of the government’s action on the masses and demanded a reversal to the old price of N65.

Labour and other civil society coalition under the aegis of Lagos State Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) had threatened the protest might go on indefinitely until government acceded to its demand.

A member of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Akintunde Adedeji, urged the people to brace up and patiently fight this to its logical conclusion.

“We have long forseen that the government would be recalcitrant and unwilling to reverse the pump price to its old rate and we are prepared to fight this to the very last. We all should brace up for a prolonged protest against forces of oppression who are bent on destroying the nation. How could a man who claimed he had no shoes be so bent on making sure we all have no shoes again, because that is what this policy is out to ensure. Nigerians in clear terms have said no and they would

1. Fire and Safety Services Control Room Phone Nos: 01-7944929; 080-33235892; 080-33235890; 08023321770; 080-56374036.

no longer be For taken for granted by a tiny citizens, clique who fatigue is belong to the already ruling elite who are out to ensure setting in the majority continue to live in penury,” Comrade Adedeji said.

For those who couldn’t have the means to stockpile foodstuffs that will last more than two days, hunger had begun to set in. Even those who have the wherewithal to stockpile foodstuff have started to show signs of stress as the strike entered its fourth day.

Families who have run out of foodstuff are living on basic essentials like soaking garri with groundnut, bread and tea or just eating bread dry.

Though the family of John Udofia, who resides at Gowon Estate, Egbeda still had foodstuffs such as rice, yam, Semovita etc at home, the problem of the family is how to get ingredients such as pepper, tomato, onions and other perishables for soup or stew to go with these foodstuffs.

“For me and my wife we could manage anything, what of the children? Do you expect them to soak garri or live on tea and bread three times a day; that will be asking for trouble because it will certainly affect their health,” he said.

For families who stick to a regime of balanced diet daily, they definitely cannot maintain that at this period as they have to make do with whatever is available; the implication of the change in feeding on the health of such families can only be imagined. It may, therefore, not come as a surprise if the hospitals and clinics are inundated with increased number of patients in the next few days and weeks after the protest.

But the inconveniences were not left to food alone, for those whose jobs require them to be on the move all the time, they have had their rights abridged as vehicular movement was also grounded.

For those on essential services who must report to duty daily, it has been a tale of woes. Even those who have cars or motorcycles could hardly get fuel as there are no filling stations to dispense fuel. This is even inspite of the risk of running into wild protesters. So, they have to make do with trekking long distances to their working places.

Mr Bernard Pepple, who resides at Gowon Estate but has his office at Ikeja, has Okada riders to thank on Monday when he drove his SUV out of the estate to carry out a job in his office. According to him, “as I wanted to join the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Dopemu under-bridge, I saw Okada riders coming from the Ikeja end and they were waving and telling me to go back, that was how I quickly beat a retreat”, Pepple said.

For him, what is going on makes the sayings that “when two elephants fight only the grass suffer” to ring true, what many Lagosians are praying for, however, is a quick end to an avoidable suffering unleashed on them by ‘an insensitive and an unfeeling’ President.

• Ms Funmi Iyanda (2nd right) with other protesters

•Another section of angry protesters

•From left: A lawyer, Mr Wasiu Amoo; Leader of the House, Alimosho Local Government, AbdulJelili Sulaiman; Founder, Oshodi Noble Heritage Otunba Akeem Opadijo and Director, HURIDEP, Oluremi Olaleye, at 'a millionman special Jumat service' on the removal of fuel subsidy at Ojota, Lagos ... last Friday.

EMERGENCY LINES 2. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Lagos Zonal Command Phone No: 080-77690200; 01-7742771 Sector Commander Phone No: 080-776909201; 01-2881304 FRSC Emergency No: 070-022553772

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6. Health Services – LASAMBUS Ambulance Services Phone Nos: 01-4979844; 01-4979866; 01-4979899; 01-4979888; 01-2637853-4; 080-33057916; 080-33051918-9; 080-29000003-5.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

33

CITYBEATS FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Foundation empowers widows

S

UCCOUR came the way of about 500 widows in Lagos State when Hydra Edge Foundation distributed gift items and N50, 000 each to them to start up small scale businesses.

Founder of the foundation and wife of Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation,Mrs Abiodun Opeifa, while distributing the items to beneficiaries in Agege, said the move was to assist the widows considering the

‘

We have had cases where some women would pretend to be widows but during the course of interview, we discover that they are impostors

’

By Miriam Ndikanwu

hardship that confronts them.

She said it was the second time the foundation would be doling out N50,000 to some widows to start up small scale business, adding that 10 widows benefitted from the scheme last year.

She said a community bank had been selected to guide them so that they would not use the money for something else, unless to start up a small scale business.

"We have many widows coming here all the time and it showed that the programme has made the desired impact. What we give them is not enough as the poverty rate in this country is very high.

“We have handled the case of 29-year-old widow, with three kids and no job. All beneficiaries are given rice and garri,” she stated.

Opeifa said the foundation

was seriously seeking for support from other Nigerians to keep the programme going.

Co-ordinator of the Hydra Community Project, Mr Babatunde Jeje, explained that the beneficiaries of the scheme were selected after rigorous interviews to ascertain their areas of needs.

"We have had cases where some women would pretend to be widows but during the course of interview, discover they are impostors. We also have vocational training centres where the widows were taught how to make soap and other household needs,” he stated.

One of the widows, Mrs Biodun Ariyo, who lost her husband three years ago, praised Hydra Edge Foundation for the gesture.

She said her plan was to set up a small grocery store through which she would meet the daily needs of her family.

• Mrs Opeifa presenting a cheque to one of the beneficiaries

T

Council swears in new exco members

EN people among them, the wife of the

Managing Director of Lagos State Environmental Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Oluyemisi Oke-Osanyintolu, were last Sunday sworn-in by the Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke. The 10-man team is made up of seven Supervisory Councillors and three Special Advisers.

The oath of office and oath of allegiance were served on them by the council's Legal Officer, Mrs Olayinka Gbosanya.

Oke charged the new executive members to make hard work their watch word.

The ceremony was witnessed by top party chieftains led by the IfakoIjaiye ACN chairman, Chief Akin Fadayomi; Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, among others.

Oke said: “I do not want you to regard your appointment as a reward

By Yinka Aderibigbe

from your godfather or political leaders, but a call to serve the people of IfakoIjaiye and to further prove to them that our party has the materials needed to push this council forward."

Oke, who said he is tired of operating as a sole administrator of the council, explained that the new team would strengthen his resolve to fast-track development in the council.

He called on the team members to bring their wealth of experience on board.

Oke said the new exco should be aware that they are being monitored by the leadership of the party, even as he charged all to be committed to his six point agenda to revamp the fortunes of the council.

Oke, who a l s o assigned portfolios to t h e appointees immediately, said he

Make hardwork your watch word

would want them to swing into action immediately as "there is a lot of work to be done in the council.”

Among those appointed are: Dr Oluyemisi OkeOsanyintolu (Secretary to the Local Government); Mr Femi Babayemi (Works and Housing); Alhaji Adeyemi Lawal ( Education and Library Services); Adewale Taofeek Olayinka, (Environment); and Mr Adeyinka Adewale, (Primary Health Care).

Other supervisory councillors are: Alhaji Wahab Kareem, (Agriculture and Cooperatives) and Mrs Funmi Akerele, (Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation).

On the list of Special Advisers are Mrs Ladun Adesoye Odeleye, (Budget and Statistics); Mr Abiodun Akinola, (Market and revenue generation) and Mr Femi Afikuyomi, (Chieftaincy Affairs, boundary adjustments and cultural matters).

Personalities at the event were members of the traditional council, officials of the council, council’s lawmakers led by the majority leader Niyi Fadare and party chieftains and friends of the appointees.

• The gifts

Alaba Market holds thanksgiving service

U

SUALLY, traders at the Alaba International Market, Lagos always gather at the end of the year to give thanks to God for an outgoing year and commit the coming one into His hand.

But this year’s event witnessed by the traders, their executives as well as customers and visitors at the market witnessed two unique events. First, the celebration of a partnership with Visafone, which offers the market a package called the close user group (CUG), that allows them to call each other at very cheap rates monthly.

Second, is the instant raffle draw, which was created by the market association to make people happy as much as they can.

Initially, four items were planned to be won, but the items rose to 11 electronic products such as Samsung1,000 horse power AC, 32 inch LCD, 250 litres- polystar desktop refrigerator, 22 inch 95 tv, etc, donated by traders. “These are products we are proud of and the owners donated them for the raffle draw purpose,” explained the Chairman of the market association, Dr Celestine Ezeani.

He said the market has come up with a magazine that would be printed thrice a year. The first edition would come up during Easter; the other, in August, which will coincide with the

By Tonia Diyan

anniversary of the incumbent regime and finally in December. He assured that there will be raffle draws during these events and every body is free to participate, regardless of who you are and where you are from as long as the magazine is bought and the coupon is filled out.

Ezeani said the magazine is meant to ginger the reading culture of Alaba traders. It is also an avenue to push back those things that have been forgotten about the market.

According to the Chairman, the magazine which is sold for N100 has the raffle draw coupon, which is to be filled, detached and returned. It has a space for phone numbers so people can be reached even when they cannot be present at the event.

“These magazines are not limited to Alaba market alone, but can also be got from vendors. We have subsidised it so as to accommodate the vendors. So, the same rate they get from the daily papers, is what we are offering them.

"My dream is to leave the association better than I met it.And as far as I am concerned, I haven't done anything yet. I have issues burning in my heart and the few you have seen is just part of it. We have done the total

•The PRO, Zimako Anayo

inter locking of the market, we have painted the whole shops in uniform colour. Trying to bring out the international standard we desired here. ‘’We want to bring back the lost glory. For instance, raffle draws have been organised in this market where people won prizes, but never got to see those prizes. When we do the next one, people would have more confidence having seen this one. ‘’These are things I want to leave better than I met.

Because I still have many b u rning issues, I am not satisfied yet, “ he added.

The monthly fellowship group was also commended for encouraging traders to show appreciation to God at the end of every month locking up their shops worship.

Council chief debunks IG's claims over HE Chairman of Lagos victim been captured by the camera and other people Ifako-Ijaiye Local

T

Government, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, has debunked claims by the Inspector-General of Police that Demola Aderinto, shot by the police on Monday was part of the hoodlums that had gone to attack the Pen Cinema Police station.

Oke, who spoke while addressing a press conference , said facts available to Nigerians run contrary to the views of the IGP. He said: "Nothing could be further from the truth.

The incident never happened at Pen Cinema,

By Yinka Aderibigbe

it happened at Yaya Abatan and this was confirmed even by the Commissioner of Police, who came out to accept guilt and assured Lagosians that justice would be done.

"I am in no way surprised th at the IGP would be trying to protect his own, that is the man who has been given the assignment of securing lives and property of Nigerians and has not been able to do so.

“If he now begins to concort fresh evidence, after the incident have

across the state, I would not be surprised.

“Nobody can twist this case. The fact is that this is not a case that can be swept under the carpet. The CSP who did this was known and as at Monday, he was arrested. ‘’Nigerians and, indeed, the family of the dead would like to know how this case would be handled."

He charged the media to join the state government in mounting pressure on the government to prosecute the trigger happy cop.

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

34

CITYBEATS

QUOTE

OF THE WEEK “I commend the spirit that all of us have demonstrated to express our displeasure at a policy that affects our lives. I also recognise that from time to time, we will have the need to be displeased about actions that government takes on our behalf.”

Governor Babatunde Fashola, speaking on the ongoing protest last week

Foundation fetes children at Yuletide

N

0 fewer than 70 orphans have been treated to a party by the Underprivileged Children's Care (UCC), a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO).

The party, which was part of the end of year activity of the NGO, featured children from four charity homes, namely: His Grace Children Home, Head High International Organisation, Atundaolu School for the Physically and Mentally Challenged Children and Citadel of Grace Orphanage Home.

The children, who spent the afternoon with the business magnate, Chief Ahmed Onibudo, (UCC's founder) who turned 72 on December 30 also went away with lots of freebies.

The appreciative children entertained guests with songs and poems. The children from Head High International Organisation, stood out with the presentation of the gospel song Opomulero. Children from Citadel of Grace Orphanage Home were also outstanding with their motivational poetry rendition.

According to Chief Onibudo, the feast is a yearly. He said the foundation gives succour to orphans and charity homes. “This year, UCC gave each of these homes a bag of rice and financial donation worth about N200, 000,” he said.

Onibudo said he was inspired to establish the foundation due to the increasing number of underprivileged children in the country.

"There are lots of children suffering without

•Chief Onibudo cutting his birthday cake with the children

By Evelyn Osagie

any help. I also observed that their number is increasing everyday. If nothing is done about it, I am afraid Nigeria could be in a big mess in the future. This motivated me to establish a foundation that would bring succour to as many of them as possible. I felt I owed it to God who has helped me. And by His grace, this event has been on for 10 years now."

He praised the founders and staff of the homes for taking care of the children, noting that it is a gesture that is rare in these times.

"We are happy to have you all here,

celebrating with us. Keep up the good work.

You are looking after other people's children, may God give you the grace to care for them as you should. And may He care for your children also."

The charities expressed joy over the gesture, saying it would go a long way in aiding their work. The Principal, Atundaolu School for the Physically and Mentally Challenged Children, Mrs Titi Oyebanji, said the event has a positive effect on the children.

"We have been beneficaiaries of UCC's gesture, initiated by Chief Onibudo for over six years now. Our children are always looking forward to the party every year. It

gives them a sense of belonging. They feel loved and accepted. For the school, this yearly gesture contributes to the upliftment of our school and helps us make more impact. We wish him good health, long life and more progress for UCC." The founder, Citadel of Grace Orphanage Home, Mrs Christy Iyile, said: "Our experience with UCC over the years has been wonderful.

It makes our Christmas fulfilling every year.

My kids also look forward to it."

The event was attended by staff of the four charities, friends and families of UCC, including the Managing Director of Dame Publications, Mr Lanre Idowu.

Lawmaker donates food items to aged, widows

I

T was a memorable day for the widows and aged in Oshodi/Isolo 2 constituency recently, as the lawmaker representing the constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet organised a special Christmas/New Year feast for them.

At the ceremony held at the Rotary Club Hall, LSDPC Estate, Isolo, the lawmaker donated food items ranging from rice to groundnut oil, Cassava flour (gari), semovita and others to hundreds of widows and aged people in her constituency.

According to Mrs Olatunji-Edet, the gesture was in appreciation to God for keeping her alive, adding that she

• Cross section of participants

By Oziegbe Okoeki

discovered that, "we always end up celebrating people, who are not worth celebrating," which she said was the situation she met on ground.

"I felt we needed to assist those who cannot even reciprocate our gesture. That was why I put together a Christmas package for people who cannot afford to celebrate, especially, the widows and the aged. If you look around, you will see that they are people who cannot afford it," she said.

On how the beneficiaries were selected, the politician, who is the Chairman of House Committee on Establishment and Training,

stated that Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II is very large, but beneficiaries were selected from all the 13 wards in the area. In all, about 500 people were selected. Though, the event was attended by about 1,000 people, Olatunji-Edet assured that they would all leave the place with something.

“We incorporated everybody, we distributed forms through the CDAs, CDCs, Muslim community, Christian community and the rest, we didn't limit it to party membership or politicians,” she said.

The lawmaker advised her colleagues to join the train, saying it is something they have to do, "when you leave, people would want to talk about you, if you are good, they

will talk about you, if you are not, you cannot make them to say what did not happen. It is what you do that posterity will judge", she said.

Mrs Olatunji-Edet promised that the programme will not stop and that it would be held twice a year; during Easter period and at the end of the year.

On the soft loan she gave out to some traders a few months back, the lawmaker revealed that the re-payment has been slow, but that the next one would be coming up soon.

The lawmaker condemned the bombings in the country, stating that if the perpetrators placed value on human lives, they would not do such things. “I want to believe that those doing these are not spirits, they are human beings. I want to speak to their conscience that this is inhuman, it is devilish.

Why take the life you cannot give, so many innocent people are killed. My heart bleeds anytime it happens, and I ask myself, how long is this going to last, can't we address it?

If you know the culprits, fish them out, are we going to govern people after we have killed them, then who are we going to govern," she queried.

She called on President Goodluck Jonathan to rise up and do something about Boko Haram, while advising the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) not to react violently, but to pray that God should touch their hearts.'

One of the beneficiaries, Elder Emmanuel Akinwunmi Philips said it was a pleasure to be part of the programme. He praised Mrs Olatunji-Edet for organising this kind of programme. “Many people thought she would not win the election in April, but as one of the elders in this community, I told them she would win. Anything I say is final though I am not a pastor. In this area, they call me 'Baba wi be jebe'. I am not a miracle worker. I am not a pastor, but it is good to speak the truth,” he stated.

Elder Philips advised politicians to tell the truth always, adding that most of them are liars, which is why they die so young.

SEND YOUR STORIES AND PICTURES TO CITY BEATS at ynotcitybeats@gmail.com OR SEND AN SMS TO 08033054340

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

36

Council rehabilitates Ibadan roads

R

ESIDENTS of local communities within Ibadan North Local Government Area are in for a better deal in the New Year as the council has begun construction and rehabilitation of rural and city roads.

For a council located at the heart of the city, the local government is home to a mixture of the elite and local residents. For instance, it houses Agodi, Bodija and Ikolaba estates while at the same time accommodates Oje, Alli-Iwo and Yemetu communities.

Hence, as much as it is reconstructing huge bridges and roads destroyed during the August 26 last year flood, the council, led

by Mr Idris Lapade is also reconstructing roads that will end up opening the hinterland for improved economic activities.

At the moment, the council is currently rehabilitating several roads within the hinterland including some that were last constructed about over 20 years ago, according to residents. The Are Ogunmola-Bodija-Asi Road is also benefiting from the new project. In Agbowo, Major Salawu Street, which had been abandoned for 25 years, is also being reconstructed completely.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Fifteen corpses were recovered from the street during the last August flood.

On Oke Apon Road which is being rehabilitated to make life more comfortable for local residents, Mr Lapade said: “This is an asphaltic tarring project. It was supposed to have been constructed since about 50 years ago. We called our people and they told us what they wanted.

That is why we are doing this today. It is a bottom-up approach system and it is bringing satisfaction to all stakeholders – residents, government and others.

This road will connect Total Garden, Oke Apon and Ile Oke. It is like a circular road. We are using direct labour to set the standards for contractors who may take up jobs from us later. Once we set the standards, no contractor can come and give us a poor job.

“We are drilling boreholes, public toilets and classrooms across the 12 wards that make up the local government area.

We are also re-equipping primary health centres and renovating them. Our target is to make

•Lapade (right) and a community leader, Chief Akinloye at the site

health centres available in all the wards in line with the vision of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.”

A community leader in the area, Mogaji Oke AKinloye, lauded the council for the qual-

ity and timeliness of the road. He explained that it was an answered prayer as residents never believed the road could be constructed in their time. “You can see that this 500m is being reconstructed with stone base. We are happy with this.” He said.

On Salawu Strret, many houses had been submerged by constant flood due to lack of drainages for years. Besides, the road, which has suffered neglect for too long, had also become impassable for motorists thereby, leaving commercial motorcycles as the only reliable source of transportation for residents.

A resident of Major Salawu Street, Mrs Adenike Adeniji, who said that she had lived in the area for 25 years, also thanked the leadership of the council for the

reconstruction of the road. Recalling the way the poor state of the road led to the flooding of many houses on August 26 last year, she described the project as an end-of-the-year gift for residents.

“We are grateful to the government. The construction will help prevent the kind of flood we experienced last year. There was no drainage then. Bridges were washed away with many residents losing their property and lives. This road has not been tarred before. We have been using self-help, that is, community efforts to make it motorable.”

Lapade explained that more roads would be touched in the New Year to improve transportation system in the local government.

We are grateful to the government. The construction will help prevent the kind of flood we experienced last year.

There was no drainage then •A bridge being reconstructed in Bodija by the council

E

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has assured Hausa residents that no harm will befall them.

Fayemi assured them of security of their lives and property, noting that Ekiti people do not regard the Hausa as agents of destabilisation or as members of the Boko Haram sect.

The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, at a meeting with a delegation of Hausa community leaders in the state, led by the Sarkin Hausa, Alhaji Adamu Liman.

The assurances came amidst apprehension over possible reprisals from southerners in the face of attacks by the sect in the North.

It was gathered that the Governor called the meeting, following attempts by hoodlums to attack some Hausa traders in Sabo during the anti-subsidy removal protest, a development which was promptly put under control

Fayemi pledges safety for Hausa in Ekiti From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

by security agents.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Governor Fayemi reiterated his administra-

tion’s commitment to safety and security of lives and property of residents, regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliations.He said Ekiti people do not believe in ethnic hatred or differences, adding that many of the Hausa people in the state today have been living and contributing to the

We do not have a state that is violence-ridden. Ekiti is a state that has been relatively peace since I got to office and we believe it will continue to be like that. We are totally committed to a harmonious relationship among all ethnic groups in Ekiti State

growth of the state before its creation in 1996.

Fayemi said: “I do not want anyone to leave Ekiti in the mistaken belief that some harm is going to come to you. We do not have a state that is violence-ridden. Ekiti is a state that has been relatively peace since I got to office and we believe it will continue to be like that. We are totally committed to a harmonious relationship among all ethnic groups in Ekiti State.”

The governor unreservedly condemned the killing of innocent people in the North, but he pledged his administration will do everything possible to ensure peaceful co-existence among all residents of Ekiti State.

Fayemi urged the representatives of the Hausa community to report any suspicious move-

ments within their community to security agencies who, he said, would respond to such calls promptly.

The Sarkin Hausa, Alhaji Liman commended the state government for the fellowship which the state extended to the community, saying that it was a testimony to the hospitable nature of the state.

He also lauded the governor for donating an 18-seater bus to the Hausa community, and constructing a block of classrooms in addition to the on-going rural electrification of the community.

He assured that the Hausa community is committed to the overall development and progress of the state and would steer clear of any activities that might breach the peace in Ekiti.

THE NATION

37

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

Youths urged to be objective

Y

OUTHS have been urged to imbibe the spirit of objectivity and dedication to duty in order to be successful.

This advice was given by the President, Etunu Youth Association (EYA), Lagos State, Mr Monday Orisaremi at an end of the year party and family get-together organised by the association in Lagos.

The youths gathered at Ikeja Club to make merry with family members and associates in celebration of the end of the year. It was an occasion for families to rekindle their bonds of unity.

But it provided an opportunity for the youths to receive good counsel.

“My advice to the younger ones is to have full passion in what soever they want to do; it is very easy to say I want to be this or that, but you need to sacrifice a lot. You must be tolerant and objective,” Orisaremi said.

He said that the celebration of the end of the year was in appreciation of the young generations and the celebration of the tenth year of EYA. “We are celebrating the tenth anniversary of our existence and at the same time using this to commemorate the children that are coming,” he said.

“The aim of the gathering is to maintain inter-family relationship whether royal or not and

O

NDO State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has assured the citizens that his administration would put in place measures that will minimise the effects of the removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government.

The governor therefore urged them not to entertain any fear concerning the decision and not to enter the new year with heavy hearts.

He promised to always take decisions that would bring smiles to the faces of the people.

Mimiko, who stated this in his remarks during the prayers for the first working day of the year held at the Government House in Akure, assured that any benefit accruable to the state from the policy would be effectively uti-

•From left: Vice Chairman, Oshodi Isolo Local Government, Hon. Daisi Osho; Chairman, Hon. Bolaji Ariyoh; Secretary, Mr Adeola Daoud Olajobi and the Legislative Arm Leader, Hon. Abdul Azeez Shobayo

By Amidu Arije

with that we have been able to bring all parties together to discuss our progress.”

The chairman of the planning committee of the event, Mr Monday Ali, stated that one of the purposes of the celebration was to unite every unit of family from Igara, Akoko Edo, Edo State.

“So we are trying to bring them together so that they can know together here so that they can make friends with each other.

With this, they will be committed to where they came from,” he said.

Mr Ali also urged the youths to be focused and dedicated in whatever they lay their hands on.

My advice to the younger ones is to have full passion in what soever they want to do; it is very easy to say I want to be this or that, but you need to sacrifice a lot.

You must be tolerant and objective

Mimiko allays fear over oil subsidy removal From Damisi Ojo, Akure

lised to alleviate the suffering of the people and bring further development to the state.

The governor, however, appreciated the support of public servants during the out gone year, noting that he could not have achieved any meaningful progress without their inputs and co-operation.

He said: “On the issue of subsidy which is a reality now, I want to assure you that we are going to put in place measures that will mitigate the effects of the subsidy re-

moval on the people of Ondo State.

As I phoned the Secretary to the State Government and for some times we have taught about how to ensure that we mitigate the effects of subsidy removal on the short and medium-term for the citizens of Ondo State.”

He added: “We are going to put together an all-embracing committee and we will all put our minds together. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that whatever is accrued to Ondo State as extra fund from the subsidy removal will be so creatively utilised that we’ll all thank

God that subsidy was removed.

“It is difficult to imagine but trust me. You will see the effect in public transportation, food security and at domestic home level and in everything that touches everyday life of the people. You will know that the government you put in place really cares for you.”

Earlier in his message entitled “I will do a new thing,” Pastor Sanya Kolajo of the Redeemed Christian

Oyo woos community leaders on job creation

T

•Human rights lawyer and activist Festus Keyamo addressing protesters at the Gani Fawehinmi Arcade, Ojota, Lagos. With him are (from left) Comrade Yinka Odumakin; Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and Actor Ayo Badmus

Church of God advised both political office holders and public servants in the state to appraise their previous contributions to the development of the state and make appropriate amendment where necessary.

The cleric, who stressed the need for positive changes in the lives of the workers in the New Year, urged them to be more creative and innovative in the year.

HE Oyo State government has called on community leaders, parents, community development council and other stakeholders to collaborate with the government by encouraging self-employment and skill acquisition among youths.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Welfare Community Development and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, Oyo made the call while emphasizing the dtermination of the government to empower various communities in the the with the provision of Agro allied machines such as cassava and palm –oil processing machines to tackle the global problem of mass unemployment.

The commissioner made the call in her keynote address at the 2011 National Community Development Day Celebration held at the Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan.

According to Mrs Osunkoya, the event underscored the

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

unique role community development council plays in facilitating socio-economic development through self-help activities.

The Commissioner stated that the theme for this year community development Day Celebration: “Optimizing Community Resources for Job Creation and Self Reliance” was a welcome development because the state government was committed to facilitating early completion of various self help activities and projects to reduce rural – urban migration for white-collar job drastically.

Earlier in his welcome address, the state CDC Chairman; Mr. J.A. Atiba praised the efforts of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s led administration on the creation of job for 20,000 youths through the YES- O Scheme and Solicited for more of such job opportunities to further reduce criminal activities.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

38

A member of the group, Mr. Adebayo Abagun noted that the Renaissance Front is made up of people known for rendering selfless service to the poor and needy

A

N Osun State-based sociopolitical group of the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Renaissance Front, has supported a physically challenged man, Mr. Matthew Olowookere in the state.

The group gave him an electronically operated wheelchair.

Olowookere, an electrical parts dealer, lost the use of his legs since 1980. According to the Public Relations Officer of the group, Mr. Tony Ladipo said they have also donated another two sets of wheelchairs to Funmi Abdulai, an NTA presenter to support her programme on physically challenged people.

The Renaissance Front gained prominence during the struggle retrieve the mandate Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The leader of the group, Elder Sunday Laoye, who is elder brother to the deputy governor in the state, Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, was incarcerated more than twice during the regime of former Governor Oyinlola for an alleged involvement in a bomb blast at the Ministry of Water Resources in Abere, adjacent the Governor’s Office.

Presenting the USA-made wheelchair to Olowookere, with his wife, Elizabeth beside him, the chairman of the Renaissance Front, Dr. Yinka Afolayan, said the gesture reflected the group’s commitment to providing succour to the less privileged and supporting the Aregbesola administration in making life meaningful to all. The government alone cannot meet the needs of the people, he said.

Elder Laoye, who facilitated the donation of the wheelchair to Olowookere, his acquaintance, said he was moved by the pains and trouble the beneficiary went through each time he tried to move around on a pair of worn-out wooden crutches.

T

HE appointment of a new Aro or quarter chief in Akure, Ondo State capital, has angrered a section of the community.

The Deji of Akure, Adebiyi Adesida (Afunbiowo II) recently appointed Yemi Adedipe as Aro of the town.

Some youths have protested the appointment.

•Olowookere in his wheelchair

Electronic wheelchair for the physically challenged From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

A member of the group, Mr. Adebayo Abagun noted that the Renaissance Front is made up of

people known for rendering selfless service to the poor and needy.

Another member, Chief Remi Oni, said the organisation intends to do a lot more in other spheres of life for the less-privileged.

The beneficiary expressed gratitude to God and the Renaissance Front for the gift, which he said would relieve him and his wife who daily labours to support their two kids, as pretty little

comes from his electrical parts business. Narrating his ordeal in an emotion laden voice, Mr. Olowookere begged Governor Rauf Aregbesola for a job to be able to cater for his family.

Row over community leader’s appointment From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Adedipe is a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former publicity secretary of the party in the state.

The Aro of Akure is one of the six

ranking chiefs (fourth in rank to Deji).

Oba Adesida appointed and installed Adedipe as the new Aro at a brief ceremony inside the Deji’s palace to occupy the stool left vacant following the death of Aminu

•Former Member Lagos State House of Assembly Hon Babatunde Ogala exchanging pleasantries with National Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADS) Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad and Imam Abdullahi Shuaib (second right) at the Gani Fawehinmi Arcade, Ojota, Lagos. With him are (from left) Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Dr Is-haq Akintola and former Lagos commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs Prince Rotimi Agunsoye.

Balogun.

However, some youths in Akure under the aegis of Oke-Aro Community Youths, wrote a protest letter to the monarch to register their displeasure over the appointment of Adedipe as the new Aro. About 40 youths from the community signed the six-page protest letter to the monarch, in support of the candidacy of one Charles Oluwatuyi Omojagbe.

Also, two prominent families to the lineage of Aro stool, Adesina and Olagbemi Orole faulted the appointment of Adedipe as Aro, stressing that his choice for the stool did not follow any known procedure pertaining to the appointment of quarter chiefs in Akure.

The families, in a joint statement signed by Gbenro Adesina and Adeyeye Olagbemi respectively, argued that Adedipe was not among the four candidates that originally contested for the vacant stool.

They named the candidates as: Joseph Abegunde, Anthony Daisi Falomo, Oluwole Akinbode and Charles Oluwatuyi Omojagbe.

The statement claimed that the new Aro, Yemi Adedipe was not qualified for the stool as he is a son of a former quarter head from the female lineage.

The statement read in part: “The

present Deji of Akure Kingdom assured the Akure people, on his ascension to the throne, that he would correct all wrongs on chieftaincy matters.

“We have hope and belief that Oba Adebiyi Adesida will continue to stand by his words by putting the right pegs in the right holes by appointing Charles Oluwatuyi Omojagbe, who is from the male lineage of Orole family to the throne of Aro of Akure.”

The youths, while supporting the candidacy of Omojagbe, urged the monarch to allow peace to reign in his domain by reversing the appointment of Adedipe and replacing him with Charles Omojagbe.

“Kabiyesi, from our analysis, Mr. Omojagbe is well educated; he is not a foreigner at Oke-Aro. He is equally a grassroots young man from male lineage of Aro. We have strong belief that he is the best candidate to be considered for the vacant stool of Aro to continue the good work of the late Balogun for the betterment of the entire OkeAro community,” the youths stated.

The new chief, Adedipe, could not be reached for reaction, as he was said to be observing some traditional rites which included seven-day seclusion from public and social life.

MOTORING

39

THE NATION

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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

0803-4693-984 tajudeen1423@yahoo.co.uk

email:- motoring@thenationonlineng.net

The 2012 Honda Civic has been fully redesigned. Highlights include mild styling updates, enhanced electric-assist power steering, improved fuel economy and more power, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency additions.

•Honda Civic

The new Honda Civic

F

OR a new compact car to stand out in an increasingly competitive category, one would think it should offer more than just a few subtle improvements. So, we find ourselves in a rather unfamiliar position with the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic.

For years, the lineup of Civic models has been so much better than the competition that it has been a no-brainer to recommend one of these cars.

But in the last few years, competing automakers have introduced some very impressive small cars.

So while the ninth-generation Honda Civic is a very good and likable automobile, we have to wonder if the subtle changes to its design and engineering features will be enough to sustain its class supremacy. These days, even the least expensive models from competitive brands offer reliable powertrains, advanced safety features, topquality interior materials and high-tech options.

To Honda’s credit, the changes to the new Civic are welcome, even if they do not exactly leap out at you. Fuel economy remains pretty much the same as before for most Civic models, but there is a new Civic HF variant that is rated for 41 mpg highway. Fuel efficiency and power are improved for the Civic hybrid model as well, while the Civic Natural Gas remains the only factory-made car to be so fueled. As for the sporty Civic Si, it gets a new 2.4-litre engine that produces a welcome boost in torque compared to last year’s 2.0-liter.

In terms of features, stability control is now standard throughout the model lineup. Other upgrades for 2012 include more interior room (three inches of additional shoulder room up front and another 1.6 inches of rear legroom), and a few new technology features such as a 5inch information display, the increased availability of iPod connectivity and an economy mode designed to help deliver maximum mpg.

Considering these improvements, the 2012 Honda Civic is still a solid pick with which buyers of compact cars will be pleased. But it is no longer the only game in town. One would recommend test-driving this new Civic back to back with new competing models like the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra. All three provide excellent fuel economy, and each holds selective advantages over the Civic in terms of interior design, feature content and value. The

Civic Hybrid is pretty much in a class by itself.

Body styles The Civic is a compact car offered in both coupe and sedan body styles. Mainstream models are offered in four trim levels, ranging from the base DX, to the midrange LX and EX and the top-of-theline EX-L. Entry-level DX models come equipped with 15inch steel wheels, auto-off headlights, intermittent windshield wipers, a rear window defroster, power windows, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a one-piece fold-down rear seatback.

Stepping up to the LX model gets you more features that buyers expect, including body-color door handles, power mirrors and door locks, keyless entry, air-conditioning, cruise control, floor mats, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a fourspeaker sound system with a CD player and auxiliary/USB audio inputs.

A new fuel-efficient HF sedan starts out with standard features similar to those of the LX sedan, and then adds a few upgrades designed to deliver maximum mpg. These include low-rolling-resistance tires and aerodynamic cast-aluminum wheels, wind-cheating underbody panels and a rear spoiler.

Besides its different fuel, the Civic Natural Gas adds to the LX equipment 15-inch alloy wheels, variable intermittent windshield wipers and Bluetooth.

A navigation system with voice controls, satellite radio and real-time traffic updates is optional on all but the DX and LX.

Powertrains and performance The front-wheel-drive 2012 Honda Civic is powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that puts out 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque.

Transmission choices include a five-speed manual and an available five-speed automatic (HF and EX models get the automatic as standard equipment).

This combination returns EPA fuel economy estimates ranging from a low of 28 mpg city/36 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined in mainstream versions equipped with a manual transmission to a high of 29/41/33 in the HF model

•Interior of the car

The Civic Natural Gas features a version of the same 1.8-litre engine powered by, as its name suggests, natural gas. It produces only 110 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque, however. A five-speed automatic is standard.

The Civic Hybrid gets a larger 1.5-litre gasoline four-cylinder engine and a more powerful electric motor for 2012, a combination that is good for 110 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is standard.

Not surprisingly, this powertrain is the most fuelefficient of the bunch.

The Civic Si’s engine also grows in displacement to 2.4 litres, which bumps output to 201 hp and 170 lb-ft. A six-speed manual is the only transmission offered.

Safety The 2012 Honda Civic comes with standard safety features that include stability control, antilock brakes (four-wheel discs with the EX and Si), front-seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags. The Hybrid was a bit better with a stop of 124 feet, while the Si’s brakes performed much better, with a stop of 120 feet and much less fade.

Interior design and special features Interior changes are very minor for the 2012 Honda Civic. The two-tier dash display carries over but now includes a five-inch monitor that displays information for audio, hands-free phone use and various vehicle systems. The cabin has picked up a tad more passenger room, and it’s most noticeable for front seat sedan passengers who have more shoulder and elbow room, and seat adjustability.

The trunk has also grown, offering a total of 11.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the coupe and 12.5 cubic feet in the sedan. The hybrid models sacrifice trunk space to the battery pack, leaving 10.7 cubic feet. The large fuel tank needed for the Natural Gas model curtails trunk space even further.

Driving impressions Although the changes to the 2012 Honda Civic aren’t radical, this is still one of the better-driving cars in its class. Both the coupe and sedan use shorter wheelbases than their predecessors and feel wellbalanced and light on their feet. Power from the 1.8litre.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

40

LABOUR

• From left: Bamidele Aturu, John Kolawole, Dipo Fashina, Joe Ajaero, Joe Okei-Odumakin and Promise Adewusi leading the fuel subsidy protest in Lagos.

PHOTOS: DUPE OLAOYE-OSINKOLU.

The big protest: Labour deploys new tactics T

HE subsidy strike called by Labour and its civil society allies took the nation by sur-

prise.

It was a clear departure from the conventional Michael Imoudu’s “I no go gree” style, which successive governments and workers are used to.

Lagos and Abuja recorded an unprecedented crowd.

The first sign of change was the coordination of the rallies and protests. They were zoned for effective compliance. The struggle leaders in Lagos were the two Deputy Presidents of NLC, Comrades Joe Ajaero and Promise Adewusi, TUC Deputy President, Comrade Sanni Adesina Lasisi and Secretary General, Chief John Kolawole. Others were JAF President, Dr Dipo Fashina and Secretary, Abiodun Aremu. They appointed leaders for each zone, while a selected spot was named Freedom Square.

As Labour took all the local government areas in Lagos by storm, the civil societies under Save Nigeria Group shone like million stars with the crowd that besieged Ojota, their focal point everyday.

The Ojota carnival-like protest was a new dimension to anti-government protests. In Lagos, there were several mini freedom squares including Egbeda Round About, Iyana Ipaja Round About, Awolowo Round About, Ikoyi, Agbotikuyo LASU Gate, Ikorodu, Adekunle/ Herbert Macaulay, Oyingbo and the central Freedom Square- Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota.

At each of these ‘squares’, the community youths gathered in thousands and sealed off their areas in compliance with the stay at home order. Bonfires were made everywhere. The Police to some extent protected the people by being at strategic areas.

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

A Divisional Police Officer, Segun Fabunmi however, claimed the life of a young man, Ademola Abiodun, the same way a policeman snuffed life out of young Babatunde Andoyi at Ojuelegba during a fuel hike struggle in 2004.

The monitoring team also employed new tactics. A long convoy of vehicles (about 50) belonging to various unions were deployed.

These include Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE). The NMA even brought ambulances as part of the convoy.

The team carried out unscheduled visits to many monitoring zones.

None of them was found wanting as they always met them in the midst of protest activities.

NLC, TUC and Joint Action Front (JAF) had their representatives in all the states capital, to ensure compliance with the strike.

Labour’s demand are many. It wants a living wage that will be commensurate with the high cost of living that fuel subsidy removal will likely induce. It also wants the establishment of functioning refineries to reduce the cost of refining crude outside Nigeria, which will bring down fuel pump price.

Government claims that the rich benefit more from fuel subsidy than the poor because they (the rich) own more cars, and that commercial buses that are the means of transportation for the poor run on diesel.

Labour argues that the poor use petrol to provide electricity for their

small businesses and homes. Also, that the mini buses (Danfo) and other buses run on fuel. Therefore, only the rich would be able to afford petrol at N141 per litre.

Again on government’s claim that deregulating the oil sector will make it cheaper, Labour said that since diesel was deregulated about seven years ago, it has not made it any cheaper, neither has it led to local refining of diesel for local consump-

tion.

Labour also said that the government has not told the nation how much was realised from the deregulation of diesel and what happened to the money.

Labour is, therefore, insisting that the government rehabilitates the power sector and ensure uninterrupted power supply to reduce the masses’ reliance on generators and the demand for fuel.

They also demand that there should be transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.

NLC and TUC claim that of all Organisation of Petroluem Exporting Countries (OPEC) members, Nigerians pay more for fuel.

Below is a table indicating fuel price in OPEC member countries and their workers’ minimum wages.

OPEC members:

Countries

Fuel price per litre

Minimum wage

1.

Venezuela

3.61

N95,639

2.

Kuwait

34.54

N161,461

3.

S/Arabia

25.12

N99,237

4.

Iran

102.05

N86,585

6.

Qatar

34.54

N101,250

7.

UAE

78.18

8.

Algeria

63.55

N55,957

9.

Libya

26.69

N23,813

10.

Iraq

59.66

11.

Nigeria

141

N25,813 N18,000

Non OPEC: 1.

USA

157.00

N197,296

2.

UK

334.41

N295,644

3.

Oman

48.67

N91,583

(All figures are in Naira)

SLIDING TACKLE "Everyone's coming back and in great form. We still have some injuries but I think when everyone is back fit, it will give us the strength to win the title. We have to keep talking about Manchester United. The most important thing was winning today. After that, it doesn't matter if they [City] win, lose or draw.

We just need to have a rest and focus on the next game. I think people talk a lot about City, but we just need to be focused on what we do and how we play, and I think we're going to win the league.”

Monday, January 16, 2012

42

Manchester United’s fullback, Patrice Evra happy with the manner of victory over Bolton Wanderers

EVRA:

Dalglishlaments‘toothless’Liverpool L

We're going to win the

e u g a e L

M

ANCHESTER UNITED fullback Patrice Evra was delighted with the manner of victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Sir Ferguson’s men secured a 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, and still have the likes of Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley to return to the team.

"Everyone's coming back and in great form," Evra told MUTV after the game. "We still have some injuries but I think when everyone is back fit, it will give us the strength to win the title."

The left-back also says it’s important to stop discussing rivals Manchester City instead concentrate on winning games.

"We have to keep talking about Manchester United. The most important thing was winning today. After that, it doesn't matter if they [City] win, lose or draw.

"We just need to have a rest and focus on the next game. I think people talk a lot about City, but we just need to be focused on what we do and how we play, and I think we're going to win the league.

“Today was a good afternoon for us. It was an important game, after the [FA Cup] win against City, to show we are really confident and we are back. It was really important to win today.”

Cahill agrees£80,000-a-week Chelsea deal

G

ARY Cahill was happy to compromise to seal his move to Chelsea on Friday.The former Bolton Wanderers defender took in Chelsea's victory over Sunderland on Saturday.

The deal was agreed after a compromise on wages at

•Cahill

£80,000-a-week, says the Daily Star Sunday.

Chelsea originally offered £70,000-a-week, while the Cahill camp were seeking £100,000.

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has hailed the potential signing of Gary Cahill as a very important one for the club.

Since taking over at Stamford Bridge in the summer VillasBoas has seen his side criticised and questioned for their loose defensive style.

And as he attempts to put his stamp on the team while fighting for at least a top four finish in the Premier League, Villas-Boas knows his movements in the transfer market will come under intense scrutiny.

But he is confident the arrival of Cahill will benefit the team, claiming the England international can slot straight into the Chelsea side due to his technical qualities.

He told talkSPORT: “He is an important signing. It is an English international that joins the club and adds to the three very good defenders [that we already have].

“He will find competition at Chelsea for sure but we are confident in his talent and his abilities. He has tremendous technical qualities which we appreciate a lot for the style of play that we want to implement.”

IVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish believes that a lack of imagination is the reason for his team's miserable home run.

The Reds are unbeaten in the Premier League at Anfield but have drawn seven of their home games, managing just four victories.

It is a spell of form that has undermined their push for a Champions League place and they are five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea following a goalless home draw with Stoke City.

What is even more frustrating for Liverpool supporters is the fact that, other than Manchester United and Manchester City, points have been dropped against Sunderland, Norwich, Swansea and Blackburn, who would all be expected to be beaten with ease at Anfield.

It was the first time they have been held at home since Luis Suarez was given an eight-match suspension for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

But with just 14 goals from 11 home Premier League matches, it is clear where Dalglish's problems lie.

The Liverpool manager, who faces a trip to struggling Bolton next weekend, did not make excuses for his team and he said: "They came for a point and got a point and the responsibility is on us to be more imaginative to try to break them down.

"We didn't manage to do it and the couple of opportunities that we did have, we didn't take and in a game like that •Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra you've got to take your opportunities. of Manchester United celebrates "They looked pretty solid at the back and they had one shot in the first half and not much more of it but it's our responsibility and on the day we weren't good enough.

OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...

Nadal criticises Federer

RAFAEL Nadal has criticised Roger Federer, saying he is not doing enough to air players' concerns about their demanding tour schedule.

A number of the game's top stars, including Nadal and British number one Andy Murray, have previously voiced their concerns about what they see as an overcrowded tennis calendar that puts undue strain on the players.

There was even talk of possible strike action following last year's US Open, which saw a number of games ended prematurely due to player injury.

Nadal feels that Federer, as one of the game's most talented and high-profile players, is not doing enough to highlight their concerns.

Speaking in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, that starts on Monday, the Spaniard said: "His (position) is easy: do not say anything, all positive, I am a 'gentleman', others get burned.

"We each have our opinion and maybe he likes the circuit.

•Nadal

•Federer

•Pacquiao

Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee says Cotto is next MANNY Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee told philstar.com “He wants Cotto.” I don’t know how much weight Jinkee has when it comes to having inside information about Pacquiao’s next opponent, but that sure does make sense because Cotto fits all the criteria that Pacquiao’s promoter likes in an opponent: A. Cotto fights for Top Rank on a fight by fight basis. B. He’s a big PPV attraction. C. He’s no threat to beat Pacquiao; D. He has a big fan base.

This fight makes sense for other reasons as well, because Arum wants to keep Cotto with Top Rank after his contract with them ran out last month. The best way to ensure that Cotto sticks around is to immediately put him in with Pacquiao for a payday bout.

That kind of thing will go a long ways in making sure that Cotto stays loyal to Arum. Does it benefit Pacquiao to fight a guy that he already easily beat in a 12th round knockout in 2009? No, probably not, although Cotto definitely will bring in more money on PPV than Lamont Peterson and Timothy Bradley, two of the other fighters that Arum and Pacquiao were considering.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

43

44

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

45

46

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08022664898

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Respirators (5) 5. Cluster (5) 8. Cereal (3) 9. Stroll (5) 11. Speck (3) 13. Nothing (3) 14. Without End (7) 16. Broad (4) 18. Faulted (6) 21. Unfortunately (4) 23. Radio Device (5) 24. Get With Difficulty (3) 25. One (2) 28. Final (3) 29. Before (3) 31. Capital (4) 33. Ourselves (2) 34. Run (3)

1.Skinny (4) 2. Illustrious (5) 3. Woman (3) 4. Precipitous (5) 5. Unite (5) 6. Naked (4) 7. Headgear (4) 10. Center (6) 12. Willow (5) 15. Metal (4) 17. Relax (4) 18. Trade Mark (5) 19. Production Factor (4) 20. Create (4) 22. Similar (4) 26. Robe (4) 27. Newt (3) 30. Flee (3) 32. Perform (2)

WORD WHEEL Form as many words as you can with the letters in the wheel. Every word must make use of the letter at the center, i.e. the letter T. 2-letter words and proper nouns are not allowed. Hidden in the grid is a 9-letter word meaning ‘forward in manner’. This is the star word.Words from forty score excellent.

Wanted Urgently: UNDERTAKER

ShoWBitZ

Behind the Phrase

Denzel Washington stars in ‘Flight’

Life’s not all beer and skittles Meaning ‘Beer and skittles’ is shorthand for a life of indulgence spent in the pub.

Origin Skittles, also known as Ninepins, which was the precursor to ten-pin bowling, has been a popular English pub game since the 17th century. The pins are set up in a square pattern and players attempt to knock them down with a ball. It is still played but not so much as previously.

The game was referred to in Footman’s History of the Parish Church of Chipping Lambourn, 1894, which reprints a piece from 1634: “William Gyde... for playing at skittolles on Sunday.”

Citations of beer and skittles and variants appear in literature from the 19th century. For example, Dickens’ Pickwick Papers, 1837: “It’s a reg’lar holiday to them - all porter and skittles.”

Thomas Hughes’ Tom Brown’s Schooldays, 1857: “Life isn’t all beer and skittles.”

ROCKY MARCIANO

Academy Award winner Denzel Washington starred in director Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming film “Flight,”.

The film, written by John Gatins, is began production in October in Atlanta Georgia, Paramount Pictures said in a release.

The story follows “Whip,” played by Washington, a commercial airline pilot who manages to fly a damaged plane, saving 98 lives on a flight, the release said. The pilot then struggles with his newfound hero label as an investigation brings into question his behavior the night before the flight.

Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald produced the feature along with Zemeckis, Steve Starkey, and Jack Rapke.

Pep Talk

WEIRD WORLD Crash throws marijuana into the street Police in California said a truck crashed and many of its bags of illegally carried marijuana were snatched up by bystanders before officers arrived.

San Jose police said the crasshed truck wound up on its side nearOakridge Mall, was abandoned by the time police got there and many large bags of marijuana were taken by pedestrians and motorists, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

Investigators said the remaining bags were rounded up by officers and they found a loaded handgun inside the truck.

Police said they were searching for the driver of the truck and the people who picked up the bags of marijuana.

HUMOUR Maid Talk “Hey, Mom,” asked Johnny “Can you give me twenty dollars?”

“Certainly not.”

“If you do,” he went on, “I’ll tell you what dad said to the maid when you were at the beauty shop.”

His mother’s ears perked up and, grabbing her purse, she handed over the money. “Well? What did he say?”

“He said, ‘Hey, Marie, make sure you wash my socks tomorrow.’ “

Entertaining Guests After dinner one evening a the president was entertaining their house guest by playing the piano.

At one point he turned to the visitor, a fat conservative talk show host, and said, “I understand you love music.”

“Yes,” murmured the guest politely. “But never you mind. Keep right on playing ...”

If we do not plant knowledge when young it will give us no shade

when we are old. – Lord Chesterfield

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

47

THE CEO

‘Why financial market is troubled’ The Vice-Chairman, Anchoria Investment and Securities Limited, and former Chairman, Institute of Directors of Nigeria, Dr Olusola Dada, says the problems of the capital market are varied. The financial market is feeling the pinch of the problems, he says in this interview with AKINOLA AJIBADE. • Dada

W

HAT is the state of the capital market now?

The market is nose-diving. The market has lost trillions of naira in the past few years. Though the stock market picked up in early 2011, the market cannot sustain its performance. Between March and June last year, the market suffered huge loss due to the alleged offloading of shares by politicians in dire need of funds for electioneering. Few months after the election, the market started recovery slightly. This was attributed to the appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and the release of the economic blueprint

by President Goodluck Jonathan. However, these efforts could not bring about the desired confidence in the market. The consequence is a huge drop in the two major market indices - market capitalisation and AllShare Index. The market capitalisation is the

number of shares of companies quoted on the floor of the Exchange, multiplied by their current price. When you look at the market capitalisation over a period of time, you will realise that it has been dropping. That has been the position of the market since last year.

How do economic blueprints influence the direction of the market?

Globally, governments’ economic blueprints have a way of influencing the growth of the financial market. Nigeria is not an exception. Following the release of the economic blueprints by President Jonathan, Nigerians anticipated growth in the economy vis-à-vis the stock market. Many had anticipated growth in infrastructure, especially power. They believe that once the energy problem has been solved, businesses will bounce back and the capital market will be better for it. Since the growth in infrastructure was not forthcoming, investors decided

to beat a retreat. While many offloaded shares to avoid further depreciation, others decided to explore new investment windows to facilitate growth.

To what extent has the stock market crisis influenced activities in the money market segment?

The money and capital markets operate along the same line, though they deal in different line of products. The loss of one market is a gain for the other. Anytime investors run from the capital market, they look for more beneficial investment windows.

This time around, the only appealing window for investors is the money market.

Through this, they keep their money in banks and get interest no matter how small they may be. Another area is the fixed-income securities instruments such as bonds and Treasury Bills (TBs). This has become a new investment haven for those that can no longer wait for the stock market to recover.

The bond market is coming up gradually, but not at the level we anticipated. We still have a number of bonds (both principal and corporate) that came to the market without recording proportionate growth. Many state governments wanted to come to the market before the elections, but they were unable to do so due to shortage of funds.

Many of them have soft-pedalled. That is the situation in Nigeria, as against the international financial market that is gradually coming out of the woods.

Why has the stock market not recorded appreciable growth yet?

Various reasons account for the delay in the recovery of the equities market. First is the lack of ability of regional political and financial blocs to bailout Nigeria. For instance, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Develop• Continued on page 48

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

48

THE CEO

‘Why financial market is troubled’ • Continued from page 47

ment Bank (AfDB) among others are not well matured to bail out their countries from financial crisis. These institutions cannot provide intervention funds to bailout the Nigerian stock market. This is different from what is happening in the developed economies.

The European countries have come together to bail out Greece. Over there, they are doing a lot at the regional level to save their financial markets from collapse. Second, the foreign portfolio investors are yet to come back into the capital market fully. The foreign portfolio investors were the ones driving our market, before the global financial meltdown in 2008. They invested more than the local investors. The market sneezed and they immediately pulled out. Since 2008 when they exited, the market has not been the same. Third, many of the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) that invested in the market have burnt their fingers. They have lost heavily. They have moved substantial part of their investments into other areas.

There was a time the PFAs flooded the market with stocks and subsequently pushed up the demand and supply. Now, all the PFAs are anxious to exit the market, and move to other areas to make profit.

Does that mean that the market has not recovered from the global financial crisis?

The market has not recovered at all. The global financial meltdown took place in 2008, and went through 2009. Globally, many countries have not recovered from the meltdown fully. Countries such as Britain, China, Japan, and the United States are gradually coming out of the woods, due to economic measures they have put in place. In Nigeria, the story is not better. In spite of the measures put in place by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Federal Ministry of Finance, the market has not shown signs of recovery.

The two agencies drive the financial system and the fiscal policy. But their efforts have not produced the desired results in the financial industry. The major problem facing the financial market in Nigeria is corruption.

Look at what happened to the banking industry. Five banks were bailed out, and new managing directors were appointed for them. The banks were given till September last year to recapitalise their operations.

Three of the eight banks were nationalised due to their grave capital positions. The issues have called for concerns. Once an aspect of the economy is facing problems, definitely the entire economy will suffer. When you narrow it down to the capital market, you will see that the impact is much.

What is the level of foreign portfolio investments in the capital market?

The level of foreign portfolio investments has been significant in some sectors of the economy. You will observe that direct foreign investment is still coming in. People want to invest in oil and gas. Some foreign companies are partnering with Nigeria, on the issue of allocation of oil blocks. So, foreign investments are coming in through that source. But when you now talk about the level of foreign portfolio investments in the capital market, it has not been encouraging.

In naira terms, what is the value of the foreign portfolio investments in Nigeria?

As an economist, I don’t mention figures that I’m not really sure of. If you have given me information ahead of the interview, I would have looked into the relevant documents. If you want to know the total investments in the capital market, you must first of all get the percentage. I do not have that now. One thing is important-the period one is talking about. Are we talking from January to date? Are we talking about 2009 after the shock? One has to do some statistical analysis to get it. I’m not in a position to tell you what it amounts to in naira terms. It is difficult for me because one needs to get some figures. That is an area where one has to be very careful.

What percentage, can we estimate now?

The foreign portfolio investment in Nigeria should be around five per cent. It is not at zero per cent as many have been made to believe. This is encouraging, considering the fact that the country’s financial market is passing through some problems. We still have foreign portfolio investors that believe in Nigeria. For instance, multinationals such

as Nestle, Cadbury, Unilever, Mobil, among others, are investing in the market. All those companies are still doing well. You find out that foreign portfolio investments are still going into those companies. It is only nonperforming companies that foreign portfolio investors are shying away from.

Before foreign portfolio investors invest in the Nigerian secondary market, they will do their calculations well. They will engage the services of people that are well informed about activities in the Nigerian market, before they put in money. If I tell a local investor that stocks owned by textile companies will appreciate soon, such investors may buy the idea and further invest in textile stocks.

But foreign portfolio investors will not do that. If I tell a prospective foreign investor that textile companies are coming up in Nigeria, he will ask some questions: How can this happen? How will the economy grow when the infrastructure are not there? They take their time before investing their money.

They put their money where they can get better returns.

The Management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has directed stockbrokers to acquire risk management skills. Can the issue improve the operations of the market?

Risk management is very important in the capital and money markets. In the case of money market, emphasis is on risk management because banks are deposit- money takers. Banks take the money from their clients, and invest it in order to pay back interests. In the case of stockbrokers, it is a different thing entirely. Stockbrokers do not take money from their clients for keep. They advise investors to buy shares.

Often times, we buy shares on behalf of investors. However, there are cases where brokers collected money, and refused to buy shares for investors. They use the money for themselves. In this case, brokers have been warned against treating investors badly.

That is why it is important for brokers to acquire risk management skills.

If a broker understands risk management well, he/she will try and hedge against risks.

Imagine a situation where somebody retires from his employment (either in the private or public sector), and collects his gratuities.

And he gives it to you as a broker to invest in stocks for him. If you as a stockbroker did not calculate the risks, and invested wrongly, you have destroyed the investments of your clients.

In fact, one of the questions in the stock broking examination is: How do you invest on behalf of your client, taking into consideration his or her age. For instance, if you are investing for somebody who is in his early 30s, he or she can take a risk which somebody who is in the 50s or 60s cannot take. If you invest for somebody in his 60s, and the investment collapses, the person may die in the process. That is why it is very important you look at the circumstances of your customer before you invest for him or her. In the capital market, we classify investments in three ways. First, we have the aggressive investors. The more aggressive investors are, the more the risks and returns.

Second, we have the conservative investors, and those we can describe as the middle of the road investors. If somebody comes to me with N1million, and asks me to invest in Transcorp’s shares for him. I must first of all know the circumstance in which that client has found himself, before investing on his behalf. I must know whether the person has other sources of income. If he has not got any other source, it will be unfair for me to invest in Transcorp for him because the company has not been declaring dividend over

• Dada

the years. Also, the company has not recorded capital appreciation overtime. Based on this, you have to be very careful in assisting such a client. So back to the issue of risk management, a stockbroker must try and minimise risks as much as possible. Therefore, the risk management training programme is very important for the stockbrokers.

To what extent can NSE achieve its goals in this area?

The risk management programme is going to be of great assistance to the stockbrokers because it will help them in avoiding the mistakes of the past. You will recall that what led to the crisis in the stock market was greed, and lack of professionalism. Some brokers were advising their clients to buy stocks of companies whose fundamentals were zero. Many advised investors to buy stocks of companies that are not doing well, coupled with the fact that the companies have not submitted their annual reports to the NSE in the past five years. They lied to investors that foreign investors are bringing money into certain companies, and that investors must buy shares of those companies. Such brokers have no data or fact to back up their claims. They rely on hearsay. Before you know what is happening, such investors have run into problems.

For example, insurance stocks are the kind of stocks that made many people to run into big problems. Most of the insurance stocks that were listed at the rate of N4 four years ago, are now traded at 70 kobo.Even the Custodian Insurance or Intercontinental Wapic, AIICO that was about the best in that segment. Their prices are nothing to write home about today. Whatever led the stockbrokers to advise clients to buy insurance stocks, that factor has been defeated. Many of the insurance companies cannot pay dividend. This implies that the prices of those stocks will fall. If you take 10million units of insurance stocks to the market today, nobody will buy. Even the directors of such companies will not buy the shares. So, these

‘The major problem facing the financial market in Nigeria is corruption. Look at what happened to the banking industry. Five banks were bailed out, and new managing directors were appointed for them’

are the elements of risks we are talking about. The market has to be properly understood before you advise your customers on what to buy, and at what time to exit the market. When you talk of risk management in banks, when a bank wants to give a loan to its customer, the risk department of that bank will be asked to assess such requests.

There is element of risks in the loan that a bank gives its customer. We have different kind of risks.

One is national risk that is based on whether the government’s policies will affect the performance of the business in which a bank wants to put money. You can talk about that in the case of stocks too. When you want to put money in a company, the company may be doing well today but certain government’s policies may affect the company tomorrow. Take the cement industry for instance, if you buy shares in West African Portland Cement or Dangote Cement on the understanding that government will not grant licence to individuals to import the product into the country, it is on this basis that stocks of WAPCO and Dangote can be said to be good. But the moment, the policy changes, it will affect the companies and their shareholders. If you invest in the Flour Mills on the understanding that it enjoys monopoly, and suddenly more flour millers come in, the development will affect the shares of Flour Mills.

Are there hopes for banks’ stocks in the face of the on-going crisis in the industry?

It will take some time. In the case of the rescued banks, We have only Union Bank, Intercontinental Bank, Oceanic Bank International, Finbank and Equatorial Trust Bank Limited. Three have been taken over by the government. Shareholders in those banks are no longer shareholders because the values of those banks have gone to zero level. The former owners of the banks do not have anything again. Because when government through the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) took over those banks, it changed the names of these institutions.

The only thing they can salvage is the protection of the jobs of the workers. For the remaining five banks, there is hope for them.

For instance, Access Bank has taken over Intercontinental Bank, Ecobank Transnational took over Oceanic Bank, First City Merchant Bank took over Finbank, Sterling Bank took over Equatorial Trust Bank Limited, and Union Bank got strong international investors. Based on this, one can say the banks will do well. There will be an enlarged capital in these banks, and their shareholders will benefit in the long run. With time, the shares of these banks will bounce back.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

49

PERSONAL FINANCE

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

Rules that will shape investment in 2012 (2)

Investor’s Worth

His Royal Majesty's treasury

T

HE Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, is in a distinct class of traditional rulers. Previously the all-in-all of their domains, traditional rulers have long become symbolic authorities for traditional rites and cultures. In many instances, they have brought themselves under the control of socio-political and economic influences they were supposed to shape and control in the best interest of their communities. Rather than being arbiter and justice of peace among their people, several traditional rulers are the oppressors of their people; making headlines for vile activities unbecoming of the royalty. Besides the fact that several so-called traditional rulers are political creations devoid of historic backbones, the absence of clear-cut constitutional roles for the monarchs have impinged on the relevance of once-revered stools.

But a class of traditional rulers have continued to hold aright the essence of the royalty; serving as positive forces for socio-political and economic development of their nation. This is the Achebe's class. Educated at the Stanford University, Igwe Achebe, as he is popularly known, is one of the archetypes of what being a royal entails. Well-educated, Achebe attended the Stanford and Columbia Universities in the United States of America for his first and advanced degrees. He also attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Study (NIPSS), Kuru.

Igwe Achebe had a three-decade career with the Royal Dutch Shell companies in Nigeria and overseas. He was once the executive director at Shell Petroleum Development Company

•Igwe Achebe

(SPDC) and later served as senior corporate adviser to the London-based Shell International Company Limited.

Igwe Achebe has now brought the education, experience and royal influence into a new endeavour: the promotion of capital formation and corporate development. An astute investor and advocate of savings and investment, Igwe Achebe is known to have shareholdings in many companies. At the last count, Igwe Achebe's seven-digit shareholding ranks him as one of the 591 shareholders who control about 87 per cent equity stake in Diamond Bank Plc. Diamond Bank has some 130,000 shareholders. He also holds appreciable shareholding in Unilever Nigeria where his five-digit shareholding ranks him within the 5,256 shareholders who control about 86.5 per cent equity stake in the global conglomerate. Unilever Nigeria has more than 100,000 shareholders out of which Unilever Overseas Holdings holds the majority stake of 50.04 per cent. He is also known to have equity interests in the insurance industry and other segments of the economy.

Besides committing his

money to equity investments, Igwe Achebe has also increasingly become an influential force in shaping the corporate direction of Nigeria. His recent appointment as chairman of Unilever Nigeria, Nigeria's second most capitalised conglomerate, brings to three the number of quoted companies under the chairmanship of his majesty. He also chairs the boards of Diamond Bank and Universal Insurance Company Plc. This has not only seen Igwe Achebe exerting influences on socio-political development as the chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, but his personal investment portfolio and active participation in corporate decision-making have placed him in vantage position to lead the much-more important cause of economic empowerment and sustainable living. With just about five per cent of the Nigerian population participating in the stock market and equally worrisome, less than one-fifth would even think about equity investment even where they have the wherewithal, the traditional institutions could serve as major mobilisation and enlightenment fronts for investment education and inclusive economy. There is no gainsaying that Nigerians still mostly revere their traditional rulers as role models, and this can found positive expression in following their investment habits.

With such portfolio diversification from finance to manufacturing, Nigerianowned to foreigncontrolled,Igwe Achebe has, no doubt, hedged against risks on many fronts; including the risk of want that turns the majesty into plaything of politicians and unscrupulous money bags.

Ask a Broker

S

HORT selling contributes to market liquidity and price efficiency as key market operators are able to offset temporary imbalances in the supply and demand for securities. Where an investor borrows some securities with the belief that the price will rise in future, it's regarded as long sale. But where an investor borrows with the mindset that the price will fall, it's regarded as short sell "Naked" short sale refers to a situation where the seller does not borrow or arrange the securities in time to make delivery to the buyer within the standard settlement cycle, which is T+3- trading day and three working days, in Nigeria.

As a result, the seller fails to

What is naked short selling? deliver securities to the buyer when delivery is due. Failure to deliver may result from either a short or a long sale. In some circumstances, naked short selling contributes to market liquidity. For instance, broker-dealers that make a market in a security generally stand ready to buy and sell the security on a regular and continuous basis at a publicly quoted price, even if where there are no other buyers and sellers. Thus, market makers must sell a security to a buyer even when there are temporary shortages of that security available in the market. This may occur, for example, if there

is a sudden surge in buying interest in that security, or if few investors are selling the security at that time. Because it may take a market maker considerable time to arrange to borrow the security, a market maker engaged in bona fide market making, particularly in a fast moving market, may need to sell the security short without having arranged to borrow shares. This is especially true for market makers in thinly traded, illiquid stocks. However, naked short selling could unravel faster into systemic problem in the event of multiple defaults.

Ways and Means

How to earn interest on ‘current’ account

T

RADITIONALLY, current account is the only vehicle for conversion of paper money, such as cheque, dividend warrant, draft etc into cash. The operator of a current account pays the bank for every withdrawal while he also enjoys the convenience of representative transaction or third party withdrawal through issuance of cheque.

Many people avoid current account because of the costs or charges, which are usually

fixed and sometime, the initial deposit required to open such account. But competition and innovations are breaking the walls in the banking sector. With many innovative hybrid currentand-deposit accounts, a bank customer can avoid the costs of current accounts while enjoying the advantages of current and savings accounts. A customer only needs to consider the requirements and benefits of the different variants being offered by the

banks.

Many of the quasi-current accounts not only offer the benefits of a current account, they even pay interest on the balances in the accounts.

Other benefits include a personalised cheque book, access to internet, mobile and telephone banking services of the bank, third party withdrawals without any charge across the counter at nay brach of the issuing bank, SMS and email alerts and periodic account updates.

R

ULE on securities lending: One of the most significant rules that could have profound impact, positive or negative, on the structures and future of the Nigerian stock market, the ongoing effort to introduce securities lending into the Nigerian market would open new vista of opportunities and challenges.

Security lending or stock lending simply refers to the lending of securities by a holder of the securities to another market participant for a specified period, usually a short period. The lender receives collaterals equivalent to the securities being transferred in form of shares, letter of credit, bond, cash or other acceptable financial instruments. Besides, the borrower pays the lender a fee each month for the loan and is contractually obliged to return the securities on demand within the standard market settlement period. When securities are lent, the legal title of the securities passes from the lender to the borrower and the lender will only regain the title when the securities are returned from loan. As such, the lender will lose the voting right associated with the securities during the period of lending. However, the lender in spite of the transfer of the legal claim to ownership still retains the benefit of any corporate actions or dividends payments associated with the securities on loan. Besides, the lender has the right to recall securities on loans at any time, unless otherwise agreed with the borrower. Although securities lending globally follows general rules, the evolution of the securities lending market has seen development of varied contracts with special peculiarities agreed between the lender and borrower. The underlining point is that each securities lending contract, once approved and signed by the parties, is an enforceable legal contract based on the terms and specifications contained therein, rather than the general industry framework.

Securities lending started in the United Kingdom in the 60s and, thereafter, spread to other global financial markets including the United States, Germany and Japan. Initially a back-office broker-to-broker deal, securities lending has developed over the years into a whole 24-hour global industry on its own with industry size estimated at more than $5 billion. The initial driver for securities lending business was to cover settlement failure, which arose from short selling. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) described short selling as the selling of a security that the seller does not own, or any sale that is completed by the delivery of a security borrowed by the seller. Where a broker that is obligated to deliver a stock under short selling is technically unable to meet the obligation, it would have to resort to borrowing to avoid the systemic problems, costs and penalties that would arise from settlement failure. Investment banks, brokers and market makers borrow securities for a variety of reasons including settlement of a trade, delivery of a short sale, finance of a security and pro-

curities and collateral, daily marking to market of transacvide loan to another bor- tions, acceptable forms of colrower. lateral and margin percentLenders are usually large- ages, arrangements for the scale institutional investors delivery of collateral and for with access to loanable securi- the maintenance of margin ties, such as pension funds, in- whenever the mark to market surance companies, mutual reveals a material change in funds, sovereign funds and value, provisions clarifying high-networth investment the rights of the parties of the bankers among others. Secu- parties regarding substitution rities lending is legal and well of collateral, the treatment of regulated in most of the dividend payments and other world's major securities mar- rights in respect of securities kets. Although the global op- and collateral including, arerating rules are similar, most rangements for dealing with markets have specific rules corporate actions, procedures and regulations guiding secu- for calling stock and arrangerity lending and borrowing. ment if called stock cannot be The International Securities delivered, clear specification Lending Association (ISLA), of the events of default and the the international trade organi- consequential rights and oblisation for the securities lend- gations of the counterparties, ing industry, has more than 90 full set-off of claims between members from some 20 coun- the counter parties in the event tries comprising insurance of default and the governing companies, pension funds, as- law and jurisdiction for the set managers, banks and secu- agreement. rities dealers representing In a vibrant and well-strucmore than 4,000 clients. Based tured market, securities lendin London, ISLA provides glo- ing contributes to the effibal best practices and shadow ciency of the market through regulations in addition to ju- increased liquidity provided risdictional regulations by by short selling. Also, securinational authorities. ties lending can result in lower The process of securities cost of investment as sec lendlending is undertaken by se- ers can use the fees earned curities lender, popularly from loaning out securities to called Sec lender, as either defray the costs of instituagent or principal. As agent, tional investors. the lender lends securities on However, there are several behalf of the beneficial owner inherent risks in securities and takes no position on its lending. These include the pobooks. Conversely, a Sec tential for counterparty to delender which is undertaking fault on its obligations, marthe transaction as a principal ket fluctuation that may lead reflects such positions in its to inadequate collateral, relibooks. Securities lending and ability of collateral, adverse borrowing agreements are effect of other laws such as generally covered by two le- taxes and residual market risk gal contracts, reflecting the that could be created by a composition of the lender as either bination of many external agent or principal. The Master variables including price volaSecurities Lending Agreement tility, market liquidity and (MSLA), which is the sine qua exchange rate fluctuations non under the rule of the NSE, among others. is a global standardised indusThere are also concerns that try agreement that sets out the securities lending could be relationship and responsibili- counterproductive and underties of the lender and the bor- mine the integrity and effirower. As a generally accept- ciency of the market's price able legal framework, the discovery system. InstituMSLA is recognised as a pro- tional investors could make it totype agreement in any mar- easier for short sellers to bet ket. The second contract, the against the securities owned Securities Lending Authorisa- by their clients and thus exert tion Agreement (SLAA), is re- downward pressures on their quired when a lender is acting prices and contribute to the as agent only and it outlines severity of market declines as the relationship between the well as return on investment. owner of the securities and the Lenders could also manipulate agent lender, and the respon- the market to technically waresibilities of the agent. The au- house voting rights of sharethorisation agreement also holders to allow some vested usually covers the types of col- interests to take strategic corlateral and cash collateral in- porate decisions. Besides, there vestment policies are accept- is always the lurking danger able to the owner. Usually, se- that the borrowers may not be curities lending is conducted able to meet margin calls on through intermediaries which their collateral or return borserve as links between lend- rowed securities upon request. ers and borrowers. While in- Even where borrower's collatstitutions may choose to side- eral is seized, this may at times step intermediaries, several yield less than the value of the institutions prefer the use of securities lent out, especially intermediaries for efficient ad- when collateral of lesser qualministration and better credit ity has been accepted and marrisks management. Under the ket conditions make it difficult guidelines of the NSE, ap- to sell at good prices. proved intermediary must be With the recent experience of a Market Maker or Custodian the market with margin loans duly registered by the Securi- and global financial crisis, ties and Exchange Commis- there is the need for careful sion (SEC). scrutiny of this initiative to deUnder the guidelines of the termine its workability, timeNSE, the legal agreement must liness and availability of apinclude the capacities of the propriate legal, operational parties-principal or agent, con- and institutional requirefirmation that an agent has ap- ments. For one, institutional propriate prior authority from capabilities of the key drivers, the beneficial owners or a such as mutual funds, custodipartly suitably authorised by ans, insurance companies and the beneficial owners, abso- pension funds, appear doubtlute transfer of the title to se- ful and at best, rudimentary.

By Taofik Salako

50

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

51

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

52

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 13-1-12 Company Name

No of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N)

DIAMOND BANK PLC

3

2.03

98,479,400

199,713,182.00

FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC

26

8.57

1,950,500

16,952,970.00

GTBANK PLC

1

14.14

2,000

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC.

6

2.31

500,000

ZENITH BANK PLC

63

12.10

2,683,498

Sector Totals

99

103,615,398

28,900.00 1,152,000.00 32,290,300.90 250,137,352.90

BREWERIES Company Name

No of Deals

Quotation(N)

GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC

2

235.00

3,000

6

96.10

121,000

11,628,100.00

124,000

12,368,200.00

NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

8

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 740,100.00

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name

No of Deals

Quotation(N)

DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

7

116.51

Sector Totals

7

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N) 75,000

8,700,000.00

75,000

8,700,000.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name

No of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N)

DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC

16

4.70

12,590,000

FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC

5

64.00

20,884

1,274,472.90

NESTLE NIGERIA PLC

2

423.38

3,000

1,332,000.00

21.48

8,628

NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC3 Sector Totals

26

12,622,512

59,174,900.00

176,097.48 61,957,470.38

INSURANCE Company Name

No of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N)

AIICO INSURANCE PLC.

1

0.52

100,000

52,000.00

Sector Totals

1

100,000

52,000.00

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name

No of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N)

OANDO PLC

12

21.00

103,000

2,203,000.00

Sector Totals

12

103,000

2,203,000.00

Investors stake N4bn on equities amidst fuel protests

A

MIDST nationwide general strike last week, investors staked about N4 billion on equities, making the stock market the only segment of the economy that has sustained skeletal operations.

Transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) were done largely through the remote trading system, but there were pockets of on-the-floor transactions.

Turnover at the NSE last week stood at 308.8 million shares worth N3.64 billion in 1,217 deals. This was however a significant decline to the turnover of 1.05 billion shares valued at N5.5 billion recorded in 10,037 deals two weeks ago.

While the skeletal trading at the NSE has sustained exchange of values, most analysts were worried that the abrupt removal of the fuel subsidy, without immediate cushions, might adversely impact the profitability of quoted companies and investments inflow.

According to analysts, with worsening double-digit inflation, rising double-digit interest rates, poor basic infrastructure, including transportation and power and multiple taxes among others, the removal of fuel subsidy would further compound the operating costs and undermine profitability of companies.

Transactions on banking stocks accounted for about 89 per cent of total turnover last week. Banking subsector recorded a turnover of 273.32 million shares worth N1.653 billion in 695 deals. Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Diamond Bank Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

No of Deals

ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED

Quotation(N)

Quantity TradedValue of Shares (N)

16

10.50

4,990,100

52,309,386.00 Sector Totals

Overall Totals

16

4,990,100

169

121,630,010

52,309,386.00

387,727,409.28

Dubai shares decline to lowest since June 2004

D

UBAI’S benchmark stock index retreated to the lowest level in more than seven years on concern that full-year earnings may disappoint and after France and Austria were stripped of top credit ratings.

Emaar Properties PJSC (EMAAR), developer of the world’s tallest tower, fell 2.4 percent. Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Co. (DU) dropped to the lowest level in more than a month.

The DFM General Index (DFMGI) lost one per cent to 1,314.47, the lowest since June 2004, at the 2 p.m. close in the emirate.

The Bloomberg GCC 200 Index slipped 0.1 per cent. In Egypt, the EGX30 Index (EGX30), down 49 per cent last year, climbed 1.7 per cent.

“There’s some concern over earnings and momentum is very negative at the moment in United Arab Emirates markets,” said Ahmed Talhaoui,

the Abu Dhabi-based head of investment and asset management at Royal Capital PJSC. “There’s no positive catalyst, so it’s difficult to see buyers coming into this environment” as European debt woes worsen sentiment, he said.

Emaar may report on Feb. 9 report a 27 per cent drop in full-year earnings to 1.8 billion dirhams ($490 million), according to the mean estimate of 13 analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

The company’s third-quarter profit fell 34 per cent as revenue declined and property deliveries slowed. Income of developers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi suffered after real-estate prices tumbled by more than half since their peak in 2008. Emaar fell to 2.44 dirhams, the lowest since March 7.

Standard & Poor’s cut France and Austria one level to AA+ from AAA last week and said they face the risk of further reductions. Spain and Italy were

also among nine nations downgraded, while Finland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg kept their AAA ratings and were put on negative watch.

Crude oil for February delivery declined 0.4 percent to $98.70 a barrel in New York on Jan. 13, the lowest settlement since December 21, after two European Union officials said an embargo on Iranian crude imports may be postponed for six months.

The contracts dropped 2.8 percent last week. Gulf Arab oil exporters, including the U.A.E. and Qatar, supply about a fifth of the world’s oil.

Emirates Integrated retreated 1.4 percent to 2.85 dirhams, the lowest since Dec. 13. The UAE phone company known as Du may report a 69 per cent drop in fourth-quarter profit to 284 million dirhams, according to the median estimate of three analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

and Zenith Bank Plc, which altogether accounted for 68.41 per cent of turnover in the banking subsector.

Food Products subsector staged a distant second position on the activity chart with a turnover of 13.52 million shares valued at N99.052 million traded in 62 deals.

The overall pricing trend was positive as the benchmark All Share Index (ASI) appreciated by 0.6 per cent to close 20,840.97 points, as against its opening index for the week of 20,725.30 points.

Aggregate market capitalization of all equities also rose to N6.567 trillion from its week’s opening value of N6.531 trillion.

The rally was however driven by a handful of stocks as most sectoral indices ended on the negative.

While the NSE 30 Index and the NSE Food and Beverages Index appreciated by 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent to close at 935.45 points and 1,715.50 points respectively, the NSE Banking Index depreciated by 1.1 per cent to close at 268.42 points.

Also, the NSE Oil and Gas Index declined by 0.8 per cent to close at 228.34 points while the NSE Insurance Index dipped by 0.1 per cent to close at 128.57 points.

Dangote Cement Plc led the gainers with a gain of N3.51 to close at N116.51 per share. Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of N1 to close at N64 per share.

Nigerian Breweries added 75 kobo to close at N96.10.

Vitafoam Nigeria gained 26 kobo to close at N5.54.

Dangote Flour Mills rose by 20 kobo to N6.20. Honeywell Flour Mills added 12 kobo

to close at N2.70. PZ Cussons Nigeria rose by 10 kobo to N29.10. Red Star Express added eight kobo to close at N2.58. Zenith Bank also added eight kobo to close at N12.10 while Law Union & Rock Insurance inched up by two kobo to close at 56 kobo per share.

However, Guinness Nigeria Plc led 12 other losers with a loss of N2.56 to close at N235. Oando Plc followed with a loss of 71 kobo to close at N21. First Bank of Nigeria Plc lost 46 kobo to close at N8.57 per share. Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc dropped by 19 kobo to close at N4.70 while Ecobank Transnational dropped by 16 kobo to close at N10.50 per share.

Meanwhile, the number of listed corporate bonds and total securities on the NSE increased to 13 and 251 respectively last week following the listing of the N35 Billion 14 per cent Medium Term Notes 2018 Series 2 bond issue of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. Turnover on the Over-theCounter (OTC) bond market, where the Federal Government bonds are traded, stood at 96 million units worth N90.76 billion in 218 deals last week, an appreciable increase on a total of 10.91 million units valued at N10.87 billion exchanged in 23 deals penultimate week.

The most active bond was the 7th FGN Bond 2013 Series 1 with a turnover of 38.14 million units valued at N37.71 billion in 21 deals.

This was followed by the 8th FGN Bond 2014 Series 1 with 26.1 million units valued at N26.41 billion in 19 deals.

Fourteen out of the 27 FGN bonds were traded during the week.

Global stocks waver between earnings, Eurozone crisis

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

S

TOCK investors would this week return to a tug of war between signs of domestic strength and overseas concerns as a batch of critical earnings reports look to add credence to the idea the economy is improving, while credit rating downgrades in Europe will keep that region’s difficulties in view.

Bank stocks will probably once again be a primary focus, as not only will European issues call the group’s profit outlook into question, but many key names report results.

Equities have recently undergone a decoupling with respect to Europe’s sovereign debt crisis as signs of progress in the euro zone, along with improving US data, have pushed Wall Street higher on improved growth prospects.

Financials have been a beneficiary of that rising tide, with Bank of America up 22 per cent since the start of the year.

“We’re going to see more volatility in the weeks ahead with tension between earnings and Europe,” said Christopher Sheldon, the Boston-based director of investment strategy at BNY Mellon Wealth Management, which oversees $171 billion globally.

“We want to see Europe resolved, but there will continue to be ups and downs, and while earnings will continue to be relatively good, we do expect slowing compared with 2011.”

However, the uncertainty about Europe returned in a big way on Friday after Standard & Poor’s downgraded the ratings of several euro-zone countries, including Italy, after the market closed. Talk of the downgrades spurred a selloff that erased most of the gains for the week, when the S&P rose for four straight sessions.

A downgrade could exacerbate the area’s difficulties and bring concerns about how they might affect US banks profits back to the forefront.

Still, market participants looking for signs of strength don’t have to look far. Data has been bullish lately, including Friday’s consumer sentiment reading at an eightmonth high that sharply exceeded what was anticipated.

“The prospect of a downgrade has been around for a while, so despite today’s reaction, everyone was aware of the potential, and I don’t think it will be as impactful, especially as corporate business trends remain strong,”

said Hank Herrmann, chief executive of Waddell & Reed Financial Inc in Overland Park, Kansas.

Earnings reports from numerous bellwethers could reinforce the growth story. Bank of America Corp, General Electric Co, Intel Corp, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Microsoft Corp are among the names set to report.

Early reads have supported the idea that better times lie ahead. JPMorgan Chase & Co said the domestic economy was strengthening even as its profit fell 23 per cent, while Alcoa Inc rallied early last week after giving a bullish outlook for the aluminum sector.

“Banks will be an important part of the story, especially with Europe in the picture, and investors will also be looking at names like GE, which have global exposure, to see what insights can be gleaned from that,” said Herrman, who helps oversee $90 billion in assets.

This week would also see the release of the New York Fed’s January manufacturing data, December readings on inflation from the Producer Price Index and the Consumer Price Index, as well as December housing starts.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

53

MONEY LINK

Cash-less: Telcos begin infrastructure support implementation

T

ELECOMM firms have com menced implementation of the infrastructure support needed for seamless cash-less banking services. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has engaged the services of MTN, Airtel and Globacom to bridge the infrastructure gap in the implementation of the policy.

For instance, Airtel is already advising its customers to recharge their phones at AutomotedTeller Machine (ATMs,) Point of Sales (PoS) terminals, Quickteller.com,

Stories by Collins Nweze

etransact.com, Airtel website and any easy recharge vendors. Other firms are also working out processes that will enable them key-in fully into the cashless banking initiative.

CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo, said the apex bank partnered the telcos to enable it get dedicated lines for electronic-backed transactions in delivering services to the people.

He said the target of the apex bank is

to achieve 95 per cent POS availability in the course of implementing the cashless banking policy, assuring that the telcos will be viable and reliable partners in the implementation of the cashless policy.

Lemo said CBN intends to deploy 375,000 PoS machines by the end of 2015. It also plans to attain a benchmark for PoS penetration of 2,200 PoS per 100,000 adults. Currently, the penetration is 13 PoS per 100,000 adults.0 The apex bank is using Brazil as a benchmark and hopes that by 2015, it would be able to get to the Brazilian standard

of 2,200 PoS machine per 100,000.0 “The CBN is also mindful of the infrastructural and the security challenges posed by this ambitious programme. We have gone into partnership with some telecommunication companies with the approval of the NCC while ensuring that structural impediments such as interoperability of payments, among others are addressed,” he said.

The CBN has insisted that govern-

Fitch lowers on South Africa outlook to negative

Operators laud move to reform finance houses

T

HE President of the Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN), Samuel Durojaye, has lauded the proposed reform of the finance houses by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Durojaye, who spoke at the sideline of the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) where he was elected, said the newly elected executive members would ensure that they work closely with the CBN on the reform exercise.

He explained that the strategic reforms in the finance companies’ subsector is of paramount importance to the sector as it would enable it achieve its desired objectives.

He said the CBN is working on repositioning and transforming the subsector into an efficient financial intermediation vehicle to operate at the middle tier of the Nigerian financial system.

The sector is expected to address, largely, the financial services needs of the SMEs, leveraging on the resources from the banking system, and other funding sources, adding that it is necessary to redefine the roles of FGN BONDS

finance companies.

The FHAN boss, said the proposed reforms will enable it take its rightful position in the economy. The CBN had said that it would unveil a reform package for the sub-sector before the end of first quarter this year.

Durojaye added: “This executive council has taken it up as a challenge to make sure that the first thing we need to do is to advance the course of finance houses and build the credibility of the association. We want people to know that finance houses are there.

We want them to know that we are not wonder banks and we are here to add value to their business.

“People can go into finance houses and do businesses because we are licensed financial institutions. We are going to assist the CBN by working closely with them on the reform programme because we want to ensure that as operators, we have input in the reform programme.”

The sub-sector has over the years gone through a series of challenges emanating from an unfavourable business environment, which was engendered by the confidence crises created

by the pervasive distress that occurred in Finance Houses in the early ‘90s.

Besides, it has shown enough capacity to develop appropriate products that will attract investors to the market. Also, the apparent lack of focus on its areas of comparative advantage has put the subsector in grave danger of possible extinction. The void created by the sub-optimal performance of Finance Companies was filled by the resurgence of the activities of illegal fund managers (wonder banks), which also posed serious challenge to the sub-sector.

He said the association would also consider the establishment of a finance institute to develop capacity in the sub-sector. FHAN’s financial statement showed that the body’s income grew by 9.81 per cent or N1.16 million to N12.96 million in 2010, compared with the N11.8 million it attained in 2009. Similarly, its total expenditure grew by N1.37 million from N9.35 million recorded in 2009, to N10.72 million in 2010. It balance sheet showed that its net assets grew from N9.39 million in 2009 to N10.03 million last year.

S

OUTH Africa’s credit-rating outlook was cut to negative by Fitch Ratings as stagnating growth curbs job creation and the government’s ability to manage its deficit. The rand erased gains made so far this year.

Fitch, which lowered the outlook from stable, affirmed the BBB+ foreign-currency credit rating for Africa’s biggest economy, in an emailed statement yesterday. The assessment is the third-lowest investment grade on its rating scale.

According to Bloomberg News report, the rand dropped the most in more than a month against the dollar after the statement was released, losing as much as 2.2 per cent to 8.2254, and erasing its advance this year. Rand- denominated debt due in 2015 fell for the first time in four days, raising the yield nine basis points, or 0.09 percentage point, to 6.83 per cent.

“Not least of the problems that require urgent attention is the economy’s inability to create sufficient jobs for its labor force,” Purvi

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

Harlalka, a London-based credit analyst, wrote in the note. “Failure to accelerate growth and make it more labor-intensive on a sustained basis will gradually weaken South Africa’s credit fundamentals and have negative implications for the rating.”

South Africa’s unemployment rate surged to 25 percent in the third quarter, the highest of the 61 nations tracked by Bloomberg, as the economy expanded near the slowest pace in about two years. Gross domestic product needs to expand 7 percent annually through 2020 to cut the rate to 14 percent, the government has said.

“Of concern to us is that this revision comes barely a year after Fitch Ratings revised South Africa’s outlook from negative to stable,” the National Treasury said in a statement posted on its website. “The Fitch statement, however, confirmed that South Africa’s key rating drivers remain strong while the rating remains underpinned by the strength of our institutions relative to our peers.”

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

ment sources are not enough to finance infrastructural development, and therefore, is exploring other options, such as Public, Private Partnership (PPP) and Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT). The apex bank has also approved a Development Finance Department that will work with stakeholders in the finance and infrastructure development sectors, to draft an Infrastructure Finance Policy for the country.

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor

Amount

Rate %

Date

91-Day

30m

10.96

28-04-2011

182-Day

46.7m

9.62

“

50m

12.34

14-04-2011

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

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) 149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

Bureau de Change 152.0000 Parallel Market

153.0000

GAINERS AS AT 13-1-12 SYMBOL DIAMONDBNK

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

2.00

2.03

1.50

LOSER AS AT 13-1-12 SYMBOL

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS

(S/N) (S/N)

1-Year

NSE CAP Index

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%

Name

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

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

FIRSTBANK

8.80

8.57

0.23

DANGSUGAR

4.89

4.70

0.19

UBA

2.41

2.31

0.10

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE

ZENITHBANK

12.13

12.10

0.03

• AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

• KAKAWA GUARANTEED

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

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

NEWS ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY

•President Goodluck Jonathan laying a wreath at the National Arcade, Abuja...yesterday

•Vice President Namadi Sambo taking his turn

•Senate President David Mark

•House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal

•Chief Justice of Nigeria Dahiru Musdapher

•Chief of Defence Staff Oluseyi Petinrin

•Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umar

•Chief of Army Staff Azubuike Ihejirika

•Minister of Defence Haliru Mohammed

•Federal Capital Territory Minister Bala Mohammed

•Helmets and boots of fallen heroes

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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NEWS ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY

•Osun State Deputy Governor Titilayo LaoyeTomori

•Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru

•Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun

•Oyo State Governor Isiaka Ajimobi

•Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura

•Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa inspecting a parade

• Ekit State Governor Kayode Fayemi (right), Commanding Officer, 19th Battalion, Nigerian Army, Okitipupa, Lt. Col. Peter Okoye; Commissioner of Police Olayinka Balogun; Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Ekiti State chapter, Col. Richard Ogunboyo and Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

•Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere (right) greeting the Commanding Officer of NNS Jubilee, Ikot Abasi, Commodore Harry Ngonadi at the Cenotaph, Uyo...yesterday. With them is Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Linus Eyo

•Bauchi State Deputy Governor Sagir Saleh

•Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko PHOTOS: AKIN OLADOKUN, OMOSEHIN MOSES AND NAN

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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NEWS ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY

Jonathan, others remember fallen heroes P RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday led dignitaries, mostly government officials, to honour ex-servicemen, who died serving the nation.

The traditional laying of wreaths held at the National Arcade, Abuja, to round off the 2012 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.

Besides the President, Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senate President David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher also took part in the annual ritual.

They laid wreaths at the cenotaph of the fallen heroes during the sober but colourful event.

Others were Minister of Defence Bello Mohammed; Minister of State (Defence) Mrs. Olusola Obada; Minister of the Federal Capital

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Territory Bala Muhammed; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, as well service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim.

The Burkina Faso Ambassador to Nigeria also laid a wreath on behalf of the diplomatic corps.

A minute silence was observed after which guns boomed to honour the exservicemen.

Jonathan and the others later signed the anniversary register and performed the traditional release of pigeons to represent peace.

Prayers were offered for the peace of the country and the repose of the souls of the heroes.

A parade, consisting of men of the Army, Navy, Air

Force and the Nigerian Legion, was inspected by the President.

Other dignitaries at the event were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; National Security Adviser Gen. Andrew Azazi (rtd); Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala; Minister of Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade; Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga; Minister of State, FCT, Jumoke Akinjide; Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu; Minister of Power Barth Nnaji; Minister of National Planning Shamsudeen Usman, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs. Rose Uzoma and Commander, Guards Brigade, Emmanuel Atewe among others.

Breach of peace challenge to security, says Akpabio

A

Mimiko empowers widows with N20m

O

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has donated N20million to 203 widows of the state’s fallen heroes.

The governor announced this yesterday as part of events marking this year’s annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day. The programme, tagged: “Widows Resettlement and Empowerment Scheme”, is interest-free and the first since the creation of the state.

The governor said the initiative is to make the widows self-reliant, self-employed and independent as bread winners of their families.

He said: “Under this scheme, which shall be known as Widows Resettlement and Empowerment

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Scheme, N20million will be disbursed today(yesterday) to 203 persons of this category as presented by the Ondo State Council of the Nigerian Legion and Command of the 323 Artillery Regiment, Akure.

“Our effort in this direction, which is unprecedented in the history of the state, is to make these widows self-employed, self-reliant and independent.

“In effect, as part of the celebrations this year, we have decided to put smiles on the faces of these widows to resuscitate their business which had gone down over the years due to overbearing family commitments.”

ESIDENTS of communities sharing borders with the Republic of Cameroon in Borno State yesterday appealed to the Federal Government to re-open the borders it closed.

They were closed, following the declaration of a state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan.

A cross-section of members of the communities told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the closure had caused them untold hardship.

The communities include Banki and Ngala in the Bama and GamboruNgala local government areas.

The respondents said the closure had affected their means of livelihood.

Mohammed Modu, a 65-year old resident of Banki, explained that the closure had crippled his business.

“I have lived in this town for more than 20 years as a businessman. “ I buy goods from Nigeria and take them to Cameroon where I sell them and make small profit.”

Another resident,

R

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

current travail.

“We have not come to glorify war above peace, but to note that peace was gained with the blood of the unknown soldiers.

“Today, this occasion is different because of the strong face of sorrow by bomb explosions in our land.

“We live with national shame as death toll mounts.”

A new official car is to be given to the State Chairman of the Nigerian Legion when the strike ends.

Akpabio hailed the heroism, patriotism and sacrifice exhibited by the departed soldiers since World War I. He called on private and corporate citizens to share the deep commitment of the government to uphold the values for which they died.

“Let their memory and sacrifices strengthen our commitment to uphold the values for which they died for,’’ he said.

O

NE person has been killed and three others injured in a communal clash in Ndieche Community in Ebonyi Local Government of Ebonyi State.

Buildings, vehicles, motorcycles and other valuables were destroyed.

The Co-ordinator, Ebonyi Development Centre, Mrs. Marcillina Uburu, said some youths invaded four compounds, destroying property worth millions of naira.

They were protesting the arrest of their candidate in a chieftaincy tussle.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Ezamgbo Mortuary and the injured are at the Ugbodo General Hospital in Ebonyi Local Government.

Said Mrs. Uburu: “On January 11, I got a phone call that there was a communal crisis at Ndieche community.

“I called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ugbodo, who confirmed the

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

incident.

“He advised me not to visit the scene because of the level of destruction there.

“The DPO told me that he was going to the Police Headquarters for reinforcement.

“On getting there with the police, we met some youths who were rioting.

“Their spokesperson told us that the tenure of the village head had elapsed and they requested an election but the traditional ruler refused.

“He allegedly insisted that the former village head, Charley Nwaiboko, must remain the village head.

“The youths and other stakeholders went ahead to elect a new village head and this did not go down well with the traditional ruler.”

Mrs. Uburu said the traditional ruler, Eze Solomon Iboza Nwaiboko and Nwai-

boko petitioned the police.

She said the police arrested the new village head and his deputy, adding that the youths went on the rampage after this.

The coordinator said some of the youths loyal to the traditional ruler and the former village head attacked them.

“They shot one person.

His death caused reprisal attacks.”

She said the situation has been put under control by mobile policemen deployed in the area.

Mrs. Uburu regretted that while effort was being made to secure the release of the village head and his deputy, the police transferred the matter to Zone 6, Calabar.

She appealed to the government and security agencies to ensure the resolution of the crisis to forestall further break down of law and order.

Police spokesman John Eluu could not be reached for comments.

Borno communities decry border closure

•Car for Legion Chairman KWA IBOM State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday said the breach of peace and security in the nation is a challenge to national security.

He spoke at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Akpabio noted that the level of insecurity in the country has left a mark of shame on the national polity.

The governor explained that Nigerian soldiers have been steadfast since Independence and have remained resilient given their legacy of freedom.

He said the fact that the celebration falls on a Sunday is divine providence so Nigerians can pray for the country.

Represented by Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere, Akpabio hoped that Nigeria would remain a united and a peaceful nation despite its

One killed, three injured in Ebonyi communal clash

•Akpabio

Jang: security challenges not insurmountable From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

PLATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang has said the nation’s security challenges are not insurmountable.

The governor spoke yesterday in Jos, the state capital, at this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.

Jang said: “Security challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria; every country has its ups-and-downs. Nigeria will soon overcome this stage of its growth and development.

“All that is expected of the citizens, irrespective of religious, political and ethnic differences at a moment like this, is to remain united, patriotic and supportive of the present administration, to take the country out of its present challenges.”

The governor praised the Nigerian Legion for fighting to keep the nation one.

He urged the country to appreciate the fallen heroes as well as ex-service men for their sacrifice.

Jang said: “Our fallen heroes have paid the supreme sacrifice for the nation. “ It is the duty of the living to take care of their families and relations as a mark of appreciation for their patriotism.”

NIS defends action

T

HE Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Borno State yesterday attributed the closure of the border to the declaration of a state of emergency in some areas of the state by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Borno shares common borders with the Republics of Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

The NIS Comptroller, Alhaji Babayo Alkali, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Banki, Bama Local Government that the closure was total.

Alkali said the command was directed by the NIS Comptroller General, Mrs Rose Uzoma, to close the borders immediately after the declaration by the President.

“We were directed to close all the borders and we immediately complied by asking our officers to take action.

“We have since ensured that all entry points, both legal and illegal, are totally closed; they are also properly manned for effectiveness.”

Alkali explained that although the borders were porous due to the absence of perimeter fencing, the command had adopted numerous strategies to man them.

“Although the borders cover a vast area of land, we have mobilised our men to ensure total coverage. Using all our vehicles and materials at our disposal, we have frustrated numerous attempts by foreigners to cross over.”

Malam Yusif Ibrahim, echoed Modu, saying his businesses had stopped with the closure of the borders.

“My wife is expecting a baby and the closest equipped hospital is in Cameroon.”

Solomon Iza, another resident, said he had two homes, one in Nigeria and the other across the border.

‘Killer DPO’ was dismissed as ASP

By Jude Isiguzo

T

HE Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Pen Cinema Police Station, Lagos State, Segun Fabunmi, who allegedly killed Damilola Abiodun last Monday, had been dismissed from the Force before, it was learnt yesterday.

Fabunmi was dismissed as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) while he was serving in an anti-riot squadron in the 90s.

It was gathered that few years after his dismissal, he allegedly worked his way back into the Force.

Fabunmi was the officer in charge of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State, before he was deployed to the Pen Cinema Police Station.

The DPO, who is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, allegedly killed Abiodun who was playing football on the first day of the nationwide strike.

“I have two wives, one a Nigerian living in the country while the other one a Cameroonian living across the border. “ “With the sudden closure of the border, it is very difficult for me to visit my family in Cameroon.”

New CP for Edo

By Jude Isiguzo

NEW Commissioner of Police has been deployed to Edo State by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim.

He is Umaru Manko, who succeeds David Omojola.

Omojola is going to the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, near Jos. Manko, who is expected to begin work today, was the commissioner of Police in charge of Airport Command, General Investigation of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Sokoto State Command and Katsina State.

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TOMORROW IN THE NATION ‘The president with the highest educational label in Nigerian history appears the one with the least rigour in thinking.’

www.thenationonlineng.net

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7, NO. 2007

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

I

F you walk the streets of Lagos or ply the alleys of Potiskum or peer into rooms in Aba today, one thing will riff through conversations: how did Jonathan happen?

Yet, a year ago, if you walked similar routes and crannies of the nation, the question would have been cast in a syntactic reverse: why and how could Jonathan not happen?

That is one of the ironies and lessons of democracy. The mob, often enthralled by superficial fancies, does not transcend the rhetoric and fanfare of the day. Swayed by the waves of democratic rituals, they soak in campaign slogans, the appeal to sectional flatteries, the dance of ideals, the grandiloquent promise of inclusion in government this time around.

Very quickly, the people realise that elections are not always about the people. Like Thomas Jefferson wrote on the early turbulence and quicksand of American politics, the only times people participate in government is the election day. He was even generous.

As we have seen in the case of President Goodluck Jonathan, the people did not choose who they wanted. They chose the guy they were conned to love. I hinted at this many times on this page before the election. I received torrents of flaks for that.

But it is not a time to look back in anger. It is time to press forward in wisdom. But as wisdom goes, Jonathan is trying to convince those who say he is soft and unwise.

But as the fuel subsidy crisis deepens, no one is crediting him with wisdom. Rather he is drifting deeper in the opposite direction.

Nigerians should learn to leap after looking on election day. Tragic as it may sound, we brought Jonathan on ourselves. We brought the hike in fuel price. We brought the Boko Haram escalation without hope.

We brought the needless imbroglio in Bayelsa. We embroiled Jos and environs in their panic of butchery. We brought the ongoing strike over oil subsidy and the trillions of Naira we are losing in the nation, and the death toll and paralysis. We brought on ourselves the ineptitude of Jonathan and his coteries of incompetent advisers, like Nigeria’s two unpopular women, Alison Diezani- Madueke and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

If there is a good thing about this, it is

RIPPLES WE’LL USE SUBSIDY MONEY JUDICIOUSLY-Kolade

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009& 2010 (D.A.M.E)

Jonathan’s loss

•Dr. Jonathan

that Jonathan will not have another opportunity at the polls to fool Nigerians. He fooled enough of the people last time. He will not kick us around again with his shoeless feet. Not since the days of Abacha has one man been so unpopular. But Abacha did not rise to power on the people’s mandate. Jonathan apparently did and that is why it hurts the more.

Many looked at his visage and they saw a meek man. I wrote that he was a deceptively gentle man and called him His Excellency the snake. He struck us, fangs and all, on New Year’s Day and the people now know that we voted a sly monster in office. He is the example of the cliché about a wolf in sheep’s clothing or what Shakespeare called “wolfish ravening lamb.”

He has no vision. He has no compassion.

He has no finesse.

One thing Jonathan has lost is his goodwill.

Who would have thought that Jonathan would trigger riots and shutdowns across the country, including the Niger Delta and

even in southeastern Nigeria, where he allegedly polled superlative votes in the near 100 percentiles?

When a bad leader loses, the people gain.

What Jonathan has lost is not only popularity, but also a sense of innocence. He deflowered himself in public. That is serious. He was regarded as a man with a common touch. It is one of the illusions of our contemporary history. He has been in political life all these years and no one has articulated what was common in his life as adviser to the governor, deputy governor, governor and vice-president. Suddenly, he became a presidential hopeful and he was a shoeless boy.

During the French revolution, philosopher Jean-Jacque Rousseau proclaimed: “Force the people to be free.” An ironic injunction. I am not sure the people are free yet, in spite of the rage and paralysis in the country. But I like to believe we are gaining in wisdom.

We are unlearning the illusion of rulers.

Never again shall we vote a man based on the softness of his smile or the gentility of his physiognomy. But let us work on ideas and background.

Another thing we have gained – or should gain - is that it does not pay to vote on the basis of where we come from. Jonathan was a shabby representative of the south. Many voted him in because they wanted a southerner. Now they have one and they are spewing him out like poison. When he was presented as a vice-presidential pick, Chief E.K. Clark said he was not in the first 11 of the Niger Delta titans. But the same Clark wallowed in dishonour and stoked ethnic flames in the days of zoning debate. He defended Jonathan as if he was God’s gift to Nigeria. He spoke recently defending Jonathan without the wisdom of age. He belongs to Jonathan’s crowd of unpopular cretins.

The other reason Jonathan became presi-

HARDBALL

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

dent was that he was a Christian. I am a Christian. I did not vote for him. I wrote that on this column the Monday after he won. He was endorsed by the major evangelicals of the day. When they did not mention him directly, they urged their adherents to vote according to their faith. He paid visits to them. I wonder why many of them did not prophesy that he would cripple the nation. I have hardly heard any of the evangelicals play Jeremiah or Jonah since this crisis began. The pulpits were quiet at the time of writing. I hope the prophets will now tell their “anointed” to do the people no harm.

The people now know that we have to prove all things and hold fast to that which is good. Jonathan did not show fruits for good leadership and we voted for him.

Isaiah wrote: “The leaders of these people cause them to err and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Even if the wicked are in power, may the people not perish.

The next few days are uncertain. It is the people versus Jonathan and Jonathan does not want to yield.

It is still too early to say how far Nigerians would endure and fight. Some are describing the people’s ferment as a revolution. I am glad that it has united Nigerians beyond tribe and faith, but that is because we are focused on fuel price alone.

The fundamental questions that led our depraved political class to impose the hardship have not come under any form of open systematic scrutiny.

But it is fine to see an air of revolution, even if only what we have at the moment is a resistance to a policy. Revolutions, like the French or the Arab Spring in Tunisia, exploded on a seemingly innocuous idea.

The fervour of the Nigerian people is to be admired. I want us to fight the good fight of faith. Jonathan’s apologists are on their arrogant roll. One of them is Atedo Peterside, a blue blood in a depraved royalty, who claimed that Lagos State benefits substantially from fuel subsidy. Is the so-called subsidy about a state or about a class of people who happen to operate in Lagos and elsewhere, especially in Abuja?

He is a divisive person. He is trying to prime the state for emergency and play down the fact that the cabal fattening on the so-called subsidy come from all over the country. They are backed by Abuja and Jonathan who would not punish them but the masses of Nigeria.

What we want in Nigeria is development, not greed. Jonathan should address the corruption in the oil sector and leave fuel price at N65 per litre. By the suffering of the past week, the hunger and carnage on the streets, the people are subsidising President Jonathan’s ineptitude.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Uncertainty phase of the Great Protests

B

Yes...just as the OIL MONEY is being USED?

Y the time Hardball closed this page, President Goodluck Jonathan was yet to make his broadcast to the nation on how far he was willing to compromise with Nigerians protesting against fuel price hike. If the concessions are not substantial enough, Nigerians must brace up for phase two of the struggle to free themselves from tyranny.

That phase two struggle will be brutal, total and nation-defining. After it is fought and won, it will be the springboard from which democracy in Nigeria will soar to the heavens. If in the inconceivable alternative it is fought and lost, it will take more than two later generations fighting viciously and sanguinarily to reclaim grounds this generation might have timidly or tactlessly lost.

Between Friday and Sunday, labour unions and civil society groups were locked in negotiations with a dissembling Federal Government on the way out of the logjam and national strike that had all but paralysed

the nation for some five days last week. So far, there are no definitive statistics of what the nation lost as a result of the strike. But it is estimated by some economists that the country lost anything between N500 billion to nearly N800 billion. If that loss is situated against the annual subsidy vote the government is removing, it will be discovered the country had lost in one week nearly half of the amount used for subsidy payments in 2011.

If the protests were to last for two weeks, the loss would have equalled the annual expenditure for subsidy. It simply doesn’t make sense.

The government should have ensured the strike never took off.

But it is not just the huge economic loss that should bother the government, even its reputation, and particularly the reputation of President Goodluck Jonathan, was thrashed irretrievably by the protests. The public did not think Jonathan was the smartest of men, but they were shocked to discover that he was

apparently also not a democrat by his response to the paralysing strike and loss of lives. Not only did he make little attempt to sell his economic programme to the electorate before the protests began, he also did little to soothe frayed nerves in the heat of the strike, when those who voted him into office suffered severe losses materially and bodily.

Phase two of the protest, if it takes off, may afflict and embitter the electorate even the more. As the people’s suffering multiplies and the government becomes more intransigent, the possibility of violence would become inevitable, and to some protesters, even desirable. Worse, if extreme care is not exercised, that violence from which there may be no immediate return could lead to unforeseen consequences capable of threatening the unity of the country. This is why it is important to keep discussions going. A resolution is, after all, always possible.

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