The Nation January 07, 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Gunmen kill 10 in raid on villages

Sanusi: why banks won’t lend to SMEs

NEWS

Page 4

•Motive yet unknown, say police

•‘They are not vibrant’

BUSINESS Page 32

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VOL. 8, NO. 2364 MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

CUP OF NATIONS

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•Mikel, Moses team up with Eagles •Keshi keeps mum on final list •AND MORE ON •Trophy is our focus, says Yobo PAGES 23, 24&41

2015: Sambo denies joining Obasanjo to fight Jonathan VP: I didn’t organise ex-President-Emirs meeting in Kaduna

DIM EMEKA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU (1933-2012)

•Jonathan, others honour Onaiyekan

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

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ICE President Namadi Sambo has denied joining forces with former President Olusegun Obasanjo against President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 election.

There have been reports that Sambo facilitated Obasanjo’s meeting with traditional rulers in Kaduna, where he allegedly sought their support.

Sambo described the reports as “wrong and mischievous”.

The Vice President, who responded yesterday through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) (Media and Publicity), Umar Sani, said Obasanjo’s visit to Kaduna was to commiserate with the people over the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa.

Sambo, who explained how the meeting took place and what transpired at the forum, pointed out that the event was not only held in the open but also covered by journalists.

His words: “The visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo was merely to commis-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

T

Continued on page 4

•Obasanjo

Lawmakers to stop religious extremism, says Mark

•Sambo

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi unveiling the statue of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu at the Ojukwu PHOTO: NAN roundabout Nkpo, Onitsha…yesterday

Obi unveils Ojukwu’s statue •Roundabout renamed after APGA founder

•STORY ON PAGE 63

HE National Assembly is ready to make laws to fight religious extremism, Senate President David Mark said yesterday.

Religious extremism has been blamed for the killings across the country, especially in the North where Boko Haram (Western education is a sin) has been fighting to make Nigeria an Islamic state.

As many as 2000 people have been killed by the insurgents, whose activities are carried out mainly in the Northeast states of Borno and Yobe.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for bombings of the United Nations House and the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

“We are ready to support religious activities that will foster unity in the country, we are ready to make laws that will fight religious extremism in the country,’’ Mark said, adding that the Senate had already passed the bill on gay marriage and was awaiting the report of the House of Representatives before sending the bill to the President for assent.

Mark spoke in Abuja at a reception organised in honour of John Cardinal Onaiyekan on his 30th Episcopal ordination and his recent elevation to the College of Cardinals.

The service was attended by President Goodluck Continued on page 4

•LEGACY BANKS’ CHEQUES GET DEADLINE P63 •THREE DIE IN OYO TANKER FIRE P7

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS GHANA’S PRESIDENT’S INAUGURATION

Jonathan, Zuma, Yayi, 12 others for Mahama’s inauguration today •From left: Emeritus Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Kelvin Aje, President Goodluck Jonathan, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, President mother Eunice , Senate President David Mark at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria, Pro-Cathederal, Area 3 in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

NEW YEAR THANKSGIVING IN LAGOS

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second right), his wife Dame Emmanuella (right), General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye (middle), his wife , Pastor and Fashola’s deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire during the service at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja ... yesterday.

•Presiding Pastor of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo (left), Most Reverend E. A. Ademowo (2nd right), His Eminence The Prelate (Dr) Ola Makinde (right) and others during the service at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja ... yesterday.

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CCRA, the capital of Ghana, is set for today’s inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama.

Mahama will be sworn in as the fourth elected President and Commander-in-Chief of the fourth Republic of Ghana.

He won the last December 7 election in which he was not even expected to run, but for the death of former President John Atta Mills last July.

The event is expected to be witnessed by thousands of world leaders, including 15 Heads of Government.

South African President Jacob Zuma was expected to fly into Accra last night.

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said Zuma would be accompanied by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

“Relations between South Africa and Ghana are excellent,” Maharaj said in a statement.

“Initially trade between the two countries concentrated on agricultural products, but since 2005 South Africa has begun to export value added manufactured capital goods to Ghana, reflecting the significant presence of South Africa multinationals in the Ghanaian economy.”

During a private visit to South Africa late last year, Mahama met Zuma at his residence in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.

Other leaders who have confirmed their participation in the inauguation slated for the Black Star Square (Formerly Independent Square), Accra, are: African Union (AU) Chair and President of Benin, Yayi Boni, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, President Goodluck Jonathan and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.

Also expected are: President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, President Michael Sata of Zambia, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, President Nbiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo and President Mohamed Abdel-aziz of Sahrawi

From Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News), Accra

Republic.

Most of the Presidents are expected in Accra this morning.

President Barack Obama has sent a four-member delegation from the United States (U.S.) to attend the inauguration. The leader of the delegation is Mr Daniel W. Yohannes, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Other members of the delegation are: Mr Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State, Mr Donald Teitelbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State and Mr Gene Cretz, U.S. Ambassador in Ghana.

The Transitional Team was busy all through yesterday transforming the Independence Square into a beautiful arena fit to receive world leaders.

Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi will also witness the historic event.

At the Square, The Nation noticed that podiums and barricades were being put in place.

The site was being demarcated to accommodate dignitaries, the press and the public. Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans were mounted yesterday by the Ghana Broadcasting Service and others to enable millions follow the event through coverage on television and the Internet.

The square’s arch is draped in Ghana’s colours- red, gold and green.

Trees lining major streets in Accra have been decorated in the national colours.

Chief Justice Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood will administer the oath on the President.

Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), whose leader, Nana Akufo-Addo, came second with 47.7 percent of the valid votes, said it would boycott the inauguration. It is challenging the results at the Supreme Court.

But former President John Agyekum Kufuor has promised to attend.

He said his presence at President Mahama’s inauguration should not be interpreted to mean he is against Nana Addo’s court action.

Members of the sixth Parliament of the fourth republic are to be sworn in

Ghana prepares for Mahama’s swearing-in

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•Cross-section of invited guests, participants and other stakeholders during the service at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja ... yesterday. MORE PHOTOGRAPHS ON PAGE 9 PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

S the clock ticked closer to today’s inauguration of President-elect John Mahama, every speck was being cleaned off the seats as part of preparations for the big event.

The stage where Parliament will be extended to, the Independence Square, was swamped by officials of AMA and Zoomlion, who were giving the grounds a facelift with decorations.

Security officials were also seen setting up the parameters for the event.

Joy News’ Francis Abban, who visited the venue, said there were lots of barricades being mounted with podiums also under erection.

The independence arch was being decorated with Ghana’s colours- Red, Gold and Green.

Deputy Information Minister James Agyenim Boateng, in an interview with Abban said over 15 Heads of State had already confirmed participation in the event.

On how the inauguration will be organised, the Director of Public Affairs for Ghana’s Legislature, Jones Kugblenu said the new Speaker and his deputies will be sworn in early today and the House will rise.

He said parliamentary proceedings will be extended to the Independence Square where the President and his vice will be sworn in.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS

ION

GHANA’S PRESIDENT’S INAUGURATION

,

John ‘The Fourth’ Dramani Mahama

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day

•Cultural dancers rehearsing ahead of the inauguration ... yesterday.

••Dancers rehearsing for today’s inauguration of President Mahama..yesterday

before the inauguration.

One hundred and forty-eight lawmakers from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) are to be inaugurated. 122 Members of Parliament of the opposition NPP will be sworn in. The parliament has 275 seats.

One Member of Parliament from the People’s National Convention (PNC) will be sworn in and four independent others are also to be inaugurated.

About 177 members of the dissolved Parliament made it into the new Parliament.

No fewer than 97 members of the Sixth Parliaments are new entrants.

•Wife of President Mahama, Lordina and children after worshipping at the Assemblies of God Church of God... yesterday PHOTOS: AFP

President-elect seeks opponents’ support

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HEAD of his inauguration today as Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama has called for political unity, reaching out to rivals who are contesting his election due to suspicions irregularities in the voting process.

Mahama, a former vice president who took office in July after the death of his former boss, President John Atta Mills, won a December 7 election. He is scheduled to be sworn in on today along with a new parliament.

“For the long-term survival of our nation, we must agree and commit to a multi-partisan process,” Mahama said in a speech to parliament, adding. “Whatever our differences, whatever our politics, we must pull together and rise to meet these challenges.”

International and local election

observers said the December election - in which Mahama won 50.7 per cent of the votes - was free and fair despite delays and technical hitches that forced voting into a second day.

Ghana’s main opposition party launched a legal challenge on December 28, saying the poll involved enough irregularities to affect the outcome.

The opposition NPP party, whose leader, Nana Akufo-Addo, came second with 47.7 per cent, has threatened to boycott Mahama’s inauguration.

Ghana is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies and has maintained three decades of peace, making it a favorite among international investors and an anomaly in a region better known for coups and civil wars.

Mahama said economic growth in the cocoa, oil and gold exporting nation was between 8.5 and 9 per cent in 2012, but that political unity was required to ensure the rising productivity resulted in development.

Ghana became Africa’s newest oil exporter in 2010 with the startup of Tullow Oil’s offshore Jubilee field, propelling economic growth to 14.4 percent in 2011. Mahama said he expected 2012 growth to be between 8.5 and 9 percent.

The President-elect said: “We have not only held down inflation and maintained macro-economic stability, but we have also worked to ensure discipline in the government’s fiscal regime to avoid unbudgeted expenditures that could distort the economy’s performance.”

OHN Dramani Mahama, who takes the driver’s seat in Ghana today as the fourth President, is incidentally the fourth “John,” to ascend the office.

He is billed to be sworn in today at the Black Star Square (fomerly Independence Square) in Accra.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings, ascribed as the first “John,” ruled as a democraticallyelected President from January 7, 1993 to January 6, 2001. His successor, -President John Agyekum Kufuor endorsed as the second “John,” governed from January 7, 2001 to January 6, 2009; and the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the third “John,” was in the saddle from January 7, 2009 to July 24, 2012.

President Mahama was born on November 29, 1958 at Damongo in the Northern Region of Ghana.

He is a communications expert, historian, writer, former Member of Parliament and Minister of State, and immediate former VicePresident.

He ascended to the high office of President following the death of the incumbent and his former boss, Mills on Tuesday, July 24 in Accra.

Mahama’s father, Mr Emmanuel •President-elect ...yesterday Adama Mahama, was the first He also served as a member of the Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency and the National Economic Management first Regional Commissioner of the Team, a founding member of the Northern Region during Ghana’s Ghana AIDS Commission, a member of the implementation commitFirst Republic.

After completing his education, tee of the 2000 National Population Mahama went on to pursue an ad- Census, and a deputy chairman of ditional postgraduate diploma in the Publicity Committee for the resocial psychology at the Institute introduction of the Value Added of Social Sciences in Moscow, and Tax (VAT).

Continuing to expand his interest returned to Ghana from 1991 to and involvement in international 1996.

He worked as Information, Cul- affairs, in 2003 President Mahama ture and Research Officer at the became a member of the Pan-African Parliament, serving as the Embassy of Japan in Accra.

He moved on to work with Chairperson of the West African PLAN International, Ghana, as In- Caucus.

In 2005, he was, additionally, apternational Relations, Sponsorship Communications and Grants Man- pointed the Minority Spokesman for Foreign Affairs and served in ager.

An eloquent champion of the un- these capacities until 2008, when he derprivileged, President Mahama was handpicked to become the runwas first elected to the Parliament ning-mate to the then NDC presiof Ghana in 1996 to represent the dential candidate, Professor John Bole/Bamboi Constituency for a Evans Atta Mills.

President Mahama has seven chilfour-year term.

In April 1997, he was appointed dren. He is married to Mrs. Lordina Deputy Minister of Communica- Mahama. Despite his often busy tions and rose to become the sub- schedule, President he makes it a stantive Minister of Communica- point to devote time to his family, tions by November 1998, a posi- his faith and his hobbies.

He is a Christian, who believes in tion he held until January 2001 when the National Democratic the importance of respect for and Congress (NDC), which was then tolerance of, other faiths and forms the ruling party, handed over of worship in a nation as diverse power to the newly elected New and peaceful as Ghana.

Mahama has a keen interest in Patriotic Party (NPP) administration when the NDC lost the De- environmental affairs, particularly the problem of plastic pollution in cember 2000 elections.

In 2000, President Mahama was Africa, which he has committed re-elected for another four-year himself to addressing during his term as the Member of Parliament tenure as vice president.

President Mahama loves to read. for the Bole/Bamboi Constituency.

He was again re-elected in 2004 for He is also an avid writer and has had numerous articles published a third term.

From 2001 to 2004, President nationally and internationally.

His first book -”My First Coup Mahama served as the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for d’État and Other True Stories From Communications and in 2002 he the Lost Decades of Africa”, was was appointed the Director of published by Bloomsbury on July 3, 2012.

Communications for the NDC. President Mahama stood on the That same year, he served as a member of the team of interna- ticket of the National Democratic tional observers selected to moni- Congress (NDC) in Election 2012 tor Zimbabwe’s Parliamentary and has been dully declared winner of presidential poll by the ElecElections.

During his tenure as Minister of toral Commission.

He polled 5,574,761, representing Communications, President Mahama also served as the Chair- 50.70 per cent, as against his close man of the National Communica- contender, the presidential canditions Authority, in which capacity date of the NPP, Nana Addo he played a key role in stabilizing Dankwa Akufo-Addo who had Ghana’s telecommunications sec- 5,248,898 of the valid votes cast, tor after it was deregulated in 1997. representing 47.74 per cent.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

NEWS Gunmen kill 10 in Zamfara

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•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (third left), Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Biyi Odunlade (second left); Senator Babajide Omoworare (left); House of Representatives member Rotimi Makinde and Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), during the inauguartion of OriOlokun Garden and unveiling of new logo for Ife Central Local Government, at Mayfair Rounabout Ile-Ife, Osun…on Saturday.

Lawmakers to stop religious extremism, says Mark Continued from page 1

Jonathan, who said the character of Nigerians is a challenge which the church must re-brand to make the country a better place.

The President said: “The church, the government and the political actors have the same responsibilities and we believe that the church is at the centre of society building.

“Some of the challenges we face today; it’s because of the character our people have. If the church moulds the people, especially starting from the children, Nigeria will be a better place.

“There is no doubt that immense progress has been made in this critical area and I am grateful for all the work that has been done by the church.

“We all know that no religion preaches or encourages violence.

“The two major religions in our land preach brotherhood, love and peaceful co-existence, which are their foundation.

“Those who do otherwise do not worship God. Because it can not be the same person

who worship God that will encourage others to kill people who are also created by God. “We believe that God created all of us and anybody who raises a weapon to kill the very one created by God cannot be said to be worshipping God.’’ Jonathan described the appointment of Cardinal Onaiyekan as a clear recognition by the Vatican of the immense contributions of the Church in Nigeria to the worldwide Catholic movement.

“I see in his appointment a recognition for those who work and toil for peace, bringing hope to their people and building bridges for reconciliation among men.

“I also see it as a great privilege to our country at this time and in particular to me since I am serving as the President now,’’ he said.

The President says Cardinal Onaiyekan is “a simple, humble and totally unassuming man, yet a man of great distinction, learning and knowledege who always sees himself as a citizen and, of course, a messenger and ser-

vant of God’’.

Jonathan noted that the smooth progresion of the clergy in the church’s hierachy stood him out as a man of great piety and intellectual strenght.

The President expressed the hope “that one day - and I pray it will not be too long we will also celebrate a Papal Father from Nigeria’’.

In his sermon entitled “the infant king of Bethlehem”, Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke about the Epiphany and circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The cardinal noted that a true religion must be open to all, embrace peace and be devoid of blood-shedding.

“That Nigeria is deeply religious is a precious asset.

“It is, however, sad that our image abroad is tainted with fanaticism, religious intolerance, killing and shedding of blood.

“We must not allow this to continue. We have to strive to live in peace in our nation with our differences of tribe, culture, tradition, language and religion.

“We must see the image of God in everybody around us

and apply the golden rule that we should do to others only what we can do to ourselves.

Cardinal Onaiyekan said that the congratulatory messages he had received since his appointment cut across religion, tribe, business and politics.

He said the thanksgiving service was in commemoration of his 30 years of ordination as a Bishop and his appointment into the College of Cardinal by Pope Benedict the XVI. He recalled that on January 6, 1983, he was ordained Bishop by Pope John Paul II at St Peters Basilica in Rome.

Cardinal Onaiyekan said of the 14, two were Nigerians.

The clergy also noted that January 6 was significant in his life as remarkable things had happened on that date.

He said he was ordained a deacon on Jan. 6, 1969; Bishop on January 6, 1983; took over as Bishop of Ilorin Diocese January 6, 1985, Bishop of Abuja Diocese on Jan. 6, 1992 and held the thanksgiving on his elevation to CardiContinued on page 63

UNMEN allegedly shot to death about 10 people during a raid on two neighbouring villages in Zamfara State, the police said yesterday.

The motive for the attack late on Saturday on the villages of Makera and Usu was not known, the police said. It was also unclear whether members of the Boko Haram or criminal gangs were behind it.

“There was an attack in these villages in Zamfara and people were killed. I think the number is around 10,” Zamfara police spokesman Hassan Usman Talba said by telephone from the scene, according to Reuters.

He said the prime suspects were gangs of Fulani herdsman but that the police were still investigating.

The Fulani’s semi-nomadic, cattle-herding way of life has led to decades of conflict with farming communities across the country that often erupts into violence.

The focus of Boko Haram’s insurgency has been Borno and Yobe States, but a military crackdown might have pushed it into other states, including Zamfara.

Analysts say the insurgency has also brought a breakdown of law and order across the North, creating opportunities for armed gangs and ethnic militias with scores to settle.

Boko Haram (Western education is a sin) killed about 2,000 people last year in a campaign to impose Islamic law on Nigeria.

Zamfara State Information Commissioner Ibrahim Birnin Magaji, said the gunmen attacked the people as they left the mosque after morning prayers.

He however said seven people were killed with seven others injured.

In June, gunmen killed 27 people in the state in attacks on villages preparing for a local market day. Another 20 were killed in an October attack.

2015: Sambo denies joining Obasanjo to fight Jonathan Continued from page 1

erate and console with the Vice President and the good people of Kaduna State. The visit with his entourage was witnessed by journalists.

“After the visit, there was a meeting already scheduled by the Vice President between the new governor and the traditional rulers in the State, which was held within the same vicinity where the former President met with the Vice President for the condolence visit.

“The essence of the meeting put together by the Vice President between the new Governor and the traditional rulers was to mobilise support and cooperation of the traditional rulers for the new governor.

“That particular meeting was not in isolation because it was part of series of meetings being held to mobilise support for the new governor.

“The reason why former President Obasanjo was at the meeting was because it was in the same Gen. Hassan Katsina House and his arrival concided with the time of the meeting.

“More importantly, he was invited by the Emir of Zauz-

zau, that since his colleagues were there, former President Obasanjo should come over and greet them.

“His presence at the meeting was to greet the traditional rulers and wish them well. Moreover, the meeting was held in the open and everyone that spoke did so in the open and in the presence of others.

“It is also instructive to note that the meeting was covered by journalists. In view of this, we wonder where the story of Obasanjo and the Vice President teaming up came from, that there is a problem brewing in the Presidency.

“There is nothing like that, it is just an insinuation intended to put the Presidency to ridicule in the eyes of the public.

“The entire report is wrong and mischievous”.

President Jonathan has said he is yet to speak on his political future, which has been hit by controversies. Only last week, Abuja streets were adorned with posters announcing the President’s interest in the 2015 election.

The Presidency disowned the posters, stressing that those pasting them were out to distract Dr. Jonathan.

PDP BoT chair: Leaders push for consensus

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ARELY 24 hours to the emergence of a new Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaders of the party are pushing for consensus instead of voting by members.

The Presidency and party leadership are also in favour of the consensus option.

A former national chairman of the party said consensus will unite the BoT and the party better than an election.

The Presidency is showing more than a keen interest in the choice of a new BoT. The BOT members would converge on the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday for a session on their new chairman.

It was learnt that about 20 leaders of the party have obtained forms to occupy the seat, which was vacated in June by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

•Northcentral, Southsouth, Southeast, Southwest battle for slot From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Some of the aspirants are a former Chairman of the BoT, Chief Tony Anenih; a former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmadu Ali; a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun; ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani; and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

There are, also, a former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Don Etiebet, who is a returnee to the party; a former Chairman of the BoT of ANPP, Chief Harry Akande and 13 others.

Others who did not apply but are being recommended tfor the slot are former-VicePresident Alex Ekwueme and a former acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

Most leaders of the party and some influential mem-

bers of the BoT believe that an election will not be suitable in the choice of its chairman.

A BoT member said: “Party leaders prefer consensus than outright election because BoT is more or less an advisory organ made up of the President and elders of the party.

“The leaders are also surprised by the fuss the choice of a new chairman is generating because it is arguably the least potent organ of the party. After all, the chairman and the secretary of BoT will only be members of the National Executive Committee.

“Except for serving as the conscience of the party, BoT remains a mediatory organ, in terms of addressing crises. I think a former Chairman of the BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, gave colour and power bite to the seat, such

that when Obasanjo left office he was desperately after the seat for relevance.”

Another BoT member said: “Everyone is interested in the choice of our new chairman because we will soon go into election period and we need a voice who can serve as a true conscience of the party.

“Allowing a figure head to be BoT chairman won’t assist dispute resolution within the party. If you look at the PDP leadership structure, it is presently weak.

Other organs should not follow the same weak pattern.

“Look at the crisis in Adamawa State , it is a problem that a strong BoT leadership could address without PDP leaders getting involved in the mess.”

A former National chairman of the party, who spoke in confidence, said: “I am positive that we will be able

to produce a new chairman for the BoT without going into election.

“As a matter of fact, our constitution is not strict on election of either the chairman or the secretary. We have started discussions and we will be able to have a new BoT leader without going into ballot.”

Asked to respond to the insistence of some aspirants on election, the source added: “It is normal in a democracy like this, but I think in view of the pedigree of BoT members, wise counsel will prevail and we will produce a consensus candidate.

“We have never elected any BoT chairman or secretary. This will not be an exception at all.”

But one of the aspirants said: “They are begging us to allow mutual discussion to prevail and pick a new leader. But some of us want

•Anenih

election to prove a point that this organ should lay the foundation for democracy.

Continued on page 63

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

5

NEWS Ekweremadu launches online, SMS poll

‘$500m was not borrowed to acquire 30 aircraft’

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

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HE Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Ike Ekweremadu, at the weekend urged Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing Short Message Service (SMS) and online opinion poll to air their views on the ongoing constitution review.

The Deputy Senate President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja, gave the advice when he briefed the media and publicity team of the committee.

Senator Ekweremadu said the opinion poll was in keeping with the promise and commitment of the committee to popular participation and transparency in the ongoing constitution amendment.

He stressed that the aims of the poll were to “demystify constitution-making, get more Nigerians involved and correct the wrong perception of constitution-making as an elite’s affair.”

He said: “We want to discourage the usual situation where a vocal and privileged few expropriate the voices of the rest of the people, foist their personal opinions and narrow interests on the polity, claiming same to be the views of their people.

“We took cognisance of the appreciable teledensity in the country that makes the Global System of Mobile Telecommunications (GSM) service available to an average citizen and thought that we should seize the platform to give the masses another opportunity beyond the public hearings we conducted at the national, zonal and constituency levels to make inputs into matters that concern them and posterity.”

Osayande advocates financial autonomy for Police From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin City

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HE Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Parry Osayande, has said the Nigeria Police would perform better if the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is allowed to manage the funds budgeted for it.

Said he: “The 1999 Constitution as amended did not mention the Ministry of Police Affairs. I’m not against the ministry. What I’m saying is that the Inspector-General of Police should be allowed to manage its funds.

“There is security in Nigeria.

The fact remains that we are oversensitive. We are too impatient and we overreact.”

Mr. Osayande said it took the United States of America and the United Kingdom several centuries to get the quality of police they now enjoy.

He said the police Nigeria inherited from its colonial masters was a semi-quasi-military organisation created to protect their business interests.

Mr. Osayande ruled out retrenchment in the police, adding: “There is constant manpower wastages arising from deaths due to ill-health. We bring in new people. We do not have plans to retrench and we do not have any timetable for disengagement.”

On the agitations for State Police, the PSC Chairman said it is uncalled for, as it will lead to anarchy and chaos.

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•From right: Osun State Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Zikrullahi Hassan, who represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola, chatting with the Executive Director, Zakat and Sadakat Foundation (ZSF), Alhaji Shuaib Abdullahi. With them is the Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Prof.

Ganiyu Olatunde, during the Third Zakat Distribution Ceremony organised by ZSF at the Local Government Service Commission Hall, Osogbo... yesterday.

PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

SSANU to Fed Govt: avert strike in varsities T HE Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Western Zone, has urged the Federal Government to begin the payment of the Earned Allowance by the end of this month as promised in the meeting with the non-teaching staff unions, to avert strike in public universities.

According to a communique issued at the end of its 43rd Zonal Executive Council meeting held at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, the union decried government’s failure to implement the agreement reached with it.

It also said it was regrettable that the government did not appreciate its efforts at sustaining industrial peace in

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

the public universities despite the pressure from SSANU members over the non-payment of the allowance as contained in the agreement signed with the university non-teaching unions in 2009.

It noted that the council in session was piqued by the report of the meeting between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquyat Rufai, with the unions on the matter, as it fell below expectation.

The communique ex-

pressed outrage at the “highly biased report of the Prof.

Yakubu Committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities” and enjoined the Federal Government to be wary of the report whose implementation could throw the university system into confusion.

The union said the observations, findings and recommendations of the committee are an “armchair analysis or an outright misrepresentation of facts to work to a predetermine answer.”

It said: “The council rejects the negative recommendations of the Prof. Yakubu-led committee against the non-

teaching workers of Nigerian universities and challenges him to come up with its findings on the InternallyGenerated Revenue (IGR) of the universities and how they are utilised by the chief executives of the institutions.

“It challenges him to come up with a comparative analysis of the quantum of money spent on salaries and trainings of teaching and non-teaching workers in public universities.”

The communique condemned the negative corruption index of Nigeria despite the fight against corruption and advised the government to stop paying lip service to corruption.

It decried insecurity in the country and urged government to combat it.

FCC to partner NPC, Bureau of Statistics on infrastructural development

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HE Federal Character Commission (FCC) will partner the National Population Commission (NPC) and Bureau of Statistics to ensure equitable distribution of infrastructural facilities in Nigeria.

The commission has unveiled plans to embark on the monitoring and enforcing of equitable distribution of infrastructural facilities in the 36 states.

Its Chairman, Prof. Shuaib AbdulRaheem, spoke to reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

He urged the Federal Government to support the com-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

mission in implementing this plan to ensure fairness in the distribution of infrastructure in the country.

Prof. AbdulRaheem said the commission had prepared its guidelines in embarking, monitoring and enforcing the distribution of infrastructural facilities, adding that its greatest challenge is to get funds that would enable it undertake infrastructure auditing in the country.

He said the idea was to ensure that there was equitable distribution of infrastructure in the education, agriculture,

health, communications and transportation sectors.

“To achieve this plan, FCC will work with the National Planning Commission and Bureau for Statistics on how to advise the Budget Office and other federal ministries and parastatals involved in the provision of infrastructural facilities and socio-economic amenities,” the commission’s chairman said.

According to him, in the last five years, the FCC has been educating and enlightening the citizens on the need to imbibe the federal character principles.

Prof. AbdulRaheem said the FCC had adhered to its guidelines of ensuring that no single interest group in the public service constituted more than three per cent of the total work force in any organisation, adding that the commission had ensured equitable distribution and employment of graduates in the federal public service.

He debunked the claims in some quarters that politicians have hijacked the functions of the commission in terms of employment, saying it does not play politics with the federal character principle.

HE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday denied that $500 million was borrowed from China to acquire aircraft for domestic airlines.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Yakubu Datti, in a statement said: “FAAN has not borrowed $500 million from China or any country.

FAAN is not acquiring aircraft.

“FAAN is a service provider in the industry and is currently occupied in translating the transformational aviation master plan into concrete realities.

“At present, the authority is focused on the reconstruction of 22 airports in the country as initiated by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah. The Lagos Terminal 1, popularly called the General Aviation Terminal, has been inaugurated and the remaining airports are at different stages of completion. Work on the remaining 11 airports in the second phase will soon begin.”

According to him, the orientation of aviation employees is being pursued through capacity development, and the Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi, “is spearheading this paradigm shift towards service delivery, accountability and self-sustenance.”

He added that the Ministry of Aviation is making arrangements to facilitate the acquisition of 30 planes to boost the operations of domestic airlines.

Elebuwa’s funeral programme released

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HE Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has released the funeral programme of the late Nollywood actor Enebeli Elebuwa.

According to a statement by the President of AGN, Ibinabo Fiberesima, the funeral begins with a candlelight procession from Masha area of Surulere, Lagos to O’Jez Restaurant inside the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on January 9.

Actors and actresses are expected to wear white attires.

The funeral continues the following day with a service of songs at Tejuosho, Surulere, Lagos near the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 10 between 5pm and 7pm.

On January 11, a requiem mass will hold at St. Michael Catholic Church, Lafiaji, Lagos Island, after which the remains of the veteran actor will be interred at the Victoria Courts Cemetery.

Thanksgiving service holds on January 13 at 10am at the same venue.

Navy to hand over 15 Russians to police for prosecution

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HE Nigerian Navy (NN) will today hand over a 15-man Russian crew of the arrested Merchant Vessel (MV) Myre Seadiver to the Nigeria Police for prosecution.

The vessel, which was intercepted on October 19 at the

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Lagos Roadstead, was said to have contained AK47 rifles with 3, 643 ammunition and 22 Benelli MR1 20 Barrel rifles with 4, 955 ammunition.

A statement from the Information Officer, Western Naval

Command, Lt. Commander Jerry Omodara, said the handing over would be done at the harbour of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos.

He said: “The ship was arrested for illegal entry into Nigerian waters, non-declaration

of cargo and carrying of arms.

“Part of our activities in the Lagos area is to ensure we create a conducive maritime atmosphere to promote legitimate maritime business. Anytime we see something that infringes on that mandate, we try to avert it.

“The vessel belongs to Moran Group, Moscow and hoisted a Dutch Island flag.

“We discovered that it came into our waters without notification and found it had weapons, which is an infringement on the laws of this country.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS

NLC to Jonathan: call Maina to order

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted the proposition by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Police Pension Reform, Abdulrasheed Maina, on the N3.6 trillion pension funds to be given to states for infrastructural development.

Maina reportedly canvassed that pension funds be made available to the state governments for infrastructural development.

The NLC said the call was “in clear violation of the Pension Reform Act 2004 and the Investment Rules guiding pension funds in the country.”

It urged President Goodluck Jonathan to call the Task Team chairman to order.

•Says Nigeria risks pension strike From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

NLC’s Vice-President Comrade Issa Aremu spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on the occasion of the “Keep fit exercise for a better Nigeria”, to mark his 52nd birthday.

He said: “President Jonathan has the responsibility to safeguard and protect the pension reform of 2004, which stands at N3.6 trillion.

“Maina has been making ill-informed, unguarded commentaries on the accumulated pension assets contributed through the savings of Nigerian workers in the private and public sectors in the past eight years.

“These commentaries, if

unchecked, can undermine the national pension fund and subvert the pension market. For instance, he was recently quoted as saying that about N3 trillion built in the pension system was commendably managed by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) and scores of pension fund administrators as well as pension fund custodians should be made available to state governments for their socalled infrastructural development.

“The point cannot be overstated. Pension funds totaling almost N4 trillion (contributed by six million workers) is a contributory fund by workers for pen-

sions after retirement. Nigerian workers in the past decade did not part with 7.5 per cent of their relatively low earnings to fund infrastructural development of the states as being canvassed by the new fund scavengers like Maina.

“Workers’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) must be protected at all costs, failing which Nigeria might witness a national pension strike. Nigerian workers are witnessing all forms of wage thefts either by short-changed payments, delayed payments, diverted pay and bare-faced pay official robbery.”

The labour leader urged the President to put a time line on the activities of the Task Team.

“It is not the amount of billions the Task Team claims to have recovered, but how many pensioners in the public sector have been paid their pensions and gratuities.

“Stakeholders, including the organised labour led by the NLC, watched with utter dismay how Abdulrasheed Maina last year defied public summons by the Senate Joint Committees on Establishment and States and Local Governments during the public hearing on public pension administration. Unacceptable is the way and manner the controversial chairman of what is supposed to be a short term presidential Task Team carries on as if the Task Team, meant to manage police pension fund mess, which lacks any legal backing, has come to stay,” Comrade Aremu said.

Dabiri-Erewa leads delegation to India Diaspora Conference

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HE Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Abike DabiriErewa, leads Nigeria’s delegation to the 11th edition of the India Diaspora Day celebration in Kochi, India from today.

According to a statement in Abuja, the convention known as “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2013”, will be held from today till January 9.

Dabiri-Erewa, who was invited in recognition of her proactive roles in Diaspora affairs in Nigeria, is expected to deliver a paper on “Diaspora and Heritage”.

India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to declare the convention open at Hotel Le-Meridian tomorrow. India’s President will deliver a valedictory address on January 9.

A large number of central ministers, including External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi will also participate.

The Diaspora Day in India commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa on January 9.

The PBD 2013 is conducted in partnership with the Kerala government and has as its theme: ‘Engaging Diaspora: The Indian growth story’.

Other highlights of the convention are pre-PBD seminars related to development issues, such as skill development, pure sciences, tourism, youth and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the Gulf.

It also includes plenary sessions on ‘India’s growth: greater opportunities’, ‘Overseas Indians: safe environment’, ‘Engaging young overseas Indians’ and ‘Investment opportunities in States.’

“Since the country is celebrating the centenary of the Gadar Movement in 2013, the PBD Oration this time will be on the Gadar Movement,” the statement said.

Over 2,500 delegates from 50 countries are expected to attend the 2013 convention of the India in the Diaspora conference, with Nigeria being the only invited country from Africa.

Jonathan advised to stop impunity, corruption

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HE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has advised President Goodluck Jonathan on how to fight corruption. SERAP said: “Rooting out high level official corruption, ending impunity of perpetrators and turning around Nigeria will take more than mere promises and preaching of decency: it requires strong leadership at the highest level of government.”

In a statement signed yesterday by SERAP’s Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation said: “President Jonathan’s New Year’s statement promising that his administration would move faster this year to meet the basic needs of the citizens is routine and rhetorical. What is required now is for this government to act more and promise less. The President must show strong leadership and lead by example, if he is to earn the trust of Nigerians and convince them that he is committed to the fight against corruption.”

“Half measures, which avoid public scrutiny of the President’s asset declaration and effective prosecution of corruption cases when they involve those connected with this government, are inadequate and tend to throw the government into disrepute,” the organisation said.

It also said: “Lack of accountable leadership – together with the deficit of transparency in the management of public finances and public spending – has exacerbated the country’s poverty and underdevelop-

Flood: Committee to proffer solution From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

•From left: The General Manager, Retail, Nokia, Emmanuel Ossai; N1 million winner, Kabirat Sowunmi; and the Manager, Regulatory and Monitoring, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Calix Ita, at the presentation of cheque to the winner of Nokia Asha Millionaire PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID Promo in Lagos... at the weekend.

Fed Govt to list 30% of NOC on capital market

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HE Federal Government is planning to sell 30 per cent of the National Oil Company (NOC) to the public through the capital market when the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed into law.

NOC will replace the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the passage of the PIB and will be run like other international oil companies, such as Petrobras of Brazil and Statoil of Norway. It will be self-financing and will bid for assets in any part of the world.

A member of the PIB committee and the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Abiye Membere, said this at the weekend.

The NNPC, as provided in the PIB, will be unbundled and three national oil companies created out of it. The companies include the NOC,

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

which will focus on oil and gas exploration and production, which will be quoted on the capital market. The National Gas Company will drive the construction of domestic gas infrastructure, distribution and usage, and the Asset Management Company.

Membere’s presentation, entitled: ‘Understanding the Petroleum Industry Draft Bill (PIB),’ was put together by the working and group executive committees of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers of Nigeria (NUPENG).

Membere said the National Oil Company will include the National Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an upstream arm of the NNPC, Pipeline and Products Marketing Com-

pany (PPMC), the four refineries, assets under the Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and new acreages that will be assigned to the company.

Membere said the reason for establishing the NOC and putting the companies under it is to ensure that those who will buy into it will get value for their money.

The NPDC produces about 130,000 barrels of oil per day, with an ambition to reach 250,000 bpd in the next three years. The reserve base of the PSCs is about six billion barrels of oil. Therefore, if the expected return on investment from the refineries does not come early as planned, the investing public would benefit from their investments. With the assets of the NOC, it would be able to source funds from any market in the world.

Membere said the formation of the NOC would put in the private sector initiative to ensure the company is run efficiently and transparently with

good accountability, preserve the profitable joint venture arrangement that contributes to the total revenue from petroleum, ring fence so that there is no divestment of the national asset company such as the refineries, provide private participation as it is in similar NOCs. Membere said the objective of the PIB is to enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources, increase domestic gas supplies especially for power and industry, and create competitive business environment.

Others include the establishment of a fiscal framework that is flexible, stable and attractive; creation of a viable national oil company; creation of efficient regulatory institutions; engendering transparency and accountability; promoting Nigerian content and promoting and protecting health safety and environment.

THE leader of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, who is also the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) Deputy Governor, Tunde Lemo, has promised to deliver relief materials to flood victims in Nasarawa State.

Lemo, who spoke at the weekend when he visited Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura at his home in Lafia, vowed to find a solution to what he described as “a global phenomenon” that caused havoc in the country.

The CBN Deputy Governor, who was in the state to assess the damage, said the committee would visit some areas affected by the flood.

Lemo noted that his committee would mitigate the effect of the flood.

He hailed Governor Almakura’s handling of the problem.

The governor, who said over N20 billion and 28 lives were lost in the state as a result of the flood, thanked the committee for the visit.

He lauded the French and Japanese embassies as well as financial institutions for showing concern.

•Lemo

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS

Three killed in Ogbomoso tanker fire

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HREE people were yesterday killed in an accident involving two loaded fuel tankers and an 18-seater bus in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The accident occurred around 8:30am at Odo Oba. A petrol tanker coming from Ogbomoso collided with the commercial bus at a sharp bend where another petrol tanker had broken down.

The Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogbomoso Unit, Mr. George Adedipe, said: “Three vehicles were involved in the crash. They are two tankers, marked XS 732 AGL and XB 476 AKK (DAF 185 belonging to Conoil) and an 18-seater bus.”

He said the bus and the tanker, marked XS 732 AGL, were burnt.

Adedipe said 21 men and two wome were involved in the accident.

He said: “Nine men were injured, three died and two were trapped in the bus.”

Those injured were said to have been taken to a private clinic in Ogbomoso and the bodies deposited in the

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan; Bode Durojaiye, Ogbomoso and Precious Igbonwelundu

‘The second tanker collided with the bus and the three vehicles went up in flames. People were inside the bus’ mortuary.

The accident caused heavy traffic on the IbadanIlorin Expressway.

An eyewitness, who spoke with The Nation on the telephone, said one of the tankers had been stationary on the road for two days.

The witness said: “The accident occurred on a sloppy and sharp corner of the road. It obstructed traffic flow on the busy road and made the rescue operation difficult. Even 50 kilometres away from the scene was too hot for anyone to stay.

“The second tanker collided with the bus and the three vehicles went up in flames. People were inside the bus.”

Spokesman of the National Emergency Manage-

ment Agency (NEMA) Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye said the number of victims could not be ascertained yet. He said: A fully loaded petrol tanker ran over an 18-seater commercial bus at a sharp bend at Odo Oba village, five kilometres to Ogbomoso from Ibadan, where another tanker loaded with petrol had broken down, and they burst into flame.

Only three people escaped. Officials of the Nigerian Army have cordoned off the area. The Oyo Fire Service and other emergency agencies have been mobilised to the scene and they are working hard to put out the fire.

“Traffic flow to and from the south has been disrupted and alternative routes would be created soon with the assistance of the Reynolds Construction Company (RCC).”

Director of the Oyo State Fire Service Mr. Kareem Oyekunle said: “The fire has been put out. From the report I got from my men on the scene, there was no casualty.

My men were called around 9am and they did not leave the place until past noon.”

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right) and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, discussing at the inauguration of the Ori-Olokun Garden in Ile-Ife....at the weekend.

‘Aregbesola has reduced poverty’

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SUN State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam has praised the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration on poverty alle-

Emir pledges endowment fund in ABUAD

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HE Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulu Gambari, has pledged to set up an endowment fund in Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti (ABUAD).

He spoke at the weekend when he visited ABUAD in commemoration of the institution’s third anniversary.

The emir said the fund would take care of the “conferment of annual awards on

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From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

students, who distinguish themselves in their studies.”

Describing the institution as a model of inspiration, Gambari said his decision was to encourage proprietors of private institutions, including that of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN).

He said the award would be an annual event for the

best graduating in Land Law and Equity.

The monarch urged affluent Nigerians to intervene in the education sector, adding that the government cannot do it alone He said: “With the quality and standard of education in ABUAD, it is needless and unpatriotic for the rich in our society to send their children to school overseas.

ABUAD can rival any uni-

versity in the world.

“The university’s sports complex and agricultural section would expose the students to skill acquisition and career building. I have gone round the university and it is well-planned, with imposing modern structures, latest teaching equipment and an array of experienced professors. I share the view of others that this university is indeed a model.”

Stop blaming your ordeal on opposition, Oyo ACN tells Folarin

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State has urged former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin to stop blaming his invitation by the police on the opposition.

It said Folarin had a lot of explaining to do regarding his alleged plan to disrupt the peace in the state.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN said: “The

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

police were doing their lawful duties by searching Folarin’s home. The information that he is in cahoots with a kingpin of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, a.k.a.

Tokyo, is all over the streets of Ibadan.

“The government had nothing to do with the search.

The police would be failing in their duties, if they do not search for the arms and ammunition with which the Tokyo group had been threatening to destabilise Oyo State.

“Folarin and his NURTW accomplices ought to know that the people of our state

will resist every relic of the violence of the past. Our people, who can now sleep with their eyes closed, will not allow the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) henchmen to have another opportunity in Oyo State.

“The people are grateful to the police for the search.

We all know that the boasts to destabilise the state by these discredited persons are not mere imaginations.”

Fire guts six shops in Abeokuta

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WOMAN, Mrs. Modinat Ibrahim, yesterday fainted after a fire razed her provision and cosmetics store at Alowonle, Adigbe in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Her husband’s furniture workshop, situated in the same vicinity, was not spared.

Mrs. Ibrahim, who replenished her stock on Saturday with goods worth over half a million naira, fainted when she saw that her shop was among others burnt by a fire, which gutted a shop close to hers.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

She was revived by sympathisers, who poured water on her before taking her to Hope Hospital in Adigbe, where she is receiving treatment.

Five other shops were also razed by the fire, which some people said might have resulted from faulty electrical appliances.

Another victim, Mrs. Yahya Nasimot, said she lost 150 crates of eggs, bags of rice, two freezers and a power generating set to the fire.

She said: “I just stocked up

the shop and most of the items were bought on credit.

I was hoping to go out and sell them on Monday (today) before the unfortunate incident.”

Spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mr Kareem Olanrewaju said the fire started from Mr. Adisa Ibrahim’s furniture shop and spread to others.

Olanrewaju said the timely intervention of his men and officials of the State Fire Service prevented the fire from spreading to residential buildings and a filling station.

Also yesterday, there was

a fire at a hostel in Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi–Aba, but it was put out before it caused damage.

There was also a fire at the Trade Fair Complex, Oke Mosan. It was said to have been caused by rodent hunters, who set a nearby bush ablaze.

Director of the Ogun State Fire Service Abidoye Ajileye said they responded to four fires yesterday.

He said: “We received four calls almost at the same time and we have only three vehicles. We lack personnel and equipment and urge the government to intervene.”

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

‘The Assembly and some informed people know how Aregbesola has battled unemployment, insolvency and infrastructural decay through different initiatives’ viation.

He was reacting to the data of the Federal Bureau of Statistics, which said the poverty rate in Osun had dropped.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Goke Butika, the speaker said the strategies deployed by Aregbesola in fighting unemployment and infrastructural decay have been acknowledged beyond the shores of the state.

The statement reads: “The Assembly and some informed people know how Aregbesola has battled unemployment, insolvency and infrastructural decay through different initiatives.

“Despite the fact that the revenue profile is still operating at arithmetic pace as against the geometric pace of the challenges facing the state, we are glad that the federal data acknowledged the prudence of this administration.”

The speaker said the Federal Bureau of Statistics’ data would attract investors to Osun, enhance job opportunities and improve the standard of living.

The Federal Bureau of Statistics, through its empirical data, used the unemployment rate and the judicious use of resources available to the states of the federation as yardsticks.

Osun has the second lowest poverty rate on its list, while Sokoto tops the list of poor states.

Enrolment soars in Ogun schools

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NROLMENT figures for public schools in Ogun State have improved since Governor Ibikunle Amosun assumed office, investigations have revealed.

Amosun, during his inauguration on May 29, 2011, declared free education in public primary and secondary schools.

The administration followed up the declaration with the distribution of free instructional materials and textbooks to pupils.

Parents responded positively to the development by sending their children to public schools, as figures from the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Education show that enrolment figures have risen significantly.

Enrolment in secondary schools, which was 292,324 in the 2010/2011 academic year, rose to 387,915 in the 2011/2012 academic session.

Enrolment in primary schools rose from 406,890 in the 2010/2011 academic session to 506,002 in the 2012/2013 session.

Observers believe this development is an expression of confidence in the Free Education Policy of the government by parents.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Dr. Tunji Abimbola attributed the improvement to the “total overhaul” of the education sector, which he said was “nearly comatose” when the administration assumed office.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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CITYBEATS Ejigbo LCDA loses supervisor THE Supervisor for Agriculture, Social and Rural Development in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Hon. Muritala Olaiwon is dead. He died on December 31, last year, after a brief illness. He has been buried according to Islamic rites in his home town Eruwa , Oyo State.

The late Olaiwon served Ejigbo LCDA as an elected councillor representing Ailegun Ward between 2004 and 2007.

In October 2008 the council chairman, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan appointed him as Supervisor for Education, the post he held till 2011.

When Bamigbetan was re-elected for a second term, he was appointed Supervisor for Agriculture, Social and Rural Development.

In a condolence message to the bereaved family, Bamigbetan prayed that God should give them the fortitude to bear the loss. He described the late Olaiwon as a dedicated, industrious and committed member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who was instrumental to most of the achievements of his administration. The late Olaiwon is survived by a wife, children, brothers, sisters and an aged father.

Assembly Commission members resume

By Oziegbe Okoeki

THE Chairman and members of the Lagos State House Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM), have resumed work.

The immediate past clerk of the Assembly, Mr Ibisola Olawoyin Ogunyemi, has been appointed the commission's Executive Secretary. He has also resumed duty.

The Commission's first assignment was the ratification of the appointment of the Clerk, Mr. Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, who was comfirmed last week by the House.

The members are: Chief Lateef Olawale Mogaji (Chairman); Mr. Ismail Olanrewaju Odesanya (Commissioner I); Mrs Risikat Ajoke Adeniyi-Adegeye (Commissioner II); both are former members of the House; Mr. Adebayo Olusegun Balogun, former Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government (Commissioner III) and Dr. Bode Tawak (Commissioner IV).

The Commission's functions, among others, are recruitment, deployment and maintenance of the House to ensure a proactive, disciplined and resourceful workforce that is passionate about service delivery.

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

Two feared dead, 10 injured in cults' clash T WO persons were feared dead and 10 others injured in a cults' clash in Ketu, a Lagos suburb, at the weekend. Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The clash, which continued till yesterday, was said to have started as a result of a long-standing feud between the Eiye Confraternity and a gang known as KK. Sources said things got worse during the New Year's Day carnival tagged: "Westside Carnival," when a fight broke out between the groups in

By Precious Igbonwelundu

which two members of the KK cult were killed.

"Last Friday, the two gangs engaged in a freefor-all attacking each other with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons around Taike Street and two members of the KK gang were killed in the process.

"On Saturday night, the KK boys revenged at Cele Bus Stop, an Eiye's territory and insisted on killing two people as well.

"The painful thing is that innocent people were not

spared as some of them were assaulted by the thugs.

"If they were just fighting and killing themselves, it is their business but attacking innocent residents who are going about their businesses is very wrong," a source said.

The Nation gathered that Aladelola, Jimoh Balogun, Love All and Sonaike Streets were the most affected, as pieces of broken glasses and bottles littered these areas.

A victim on Aladelola Street, who gave his name as Yakubu Aremu, said: "Seven shops were vanda-

lised. I have just moved into this area and will open my shop for the first time on Monday. I have no money to repair these damages because I have spent all my money on rent and purchase of wares. They also destroyed about three cars and two tricycles belonging to other people."

Another victim said: "I was in a commercial bus around 11pm when some thugs accosted us. They started slapping some of the passengers, ordered us out and collected all our valuables. Because they took my phone, I could not make a call. But when I got

home, I called the policemen at Ketu Station who got there about three hours later and chased the boys away.

"However, we learnt that they started fighting again around 5:30am with weapons until a team of policemen came to pursue them."

Worshippers at a Pentecostal Church near Cele Bus Stop said it has become a normal thing for hoodlums to cause mayhem in the area.

They decried the inability of the police to arrest the hoodlums who have formed a habit of terrorising people. They alleged that the bus stop was fast becoming a hotbed for criminals.

"When we were renovating our church, the hoodlums were coming to disturb us for money they called 'Owo Ile.' The hoodlums extort everyone in the area every time and I think it's time the police authorities looked into the matter.

"It is necessary for the police command to deploy men of the Special AntiRobbery Squad to address the situation because this area is not safe anymore," he said.

Be proactive about security, lawmaker urges Fed Govt

By Oziegbe Okoeki •Principal Counsel, Dairo and Co, Mr Adisa Dairo (second left) speaking at a lecture on the Concept of Justice under manmade laws and the laws of Allah at the Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque... at the weekend. With him are Alhaji Naheem PHOTO: MOSES OMOSHEHIN. Junaid-Eko (left); Alhaji Wale Thabit Sonaike (second right) and Abdul-Salam Abbas.

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Okoya-Thomas urges leaders to deliver on electoral promises

N industrialist, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas has urged the country's leaders to to deliver their electoral promises as they were elected to serve.

Speaking at the End-ofthe-Year get together of the Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Island, at the weekend Okoya-Thomas, who is the chairman of Board of Trustees, said leaders cannot keep making promises to the people and fail to keep.

By Miriam Ndikanwu

"You owe a lot to the populace, you cannot keep telling them it will be better tomorrow and not do anything today, it's very sad," he said, urging Nigerians and the media to play their roles and expose corruption in all phases.

He said: "When we tell the truth, even if it's for a few months, they will understand what we're saying.

We must not be scared to tell the truth no matter the circumstance."

Some countries with lower budgets than some states in Nigeria, he said, were making steady progress because of the synergy between the government and the governed.

Okoya-Thomas relived the history of the Hall, saying it has lived up to expecta-

tion of the founding fathers.

"For many years it was left untouched and converted into a trading centre where all manners of things were sold. This is one of the historical edifices of this country. The likes of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and other nationalists held their political debates in this place and we must cherish and preserve this memory," he said.

Residents accuse DPO of commercialising law enforcement

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DIVISIONAL Police Officer in Lagos has been accused by residents of his division of 'undue extortion of money'.

The residents said the DPO, who was recently deployed to the station, is "totally different from all the DPOs" they have been having. According to them, he "seizes every opportunity to get money from residents."

"We know the police officers are members of the society too and sometimes we do give what we have and they accept it gratefully, but what we do not like about this man (DPO) is that he won't accept what you have. He will demand a certain amount," said a landlord in the area, who

By Segun Balogun

does not want his name mentioned.

"The station was not like this when the former DPO was there, but since this man arrived, the complaints are increasing."

One of the complainants, Raji Adeleke, said he spent the better part of Christmas Day in detention for a quarrel that was already settled before the police were invited. He was not released until he paid N5,000.

According to him, he accidentally broke the front passenger side glass of a neighbour's car early on Christmas Day and a quarrel ensued between him and the car owner, after

which he agreed to replace the broken windscreen.

But, unknown to him, the car owner went to report the matter at the police station.

"I just sat in my house and heard a knock on my door.

That was how I was taken to police station. They did not ask for any statement. They just wrote detention order and put me in the cell. They did not even hear my side of the story.

"Two hours after I have been detained, they ask me to come and write statement.

I wrote statement. They took me to meet the DPO, who said I should be released 'on condition.'"

The 'condition,' as it was later explained by the officer in charge of the case, George

Ekpo, was that he has to pay N10,000 for his release.

"I got a lawyer involved and the DPO told his officers to release me, but he left immediately, they refused to let me go. When we informed the DPO of the development, he said he could do nothing about it since he has already ordered my release.

"Seeing that I may be detained there overnight, I had to call my wife to bring N5,000 and that was how they released me around 8pm," Raji said.

The residents appealed to police authorities to establish "an avenue through which complaints against unfair officers can be made and ensure that such avenue is well publicised."

DEPUTY Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru has urged the Federal Government to tackle security, Boko Haram menance and kidnapping in order to gain the people's confidence.

Speaking with reporters at the weekend, he said: "These twin security threats especially the Boko Haram menace, destroyed so many lives and property last year so much that Nigerians are beginning to believe that the Federal Government has no answers to these evils.

"Already the people have lost confidence in the government and if the trend continues this year without concrete response from the government only God knows what will happen."

He urged the government to fight corruption in the petroleum industry, saying: "The government should handle it with more vigour in order to make the country a better place."

Abiru implored the public to cooperate with the state government in its efforts to better the people's lot.

"This is imperative because without their cooperation all the efforts of the state government will amount to little," he said, adding that the Lagos Assembly will continue to impact positively on the lives of Lagosians through its laws and resolutions.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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CITYBEATS

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NEW YEAR THANKSGIVING IN LAGOS

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (right) addressing guests at the Annual Thanksgiving Service at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja... yesterday.

•From right: Chairman, Oto Awori Local Council Development Area, Bolaji Kayode Bibire and Mr Adeniyi Banji

• Fashola (left) greeting the first civilian Governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife, Alhaja Abimbola.

•Fashola (left) welcoming former Chairman, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, Prince Rabiu Oluwa (right), Mr. Ayo Opadokun (second right) and Senator Muniru Muse.

•From left: Mrs. Dayo Gbajabiamila, Mrs Bose Jaiyesimi and the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Local Government Affairs, Mrs. Yinka Babalola PHOTOS BY: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Let’s avoid mishap, says Fashola AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday urged Lagosians to avoid tragedies this year.

He spoke at the 14th Annual Thanksgiving service hosted by the government.

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye conducted the service.

Fashola said: “We witnessed floods in our land and across the world. There were orgies of mindless violence and bombings that claimed many innocent lives.

“In one day of the 3rd of June 2012, 150 souls lost their lives in the Dana Airplane crash that left a profound and lasting effect on people throughout the country.

“However in the midst of tragedies there were also flickers of hope. The tragedies reminded of the public spirited nature of most Lagosians.

“The sheer number of volunteers, hospital staff, donors and relief workers who went above and beyond the call of duty to

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bring succor, safety and comfort to families and dependents of the deceased made me especially proud to be a Lagosian.

“We have shown over the last year that whenever there has been a major incident, we have the collective wherewithal and capacity to rise to the occasion.

“It is that selflessness, that spirit of brotherhood that I use this opportunity to urge that we bring to the fore as our normal way of life, and as our everyday value.

“And whilst we pray to witness fewer tragic incidents in 2013, let us all strive towards even greater heights of community awareness.

“Accidents are by their very nature unplanned and unexpected.

However there are those which can also be avoidable.

“I want to renew my plea for increased vigilance this year. I’m sure you have all heard of multi-purpose halls but now people seem to want to live in multi-purpose homes as well.

“When you use your home as a shop, a store, an office, an

eatery, a nightclub, a place of worship then you attract these avoidable mishaps.

“On a brighter note, 2012 was also about the realization of lifelong dreams and objectives for many citizens. That car you had saved for was finally yours. That university admission you had patiently waited for finally came to pass. The business you had always dreamed of starting is now thriving.

“Many of the little blessings that we must count came our way.

If we look back and reflect, we will truly see what God did for us.

“Yes there are still many dreams and I believe they will come to pass.

“Lagos is where many citizens of our country strive to come to realize some of these dreams.

“It is the place where the Nigerian dream has been repeated in the lives of ordinary citizens for many decades.

“As we progress into 2013 thousands more will flood in, all in search of their own fairytale.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS Aregbesola for honour OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola will be turbaned as the Amir’l Hakiima (Leader of leaders, God’s chosen or first among equals) on January 19 by an international Islamic organisation, the Shafaudeen.

The organisation focuses on the promotion of religious harmony, tolerance, justice and peace.

The turbaning is part of activities marking the organisation’s 30th Anniversary. The week-long activities will start on January 12 and end on the 19.

Former Governor of the Old Kaduna State Alhaji Balarabe Musa will chair the occasion. Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi is the chief host. The spiritual father of the day is Sheikh Busari Haruna III, the Chief Imam of Ibadan.

Also expected on the occasion are the National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Adebisi Akande; the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Southwest governors and the Emir of Ilorin, among others Three local government chairmen from each of the Southwest states are to be honoured with the Awards of Excellence.

‘Ondo NURTW clash caused by mercenaries’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

THE chairman of the Ondo State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Oladutele Obayoriade, yesterday said those who tried to topple his administration on December 30 are not members of the union.

He said the hoodlums arrested by security operatives during the clash were mercenaries from other states.

Speaking with reporters in Akure, the state capital, Obayoriade said the suspects, who were arraigned on Thursday, confessed that they were hired from neighbouring states by a member of the Ondo NURTW executive.

He thanked law enforcement agents for apprehending the suspects.

Ondo budget deceitful, says PDP T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State at the weekend said the 2013 budget presented by Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the Ondo State House of Assembly does not address the needs of the people.

It described it as “meaningless and deceitful”.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wale Ozogoro, PDP said the House of Assembly was not capable of effectively appraising the budget and checking the executive arm of government because it had become an extension of the Labour Party (LP).

It alleged that the government was planning to send a “re-ordered” budget to the House in a few months.

PDP said: “The House is expecting a re-ordered budget in few months. Therefore, the budget is a failure on delivery as a bill and be-

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with the intention of raising the financial wherewithal to combat the peoples’ resolve to vote him out of power.

“The government threw caution to the wind, with little or no regard for budget implementation, and went ahead to plunge the state into perpetual indebtedness.

“This year’s budget is full of contradictions, as provision was not made for the repayment of already obtained loans. It was silent on the intended foreign loan already passed to the National Assembly. We are aware that the government could resort to its accounting management methodology, called the re-ordered budget, which is used to cover unreasonable and unethical financial management.

“This year’s budget had N77.65 billion for capital expenditure, a little below that of last year. Two questions

come to mind. What is the performance of last year’s budget? Is the House performing its function to question the executive’s financial recklessness?

“Since the tradition of budget scrutiny, implementation and the oversight function of the Assembly are not religiously followed. This year’s budget can be best described as a budget of hopelessness for the people of Ondo State.

“We shall continue to monitor the implementation of this failed budget, which is aimed at deceiving the people as usual. We shall not forget that N10 billion has been earmarked for the completion of ongoing projects.

“We are aware that yearly budget allocations for ongoing projects have continued infinito. Therefore, the party has resolved to sue the government, if this aspect of the

budget is not implemented to the letter.

“We expect the government to mobilise contractors to the site of ongoing road projects now that the rains have stopped. The government must be alert to its responsibilities.

“The budget failed to address the problems in the education, agriculture and security sectors, infrastructural development, youth empowerment and job creation. Its priorities are misplaced and the yearnings of the people are being sacrificed on the altar of financial impropriety.

“The governorship election petition tribunal would soon begin proceedings on the petitions before it and we are hopeful that we shall come out victorious. Ondo people should expect rapid transformation as soon as we take over the state’s administration.”

Family remembers ‘contented’ woman Elsie Odunewu •Children relive mum’s lifetime

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HE family of the late Mrs. Elsie Odunewu, at the weekend, relived her life during her one-year memorial anniversary celebration.

A memorial mass was held in her honour on Friday at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Marina, Lagos. Guests were later entertained at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island.

The widower, veteran journalist, Haj Alade Odunewu a veteran journalist and ombudsman, described his late wife as a “kind-hearted woman”. He said: “She was absolutely dedicated. I miss her kindheartedness. She was a rare woman, who never asked too much of her husband.

She was contented. She never looked at the ‘other window’.”

The deceased’s first son, Segun, said: “Her death seems to have happened just yesterday. I am still in agony over losing my dear mother and I miss her very much.”

In a video made by a veteran broadcaster, Mr. Femi Segun, which was shown to the guests, the deceased’s daughter, Ms. Ebun Awosika, said her mother was charitable to a fault.

She said: “My mum once

PDP: we didn’t endorse Obanikoro for 2015 HE Peoples Demo cratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State yesterday denied endorsing Senator Musliu Obanikoro as its governorship candidate for the 2015 election.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani, the PDP said the purported endorsement was “false and meant to forment trouble in the party”.

It said: “We disassociate our party from the news that we have endorsed Obanikoro or are looking at any particular person to fly the party’s flag in the 2015 governorship election. The

cause the Assembly does not possess the temerity to question it.

“The re-ordered budget is a new accounting lexicon introduced by this government into the Ondo State appropriation billing system. In fact, financial experts wondered how and where this lexicon emanated from. They concluded that it was an abridged manipulation to confuse the public and mismanage cum embezzle our collective wealth.

“It was also a deceitful methodology to find a hiding place, so as to ward off the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from discovering their financial misdemeanour . However, there is no hiding place for these charlatans.

“The budget was N6 billion lower than that of last year, an election year. The government overloaded it

speculation was orchestrated to cause disaffection within Lagos PDP. “We are occupied with creating conducive environment for free and fair primaries as may be directed by our national headquarters.

The PDP is a democratic party and we do not intend to deviate from that identity, especially in selecting our candidates in all elections.”

The PDP urged the media to always clarify matters relating to the party from the state chairman.

Obanikoro was the party’s candidate in the 2007 governorship election.

•From left: Ighodalo; Odunewu; the deceased’s children - Akanni, Mrs. Awosika, Segun; and granddaughters, Oyinda and Ayotola Awosika...at the weekend.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

By Damilola Owoyele

forced me out of my bedroom to make space for a relative. She was brilliant at interior decoration. She could have made a career out of it, but knowing my mother, she

probably sacrificed it for her children.

“She was widely travelled.

She made acquaintances with former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former South African President Nelson

Mandela. I am proud of my mum.”

Pastor Itua Ighodalo of the Trinity House opened the reception with a prayer for the repose of the late Mrs. Odunewu’s soul.

Former Ogun State Gov-

ernor Olusegun Osoba was at the ceremony.

The late Mrs. Odunewu (nee Fernandez) was of Portuguese and Brazilian ancestry. She studied Architecture in the United Kingdom (UK) and had four children.

Lawmaker: Fayemi’s endorsement won’t stop other candidates

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HOUSE of Represen tatives’ member, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, yesterday said the endorsement of Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi by a section of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) does not prevent other members from contesting the party’s governorship primary.

Bamidele averred that the endorsement, which he said he did not abhor, was a “mere expression of opinion” and is allowed by democracy.

He urged Ekiti people to discountenance the publication that he was not interested in the 2014 governorship election and the rumour

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado_ekiti

that he had defected to the Labour Party (LP).

The Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research described the rumour as the handiwork of his detractors aimed at denigrating his political career.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ahmed Salami, Bamidele said the endorsement of an incumbent governor was normal in politics and does not stop other party members from aspiring for the seat.

‘Fayemi’s endorsement by a section of our party is a step that is allowed in politics, but other members can still show interest in the position’ He said any endorsement at the ward, local and state levels must be ratified by the party’s National leaders before it becomes binding on members.

Bamidele said: “Fayemi’s endorsement by a section of our party is a step that is allowed in politics, but other members can still show interest in the position.

“ACN is not a lawless party. It believes in the rule of law and democratic tenets, so I am confident that the rules will be followed strictly in this circumstance.

“The Electoral Act has made things very easy for parties. It states that candidates can emerge through consensus or endorsement, but when there are dissenting opinions, a primary election would be conducted.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS

Police invade Ebonyi in search of missing kids

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OLLOWING the abduction of two children in Ishiagu community of Ebonyi State, men of the police command, security men have swooped on the community.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Puis Anyim, hails from the community.

In the last three weeks, eight children, aged between three months and three years, have been abducted by unknown gunmen from the community.

Efforts to know their whereabouts have been futile.

The abductors have also not contacted the families of the victims for ransom.

There was a peaceful protest at the weekend by women’s groups in the community.

The incidents have created tension in and outside the community.

Investigation showed that several families no longer allow their children outside their homes, especially in the evening.

Members of the vigilance group have blocked the entrance to the community.

Addressing reporters at the weekend, after an emergency

Obi urges contractors back to site

•Mother: I hear my kids crying in my dreams •Police: Two suspects held From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

security meeting, Ivo Local Government Chairman Chief Celestine Eze said the council had tightened security to forestall a recurrence.

The council chief said the police and other security agencies would ensure that the abducted children are rescued.

He said: “We got information on the missing children. Right now, the police are investigating the matter. The parents of the missing children have been invited by the police to give details of what happened, since the incidents took place in the night. The essence of the invitation is to ascertain what happened and the possible way to rescue the children.

“When the case was reported, we summoned a security meeting and the issue was discussed extensively. Right now, the police are mounting 24-hour surveillance around the area.

“The incidents, which took place at Ayaragu, Mile 2, EzzaEkembe, Ovunta and Obinagu communities, regrettably happened within three weeks.

From the information available,

the armed men must have come from the neighbouring state. We have boundaries with Uturu in Abia State, Okigwe in Imo State and Mpu in Enugu State. All these towns are just about five minutes’ drive from Ishiagu.

“The abduction is still a mystery to us because we have not witnessed such ugly incidents before. Worrisome again is that none of the victims is from Ishiagu community. They are either from Abakaliki or Ezza community. But we are on top of the situation. We have contacted security agencies in the neighbouring states to assist us in the search.”

Mrs. Nnenna Emmanuel, 32, whose two children Chidubem Emmanuel (eight months) and Chiemelem Emmanuel (three years) - were abducted, described the incident as barbaric and unfortunate.

She said: “It was about 4am on Christmas Eve. We were sleeping when we heard the sound of a vehicle parking in front of our home. When the car parked, I woke up to breastfee my baby while we listened to know the people parking in front of our home at that time.

Suddenly, they kicked the door

‘One of them entered the house and slapped me. He snatched my child from me while I was still breastfeeding him. The other person broke into the other room, where my threeyear-old baby was sleeping with the grandmother. He snatched him too from her. They rushed into their car and zoomed off’ open.

“One of them entered the house and slapped me. He snatched my child from me while I was still breastfeeding him. The other person broke into the other room, where my three-year-old baby was sleeping with the grandmother. He snatched him too from her.

They rushed into their car and

zoomed off.

“We raised the alarm but before our neighbours could come out, the assailants had driven off. I noticed that there were four of them: two in front and a man and a woman at the back of the car. But because it was dark, I couldn’t see their faces.

“Each night I close my eyes, I hear the cries of my two children calling me. I pray they are still alive.”

About noon on Saturday, over 500 women marched on Ishiagu communities chanting war songs.

They urged the National Agency for the Prohibition Against Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) to beam its searchlight on the Southeast.

The women’s spokesperson, Mrs. Helen Okafor, regretted the abduction of the children.

She urged security agencies to ensure a 24-hour surveillance on Afikpo-Okigwe Expressway and Enugu/PortHarcourt Expressway where it is suspected that the abductors came from.

Police spokesman Sylvester Igbo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said two suspects have been arrested.

He added that investigation is ongoing to know the motive of the abductors.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

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NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi yesterday urged contractors handling various road projects to resume work.

The governor said since the Yuletide period is over, there is no reason for the contractors to delay ongoing projects.

He reminded them of their promise to resume early because there is so much work going on in the state.

Obi stressed that his administration is not indebted to any contractor.

The governor spoke during the dedication of St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Amawbia, by the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor.

He assured that the tempo of infrastructural development in Anambra State would be sustained.

Obi advised the church to work more with his administration this year because it would execute several projects in all sectors.

The governor hailed the church for what he called its wonderful collaboration in education and healthcare.

He promised not to relent in his commitment to the development of the state.

Obi also visited the Anglican Cathedral of St. Michael’s Church in Umukwu-Anam and the Cathedral Church of St. James Church in Atani.

He passed on the same message of his renewed commitment for the progress and development of the state.

The governor reminded the people that the future of the state lies in how much everyone contributes to make it great by being responsive to his civic and other duties to the state.

He said the rehabilitation of schools would continue in 2013.

He assured that the experiences he garnered by visiting schools personally, which allowed him to observe the situation of things on ground would aid him in fashioning out series of interventions to address the situation.

SURE-P not working in Anambra, says SSG From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

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HE Federal Government’s financial intervention on job creation and infrastructure through the gains from fuel subsidy, codenamed Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment programme (SURE-P), is not operational in Anambra State, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Osaeloka Henry Obaze, has said.

The SSG addressed reporters yesterday in his office in Awka, the state capital.

He wondered why Anambra’s economic emancipation should be implemented without its input.

Obaze said: “SURE-P is not yet implemented in Anambra. We don’t want to be part of that because the state should have ownership of the programme and not a situation where people are picked from outside to run a programme for us.

“It is a well-intended programme by the Federal Government, but it is being hijacked by individuals. Governor Peter Obi will tackle it at the Presidency.”

The SSG said the state government was not aware of a group claiming to be implementing the SURE-P in the state.

On the relief for flood victims, Obaze said: “The N500million from the state government is intact. There is an additional N10million in the two accounts we opened for the public to assist us with donations. More donations are still coming in.”

Obasanjo to Okorocha: don’t be deterred by criticisms

F •Matron of Modupe Cole Memorial Home for the Physically Impaired, Mrs Bimbo Hassan, presenting an award to the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Unity Hospitals Limited, Dr Michael Obafunso Peters, for the family’s donations to the home. With them is his wife and former Prsincipal, International School, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mrs Olusola Peters.

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MASSOB threatens protest over Apo Six

HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said it will make Nigeria ungovernable, if the case of the six Apo Village, Abuja, traders is not concluded by the end of the year.

It also declared every June 8, the date the six Igbo traders were killed in 2005, as a workfree day for Ndigbo.

The organisation explained that this is to signify the injustice Ndigbo allegedly faces in Nigeria.

MASSOB leader Chief Ralph Uwazuruike addressed reporters yesterday in Enugu on the organisation’s plans.

He said MASSOB would be involved in the matter, which has been in an Abuja High Court for about seven years.

Uwazuruike noted that justice delayed is justice denied.

The MASSOB leader decried what he called the application

•Declares June 8 work-free day From Chris Oji, Enugu

of two variants of the law – one for Ndigbo and another for the others – in Nigeria.

He cited the example of the condemned preacher, Rev. King.

According to him, the popular preacher’s case did not last one year before it was concluded.

He added that King is awaiting execution.

Uwazuruike solicited accelerated hearing for the suspected killers of the Apo Six. The MASSOB leader said gone are the days when Ndigbo were slaughtered like animals and the perpetrators allowed to go scot free.

Though the families of the slain Apo traders were paid N3million each, Uwazuruike said the money was recom-

mended by the Justice Olasumbo Goodluck Panel of Enquiry as burial expenses for each of the victims.

He added: “It is not a matter of compensation but a matter of wasting Igbo lives like animals by a category of Nigerians who are interested in killing our people and boasting that nothing will come out of it. The issue is the way they slaughter Ndigbo.”

The MASSOB leader alleged that the brain behind the killing of the traders has been on bail while the other less privileged seven police officers charged with him are in detention.

Uwazuruike said: “A man was alleged to have killed six people and he is allowed to walk the streets of Nigeria free.

This is not acceptable to us.

MASSOB has taken up this

matter and Ndigbo wants to see the end of it before this year closes. Justice must not only be done but seen to have been done.”

The MASSOB leader said he would attend court proceedings whenever the matter reopens.

“If by the end of this year the case is not concluded and justice is not secured, we will make Nigeria ungovernable for them,” he added.

The Apo Six, including a woman, were killed by policemen on June 8, 2005, when they were returning from a party.

The police said they were armed robbers but a commission of enquiry set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, proved the contrary.

The five men were Igbo while the only woman victim was from Edo State and the fiancée to one of the victims.

ORMERPresidentOlusegun Obasanjo at the weekend urged Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha not to be deterred by criticism on his performance.

Obasanjo spoke at the wedding of the governor’s first daughter, Uloma, to Uche Nwosu at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Aladinma, Owerri.

Nwosu is the Imo Commissioner for Lands and Survey.

Obasanjo noted that Okorocha was bound to get criticisms.

He urged the governor to remain focused on the programmes and policies of his administration to develop the state.

The former governor reminded Okorocha that the more good he did, the more criticisms he would attract.

Obasanjo cited the example of Jesus Christ, who he said was an epitome of goodness, yet was crucified.

He hailed Okorocha for believing in and preaching the unity of the country.

The former President said this is the hallmark of a progressive leader. Okorocha stressed the need for unity in Nigeria.

The governor noted that the support he received from parts the country showed that Nigerians were becoming more united.

He said: “I received supports and gifts from almost all the governors, including those that were represented. In fact, Nigeria is marching forward. Very soon, we will become the greatest nation, if we continue like this.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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NEWS Bayelsa Speaker warns criminals From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

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PEAKER of Bayelsa State House of Assembly Kombowei Benson has warned kidnappers and pirates to desist from such crimes.

Benson spoke when he received the most distinguished speaker award from the management of the State Broadcasting Corporation in Yenagoa.

He said: “I want to use this medium to call on pirates and kidnappers to use genuine means to approach oil companies to give them contracts and not to go and kidnap foreigners because such acts are criminal and therefore would do us more harm than good.

“I wish not to emphasise the matters you have raised that have necessitated this award, but as a matter of fact, from the outset the House of Assembly has been one and we have always worked in one accord.

“The House has passed 22 bills into law within this short period, but this did not happen because I am speaker, but because of the cooperation of all the members in the Assembly.”

‘Lawmakers hijacking contracts’

C • Rev Simeon Emelumadu of the St Philip Anglican Church Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, sharing the peace with church members during their anointing service...yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Visitors lament sealing of Benin Museum

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UNDREDS of visitors at the Benin Museum yesterday went home disappointed.

They found the place sealed on the orders of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The Benin Museum ground, now known as Oba Ovoranmwen Square, attracts hundreds of visitors since the government beautified the place and installed a water fountain.

Some of the fun seekers told The Nation yesterday that they were not aware that the governor had closed the place.

They said they came from far places just to relax at the water fountain with their families and take photographs.

The museum was sealed, following heaps of refuse that littered the place.

The governor, during an on-the-spot inspection of some projects in Benin City,

•Oshiomhole retires Perm Sec From Osagie Otabor, Benin

was peeved at the dirt in the place.

He ordered the arrest of the manager for illegal operation and non-maintenance of the place.

A woman found cooking on top of the fountain machine was also arrested.

The governor approved the retirement of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities, H. A. Ikhelowa, for dereliction of duty.

The approval for Ikhelowa’s retirement was contained in a letter by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.

In a January 4 letter, “the governor also approved the suspension of the Acting General Manager of the State Waste Management Board,

Nicholas Osemwengie, and the Director-in-charge of Street Lights in the ministry, Ejemai Martins.”

According to the letter, “their cases have been referred to the Civil Service Commission for further action.”

The action followed an inspection by the governor round Benin City, where he saw heaps of refuse and people displaying wares on the walkways and roads.

During his inspection of the museum, Oshiomhole decried the heaps of refuse left by visitors.

He said the manager sublet the place for business without the government’s authority.

During his inspection of the Oba Market road, Oshiomhole ordered the instant seizure of wares displayed on the walkways and the

road by traders and directed the immediate evacuation of dirt which littered the road.

He said: “We are back to work in the New Year and I am happy that the contractors are back to work. Most of them will return fully to work after the holidays.

“I am satisfied with the quality of work and people are excited that the work is going on. You have noticed the job they are doing at the airport road and the challenge of the underground drainage and that is extremely important.

“Once the drainage is completed, flood from the adjoining streets will now drain into the primary drain which will now drain it into the river.

That means flooding in this area will be a thing of the past. We are remodelling the road and creating bus stops.

“We will do more in the second term than we did in the first.”

Vigilance group head killed for alleged kidnap

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HE police at the weekend shot dead the chairman of a vigilance group in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nelson Denedo.

Denedo was allegedly involved in the abduction of a worker of the State University, Abraka, Martins Denedo.

Denedo was shot when the police stormed his gang’s hide-out at Eboh-Orogun in Ughelli North Local Govern-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

ment, where the victim was held.

Martins, who was rescued unhurt, is an accountant at DELSU and the branch treasurer of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU).

The victim was abducted at Abraka at 1am on January 1 while returning from church after the New Year’s Eve serv-

ice.

The vigilance chairman, it was gathered, engaged the police in a shootout before he was killed.

Three other suspects were arrested.

Commissioner of Police Ikechukwu Aduba said as soon as Denedo was kidnapped, a team of crack detectives was detailed to carry out the rescue mission.

He said the deceased was identified as the leader of the gang.

The police chief said the gang had been responsible for all kidnapping and robberies in Abraka and its environs.

Aduba announced the dissolution of the local security outfit area and directed the chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the council chairman and traditional rulers to assist in selecting credible persons for inauguration as soon as possible.

Six dead, 13 injured in Delta road accident

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IX persons have been confirmed dead and 13 others injured in an accident involving two Toyota Hiace buses.

One of the crashed buses with registration number DT 19 B28 belonged to the Delta State-owned transport outfit.

The other with registration number XC 597 WWR was identified as a commercial bus.

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Sources said the crash occurred at the weekend at about 12.40pm in Urhonigbe, a boundary town between Edo and Delta states on the Agbor-Abraka Expressway.

The Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Umutu-Ebe-

dei Unit Rs 5.27, Bibian Ojialor, confirmed the incident.

Ojialor, who is in-charge of Ukwuani and Ethiope East local governments, said 19 persons were involved in the crash.

Six of them, she said, died; the others were injured.

According to the Unit Commander, their remains have been deposited in a morgue. The injured are re-

ceiving treatment at the Central Hospital, Agbor.

Ojialor attributed the cause of the accident to dangerous overtaking and overspeeding.

She advised motorists to be very careful on the road by obeying traffic regulations, stressing the need to avoid overspeeding, overloading, dangerous overtaking and reckless driving.

ONTRACTORS to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) have raised the alarm over the alleged influence of the members of the House of Assembly in the commission’s contract award process.

The Concerned Contractors of DESOPADEC, in a petition to the commission’s Chairman, Oritsuwa Kpogho, accused some lawmakers of using their positions to corner juicy contract already awarded to them.

The petition, dated January 3, was authored by the law firm of Oghenejabor Ikimi & Co. It noted that the lawmakers are using their positions to blackmail the commission into

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

cancelling contracts already awarded and re-awarding same contracts to their companies using fronts.

“This petition is as a result of the very cavalier and brazen activities of some members of the Delta State House of Assembly, who are bent on manipulating contracts already awarded last year and for which tenders have been closed.”

“Some members of the House of Assembly are ttaking steps to re-award these jobs to themselves and cronies who never bid nor paid the tender fees within the period stipulated by the commission,” they claimed.

Man dies from snake bite From Osagie Otabor, Benin

A

PALMWINE tapper, Odion Ebode, has reportedly died from complications arising from a snake bite.

Sources said the victim climbed a palm tree at Ayogwiri community in Estako West Local Government where he was bitten by the snake.

Sources said the victim killed the snake and rode on his motor-cycle to a traditional healer at Irakhoe village for treatment.

He was said to have died before treatment began.

‘We’ll manage Ibom Airport’

T

HE Akwa Ibom State Government yesterday said it would continue to manage the Ibom International Airport until the Federal Government is ready to take over its management.

The Special Adviser on Technical Matters to Governor Godswill Akpabio, Etido Inyang, said the state government would continue to raise the standard at the airport to meet customers’ satisfaction.

Inyang spoke when the

Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists hosted him in Uyo, the state capital.

He said the airport is the fastest growing facility in the country carrying over 400,000 passengers yearly.

The aide said President Goodluck Jonathan has indicated interest to work with the state towards the completion of the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhauling, (MRO) facilities at the airport.

MOSOP election controversy deepens From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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ONTROVERSY has continued to trail the presidential election of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni Peoples (MOSOP) . The Deputy President, Fortune Chujor, has taken over as President in an acting capacity.

The newly-elected President, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, who until his election last year, was the group’s International Advocacy Officer, kicked against the decision to make Chujor the acting president.

Pyagbara could not be inaugurated at the 20th Ogoni Day on January 4 because of the petition against him.

All the elected officers were inaugurated, except Pyagbara with other elected MOSOP officers are Neenibari Dube (Secretary-General), Elvis Lebura Ikoma (Assistant Secretary-General), Legborsi Esaen (Public Relations Officer), Barine Theo (Financial Secretary) and Tambu Keaniabari (Treasurer).

Dickson signs Tourism Bill

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AYELSA State Governor Seriake Dickson has announced his administration’s readiness to establish an institute to train middle-level catering and tourism practitioners.

Dickson broke the news when he signed the tourism management bill, state emergency agency and other bills

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

into law in Yenagoa.

The bills included the state institute of tourism, catering and hotel management bill, House of Assembly Service Commission amendment as well as the State Local Government (Amendment no 6) bills –all of 2012.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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14

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

79th KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

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HE 79th sitting of the State Executive Council was held on Wednesday 2nd January 2012 (20th Safar, 1434 AH) under the chairmanship of Gov. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, fnse. During the meeting, deliberations on important issues, policies, and programs were made for implementation towards the development of the State. At this sitting, expenditure of the sum of N428, 582,967.78 were approved for different MDAs to execute projects for the benefits of the citizenry. Below is the breakdown of the decision and approvals of certain policies and programs taken at the 79th sitting: OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE Establishment of Kano State Community Re-orientation Council:The Community Re-orientation Committee (CRC) has a long history as it came into existence during the first tenure of this administration. The Committee has been closely associated with the ideas of bringing government closer to the people through directly involving their representatives in the implementation of diverse development policies. The positive impacts of the Committee on education, youths and women's empowerment led to the need to formalize its existence instead of allowing it to continue as an ad-hoc outfit. Sequel to this, an Executive Council Committee was set up with a view to studying the Draft Bill prepared by the Ministry of Justice for the establishment of the Community Re-orientation Committee at State level.

The Committee, which has the State Head of Civil Service as Chairman, has drafted and made an appropriate scrutiny of the Bill, spelling out its fundamental provisions, operational guidelines, membership, structures, functions, and funding arrangement among others.

In its submission to the Council, the Committee disclosed that if the Bill was enacted as Law, it would enable the CRC to function effectively. On this basis, Council approved the Draft Bill and directed the Ministry of Justice to submit it to the State House of Assembly for passage into Law. b) Proposal for Pre-Retirement Training to potential Pensioners from the State and Local Government Services: Owing to the concern of the present administration of the State on its retiring Staff to have something doing after their retirement, the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees proposed to the Council for an approval of pre-retirement training to the Civil Servants under the Services of the State and Local Governments that have less than one year to retire.

Such request has become necessary considering how pensioners fail to utilize their retirement benefits once out of the service, hence the need to guide them through training and seminars on how to invest their benefits.

The memorandum has enumerated that based upon the records available a total of 800 workers will retire in 2013. Therefore, considering the size and composition of the retirees it is more feasible for the training exercise to be conducted in batches/quarterly. As such beneficiaries are categorized into 3 batches depending on the effective date of their retirement.

It was also contained in the memorandum that some of the trades proposed for the retirees include poultry keeping, fish farming, animal rearing/fattening, pure water making, block making, interior decoration, still and moving camera services among other trades.

In view of that, Council approved the release of the sum of N242, 373,189.29 as requested for the pre-retirement training of staff.

However, it is worth noting that preparation is in high gear to review upward the monthly pension of the State pensioners, as promised by the Governor. The increase will come into effect after the completion of the Bio-data exercise being conducted now. The exercise is meant to authenticate the genuine number of pensioners and to eliminate ghost ones from the payment voucher. c) Draft Memorandum of Understanding for the Construction and Management of 100MWE HFO Power Plants in Kano State This administration came in with a vision of transforming the State into commercial and industrial haven of the nation. This, however, cannot come into fruition without a stable and reliable electricity supply. The previous administration paid no attention to the development of industries nor provided a conducive atmosphere for the development of commerce. However, since inception, this administration has been in contact with reliable energy generation companies all over the world for the possibility of establishing a privatestate government joint venture electricity company.

This explains the content of this memorandum, which informed members of the efforts being made by the Government to enter into an agreement with a private company; MRS for the establishment of 100MWE HFO Power plants in Kano. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) submitted by the company was scrutinized by the Executive Council Committee set up for that purpose under the Head of Service. After critical examination of the Draft of the MoU and necessary deliberations by the Committee, it has come up with the following observation: Council realized that the proposal that all agreements reached between the partners should be based on English and not Nigerian Law seems strange since the parties entering into the MoU and the project to be executed are based in Nigeria. Council decided that the law of the land should prevail in any further discussion with the company and any other company ready to enter into an agreement with the State government.

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Submission on Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP): Agriculture has been the mainstay of the people of Kano for years. Agriculture has provided sustenance and employment as well as raw materials for industries within and outside the nation. The State is aware of the need to increase and diversify agricultural production and the advantage of accessing International Organization's funds and other bilateral and multilateral agencies' assistance programs. However, despite the administration's commitment and resolve to revitalize the agricultural sector by doing everything possible efforts will only be based on available resources. This administration has decided not to contract a single loan from any source to execute projects or programs. It is on this basis, Council deliberated on this memorandum on commercial agriculture.

The State with Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu and Cross River had entered into a five-year Commercial Agricultural Development Program in collaboration with the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The program according to the memorandum was aimed at strengthening production system, facilities, and access market for targeted value chains (Rice, Maize and Dairy) among small and medium Scale Commercial farmers in the State.

It was further revealed that the project was signed on April 15th, 2009 and is expected to close by 31st December 2014. So far, the program has supported about 160 Commercial Farmer Cooperatives. Council deliberated on the need to access the credit line opened for the execution of commercial agricultural project but decided against that. This decision was

informed by the decision of the Government not to contract foreign loans to execute projects. Government decided to continue the project through the use of its own resources.

MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT Request for the extension of OwnerOccupier Policy to Occupants of Boys Quarters at Sharada GP Houses: The citizenry was already aware of a Government decision to dispose Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso Government Quarters being occupied by the civil servants to them on an owner-occupier basis. This memorandum sought Council clarification, whether Boys Quarters situated at the Block of flats of Sharada, Suleiman Crescent, Isa Dutse, Commissioner Road, Race Course, Hotoro and Hausawa Quarters were part of the main houses or should be valued separately. Council approved that all boys quarters attached to the main building are part of, and to be valued with it and should not be considered separately.

Request for the Renovation of Archives and Reference Library at the State History and Culture Bureau Headquarters: The content of this memorandum explained to the Council on the need for the renovation of the Archives and Reference Library of the State History and Culture Bureau with a view to maintaining and preserving the State's cultural heritage and reference documents.

The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport has in line with that proposed the sum of N4, 857,407.00 for the renovation exercise which the Council subsequently approved.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH Request for funding of Activities of the State Task Force Committee on Immunization and Polio Eradication: In continuation of the routine immunization exercise on polio, the content of this memorandum sought the release of the sum of N6, 218,500.00 to enable the committee to continue with its activities for the first quarter of the year 2013. This is in line with the State resolutions of eliminating poliovirus in the State.

Considering the importance of the exercise, especially in the reduction of child mortality and deformity, Council approved the sum of N6, 218,500.00 for the exercise.

Request for funds on the State Immunization plus days on polio eradication: To facilitate the success of the Government efforts in the eradication of polio, the Ministry of Health had been notified by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) that at least one round of the IPDs should be conducted monthly during the year.

Therefore, to have a successful conduct of the program, the Ministry requested for a sum total of N10, 897,500.00 to enable it to sustain three rounds of the campaign to be conducted during the first quarter of 2013.

Council approved the release of the sum of N10, 897,500.00 as requested by the Ministry.

(C) Report of Council Committee on the take-off of the State Primary Health Care Management Board (PHCMB): The above- named Committee was established as directed by the Council to among other things study the proposition of transferring all PHC workers from the Local Governments to the newly established Board.

According to the content of this memorandum, the Committee had thoroughly conducted its assignment and subsequently made certain observations, which include the following: (i) That there is a total number of 8,523 PHC personnel serving across the 44 Local Governments (LGC's). (ii) There is a total of 1,066 Primary Health Care facilities across the State, i.e. 10 Comprehensive Health Centers, (CHC), 114 Primary Health Centers, 195 Health Clinics and 747 Dispensaries and Health Posts.

The Committee, therefore, recommended that: All the PHC Staff should be deployed to the new PHCMB alongside payment of their salaries/allowances, All budgetary provisions to PHC should be transferred to the PHCMB; and There is the need for the appointment of the Board of Directors.

Council concurred with the findings and recommendations of the Committee. d) Request for Funds to Conduct Media Campaign on Fake, Counterfeit, and Drug Abuse: This memorandum drew the attention of the Council on the increase in the number of the State citizenry who abuse drugs. In fact, for some years now the State according to NDLEA has the highest incidence of drug abuse in the country. This may be connected to the proliferation of Open Drug Markets and other unregulated premises serving as an easy source of abusive drug substance.

The Government has, to that effect, swung into action with a view to bringing an end the dispensing and distribution of fake and counterfeit drugs in the State. This explains the recent directive for the closure of the Open Drug Market at Muhammad Abubakar Rimi Market.

In addition to that, the Ministry of Health recommended a media campaign to inform and educate the populace of the danger of drug abuse and the illegality of dispensing drugs by unqualified and unregistered individuals. To facilitate the proposed media campaign for the sensitization of the public on the Danger of Drug Abuse, the Ministry came up with a budget of N5,786,328 for the production of Radio Jingles in both Hausa and English as well as sponsoring Drama Jingle/Phone-in programs in 2 selected Radio Stations in the State.

Council approved the release of N5, 786,328.00 for the exercise.

Request for funds to facilitate the conduct of the 7th batch training exercise of Lafiya Jari Empowerment program:As all are aware, the Kwankwaso led administration has since its first tenure between 19992003 initiated a laudable empowerment program in the Health Sector tagged "Lafia Jari" with a view to assisting youths in medical line to open patent medicine stores in their respective localities to ease the suffering of people.

This program was re-introduced in the present dispensation and Six Batches of 200 each was successfully trained and appropriately empowered.

To continue with that worthy venture, Council approved the empowerment of the 200 additional beneficiaries who will undergo training as the 7th batch of the exercise by approving the sum of N58, 919,152.00.

, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 MINISTRY OF LAND AND PHYSICAL PLANNING Request for funds to pay compensation to Alhaji Koki property along Zoo Road:Recently, the State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted a report to the Council on the outcome of a joint inspection by the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning on the proposed sites for Police Checkpoints at strategic locations within Kano metropolitan areas with a view to intensifying security situation in the State.

The Committee identified eleven (11) sites out of which nine (9) are public spaces with road reservations, while one (1) is a property along Gwarzo Road by Kabuga Gate belonging to Gwale Local Government. This program will affect only one property owned by a private individual. The property in question is situated along Zoo Road by Tukuntawa junction belonging to Alhaji Salisu Koki, which was valued at the cost of N4,675,000.00.

The memorandum proposed that if the property of the said person can be considered, it will be utilized as the Police Outpost. This will replace the existing one attached to Zoo fence, which is only 120 meters away from identified property.

Council considered the proposal and approved the release of N4, 675,000.00 as compensation to the property.

MINISTRY FOR PLANNING AND BUDGET Proposal/Recommendation for Artisan Sponsorship in a Skills acquisition program:Growth Employment in State (GEMS) - a DFID supported program submitted a proposal for the training of artisans in skills acquisition, which has the objective of creating training capacity that will improve practical skills in the areas of plumbing, plastering/dressing and tiling artisans. Under the arrangement, GEMS will provide technical support for the training worth about N7.5 million, while the State Government counterpart contribution includes; sponsoring candidates at N10, 000.00 per person, provision of training center or venue and publicity.

Based upon this proposal the Ministry of Planning and Budget recommended the sponsorship of 176 artisans; i.e. 4 from each of the 44 Local Government areas in the State. The total sum to cover the sponsorship is N1, 760,000.00.

Council deliberated on the significance of such a program, which approved in line with its empowerment program the release of the required sum for the attendance of the 176 candidates.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Request for the release of funds for the Purchase of working materials for Conventional Literacy programs of the State Agency for Mass Education: One of the pivotal policies of this administration is the provision of a qualitative and quantitative educational system in the State. Under the previous administration, education suffered neglect as manifested in dilapidated and inadequate structures, lack of working materials and qualified and adequate teaching staff. Since its inception, this administration has expended over N10 billion for the provision of classrooms, teachers' quarters, instructional materials and the training of staff. In fact, over 2000 teaching staffs were employed and posted to primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. In addition to that, was the introduction of feeding and the provision of uniforms to primary pupils, which directly increased the number of students admitted yearly.

Of recent, the Government launched the 2012 Mass Literacy campaign by establishing 8,074 Basic Literacy Classes across the State in addition to the Classes of the conventional literacy programs already in existence.

To further support the Government gesture in that direction, the Agency for Mass Education has planned to establish 108 more classes of the Conventional Literacy program hence the request of the sum of N30, 591,786.00 for the purchase of working materials for the additional Classes. Looking at the importance of the project, Council approved the release of N30, 591,786.00 to commence the purchase of the instructional materials.

Request for funds to undertake the empowerment of 200 entrepreneurs under NEPAD/ KNSG/TIC collaboration in Kano State: Recently, the State has collaborated with the Office of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and Technology Incubation Center where 200 youths were given training in 7 Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurial areas, necessitating the need for the procurement of empowerment materials to the trained youths.

The content of this memorandum has come up with a budget of N21, 927,500.00 being an estimated cost for the procurement of empowerment items for the 200 youths, renting of operating Shed and working capital respectively.

Considering, the vital need of the skills learned by the trainees to the teeming Kano people, Council approved the release of the sum of N21, 925,500.00 for the procurement of the empowerment materials among other things. This is in consonance with the continuous wholesome provision of skill acquisition opportunities policy of the present administration.

In fact, this administration has since inception trained hundreds of youths and women's skills for self-employment through such programs as Lafia Jari. 20 institutions such as the Poultry Institute, Fisheries Institute, Livestock Institute and Hospitality Institute were established purposely to train youths' relevant skills for economic empowerment.

Request for funds for the procurement of School facilities, School Uniform for New Students and additional facilities for Teachers Rented Houses: In order to support the performance of the newly established Governor's College by the present administration, the Ministry of Education solicited the Council's approval to procure additional school facilities such as single seater desk/bench, equipment, chemicals and materials for practical.

The memorandum also proposed for the purchase of additional facilities for the rented houses of the Egyptian Teachers recruited by the College as well as School Uniform for new Students.

In view of that, Council approved the sum of N13, 201,080.00 for the College to procure the needed facilities as requested.

Request for Repairs and Renovation of Existing Structures at GGSS Kabo: In appreciation of the approval given by the Council for repair and renovation of GGSS Kabo to the tune of N73, 387,895.59 as Phase I of the project, which is presently at an appreciable stage, the Ministry of Education in this memorandum proposed the execution of the Phase II of the project.

The projects involved the renovation and construction of Multipurpose Hall, School Gate, Block fencing and Block wall fencing enclosing new hostel block all at the estimated cost of N65, 551,476.32. Council approved the expenditure. (e) Request to Convert Government Secondary School Bagwai into a Boarding School Phase II: Sequel to the earlier approval by the Council to convert the above-named school into Boarding School, which project has reached an advanced stage, the Ministry made the proposal for the execution of Phase II of the project to ensure that the converted school attain a full pledge status of a Boarding School.

Second Phase of the project according to the memorandum includes: Construction of wall fence and (2) two gates, construction of Computer Room, and the Construction of (2) two "watchman" hut all at the estimated cost of N71, 932,450.23.

Council deliberated on the need and approved the execution of the project.

Need for the Construction of a Perimeter Wall Fence at GSS Bichi: This memorandum intimated the Executive Council on the need to enhance security of GSS

15 Bichi with a view to safeguarding the School compound against encroachment from the neighbouring farmers as well as to have absolute control of Student's movements.

In light of this, the Ministry of Education proposed the construction of a perimeter wall fence at the sum of N30, 286,311.84 . Council approved the proposal.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT Procurement/allocation of Operational Vehicles to Kano State Shari'a Commission:In an effort to facilitate the effective performance of the officials of the Shari'a Commission in the discharge of their duties, a proposal was submitted to the Council seeking for an approval to purchase operational vehicles to the Chairman, and 2 Permanent Commissioners as contained in the enabling Law that established the Commission.

The Council has in view of that, granted approval for the purchase of four units of New KIA CERATO 1.61 TD (2012 model) to the four officials at the cost of N16, 839,900.00 .

Request for funds to purchase working equipment for the Community Education Resource Centre: The Centre according to the contents of this memorandum was established in the year 2002 by the Education Trust Fund (ETF) to serve Northwest Geopolitical Zone. The Centre also provides training in the field of Computer, Tailoring, furniture fabrication, and library Services.

It was further gathered from the memorandum that funding of the Center was jointly done between the State Government and Federal Government under an agreed time limit, which expired on June 2011 resulting in the stoppage of the Federal Government counterpart funds' remittance.

For the Centre to continue to carry out its activities, the Ministry of Education requested the sum of N8, 796,803.13 for the procurement of needed equipment for the successful operation of the Centre.

In view of the importance of the Centre to the teeming populace of the State, Council approved the release of N8, 796,803.13 to the Ministry for the procurement of the required equipment.

Request for the payment of the procured 2 Toyota Coaster 30 Seater Buses for Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment and Northwest University: The Executive Council was reminded on the earlier directives given for the procurement of 2 Toyota Coaster 30 seater for Official use of the 2 mentioned organizations, which were brought by the supplying Firm and subsequently allocated to the beneficiaries.

This memorandum solicited Council's approval for the Settlement of the sum of N27, 780,000.00 for the vehicles.

Council approved the release of N27, 780,000.00 for the settlement of the two vehicles.

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, YOUTHS, SPORTS AND CULTURE Financial Support to organize 2nd edition of Under-18 Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso InterLocal Government Youths Soccer Competition: This memorandum informed the Council on its preparation to organize the above-mentioned Competition, which was aimed at fostering Unity and Promotion of Friendship among Youth across 44 Local Government Council.

The Competition will also discover sporting talents as well as enhancing discipline and tolerance among our teeming youths in addition to further instilling the political virtues of the present Governor in the minds of the youths.

In order to facilitate the organization of the Competition, Council approved the release of N2million to the organizers as Government's donation.

Request for Sponsorship to Nasiru Muhammad to undergo Course at Golf College in USA: It is a known fact that the Kwankwaso led administration has placed Sports among its priority lists, which has made it possible among other things to bring back to life sporting activities.

Golf as other sporting activities requires professional training and commitment. A State indigenous youth, Nassir Muhammad secured admission at the Golfers Career College, USA . His attendance will opportune the State of having a qualified golfer to train others. The Ministry solicited for Government support to the said person to enable him to attend the 2 years Course.

In consideration of the need to have professionals Golfers in the State Council approved the release of N4, 200,000.00 for the Student as assistance. c) Request for funds for the participation of Kano Pillars to the Men's National Division II Basket Ball Championship: Council deliberated on the need to sponsor Kano Pillars Basketball team for the upcoming National Division II Basket Ball Championship match. To enable the team to participate fully in the Championship, the Kano State Sports Council proposed an estimated cost of N970, 000.00 to cover all the expenses including that of the officials who will accompany the players.

Council approved the release of the same amount.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 79TH EXCO SITTING AWARDS PRESENTED TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR Council noted with appreciation the presentation of awards by groups such as Al- Ikhwanul Muslim association from Kaduna State on Trustworthy and Trustfulness attitudes of His Excellency the Governor Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Accordingly, Council noted another award presented to the Governor by the International Alliance Agency, United States of America as Champion of Women Economic Empowerment in Nigeria.

PRESENTATION OF THE KANO STATE 2013 BUDGET Council noted the presentation of the 2013 Kano State Budget tagged "Budget of Economic Consolidation" to the State House of Assembly by His Excellency the Governor for this year's people oriented projects and programs in the State. Similarly, Council also noted the signing of the provisional budget warrant 2013 by His Excellency the Governor.

PROGRESS REPORT ON 1004 EMPLOYED YOUTHS Council received a progress report on the successful recruitment of 1004 youths and the continuation of the screening of 1005 Youths for employment in the State. Council also directed the immediate commencement of 1006 Fresh graduate recruitment exercise.

MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE Council noted the successful conduct of the last Saturday's monthly sanitation exercise in the State while thanking all stakeholders, Emirate Council and Individuals towards the exercise.

PROGRESS REPORT ON NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY Council noted with delight the arrival to the State of the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Northwest University Kano from Malaysia hoping to start academic lectures this January, 2013. The other three principal officers; the university registrar, librarian and the bursar have assumed duties too.

SIGNED: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture www.kano.gov.ng/new

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

17

NEWS

Police convene security summit Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

•Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar

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HE Police will tomorrow begin a two-day security summit with the theme: “Addressing Nigeria’s Security Challenges for Sustainable Peace and Development”.

The event, which is being organised in conjunction

with the Vanguard Newspapers, is billed to hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. It will end on Wednesday.

A statement by Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to open the summit.

Mba added that top military and police chiefs, as well as security experts from within and outside the country are also expected to attend the event.

Others expected at the summit include: repre-

sentatives of Governors; Special Advisers on Security to governors; principal officers of National and state Assemblies; CEOs of private security agencies; and representatives of ethnic forums and nationalities.

Others are representatives of the National Human Rights Commission; NGOs and Civil Society Groups; Labour; Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); Nigeria Medical Association (NMA); Guild of Editors; Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); and representatives of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

Professionals to hold lecture on Wednesday

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9C, a group of professionals formed as a result of last year’s pro-

test against fuel price increase has instituted a yearly lecture series to stimulate healthy discourse on the nation’s socio-political developments.

According to the group’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Wole Olagundoye, the inaugural lecture with its theme: “Elite, Leadership and National Transformation” is scheduled for Wednesday, in Lagos, with leading politicians, profes-

sionals and opinion leaders as panelists and speakers.

The time is 11am.

The keynote Speaker is Mr. Jimi Agbaje, a Pharmacist and Politician.

Olagundoye said J9C aims to build a body of professionals who are passionate about Nigeria and have a clear cut direction through constructive engagements on burning national issues, pursuing transparency, probity and accountability at all levels.

On the formation of the group, the image-maker

said: “January 9th was an important date for our country Nigeria and a lot of Nigerians as it was the day a majority of Nigerians came out and spoke with one voice against fuel subsidy removal. The main focal point for the fuel subsidy strive was the rallies at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, at Ojota in Lagos. It was a place where thousands gathered in support of a cause they believed in and they did so passionately irrespective of gender and class.

OSHODI/ISOLO LOCAL GOVERNMENT LIST OF ABANDONED VEHICLES S/N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

MAKE OF VEHICLE Reg. NUMBER TOYOTA CELICA AR 562 KSF HONDA CIVIC NO NUMBER FORD PROBE BG 982 RSH NISSAN SUNNY CH 681 GGE FORD WAGON CU 293 BEN TOYOTA VENTURE CB 184 EKY VOLKS WAGON BUS XV 322 FST CHEROKEE JEEP BU 816 BDG TOYOTA HAICE BUS XV 557 AKD FORD EXPLORER JEEP CY 464 JJJ DAEWOO RACER AS 320 BDG BMW CAR BW 528 KTU HONDA LEGEND PR 663 KJA FIAT BUS XD 830 KTU NISSAN STANZA AR 197 LSR VOLKS WAGON BUS XL 634 AKD V.W LT BUS XQ 718 KRD CHEVROLET BUS DD 777 ABC VOLKS WAGON BUS XS 93 GGE TOYOTA TACOMA BK 146 AGL MITSUBUSHI GALLANT CA 645 KJA HONDA PRELUDE AA 757 NBS CRYSLER SPACE BUS MD 337 AAA FIAT CAR BD 527 LND V.W LT BUS XU 18 KSF V.W LT BUS XW 01 GGE V.W LT BUS XJ 16 BDG V. W PASSAT HW 167 KJA V. W PASSAT NO NUMBER FORD WINDSTAR FJ 136 EKY MAZDA 323 NO NUMBER KIA RIO PM 588 FST MERCEDES BENZ 230 AA 136 TBM OPEL OMEGA CY 485 LSR MERCEDES BENZ 190 CP 804 SMK HONDA ACCORD BF 292 BDG HONDA ACCORD BQ 284 APP IVECO BUS XY 22 EKY MERCEDES BENZ 190 BQ 692 AKD NISSAN PRIMERA AE 37 FEE VOLKS WAGON JETTA BF 549 FKJ V.W PASSAT CZ 410 LSR SAAB SCANIA DH 544 LND MERCEDES BENZ 320 EG 739 FST VOLKS WAGON JETTA BQ 788 EPE V.W PASSAT EZ 221 AAA

COLOUR GREY RED BLUE BLUE BLUE WHITE YELLOW BLUE RED GREEN BLACK BLACK BLACK YELLOW GREY YELLOW YELLOW ASH YELLOW RED ASH BLACK WINE RED YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW WHITE BLACK WINE BLUE BLUE DARK GREEN GREEN WHITE PURPLE ASH WHITE NAVY BLUE WINE NAVY BLUE ASH BROWN WHITE ASH GREEN

S/N 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92

MAKE OF VEHICLE PEGEOT 505 MERCESES BENZ 300 TOYOTA HAICE BUS FORD TRANSIT V.W PARAGON V.W LT BUS V.W PASSAT CHEROKEE JEEP RACER DAEWOO V.W PARAGON V.W LT BUS RACER DAEWOO V.W PARAGON HONDA ACCORD MITSUBISHI BUS MITSUBISHI BUS HONDA ACCORD V.W PARAGON CEFIRO NAME UNKNOWN VOLKS WAGON GOLF V.W TRANSPORTER NISSAN MAXIMA TOYOTA BLUEBIRD V.W LT BUS FORD ESCORT NISSAN DATSUN V.W PARAGON NISSAN MAXIMA HONDA INTERRA V.W PARAGON CITREONE DISPATCH NISSAN QUEST OPEL KADETT MAZDA 626 V.W PARAGON MITSUBISHI LANCER V.W PARAGON V.W PARAGON V.W PARAGON V.W TRANSPORTER V.W SHARAN NISSAN CAR MERCEDES BENZ 200 MAZDA 323 LEYLAND DAF

Reg. NUMBER AY 951 KJA NO NUMBER XQ 952 AGL XL 554 BDG XS 585 LSD XS 748 ABC YD 586 KJA PX 673 KJA AS 320 BDG XE 843 LSR XS 182 BDG BW 934 EKY XS 93 GGE DW 969 EKY GL 785 KJA XU 530 EPE FC 623 A XY 625 AKD NO NUMBER GX 419 KJA BF 544 APP XZ 614 EPE DU 10 LND XN 979 MUS XG 970 LSR RN 688 KJA AR 996 MUS XK 368 EKY NO NUMBER HK 988 KJA XS 752 KKJA XQ 887 MUS EG 387 KJA BB 364 LSR CG 699 MUS XD 231 EKY XE 456 NRK XT 517 BDG XQ 997 EKY XA 739 KTU XZ 948 AAA SMK 718 XA BJ 588 AAA AR 191 KJA JP 628 EKY R630 YVO

COLOUR ASH BLACK YELLOW WHITE YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW BLUE BLACK YELLOW YELLOW BLACK YELLOW BLACK BLUE WHITE GREEN YELLOW BLACK WINE RED YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW BLUE ASH YELLOW ASH WHITE GREY RED BLACK WINE BLACK YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW GREY YELLOW NAVY BLUE BLUE GREEN WHITE WHITE

Owners of these vehicles should come and reclaim their vehicles within 2 Months of this publication, failure of which the Council shall approach the court to secure a Court order requesting to take ownership of such abandoned vehicles and dispose them as deemed fit. Thank you.

For OILG: DIIT VENTURES

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Al Jazeera in America

FG and reserves •No cause for celebration yet because we still have a long way to go

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HE nation’s foreign reserve has been growing in leaps and bounds.

So says a report credited to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). At the end of December 2012, the foreign reserve reportedly stood at $44.26 billion – an impressive figure compared with 2011 year’s end figure of $32.92 billion – a quantum leap of $11.34 billion or 34 percent.

Similarly, the excess crude account 9ECA) – the differential between the benchmark price for crude set in the budget and its actual price – at the close of the year stood at $9.66billion. Both of course are reported as falling short of government’s projections of $50 billion for the reserve and $10 million for the (ECA) for the year.

The indication that the economy is now better primed to finance greater/more months of imports should offer only limited consolation. We say this mindful of the two sides to the reserve build-up. One is the capacity to earn foreign exchange; the other is the nation’s propensity for imports. It is the interplay of the two that determines the level of the reserve.

Last year, for instance, oil remained the dominant determinant of the nation’s economic fortune. Production was fairly stable, just as global oil prices held relatively steady above the benchmark price set in the budget. The same was true for the ECA – the differential between the benchmark price set in the budget and the actual price of crude was sustained.

But then, can we dare to suggest that our propensity for foreign goods was in any way curbed in the past year? The

truth of course is that the nation remained a net importer of everything, from refined petroleum products to consumables. The fortunes of manufacturing and the real sector remained at their lowest ebb. Limited domestic manufacturing meant that demand for imported goods remained uncurbed, with negative consequences for the value of the naira.

The trend could therefore be explained by the factor of oil; a case of dollar earnings outstripping import bills.

Without question, there are great merits in having a robust foreign reserve. This is even more so for an oil-dependent economy known for its cyclic volatility.

The same arguments could also be validly made for savings for the rainy day.

The danger here is to treat the reserves not as a means but an end in itself. At issue is the failure to recognise the imperative of current investment in infrastructure not just as a strategy to build future capacity for the economy, but as a bulwark to insulate the economy from future potential shocks. It is at the heart of the debate on investment versus savings – which should take precedence, particularly in an economy with huge infrastructure gaps.

Of course, the desire by the Jonathan administration to take the credit for growing the two accounts – something that has increasingly become an obsession – would seem to flow from the desire to be seen as a thrifty administration. A little while ago, a self-proclaimed debt-averse Obasanjo administration grew both the foreign reserve and the ECA to an impressive $60 billion and $35 billion, respec-

tively –at a time the nation’s infrastructure were yearning to be fixed. The nation would later learn at a great cost that the huge reserves are themselves no guarantee for fiscal stability and economic development; it is certainly no guarantee that Foreign Direct Investment would come.

We are convinced that the way to go is to invest massively in infrastructure.

That is the only way to steer the economy away from the current consumptive path to a productive one. It is a far better insurance for the future.

Locking up the nation’s earnings in the guise of off-shore savings is hardly the way to achieve the latter, just as there can be no better path to the future than today’s investment.

‘The danger here is to treat the reserves not as a means but an end in itself. At issue is the failure to recognise the imperative of current investment in infrastructure not just as a strategy to build future capacity for the economy, but as a bulwark to insulate the economy from future potential shocks. It is at the heart of the debate on investment versus savings – which should take precedence, particularly in an economy with huge infrastructure gaps’

Show proof •The president and police should open up more on their claims on Boko Haram

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OHAMMED Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, was reported to have warned his officers and men before the Yuletide that no bomb explosion must take place anywhere in the country. The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Anti-Bomb Command, Mr. Folusho Adebanjo put it succinctly: “The IG said he must not hear that any bomb hurt or affected any Nigerian during the Yuletide. And because we are aware of these plans (bomb attacks), we are working extra hard”.

It was apparently in order to show that the IG’s order was carried out that Adebanjo reeled out the number of states where he said his men had detonated explosives so that Nigerians could have peaceful celebrations: “I can tell you that we have detonated more explosives in

‘What we are saying in effect is that reports are more credible when details are released to the public as much as possible. But when the details are shrouded in secrecy, it gives the impression that the government is engaging in a propaganda war, which is not good enough’

Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Maiduguri and Abuja these past days. We are going to foil more before the New Year and even after. We are committed to ensuring that no lives are lost. I am in touch with all the state commands every hour to achieve this.” In spite of the tight security, we still had bomb explosions in one or two places in the country during the period.

Maybe it would have been worse; maybe not. But that is even beside the point.

While we do not doubt Adebanjo’s claims concerning the number of states where the police detonated bombs during the period; our problem however is the lack of details or specifics. We do not think it is enough for security agents to make such claims, they should substantiate them. When, for instance, Mr Adebanjo said explosives were detonated in Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri and Abuja, where specifically in these places? Which institutions or homes were the targets of the terrorists?

Were there any suspects around the areas where the explosives were detonated? It is necessary to indicate these details so as not to make the claims look like tales by the moonlight.

It is the same problem we have with President Goodluck Jonathan’s claim that suspected masterminds of some of the dastardly terror attacks on some installations in the country in the past two years have been arrested. Jonathan said this during the “Naming and Circumcision of Jesus Christ and New Year Ser-

vice,” held at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Abuja, All Saints’ Church, Zone 5, Wuse, Abuja, Those being held include suspects of terror attacks on the Louis Edet House, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, United Nations (UN) Building and the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla in Niger State.

These are big suspects whose identities ought to be known. We agree that it is impossible to release every detail on security issues. But then, some transparency is needed in view of the public‘s right to know. We are particularly worried because of our experience, especially in the Obasanjo era. The Obasanjo government threatened many times to name and shame the people behind threats to national security in some parts of the country without naming one person in the eight years of that administration.

After the threats, the matters died naturally and were forgotten until we had another crisis situation in our hands. Many of such people are walking the streets free and that it is what is emboldening other people to commit similar atrocities.

What we are saying in effect is that reports are more credible when details are released to the public as much possible. But when the details are shrouded in secrecy, it gives the impression that the government is engaging in a propaganda war, which is not good enough.

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L Jazeera, the pan-Arab news network, has long wanted to gain a bigger American television audience, and it may have finally found a way to do that by buying Current TV. But as the deal was being signed, Time Warner Cable announced it would immediately stop carrying Current, a struggling channel partly owned by former Vice President Al Gore. While the cable company has the legal right to cut off Current, the decision is unfortunate and could block access to an important news source.

Many American policy makers and cable companies have had doubts about the impartiality of Al Jazeera, which is owned and financed by the emir of Qatar. Some have questioned the decision of Mr. Gore and his co-founder, Joel Hyatt, to sell Current, which is available to roughly 60 million American homes, to the Qatari government.

The emir, though he works closely with Washington on some issues, has interests and agendas that are sometimes at odds with United States interests. Recently, for instance, Qatar along with other Arab nations is believed to have provided arms and other assistance to terrorist organizations operating in Syria. Al Jazeera says its journalism is not directed by the policies and views of its government, but the fact that it is owned by Qatar means that there is no guarantee of its independence.

Nonetheless, Al Jazeera could bring an important international perspective to American audiences and should be given a chance to prove itself commercially before cable companies remove Current TV from their lineups. If Al Jazeera America, the channel that the company plans to create in New York to replace Current, fails to attract a critical mass of viewers, cable companies would be justified in removing it. On Thursday, Time Warner suggested that it might add the new channel to its systems in New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere later “as the service develops.”

In the Middle East, where good, independent journalism is hard to find, Al Jazeera has distinguished itself by its thorough and smart coverage of many important stories, particularly the Arab Spring. In the early days of the revolution in Egypt, many people in America and around the world turned to it because it did a much better job on the ground than many of its international peers.

Al Jazeera often brings a nuance to international stories that can be lacking on American networks, because it has more foreign correspondents and overseas bureaus than many established Western networks. Its coverage of the Arab Spring won a George Foster Peabody Award and its English-language service is broadcast to more than 250 million homes in 130 countries, including Britain, South Africa and India.

Doubts about the independence of Al Jazeera do not justify removing it from cable and satellite systems. With the exception of a few places, like Washington and New York City, Al Jazeera English is not available to most American viewers. Why not let them make up their own minds about the network and its journalism?

– New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7 , 2013

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Assailed by the harsh criticisms that have trailed his administration since coming to power almost three years ago, President Goodluck Jonathan seems to be developing cold feet.

At every opportunity, he won’t fail to point out that his government is being lashed at by opposition parties, the media and others.

Somehow he has admitted his administration’s sluggishness.

Many Nigerians were very optimistic and expected much from Dr Jonathan when he was elected.

Many believe he has so far achieved little in the much-touted transformation of Nigeria. That his government seems so slow in the dispensation of dividends of democracy is no news. Dr Jonathan seizes every moment to defend his slow pace. Speaking in Abuja at a church service to mark the New Year celebration; he remarked “Sometimes, people say this government is slow. Yes, by human thinking, we are slow”.

At another occasion, at the foundation laying ceremony of the Living Faith Foundation Bible College in Kaduna, the president sued for encouragement and support from Nigerians and promised a better 2013. He spoke of improvement in power, job and wealth creations among others.

As a nation, 2012 was quite challenging. Sad occurrences seemed to have over shadowed the gains of the year. Corruption cases soared high. The nation recorded three air mishaps. Remember the June 3 air crash that took the lives of about 153 promising persons. The Police helicopter crash that claimed the live of DIG Haruna John and oth-

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Jonathan and his 2013 promise ers. The Bayelsa doomed Helicopter. How about the countless road mishaps?

While President Jonathan may relish rhetoric and theories about the goods of 2013, it is trite to remind him that if he doesn’t change his tactics and adopt more courageous and effective approaches, the year 2013 may be worse than 2012. The manner in which corruption cases are being handled is not

encouraging. The scourge is rising daily. Insecurity seems to be one of the country’s biggest challenges.

Bombings, suicide attacks and other acts of terrorism continued with the government labeling the perpetrators “faceless”. The president must not continue to tag them “faceless”.

He must utilize every workable avenue to stem the tide of terrorism. Cases of kidnapping resurfaced with the kingpins smiling to the banks while causing pains and

trepidation in the land.

President Good luck Jonathan’s cabinet seems to be embroiled in many controversies. Some of his ministers are having one corruption cases or the other hanging on their head. Some are inefficient and redundant. For much impact to be felt this year, the President must sack some of his cabinet members and bring on board patriotic and qualified Nigerians who will help

Still on the immigration recruitment exercise IR: The recent report of the spat between the Minister of the Interior and the Comptroller-General of Immigration Service as carried by some dailies including The Nation of Friday, December 28, 2012 over an alleged surreptitious recruitment exercise is symptomatic of the general malaise and decadence in both the Ministry and Immigration Service.

The Comptroller of Immigration Service (CGIS) had refuted the allegation that she was recruiting officers and men into the Service without following the due process. According to her,the

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Minister couldn’t have stopped an exercise that was yet to begin. In other words, there was no recruitment going on in the first place. The Minister was lying! Her defense was all sophistry for all I care. Those who know and are close to the workings of the Service know better.

In August,2011, according to an Abuja based local newspaper The Road, Thursday August 18, 2011, similar recruitment exercise was carried out clandestinely by the same CGIS where it was alleged that out of the 2700 vacancies available for that year, 1000 slots went to the Presidency while copious

allocations went to the Interior Ministry, the politicians, the Board of the Service, CGIS cronies and top functionaries of the service etc.

Up till now nobody has refuted the allegation.

Apart from this, recruitments have continued to be made into the service through the process tagged ‘replacement’. Nobody knows those who are being replaced in the first instance. But it would appear that you must know somebody ‘who is somebody ‘ before you could be recruited or pay your way through as alleged. And to imagine that the majority of officers at the service headquarters don’t

A vote for capital punishment

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IR: The French revolution of the 18th century featured the introduction of “Madame Guillotine”, which not only helped France, but helped the entire European world in general. Many aristocrats that ruled in France during the time of the revolution were executed, including Louis XVI, the King. This was so because the longoppressed proletariat which comprised mostly very poor people in France had simply had enough of the nobles who were making life unbearable for them.

The English civil war also saw the

in redefining governance. The nation’s oil industry is fraught with tales of monumental fraud and back- hand deals.

The subsidy imbroglio still remains a test case for the President.

If much is not achieve in “cleansing” the sector, then the promise of 2013 will remain what they arepromises. If he continues with his “go-easy” and “go- slow” style of governance, the New Year may not be different from 2012.

Nobody is expecting the government to perform magic, but courageous and well articulated deeds could transform to great achievements. Promises are not enough; we must match them with realities.

• Stanley Ibeku Africa Regional Centre for Information Science, University of Ibadan.

death of Charles I, King of England and Charles II, his son who felt they could do what they wanted and were prepared to forgo the rights of the people to get what they wanted. Whether what they wanted was right or wrong, the truth remains that the leaders are there to serve the people and not to be tyrants over them, not to impose their own desires on them.

Vox populi, vox Dei. China has made corruption a capital crime, and believe it or not, it is helping them. Once found guilty of corruption in China,

there is every possibility that death is around the corner. Corruption is at its minimum in China, and so the people are living a good life – at least better than Nigeria.

Nigeria has become a hotbed for revolution of sorts. A new order should begin. One corrupt power holder can bring about the death of at least 100 people. If a man steals a purse from one woman at the market, he is instantly burnt to death. Then what is the man who steals from over 170 million people still doing alive? The man who drove another man to steal

by stealing from him is still alive, while the man who stole because he had been stolen from is dead.

We need a Ministry of Death. It will be like the Ministry of Justice, but unlike the Ministry of Justice, the members will actually be incorruptible judges. Once a power holder is suspected of corruption, he is tried for treason against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and if found guilty, is sent to the world beyond.

Nigerians should think about it!

• Alapade Pablo OAU, Ile-Ife.

know about this much less those at the state commands. These have been going on for the past two years.

Whether you are talking about promotion, transfer or appointment, it’s now a matter of ‘cash and carry’. The recent promotion released in the last quarter of last year nearly tore the service asunder. It was a parody of injustice whereby subordinates and juniors were promoted far and above their more qualified seniors. The dissatisfaction therefrom is already causing ripples in the service.

The CGIS is therefore not speaking the truth. It was alleged that the recruitment exercise had been designated to hold in a primary school somewhere in Asokoro before the minister wielded the big stick. Even if the CGIS succeeds in deceiving some people, she should understand that she couldn’t deceive those who actually bought their ways through and those who came on the back of godfathers and godmothers.

I think what may have triggered the recent altercations between the minister and the CGIS was that the latter probably outfoxed the former hence the hammer.

Absolutely,both the ministry and the service are culpable.

• Ogidi Martin, Asokoro, Abuja.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

COMMENTS

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Nation-branding in nation-building: Celebrating a nation at 100

N January 01, 2014, Nigeria will be 100 years old as a nation but the pervasive question remains: who are we and where are we heading? Granted, the celebrations may have different meanings to different people; what with some saying there is no cause for celebration while others are saying that the celebration is not about accomplishments but the enactment of a ritual.

The first school opines that the celebration is a waste of scarce resources, or at best a way of siphoning money. This school of thought is of the opinion that Nigeria still totters among the comity of nations and being a toddler at 100, the milestone should be spent taking stock and bemoaning the failed leadership that got us to this sorry-state.

The second school sees the anniversary celebration more as an opportunity to celebrate our existence as a nation given all the rough paths we have travelled in the last 100 years. This school cites the two coup-d-tats of 1966, the Nigerian Civil War and the periods of Military interregnums and failed attempts at democracy that dogged the last 100 years while concluding that despite these great socio-political tremors, it is a miracle that we are still together as a nation. This school enthuses that nations that went through less of these trauma have disintegrated or are still at war. They cite Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, USSR, and Myanmar. Nearer home in Africa, they cite Somalia, Liberia, Sierra-Leone, Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and a host of others.

The first school, which I call the school of reflection, takes a birds-eye view of what obtains in other nations and the path nations have taken to greatness – sacrifice, knowledge, imagination, the will to act in the interest of the greater majority, the building of strong systems rather than strong individuals and god-fathers, the prevalence of justice, equity and fair-play – and sees very few good examples in Nigeria. Borrowing from man’s existential quest at conquering his environment, this school enthuses that Nigeria is off the mark as electricity is about individual generators here and not about a process that works, water is plenty here but none good enough to drink; land is abundant here but not enough is cultivated to guarantee food security; and the roads are available but not good enough for safe passage. This school therefore concludes that celebration should be about accomplishments and not survival.

The second school, which I nick-named the ritualistic school, sees more a need to decree our greatness through role-playing as opposed to reality. Taking a cue from the early man’s penchant for rituals which seeks to conjure reality through stylised plays, as seasons and cycles come and go, while little or no explanation is given as to the reason for the difference in seasons and cycles, and the celestial rather than the existential is appeased and faith become more about inertia than action. To this group, everything falls or rises without human intervention but by a divine unction, akin to the big bang theory. This group concludes that the path to greatness is in celebration.

While the school of reflection and the school of rituals are at each other’s throat regarding Nigeria’s 100th anniversary, the

By Bolaji Okusaga nation Nigeria must yet prepare for the future and in preparing for the future use the opportunity of the 100th anniversary to begin to reposition our nation by rising up to the challenges of building a modern nation state, one which is audacious in its quest at greatness and competitive within the comity of nations.

The second question then is what path are we taking in our second attempt at nation building? Because in 100 years of our existence, the world has moved on from the agrarian age that precipitated the exportation of slaves from Africa to the New World, the industrial age which led to the signing of treaties which ceded authorities of our erstwhile traditional institutions to the British Colonial powers, to the age of Crude Oil which came just before our independence, to the information age which came in the wake of globalisation.

I am asking this question against the background of a constantly changing global order. What this implies is that our strategy must change in alignment with what is happening around us. This is where knowledge comes in. We need to observe global trends and ask questions as to our place in it. We need to develop our educational system and make it more oriented to our development needs as opposed to being just about certification. This is where imagination comes in, as without conception, there can be no accomplishments. This reminds me of the space-race. Starting with the United States and Soviet Union, with each acquiring the knowledge required at conquering the space and putting their imagination to work, it did not take long for success to come.

Today, every ambitious nation has caught the space bug with each either sending men into the orbit or launching a satellite. Today, the world is different because of this out-of-the-world knowledge and imagination. So where does this leave our own dear Nigeria?

Indeed, I have heard people say it will take centuries for us to catch up with the developed world, but my response is always that it does not take time, it takes will; the will to get on the road, the will to get our hands dirty, the will to act! But what defines will, if not imagination, what defines imagination, if not knowledge?

Let’s look at the Asian Tigers, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and the others in comparison with Nigeria. In 1960, we were all classified as Third World nations but by the 1980’s the tide had started to turn what with the designation changing to emerging nations for the Asian Tigers and Nigeria still keeping the tag “Third World”.

By the 1990’s the Asian nations had taken the path of sustainable growth and were in fact, almost at par with the developed world on the prosperity index and today, the talk is no more about the Asian Tigers but about Brazil, Russia, India and China – what has been rightly termed the BRIC states. Even with the current global recession, these states are still recording quarter-on-quarter growth and are fast catching up with the so-called developed world. What these examples point to is that it does not take centuries to catch-up, it takes a virile strategy based on knowledge and

imagination and above all it takes collective will.

The Path to Nation Building

A friend once said to me that the path to greatness is arduous when a nation emerges outside of the consent of its constituent societies. The friend goes further to reveal that before 1776 there was an American society with affinity and engagements although under British rule unlike the Nigerian situation where a nation was decreed based on British administrative convenience rather than the agreement of the constituent societies. He enthuses that it was the collective agreement of the American society acting under the leadership of George Washington that led to the defeat of the British overlords and the adoption of a collectively created constitution in the quest at having an immutable union. In the Nigerian situation, there was first a Nigerian nation before attempts at forging a Nigerian society, hence the constant bickering about federal character and fights over the sharing of the national cake as opposed to a collective agreement at baking a bigger and better cake as was the case in the American context.

Although critics are quick to point out that despite the collective resolve at forging a nation in the American context, there was a near succession by the agrarian South from the Union leading to the war with the industrial North in what was known as the American Civil war from 1861 to 1865. Critics went further to assert that if this can happen about a 100 years after agreeing to come together, then Nigeria may be on the right path to nationhood. The risk at taking this standpoint is that it is always easy to cite the wrong examples. Back to my friends point, nations rise to greatness on the platform of a collective agreement. Again critics will point to diversity of cultures and religion, in the Nigerian context, as being the bane behind the failure of a collective agreement citing more homogeneous settings like China where a collective agreement was easy and national cohesion and development had moved apace. Again this appears a wrong thesis as culturally heterogeneous communities too had also forged a collective agreement which has survived the test of time. America being a good example, the United Kingdom being another and under the current world order we see a further boost for diversity as a platform for progress in the coming together of disparate states to form the European Union with a single monetary union in mainland Europe. Back to my friend’s assertion that for progress to happen, societies in coming together to forge a nation, must have a collective agreement and this collective agreement can happen under a homogeneous or heterogeneous cultural and religious setting. All it takes is sincerity of purpose, a good sense of history and the will to agree to work together for the common good. What this essentially means is that in the Nigerian situation, development and progress can come through despite the heterogeneity but the constituent societies must, outside the whims and caprice of Lord Lugard, Sarah Shaw and their British masters, forge a collective agreement which will chart a way forward for a bigger and a better union.

• Okusaga, a company executive writes from Lagos

Kwankwaso and Kano’s opposition politics

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T’S not without reason that a section of opposition in Kano State is hell-bent on deflecting attention from the groundbreaking transformation, currently going on in the state. Given their notorious straw-clutching antecedent and their apparent desperation to claw themselves back to reckoning, the last ditch resort to underhand tactic, shouldn’t, however, come as a surprise to any discerning mind. Indeed, politics is not only all about service delivery, but the public perception of it as well. In both, it doesn’t bode well for the members of this disgruntled group.

Since his return to the government house, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has been churning out one noteworthy development project/programme after the other. As a matter of fact, the general consensus in Kano, and even beyond, is that the current political leadership is not only doing fabulously well, but the man at the helm of affairs, is raising the bar to a greater height. Thus members of this group of opposition face the principal advantage of being caught napping on the two significant fronts.

Today in Kano, these politicians are not only humbled and prostrate but completely paralysed. The Kwankwaso’s second coming to power has sounded the death knell on them, with astounding performance. And going by the beautiful, well thought-out plans he has in the 2013’s budget, the year is obviously earmarked for their political funeral.

By all means, the last one and a half years, have not been the best of times for Kwankwaso’s detractors. The manner their political stock has plummeted to the lowest ebb, while his, skyrocketed to high heaven, is a case study for the pundits.

It’s within the period that the good people of the state got the opportunity to make significant comparisons. They could easily put side by side, prudence and profligacy, tangible infrastructure revival and mere

By Alhazai Baban-Sumayya abstract moral suasion propaganda, and more importantly, sincerity of purpose and make-believe illusion.

In 2003, when Kwankwaso left the government house, following the year’s major electoral upset, it was evidently clear that the new occupants were not prepared for the nature of the job in their hands.

Perhaps, this was because they never, in the first place, even envisaged nicking it.

There was something, however, chiefly remarkable about how Kwankwaso tactfully handled his post-electoral defeat politics. The shrewd manner he opted to quietly observe proceedings from the sideline, until the right time for him to stage a comeback had all the hallmarks of political genius. This is, however, in sharp contrast to the disgraceful, amateur manner the current opposition are going about their newly found political misfortune.

Yet, just like their non-readiness for the power —thrust upon them on the platter of gold- formed the basis of their tragic handling of it, when they held sway for eight forgetful years—their lack of preparedness for parting ways with the so-called trappings of office has now proven to be their major undoing.

It could easily be recalled that in the build up to 2011 elections, when the cards were clearly stacked up against them- as some of them were already packing their bags to desert the sinking ship—these political apprentices were still burying their heads in the sand of complacency. They thoughtlessly anticipated the politically conscious Kano people to endorse failure for another term, while Kwankwaso – a politician they completely wrote off – was busy baking a gargantuan humble pie for them. His colourful ideology based campaign, his sense of humour –which they mocked at their own

peril – and exceptional mobilisation skills, helped to tip the tide in his favour. Today, to the chagrin of his detractors, Kwankwaso has his reputation as the new undisputable doyen of Kano politics well sewn up.

Thus from the day one, they couldn’t hide their desperation to set the tone of political discourse with their usual mischief. They create much ado about nothing around issues. For instance, when the people are savouring the ancient city is now well illuminated from set to dawn, with functioning streets lights, they wanted the spot light, eternally cast on the little money expended to fuel generators for that service.

Ironically, these carping lots have, failed to see the folly of whining over the cost of diesel purchased to illuminate the streets, forgetting that Kano people are not oblivious of the fact that billions of naira was squandered to put them in total darkness during the eight years of locust, they put behind them.

They have similarly tried the same filthy tactic on virtually every good policy or project initiated by the governor. When within few days of his second coming, beautiful blocks of classrooms started adorning the landscape of the state like magic, their fault-finding machine launched sustained attacks on it. Since it’s, however, difficult, to tell the people that raising structures like that at a time when 150 to 200 pupils were packed in a classroom like sardines , was not a cheering development, they tried to dismiss the buildings as UBE-supported project. But what stopped them from accessing the fund meant for the state under the programme, during their days?

Is it that they didn’t want part away with counterpart cash or they dreaded the scrutiny of supervision that comes with it?

Again, they comically made the locations of the buildings an issue, querying why

the new upstairs classrooms “are so conspicuous for people to see?” as if that would prevent students from using them.

But before the needless title-tattling they created around the matter died down, Kwankwaso had already put more slices of humble pie on their table –thereby making the battle of wills untenable for them.

The cheering news of the 501 indigenes of the state selected as the first batch of graduates to be sponsored for Masters Degrees in different fields abroad resonated across the country. The development, undoubtedly, drew the attention of the entire nation to the visionary and purposeful leadership that’s now making a difference in state.

Before then, the establishment of the North West University (NWU), by the state government, which had got the NUC’s approval, had already caught the eye.

So going by the prolific manner the government keeps churning them out, it’s becoming increasingly hard for his traducers to summon up much enthusiasm.

Within a year, the Kwankwaso administration has succeeded in improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), from N500 million to N1.3 billion.

And for the first time in history, 75 per cent of the state’s budget goes to capital expenditure, leaving only 25 per cent for the recurrent. This is an improvement from last year when we witnessed a fiscal budget which provided for capital projects to about 67% and recurrent expenditure of 33 per cent.

Indeed, so much is currently happening in Kano today especially in the area of infrastructure revival that small pieces like this one, will not be able to accommodate.

And at the pace governor Kwankwaso is moving, it’s easier to face a moving train than to attempt to deflect attention from his achievements.

• Baban-Sumayya wrote in from Kano.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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COMMENTS

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has in the last two weeks, been speaking on his vision for Nigeria this year. Apart from making lofty promises on development projects that will usher in employment and create wealth, he also touched on other nontangible variables upon which real progress of this country will ultimately predicate.

This was encapsulated in his new vision of Nigeria where everybody will be involved in the task of nation building. For him, Nigerians should brace up for the task of nation-building as the task of developing the country should not be left to the government alone. He would want us to celebrate the New Year with higher emphasis on national unity, peace, stability and progress above other considerations.

Though this exhortation is not entirely new, it touched on some of the irreducible decimals for our continued survival as a nation. We can therefore ignore the central thesis of this presentation at a great peril.

This is especially so at this stage of our national life where fissiparous and centrifugal tendencies have increasingly posed the greatest obstacles to development.

There is a consensus that we must vigorously address the debilitating challenges of our national development for us to survive as a people. The fact that we have continued to trail on the ladder of development indicators despite the enormous resources at our disposal suggests

‘But there are structural changes that must be effected for quick progress to be recorded in this direction. Our defective federal structure is one. Residency factor is another. A situation the federal government literally controls life and death in this country through the excessive powers at its disposal is an obvious obstacle to nation building.

Devolution will go a long way in reducing the acrimony that go with power struggles at the centre’

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Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

A New Nigerian nation that there are certain issues of our national existence we are yet to get right. And until we meaningfully and realistically identify and address them, this country will continue to falter.

It is not enough to be a naturally endowed country. It is also not sufficient that we are an oil producing country reaping bountifully from its competitive price in the international market. These are not sufficient to launch us into the orbit of greatness. After all, there are countries doing pretty well in terms of development even without such a comparative advantage.

That seems to be the central issue thrown up by Jonathan when he urged every Nigerian to be involved in the task of nation building and not to leave it for the government alone. It must be stated that nation building and national development do not essentially connote the same meanings. Whereas national development is a more embracing terminology that even encapsulates nation building, the latter involves the psychological reorientation of the citizens to inculcate in them, a sense of common national identity. It seeks to construct a common sense of belonging, cohesion and identity from the disparate, centrifugal and plural interests that compete for the loyalty of the citizens. In our case, it seeks to build a Nigerian out of the various ethnic and religious groups that have been the greatest sources of national disloyalty.

When we achieve that, we will no longer see ourselves as Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba or Ijaw. We will begin to identify ourselves as Nigerians; the same way an American sees himself as an America wherever he finds himself.

It is our inability to forge this common sense of national identity that has in the main,

F the report that Christians are killing Muslims in the north is true, it is most unfortunate. I hope it is not true; it can’t just be true for what we know. Only last week, the Kaduna Roman Catholic Arch-bishop told his congregation that Christians have no choice but to forgive these unprovoked Christian killers in the North and he is right. He even went further to declare that they are forgiven.

I could even hear every Bible preaching Christian leaders all over the nation echo Amen. He spoke the mind of Jesus and the mind of all believers.

The temptation to avenge oneself under the circumstances that northern christians meet themselves is real. It takes the grace of God, and restraint to refuse the temptation, and thank God, that Grace is ever sufficient even in this case.

It is time for the government to do something for the displaced Christians in the northern part of Nigeria. It is time for other Christians from the south to do something for these brothers to ease their frustration. After all, we all are our brothers’ keepers.

God will only fight for us if we let him. When we begin to fight for God, He hands off. We can no longer look the other way if we want God to intervene in Boko Haram case. He is about to intervene – I may add – but he expects us to do our part.

President Goodluck Jonathan must do more for those displaced by the raging crisis now. Something similar to the campaign to all Nigerian to rally and help displaced persons by the flood needs to be done by the President for these Nigerians.

He may choose not to say it’s for Christians but the Muslim community in the North is not suffering what the Christians are suffering. We have to be forthright; we must admit the sufferings of the Muslims in the north is largely, self-inflicted.

The President must act now. It is better for a religious war not to start, for, when it starts it may never end.

Religious wars are fought by fanatics who will not compromise on their belief. There is a limit to human patience and endurance in situations like we see in the north. The killers want this country to split, and the President must check the situation now.

I am of the very strong opinion that all the Christian governors must come with a united front to ameliorate

been the greatest obstacle to our national growth and development. Jonathan’s call on all to be involved in the daunting task of nation building is an admission of the inherent difficulty in achieving national development without forging a common sense of national unity and identity. That has been the greatest undoing of this country and its manifestations are palpable in all aspects of our national life. That is why successes in great national endeavors are usually appraised along the confines of how best they satisfied primordial and sectional predilections.

That is why today, ethnic and religious cleavages rather than waning have further reinforced with greater ferocity, posing the greatest threat to the very foundation of this country. It is the same reason that has been largely responsible for the bitter competition for political power at the center. Today, politics is all about what accrues to the various ethnic groups through their elected members. Religion and ethnicity are in constant struggle with the state for the loyalty of the citizens.

There is no way meaningful development can be achieved with such disorientation among the citizenry. That is why some sections of the country are talking of regional development and integration. The propelling force of this thinking is rooted in the loss of faith in the capacity of the Nigerian state as presently constituted, to fast-track even and balanced development of the constituent units.

Incidentally, certain policies of our federal order such as skewed federal structure and residency factor have not helped matters.

They have variously worked in the direction of alienating the people from that

common sense of national identity direly needed for national progress. Curiously, the elite are the greatest purveyors of these destabilizing tendencies. Tribalism or ethnicity manifest as soon as there are spoils of our common patrimony to be shared. It is an elite commodity that most often does not tally with the feelings of the common people at the grassroots. But the elite take quick resort to it in their quest to gain undue advantage over others. Any genuine effort at nation building must start by whittling down the overbearing influence of ethnicity and religion in the nation’s body politic.

It is the same trend that accounts for the devious successes the Boko Haram religious sect has been recording in its self-assigned militant agenda. It is difficult to talk of nation building in the face of the obstacle to it which that sect represents. Jonathan was right in arguing that nation building should involve all Nigerians.

But there are structural changes that must be effected for quick progress to be recorded in this direction. Our defective federal structure is one. Residency factor is another.

A situation the federal government literally controls life and death in this country through the excessive powers at its disposal is an obvious obstacle to nation building.

Devolution will go a long way in reducing the acrimony that go with power struggles at the centre. With it, the constituent units will be more creative and focus more of their creative talents on how to elevate the living standards of their people through harnessing resources of comparative advantage.

It is also a discredit to nation building that we are yet to settle the controversy surrounding the residency factor. A country that discriminates in employment matters and the enjoyments of the rights that go with citizenship because of state of origin cannot hope to forge a common sense of identity from it. Today many states prefer to employ foreigners instead of skilled Nigerians from other states. In some others those that were employed several years back have been sacked for no justifiable reason than they hailed from other states. And we want to build a nation out of this ruinous practice.

These and other inequities of our federal structure are matters to be addressed for Jonathan to approximate nation building of his dream. Good enough some of the identified challenges are currently before the national assembly for possible amendment.

Jonathan should identify with such amendments if he is serious on the matter.

Time to put out the fire of Boko Haram

By Shola Olukolade the pains of the displaced Christians in the North. They owe Nigeria this much, it is time like this that you reveal your Christian identity not when you round Christian leaders for prayers and donating huge sum of money which these leaders do not need. Give your substance for this course, it is the good ground.

I also call all governors to donate just one month of their security vote for this purpose. It is a worthy sacrifice that every patriotic governor must make. It is an opportunity to spend a month of your security vote for the security of this country.

Another step the president can take to end this Boko Haram menace is to declare a state of emergency in the affected states. If the president does not want to declare a state of emergency on these states for whatever reason, let all security votes for such state governors be diverted to settle displaced persons and combat terrorism in that state.

If a state of emergency is declared in the states and a military officer is appointed to administer the state for six month with a mandate to do everything within his power to root out terrorism from the state, a lot of funds will be available to combat terrorism. For example, salaries of legislatures from the state, salaries of all the numerous commissioners, personal assistants, permanent secretaries, and other political appointees can be diverted to develop the state and empower the youth making Boko Haram less lucrative for recruits. Much excess will be eliminated in six months to justify the exercise at least in the eyes of ordinary citizen.

Christian churches in the south must discover ways to assist the displaced brethren in the North now. We too can no longer look the other way. Special collections need to be collected in aid of our displaced brethren in the North.

Christian organisations, denominations, charity organizations must contribute to help our brothers and sisters at this time. If the government won’t mobilise the

nation to this cause, Christian leaders in collaboration with Red Cross, UNICEF, and other such bodies must rise up to this occasion before it becomes a genocide similar to the one of Rwanda.

A refugee-like programme ought to be set up in safe states for displaced persons in the North to enable them start their life all over again. A robust budget to enable these people rebuild and start their life is needed and Nigeria has enough resources to do so. We must act now to save Nigeria from total collapse, more so when it is now apparent that God is about to put an end to these empty boasts of Boko Haram cowards and its allies.

• Dr. Olukoladen is Prelate, Southern Nigeria Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Yaba. Lagos.

‘Another step the president can take to end this Boko Haram menace is to declare a state of emergency in the affected states. If the president does not want to declare a state of emergency on these states for whatever reason, let all security votes for such state governors be diverted to settle displaced persons and combat terrorism in that state. If a state of emergency is declared in the states and a military officer is appointed to administer the state for six months with a mandate to do everything within his power to root out terrorism from the state, a lot of funds will be available to combat terrorism’

Yobo: Trophy Keshi hush on is the focus Eagles’ final list I

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Monday, January 7, 2013

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2013 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS •Super Eagles’ players in training at Faro, Portugal

Mikel, Moses

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NATIONSPORT MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

NATION SPORT

COUNT DOWN TO AFCON 2013...COUNT DOWN TO AFCON 2013...COUNT DOWN TO AFCON 2013...COUNT DOWN TO AFCON 2013...

NATION SPORT

Yobo: Trophy Ejide: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria are favorites Keshi hush on Eagles’ final list •Keeps team list against Cape Verde also secret is the focus H S •Portuguese fans throng training S UPER EAGLES’ skipper, Joseph Tambarin Yobo, has declared that the focus for him and his teammates at the Africa Cup of Nations slated for South Africa this month will be to lift the trophy.

Yobo said they had made efforts to resume camp early enough to enable the team perfect strategies towards accomplishing the feat.

In a release sent by team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya to NationSport, the mandate according to Yobo is to bring back the glory days of Nigerian football and that can only be made perfect by returning with the AFCON trophy.

The Fernabache of Turkey defender said: “We are here, ready to don the colours of our nation and we will not relent until we reach our goal. Luckily, we have a coaching crew that understands us well and

•Yobo

By Innocent Amomoh

I’m sure the players are ready to deliver.”

Meanwhile, the statement also informed that the last set of players arrived the Faro, Portugal camp of the national team early Sunday and some of them still found time to train with the rest of the squad same day as the bell tolls for the naming of the list of 23 players that will make the AFCON 2013 championship. The last two players to arrive camp were Villareal of Spain hitman, Ikechukwu Uche and Israeli based goalie, Austin Ejide.

By lunch time Sunday, 31 players including injured Rizespur of Turkey striker, Uche Kalu were in camp battling for shirts, as Head Coach, Big Boss Stephen Keshi took time off to drill the players on fitness and game reaction for over an hour under the chilly early morning chilly condition of Faro.

At the end of the exercise it was obvious that all the players are primed for action in AFCON, as all turned out as early as 7:00am Portuguese time which was 8:00am Nigerian time. Keshi again took time off to drum it into the ears of the players that they should not pressurise themselves but must be aware that Nigerians are very expectant of a super outing at AFCON 2013.

Ike Uche, Ejide complete Eagles full house

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ILLARREAL striker Ikechukwu Uche and Israelbased Austin Ejide arrived early Sunday to complete the Eagles training squad in Portugal.

By lunch time Sunday, 31 players including injured Rizespor of Turkey striker Uche Kalu were in camp as coach Stephen Keshi drilled the team on fitness and game reaction for over an hour under the early morning chilly condition of Faro.

At the end of the exercise it was obvious that all the players are primed for action at the AFCON as they all turned out as early as 7:00am Portuguese time which was 8:00am Nigerian time.

Keshi again took time off to drum it into the ears of the players that they should not pressurise themselves but must be aware that Nigerians are very expectant of a super outing at Afcon 2013.

Team Skipper, Joseph Yobo, declared that he was in camp with his mate to make sure that the glory days of Nigerian football are returned with a major trophy.

“We are here, ready to don the colours of our nation and we will not relent until we reach our goal.

Luckily, we have a coaching crew that understands us well and I’m sure the players are ready to deliver,” Yobo vowed.

Onazi is Eagles ‘rib cracker’ •Schools Dike, Moses on pidgin

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ESPITE the fierce battle for shirts in the Super Eagles’ camp, players still find time to unwind by throwing banters during and after training and especially when in the air in many of the flights that they take across the globe.

Before now, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, was identified as one of the wittiest in the national team, Nwankwo Kanu, also jokes off the pitch and on the pitch with the ball, but since the two former national team skippers have left, there seems to have been a vacuum over who occupies the ‘jest master’s’ position in the national team.

Well it seems Lazio midfield man, Ogenyi Onazi has stepped forward to claim the position with his ribcracking jokes and talks that keeps players laughing endlessly whether on the air or during water breaks at training sessions. And once on the pitch his output is usually tremendous as he showed in the game against the Catalonia Selected last Wednesday.

On the flight from Barcelona to

Lisbon, the former My Peoples FC owned by Prophet TB Joshua and Golden Eaglets star threw a poser.

“Who was the first National team captain and where is he from and what was the name of the team then?.

Red Devils! One of players replied.

Fail, na Manchester United name be that”, he said. After many of such ribcracking posers he threw the last on.

Which Super Eagles captain did not play in the final and yet lifted the Cup?. Silence dropped. Finally, he mustered an answer himself, don’t bother to answer, we all want to go to the Nations Cup. Laughter erupted.

Onazi has also been on Bright Dike and Victor Moses to stop speaking from their noses and get in the groove by speaking pidgin English. “That na the official language for Naija”, he told both players. Head Coach, Stephen Keshi was to softly acknowledge the conviviality among the players by asking them to keep up the friendly spirit and be very serious when the need arises. For now Onazi is Ali Baba, I Go Dye and Teju Fine Face rolled into one in the Eagles camp.

APOEL BE'ER SHEVA have struggled in their last three games in the Israeli top flight, drawing once against Beitar Jerusalem and dropping maximum points in the away games against Bnei Sakhnin and Maccabi Haifa.

Today, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, who parade the Nigerian goalkeeper Austin Ejide , has targeted three points against Maccabi Netanya to get their season back on track.

"When you find yourself in an unpleasant situation, you need to understand what did not go well and work hard to improve.

"We will do everything to win against Netanya because it is a very important game for us. Overall we lost so far, only four games this season and we are not far from our goal,'' Ejide was quoted as saying by one.co.il.

After the match against Maccabi Netanya, Ejide leaves to join his

international colleagues in Faro, Portugal.

"The most important for me is to focus on that we get three points before I leave but I'm an international player and I am committed to Nigeria,'' he said.

Speaking on the chances of Nigeria lifting the African Cup of Nations on February 10, Ejide said: ''We have players

A

S the countdown to January 8 continues, the date Stephen Keshi will make public the list of players for the African Cup of Nations, returning midfielder Fegor Ogude has acknowledged there is healthy competition in the team for midfield spots.

The Vålerenga ace told MTNFootball.com: ''The battle for a shirt in the midfield would be tough. We have great players who are skilful and can handle the ball very well. "But I am not

Ghanaians downgrade

Super Eagles, fear Ivory Coast

•Tips Black Stars for glory

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UPER EAGLES’ handler, Stephen Keshi has been keeping the final 23 squad list very close to his chest and has not leaked out the names of the

Ogude relishes competition in Eagles

AFCON 2013:

By Paul Oluwakoya

S countdown to the 2013 African Cup of Nations continues, football enthusiasts in Ghana are considering their darling team- Black Stars as the prime favourite to win the forthcoming Nations Cup schedule. Ghanaians in t h e i r p o p u l a r site(www.ghanaweb.com) expressed confidence that this current squad would wipe their tears having waited for a long time after Libya ’82 when the Black Stars last won the Cup. The Ghanaians in a long feature article posted on their site never considered the Super Eagles of Nigeria as one of the favourites for the Cup but rather they gave so much respect to the Elephants of Coted Ivoire, who they consider to a have solid team.

In their analysis, it is believed that the Black Stars midfield could be better than many top European clubs in terms of potential of the players.

They celebrated the return of Micheal Essien to the team and inclusion of Ayew brothers-Jodan and Andrew, Asomoah Gyan and Kwandwo Asamoah.

They believed that the only country that could stand between them and AFCON’s victory is Didier Drogba led Ivorian team, not even the Stephen

with great potential and a coach who works hard. "Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria are candidates to win the championship. I think it would be a good tournament because South Africa has excellent facilities. Who will be the first choice goalkeeper, me or Enyeama? The coach will decide, not us."

afraid because this is my job, it’s what I do every day and as such I am battle ready for the challenge."

It is widely expected that Stephen Keshi will name six central midfielders in his African Cup of Nations roster. Fegor Ogude, Ogenyi Onazi, Rabiu Ibrahim, Nosa Igiebor, Gabriel Reuben, Henry Uche, Raheem Lawal, Obiora Nwankwo and Mikel Obi are the central midfielders Keshi is expected to pick from.

•Keshi

players that would campaign in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Eagles’ spokesman, Ben Alaiya disclosed this yesterday in a telephone chat with the NationSport from Faro, Portugal Camp of the Nigerian team.

“The Chief Coach has not told anybody his final 23 man list for the Africa Cup of Nation. So anything beside this is just mere rumour and guessing. He will surely make his list public after he might have concluded it”, Alaiya clarified.

Alaiya also said that the mood in camp was frenzied and the atmosphere is charged and all players are fighting real

Mikel, Moses

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja

hard to win the heart of the main selector, Keshi with their attitude and performances in training and attitude in camp.

The Eagles Media Officer couldn’t tell NationSport the likely players to be fielded in Eagles’ next friendly match against highly rated Cape Verde on Wednesday.

“The Chief Coach has not also disclosed to the officials the likely players he would parade against Cape Verde on Wednesday”.

Alaiya also disclosed

NFF gives up on Ameobi

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IGERIA has surrendered in the country vs club row as regards Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi for the AFCON, officials have said.

English Premier League outfit Newcastle have insisted Ameobi will not be allowed to feature at the Nations Cup for the Super Eagles.

Coach Stephen Keshi left the door open for Ameobi to join the squad in training camp in Portugal on Saturday, but he did not.

“The chapter (Ameobi) is closed and we’re looking ahead now. The player did not get in touch and it is sad,” said Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya.

train with Eagles M

•Essien Keshi led Super Eagles.

It could be recalled that the almighty Black Stars and the Elephants were deflated by lowly rated Zambia in the last championship jointly hosted by Equitorial Guinea and Gabon .

IKEL OBI along with Chelsea teammate Victor Moses trained with the rest of the Eagles’ squad in Faro, Portugal, on Sunday morning.

The Chelsea stars arrived the Super Eagles’ camp on Saturday night after their club thrashed Southampton 5-1 in an English FA Cup third round game.

Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya told MTNFootball.com that Mikel and Moses trained with the rest of the Eagles squad.

"Mikel and Moses trained with the rest of the squad this morning (Sunday). We are now just expecting Ike Uche and Austin Ejide today. They should be here by lunch time," Alaiya disclosed.

There were speculations even in the local media that Mikel is still an injury doubt after he was not listed by Chelsea on Saturday against Southampton. But Mikel has told MTNFootball.com he has recovered fully from a slight knee injury he suffered recently against Norwich City in an English Premier League fixture.

The star midfielder is poised for his fourth AFCON outing after he made his debut at the tournament in 2006 in Egypt.

Victor Moses, on the other hand, is set for his AFCON debut in South Africa. On Saturday, he improved his rising profile with his fifth Chelsea goal since his summer switch from Wigan Athletic.

The exciting winger said he was delighted to get on the score sheet again. "Great win, fans were amazing! Really pleased to get on the score sheet again too," Moses tweeted.

He won over his manager Rafael Benitez by his performance.

"They were going forward and we had more space behind and it is always a threat to have Hazard, Mata and Moses. I am really pleased because Victor has to go to the Africa Cup of Nations, but he was given permission to stay today and scored a goal," Benitez told Chelsea website.

•Ameobi

GLO SOCCER ACADEMY EVICTION

Makurdi Northbank agog for Obonogwu

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HE Northbank area of Makurdi, Benue State came alive last week as the latest evictee from the Glo Soccer Academy, Anthony Obonogwu was treated to a vivacious reception by his community who celebrated his exposure to international training at the Academy in grand style.

The visibly elated leader of the Idoma clan in the area, Chief Joseph Odaudu, who also chaired the reception, set the ball rolling with his speech which centred on •Anthony Obonogwu (centre) receiving his certificate from Glo Business the importance of having a boy Director in Benue State, Mr. Abdul Wahid Popoola while Chief Odaudu from the area in the Glo Soccer (Left) and his father, Chief Boniface Obonogwu (Right) watch with Academy.

“It s a thing of joy for this admiration.

that as a t the time the NationSport Abuja Correspondent called him around 2pm Nigerian time all the expected players had hit Faro, Portugal Camp. “Yes every invited player are already here in Faro.

Ikechukwu Uche and Austin Ejide were the last players to join the team. As you are hearing we are at the dining hall having our lunch and everybody is happy here.

The mood here is frenzied and very high”, the Eagles spokesman disclosed.

Alaiya also praised the Faro fans who have always turned out in Eagles training sessions to watch the Nigerian side. “The fans here have been really wonderful.

They always troop out to watch our training sessions and also encourage us”, he summed up.

community to be represented at the Glo Soccer Academy.

Although Anthony did not win, we are quite happy and delighted that one of ours was among the thirty three boys that were selected among thousands of youths in West Africa.’’

He expressed the gratitude of his people to Globacom for not only setting up the academy, but also training Anthony and bringing him back home safely.

Chief Odaudu commended Globacom for its activities and efforts over the years geared towards developing sports and particularly football in Nigeria.

He described Globacom as the

pillar of Sports in Nigeria.

On his part, Anthony Obonogwu thanked the management of Globacom for the trainings he received from the combination of local and international coaches at the academy. He is optimistic that his participation at the academy will assist him greatly in his football career.

In his brief Speech at the occasion, Glo Business Director for Benue State, Mr AbdulWahid Popoola said that Glo Soccer Academy was established to discover young talents, teach and groom them to become worldclass footballers who can compete

with their contemporaries anywhere in the world.

He commended Anthony for being a good ambassador of his community during his stay at the Academy.

The Chief of Idoma clan in Northbank was supported during the ceremony by the parents of Anthony, Chief & Mrs Boniface Obonongwu and other leaders in the community including Elder James Ogbago, Elder Christopher Ogbe, Elder Boniface Umula, Chief A.O. Ejeh and other wellwishers, mostly youths who came with an up-coming artist that entertained the crowd.

NSC recalls Federations’ secretaries

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INISTER of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has directed Secretaries of the Sporting Federations to prepare their handover notes ahead of their redeployment to the Commission. Special Assistant on Media to the Sports Minister, Julius Ogunro told NationSport in Abuja yesterday “this is in line with the Honorable Minister’s commitment to reform the Federation and reposition them for greater efficiency”.

Ogunro also disclosed that

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja “at the moment, all Sporting Federations are deployed from the NSC and this has affected the internal cohesion of the Federations, which has been used as excuse by some Federations for non-performance in the past when they complained of interference.

“As part of this reform, the Federations will now have the power to appoint their own Secretaries, thereby granting them greater autonomy. However, the NSC will set the guidelines

for the appointment of Secretaries. Similarly, the NSC is developing eligibility guidelines that will guide elections and appointments into the Boards of these Federations”, he summed up.

It will be recalled that the Presidential Sports Retreat, which held in October 2012, had identified management and administration as the greatest problem of Nigerian Sports ahead of funding.

With this move therefore, the NSC has begun the process of s t r e n g t h e n i n g administration and management of Nigerian sports.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

JOBS

THE CEO

Agric holds the ace in job creation - P. 37 News Briefing NAMA to switch to satellite BARRING any last minute changes, the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) plans to switch from ground-based air navigation to satellite system soon, its General Manager, Public Affairs Mr Supo Atobatele has said.

- Page 26

NLC seeks end to youth unemployment THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is seeking ways out of the growing rate of unemployment, which it put at 60 per cent of employable youths.

- Page 39

Key drivers for insurance growth DESPITE the inability of insurance industry to meet its set target of N1 trillion premium income projection last year, operators are optimistic that the entrenchment of some basic fundamentals last year would prop the industry to lofty heights this year.

- Page 40 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

-N7.560 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation 11.9% 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 $35.8b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

At the moment there is an average of about 15 to 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap.

- Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

‘Why banks are running away from SMEs’ - P. 32

Banks’ customers pick holes Customs makes N200b at Tin Can Port T in cash-less policy

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) cash-less policy designed to reduce cash-based transactions is having difficulties in meeting customers’ expectations, The Nation investigation has revealed.

Many banks’customers have raised issues with the services rendered by their banks in the course of the one year the policy has been in operation in Lagos State.

They said the policy is “anything, but efficient at the moment.”

One of the customers said he was compelled to wait for five days before he could get access to money that was “supposedly wired to his account in his presence.”

He said: “I went to the bank (name withheld) with a friend who had just sold his car to a buyer for N4million.

He insisted that the money be transferred to his account on-line. This was done, and we all witnessed it. The buyer’s account was debited immediately,” he added.

“On the assumption that his account has similarly been credited (although he had not been alerted), he travelled out of the country.

Four days later, the money had not hit his account,” he

By Simeon Ebulu, Deputy Business Editor

said. He said it was not until the fifth day that he was eventually credited with the proceeds.

It was gathered that this has been the experience of many customers who have to wait for days, before they could access the money sent to them through the e-payment platform. Several other customers complained that remittances to their parents for the Christmas and New Year period were never delivered until several days later.

When confronted, a spokesman for one of the banks, who pleaded that his identity be veiled, blamed the incident, which he admitted is a common occurrence, on equipment, Asked to explain why a system that can debit one’s account would be unable to credit another’s, he insisted: “It was a systemic challenge that the industry is grappling with and strenuously striving to resolve. It is not peculiar to this bank alone. It’s an industry issue,” he added.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) spokesman, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, told The Nation there have been

Fed Govt to sue IOCs over non-compliance with weights, measures

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HE Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and its consultant, Nigerco (Nig) Limited, are set to drag the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to court this month for denying Weight and Measures staff access into their premises to inspect and ensure they comply with the Legal Metrology System Act of 2004.

Chief Executive Secretary, Nigerco (Nig) Limited Chief Executive Officer, Yabagi Sani, disclosed this to our correspondent in Abuja at the weekend.

He also said the activities of Weight and Measures and enforcement of the Legal Metrology System in Nigeria, will in this year save about N500billion that would have been lost to inaccurate measurements and illegal sales for the Federal Government.

Consequently, he said the Federal Government is expected to raise N50billion as fees from the oil and gas sector this year.

Most of the oil companies had last year refused to pay

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

the N35billion fees for last quarter of 2012 to the government.

He said to ascertain accurate sales at the petrol stations, Federal Government will within the first quarter of 2013 deploy bulk meters to petrol stations across the country.

He said:"In the first place, we want the operators of the petrol stations to receive accurate quantity of what he has ordered. And the only way you can ensure that is when you have this bulk meters so that when the tanker driver brings the fuel to the petrol station, what it receives is what it has ordered.

"We believe that will come in the interest of the petrol stations and the economy. I think the bulk meter will come within this first quarter. In the first quarter of this year, petrol stations will be under law to have bulk meters."

Sani said within the first quarter, his firm will deploy Independent Service Providers (ISPs).

teething problems, but they are being overcome. He said the cash-less banking initiative did not exist before and, therefore, there is always time to learn.

He said there is no system that is free of problems, “but the most important thing is that e-payment has made banking easier for bank customers,” . He assured that the banks have structures in place that make it possible for them to rectify any problems encountered by their customers.

A customer of one of the first generation banks, Martins Obi, said banks have to ensure that they offer the best of services because such would enhance financial inclusion.

He said many of the banks were yet to be acquainted with demands of the policy, urging that they make upgrade of their facilities a priority.

HE Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Port Command generated over N200 billion between January and December last year, sources at the command have said.

He said the amount represented an increase of N14 billion over that of the corresponding period in 2011.

Between January and November last year, the source said, the command achieved 72 per cent of its yearly target of N264 billion and it has achieved as at November ending, 79 per cent of 11 months target of N242 billion.

Despite the challenges of modernisation and simplification of our operations, he said, they were able to generate over N200 billion between January and December into government coffers, last year.

The command, the source said, was able to achieve it based on the commitment and dedication to duty of its officers.

Customs sources said the command recorded various seizures last year as part of efforts to stem smuggling and promote government’s interest.

About 20 vehicles, and over 90 containers of various offending imports which comprise falsely and underdeclared items such as vehicles, used tyres, new fridges and washing machines, the source said, were seized by the command.

The source also faulted importers using the neighbouring ports to bring in used cars on the pretext that the Nigerian ports were too expensive.

The officer, who craved anonymity, told The Nation that it was cheaper to import cars through the nation’s ports than the neighbouring ports.

He urged motor vehicle importers to continue to patronise the nation’s ports so that more revenue could be generated for the rapid development of the country.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 7. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 9. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Aero 12.20 13.30 15. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 16. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 17. Arik 13.45 14.45 18. IRS 14.00 15.20 19. Aero 14.10 15.30 20. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 21. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 22. Arik 15.50 16.50 23. Aero 16.00 17.20 24. IRS 16.30 17.50 25. Arik 16.50 17.50 26. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 27. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 29. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 20. Arik 18.45 19.45 31. Aero 19.20 20.40

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LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

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LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

By Lucas Ajanaku

cessive focus on ID card issuance without proper authentication and verification.

Onyemenam also said over 100 million Nigerians have no official identities. He said: “Seventy per cent of identity documents are fake and self issued, and there is no timely means of authenticating the documents. Less than 20 per cent of the population have access to financial services and that actual total bank cards were less than 10 per cent of the population.’’

In a paper entitled: National Iden-

tity Management System (NIMS): How the system will work and how it will benefit you and the government, Onyemenam said the solution to these is a shift from ID card issuance to identity management system that is the statutory duty of the NIMC. He explained that the NIMS project is in five components. He listed them to include: the establishment of reliable, secured and accurate national database, assigning of National Identification Number (NIN), issuance of General MultiPurpose Cards (GMPC), provision of infrastructure that will be used for verification and confirmation of identity, and harmonisation of government agencies’ databases in the country.

08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

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LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

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LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

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LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

HE National Identity Man agement Commission (NIMC) has said 75 per cent of the 167 million population has no authentic identities because they are self-issued.

The body said it would endeavour to deliver a reliable and secured national identity to the country.

NIMC Director-General, Chris Onyemenam, identified key issues that have led to the insecurity in the country, saying an average Nigerian parades multiple and unreliable identities.

As a result, over 75 per cent fake and counterfeits identities are in use, stating that the problem has been further compounded by ex-

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Aero 10.50 12.30 5. Arik 11.40 13.00 6. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 7. IRS 13.30 15.00 8. Arik 14.00 15.20 9. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 10 Arik 16.10 17.30 11. Aero 16.15 17.30 12. Arik 17.10 18.30

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

‘75% of identity documents are fake’ T

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

• From left: Business Head, Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Emmanouil Revmatas; Managing Director, Mr Bravo Kim and Samsung Brand Ambassador, Mr Olubankole Wellington (Banky W), at the unveiling of Samsung’s Galaxy Note II Smartphone at Westown Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.

NAMA to switch to satellite air navigation ARRING any last minute He, however, stressed that any soon changes, the Nigeria Air moment, NAMA would announce

B

space Management Agency (NAMA) plans to switch from ground-based air navigation to satellite system soon, its General Manager, Public Affairs Mr Supo Atobatele has said.

Migration to satellite-based navigation, according to experts, is expected to reduce the work load of some air navigation personnel, including air traffic controllers, as an aircraft fit with the modern technology is supposed to fly without any guidance by air traffic controllers until it gets close to the airport of arrival.

When the new system comes into force, NAMA will require fewer air traffic controller to assist aircraft in flight.

To achieve the implementation of the performance-based navigation, NAMA last year urged airline operators and pilots to key into the satellite system.

Mr Atobatele told reporters that

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

at a meeting between the agency and airlines’ operators and pilots , thelatter were informed about the need to key into the satellite system.

“Recently, we met with the pilots in the industry and airline operators, just to inform them about the development in NAMA, particularly the satellite-based navigation system also known as performance-based navigational system. As you know, some weeks ago, we migrated from the terrestrial air navigation system to the satellite-based navigation system.

“So, we need to tell them what we have on ground and what they should do. Particularly, for you to operate within the sphere of the PBN system, your aircraft must be compliance, it must carry the prerequisite gadgets. So, what we are trying to do is to just inform them.”

the commencement of the satellite system, adding that the airlines that would operate on the system are only those whose aircraft are compliance with the PBN system.

“Anytime from now, we will announce a specific date for the commencement of the PBN system in Nigeria, particularly for the major air routes and airports, such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcort, and Kano” “As you are aware, the test flight has been done by Emirates Airline as the first to carry out the approach test on Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, in Lagos while the KLM recorded same in Kano. As at today, South Africa Airways has equally joined. They did it on their own and it was 100 per cent successful. So, we are urging all the local airlines to join too,” Atobatele said.

On the benefits of the PBN, Mr Atobatele noted that the new system helps aircraft to land faster.

United Tech sole bidder in $6.8b helicopter deal

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HE United States Air Force have refused to confirm that it received only one bid for a $6.8 billion helicopter competition, saying that information was “source selection sensitive.”

All but one of the contractors expected to bid to build a new combat search and rescue helicopters for the Air Force announced last month that they would not compete, raising the prospect that the Air Force would have to adopt a different approach to the acquisition programme.

Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corporation, did submit a bid for the competition, based on its H-60 helicopter, according to a company spokesman.

Other potential competitors confirmed that they had decided to skip the bidding, and at least one of the companies said it was exploring a possible legal challenge to the terms of the competition.

Air Force spokesman Ed Gulick declined to say how many companies had submitted bids by the January 3 deadline or whether the Air Force had already initiated steps to reflect that the procurement would now come from a sole source.

“We cannot release as the information is source selection sensitive,” he told Reuters in an emailed statement.

Gulick said the Air Force remained “committed to a fair, open and transparent process” to pick a new, affordable Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) that met the military’s requirements.

“To ensure this occurs, we are prohibited from releasing information while in the request for proposal and selection processes. Once we select and announce the final contractor we will be able to openly discuss the details of the CRH program,” he said in an emailed statement.

Lieutenant-General Charles Davis, the top military official in charge of Air Force acquisition, told Reuters in an interview last month that the helicopter competition was structured to tell potential bidders exactly what capabilities the Air Force wanted and what it could afford.

He denied that the terms of the competition had been written to favor the Black Hawk helicopter built by Sikorsky, and said Sikorsky would be asked to submit certified cost and pricing data if it turned out to be the sole bidder for the program.

A Sikorsky spokesman said the company was aware that it could be asked to provide such data if no other bids came in. Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) is a key subcontractor on the Sikorsky bid.

Boeing, Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc (TXT.N), EADS (EAD.PA) and Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) teamed with AgustaWestland, a unit of Italy’s Finmeccanica SpA (SIFI.MI), announced last month that they would not bid for the work.

China opposes EU airline carbon emission law

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HINA has reiterated its op position to a European Un ion (EU) plan to limit airline carbon dioxide emissions and called for talks to resolve the issue a day after its major airlines refused to pay any carbon costs under the new law.

All airlines using EU airports have been brought into the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), alongside EU utilities and heavy industry effective January 1.

Any airlines that do not comply face fines of 100 euros ($128) for each tonne of carbon dioxide emitted for which they have not sur-

rendered allowances. In the case of persistent offenders, the EU has the right to ban airlines from its airports.

“China opposes the European Union’s unilateral legislation.

China has expressed to the EU our deep concern and opposition many times on a bilateral level,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

“We hope the EU can take careful precautions with a cautious and practical attitude, and regarding those aspects involving China, appropriately discuss and handle this matter,” Hong told reporters dur-

ing a regular briefing.

The EU’s carbon trading scheme was launched in 2005 as one of the pillars of Europe’s efforts to combat climate change.

Following a December ruling from Europe’s highest court that inclusion of airlines in the ETS was valid, China’s official Xinhua news agency warned of a trade war.

Spokesman Hong said other countries had taken an equally negative view.

The United States has also raised the prospect of retaliation, while a draft law in the U.S. Congress

proposes to make it illegal to comply with the EU law.

EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard has repeatedly said she is open to talks with other nations and that the EU law provides for “equivalent measures.”

Those could be other forms of carbon reduction, rather than the purchase of permits under the EU scheme.

“It has to be something similar,” Isaac Valero-Ladron, EU spokesman for climate action, told reporters in Brussels. “It’s a measure which a country feels most comfortable with.”

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

27

ISSUES

The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was born in crisis. The crisis keeps growing despite all efforts to resolve it. At a time, it was the oil companies against the government. Now lawmakers from the North have picked up the gauntlet against the bill, which is before the National Assembly. Will the bill be passed by the Assembly? asks EMEKA UGWUANYI, Assistant Editor (Energy).

• Senate President, David Mark

Forces against PIB T

HE Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was conceived over 10 years ago by - wait for it- a Northerner, Dr Rilwanu Lukman, former Minister of Petroleum Resources. Lukman saw something good in intiating the bill, but today the North is kicking against it, claiming that it is lopsided.

The PIB is based on the report of the Oil and Gas Reform Implementation Committee (OGIC) set up by the Federal Government in 2000 to carry out a comprehensive reform of the oil industry. The OGIC was charged with making recommendations for a far-reaching restructuring of the oil and gas industry. The committee was chaired by Lukman, who was then the Presidential Adviser on Petroleum and Energy.

Lukman describes the PIB as a reform legislation designed to encapsulate the legislative and administrative instruments governing the petroleum industry in one omnibus legislation establishing clear rules, procedures and institutions for the industry.

There are 16 laws guiding operations in the oil and gas industry, which have been

• Speaker House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal

brought as one document under the PIB. Besides, some loopholes found in these laws were as much as possible plugged in the PIB. The main laws brought under the PIB are the Petroleum Act 1969 (as amended), Petroleum Profits Tax Act 1959 (as amended), and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Act of 1977 (as amended). These, and practically every other law regulating the sector, needed to be updated to reflect the changing dynamics of the oil and gas industry worldwide.

In a presentation at a stakeholders’ session in 2009, Lukman said: “The Nigeria Petroleum Industry Bill is a remarkable document, which contains most of the legal requirements that will apply to the petroleum industry in Nigeria.

“The PIB combines 16 different petroleum laws in a transparent and coherent document. This is the first time that such a large scale consolidation has happened anywhere in the world. Good governance is promoted through the removal of much of the confidentiality as well as creating transparency.

“Confidentiality encourages corruption.

The best way to fight corruption is to remove confidentiality for all procedures, contracts and payments. Every Nigerian, including stakeholders, should have the right to know what is going on. The bill removes confidentiality on a scale not seen in the world before. Nigeria will move in one step from one of the most opaque petroleum nations in Africa, to one of the most open and transparent in the world.

“The texts of all licences, leases and contracts and any of the changes to such documents will no longer be confidential. Payments to the government of Nigeria will be public information. All petroleum geological, geophysical, technical and well data will be accessible for all interested persons in a national data base.

“The proposed bill will result in a signifi-

• Mrs Alison-Madueke

cant increase in transparency. From now on, petroleum prospecting licences and petroleum mining leases can only be granted by the Minister through a truly competitive bid process. Such process will be open and accessible to all qualified companies.

“Every company involved in the upstream petroleum industry will be subject to the same system of rents, royalties and taxes, depending on whether they operate in the onshore, shallow or deep offshore or inland areas.

“This means it will not be possible under the bill to treat certain companies more favourably than others. Nigerians can only fully benefit from their petroleum resources, if there is a sound petroleum administration.”

Criticisms Despite the intellectual and technical input from some of the industry’s best hands, the bill has not been well received in some quarters. Some industry operators also criticised it. When efforts were being made to see if the bill would be passed into law during the Sixth National Assembly, it was dogged by all manner of allegations. Some alleged that the operator companies – mostly the multinationals – influenced members of the National Assembly to stall the bill’s passage.

The Sixth Assembly organised a public hearing so that it could hear first hand from stakeholders. That was not to be as it was alleged that there were several versions of the bill. It was alleged that the copy of PIB submitted to the National Assembly then was that of NNPC. At the end of the day, the Sixth Assembly’s tenure ended without the bill’s passage.

The multinational oil firms have continued to kick against the perceived contentious provisions in the bill, especially the fiscal terms. They claim that the benefits the government wants from operations are

so high that if the bill is passed in its present state, they would be running their business at a loss. It is because of this that they are opposed to the bill.

Other issues in the bill that operators frown on include undue powers conferred on the minister of Petroleum and some conditions attached to acreage leases to oil firms. These and other issues that border on downstream sector are what the government was trying to resolve before Northern lawmakers joined the fray.

Mounting opposition Reports have it that the lawmakers are opposed to the bill beause of the alleged establishment of the Host Community Fund, said to give oil producing states dominance, especially the Southsouth states over their northern counterparts.

Besides, they claimed, the north would pay more for petroleum products if the bill is passed in its current state, among other issues.

The lawmakers’ position, according to reports, is hinged on the consensus reached by the Northern Governors Forum, Northern Caucus in the House of Representatives and the Northern Senators Forum. The consensus is based on the report of an independent assessment of the bill by a consultant employed by the group to examine the bill and its effect on the North when passed into law.

The consultant’s report was considered favourable to the regions, hence the north’s opposition to the bill.

According to reports, all the complaints raised against the PIB were contained in a single document. The document showed that the North may not benefit from oil and gas revenues as it does now.

The document reads: “On top of the 13.5 per cent statutory derivation from the •Continued on page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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ISSUES

Forces against PIB

•Continued from page 27

Federation Account, the mandatory Federal budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Niger Delta, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) levy of three per cent of oil operations and the massive amount of federal funds being spent on the Niger Delta Amnesty programme, the new PIB is adding 10 per cent of the profit of all oil and gas companies to the Niger Delta States and Communities.

“Currently, without this new addition, four states (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers) earn more than the 19 Northern states combined. One wonders what kind of federation we would end up with, if this situation is escalated by the new PIB. In any case, what really is the constitutional standing of this particular provision in the Bill?”

The northern caucus should also put into consideration that producing oil communities directly bear the brunt of exploitation both the people and the environment.

Besides, after over 50 years of oil production and export, most of these communities lack basic infrastructure and social amenities.

The northern lawmakers or caucus, if they see the country as a true federation, should endeavour to compel governments at all levels to develop these communities and improve their standard of living considering the contribution they make to the country.

The position of the North on PIB was confirmed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, who said the region is opposed to PIB beacuse of the provision of additional 10 per cent revenue for oil producing communities.

He said: “The additional revenue is unecceptable because the oil producing communities have the Federal Government’s take home, the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) over N500 billion for projects in the oil producing communities, the Niger Delta Ministry with over N400 billion allocation and oil companies’corporate social responsibility programmes.”

Finding the way out Following criticisms of the bill by operators and other stakeholders, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, raised a committee to harmonise various groups’ interests in the bill to make it acceptable to all.

Critics took her up for this, but Mrs Alison-Madueke said she was only reacting to public demand for more transparency in the industry, which the PIB stands for.

She said the committee was established to ensure a speedy passage of the bill. She said: “Though the members of the OGIC did a good job, we have all seen that the bill lacked the requirements of the Sixth Assembly and needed to be redefined, and gingered up for speedy and very expedient passage by the Seventh Assembly. As a matter of fact, you are all also aware that at the end of the Sixth Assembly, there was more than one version going around. So, the government expects that the committee will put up all the indices in place to redefine the bill, look at certain sections and include strategic aspects so that we can get it right.”

The Panel Senator Udoma Udo Udoma headed the task force, which members comprised Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Senator Emmanuel Agboti, Senator M. T. Liman, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, Hon. Abdullahi Gumel, Hon. Habeeb Fashinro; and Comrade Peter Esele, President, Trade Union Congress. The Minister said at the inauguration of the committee:

• Abba-Ibrahim

• Mayowa

• Onyekpere

‘Currently, without this new addition, four states (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers) earn more than the 19 Northern states combined. One wonders what kind of federation we would end up with, if this situation is escalated by the new PIB. In any case, what really is the constitutional standing of this particular provision in the Bill?’

“We have listened to the voices of the people of Nigeria, when over the last few weeks, they spoke in unison for accelerated reforms in the oil and gas industry. These reforms will anchor on a new PIB. The special taskforce is saddled with speeding up the process of re-drafting the PIB.” The minister also inaugurated a technical committee consisting of experts in the industry to assist the special taskforce. The Technical Committee chaired by the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Osten Olorunsola had Chief Sena Anthony, Alhaji Umar Abba Gana, Mr. George Osahon, Mallam I.D.Waziri, Mr Victor Briggs, Dr. Francis Adigwe, Mr. Victor Oyenkpa and Mr. Seyi Bickersteth as members.

Benefits Mrs Alison-Madueke said when the bill is passed, the gas sector will become the crux of the economy going forward.

She said: “We have much more gas reserves than we have in crude. The PIB is a long and indepth bill, a historic, critical and extensive bill encompassing the 16 hitherto existing laws with the oil and gas industry.

“Once the PIB is fully passed, transparency in the oil and gas industry would be achieved. It is a truism to say that the oil and gas industry has been characterised by too much opaqueness, high level of confidentiality. To this end, therefore, the PIB would remove opaqueness on a scale that has never been seen. Consequently, data would be accessible to all interested persons. One of the benefits of the bill would be in the

creation of over 300,000 jobs in the industry in the next four to five years, compulsory execution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for host communities, end of gas flaring and commercialisation of NNPC, among others. ‘’The PIB would ensure that transparency and good governance are promoted through the removal of much of the confidentiality as well as creating transparency. The bill on passage will ensure that all operations comply with all modern technical standards, are sound commercial proposition, don’t involve excessive costs, meet all health and safety standards, include Nigerian content plan that ensures maximisation of Nigerian employment and business opportunities, ensure maximum local economic spin-offs and job opportunities, meet all environmental standards, including approved environmental management plan and encourage investment in small oil and gas fields.”

Stakeholders’reactions The Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, said it is surprising that people are saying the PIB has been dumped because some northern legislators are against some provisions of the bill. “It is only a bill and it should undergo a normal legislative process, which it is undergoing.

“Certainly, some people may not like some provisions in the bill and, of course, we shouldn’t expect the bill to come out exactly the way it went in or was submitted by the executive. Therefore, I’m surprised to hear people say that northern legislators reject

PIB,” he said.

The immediate past President of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Dr. Lawrence Afe Mayowa, described the non-passage of the Bill as “an embarrassment.”

He said poor inflow of investment into the oil industry was because of non-passage of the PIB. He said the passage of the bill would open up the industry and create windows of opportunities for the country including employment. He said passage of the PIB would give credibility to the government and encourage investments in the sector. “The passage of the bill will certainly move Nigeria forward and attract more investors to our country,” he said.

He said if the PIB becomes law, it would address anomalies in the industry, including the persistent inadequate supply of gas to the electricity generating stations because provisions for all these are made in the bill. “The foot-dragging over the passage of the PIB has made Nigeria to a laughing stock before the international community,” he added.

NAPE also made efforts to get stakeholders to a round table on how to stop the negative impact the PIB’s delay is having on the economy. Nigeria, according to the association, lost over N543 billion ($3.62 billion) in revenue from existing Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) in 2011 to the delay in the passage of the PIB. NAPE said the figure could be more than that as the country’s multi-billion dollars oil and gas industry is faced with imminent investments’ drain “as a result of the delay.”

‘If the PIB becomes law, it would address anomalies in the industry including the persistent inadequate supply of gas to the electricity generating stations because provisions for all these are made in the bill. The foot-dragging over the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has made Nigeria to become a laughing stock before the international community’

Mayowa reiterated calls for the quick passage of the bill “to save the country from the huge loss in revenue.” He added that the association is at the forefront of efforts to place the oil and gas industry on the right track, adding that would continue to ensure that things are done right in the industry.

The Principal Consultant, Lonadek Oil and Gas Consultants, Dr. Ibilola Amao, said: “To give direction and focus to the oil and gas industry, the Federal Government has to ensure that the PIB, which has long been before the National Assembly, is passed into law and the downstream sector fully deregulated.’’

She noted that the poor investment inflow into the oil and gas industry in recent times is because investors are not sure of the fiscal terms and impact that the passage of the PIB would have on their operations. Prompt passage of the Bill would clearly address these problems, she added.

She said the passage of PIB should boost government’s efforts to improve gas supply to power sector for stable electricity supply. To achieve this, she said there was need for the government to support gas aggregation and monetisation and ensure that the Final Investment Decision (FID) for projects, such as Brass LNG and NLNG Train 7 is taken quickly.

She stressed the importance of government’s commitment to the implementation of the Gas Master Plan, which should address domestic use in a most favourable manner. These projects, when in place, would contribute to uninterrupted power supply and help boost the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Conclusion However, some stakeholders in the industry see something good in the PIB. They argue it is incontrovertible that a reform of the petroleum industry is overdue.

Certainly, they said there must be provisions in the bill that don’t appeal to everybody, hence the need for legislative tinkering to sort things out. No doubt, the interests of stakeholders should be considered to ensure the industry attracts the required investment to attain the expected growth, technology transfer, best practices for safety and protection of the environment and most of all, adding value to Nigerians and the economy.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

29

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL Enbridge to spend $400m on pipeline expansion

Bank of Canada probes lenders' role in consumer debt E

T

HE Bank of Canada has been scrutinising whether competition among banks and other lenders is helping to drive consumer debt loads to record levels.

A presentation to central bank’s top officials last year, obtained under Access to Information laws, suggests that areas in which a large number of financial institutions are present also have a greater proportion of consumers with too much debt.

Research has found that “neighbourhoods with more bank branches and payday lenders per capita (i.e. more competition) have looser lending standards (higher leveraged households) and experience greater bankruptcies (i.e. instability),” says the presentation, which was given to bank officials in the summer.

The disclosure adds a new dimension to the public debate about the factors that have caused Canadians to borrow record amounts of money. The latest Statistics Canada data say that Canadian families owe nearly $1.65 on average for every

dollar of after-tax income, the highest level in 22 years of tracking those figures.

Last year, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tightened the rules on mortgages for a fourth time in four years, saying the government would no longer insure mortgages that are amortised over a period longer than 25 years. But while the government can change the rules, it can do little to affect longer-term mortgage rates. A year ago, fierce competition for customers caused some major banks to begin offering five-year mortgages at 2.99 per cent, triggering a price war in the sector.

At the time, Mr Flaherty said he cautioned some bank executives about competing too hard to lower rates. “You should be cautious about your lending practices, because this is the type of practice that led to a mortgage crisis in the United States several years ago,” he said he told them. “So my expectation is that you will not compete to the bottom on interest rates, which is the direction they were

going.”

The Bank of Canada has also been seeking to determine how consumers seeking mortgages would be affected by shocks to bank-funding costs. Funding costs rose dramatically during the financial crisis when liquidity dried up, pushing up the costs of consumer and business loans until Ottawa intervened.

The presentation was obtained through an Access to Information request, sent to the bank in June, for documents pertaining to the mortgage and housing markets.

Hundreds of pages were sent in response over the holidays, the vast majority of which are entirely redacted.

The 24-page presentation, which was given to the bank’s management forum on July 22, was partly redacted. It focuses on work being done by Jason Allen, a principal researcher at the bank. The management forum includes Governor Mark Carney, senior deputy governor Tiff Macklem, and the bank’s other deputy governors, advisers and department chiefs.

•A group of information technology experts demonstrating teledining at a video conference in Beijing, China.

Turkey accuses EU of bias

T

URKEY has accused the European Union (EU) of bias and bigoted attitudes towards the EU candidate country and blamed it for undermining the Turkish public’s trust in the bloc.

Turkey criticised the EU’s latest report on its progress towards EU membership as it presented for the first time its own report highlighting its reforms over the last year.

Turkey began accession talks in 2005, but the process has ground to a halt due to an intractable dispute over Cyprus, the divided island state which Turkey does not recognise, and opposition from core EU members France and Ger-

many.

Despite waning domestic support for joining the EU, Ankara has continued to push for full membership of the union and has said it wants to join before 2023, the centenary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey.

“We observed that this year’s Turkey Progress Report was overshadowed by more subjective, biased, unwarranted and bigoted attitudes,” Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis said in a statement accompanying Turkey’s own 270-page report.

Bagis said it was unacceptable that the European Commission report

released in October had ignored Turkey’s “courageous” reforms over the last year and that this undermined the EU’s trustworthiness in the eyes of the Turkish public.

The minister previously voiced his disappointment with the report in October, saying it failed to be objective, ignored the expansion of rights for religious minorities and had criticised the judiciary too sweepingly.

A recent survey by the German Marshall Fund think-tank found a majority of Turks view the EU negatively, illustrating the declining enthusiasm for EU membership.

China fines South Korean, Taiwanese LCD makers $56m

C

HINA fined South Korean and Taiwanese makers of LCD display screens $56million at the weekend for price-fixing, joining the United States and Europe in a crackdown on the industry.

Suppliers have been hit by American and European regulators with penalties totalling more than $3-billion for colluding to push up slumping prices of display screens in 2001-06. US courts have sentenced 12 executives to prison.

In China, the display-manufacturing arms of Samsung Electron-

ics Co. and LG Electronics Inc., along with four Taiwanese companies, were ordered to pay 144 million yuan ($22.8-million) in penalties plus repayment to Chinese customers and other charges, according to China’s planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission.

Envoys from LG Display, Samsung Display and the Taiwanese suppliers met every quarter in 2001-06 to set prices of screens at a time when supply outstripped demand, pushing down market prices, according to Western and Chinese regulators.

Samsung owns 85 per cent of Samsung Display, the biggest display manufacturer. LG Display is a publicly traded company in which LG owns a 38-per- cent stake.

Nearly all the world’s mobile phones and personal computers are assembled in China, making it a major market for display screens and other components imported from South Korea, Taiwan and other Asian economies.

The display makers “manipulated market prices and damaged the lawful interests of other companies and consumers,” said an NDRC statement.

NBRIDGE Inc. plans to spend $400million to expand the capacity of its pipeline system between Hardisty, Alta., and the United States border.

The project involves increasing pumping horsepower and no new line pipe construction is involved, the Calgary-based company said Friday.

It expects to increase capacity by 230,000 barrels a day when the upgrade comes on line in 2015, subject to regulatory approvals.

The company says the expansion has been approved by mainline shippers under the terms of EPI’s Competitive Tolling Settlement.

Enbridge is a major player in the North American energy market where it operates the world’s longest crude oil and liquids pipeline system. The company also has a significant and growing natural gas gathering, transmission and midstream business and an increasing involvement in power transmission.

The expansion is one of many new projects to boost the amount of crude that flows through Enbridge’s vast North American crude oil system.

In November, Enbridge said it was planning a $1.8-billion pipeline between Edmonton, a key oil sands hub, and Hardisty. That new line will initially be able to carry 570,000 barrels per day but has the potential to be expanded to 800,000 barrels.

Construction could begin as early as the first quarter of 2014, with startup targeted for mid-2015.

In December, Enbridge and its US affiliate announced they were spending $6.2-billion on a string of projects to bring growing volumes of Alberta and North Dakota light oil to market.

The light oil market access program will see an additional 400,000 barrels per day of light oil flow to refineries in Ontario, Quebec and the US Midwest.

Ottawa auto makers get $250m lifeline

T

HE Federal Government has set aside $250million for car companies and their suppliers, its first auto-subsidy programme since the industry bailout in 2009 and a signal that Ottawa will keep offering money to sustain automotive jobs in the country’s manufacturing heartland.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will announce at a Ford Motor Co. plant in Oakville, Ont., on Friday that the government will renew the five-year Automotive Innovation Fund it established in 2008. The original fund, which required companies to invest their own money to access government cash, helped generate $1.6-billion of research-anddevelopment and innovation projects, senior government sources said.

The five-year renewal comes amid a controversy over government assistance to the auto industry, after the announcement by General Motors of Canada Ltd. in late December that it will shift production of the Chevrolet Camaro from Oshawa, Ont., to a plant in Michigan in 2015.

The federal and Ontario governments contributed $10.6-billion to the bailout of General Motors Co. during the 2009 recession, when the company restructured under court protection.

While GM has promised it will meet production commitments it made to governments in return for that money, the Camaro decision threatens the long-term future of several thousand jobs in Oshawa. Federal Industry Minister Christian Paradis said last month the company owes Canadians an explanation for the planned shift.

Ottawa is renewing the fund to help the auto-manufacturing sector remain competitive and protect close to 500,000 direct and spinoff jobs linked to the auto industry, government sources said.

“Our Conservative government remains focused on creating jobs and keeping Canada’s automotive-manufacturing sector globally competitive and growing,” a senior government source said. The money is to go to research-and-development projects.

Auto makers in Canada and parts suppliers are humming as the US auto recovery picks up steam. That market is the destination for about 80 per cent of the vehicles assembled in Canada, while US assembly plants are the biggest customers for Canadian parts makers outside their home country.

But the industry’s long-term competitive position is being eroded by the high value of the Canadian dollar, which makes it more expensive to assemble cars here. Last year, the Canadian divisions of the three Detroit-based auto makers negotiated new contracts with their unions that included a wage freeze and concessions on the employee pension plan.

In addition, the federal and Ontario governments are competing for investment – in new plants and existing factories alike – with southern US states and Mexico, which are throwing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of subsidies at car companies.

Brazil grain shipments to jump by 14%

B

RAZILIAN soybean and corn shipments from Paranagua, the country’s biggest grain and oilseeds port, will rise as much as 14 per cent this year as growers harvest record crops, the hub’s head of operations said.

The shipments will climb from 44 million metric tons last year, said Luiz Henrique Dividino, superintendent of the port, in a telephone interview. The jump will follow an eight per cent increase last year, he said.

Brazil, set to surpass the United States as the world’s biggest soybean grower and exporter this year, is forecast to harvest a record 82.6 million tons of the oilseed this year, the government said in a December 6 report. Corn output will drop to 71.9 million tons from a record 73 million in the past harvest.

“We are prepared for the challenge of shipping this record soybean crop and the big corn harvest that is expected too,” Dividino said.

Meanwhile, Brazil exported 3.04 billion liters (804 million gallons) of ethanol in 2012, a surge of 55 per cent over 2011 to the highest level since 2009, data released by Brazil's ministry of foreign trade showed.

In December, Brazil shipped 462.1 million liters of ethanol, the second highest monthly volume in 2012 and a record high for the month.

The main buyers of Brazilian ethanol in 2012 were the US, Jamaica, South Korea and Japan, according to data from Brazil's ministry of foreign trade.

The South American country is the world's second largest producer of ethanol after the US.

30

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

MONEY LINK

T

Standard template for e-fraud data storage coming

HE Central Bank of Nige ria (CBN) in collaboration with the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) will introduce a standard template for e-fraud data storage this year.

Speaking at the NeFF meeting in Lagos, CBN Director, Banking Payment & System, ‘Dapo Fatokun said the template would assist banks to easily assemble e-fraud data for storage and accessibility within the sector. He said that the sector is working very hard to ensure that fraud is controlled and reduced to minimum in the nation’s financial system.

The NeFF Chairman, Emmanuel Obaigbena, said at the forum’s monthly meeting in Lagos that there is ongoing plan by banks to partner with foreign lenders to fight fraud because of the global dimension of the acts.

Obaigbena said: “It is advisable for banks to give accurate data on fraud cases. They should not be scared of sharing statistics with each other.” He said the forum has already set

Stories by Collins Nweze

up a committee to sanction erring banks. The objective for this Forum is for banks and the relevant agencies to share data with a view to eliminating fraud in the industry. According to him, fraud not only translates to operational risk losses to banks, it also erodes the confidence of the public in electronic platforms/systems as a channel for transacting business.

He reiterated that the need to protect customers from fraud cannot be over-emphasised, adding that the electronic payment system is international in nature and requires to be approached from global perspective.

Chief Technical Officer, Digital Encode, Seyi Akindeinde, said that internet and mobile banking constitute the most frequent avenues through which frauds are perpetrated. Also, the NeFF is collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the judiciary to effectively fight the scourge. He added that the fo-

create report on fraud incidence. The other categories are labeled users only, as they can only view the fraud reports for their official use. This category, he said, comprise banks’ chief executive officers or designated senior management officials, regulatory officials such as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

rum was also working with Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to enhance the fraud reporting format in banks.

According to him, fraud not only translates to operational risk losses to banks, it erodes the confidence of the public in electronic platforms/systems as a channel for transacting business. Also, the NIBSS said it is taking measures aimed at reducing the volume and value of fraud perpetrated in the banking sector.

The portal became exigent following complaints by banks using the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP), which allows customers transfer funds on its secured platform. The portal according to Akindeinde, was designed to enable chief inspectors of banks to report fraud cases, and for other approved banks’ officials as well as regulatory bodies view reported cases of fraud.

Skye Bank rewards customers

S

KYE Bank has given out LCD TV sets, blackberry phones and Laptop among others to its customers who earned points under the SkyeDreams customer loyalty programme.

Under the programme, customers are enrolled automatically at the end of each quarter after meeting some conditions set by the lender.

A statement from the bank said to qualify for enrolment, a customer should maintain a minimum balance of N50, 000.00 on Skye Save, Skye Wise, Skye Rainbow or a standard Current account, or N150, 000.00 on a Skye Select account.

“Membership enrolment is done at the end of every quarter and it is totally free. Once enrolled, members are sent their log in details via e-mail and sms. Welcome base Points are uploaded immediately after enrollment,” the statement

He said the portal has two categories of users. The first is chief inspectors of banks, and they are the only users that can

Forex trading resumes today

F

OREIGN-exchange (Forex) trading suspended by the Cen tral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on December 19 last year, has resumed today. The naira had declined to its lowest in a month as dollar demand increased after the apex bank suspended forex auctions for 2012. The naira had dropped 0.2 per cent to 158.2 per dollar, its weakest since November 16.

After the CBN announcement, companies increased demand for foreign-currency to make up with possible need in the coming weeks.

Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI) strategists, led by Paris-based PaulHarry Aithnard told Bloomberg “: Ending the auctions is likely to create a major shortfall in dollar supply, thereby jeopardizing recent exchange rate stability”.

Managing Director, Blue Wall

Bureau De Change (BDC), Lucky Aiyedatiwa said that despite occasional upsurges in forex demand due to interventions by the CBN and the increased supplies from autonomous sources, the exchange rate never exceeded a two per cent appreciation or depreciation margin. He said the year has seen some of the CBN policies on forex reflect on the dollar-naira parity at both the local and international markets.

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 04-01-13 SYMBOL

PRESCO FIDELITYBK AIICO DIAMONDBK AIRSERVICE CUSTODYINS WAPIC NAHCO FO TRANSCORP

O/PRICE

18.81 2.48 0.66 5.10 4.18 1.37 0.60 5.64 7.73 1.03

C/PRICE

20.72 2.72 0.72 5.42 4.40 1.44 0.63 5.92 8.11 1.08

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

PHARMDEKO FIDSON JBERGER CONTINSURE NASCON MANSARD WEMABANK DANGSUGAR GUINNES PORTPAINT

O/PRICE 2.60 1.14 34.65 0.79 8.20 1.95 0.53 6.70 276.75 4.15

C/PRICE 2.47 1.09 33.48 0.77 8.00 1.91 0.52 6.60 273.00 4.10

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

CHANGE -5.00 -4.39 -3.38 -2.53 -2.44 -2.05 -1.89 -1.49 -1.36 -1.20

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 134.69 125.53 0.80 1.13 0.92 100.00 1,000.00 1,763.58 11.31 1.39 1.87 9,528.24

9.08 1.00 134.36 124.60 0.77 1.13 0.91 100.00 1,000.00 1,754.53 10.75 1.80 10.75 9,281.46

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor

NSE CAP Index

Name

LOSERS AS AT 04-01-13

SYMBOL

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

CHANGE

9.98 9.68 9.09 6.27 5.26 5.11 5.00 4.96 4.92 0.05

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

said.

It explained that points earned are uploaded into the member’s SkyeDreams account real time.

However, Points earned from monthly average incremental balance are uploaded at the end of month.

Mr Adeyemi Aremu, who won an LCD TV set, thanked the bank for the gesture and expressed his commitment to continue to operate his account with the bank.

Another customer from Kano, Mallam Taofic Suleiman, expressed his appreciation for the LCD TV set that he got and described the bank’s services and delivery channels as the best!

Points accumulated can also be applied to the purchase of tickets to a range of destinations.

These include Abuja, PortHarcourt and Kano via Aero or Arik airlines and Accra, Banjul, Dubai, London and Johannesburg via Arik, Aero, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways.

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

• CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

31

MONEY MARKET REPORT

•Naira

•Dollars

Naira weakens despite Diaspora dollar inflow T HE naira on Friday, slipped 0.3 per cent to N156.7 per dollar on the interbank market, and for the week, depreciated 0.4 per cent despite. This ensued despite dollar inflows from the Diaspora.

The currency’s position was also aggravated by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) suspension of foreign-exchange auctions, which curbed demand for the dollar.

The apex bank, which sells dollars to keep the naira within a three per cent band around N155 per dollar, ended twice- weekly auctions on December 19 and resumes today.

“The closure of foreign-currency auctions for the second week has reduced dollar supply, relative to demand from companies reopening for business,” Sewa Wusu, currency analyst at Lagos-based Sterling Capital Ltd., said told Bloomberg.

The previous week, the naira had strengthened, reaching the highest in more than two months, as citizens living abroad returned for the holiday period, increasing the supply of dollars.

“Many Nigerians in the Diaspora have come home with dollars, which has increased the supply,” Pabina Yinkere, head of research at Vetiva Capital Management told Bloomberg. Remittances to sub-Saharan African countries from citizens abroad are forecast to increase 6.3 per cent to $24 billion, the World Bank said in June. Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, Senegal and South Africa are the largest recipients of remittances in subSaharan Africa, with about 69 per cent of the funds in 2010 from migrants in the United States and Western Europe, according to the bank.

Central Bank policy makers left their benchmark interest rate unchanged at 12 per cent last year to control inflation and stabilise the naira. The inflation rate rose for the second consecutive month in November to 12.3 per cent from 11.7 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said.

T-Bills Yields are rising on Tanzania’s and Nigeria’s Treasury bills, although demand continues strong, according data posted on the website of the Central Bank of Tanzania and CBN. The average yield-to-maturity for Tanzania was 13.43 per cent on the 364-days bills, 12.86 per cent on the 182days paper, 11.76 per cent on 91-days and 7.25 per cent on 35 days.

For Nigeria, it is 12.5 per cent on the 364days bills, 11.75 per cent on the 182-days paper, 11.6 per cent on 91-days. The main investors in government securities in both markets are Pension Funds and commercial banks who took more than 60 per cent of the market, followed by insurance funds and a few micro-finance institutions.

Treasury bills are issued regularly as part of monetary control measures to help lenders manage their liquidity.

Reserves target The Federal Government has missed the $50 billion target it set for the foreign reserves by December 31. The reserves closed the year at $44.2 billion based on figure obtained from the CBN website on December 24, $5.8 billion below the estimate.

However, analysts have predicted that the Nigeria foreign reserve is expected to

By Collins Nweze

hit $47 billion by March next year. Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane, said such accretion would strengthen naira’s stability.

The reserves were $44.3 billion as at December 20, from a low of $33.09 billion January 4, this year. The global oil prices continue to fluctuate as risks of supply disruptions in the Middle East increase and global economic outlook weakens further.

Bonny Light declined to as low as $111.4 per barrel in October and as at December 19 traded at $112.6 per barrel.

Currency unification The central banks of West and Central Africa are considering merging their currencies to boost trade within the region, Lucas Abaga Nchama, governor of the Bank of Central African States, has said.

According to Bloomberg reports, the West African and Central African CFA francs are separate currencies that are both pegged to the euro. Merging them would boost trade and help fight money laundering, Nchama said.

The franc zone covers 14 African countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, GuineaBissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

Six other West African nations, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Guinea and Liberia — plan to enact a common currency, known as the Eco, by January 2015, 12 years behind an initial target, Temitope Oshikoya, chief executive officer, West African Monetary Institute, said.

Finance Houses Reform package that would drive the finance houses sub-sector of the economy will be unfolded this month by the CBN. An insider at the Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN) who spoke in confidence, said the apex bank would also be releasing timeline for compliance to regulatory issues raised in the guideline.

The source also hinted that the Board of Directors of the CBN is also expected to approve an enhanced capital base for the subsector to strengthen its operational capabilities.

The Nation findings showed that the apex bank’s board would release a new prudential guidelines for the subsector that also includes raising the capital base from the current N20 million to about N1 billion.

This, he said, would bring stability to the troubled sector. The source said other policy issues such as the appointment of Managing Directors form part of the on-

‘

going reforms in the subsector.

SWF Governors’ opposition against the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) will affect the amount of money needed for investment but there is high chances of reaching a compromise, FBN Capital, a research firm has said.

The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is due to start its investment programme in March, but the agency will not have sizeable funds to invest until the state governors drop their opposition to the scheme. The legality of the SWF is still being challenged by different state governments across the country.

It said higher budget threshold would reduce the transfers to the SWF, adding that given the porous nature of the account and the many obstacles to its expansion, there are legitimate concerns about the defences against an external shock and therefore called for sufficient buffers to be built.

The $1 billion SWF was set up in May last year to invest savings made from the difference between budgeted oil prices and actual market prices. Nigeria on crude exports account for more than 90 per cent of foreign income and about 80 per cent of government revenue, making it vulnerable to swings in prices.

Bank subsidiaries Nigerian banks with subsidiaries may rethink their continued operation in Ghana and Zambia as deadline for their recapitalisation in the counties ended last year. The Nation’s findings showed that not much has been achieved in terms of complying with the recapitalisation order by local banks in these countries.

Specifically, Ghana and Zambia central banks had raised their minimum capital requirement for banks, saying that the measure would help mobilise additional resources for their economies and enable banks participate effectively in their national economic growth as well as provide more funds for flow of credit.

In the case of Ghana, whose financial market had been undergoing some restructuring since the discovery of oil in the country, the Bank of Ghana has directed all banks to recapitalise to the tune of GH¢60 million ($31.7 million) by the end of 2012, from the $5.28 million it used to be.

Exchange rate The exchange rate was relatively stable in the past one year, with the naira maintaining moderate appreciation and depreciation at intervals.

The naira-dollar rates stability was largely as a result of increased supply of foreign exchange through autonomous

The previous week, the naira had strengthened, reaching the highest in more than two months, as citizens living abroad returned for the holiday period, increasing the supply of dollars

’

sources to the interbank segment. Also, the CBN intervened in the market to dampen demand pressure and increased the net open position of commercial banks in part to curtail speculative foreign exchange demand. To achieve this, the regulator adjusted the mid-point exchange rate band from N150 plus or minus three per cent to N155 plus or minus three per cent within the year.

Managing Director, Blue Wall Bureau De Change (BDC) said that despite occasional upsurges in foreign exchange demand due to interventions by the CBN and the increased supplies from autonomous sources, the exchange rate never exceeded a two per cent appreciation or depreciation margin. He said the year has seen some of the CBN policies on forex reflect on the dollar-naira parity at both the local and international market.

CIBN The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has reiterated the need for certified bankers in the country to work in other African countries. In a statement, the institute said a communique at the end of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) called for an inter-country recognition and acceptance of qualifications and certificates of member countries. This, it said, will encourage and promote mobility of labour as well as skills among banks in the continent.

It stressed the need for the Alliance of African Institute of Bankers (AAIOB) member institutions to participate actively in the establishment, programmes and activities of the Global Banking Education Standards Board (GBESB), which is expected to be launched at the World Conference of Banking Institutes (WCBI) scheduled to hold in Nairobi, Kenya in June, this year.

Bank to bank report Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has re-affirmed its commitment to the safety of stakeholder funds as it prepares for the financial year.

In a statement, the bank said it has installed several new technologies and introduced a number of internal procedures that enable it check frauds on customers’ accounts.

The bank’s Managing Director Segun Agbaje said the lender is committed to ensuring that its customers are protected from the r i s i n g i n c i d e n c e o f o n l i n e a n d o t h e r forms of electronic fraud being experienced within the industry.

Ghana’s economic growth is set to beat the African average for a sixth year in 2013, risks boosting imports and fuelling further weakness in the region’s third-worst performing currency, Standard Bank Group Limited and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) have said.

The cedi, which has declined 14 per cent against the United States currency last year, may slump to 2.15 a dollar o v e r t h e n e x t 1 2 m o n t h s , a c c o r d i n g to

Ecobank’s head of economic research, Angus Downie. Samir Gadio, emergingmarkets strategist at Standard Bank, sees the Ghanaian unit at 1.95 a dollar by the end of 2013. It weakened 0.3 per cent to 1.9065 a dollar according to data compiled

by Bloomberg.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

32

THE CEO

• Sanusi

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are expected to be the soul of the economy. But they have a problem; many of them cannot access loan for their growth. The banks too are shying away from doing business with them. Why? It is because they are not vibrant and are operating in an unconducive environment, says Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in this interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Bankers’ Committee retreat in Calabar, Cross River State. Group Business Editor AYODELE AMINU was there.

‘Why banks are running away W from SMEs’

HAT will be the focus of the Bankers’ Committee in 2013?

Our focus in 2013 remains the implementation of the financial inclusion strategy, continuation of the agricultural lending programme, moving towards the gas to power plan, privatisation of power, issues around policies and principles. We still have a long way to go, but we are proud of the work we have done in the last four years. I do hope that this industry will produce the generation of central bank and bank chief executive officers that played a catalyst role in the development of the

economy. The Bankers’ Committee has said that our focus would be on financial inclusion across the country. But there will be a special focus on Borno State on financial inclusion. The Bankers’ Committee will partner with the government of Borno on financial inclusion in that state. Now, with the conclusion of the power privatisation

there are issues. The first is advising the government on funding of power transmission. One thing that is clear to us and what we are going to advocate is that all the proceeds from the sale of power assets should actually be dedicated to improvement in power transmission system. Because there is a huge financial requirement for power

transmission development and if $2.3 billion is dedicated to that, it covers a significant part of that cost. Now the announcement of that kind of decision to be taken by the Presidency and the National Assembly and not the Bankers’ Committee, would create the confidence that private investors require to invest in the integrated plant because they know that the big risk in the power value chain now is transmission. A lot of funding is required. So fixing transmission is one, ensuring that we have fund•Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

33

THE CEO •Continued from page 37

ing for capital expenditure for generating plants that have just been set up is also key. The committee is working on financing and advising the sector. On the agricultural sector, we will continue with our engagements with the states and continue to address the value chain process. There are outstanding issues and they need to be addressed. We need to improve the engagement with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and our resolve is to integrate our silos so that all stakeholders can get more value chains to operate. We shall continue with the work which we have started on the modernisation of the payment system, governance, competency, training and financing.

How does your intervention in the agric sector affect rural farmers?

The whole idea of the intervention in the agric sector through Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) is to address some of those things that have affected the growth of the sector. One of those things that we have tried to do is to work with states and put those farmers into cooperatives so that they are able to raise silos as a cooperative. As a cooperative, they are able to get training, extension services, buy seeds and negotiate for fertilisers.

Then, you go to Kagawa, which is 40 kilometres from Kano, you will see how we and the state have put together, tomato farmers to get improved varieties and seeds. Now, we are looking at setting up a processing plant, which will produce tomato and process it on-site. They are producing twice a year now, instead of once with irrigation. We give them seeds, fertilisers and they are able to access financing. But we must remember that agriculture and lending to the real sector is a journey and not a destination. Two years ago, we set a target of getting bank lending to 10 per cent of the loan book of banks by 2017. As at that time, 2011, we were at 1.5 per cent. But today, we are at 3.58 per cent. So, as we continue to implement these reforms, we should get to our target by 2017.

What is the Bankers’ Committee doing to ensure that lending rate is reduced to support the growth of SMEs and what would be the contribution committee’s to assist flood victims?

As far as the Committee is concerned, remember that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) only thrive in an environment that is conducive. If you want vibrant SMEs that can borrow from banks, we must fix the power problem, we must fix the agricultural value chain problem.

Banks cannot continue to lend to SMEs that are not profitable because they have to continue to run on generators and buy diesel, with bad roads and insecurity. So the environment has to be fixed and that would encourage banks to lend to SMEs. That is why we said there should be focus on power and we should get the reform ongoing. A lot of work has been done on power reform and the funds from banks.

Take funding for example, the reform would not have happened if the Central Bank did not provide the funding for the advisory role. So, the Central Bank paid for all the work that was done to privatise power by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The objective is to get the power reform completed, and if that is done, then power supply would improve, cost of production would come down, industrial capacity would increase and SMEs would be able to borrow and service their debts. On the rate of interest rate, it is not a Bankers’ Committee issue. Rates

‘Why banks are running away from SMEs’

• Sanusi

• Sanusi

• Sanusi

‘If you want vibrant SMEs that can borrow from banks, we must fix the power problem, we must fix the agricultural value chain problem. Banks cannot continue to lend to SMEs that are not profitable because they have to continue to run on generators and buy diesel, with bad roads and insecurity. So the environment has to be fixed and that would encourage banks to lend to SMEs’ of interest are reflective of rates of inflation, therefore there is need to have stability in the system. As we begin to move to a low inflation environment, rates of interest would continue to

drop and make it easier for banks to provide financing for the real sector. On the flood, the Bankers’ Committee has agreed that we would support. The CBN would put money into that pool,

all the banks would put money into that pool and we would give the funds to the Flood Relief Committee that was set up by the President.

What is the Bankers’ Committee’s

level of commitment to the stability of the financial system?

We affirm our commitment to a stable financial system that contributes to economic development of the country. We commend President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic reform agenda and associate with the objective of growing the Nigerian economy and creating jobs. The Central Bank has taken proactive actions to ensure that the financial system remains focused and committed to the goals of economic development and sustainability. Effective collaboration and partnership across government, banks, private sector and key stakeholders is critical to achieve economic goals and objectives. We reaffirm our aspirations for the transformation of the power, agriculture and oil and gas sectors of the economy, increasing access to finance for the under-banked and unbanked, and to the principles of sustainable banking. To consolidate our progress and achievements to date and address issues that remain, the Bankers’ Committee will continue deliberate advocacy and partnering with the economic team to implement the economic reform agenda to grow the economy and create jobs. We have defined clear objectives and targets for 2013, agreed on the results and outcomes we expect to achieve and assigned responsibilities for implementation. We will continuously monitor our progress on implementation as well as the impact of our actions on Nigeria’s economic development goals and objectives.

What role is the Bankers’ Committee playing in the development of the economy?

The Bankers’ Committee is committed to a lead role as catalyst for economic development, improving access to finance by the unbanked and under-banked and growth of the real sector.

The Committee has focused on the Power, Agriculture and Transport Infrastructure sectors for driving growth and identified opportunities for financial system intervention in the transformation of these critical sectors of the economy.

Through collaboration with the government, the banking community and real sector stakeholders, the Bankers’ Committee programmes and initiatives have contributed to tangible improvements in the enabling environment and private sector funding for the power and agriculture sectors.

Progress has been made on several fronts. For example, lending to the agriculture sector has increased. The banks’ lending to agriculture has increased from 1.5per cent of total industry portfolio in 2009 to 3.5per cent in 2012.

We have established the NIRSAL to encourage the growth of formal credit for the agriculture value chain. We have continued effective advocacy that has led to significant progress in the reform of key sectors of the economy including power, agriculture and oil and gas. Also, the financial excluded population has reduced from 46 per cent of adults in 2010 to 38.7 per cent in 2012.

Significant capacity is also being built within the financial services sector in the areas of project finance and agriculture lending to support long term finance and agricultural lending.

The 2012 Bankers’ Committee Retreat focused on strategies to consolidate and improve on the gains we have made in real sector development, determine further opportunities for financial system intervention as well as required actions to sustain and improve stability of Nigeria’s Financial System.

34

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 04-10-13

OTC market activities drop by 79%

A

CTIVITIES in the bond market at the just concluded week recorded a drop of 78.90 per cent. At the Over the Counter (OTC) market for the Federal Government Bond a turnover of 23.931 million units valued at N24.756 billion in 40 deals were recorded. These were in contrast to 113.423 million units worth N126.041 billion in 515 deals recorded in the preceding week ended December 28th, 2012.

The equities market on the other hand recorded a growth with its twin indicators appreciating by 2.40 per cent each. Market capitalisation appreciated

by N214 billion to close at N9.121 trillion while the Index improved by 671.55 points to close at N28,538.06 points.

All but one of the sectorial indices appreciated; the Bloomberg NSE 30, Bloomberg NSE Consumer Goods, Bloomberg NSE Banking, Bloomberg NSE Insurance, and Bloomberg NSE Oil/Gas index appreciated by 2.61 per cent (+47.12 per cent YTD), 1.54 per cent (+43.46 per cent YTD), 8.31 per cent (+31.26 per cent YTD), 3.56 per cent (-14.41 per cent YTD) and 0.84 per cent (-30.10 per cent

•NSE-ASI improves by 2.4%

By Tonia Osundolire

YTD) respectively.

However, NSE Lotus II depreciated by 1.06 per cent (+42.88% YTD).

The market which opened the week for four days, (as Tuesday was declared a public holiday to mark the New Year celebration) recorded a turnover of 972.737 million shares worth N8.509 billion in 13,745 deals. This was in contrast to a total of 571.077 million shares valued at N5.246 that exchanged hands the previous week in 7,579 deals..

The Financial Services sector was the most active during the week with 654.080 million shares worth N5.765 billion in 8,625 deals.

Volume in the sector was largely driven by activity in the shares of Zenith Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and FBN Holdings Plc. Trading in the shares of the four Banks accounted for 308.139 million shares, representing 47.11 per cent and 31.68 per cent of the sector turnover and total turnover traded during the week respectively. The Conglomerates sector

boosted by activity in the shares of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc followed on the week’s activity chart with a turnover of 166.455 million shares valued at N174.680 million in 458 deals.

The Consumers Goods sector was third with 61.541 million shares valued at N1.731 billion traded in 2,261 deals. The top three sectors accounted for 883.808 million shares valued at N7.723 billion traded in 11,457 deals, thus accounting for 90.86 per cent, 90.76 per cent and 83.35 per cent, of the volume, value and number of deals respectively.

Also traded during the week were 438 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N1.108 million exchanged hands in 4 deals in contrast to a total of 213 units valued at N539.090 million transacted last week in 2 deals. There were no transactions through the stock market in the FGN Bonds, State/Local Government Bonds and Corporate Bonds/ Debentures sectors.

A review of the equity price movements indicated that 51equities gained while 12 equities recorded price declines and prices of 132 equities remained constant.

When compared with the preceding week, 31 equities gained 21 equities recorded price declines and prices of 143 equities remained constant.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 04-01-13

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7 , 2013

35

EQUITIES WATCH

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

The Nigerian stock market posted average full-year return of 35.4 per cent, equivalent to capital gains of N2.44 trillion in 2012. Notwithstanding the widespread gains and exceedingly positive overall market situation, only 29 stocks recorded above-average returns. ‘Equities Watch’ had pinpointed 11 of the best-performing stocks.

Taofik Salako reviews the initial investment guides and highpoints of the stocks that made the market

T

HE Nigerian stock market rounded off 2012 atop the global returns’ table. With average full-year return of 35.45 per cent, equities outperformed market pundits’ estimates and overwhelmed returns by other securities. The All Share Index (ASI), the common valuebased index that tracks changes in prices of all quoted companies, closed 2012 at 28,078.81 points as against its opening index of 20,730.63 points for the year. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities also rose from its opening value of N6.533 trillion to close the year at N8.974 trillion, indicating capital gains of N2.441 trillion. Besides its primary importance as the benchmark index for the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the ASI doubles as the country index for Nigeria and rightly indicates the competitiveness of Nigerian equity returns.

Globally, Nigerian equity return ranked seventh on global return scale as average capital gain on equities in Nigeria significantly exceeded returns in all advanced markets of Europe and America. Full-year percentage changes in global stock indices tracked by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) indicated that Venezuela posted the highest return of 302.8 per cent. Egypt recorded the highest return of 50.8 per cent in Africa. Nigeria followed Egypt on the returns table, far ahead of South Africa, which posted 22.7 per cent. The significance of Nigerian return is in the context of the global returns, especially in key world financial centres, which look toward emerging markets to bolster portfolio performances in matured markets. The Dow Jones Global Index indicated global average equity return of 13.7 per cent for 2012 while another global index-The Global Dow, posted a return of 10.7 per cent.

Average return in United Kingdom stood at 22.5 per cent while France, Germany, Japan, Russia and China posted average return of 15.2 per cent, 29.1 per cent, 22.9 per cent, 10.5 per cent and 10.9 per cent respectively.

Equities provided the best returns among Nigerian securities. With inflation rate at 12.3 per cent and the Monetary Policy Rate, the benchmark interest rate set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),at 12 per cent, equities were the only investments with real adjusted return in 2012 considering the cost of fund and time value of capital. Fixed-income rates were substantially below equities’ returns and in most cases, negative in real terms. Three-month tenor deposit rate of banks stood at 8.94 per cent, 91-day Nigerian Treasury Bill (NTB) carried return of 11.7 per cent while average monthly prime lending rate stood at 16.51 per cent.

But notwithstanding the relatively high return indicated by the overall market position, the bullish rally in 2012 was highly concentrated on about one-ninth of quoted stocks. More importantly, the bulls followed Equities Watch’s trails during the year. Most of the stocks picked out for up-

Stocks that made the market

side potential dominated the top gainers’ list while stocks and sectors marked for doubtful and negative outlook ended on the downside. Cadbury Nigeria Plc, which was first spotted with a year-todate return of 26.3 per cent and further reinforced in a second piece when it posted 46.8 per cent, rallied through the year to close with a full-year return of 154.4 per cent. Nestle Nigeria was trading at a high of N486.70 when it was cited as a market leader and rallied to close the year at N700, posting a return of 57.1 per cent.

Equities Watch had noted when Nestle Nigeria was at a peak of N577.50, that “stability of earnings and returns and sense of corporate security may still take Nestle Nigeria to a new level.” “Besides, in a market still characterized by uncertainties and questions about corporate governance, Nestle Nigeria’s overall image of stability and consistency will continue to be major attraction. The compact nature of the outstanding shares of the company and the preponderance of buy-and-hold retail investors that see the stock as their nest eggs will also continue to mediate the share price fluctuation, making it resistant to downtrend. Most investors holding the free float shares don’t easily sell off. As a consistent dividend-paying stock, Nestle Nigeria provides cushion against the downturn at the secondary market.

With recent huge investments in new factory and innovations, the company appears to have operational supports to drive fundamentals and by extension, market consideration,” the September 2012 report had noted.

Presco was trading with a year-to-date return of 26.6 per cent in March when Equities Watch concluded that dividend expectation for the 2011 business year would

provide further impetus for capital appreciation. “Most investment pundits believe Presco, and other well-positioned agricultural stocks, could leverage on government’s focus on agriculture and domestic capacity building to improve returns. Already, incentives aimed at encouraging farmers included low-interest intervention funds and reduced tax and tariffs. These incentives fit into Presco’s long-term growth plan, a synchronization that encourages investors’ optimism about future returns,” another June report stated. Presco rallied to close the year with a gain of 96.1 per cent.

At the onset of First Bank of Nigeria’s comeback bid in May, when the bank was with a year-to-date return of 18.1 per cent, Equities Watch had noted that improved fundamentals would impact further on the market consideration. By August when First Bank’s year-to-date return was 46.6 per cent, Equities Watch had noted that “with this year’s high just barely above the intrinsic book value, the bank appears still substantially undervalued” and that “from earnings to dividend and historic pricing outlooks, most counts tilt in favour of the bank.” First Bank closed the year with 76.6 per cent capital gain.

In March through to July, Equities Watch had cited United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc as a promising stock. “With its restructuring into pan-African financial services holding group, operations in 19 African countries and major global financial centres, qualitative balance sheet and expansive deposit base, UBA is a stock to watch,” the March report had pointed out.

By July when interim reports had formed consistent growth pattern, it was noted that “there is strong tendency for the emerging fundamentals to set new ceil-

ing for the share price”. UBA closed within the top-four banks with a full-year return of 76.1 per cent.

Access Bank came under focus in May when its year-to-date return was 41 per cent. “With strong fundamentals, many analysts expect Access Bank to further unlock many growth opportunities from its recent business combination exercise while sustaining its intrinsic aggressive internal growth strategy. It’s this outlook that is driving the equally aggressive positioning by farsighted investors in the equities of the bank,” it was noted. Access Bank closed with full-year return of 88.5 per cent.

In September, when Sterling Bank was trading with a year-to-date return of 52.5 per cent, Equities Watch had noted that while Sterling Bank opened then at its highest price so far, the share price still represented significant discounts to the recent historic highs. “With continuous improvements in earnings over the period, the share price appears to be more sentimental than fundamental, and it may be opportunity for discerning investors,” it was pointed out. Sterling Bank closed 2012 with a fullyear return of 71.3 per cent.

Other stocks spotted by Equities Watch including Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, UAC of Nigeria and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria closed with substantial gains. DN Meyer had closed with a moderated return of 44.9 per cent, in line with the cautious note on the fundamental supports for the then jumpy market price. With one in every two stocks on the top 20 gainers list on the upside watch list of Equities Watch, the equity intelligence report provided reliable guide for investors in 2012. And that is the promise for this year, and always.

36

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

BUSINESS AFRICA

Egyptian pound hits new low amid doubts over economy

T

HE Egyptian pound fell to record lows and debt insurance costs soared despite assurances by the country’s Islamist leaders that they would not allow the Arab world’s most populous nation to slide further into economic crisis.

The central bank imposed new rules to conserve its foreign reserves, and the finance minister sought to inject optimism by saying the pound would soon stabilise – a promise economists dismissed immediately as too ambitious.

Economists say that, with its foreign reserves at a critical level, Egypt cannot afford to continue its

daily currency auctions which have been running at $75-million (U.S.) since last week.

Egypt sank into crisis after the fall of Hosni Mubarak in a 2011 revolution, but a new bout of political strife has wrecked the economy in the past weeks and sent Egyptians scrambling to swap pounds for US dollars.

President Mohamed Mursi, under pressure to show authority and ease a growing sense of nervousness, dismissed talk on the street that his nation was on the brink of bankruptcy.

“How can anyone say that a country like Egypt, which is meeting all of its financial obligations, is go-

ing be bankrupt,” he said in a message posted on his Twitter account.

The pound fell to about 6.390 to the U.S. dollar on the interbank market. It had been trading at about 6.185 before a regime of auctions and administrative controls were introduced by the central bank last week.

The pound, which had lost only 6 per cent of its value against the dollar since the uprising Of 2011, has fallen by another 3.2 per cent so far this week.

Data from Markit showed Egypt’s five-year credit default swaps (CDS) jumped 27 basis points to 4-1/2 month highs from the previous close.

Weeks of political turmoil and sometimes violent protests have taken their toll on Egypt’s already fragile economy and triggered a panicked rush by investors and ordinary people to switch their pounds into foreign currency.

Adding to the atmosphere of crisis, Mr. Mursi has been locked in a bitter stand-off with his liberal opponents who accuse his team of betraying the goals of the 2011 uprising and enacting a constitution they say is too Islamist in nature.

But it is worries about bread and butter issues that top the list of people’s concerns in the import-dependent nation.

Supermarket owner Mahmoud Zada expects prices of imported goods to go up by at least 30 per

cent.

“We are facing a very, very, very difficult rise – more than the rise in the dollar,” he said.

The central bank’s foreign currency reserves have already fallen to a critical level, just about enough to cover three months of imports of vital goods such as fuel and cooking oil.

Said Hirsh, an analyst with Maplethorpe, said that since the uprising Egypt had been using its foreign reserves to keep the pound from falling.

“Now there is a new level of uncertainty: on how bad will it get.

For how long can they hold,” he said. “Once there is a big loss of confidence, conditions could deteriorate really quickly.”

Ivory Coast to boost oil output

I

• From right: Former Secretary-General, United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan; 2nd left: Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, and other recipients of awards during the recent African Green Revolution Forum in Arusha, Tanzania.

Wealthy Gulf investors prefer Africa

W

EALTHY Gulf Arab companies are boosting their investment in Africa’s vast lands and untapped resources, marking a shift for investors who have traditionally directed their money towards assets in the United States and Europe.

One reason for the shift is negative: with government debt problems weighing on United States and European markets, those regions no longer look as attractive to some Gulf investors as they did just a few years ago.

But there are also a string of positive motives, including Africa’s fast economic growth, the rise of a freespending African middle class, and a sense that much of the continent is becoming better governed and more stable politically.

Also, Africa has two special attractions for the arid desert countries of the Gulf: It is a source of food and arable land, and it is launching an infrastructure building boom that recalls the Gulf’s own construction spree in the past decade. The Gulf’s expertise in developing airports, ports and communications networks at breakneck speed can be used in Africa.

The result, corporate executives say, is a flow of Gulf money into Africa that has accelerated over the past year, and which could become an important contributor to African growth.

“I can see Gulf investors warming up to Africa. Any opportunity there grabs their attention,” said Ahmed Heikal, chairman of Citadel Capital, one of the Middle East’s largest private equity firms with

$9.5-billion of assets under management.

“Africa is becoming more interesting because of the natural resources it has, its demographics and better governance.”

The timing of Africa’s economic boom is fortunate for the Gulf: it is occurring just as high oil prices give Gulf countries plenty of money to invest in it.

The Middle East’s oil exporters posted a combined surplus in trade in goods and services of about $400billion last year, the International Monetary Fund estimates. Much of that money is being plowed back into foreign assets; while the bulk still goes into Western assets such as U.S. Treasury bonds, more is going to emerging markets such as Africa.

Although complete, timely data on Gulf investment in Africa is not available, analysts believe it follows the same general trend as bilateral trade, with a time lag.

Annual trade between the Middle East and Africa has grown fivefold to $49billion over the past decade, from $10billion in 2002, according to Standard Chartered Bank.

In the past, most Gulf investment in Africa has been in the north of the continent, because of linguistic, cultural and political ties. For example, Citadel Capital last year put together a $3.7billion financing package for an Egyptian oil refining project, with Qatar Petroleum International becoming a key shareholder.

Increasingly, however, Gulf investors are venturing into sub-Sa-

haran Africa – in some cases using North Africa as a base to do so.

Private equity firm Abraaj Capital invested $125-million last year in Morocco’s Saham Finances, which has interests in insurance operations across Morocco and francophone West Africa. It aims to tap into an anticipated pick-up in demand for insurance in Africa.

In November Abu Dhabi-based asset manager Invest AD launched a fixed income fund that will focus on Africa as well as the Middle East.

Along with Morocco’s Attijariwafabank, it also said it would launch a fund to invest in African companies listed on stock markets.

Some of the Gulf’s big infrastructure operators have been players in Africa for years. Dubai port operator DP World, which has had a presence on the continent since 2000, now runs the port of Dakar in Senegal and port operations in Mozambique, Algeria and Djibouti.

VORY Coast hopes to raise its oil output to around 200,000 barrels per day in five years from 32,000 bpd, no thanks to recent discoveries and ongoing exploratory drilling, a top oil official said.

Oil exploration off Africa's west coast has risen sharply since Ivory Coast's neighbour Ghana discovered a large field in 2007 and brought it into production in record time in late 2010.

Oil firm Vanco Cote d'Ivoire announced in December it had found light oil on Ivory Coast's offshore block CI-401, six months after U.K.-based Tullow Oil said it struck light oil on block CI-103.

"With these discoveries and the projected investments, Ivory Coast will be able to realise its target of raising output from around 32,000 barrels per day now to around 200,000 bpd in the five years ahead," Ibrahima Diaby, head of hydrocarbons at the Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy told Reuters in an interview.

He said Vanco and Tullow were planning further drilling on their discoveries in 2013 and 2014 to clarify reserves.

Oil output has fallen nearly in half in Ivory Coast due to technical problems and low levels of in-

vestment during a decade of political turmoil that culminated in a 2011 civil war.

But Diaby said that Ivory Coast had signed 14 new production sharing contracts since the end of the war and had seen a boom in exploration activity by international oil firms, including France's Total, and U.S.-based Anadarko.

He said the government had also signed three exclusive exploitation deals for natural gas fields in 2012, including two with Ivory Coast-based Foxtrot and one with Rialto. He said natural gas production in the country could rise to 250 million cubic feet per day from 170 mmcfd currently.

Diaby said Ivory Coast remained in talks with Ghana over their shared land and sea border.

Both sides have played down the talks, saying there was no evidence rights to a key oil find were at stake.

The world's top cocoa grower, Ivory Coast is seeking to diversify its economy, in part by boosting its energy and mining sectors.

Diaby said some 800 billion CFA francs ($1.6 billion) worth of investments were planned in the energy sector, with funds coming from state firm Petroci as well as partners in Europe and the United States.

Zimbabwe stops farm seizures

Z

IMBABWE's government said at the weekend that it will not seize any more foreign-owned farms after losing multi-million-dollar compensation claims under a treaty aimed at protecting overseas investments.

President Robert Mugabe started giving white-owned farms to landless blacks over a decade ago, a policy that had the unintended result of devastating food output in a country that had been a regional breadbasket.

An estimated 4,000 farmers were thrown off their land without compensation and, while efforts to get legal redress in Zimbabwe failed, some have successfully sued for compensation in international courts.

Lands Minister Herbert Murerwa

said that lawsuits brought by foreign investors at the Washingtonbased International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes had prompted a change in policy.

A group of 40 Dutch farmers won a 25 million euro ($32.74 million) claim there against Zimbabwe in 2009 as their farms were covered by the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPA).

"We have acquired many BIPPA farms, but we are not going to be taking any future farms," Murerwa told Reuters.

A policy document tabled by Mugabe's ZANU-PF party at its annual conference in December showed that out of a total of 153 farms protected by the treaties, 116 farms had already been seized by the government.

IMF, Egypt to resume talks on $4.8 loan

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GYPT will soon resume talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a crucial $4.8billion (£3bilion) loan to shore up the economy, the prime minister says.

Talks were suspended because of political turmoil over a new constitution.

PM Hisham Kandil was speaking as the Egyptian pound reportedly fell to a record low against the US dollar.

The central bank said the coun-

try's foreign reserves have dropped to "critical" levels.

Talks with the IMF were derailed amid large rallies organised by opponents of President Mohammed Morsi and his largely Islamist supporters, some of which turned violent. The constitution was approved by a referendum last week.

"We hope that there will not be any fundamental changes in our plan with the IMF because we will summon them in January so we resume discussions to go forward in the

matter of the loan," Mr Kandil said.

Egypt is grappling with a crippling budget deficit and dwindling foreign reserves. The central bank has spent more than $20bn in foreign reserves to support the pound since a revolution against former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

The Egyptian pound hit a new low on Sunday of about 6.30 to the US dollar in unofficial trading after the central bank introduced a new currency regime, dealers told Reuters.

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

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

37

• USAID-assisted farm in Benue State.

Agric holds the ace in job creation Often times, government reels out statistics of steady economic growth. The growth index, say economists, is occasioned by rising oil prices and quantity of oil sold. An analyst, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, described such growth as “jobless, non-inclusive growth.” He enumerates how to create jobs through the agricultural sector and keep Nigerians in gainful employment, reports DUPE OLAOYE-OSINKOLU.

“U

NEMPLOYMENT rate in Nigeria is burgeoning and at the moment stands at well over 30 per cent of the nation’s workforce. When segregated, the figures become more alarming, especially those for the youth which stand at about 70 per cent in the urban areas and 60 per cent in the rural areas. These numbers are increasing by the day and nothing seems to be in the offing in the nearest future to get anything done to reverse the trend. The consequences of this, both to the economy, polity and Nigeria as a whole are dire and demands immediate response both for now and the future.”

This is the thrust of a paper by an analyst, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, at a gathering in Lagos. The paper, which centred on employment generation, addressed the issue of solution to unemployment, saying, agriculture remains the way out. He noted: “The easy money from petroleum led to the abandonment of agriculture, changes in the fiscal federalism and the pursuit of

‘easy life’ by the government and people of Nigeria.”

Onuegbu in the paper entitled: Agriculture and unemployment in our country: The way forward, said despite Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate since 2000, “our rate of unemployment is one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa” . He also said agriculture can bail the youth out of unemployment.

The drift of young men and women from the rural areas to the cities in search of jobs, he said, can be addressed through agriculture.

He said agriculture can create new workplaces as it engages a large percentage of the population directly in its processes, such as land cultivation for crops, both in small and large holdings, poultry, piggery and dairy farms for milk production.

The larger these workplaces are, the more the number of people employed in them, he said.

Onuegbu said agriculture has not been the basic driver of job creation because of distorted national policies as agricultural devel-

opment dwindled, unemployment worsened, showing a strong correlation between them, he argued.

The agriculture sector, Onuegbu said, can redress the dislocation caused by the emergence of oil, adding: “In Nigeria, agriculture accounted for a larger percentage (about 70 per cent) of the number of people in employment, but with the emergence of oil, which distorted the economic allocative processes, more people left the land for white collar jobs.

With this, agricultural production suffered and Nigeria gradually became a food importer, which finally, led with the passage of time, to her becoming dependent on the rest of the globe for food imports. As agriculture suffered, and as the population increased, as the skill demand level for other jobs increased over time and as lifestyle changed, more and more people found themselves increasingly in the unemployment queue. These sets of people, as a result of certain factors, were unable to go back to agriculture and this worsened the unemployment situation.

“Agriculture can, therefore, generate increas-

ing workplaces in its various stages and processes, from the preparation of the land, the planting of the crops, tending and caring, harvesting and storage and processing into various end or semi-end products.

The same can be done with the other segments of the agricultural sector.

“The agricultural value-chain is long and can be stretched to accommodate more and more workers seeking jobs. The more new farms come on stream, the more new hands are needed for their operations,” adding that agriculture creates new bases for jump-starting manufacturing activities.

“Manufacturing activities depend very much on the raw materials provided by the agricultural sector. It provides the bases for individuals to become manufacturers. The technology involved in some of the early stages of the value chain in agriculture is often simple and is easily assessable to the interested entrepreneurs.

•Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

38

JOBS

Agric holds the ace in job creation •Continued from page 37 “This, therefore, generates a basis for jump starting manufacturing which has the capacity of generating workplaces, thus increasing employment.”

Onuegbu said when manufacturing activities rise in any economy, new workplaces are created. Agriculture being an enabler of small scale manufacturing, not only employs the entrepreneurs involved in it, it also allows them to become creators of jobs thus increasing employment.

Agriculture, he said, generates absorptive capacities for new entrants into the job market. “New entrants into the job market, especially fresh graduates from both tertiary institutions and secondary schools at present do not command high level of skills needed in the highly technologically driven Industrial processes and most of the demands of the service sectors, such as the financial institutions, telecoms, etc. This allows for the existence of the syndrome of “unemployable Nigerian graduates,” meaning that even where there are vacancies, you may not readily find Nigerians to fill such vacancies.

“However, the agricultural sector, because of the low skill demand in the lower end of the business, provides a readily available platform for the absorption of these low skilled new entrants into the labour market, either as entrepreneurs or as employees. With a vibrant agricultural sector therefore, it becomes easier for fresh graduates to participate productively in the nation’s economic processes.

“Another plus that can be derived from agriculture is its being a source of seed money, or capital for investment in other businesses,” Onuegbu said.

He said every economy needs investible capital to start new businesses. The agriculture sector, if properly directed, serves as a ready source of seed money for aspiring entrepreneurs to invest in other areas of the economy. The capital needed to start a smallscale holding farm is often not above the means of the average family and when the right crops are planted and income generated at the harvest season, a reinvestment of a proportion of this over some few years would serve as capital to go into other businesses that demand greater start-up capital.

• Minister of Agriculture, Akin Adesina

• Minister of Labour Emeka Wogu

The availability of start-up capital creates jobs both for the business owner, eventual direct employees and others that may be engaged indirectly because of the spin-offs generated by the business thus established. This will impact positively on unemployment.

Agriculture also creates horizontal and vertical multipliers. Agriculture, he said, is a primary industry, adding that many industries depend on it for their operations. If agriculture gets a boost, other sectors, both the ones that depend on it for raw materials and the ones it depends on for supplies are reinvigorated.

“If we use fisheries, for example, which most of us here can identify with, or cassava cultivation, which is also prevalent here, the business chain that will be created out of these alone can turn this whole environment into an industrial/commercial hub. Starch can be made from cassava, which will attract both other food and pharmaceutical industries, flour for bread and other confectioneries, animal feeds by extension a vibrant poultry sector, the associated businesses to service and enable the sector will all come in with the attendant boom in the real estate sector. Just stretch your imagination and see what can happen to employment generation if we can carefully and consciously regenerate agricul-

ture.

“Having examined some of the roles the sector could play in reducing the present scourge of unemployment, it is imperative that we look at some of the factors that have impeded the growth of agriculture in Nigeria and, especially in our community, so that the roadmap forward can easily be discernible.”

Onuegbu also spoke about impediments to agricultural development. To boost agriculture investment, he advocated subsidising major input to make the sector both locally and internationally competitive.

“When a farmer knows that the price at which he will sell his products are already guaranteed even before planting, this reduces exposure to various associated risks and encourages him to expand his output. It allows him to calculate his probable returns with certainty and makes the financial sector to invest in agriculture.

“Subsidy on power and oil may also serve as a boost to agricultural production. These include but not limited to: Agricultural loans to improve access to funds, provision of incentives – via pricing, subsidy etc, creating greater interface between government agencies, scientific findings and farmers.

“There is an urgent need for a deliberate policy of creating funding pools for the de-

‘The agriculture sector, if properly directed, serves as a ready source of seed money for aspiring entrepreneurs to invest in other areas of the economy. The capital needed to start a smallscale holding farm is often not above the means of the average family and when the right crops are planted and income generated at the harvest season, a reinvestment of a proportion of this over some few years would serve as capital to go into other businesses that demand greater start-up capital’

velopment of agriculture. The Central Bank of Nigeria at present through the banks have set aside this pool of resources for investment in agriculture, but the problem is that these funds are not accessible to, especially, smallscale holders. The collaterals are very tough, the thresholds very high that the small scale are easily excluded for participation.

“A system of rebates and tax holidays should be devised to encourage banks to lend to small scale holdings and the government should be able to guarantee some of these loans so that the issue of stringent security requirements would be mitigated making funds readily available for agriculture.

“I know many young entrepreneurs, who have ideas of what they want to do in agriculture, but are hindered by funds. If funding is made more accessible, their creative energies will be unleashed on the agriculture sector. However, these young men remain frustrated and may, unfortunately, go to their graves without showcasing their ideas. Without funding, ideas will remain in our heads and atrophy.”

He suggested conscious and deliberate efforts on the part of policy makers to make investment in the agriculture sector more attractive to old and budding entrepreneurs. He also sought duty waivers or reduction on imported equipment and other input for direct use in agricultural projects, tax holidays for organisations involved in agriculture, and price guarantees for certain products of agriculture.

Ighodalo is FAMAD chairman

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HE Footwear and Accessories Manu facturing and Distribution (FAMAD) Plc has appointed Pastor Ituah Ighodalo as its Chairman after his election into the Board at its just-concluded Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos.

Ighodalo, also Managing Partner, SIAO (Chartered Accountants and Auditors), took over from Chief Olutoyin Olakunri, who declined re-election because of age. Also out of the board, is Sir Chima Emenyonu, who did not present himself for re-election.

Elected along with Ighodalo, is Mrs. Susan Aronke Omame, a lawyer.

The two new directors and their colleagues, Mrs. Mayen Adetiba and Alhaji Mohammad-Kabir Haruna have been given the mandate to reposition FAMAD. In her speech to shareholders at the event called to consider the financial reports for the years 20002006, Mrs. Olakunri said the years had been tumultuous for FAMAD as the company faced internal and external challenges, which resulted in the long delay in producing the accounts for seven years.

“I am not unmindful that the accounts for another six years being 2007-2012 are due within a few days and plans are in place to have those produced in the shortest possible time,” she said.

Mrs. Olakunri said the local shoe industry had faced various challenges in the last 12 years, which included the flooding of the market with Chinese and second-hand footwear.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

T

HIS is 2013, well almost. It is natural to talk of a new beginning or new opportunity to take on job-hunting and be successful. No matter, there are certain “immutable principles” of job search. It is relevant to take another look at them, to provide you with “fresh fire” for successful job hunting in 2013.

It is my fervent desire that you succeed this time. The stats are not on your side- unemployment is high and raging: many people will have to look for job this year. And many here have been on the job queue for some time. Add to these are those who are just entering (or re-entering the labour market).

Now to the drivers

Nobody owes you a job If you desire a good job, you need to get up your butt and go after the job you desire. Invest your time, energy and money (no matter how little you have, some are still investible in job search-related endeavour- you have a credit consuming GSM handset, don’t you?).

The principle here is that though you may be unemployed, you still

Seven drivers of effective job search

By Olu Oyeniran

have a job to do: to get yourself a job. And that is the mother of all jobs, if you know what I mean! You will need to put in all you have and be focused. To get a good job takes imagination, initiative and focus.

It means that you must be committed to implementing the skills you will acquired reading this column (and if you have the time, from our website) attending seminars, reading relevant books. You know what you want, and must be ready to work for it.

Put in the maximum effort possible Job-hunting success rate is directly proportional to the amount of intelligent job-hunting effort.

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

Always ask: am I doing the best? Is there something else I can do?

Successful job-hunting requires a willingness to change tactics If something is not working, move to another strategy. Try something new. Try something unusual- as long as it is reasonable.

But do you have a job search strategy? These apply to everybody in the job market.

Never give up. Never A major challenge is that most job seekers give up often too soon.

They expect the job search to be easy, simple and quick. It hardly works that way.

Most people don’t have the stamina. You must realise that job hunting is a marathon- a game of strength, stamina and appropriate strategy. In your efforts to get a job, you will probably encoun-

ter some barriers and hurdles.

Common barriers include: • Analysing my skills, interest and qualities • Honestly looking at barriers • Identifying specific job target • Writing effective job applications • Preparing for interview • Performing at interview • Writing effective Resume/ C.V • Networking skills • Selection Test skills • Evaluating job offers Think again, are these real barriers or excuses? It is often easy to blame external factors for failure to get what you want. The real barriers are generally internal doubts and fear, resistance to change and our perception.

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

Aquiring job-hunting skills Even madness, they say, have methods! Review the points already listed (1-4). Look at the ‘barrier’ list above- most of them are ‘Job Hunting Skills’ gap: Do you know how to find a good job?

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

One more thing: Give yourself a big advantage in the job marketget a copy of our recently published book. Visit our website for details.

•Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Assoiciates & Author. Author Jobsearchguru’s Job-Hunting Manual. Website: Jobsearchhow.com,ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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LABOUR ‘Check quacks in teaching profession’

NLC seeks end to youth unemployment T

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is seeking ways out of the growing rate of unemployment, which it put at 60 per cent of employable youths.

Its President, Abdul Waheed Omar, who spoke with The Nation, said unemployment is Nigeria’s greatest problem.

He said: “In particular, the crisis of unemployment continues to be the greatest of these. Official statistics puts the unemployment rate at above 24 per cent. As alarming as this would seem, it actually disguises the enormity of the unemployment problem given the huge pool of disguised unemployment and underemployment.

“The incidence of unemployment among the youth is even more alarming. Though official figures indicate over 40 per cent of them as unemployed, the reality is that about 60 per cent of youths remain unemployed. On average, graduates of the nation’s universities and polytechnics continue to remain unemployed four years after discharge from the mandatory NYSC scheme.

Stories by Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu Other categories of less qualified youths have been roaming the streets in millions without gainful employment. Thus, resigning to a life of perpetual destitution and despondency in a country blessed with so much resources and potential.’’

Omar traced causes of unemployment to include corruption in the high places. This, according to him, include the fuel subsidy scam through which many influential Nigerians had siphoned much money that could have been used in creating jobs.

He, therefore, called for the probe and trial of fuel subsidy fraudsters, saying that is the only condition for peace in the industrial sector in the new year.

It also said the Labour subsidy strike led to the unveiling of many fraudulent subsidy transactions.

“The government will be unfair to the Nigerians if it fails to expeditiously prosecute those who have stolen so much, and caused so much trauma and death to the people. We

hold the view that no one is above the law in any decent society and if our government is committed to the enthronement of good governance and a corrupt-free society, it must get the named beneficiaries of the oil subsidy scam to not only refund all the money they have stolen, but also serve appropriate jail terms. This will be the only acceptable condition for continuous industrial harmony by workers and the Nigerians.”

The NLC chief said the economy, in 2012, was characterised by many maladies, with dire consequences for workers and other Nigerians.

It faulted the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth that has not led to job creation.

“This abysmal economic outlook is prevailing in the face of official aggregate of the economy touted to experience respectable growth. The growth rate of GDP is flaunted to average about 6.5 per cent based on data for the first three quarters of the year. While this is lower than the corresponding rate for 2011, it is way above the global growth rates

T

• Omar

for comparable national economies.

“However, our concern about this respectable economic growth is that it does not translate into industrial development and better life for the Nigerian people. The economy continues to experience incessant factory closures, and with no visible industrial policy, has led to continuous informalisation of work and de-industrialisation, unemployment has continued unabated, and hyper-inflationary pressure, which has been most severe in the food, energy and transport sub sectors have impoverished majority of Nigerians.”

Institute’s workers protest non-payment of allowances

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ORKERS of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) in Ibadan have protested the non-payment of their allowances.

The workers were made up of representatives drawn from the institute’s chapters of ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union.

Other members were drawn from the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutions and Associated Institutions as well as the National Association of Academic Technologists.

The Chairperson of IAR&T chapter of ASUU, Dr Olufunmilayo Ande, said the workers were protesting against the non-payment of the ap-

proved hazard allowance arrears and the refusal of the institute’s management to pay the transfer allowances of those that were recently moved as well as entitlements of those newly appointed.

Ande said the funds were over N177.5 million.

“We do not have students here as the bulk of our work is research, but most of those who work here are teaching staff of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, the institute’s administrative supervisory agency.

“It is very saddening that since 2009, there has been no meaningful research work carried out here, especially since June 11, 2012 when workers here have been on strike.

“The strike is centred on the nonpayment of arrears of our hazard al-

lowances to the tune of N177, 571, 609.50 approved by the council of the university on December 13, 2010,” Ande said.

She said the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and OAU had set up separate investigation panels on the issue since September and October 2012.

The union leader said the reports were, however,still pending.

But Prof. Bamitale Omole, the Vice Chancellor of OAU said the management was working on the matter and the issues would be addressed soon.

According to him, the protest is understandable as the institute had been rocked by industrial crisis for some months.

The vice chancellor, however, said that this had not affected productivity.

HE Commissioner for Education, Ekiti State, Dr Eniola Ajayi, has advised the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to check quacks in teaching profession.

In a statement signed by Mr Ojewuyi Muyiwa, head of Information in TRCN in Abuja, it quoted Ajayi as giving the advice at a workshop organised by the council in Ekiti State.

The commissioner charged the council not to relent in its efforts at ensuring that only registered and licensed teachers were allowed to teach in schools across the country.

He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Foluke Adeyemi.

Ajayi said the TRCN had put in place machinery, which would check the infiltration of quacks into the profession. He stressed that restoring the lost glory of the teaching in Nigeria was a collective responsibility.

According to him, relevant government agencies must work to achieve set goals.

Also, the Registrar of the council, Prof. Addison-Mark Wokocha, said the decision of TRCN to organise the workshop was part of its strategies at appreciating the contributions of the state to the professionalisation of teaching in Nigeria.

“We are aware of the staff grievances and this was why three separate panels were set up by the supervisory agencies of IAR&T to look into the matter.

“The panels set up by OAU, ARCN and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are yet to come out with their findings which is the stage we are in.

“When these reports are released, another committee would be set up to come out with an integrated white paper report which would be open to all.

“We will implement whatever the report says but until then we can do nothing.

“The staff themselves can always testify to my fairness in relating with them,” Omole said.

300 new officers for Oyo Police Command

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HE Oyo State Police Command said it was expecting an additional 300 new officers this month to boost its manpower.

The police spokesman, Mr Ayodele Lanade, said this in Ibadan while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“Due to the nature of crime, you cannot rest on your oars.

“Criminals keep changing the way they operate and so, the police cannot afford to relax.

“In view of this, we are expecting about 300 newly-recruited officers from those to pass out from training this January.

“I can tell you that this will indeed boost our morale in terms of manpower,” he said.

Ex-NLC boss makes case for pensioners

A

FORMER Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chairman in Kwara State, Mr Emmanuel Aiyeoribe, has appealed to the Federal Government to pay attention to the plight of pensioners in the country.

Aiyeoribe, who was reacting to the recent nationwide picketing of

NIPOST offices, said the government must give priority to the welfare of pensioners in the three tiers of government.

“It is regrettable and worrisome that our senior citizens are treated as if they did not contribute to the economy of the country while in active service. For the pensioners

to picket all NIPOST offices nationwide shows that they had been pushed to the wall,’’ he said.

He added: “The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency in 2013 find a permanent solution to the plight of pensioners at the federal, state and local government levels.’’

“Pensioners of the three tiers of government face the same plight as evident in the demonstrations witnessed in states and local government areas of the country,’’ he said.

He appealed to the government to give priority to workers’ welfare this year, saying this would boost productivity

Govt creates 3,000 jobs for youths, others in Katsina

A

BOUT 3,000 jobs have been created for youths, women, disabled among others, under the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in Katsina State.

The state Programme Coordinator, Alhaji Garba Kurfi, told The Na-

tion that 30 per cent of the jobs were reserved for women, 20 per cent for persons living with disabilities, while the others were reserved for males.

He said youths would be engaged in jobs, such as road rehabilitation, teaching in primary schools, as well as home management for women.

According to the coordinator, every local government is expected to select three communities for such projects. He added that the beneficiaries should be between 18 and 35 years.

Kurfi said the programme was aimed at creating employment opportunities for the teeming unem-

ployed youths in the country.

He added that it would also prevent youths from indulging in societal vices, such as armed robbery and prostitution, among others.

The coordinator urged local government authorities to register qualified persons irrespective of their political party affiliations.

Teachers lament non-payment of Dec. salary in Enugu

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RIMARY school teachers in Enugu State have appealed to the state government to pay their December 2012 salaries to enable them settle their children’s school fees.

The teachers accused the government of not giving priority to their welfare to enable them to contribute their quota to the educational advancement of the state.

One of the teachers, who did not want his name in print, expressed dismay with the government, saying that their families had dry Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“We celebrated this season almost without food on our table. I could not provide my family with the needed things because I so much relied on my December salary, but to my surprise, we were not paid.

“I could not even borrow because it was already late and I so much expected this salary to come. It was horrible for my family during the celebrations,” he said.

Another teacher ,who also preferred anonymity, called on the government to pay the salaries and entitlements to enable them to settle their children’s school fees.

According to him, schools will resume soon and their children need to resume along with their mates.

“It is very unfair that one will work and not get paid, especially in this season.

“We celebrated Christmas and New Year from hand to mouth and now that the celebration is over, the government should endeavour to pay us our money so that we can pay our children’s school fees,” the teacher said.

A volunteer teacher in a rural community said the government had yet to pay him and his colleagues since

their recruitment in 2011.

When contacted, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers in the state, Mr Chumaife Nze, confirmed the non-payment of salaries and entitlements to the members.

“I contacted the permanent secretary of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board before Christmas, but he said the salaries and leave allowances have been released but till date, no teacher has received a bank alert on the payment.

“I do not understand what is happening. Even volunteer teachers have not received any salary since they

•Ilori

Journalists appointed honorary ambassadors

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OUR journalists have been appointed Honorary Ambassadors of Radio Netherlands Training Centre.

They are Ayodele Ilori, a Radio Lagos/Eko FM staff member and Financial Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State chapter.

According to a statement, others are Ademola Aremu of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) in Ibadan; Aveseh Asough, an Abujabased radio journalism trainer, producer and Tamani Yusuf, mamging director, Kaduna State Media Corporation.

The journalists, who had attended various courses at the Radio Netherlands Training Centre in Holland, are to help other applicants, who are willing to improve their knowledge in courses offered by RNTC. They are to provide information on courses, registration, procurement of Netherlands visa and accomodation during their programme.

Radio Netherlands offers about 15 courses yearly.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

40

INSURANCE

Key drivers for insurance growth in 2013 D

ESPITE the inability of insurance industry to meet its set target of N1 trillion premium income projections last year, operators are optimistic that the entrenchment of some basic fundamentals last year would prop the industry to lofty heights this year.

To reposition the industry, stakeholders have identified proper budget implementation, enforcement of insurance laws, adherence to ethical practice, among others, as key drivers that will propel growth in the industry.

President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Wole Adetimehin, said the operators hope that the implementation of the budget would be timely and decisive, adding that the government has raised the hope of the public by ensuring that the budget was passed before the close of last year.

President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mrs Laide Osijo, noted that the government should ensure that the budgetary provision for insurance should be well used, and that it should not be diverted.

She said the response of insurers to the budget would also help to drive the industry and the operators’abilities to study the budget to ascertain where to take pragmatic steps to tap into it, would help push the industry up.

The enforcement of compulsory insurance laws, such as motor third party policy, insurance of buildings and buildings under construction, among others, would help prop the industry.

Observers believed there should be a collaboration between the industry and government’s security authorities to ensure implementation of the laws.

Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

Managing Director RiskguardAfrica Nigeria Limited Yemi Soladoye, said the N1 trillion projection tied to the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) programme failed due to delayed implementation.

He noted that the programme was to start in 2009, but took off in 2011, leaving two years out of the implementation schedule.

“Most people are reading the strategy document and not relating it to when implementation took off. If there is a projection that in year four, we will get N1 trillion and as we could see from the paper, we were to start in 2009, we had what we were to achieve in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. So, N1 trillion is in year four which is 2012.

If implementation started in 2011, it will be a case of shifting the deliverables forward based on the difference on the ground between the strategy crafting and the implementation,” he said.

The policy on ‘No Premium No Cover’ has been adjudged as one of the best initiatives to sanitise and boost the industry’s premium income.

Osijo said what the administration in National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has done to bring sanity into the industry is a right step in the right direction, adding that underwriters accusing brokers of non-remittance of premiums will be a thing of the past with the introduction of the policy.

NAICOM has said from January 1, this year, any underwriting firm that provides insurance cover without collecting the premium would be liable to a penalty of N500, 000 or lose its licence.

It noted that insurance covers

shall only be provided on ‘no premium no cover’ basis, adding that only cover for which payment has been received, directly by the insurer or indirectly through a duly licensed insurance broker, shall be recognised as income in the books of the insurer.

NAICOM said any insurer, who grants cover without having premium in advance or notification from the relevant insurance broker shall be liable to a penalty of N500, 000 on each cover so granted, and in addition, may be a ground for suspension of the licence of the insurer.

On professional practices, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has threatened to withdraw its certificates from members who engage in unethical practices.

Its President, Dr Wole Adetimehin, said the institute reserves the right to withdraw its certificate from any holder, if it discovers any breach, adding that further reason for such withdrawal of certificates may emanate from acts unbecoming of a holder of the institute’s professional qualification.

“Permit me to reiterate the policy of council regarding certificates issued by the institute as the institute’s property, which could be withdrawn from the holders if the institute has good reasons to do so.

“Let me state categorically that the institute reserves the right to withdraw its certificate from any holder, if it discovers any breach of the examination process. A further reason for such withdrawal of certificates may emanate from acts unbecoming of a holder of the Institute’s professional qualification, “ he said.

Curbing the unethical practices

• Osijo

• Adetimehin

between underwriters and brokers, observers say that would enhance the industry’s performance and build a lasting trust that would make the industry grow high premium income.

Over the years, underwriters and brokers have often engaged in premium war, which, observers believed, has hampered growth.

Proper implementation of the Nigerian Content Act on insurance would open up the billion dollar oil and gas business to operators, who have been empowered to underwrite 70 per cent risks in the sector.

Insurers have called on oil and gas operators to lower the hurdles placed on their way. They believed their engagement would give them the opportunity to acquire more knowledge on oil and gas underwriting.

Insurance brokers are worried by the enormous demands by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in engaging them for its risks.

They said the NNPC has placed difficult hurdles to restrain brokers from qualifying for risks allotted to local brokers by the Nigerian Content Policy.

They said 34 brokers were en-

gaged for the NNPC account in 2011, but the number was reduced to 14, last year. Insurers have, therfore, called for a rise in the number this year.

Operators called for the development of infrastructure to reduce their overheads and enable them to enhance their operations.

Adetimehin said: “We do hope the government would do a lot more this year to ensure better development of right infrastructure in power supply, energy and job creation. Because, these are basic elements that could propel economic performance.”

Observers believed the fight against corruption would help insurance attract positive image home and abroad.

They appealed to the public to join hands with the government in the fight against corruption, stressing that corruption is a problem that cannot be fought by the government alone.

They noted that though the public look up to the government to set the pace, the citizens should operate on high integrity to ensure that they shun corruption, so that the nation’s image and ranking before the rest of the world could be improved upon.

Decentralised agric insurance will boost participation, say experts

T

HE decentralisation of agricultural insurance will allow many firms with the wherewithal to offer their products in the area, Managing Director, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Mr Wale Onaolapo, has said.

During an interview, he said his company would be interested in anything that could contribute to the growth of the industry.

He said through decentralisation of the insurance scheme, farmers would have better prices to choose from.

At present, agriculture insurance cover to farmers is provided by the Nigerian Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC).

Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel said NAIC has enjoyed the support of the Federal Government as it has been subsidising some insurance to encourage farmers to get cover.

However, to make the insurance more available for farmers, he said agriculture insurance was being deregulated to make more insurance firms to participate in the subsector.

Director-General, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Sunday Thomas, said though farmers have a lot to gain from insurance, many of them lack awareness and are poorly funded.

He noted that Nigeria can have a vibrant agriculture industry, adding, however, that the reverse was the case.

According to him, considering the opportunities available in the sector, it could have been the mainstay of the nation’s economy by providing wealth and creating employment for the people.

Thomas noted that farmers were faced with numerous challenges that were hindering their ability to produce in large quantities.

Some of the challenges include poor funding, inadequate storage facilities, climatic factors as well as infrastructural deficiencies, among others, he said.

President, Risk Surveyors Association of Nigeria (RISAN), Mr Jacob Adeosun, said if the government is serious about insurance awareness and penetration, Nige-

rians should be encouraged to embrace insurance as a way to avert disasters.

He said diverting money meant for other development projects and begging people in the name of seeking donations is not a sustainable way of helping the society.

Besides, he said most of the donations end up in wrong hands because of the corruption.

He said over the years, local farmers had continued to encounter challenges in production, a factor that had been militating against their ability to produce in large quantities and become export oriented.

According to him, insurance can cover food crops of different cat-

egories, adding that crops could be insured against so many disasters, such as flood, drought, pest, disease and others, goods in transit could be insured against losses or damages.

Managing Director, Continental Reinsurance Plc, Dr Femi Oyetunji said NAIC is the firm that insures agriculture in the country, but noted that since NAICOM was regulating insurance, there was the need to ensure capacity build for more local insurance firms to provide this kind of cover. ”With a population of over 160 million agriculture is very important to us as it is a major focus of the government. So, the ability of the government to achieve its aim in ag-

riculture depends on the ability to provide the right type of insurance to the farmers and even to the suppliers of farm equipment”, he said.

Meanwhile, NAIC has assured farmers whose farmlands were destroyed by the flood that they would be compensated.

While sympathising with the victims of the disaster, NAIC’s Acting Managing Director, Dr Tijani Garuba, advised them to take advantage of the corporation’s services to mitigate their losses, adding that the Federal Government established NAIC to provide succour and extension services to farmers who insure with the corporation.

Insurers advise govt on disaster management

I

NSURERS have asked the government to mitigate losses arising from human and natural disasters in the country.

Managing Director, Royal Exchange Prudential Life, Mr Wale Banmore, said one way to do this is for the government to ensure that Nigerians embrace appropriate insurance.

Banmore said it was wrong for the government to raise money to compensate victims of disasters while insurance companies, whose responsibilities are to indemnify people would have

done that without taking a kobo from the government.

He said the government should ensure that everyone are insured.

He said the government should help its citizens to ensure that insurance firms pay appropriate claims to the citizens when disasters occur and not compensate those who suffer losses.

Banmore said despite the damages that the Hurricane Sandy brought upon Americans, the government did not use public funds to compensate victims because the insurance companies are there to do that.

He said if government stopped this practice all parties would benefit.

Also, Chief Executive Officer, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc, Mr Wole Oshin, said to mitigate losses arising from disasters, the government should put in place insurance schemes and other processes that would protect the citizens against such disasters.

He argued that nobody expected crisis human and natural witnessed in the country in recent times.

He said such crises have

started happening, and that the government should put in place structures and processes to mitigate the risks.

He explained that the government should not continue to fund the disasters caused by climate change or man.

He said: “Some years ago, we never thought some of the disasters we are seeing in Nigeria could happen. We do not know when it would happen next and when it happens,” adding:’ “Will we go through this process again of raising funds, donating materials and so on? “

42

"Our aim is to bring world stars, both past and present, to Accra, just like we did in 2011, to raise as many funds as possible for those in need” Real Madrid midfielder, Michael Essien, explaining the reason behind his Accra charity match slated for June 8, 2013.

Monday, January, 7 2013

Casillas wins Goalkeeper

•Ba

of the Year

Award R

EAL MADRID'S Iker Casillas has been awarded Goalkeeper of the Year by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

The Spain international received 224 votes to win - 96 more than second-placed Buffon - and it is the fifth time that he has taken home the IFFHS award in his career.

The 31-year-old has responded on his Facebook page, thanking the Madrid fans for their support.

"I am very pleased with this award," he wrote on the social networking site. "And once again, I want to dedicate it to all the fans.”

The Blancos captain hit the headlines at the tail-end of 2012 after Jose Mourinho opted to drop him for reserve shotstopper Antonio Adan in the club’s 3-2 defeat by Malaga at La Rosaleda.

However, Casillas was able to beat away competition for the award from the likes of Chelsea’s Petr Cech, Barcelona’s Victor Valdes, Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon, Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and Manchester City’s Joe Hart.

Casillas had a stellar 2012, with the two highlights being the dismantling of Barcelona as La Liga champions and winning the Euros with la Roja.

• Casillas •Messi

Essien to organise charity match in Accra

M

ICHAEL ESSIEN is continuing his efforts to give back to his native Ghana. The Real Madrid midfielder has decided to organise a friendly match between African and European players on June 8, 2013 in the Ghanaian capital of Accra. It will be christened the 'Essien Game of Home', and will be the second

charity fixture he has arranged, following his debut effort in 2011, in which the likes of Drogba, Adebayor, Kanu, Joe Cole and Malouda featured.

"Our aim is to bring world stars, both past and present, to Accra, just like we did in 2011, to raise as many funds as possible for those in need", Essien told his personal website.

The Ghanaian powerhouse, whose Michael Essien Foundation has been running diverse projects in his home country since it was set up three years ago, is extremely excited about the match and will likely invite some of his Real Madrid teammates to take part.

"I hope to see a great turnout from local

Ba,Torres can play together—Benitez

R

AFAEL BENITEZ can’t see any reason why strikers Demba Ba and Fernando Torres cannot play together after Ba scored two debut goals as Chelsea crushed Southampton 51 in the FA Cup. With Torres watching on from the bench at St Mary's on Saturday, Senegal international Ba took just 35 minutes to score his first Chelsea goal –a feat that took the Spaniard 14 games and two and a half months.

"They could play together," said Benitez.

"Ba was playing with (Newcastle United striker Papiss) Cisse last month, so he can play in a two because he is a clever player, but it depends on the players and the game.

"I prefer this problem of having two strikers than having to be careful just with one.

"It is important for the team to have these different options. They are good players and they can compete, or maybe we can manage them together – it depends on the games."

Ba scored in each half, adding to goals from Victor Moses, Branislav Ivanovic and a late penalty from Frank Lampard, to round off a superb performance in which he fitted seamlessly into the Blues' forward line.

AFCON COUNTDOUN...AFCON COUNTDOUN....AFCON COUNTDOUN....AFCON COUNTDOUN.....

Togo to train Ethiopia faces 'biggest test' Gyan arrives in Ghana against Tunisia today

E

THIOPIA coach Sewnet Bishaw has said Monday’s friendly against Tunisia will be his team’s biggest test before next week’s AFCON. Tunisia and Ethiopia clash in the Gulf state of Qatar on Monday in Doha. “Tunisia is a big team; It is a team that regularly features in the African Cup of Nations and also has a good football ranking from Africa," Sewnet said. Tunisia are currently 45th on the FIFA World rankings, while Ethiopia are 110th. "Playing with a team like Tunisia, we can determine what our capabilities and abilities are,” Sewnet said. The game will see key Ethiopian striker Saladin Said make his first appearance in a build-up match since joining the team on January 1 from Egyptian club Wadi Gegla. Gegla decided to release Said earlier than they had planned on the 10-

day FIFA deadline before the Africa Cup kickoff on January 19. Sewnet will also welcome back Ethiopia’s 2013 Africa Cup qualifiers top scorer with three goals Adane Girma, who sat out Ethiopia’s 1-0 friendly win over Niger in Addis Ababa on December 30 due to injury. The match is Ethiopia's second pre-2013 Africa Cup warm-up game since their 1-0 win over fellow finalists Niger.

•Bishaw

Abu Dhabi camp

•Gyan

A

SAMOAH GYAN Ghana have 11 days to fine run against the team he once has joined his Ghana tune preparations before the coached continues as he teammates in Abu tournament starts in South recorded a third loss to the D h a b i a f t e r m i s s i n g Africa on 19 January.

Palancas Negras since his Saturday's training session. They will play Egypt and return to Zambia. Angola Gyan sought permission from Tunisia in Nations Cup scored the first goal in the 8th the Ghana FA to delay warm-up matches next week minute and completed the because of urgent family at their camping base. rout in the 90th minute. matters. The Al Ain striker Zambia lose third consecutive Both Sunzu and Kalaba will train with the team for the game On Saturday, Zambia played for 45 minutes while first time on Sunday at the lost its third preparatory William Njobvu played as a Zayad City Sports Complex. match in a row this time to makeshift right back. Kalaba G y a n ' s p r e s e n c e h a s Angola after they were beaten who has struggled with increased the number of by 2 goals to nil in South injury started the game. players to 24 leaving injured Africa in a game played at Herve Renard made a midfielder Andre Ayew as D o b s o n v i l l e S t a d i u m , complete overhaul of the the only player to touch base Johannesburg. Renard’s bad team after he changed the in the Gulf. whole line up at half time.

T

OGO are expected in Ghana on Monday to intensify preparations for this month's Africa Cup of Nations. The Sparrow Hawks will be in the capital, Accra for six days to strategise for the tournament in South Africa.

Head coach Didier Six has not had smooth preparations with some of his players yet to honour their call-ups.

But Togo's squad has been boosted by Jonathan Ayité of Brest, Floyd Ayité,who plays for Reims, Mani Sapol of Algerian side CA Batna last Thursday. Lorient midfielder Alaixys Romao also joined the team. Togo will play another friendly against Niger on January 13 in a rematch after losing 3-1 last Sunday in Niamey.

The West Africans face a tough test at the tournament against Ivory Coast in their opener before engaging Algeria and Tunisia in Group D.

MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

IMO POLITICS The frosty relationship between Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Chris Anyanwu has reached its peak. Correspondent OKODILI NDILI examines the implication of the lingering feud for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state.

Okorocha, Anyanwu flex muscles over 2015 I

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Senator Chris Anyanwu are respected leaders of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). But there are indications that they are not the best of friends. The tension between the “Abuja politicians” and “homebased politicians” has always been high.

Other APGA chieftains are worried over the feud between the two prominent politicians.

Last week, the governor and the senator from Owerri Senatorial Zone were locked in a show of might and political relevance. It was the climax of the cold war and power game that has polarised the state.

Observers attribute the feud to the 2015 governorship contest. The senator is said to be eyeing the governorship. Okorocha is interested in a second term.

The convoys of the two eminent politicians nearly collided in Owerri, the state capital.

One of the senator’s drivers was injuried in the accident. Both politicians have been trading blames since the incident.

Sources said there has not been no love lost between the two politicians. It was gathered that the governor’s camp has been nursing animosity against Senator Anyanwu over her ambition to contest the governorship in 2015.

According to the sources, the legislator has been oiling her political machinery. She also appears to be enjoying commensurate acceptance from key members of APGA, who are more favorably disposed to the idea of replacing the governor – if he joins the presidential race.

However, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr Ebere Uzoukwa, ruled out any political undertone to the incident. He blamed the senator for constituting a serious security breach which compromised the personal safety of the governor. He called for an investigation into the collision on the highways.

He exonerated the governor, saying: “The senator’s vehicle suddenly rammed into the governor’s convoy close to the staff car, cutting off the lead security vehicle after overtaking dangerously and in a very suspicious manner, and the security men did what was necessary to save the life of the governor.

“Danger was, however, averted as a result of high level of professionalism displayed by the armed men, who ignored the provocation of the senator, who ordered her Navy security orderlies to open fire on the governor’s convoy after she had slapped the Aide-de-Camp (ADC)”.

Okorocha, in his New Year message, has forgiven the erring senator.

“His Excellency is a man of peaceful disposition. He does not harbour ill-thoughts against anyone and, as such, he has forgiven the senator, but asked her to apologise for her wrongs”.

Supporters of the senator disagreed with the governor’s aide, saying that he is politically intolerant.

The ruling party, APGA, to which both politicians belong, backed Okorocha against the lawmaker, explaining that the actions of the embattled legislator amounted to gross disrespect for the exalted office of the governor.

The state chairman of the party, Prince Okafor Anyanwu, said: “Senator Anyanwu, has the antecedent of disrespecting her elders and constituted authorities.”

The senator took exception to the virulent attack against her.

The party chairman, however, added:“It is on record that the senator had a similar encounter with former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, and on another occasion, fought Chief Innocent Nwoga, a PDP chieftain”.

Anyanwu described the governor as “a man too frightened to tell the truth about simple matters. This incident is a message to the governor. He can’t be brutalising the

•Okorocha

people that he is elected to serve and protect and hide behind propaganda and lies.

All lies being fabricated to mask the truth of his brutality are doing him indelible harm”.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Anyanwu, who addressed newsmen in her home in Owerri, observed that the actions of the governor’s security men were frightening and brutish, adding that she had been harassed, intimidated and threatened in the past.

Giving a graphic detail of the clash between her convoy and the governor’s security men, Anyanwu said: “My day started around 9.30am when I visited the governor at the Government House on Tuesday to exchange pleasantries and he asked if I have adequate security and I said ‘yes’, after which I left for my home town, Mbaise.

“When we got to Azara Egbelu, on the ever-busy Owerri/Umuahia road, we heard siren coming behind us and when it was louder, we parked to allow the convoy to pass, but surprisingly, the approaching convoy, which comprised truck loads of armed and stern looking men, double crossed us and pulled out two of my drivers and dragged them into the bush where they were mercilessly beaten and left with broken skull and bruises.

“When I could not bear it any more, I rushed out of my car with bare feet and started shouting:’I am Senator Chris Anyanwu, please don’t kill my driver!’ But

• Mrs Anyanwu

one of the armed men charged at me and threatened to shoot me for running into the governor’s convoy. When that was happening, the governor was in his car with the glass down and I heard him shout at his security men to disarm my orderlies”.

Anyanwu, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Navy, described the governor’s action as “a misplaced show of power”. She said: “ The power of the state governor is so enormous and you don’t need to intimidate, harass or kill your people to assert your powers as a governor.

“I am tired of all these abuses and harassment in this state. It is not only in Imo State that they have female legislators. If they could do this to me, what will happen to the ordinary people? This has to stop”.

The senator’s aide, Chief Obinna Ibe, said: “The governor’s brutality to the legislator was not the first of its kind.

“Barely three months after his victory, the governor instructed his men to attack one of the drivers for parking a car belonging to the senator inside his compound.

“The governor’s police detail broke a bottle and used it to cut the lips of the driver.

Till today, the boy’s upper lip is deformed.

We covered it for him then. But this time, he cannot hide behind the shield of folk hero. He has opened himself up by his propaganda. Now the world is seeing the real man behind the angelic smile.”

Ibe added:“The senator has deliberately

‘Observers contend that the APGA family is unable to manage its political success in Imo State. Political foes are still scheming the downfall of the ruling party.Instead of forging unity, the fold is gradually being polarised. If reconcioliation fails, it portends danger for the party in 2015’

•

Anyanwu’s driver Odilichukwu Uka

avoided joining issues with the state government, even though things are not going well in the state and concentrated on her legislative duties, but the recent incident was an attempt by the governor to assert his powers as the owner of the state, which no one is disputing. It was an unfortunate incident.”

He also frowned at the position of APGA on the matter, saying that it was biased.

Ibe said: “We know that the state chairman was not the legitimate chairman of the party, but was handpicked by Okorocha and his actions and utterances cannot be anything less than biased. How can you pass judgment before setting up a committee to look into the matter? It shows that you have formed your opinion without availing the other party the opportunity of fair hearing”.

A political analyst, Nze Duru Dikeocha, who expressed worry at the lingering feud, said that the increasing recklessness of the governor’s security men is a pointer to what to expect in the forthcoming general elections.

He said: “This singular attack on the senator by the security details to the governor, with Okorocha subtly aiding it with his silence and other cases of human right abuses perpetrated by his security aides against perceived enemies of the administration, pose great challenge to free and fair elections in the state and the nation’s democracy.”

Some politicians also chided the senator for what they described as her disrespect for the office of the governor. They were of the view that a governorship aspirant should respect the occupant of the position she aspires to occupy in the future.

However, observers contend that the APGA family is unable to manage its political success in Imo State. Political foes are scheming the downfall of the ruling party.Instead of forging unity, the fold is gradually being polarised.

If reconcioliation fails, it portends danger for the party in 2015.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

44

POLITICS Two-party system will enhance democracy, says Okonkwo

Nasarawa State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Jabiru spoke with JEREMIAH OKE on the activities of the party in the state and other issues.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

A

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Annie Okonkwo, has said the two-party system will deepen Nigeria’s democracy. He urged Nigeria to learn from the United States where the system has been working for centuries.

Okonkwo, who spoke in Lagos, said:“I have always supported two strong political parties and the one that gives room for independent candidate to contest for elected offices. This is because, if any of the political parties becomes unpopular, the other party would be in a better position to defeat the non-performing party when they contest for the peoples’ mandate. This has been the strongest political point of the USA.” He explained that in view of the large number of parties and inability to muster the strength to defeat the ruling party, the sitting government, which is not performing would turn itself into a leviathan because other parties are so fragmented and are unable to defeat it at the polls.

Okonkwo added: “Where we have too many political parties, it is always very difficult to wrest power out of the hand of the ruling party, even when they are not performing because other parties are not strong enough to give such a party the fight. This gives room for corruption and that is part of the problems that affect our democracy.”

He cited the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention(NRC), recalling that the experiment worked in the Third Republic. He said had it not been for the sudden distruption of the democratic experience, the country would have become a leading light in democratic governance.

Okonkwo said: “If not for the fact that the military government threw a spanner in the works and proscribed the defunct NRC and SDP after annulling a free election, Nigeria would have been a better experiment as far democracy is concerned. This is because each time one political party fails to perform, the other party would be there to unseat it at the polls.

He said the two-party system did not permit religion and ethnicity to dominate the scene, adding that voters even endorsed a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The politician added:“Nigeria was more united then, such that the SDP won an election through a Muslim-Muslim ticket. But today, it is not possible; no body is going to vote such candidates. Then, nobody cared where you came from. All they were interested in was performance. So, we must go back to the basics in order to get it right.

Okonkwo urged the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution in a way that would please Nigerians.

He said: “This is the first time we are going to have the peoples’ constitution; it is a very good development. This time around, I think the people’s interests will be taken into consideration because their impact will be felt. There are some fundamental issues that would be raised in different constituencies because each constituency has their peculiar demand.”

“Though everybody will not agree, but the one that is overwhelmingly put across should be allowed to carry the day. This is a situation where the people make inputs rather than what it used to be in the past when you call for public hearing and at the end of the day it is not allowed to prevail. But when you go to the grassroots, that means the people have been roundly involved.”

He maintained that because this was the first time the people at the grassroots will be making contributions to constitution amendment, they would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the proposed document would defend federalism, state police, resource control and rotational Presidency.

Okonkwo said: “Certain things are not properly put up in the constitution and they have continued to cause problems. The issues of rotation of presidency, zones that have been accepted but not enshrined in the constitution, issues of state police, and issues of state executive office rotation with the senatorial zones and some of these issues that are really worrisome.

And if you don’t attend to them today, they will rear their ugly heads tomorrow and cause bigger problems. We must look at some of these critical issues in our constitution and amicably resolve them now”.

• Okonkwo

ACN, CPC, ANPP merger will beat PDP

I

S the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) really strong in Nasarawa State?

Yes, ACN is really on ground in this state. As I am talking to you, there is nowhere you go in the state that you will not find us. If you go round the three senatorial districts, we have offices and followership there. We are fully on ground. Out of 13 local governments in the state, we have offices in about eight and before the forthcoming local government elections in the state, I want to assure you that we will have offices in the remaining five councils. The party under my leadership has done much to correct past mistakes in order to ensure that ACN emerges victorious in any future elections.

People see your party as a regional party confined to the Southwest.

How do you react to this?

Nuhu Ribadu was the presidential flag bearer of the party in the last presidential election and he is not from the Southwest zone. So, anybody saying this must be enemy of the masses.

They know we have plan and they want to disrupt it, but I am assuring you that the loyalists of the party in Nassarawa State do not reason that way. They are in total support of the party.

Do you have the followership that can win any election in the state?

I can tell you authoritatively that our people in Nassarawa State know the good work our political office holders are doing across the country. I could not believe the crowd I saw when I went to inaugurate some of our offices in some areas. I could not believe the mammoth crowd that witnessed the inauguration. This alone gives me encouragement that ACN is a party to be reckoned with anytime in any part of the country. The structure is fully on ground and it will be surely demonstrated during elections.

After 2011 general elections, there was murmuring within the party that the flag bearer was handpicked without proper consultation among the bigwigs and he did not even have the clout to win election! What efforts are you making to rectify this in 2015?

Our flag bearer was not handpicked because he was the only candidate, but he created problems for himself. He was not in good term with the National Secretariat and the presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu. As a result of that, the National Exco and Nuhu Ribadu never came to campaign for him. He was the only one that was screened, nominated and presented to INEC. As I am talking to you, there is no problem in the party, and if we see anyone who is aggrieved among the party members, by the time the election comes, it will be resolved. They will see reason to come together because our people know that ACN is ready to help the masses and reduce poverty in the society. On the issue of

•From right: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido; National Planning Minister Dr. Shamsudeen Usman and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Alhaji Abubakar Kachala arriving for the wedding of the minister’s daughter, Aisha, at the National Mosque, Abuja... at the weekend.

•Jabiru

his capacity for winning the election, that was considered before presenting him as the candidate. If you look at his antecedent and how people in the state are in love with him, you will agree with me that he is a man to beat, he is a kind of person who can take the state to the next level and he is fit to lead the state.

Recently, you went to Benue State to campaign for the ACN during the local government election which PDP won. Why did ACN lose the election?

You know PDP with their rigging formula. And that is why we are talking about merger of the strong opposition parties in the country. This is the only way to reverse the trend of the rigging of PDP, because the merger of the parties is going to be a rainbow coalition of red, blue, black, yellow, white and others. So, the opposition parties will surely make it in 2015 elections because Nigerians are tired of PDP. The case of Benue State where the PDP claimed it won all the chairmanship positions was due to the rigging.

That is their trademark. That is why we are calling for equal opportunity.

There must be internal democracy, institutional mechanism to monitor elections . We need a reliable data base and there should be feedback from the general public to provide ideas and policies . But we are still very much on the issue.

What is the solution to this problem?

All the limits set by law should be monitored by INEC . There should be enlightenment programmes for the electorate to know why they must jettison money politics and monitor their votes after the election to ensure that their vote is not stolen. That is why after 14 years of PDP in governance, Nigeria is still wallowing in abject poverty and we are being referred to as the giant of Africa. Insecurity and other social vices that almost consumed the country are affecting our economy. We are gradually moving to another round of elections.

Nigerians should vote for only people with impeccable characters, not people that will place their immediate family above the electorate. That is why we are appealing to the people to vote for ACN which knows where the shoes pinch the masses. Look at what ACN is doing in Lagos State.

Look at the wonderful works Comrade Adams Oshiomale is doing in Edo State and other ACNcontrolled states in the Southwest of Nigeria.

We are appealing to the electorate to vote en-mass for the party in any future election so as to witness monumental development and dividends of democracy.

How prepared is ACN for the proposed local government elections in the state?

The state executive council un-

der my leadership, after our meeting in Jos, Plateau State, where I emerged on October 3, 2012 as the party chairman,has resolved to work hard. Now, we cannot afford to fail again because, since the formation of that party, we have not gone anywhere in the state. It was ACD, later AC and later ACN. We have discovered all our loopholes and we are ready to tackle them headlong. As for the council election, we have gone far and our impact will definitely speak during the election in this state. We are going to blow our trumpet through our offices which we have opened with the effort of our national leaders and the assistance of our members. We have already extended the invitation letter to the Senate Minority, Senator George Akume, to come and inaugurate these offices and two vehicles purchased for the same purposes. So, we are well prepared.

We have addressed all the areas that made us failed in 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. The Chairmanship and councilorship aspirants have started emerging and we are encouraged by their large turnout. Although, we cannot do it alone, because the party has its guidelines, we have told them to exercise patience because we are not on the mark yet.

Also, we are still having financial constraints. We believe our National Secretariat and supporters will come to our aid.

What is your message for the aggrieved party stalwarts who have deserted the party?

My advice is that they should come back and let us make the party more formidable. We must learn to forget and learn to understand because united we stand and divided we fall. It is when all of us come together that we can make progress. Nobody is small or big, nobody is poor or rich, nobody is educated or illiterate, we are all important to the party. We need to come together to form a formidable team so as to record victory on poll day. We must surely deliver this state for ACN in any future election.

In view of the proposed merger of the party with other prominent parties in Nigeria, do you think the coalition will be formidable enough to chase the acclaimed largest ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) out of Aso-Villa in 2015?

When you go back into history and look at the political trend, there is no discussion in Nigeria today that is more important for politicians than the merger of ACN, CPC, ANPP and other political parties. When political parties were formed before 1999 election, you recall that theAll Peoples Party (APP), which metamorphosed into All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), dominated so many states in North, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), now Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), dominated the Southwest and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was then in Southeast and some parts of North, but intra-party activities consumed some of these opposition parties. So, the PDP had edge above other parties. So, now that people of like-minds are talking about the merger and they are from different parties which already have structures in their domains, I tell you they will be victorious. If you look at the Northeast, comprising Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Adamawa, also if you take a look at Northeast, you have Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto, you agree with me that these states will embrace the merger plan.

MOTORING

45

THE NATION

MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

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

Despite the challenging landscape, the 2013 Honda CR-V earns a well-deserved spot in the hearts of consumers. Much of its appeal is due to Honda’s knack for giving most shoppers what they want.

TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO writes with agency addition.

•Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V: Precise handling, intuitive controls

O

VER five million CR-Vs have been sold across the world since its introduction in 1995 and the new, fourth generation builds on the success of its predecessors with even greater quality, practicality and refinement.

Compact crossovers are often the transportation of choice for those with small families. With ample passenger and cargo capacity and a full complement of familyfriendly amenities, the 2013 CR-V is equipped to meet these responsibilities with a cheerful smile. Fuel economy is exceptional, while precise handling and intuitive controls ensure a thoroughly pleasant overall driver experience.

The Honda CR-V has always been a car for every occasion. It can be both casual and formal, but the aesthetic must always convey solidity and reliability.

The length and height of the car have been reduced by 5 mm and 30 mm respectively compared with the current model, without reducing the interior space.

One of the more impressive rivals faced by the Honda CR-V is the new Ford Escape, which comes to the table with a wider array of engine choices. Equally desirable are the featurepacked Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, the agilehandling Mazda CX-5 and the comfortable Chevrolet Equinox. Still, despite a campus thick with bright young talent, the CR-V is easily a well-rounded standout, especially for shoppers with family-oriented needs.

Body Styles The CR-V is available in LX, EX and EX-L trim levels, and each can be equipped with front- or all-wheel drive.

The well-equipped LX comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, keyless entry, full power accessories, air-

conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-andtelescoping steering wheel, driver-seat height adjustment, 60/40-split rear seats, a rearview camera, a 6-inch multi-information display, steering wheel audio controls, and Bluetooth phone and streaming audio. All LX models also have a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, a Pandora interface, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB/iPod interface.

EX models add 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, a sunroof, rear privacy glass, a retractable cargo cover and six speakers for the sound system. Going with the EX-L gets you roof rails, heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar, leather upholstery, heated front seats and an upgraded sound system with seven speakers and satellite radio. On top of this, the EX-L with Navigation adds a navigation system (with voice controls and real-time traffic), while the EX-L with Rear Entertainment System adds a rear entertainment system.

Powertrains and Performance Every 2013 Honda CR-V comes with a 2.4liter four-cylinder engine that produces 185 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic and front-wheel drive are standard, while all-wheel drive is optional. The latter sends power to the front wheels exclusively until slippage is detected, at which point power is sent to the wheels with the most traction. In Edmunds performance testing, an EX-L with all-wheel drive went from zero to 60 mph in 9.4 seconds — a tad slow for a fourcylinder small crossover SUV. Safety Standard safety equipment on the CR-V includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints,

•Interior of the car front side airbags and side curtain airbags. All CR-V models also come with a back-up camera.

In Edmunds brake testing, a CR-V EX-L came to a stop from 60 mph in 120 feet — a short distance for a vehicle in this segment.

The car earned a perfect five stars for overall protection in government crash tests, scoring five stars for both frontal- and side-impact protection. In testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the CR-V received the best possible rating of “Good” in the frontal-offset, side impact and roof strength tests.

Interior Design and Special Features The cabin of the CR-V boasts fluid, organic lines and ample nooks and crannies for stowing carry-on items. A logical layout makes controls easy to find and the overall aesthetic is pleasing to the eye. The open space between the front seats seen in the previous generation’s sub-EXL models has been retired, and all 2013 CR-Vs feature a full front console that increases utility by providing a bevy of additional storage compartments.

The sliding rear seats seen in the previousgeneration CR-V are no more, but they have been discontinued to make way for an amenity that is perhaps even more useful: a springloaded auto-fold feature that allows you to fold the rear seats almost flat by gently pulling on a lever. The current seat offers just as much legroom as the sliding seat did, since its new fixed position mirrors the one held by the sliding seat when moved all the way back.

Abundant tech features are available, with a Pandora interface and Bluetooth phone and streaming audio being offered as standard equipment on all models. The CR-V is also available with an SMS text messaging function that allows you to listen to incoming text messages via the audio system and reply with one of six preset responses.

The CR-V also swallows more stuff than its outside appearance would suggest. With the rear seats in place, the CR-V can carry 37.2 cubic feet of cargo; fold the rear seat down and that figure grows to an impressive 70.9 cubic feet.

46

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

MOTORING

Hyundai donates to orphanages, psychiatric homes H

YUNDAI Motors Nigeria has d o n a t e d mosquitoes’ nets to orphanages and psychiatric homes to commemorate the antimalaria campaign which seeks to stem the scourge of malaria parasites.

Donating the items, which include treated nets and insecticides at a brief ceremony at the Little Saints Ophanage at Abule-Egba Lagos, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mr. Jatin Nadkarni, said the initiative was part of Hyundai’s contribution to the welfare of the less privileged.

He said the relief materials donated to select homes in various locations across Nigeria were also in fulfilment of the automaker’s global campaign values of ‘touching lives.’

Nadkarni, who lamented the spate of lives lost to malaria scourge annually, advocated for the wellbeing of children in orphanages and psychiatric hospitals.

He said it has become imperative to forestall the fearsome risks of malaria scourge that threatens many people.

According to him, it was necessary to reduce the populations of children vulnerable to malaria scourge, especially those aged between six months and five years which account for 52 per cent.

He told children at Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, Surulere, Lagos: “We have come to greet you, spend some time with you and bring you goodwill message from Hyundai and the message is to show how much we love you and educate you on how best to eradicate malaria and forestall the attendant risks of associated with the scourge.”

The Hyundai director urged the children to be conscious of their environment and keep it as clean as possible, saying: “You can only accomplish your dreams of becoming doctors, engineers or architects if you live healthy lifestyle and avert the deadly scourge of diseases, especially those caused by mosquitoes.”

Handing over the supplies to the management of Lit-

By Tajudeen Adebanjo tle Saints Orphanage and Parcelli School, Mr Nadkarni said: “We are highly encouraged by this recognition, which will reinforce our commitment to giving something back to the society that drives our sustenance and commitment towards social responsibility which is firmly rooted in Hyundai philosophy.”

Founder, Strong Tower Mission, owners of Little Saints Orphanage, Rev. Christiana George, praised Hyundai’s gestures, describing the company as relentless and cheerful in her humanitarian gestures to the home.

She said: “Hyundai remains one of our habitual

donors that take their corporate social responsibility very seriously.”

Also receiving the gifts on behalf of the school, its Principal, Rev. Sister Benedicta Ogike, commended Hyundai for extending relief support to the home, saying: “The school has been able to check malaria scourge and keep the inmates free from the deadly scourge. And we thank God no fatal case has ever been recorded.”

The Hyundai team also visited other orphanages and psychiatric homes in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Calabar where they donated mosquito repellent materials with a promise to extend the gesture to more forestall the intimidating tide of malaria scourge.

•From left: Nadkarni assisted by Sales Manager Mr Vijay Singh; Stallion Motors (Nig.) Limited Media and Marketing Manager Mr Kumar Santosh to present the mosquitoes nets to Rev. George.

We’ll not ban Okada riders, says Anambra

T

HE Anambra Government said it would not ban commercial motorcyclists, but would partner with them for the progress of the state.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Oseloka Obaze, said this in Awka in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the state government was aware of the social and economic roles of the commercial motorcyclists in the state, noting that instead of banning them, government would integrate them into its system for maximum use.

He said government would encourage the motorcyclists to have a functional union, where all their data would be collected and registered properly for easy identification, and uniform and identity card would be

introduced.

Obaze said the state government would not toe the line of sister states to ban Okada operation because of its valued services to the people. He said the services were of paramount concern

F

plans of the state government,” he said.

The SSG said the government would use the Okada union to checkmate their activities and encourage it to report any bad operator.

Driver sentenced to two months’ imprisonment

A

N Osogbo Senior Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 40year-old commercial driver, Musiliyu Ibrahim, to two months’ imprisonment with an option to pay N2, 000 fine for reckless driving and driving without licence.

Ibrahim, who pleaded not guilty to the charge on December 11, 2012, changed

his plea to guilty and begged for leniency as the case came up for hearing on January 4.

Police prosecutor Isiaka Ajadi told the court that the convict committed the offence on December 11, 2012 about 9a.m. at the Ajegunle area of Osogbo, the state capital.

Ajadi said the convict drove his bus with Reg. No. LND

FRSC records 248 deaths in 428 accidents EDERAL Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Niger State, David Usman, has said in Minna that the command recorded 428 road traffic crashes, which resulted in 248 deaths in the state last year.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN): “We had 428 crashes resulting in 248 deaths and 1,210 people injured in 2012.’’

He said most of the accidents resulted from non-adherence to traffic rules and regulations. The

to the state government.

“We are also battling to curb unemployment in the state, so banning Okada would mean more troubles to tackle. Rather, Okada business would be reformed to suite the developmental

sector commander said the number of traffic offenders in the state in 2012 was being compiled.

On motorcyclists not adhering to the use of crash helmets in 2012, he said the command would carry out more enlightenment and enforcement campaign in 2013 to ensure compliance and to safeguard lives.

“We need to enlighten motorcyclists more on the use of crash helmets; it is for the safety of their lives.

Because most of the road

crashes involving motorcyclists become fatal as a result of not using the helmets, so they have not known the relevance of using the helmet,’’ he said.

He said the head was one of the most sensitive parts of the body that needed to be protected, making the use of helmets essential.

Usman urged road users in the state to be cautious while using the road and obey traffic rules and regulations in order to minimise crashes.

161 XA, and parked in the middle of the road, thereby obstructing other road users.

He said the action of the convict attracted traffic officials and on investigation, they discovered that he had no driver’s licence.

Ajadi said the offence contravened the provisions

I

NTERSTATE transport operators in Lagos have lamented low patronage, four days into the New Year.

A Lagos-Onitsha bound bus driver, Mr Hycinth Kalu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it took him more than one hour to get passengers to board his bus.

“Unlike when we had the rush period in December, a 14seater bus can fill up in less than 30 minutes. We loaded a bus between 7am and 9am, “ Kalu said.

A bus operator, who gave his name simply as Emeka, said that it had not been easy for him to get passengers as he had to go the extra mile to con-

of Section 5 (1) of the Federal Highway Act 135 Vol. VIII of 1990 and Section 7 (1) of Road Traffic Laws of Osun 2003.

The accused, who had no lawyer, pleaded guilty and begged for mercy.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment with an option to pay N2, 000 fine.

Transporters lament low patronage vince them to board his bus.

“I have to run after passengers to convince them, as well carry their bags, before they can board the bus,” he said.

Another bus driver, Mr Blessing Akinwunmi, who plies the Lagos-Abuja route, expressed surprise that people were yet to travel since the public holidays were over.

“I hope for better patronage from (Saturday) as many people may likely want to resume for work on Monday.

SAFE DRIVING

W

HETHER the end of the year and new year festivities have passed or not, driving continues.

Therefore there is a need for us to remind ourselves of the basic safe driving trips to ensure safety on Nigeria roads irrespective of the road conditions. They include the following: Make sure your side and inner mirrors are in place and well adjusted before you take off You must properly adjust your seat and fasten your seat belt.

Master the location of the basic controls such as wipers, lights, etc Ensure that your turn signals (i.e, pointers)are functional. Use them appropriately at all times.

Before you turn right, pull out or back out, always use your mirrors and check your blind spot by looking over your shoulder.

Hold your steering firmly with

Basic driving tips both hands to be sure you are in control of the vehicle.

Be concious of the vehicles around you (oncoming and upcoming) before stopping your vehicle.

Always slow down before you negotiate any bend because of the law of inertia or circular motion.

Avoid loading and overspeeding because of the law of kinetic energy Always yield to the vehicle with the right way Obey the traffic light at all times Master and comply with the traffic signs, signals, and road markings whether or not the traffic management Officials are around Avoid eating, phone call, texting, drinking, make – up, shaving, and other forms of distractions when driving. If you must do any of the above, pull over safely to the side of the road where you will not in any way disturb the traffic

Whether a stop sign is erected or not, always stop at an intersection and look around to see if it is safe to proceed.

Always obey the following – distance rule of 2 seconds in a good weather and dry road or 4 seconds on a wet road or cloudy weather. Also note that the faster you go on a highway, the more distance you should leave between you and the vehicle ahead of you.

Always employ appropriate defensive driving techniques and also anticiate other drivers’ error (Hazard perception) Avoid driving when you are tired or intoxicated with alcohol or other psychoactive drugs Always scan the road when you drive and avoid being a one – way driver Always drive to the condition

of the environment Plan your route to avoid making costly mistakes in traffic Don’t drive in the night if your eyesight is not good enough or when visibility is poor Always slow down your speed when driving on a rural road and when approaching busstops, markets and villages Avoid dangerous overtaking.

Always apply the MSM (Mirror, Signal and Maneourer) formula Don’t be overconfident; let not your long years of driving experience and other factor puff you up. No body is above mistake Always remember that a driver’s error may lead to loss of lives and properties.

Travel at low speed when driving on unfamiliar roads no matter how good the roads look.

Take appropriate steps in emergency situations Maintain the right energy level and avoid energy drainers Be safety – and security conscious in your driving, no matter how safe you think the environment is.

Be ready to surrender your right of way whenever any other driver wants to snatch it from you.

Be courteous to other road users Always read the label of any drug you want to use to avoid taking any drug that contain drowsiness when driving.

Have enough sleep to avoid fatique and its consequences Always yield the right of way to emergency vehicles but not with panic that can cause problem for other road users Drivers of emergency vehicles must avoid creating panic and commotion among other motorist.

Government and Agencies must regularly monitor and maintain all roads to make the safe at all times.

Jide Owatunmise •Registrar / Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

Drivers must keep their vehicles in road worthy conditions before putting them on the road.

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

47

IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY, IKEJA DIVISION WHEREAS the person whose names are set-out in the first Column under died intestate on the date and place stated in the said Column. AND WHEREAS the person or persons whose names and addresses and relationship (if any) to the deceased are set out in the second Column here have applied to the High Court of Lagos State for a Grant of Letter of Administration of the Real and Personal Properties of the deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE TO PROHIBIT THE GRANT is filed in the registry within (14) days from the date hereof.

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S/N

NAMES OF THE DECEASED PERSON:

Dr Rowland Sunday Olufemi Ogunnaike (Otherwise known as Dr Rowland Sunday Ogunnaike and Roland Sunday Olufemi Ogunnaike ) late of 1, Ajoke Salako Street, Ifako Gbagada, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 6th day of September, 2009 at Lagos.

Jonathan Alex Soneye Ogunnaike (Otherwise known as Ogunnaike Jonathan ) late of 23, Hughes Avenue Yaba Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 11th day of October, 1981 at Lagos.

Emmanuel Abiodun Adeleye late of 5, Oladunni Street, Ifako Gbagada, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 15th day of January, 2012 at Lagos.

Popoola Elizabeth Oluwafunmilola (Otherwise known as Popoola Elizabeth ) late of 24, Gbagidi Street, Ijanikin Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 23rd day of December, 2009 at Lagos.

Abiodun Ayodele Ajoje late of 7, Catterick Close, London N11 3ES deceased who died intestate on the 1st day of October, 2009 at England.

Emmanuel Martins Omodele (Otherwise known as Omodele Emmanuel) late of 21, Mustapha Street, Iju Ishaga, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 1st day of April, 2011 at Warri, Delta State.

Moses Oladapo Okunuga Taiwo (Otherwise known as Moses Oladapo Taiwo) late of 57, Olatilewa Street, Lawanson Surulere, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 13th day of August, 1993 at Lagos.

Pastor (Mrs) Christiana Owiyeba Graham-Douglas Nee Amachree late of No. 8, Idowu Matins Street, Victoria Island Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 17th day of April, 2012 at Portharcourt.

Oni OLuyemi Theresa (Mrs) late of 5, Mary Street, Ikorodu, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 3rd day of May, 2009 at Lagos.

Chief Emmanuel Oborakponovwe Onosiem (Jnr) (Otherwise known as Emmanuel Onosiem) late of 15, Ibironke Crescent, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 2nd day of September, 2010 at Lagos.

Oburoh Beatrice (Otherwise known as Mrs Beatrice A. Oburoh ) late of 4, Ayodele Aloede Close, Ojodu Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 8th day of July, 2012 at Lagos.

Mbah Anthony Chief (Otherwise known as Chief Anthony C. Mbah ) late of 100, Apata Street, Shomolu,Palmgrove, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 24th day of January, 2006 at Lagos.

Anthony Nweke late of 16, Babatunde Street, Off Ogunlana Drive Surulere, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 23rd day of June, 2012 at Lagos.

Mrs Rose Munama Nwangugu (Otherwise known as Mrs Rose Nwagugu) late of 9, Adekunle Street, Isolo, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 28th day of February, 2009 at Lagos.

Bishop James Bamidele Aderele (Otherwise known as Adenrele James) late of 15, Oke Arin Street, Ilupeju , Palmgrove, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 21st day of October, 2011 at LASUTH CPL Abah Joseph (Otherwise known as Abah Joseph ) late of Block 1 Room 2 Olosan Police Barracks Mushin, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 3rd day of September, 2011 at Luth Idi Araba.

Kasali Shamusideen Olukorede late of 8, Sanya Street, Itire Surulere, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 26th day of February, 2008 at Lagos.

Mr Lamina Akanbi Okedele (Otherwise known as Mr Lamina Okedele) late of 69, Dopemu Road, Agege, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 14th day of March, 2012 at Lagos.

Onishemo Francis Oladipupo late of 6, Evans Street, Lagos Island, deceased who died intestate on the 6th day of January, 2012 at Lagos.

Mr Nneji Adiele Paul (Otherwise known as Mr Nneji Paul) late of 9, Rasheed Street, Ilasamaja, Lagos, deceased who deid intestate on the 4th day of September, 2012 at Lagos.

Folashade Jaiyesimi (Otherwise known as Mrs Folashade Jaiyesimi) late of 5, Awoseyin Street, Shomolu, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 5th day of November, 2008 at Lagos.

Mrs Felicia Iwegbue late of 55, Shibiri Road , Rasaki Bus Stop, Ajangbadi, Ojo, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 12th day of March, 2012 at Luth.

Dada Toyin late of 15, Olokunola Ogumola Street, Ikorodu, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 28th day of July, 2011 at General Hospital Badagry, Lagos.

Adeyemi Alamu Peter late of 35, Dosumu Street, Abule Egba, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 3rd day of February, 2009 at Lagos.

Orisagbemi Oluwasegun (Otherwise known as Olusegun Oshagbemi ) late of 1, Bamishile Street, Ayobo, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 3rd day of February, 2012 at Lagos.

Cecilia Ofre Benjamin late (Otherwise known as Benjamin Cecilia (Ofre) of Flat 6, Recreation Block Olosan Police Barracks Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 21st day of November, 2011 at General Hospital.

Risikat Muritala (Otherwise known as Alhaja Risikatu Muritala) late of 74, Sari Iganmu Road, Orile Iganmu, Lagos,deceased who died intestate on the 7th day of May, 2011 at Lagos.

Miss Ogidan Stella (Otherwise known as Miss Stella Ogidan) late of 6, Oloja Street, Shomolu, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 8th day of April, 2012 at Lagos.

Onuaku Patrick Chukwujekwu late of 5, Tanimola Close, Off Omojuwa Street, Kosofe , Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 18th day of December, 2009 at Federal Medical Centre Owerri.

Oduntan Agnes Iyabo late of 21, Igbodile Street, Igboye Epe, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 1st day of August, 2011 at Ogun State.

Adedapo Sunday late of 78, Glover Street, Ebute Metta Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 29th day of August, 2011 at Lagos.

Johnson Michael Anumu (Otherwise known as Johnson Michael) late of 5, Ijaiye Street, Itire Road, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 9th day of September, 2011 at Lagos.

John Ikem (Otherwise known as Ikem John ) late of Block 187, Plot 197, Flat 6, Zone D Iba Housing Estate , Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 19th day of April, 2004.

Ubah Ifechukwudeni Celestina (Otherwise known as Celestina Ubah) late of 34 Road E Close Block 69, Flat 13, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 4th day of June, 2012 at Lagos.

Osifodunrin Abolaji Ayotunde (Mrs) (Otherwise known as Mrs Abolaji Ayotunde Osifodunrin) late of Block 183, Flat 4, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 15th day of February, 2011 at General Hospital, Ikeja.

Mr Amos Attiko (Otherwise known as Mr Amos Odekunle Attiko) late of 2, Olu Okewumi Street, Ijegun, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 27th day of January, 2002 at Lagos.

Mr Ogunkeye Rokeeb Gbadegesin (Otherwise known as Ogunkeye Rokeeb) late of 15, Ojetoye Street, Ayobo , Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 10th day of June, 2010 at Lagos.

John Victor late of 5, Shorinmade Street, Aguda Ogba, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 23rd day of May, 2012 at Lagos.

Igwe-Kalu Nnachi (Otherwise known as Nnachi and Inspector Igwe Kalu ) late of 85/87 Oloto Ring Road, Ijanikin Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 13th day of June, 2012 at Morogbo.

Mr Salami Muraina Folorunso (Otherwise known as Mr Salami Murainu Folorunso Best) late of 36B, Community Road, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 3rd day of March, 2011 Okonkwo Anselm late of No. 7 Olaitan Street, Surulere, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 30th day of April, 2003 at Havana Specialist Hospital.

Micheal Toviho (Otherwise known as Michael Toviho) late of 1, Salako Close, Magodo, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 28th day of February, 2011 at Ogun.

Justina Nkiruka Mojekwu (Otherwise known as Mojekwu Justina) late of 13, Adeshiyan Street, Ojota, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 20th day of August, 2009 at Lagos.

Onifade Nosimot Oluwatoyin (Mrs) late of Awobo Estate Igbogbo Ikorodu, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 5th day of July, 2012 at Lagos.

Emenoge Andrew Okotie (Otherwise known as Andrew Okotie and Emenoge Andrew) late of No. 20, Alabata Street, Off Community Road, Ijegun Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 1st day of November, 2011 at Lagos.

Mr Ajana Diru (Otherwise known as Chukwunweike Aniemeka) late of 34, Gbekeleoluwa Street, Shibiri Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 29th day of November, 2010 at Lagos.

Dr Odiwe Augustine (Otherwise known as Dr Augustine Odiwe) late of No. 1, Obasi Close Ikeja Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 20th day of February, 2008 at Lagos.

Omotosho Jolade Zainah (Otherwise known as Omotosho Jolade) late of 19, Oyeleke Oladele street, Ikola Ipaja, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 20th day of August 2012 at Lagos.

Mrs Louisa A. Ihemtuge (Otherwise known as Ada) late of 4, Yetunde Babarinsa Close, Balogun, Iju, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 28th day of December, 2011 at Lagos.

Adeola Ian Randolph late of Flat 4, Block D, Karls Court Airport Residential Area Accra deceased who died intestate on the 7th day of Febraury, 2012 at Lagos.

Mrs Nwaikwu Joy P. (Otherwise known as Nwakwu Joy) late of 28, Igbehinadun Street, Shasha Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 27th day of August, 2012 at Lagos.

Maxwell Esther Omolade late of 1B, Daddy Savage Street, Fagba Iju Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 26th day of August, 2010 at Ijoko.

Mr Godfrey Ezeamama late of 2, Redemption Avenue Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 1st day of May, 2011 at Apapa.

Mr Adeyemo Godwin Kolawole (Otherwise known as Mr Adeyemo Godwin) late of 79, Miyaki Road, Oworonsoki Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 13th day of February, 2008 at Lagos.

Mrs Grace Orojinmi (Otherwise known as Mrs Orojinmi Grace) late of 14, Ojo Street, Akoka Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 12th day of June, 2012 at Ebute Metta.

Lamidi Ayinde Mustapha late of 2, Maradonna Way New Oko Oba Agege, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 9th day of August, 2012 at Lagos.

Miss Sunday Uduak Udoh late of 44, Oguntolu Street, Shomolu, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 6th day of May, 2005 at Lagos.

Suberu Sanni (Otherwise known as Sanni Subari Amuma) late of 30, Ajibotinu Street, Agege, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 10th day of December, 2011 at Lagos.

Balogun John Olaniyi (Otherwise known as Mr Balogun John) late of 18, Fadeyi Street, Aguda, Ogba, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 19th day of December, 2011 at Lagos.

Mrs Adijat Abeje Otun (Otherwise known as Mrs Otun) late of 7, Fagbamila Street, Ketu, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 20th day of August, 2009 at Ibadan Lagos Expressway Rev. Silas Adeyi Oyewumi (Otherwise known as Rev. Silas A. Oyewumi) late of 36, Oluwaga Avenue, Ipaja, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 11th day of July, 2010 at Oyo State.

Timothy Azuama Nwigwe (Otherwise known as Mr Timothy A. Nwigwe) late of 8, Ajo Ajayi Close, Baruwa Ipaja, Lagos deceased who die dintestate on the 3rd day of March, 2007 at Lagos.

Ayodele Komolafe (Otherwise known as Komolafe Ayodele) late of 78, Egbeda Road, Egbeda, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 17th day of December, 2011 at Lagos.

Tiamiyu Shamusideen Ogunmuyiwa late of 13, Shasi Lane Isale Eko, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 4th day of July, 2012 at Lagos.

Promise Udo Udofia (Otherwise known as Udofia Promise) late of 21, Cardoso Lane Ajegunle, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 12th day of September, 2011 at Luth Lagos.

Samuel Olusoga Adesanya late of No. 1 Awotunde Close, Oshodi, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 20th day of March, 2008 at Lagos.

Florence Oluyemi Onasanya (Otherwise known as Florence Oluyemi Dada Onasanya) late of 2, Ade Ojo Street, Ikeja Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 8th day of January, 1989 at Lagos.

Okpe Fortune late of 11, Suphraim Street, Alasia Ijanikin Ojo, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 10th day of November, 2010 at Badagry General Hospital Mr Ganiyu Kareem (Otherwise known as Kareem Ganiyu) late of No. 1, Agbedina Street, Olowora Berger Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 30th day of December, 2005 at Ibadan.

Mr Ademoye D. Tella (Otherwise known as Tella Ademoye) late of No. 1 Tella Close Agura Ikorodu, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 11th day of May, 2012 at Ikeja Medical Centre Rev. Isaac Adekunle Adejugbagbe late of 14, Mobolaji Street, Aguda, Ogba, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 4th day of October, 2012 at Ogba, Lagos.

Peter Osikhena Azage late of 25, Ponle Street, Egbeda Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 17th day of April, 2012 at Lasuth Lagos.

Sulaimon Hammed Ajide (Otherwise known as Hammed Ajide) late of No. 1 Abatan Street, Kola Bus Stop, Agbado, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 11th day of April, 2012 at Lagos.

Ademoye Foluso late of Block 23, Flat 6, Festac Extension, deceased who died intestate on the 27th day of September, 2010 at Lasuth, Lagos.

Alhaji Raufu Alabi Babatunde Almaroof (Otherwise known as Alhaji R.ABabatunde Almaroof) late of 3, Kekere Owo Street, Mushin, Lagos, deceased who died intestate on the 27th day of February, 2010 at Lagos.

Late Chief Stephen Ajayi Ogedengbe late of No. 28, Owodunni Street, Akure deceased who died intestate on the 26th day of May, 2006 at Oba Nle Aje Hospital, Lagos.

Madam Olufunmilayo Ajoke (Otherwise known as Ajoke Olufunmilayo) late of 66, Alagba Street, Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 15th day of October, 1999 at Lagos.

Edeth Ekeng (Otherwise known as Ekeng Edet) late of 10, Gold Street, Oke Odan Village, Isashi , Lagos deceased who died intestate on the 8th day of June, 2012 at Lagos.

1.

NAMES OF APPLICANT APPLYING FOR THE GRANT

Mrs Ibilola A. Ogunnaike, Funmilayo M. Ogunnaike, Oluwajare O. Ogunnaike all of 1, Ajoke Salako Street, Ifako Lagos widow and two of the children respectively of the said deceased.

2. Mrs Ibilola Adenike Ogunaike, Dr (Mrs)( Abimbola Ogunmodede and Justice Toyin Taiwo all of 23, Hughes Avenue, Yaba, Lagos two of the chidren and grand child respectively of the said deceased.

3. Abiona Kikelomo Adeleye , Oluwakemi Adenike Adeleye and Oluwadamiloju Adeyoyin Adeleye all of 5, Oladunni Street, Ifako Gbagada, Lagos, widow and two of the children respectively of the said deceased 4. Popoola Francis Bamidele and Popoola Abayomi Isaac both of 24, Gbagidi Street, Ijanikin Lagos widower and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

5. Olubunmi Olubanke Ajoje of 7, Catterick Close, London N11 3ES 6. Mr Emmanuel Oladipupo and Olabowale Olaide (Mrs) both of 21, Mustapha Street, Iju Ishaga, Lagos brother and sister respectively of the said deceased.

7. Pastor Olakunle Taiwo, Mr Alaba Taiwo and Mrs Nike Osifeso (Nee Taiwo ) all of Plot 2, Kunle Taiwo Close, Ijaiye Lagos three of the children of the said deceased.

8. Mr Afanya Sekini Jaja Amachree of Plot 130, Rumuogha Housing Estate Port Harcourt, Mrs Mina Dugoabere Cole of Plot 222 Etim Nyang Crescent, Victoria Island Lagos and Assistant Pastor Okedele Julius of Plot 16B Femi Okunnu Estate, Jakande Lekki, Brother, Sister and Pastor respectively of the said deceased.

9. Mr Ajayi Ojo Clement and Evang Ajayi Vincent Oluwafemi both of 14, Anuoluwapo Street, Isheri Lagos and Oni Olukayode Matthew of No. 15k Ojule Meta Street, Igogo Ekiti, widower and two brothers respectively of the said deceased.

10. Mrs Annie Onosiem , Mrs Norma Onosiem and Gregory Benedict all of 15, Ibironke Cresent, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos widow, mother and friend respectively of the said deceased.

11. Sam Oburoh and Nath Oburoh both of 4, Ayodele Aloede Close, Ojodu, Lagos widower and the only child respectively of the said deceased.

12. Celestina N. Mbah and Virgina U. Uchechi both of 100, Apata Street, Shomolu, Lagos widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

13. John Edeh of 16, Babatunde Street, Off Ogunlana Drive Surulere and Ejike Nweke of 19B Moses Ike Street, Teddy Along Badagry Express Lagos, two brothers of the said deceased.

14. Mr Vincent Chiedu Nwangugu and Awele Vivian Nwangugu both of 9, Adekunle Street, Isolo, Lagos widower and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

15. Samuel Olutayo Adenrele and Oluwafemi Adenrele both of 14, Akinsanmi Street, Obanikoro Lagos and Sunday Ola-Oluwa Adenrele and Adebisi Martins-Taiwo both of 15, Oke Arin Street, Ilupeju Palmgrove, Lagos four of the chidren of the said deceased.

16. John Thomas of No. 7, Christian David Street, Shallom Estate, Lagos and John Attai Okpanachi of Block 5, Room 1 Iponri Barracks Brothers of the said deceased.

17. Mrs kasali Silifat and Mr Kasali Yusuf both of 88, Oba Omolaja Ogunlewe Igbogbo Ikorodu, Lagos widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

18. Okedele Mutiu Alabi, Okedele Ibrahim Abiodun Okedele Lukman Abiodun and Okedele Fatimoh Tolani all of 69, Dopemu Road, Agege, Lagos four of the children of the said deceased.

19. Mrs Abiodun Ogunlana of 9, Alhaji Mosoba Street, Ojodu Berger , Miss Olusola Onishemo of 6, Ogunbeku Street, Ladi-Lak and Mrs Sade Ogunkoya of 1, Church Street, Akoka , Lagos , three children of the said deceased.

20. Nneji Nnenna Lilian of No. 9, Rasheed Street, Ilasamaja Lagos and Nneji Godwin of 2, Fadahusi Street, Ijesha, Surulere, Lagos widow and brother respectively of the said deceased.

21. Mrs Toyin Ogunlana of 7, Ebun Olorun Street, Lady-Lak Bariga, Lagos and Olugbenga Oshunkoya of 5, Awoseyin Street, Shomolu, Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

22. Fredrick Reuben and Aliji Olaide Kuburat both of 22, Odo Eran Street, Iyana Iyesi Ota Ogun State, Attorney to the widower and niece respectively of the said deceased.

23. Adewale I.T.Dada and Dada Seun Kazeem both of 15, Olokunola Street, Ikorodu, Lagos widower and the only child respectively of the said deceased.

24. Adeyemi Felicia and Adeyemi Adewale Johnson both of 35, Dosumu Street, Abule Egba, Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

25. Kolade Mary Orisagbemi and Orisagbemi Olaitan both of 1, Bamishile Ayobo Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

26. Benjamin O. Awo and Mrs Rose Enyia both of Flat 6, Recreation Block Olosan Lagos widower and sister respectively of the said deceased.

27. Mr Ahmed Muritala of 74, Sari Iganmu Road, and Miss Bolanle F. Muritala of 13, Diamond Close, Mowe Ogun State two of the children of the said deceased 28. Ogidan Akeem Ibrahim and Suleiman Olusola Jimoh both of 9, Adeoso Close, Ewutuntun Oshodi, Lagos brother and cousin respectively of the said deceased 29. Florence Onuaku, Ifeanacho Onuaku and Anayo Onuaku all of 33, Abba Street, Diobu Portharcourt, widow and two of the children respectively of the said deceased.

30. Oduntan Joseph O. and Oduntan Norbert A. both of 21, Igbodile Street, Igboye Epe, Lagos widower and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

31. Aiyedun Mojisola Adedapo and Kunle Oluwatosin Adedapo both of 78, Glover Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

32. Veronica Johnson and Yemisi Johnson both of 5, Ijaye Street, Itire, Lagos, two widows of the said deceased.

33. Mrs Angela Ikem and Miss Juliet Ikem both of Block 187, Plot 197, Flat 6, Zone D, Iba Housing Estate, Near Lasu Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

34. Ubah John and Ngozi Ndame both of 34, Road E Close, Block 69, Flat 13, Gowon Estate, Lagos widower and sister respectively of the said deceased.

35. Osifodunrin Olukemi and Osifodunrin Olawunmi both of Block 183, Flat 4, Abesan Estate, two of the children of the said deceased.

36. Mrs Kemi Akisanmi Samuel (Nee Attiko ) and Mr Olusegun Attiko both of No. 4, Omoakin Avenue, College Road, Haruna Bus Stop, Ogba, Lagos, one of the children and brother respectively of the said deceased.

37. Mrs Ogunkeye Rukayat and Miss Ogunkeye Ronke both of 15, Ojetoye Street, Lagos, widow and sister respectively of the said deceased.

38. Elizabeth John of 5, Shorinmade Street, Aguda Ogba, Lagos, and Mr Anthony Amosu of 4, Fadipe street, Ogba Ijaiye Lagos, widow and brother respectively of the said deceased.

39. Chinyere Igwe-Kalu and Kingsley Igwe-Kalu both of 85/87 Oloto Ring Road, Ijanikin, Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said decease.

40. Salami Mudashiru of No. 14, Olanrewaju Street, Kosofe, Lagos, Salami Mutiu of No. 36B, Community Road, Odogunyan Ikorodu, Lagos and Salami Adeniyi of No. 11, Ajefemi Street, Ketu, Lagos, three of the children of the said deceased.

41. Mr Udochukwu James Okonkwo and Mr Ugochukwu John Okonkwo both of No. 7, Olaitan Street, Surulere, Lagos, two of the children of the said deceased.

42. Mariam Toviho Francis and Tekobo Segun Toviho both of 1, Salako Close, Magodo , Lagos, two of the children of the said deceased.

43. Chief Christian C. Mojekwu and Miss Oluebubechukwu Mojekwu both of 13, Adeshiyan street, Ojota, Lagos, widower and the only child respectively of the said deceased.

44. Mr Onifade Jimoh Gbolahan and Mr Onifade Idris Damilola both of Awobo Estate, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos, widower and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

45. Emenoge Ufuoma Mary and Emenoge Isreal Mirhire both of No. 20, Alabata Street, Off Community Road, Ijegun, Lagos, two of the children of the said deceased.

46. Mrs Catherine Ugonma Diru of 34, Gbekele Oluwa Street, Shibiri and Miss Obianuju Diru of 18, Akintunde Street, Onike Yaba, Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

47. Mr Augustine Odiwe and Mr Felix Akaeze both of 3, Lagoon Avenue Ikoyi, Lagos, the only surviving child and nephew respectively of the said deceased.

48. Omotosho O. Mufutau, Omotosho O. Kazeem and Omotosho M. Halimot all of 19, Oyeleke Oladele street, Ikota Ipaja , Lagos, widower and two of the children respectively of the said deceased.

49. Ihemtuge Uche Sixtus and Ihemtuge Chinwedu Earnest both of 4, Yetunde Babarinsa Close, Balogun Bus Stop Iju ,Lagos, two of the children of the said deceased.

50. Ian Griffith Randolph of Flat 4 Block D, Karls Court Airport Residential Area Accra , father of the said deceased.

51. Nwakwu Anthony of 28, Igbehinadun Street, Shasha Lagos and Enebeli Chioma of 77, Ogunlana Street, Egbeda, Lagos, widower and sister respectively of the said deceased.

52. Maxwell Emmanuel of 16, Pastor Abioye Street, Ijoko and Mrs Gold Ife Alaye of 10, Oladele Street, Saraki Adigbe, widower and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

53. Mrs Matilda Chigozie Ezeamama and Mr Maxwell Uzochukwu Ezeamama both of 2, Redemption Avenue Ajegunle, Apapa, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

54. Adeyemo Toyin Felicia and Alalekowosi Olubukola Titilayo both of 79, Miyaki Road, Oworonsoki Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

55. Mr Emmanuel Taiwo Orojinmi and Toluwalope Orojinmi both of 14, Ojo street, Akoka Lagos, the widower and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

56. Mrs Awawu Mustapha and Abudulai Mustapha both of 2, Maradonna Way Oko Oba Agege, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

57. Udoh Udoh Sunday and Micheal Maurice Akpan both of 18, Ifekoya Street, Dopemu, Agege, Lagos, brother and uncle respectively of the said deceased.

58. Mrs Bosede Sanni and Shefinat Sanni both of 30, Ajibotinu Street, Agege, Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

59. Mrs Balogun Evelyn A. and Ambrose Balogun both fo 18, Fadeyi Street, Aguda Ogba, Lagos, widow and brother respectively of the said deceased.

60. Mr Salia Otun, Mrs Ganiyat Ogunnowo and Miss Subomi Otun all of 7, Fagbamila Street, Ketu, Lagos, widower and two of the children respectively of the said deceased.

61. Mrs Olaniyi Adebukola Olutayo (Nee Oyewumi) of 36, Oluwaga Avenue, Ipaja, Lagos and Mr Oyewumi Oluseyi Akin of 27, Yusuf Street, Ipaja, Lagos, two of the chidren of the said deceased.

62. Mrs Joy N. Nwigwe and Chukwuma Nwigwe both of 8, Ayo Ajayi Close, Baruwa Ipaja, widow and the only child respectively of the said deceased.

63. Mrs Adore Augustina Komolafe of 78, Egbeda Road, Egbeda, Lagos and Mr Dare Komolafe of 20, Apo Esho Street, Ejigbo, widow and brother respectively of the said deceased.

64. Fausat Tiamiyu of 13, Shasi Lane, Isale Eko and Monsurat Ajiboye of 23, Ogunbaye Street, Mushin, Lagos, widow and sister-in-law respectively of the said deceased.

65. Nkoye Udo Udofia and Godwin Udo Udofia both of 39, Bello Street, Oshodi, Lagos mother and brother respectively of the said deceased.

66. Oluwadamilare Adesanya, Oluwapelumi Adesanya and Olutobi Adesanya all of No. 1, Awotunde Close, Oshodi, Lagos, three children of the said deceased.

67. Iyabo Onasanya of Block 6, House 20, Diamond Estate, Egbeda, Lagos Adetokunbo Onasanya of House 10, Ikota Estate Lekki Lagos and Oluwaseyi Onasanya of No. 198 Oniru Private Estate, Lagos, three children of the said deceased 68. Okpe Justina, Okpe Precious both of 11, Suphraim Street, Alasia Ojo and Isaac Utomudo of 40, Mobolaji Street, Ishashi Lagos, widow, one of the children and brother respectively of the said deceased.

69. Mr Rasheed A. Kazeem of No.1, Egbedina Street, Olowra Berger Lagos and Mrs Simiat Ganiyu of 30, Awosetan Street, Majidun , Lagos, two of the children of the said deceased.

70. Mrs Juliana Bose Tella of No. 1, Tella Close, Agura Ikorodu, Lagos and Miss Kikelomo Margret Tella of 2, Olaoluwa Close, Agbado, Lagos widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

71. Beatrice Adejugbagbe (Mrs) and Deborah Oluwatayo Mrs both of 14, Mobolaji Street, Aguda, Ogba, Lagos widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

72. Felicia Azage and Doris Azage both of 25, Ponle Street, Egbeda, Lagos, widow and one of the children respectively of the said deceased.

73. Alfa Sulaimon Ajide and Alhaja Halimot Shadiyat both of No. 1, Abatan Street, Kola Bus Stop, Agbado, Lagos, father and mother respectively of the said deceased.

74. Adebukola Omolola Ademoye of Block 23, Flat 6, Festac Extension Amuwo, Lagos and Olufunke Iyabode Adeniyi of 2, Abayomi Bolowotan Selewu Igbogbo Ikorodu, Lagos widow and sister respectively of the said deceased.

75. Mr Isiaka Babatunde Almaroof, Yakub Babashola Almaroof, Siadat Omowunmi Almaroof and Ibrahim Babaseyi Almaroof all of 3, Kekere Owo Street, Mushin, Lagos , four of the children of the said deceased.

76. Tunji Ogedengbe and Titi Ogedengbe both of 28, Owodunni Street, Akure, two children of the said deceased 77. Mr Olawole Rasheed Sawyer, Mrs Titilola Khalifat Balogun (Nee Sawyer) and Mrs Bolatito Modinat Sulaimon (Nee Sawyer) all of 57, Odaliki Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos, grandchildren of the said deceased.

78. Mrs Comfort Ekeng, Mrs Theresa Osaretin Owie and Felix Ekeng all of 10, Gold Street, Oke Odan Village, Isashi, Lagos, widow and two of the children respectively of the said deceased.

G.A SAFARI (MR.) PROBATE REGISTRAR

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NEWS ‘Youths opposed to Bajoga as deputy governor on their own’ From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

S

OME groups in Southern Kaduna have said youths from the area who opposed the nomination of Amb. Nuhu Bajoga as deputy governor were against the interest of the area and the state.

The groups are the Forum of Southern Kaduna Local Governments’ chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria and the youth wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU).

Addressing reporters yesterday in Kaduna, their spokesman, Danjuma Sarki, noted that though the groups would have wanted a younger person as deputy governor, there was no basis for the continued opposition to the choice of Governor Mukthar Ramalan Yero.

The groups’ spokesman said there is need to support the governor and his deputy toenable them succeed in developing Kaduna State.

Sarki said it is the constitutional right of the governor to choose his deputy.

He added: “What we did was mere agitation. We wanted a much younger person to occupy the position. But he has decided on the person he thinks he can work with and we must respect that decision in the overall interest of the state.

“We are using this medium to declare our support to the present administration and we call on all southern Kaduna youths to rally round him and disregard any call against the government by any individual or group to assist him in moving the state forward.”

JTF demolishes suspected Boko Haram leader’s home in Benue A MILITARY Joint Task Force (JTF) from Abuja at the weekend demolished a bungalow it alleged was the hideout of a suspected Boko Haram commander in Gboko, Benue State.

Gboko is the ancestral headquarters of the Tiv. It is located in Benue Northwest Senatorial Zone and is an hour’s journey (about 22 kilometres) from Makurdi, the state capital.

Armed soldiers in six operation vans stormed the bungalow in Gboko South, near a primary school, and arrested a woman and a landlord living there.

A member of the JTF, who spoke in confidence, explained that the suspect was traced through his handset to Gboko.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

It was, however, learnt that as the security men closed in on his hideout, the suspect escaped through the back door.

He reportedly left his “girlfriend”, who sources alleged he kidnapped from Abuja.

There was a heavy exchange of gunfire between the JTF and the suspect.

Bullets from the JTF hit nearby buildings.

The suspect was said to have escaped with bullet wounds.

There was confusion and panic among the residents.

Some residents watched from the distance as the opera-

tion lasted.

Officers and men of Benue State Police Commanded were reportedly taken unawares.

When armed soldiers stormed the compound, they discovered that their target had escaped.

They went away and returned shortly with a bulldozer with which they demolished the bungalow.

The first bulldozer broke down. This reportedly annoyed the JTF men, who allegedly beat him up before getting another to complete the demolition.

The suspect’s “girlfriend” and the landlord were reportedly moved to Abuja for inter-

rogation.

Gboko residents have since tightened security around churches following the exercise.

The Nation gathered that the suspect has been on the wanted list of security agencies because of his alleged involvement in bombing of churches in the North.

Police spokesman Daniel Ezeala, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (DSP), told The Nation that the operation was carried out by a combined security team from Abuja.

He, however, directed our correspondent to the State Security Service (SSS) command for further reaction.

AN aged woman was injured at the weekend and over 20 vehicles damaged during a clash between Offa and ErinIle in Kwara State.

No casualty was recorded.

The timely intervention of the men of the Kwara State Police Command prevented what could have snowballed into a renewed clash between both communities.

It was learnt that the clash followed a disagreement over where should be the terminus for commercial vehicles plying the Offa/Erin-Ile/ Lagos routes.

Peace was restored with the deployment of riot policemen to the areas.

Both communities are neighbours though under different locals governments Offa and Oyun.

It was learnt that the last bus stop for vehicles from Lagos should be the Federal Polytechnic’s temporary site in Offa.

The initial hostilities between the communities had been traced to land and boundary disputes.

These had claimed many lives and led to the destruction of property.

The government had declared the disputed boundary as a buffer zone to engender peace among the people.

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

T

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Dankwambo predicts better year

Crisis rocks auto dealers’ body in Niger HE leadership crisis rocking the Motor Dealers Association in Niger State deepened at the weekend.

The Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Baba Adamu, accused the acting state Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, of disregarding a court order by conducting election that returned him as the substantive chairman.

Addressing reporters in Minna, the state capital, the BOT Chairman also accused the electoral committee of contempt of a Minna Chief Magistrate Court.

The court had ordered the committee to stay action on the conduct of an election into the association’s executive post pending the determination of the substantive suit challenging the conduct of the election.

Adamu explained that an interim injunction was granted by the Chief Magistrate Court Grade 1 on December 18.

The injunction restrained the defendants from conducting an election into the offices of the association scheduled to hold on December 28 or any other date pending the determination of the motion on notice in the court.

The board chairman said the committee and the acting chairman did not only conduct the election against the court order but also swore in officers that emerged from the illegal election.

Woman injured, 20 vehicles damaged in Kwara community

• The Chairman, Gboko Local Government Area fo Benue State, Nahan Zenda (left) and Baba Agwei consoling a 60-year-old neighbour whose house was hit by bullets during the gun duel between JTF and the suspected Boko Haram leader in Gboko.

Y

2015: North’s youths vow to resist imposition of candidates

OUTHS in the North, under the aegis of the Northern Youth Assembly (NYA), have vowed to resist the imposition of unpopular candidates for the 2015 general elections.

They accused those they called old politicians of failing to lead the region well.

The youths at the weekend met in Kaduna and discussed the way forward for the region through the participation of tomorrow’s leaders.

They promised to unite and end personal differences for the cause of the North.

NYA National Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Waiya, addressed reporters after the meeting.

He said the group had begun to mobilise and unite the youths on one platform to articulate their position ahead of the 2015 elections.

The youth leader noted that for a long time, north’s youths have been relegated to the background by politicians he alleged have been using them for selfish political gains.

He said old politicians took the advantage of the youths to advance their political interests without doing anything to address the problems facing

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

the youths and the region.

Waiya said: “We feel the need for us, as youths in the North, to begin to articulate our views and positions and come out with a common agenda that will emancipate us and chart the way for a better future.

“We intend to create a platform where all northern youths will work together for a common good. That is why we have brought all the youths’ groups in the North together so that we can agree on how to work together.

“This time round, we would not allow any politician to use us and dump us again. We want a situation where we will sit down, articulate and agree on how we can take our destiny in our own hands. We are not happy with northern leaders because they have completely failed the younger generation.

“They have failed to uphold the legacies of the late Sardauna, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who they always speak of with pride. The late Sardauna and

other people, like Tafawa Balewa and several others, provided them the opportunity to be what they are today through visionary leadership.

“If Sardauna and others had behaved like these so-called leaders we have today, they would not have been where they are now. The crop of people we have in the North as leaders today are only interested in maximising their political gains.

“The elders have had enough of their time. Many of them were appointed ministers in their 20s and 30s. Today at 30 many of us are jobless and the

future looks very bleak because our elders have refused to leave the stage and are not even doing anything about the problems facing the youths.

“They will use the youths to achieve their selfish political gains and at the end of the day they relegate them to the background and abandoned them to wallow in joblessness and poverty.

This time around we are saying no, we will not allow ourselves to be used by any selfish politician again. We will determine the quality of leadership that will come this time round...”

THE security challenges and other difficulties Nigerians experienced in 2012 would not make any leader popular, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has said.

But truth, justice, equity and fairness, the governor noted, make leadership popular.

Dankwambo urged Nigerians to share these virtues so that peace would reign throughout the country this year.

The governor spoke in Gombe, the state capital, when he received the Christian community for the last Christmas and New Year homage.

He urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship that saw the country through the challenges of 2012 and kept the nation together as one.

He said: “The year 2012 was difficult for Nigeria. Never had such been experienced in recent times. It was the same 2012 that the world’s economy was slowest, even China felt it economically. Leadership in times of challenges like these cannot be popular.

Fed Govt to Yobe: relocate flood victims

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HE Federal Government has urged the Yobe State Government to relocate the 115 flood victims at Lawanti Camp in Akko Local Government to a better place.

The Federal Government spoke through Mr Durojaiye Adebayo, the leader of the Task Force on Flood Disaster Intervention of the Federal Ministry of Health in Gombe State.

Adebayo addressed reporters on the task force’s findings.

He expressed concerns on the condition of

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.

The government spokesman wondered why the flood victims were still being camped at the site.

He noted that besides the 115 victims at Lwanti, there were 350 other IDPs and 32,215 displaced houses in various local governments across the state.

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FOREIGN Police injured in Northern Ireland

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ETROL bombs, smoke canisters and hurled bricks have injured dozens of police during weeks of violence in Northern Ireland, officials said yesterday.

At least 52 officers have been wounded since pro-British protests erupted in the Northern Ireland city of Belfast last month, police said. Authorities have arrested 70 people in connection with the violence.

Tensions have been high since City Council members there voted a month ago to stop flying the Union Jack flag yearround, restricting it instead to certain days.

Politicians, clergy and community leaders met yesterday afternoon to discuss ways of ending the unrest.

The meeting came a day after the Police Service of Northern Ireland said its officers deployed water cannons and fired plastic bullets Saturday night at a crowd of more than 100 demonstrators who were hurling fireworks and bricks at them.

On Friday night, more than 30 petrol bombs were thrown at officers during serious disorder in the same part of the city. Officers were also pelted with ball bearings, fireworks and masonry, police said.

Another officer was hurt Friday in the Newtownabbey area, police said, where bottles and bricks were thrown at police in the course of a protest lasting several hours.

Northern Ireland’s political leaders have called for an end to the pro-British protests, which were prompted by the vote to limit display of the union flag of the United Kingdom.

The disorder follows a summer of heightened tensions between Northern Ireland’s Catholic and Protestant communities. Riots in September left dozens of police officers hurt.

The recent violence follows more than a decade during which Northern Ireland has made steady progress toward lasting peace and stability.

On Sunday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers were prepared for more violence.

Mandela has ‘recovered’, says govt FORMER South African President Nelson Mandela has recovered from a lung infection and surgery to remove gallstones, the government says.

“President Mandela has made steady progress and... continues to improve,” President Jacob Zuma’s office said.

Mandela, 94, spent almost three weeks in hospital last month, and has since been receiving treatment at his home in an East Cape province village.

It was his longest stay in hospital since he left prison in 1990.

Mandela served as South Africa’s first black president from 1994 to 1999 and is regarded by many as the father of the nation.

His health has been a cause of concern for many years. He first contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while detained in Robben Island prison.

He has been admitted to hospital on three occasions in the past two years.

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Honduras sacks envoy ONDURAS fired its ambassador to Colombia and said it was investigating reports of an out-of-control party at its embassy in Bogota.

Ambassador Carlos Rodriguez was let go to “safeguard national interests and good relations” with Colombia, the Honduran Foreign Ministry said in a statement released Saturday. The ministry demanded his resignation and he gave it.

Citing unnamed sources, the El Heraldo newspaper in

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Honduras reported an employee close to Rodriguez threw a party at the embassy on the night of December 20 that was attended by prostitutes.

Amid heavy drinking, party-goers trashed the facility, the newspaper said, reporting that computers and cell phones were stolen.

Rodriguez is not thought to have been at the party.

The Foreign Ministry said a group charged with looking into what happened will have a report ready no later than Monday.

Chavez’s ally re-elected

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ENEZUELa’s National Assembly has met to choose its leader, a possible stand-in for President Hugo Chavez who is in Cuba following cancer surgery.

The assembly re-elected the incumbent Diosdado Cabello, a leading ally of Chavez.

Opposition leaders are calling for new elections if the president cannot be sworn in for his new term on Thursday.

In such a situation, Cabello would become caretaker president pending the outcome of the vote.

Vice-President Nicolas Maduro has dismissed the opposition’s calls, saying the Supreme Court can swear in Mr Chavez at a later date.

Cabello’s re-election was expected in the National Assembly, which is dominated by Mr Chavez’s governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

“The president will continue being president beyond January 10, nobody should have any doubt about that,” Mr Cabello said after his election, adding: “We will never defraud the people.”

Maduro watched the vote and debate from the balcony of the chamber.

TODAY IN HISTORY 1990: Leaning Tower of Pisa closed to public The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public for the first time in its history amid safety fears

• A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Assad (left) is applauded at the end of PHOTO: AFP his public address

Assad denounces opponents

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YRIAN President Bashar al-Assad has delivered a rare TV address, denouncing his opponents as “enemies of God and puppets of the West”.

He lamented the suffering of the people in the civil war, saying a “black cloud” of pain engulfed every corner.

Assad also set out a plan involving a national dialogue conference and a referendum on a national charter.

The UN estimates that more than 60,000 people have been killed in the uprising, which began in March 2011.

The speech was Assad’s first public address since June.

He rejected the Syrian opposition movement as puppets fabricated by the West, and said that Syria wanted to negotiate with the “master not the servants”.

Assad said Syria had not rejected diplomatic moves but insisted it would not negotiate with people with “terrorist” ideas.

He said: “There are those who seek to partition Syria and weaken it. But Syria is stronger... and will remain sovereign... and this is what upsets the West.”

His speech was interspersed with applause and chants from defiant supporters in the opera house in central Damascus, and at the end he was mobbed on the stage.

Assad accused the rebels of stealing wheat from the people, depriving children of school and cutting off electric-

•Says they’re puppets of the West Morsi: try President for war crimes

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GYPTIAN President Mohamed Morsi supports calls by people in Syria for President Bashar al-Assad to be tried for war crimes, he told CNN yesterday in an exclusive interview.

Morsi has also invited the heads of the two major Palestinian factions to meet in Cairo in hopes of building unity — a task he acknowledged won’t be easy.

Speaking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in Cairo, Morsi said he invited Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to meet with Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of Hamas, who lives in Cairo.

Hamas controls Gaza; Abbas’ party, Fatah, controls the West Bank. The two factions have clashed violently over the years.

The United States, Israel, and the European Union list Hamas as a terrorist organisation. The group has carried out numerous attacks killing scores of civilians.

Morsi, who came to power in June after the country’s first democratic elections, helped broker an end to the November conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza.

In the interview yesterday with CNN, Morsi sought to assure viewers around the world, as well as people in his own country, that he is committed to promoting democracy and protecting minorities, including the country’s Coptic Christians, from discrimination. ity and medical supplies.

Assad called on every citizen to defend the country according to their means.

“We are now in a state of war in every sense of the word. This war targets Syria using a handful of Syrians and many foreigners. Thus, this is a war to defend the nation,” he said.

Assad set out a series of steps he said would provide a solution to the crisis: Outside powers to stop arming what he called “terrorist groups” The army would then halt

military operations, while reserving the right to defend state interests The government would then contact what he termed “Syrian individuals and political parties” to engage in a conference of national dialogue The conference would try to establish a national charter that would be put to a referendum, leading to parliamentary elections and a new government The BBC’s James Reynolds says the president’s latest words are unlikely to per-

suade any in the opposition that he is ready to discuss a viable transition.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) quickly dismissed Assad’s proposals.

Spokesman Walid Bunni told Reuters his group would accept nothing less than the departure of Mr Assad and his government.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague accused President Assad of hypocrisy, saying “the empty promises of reform fool no-one”.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s office said the union would consider “if there is anything new in the speech”, but added: “We maintain our position that Assad has to step aside and allow for a political transition.”

The foreign minister of neighbouring Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, dismissed Assad’s remarks as “repetitions of what he’s said all along”.

Assad’s last public comments were in November, when he told Russian TV he would “live and die in Syria”.

Since then opposition forces have gained control of swathes of territory in northern Syria and have formed the SNC, a more inclusive leadership that has been recognised by the US and the EU. But rebel efforts to gain ground in and around major cities including Damascus have been met by stiff resistance and increasingly destructive air strikes.

Border clash in India, Pakistan NDIAN and Pakistani troops have clashed near the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region.

Pakistan said Indian troops had raided a military post in the Haji Pir sector of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, killing a soldier and injuring another.

An Indian army spokesman said it had responded to a “ceasefire violation” but did not cross the Line of Control.

Kashmir is claimed by both nations in its entirety and has been a flashpoint between them for more than 60 years.

Exchanges are not uncom-

I

mon but rarely result in fatalities.

The Pakistani military said in a statement that Indian troops had “physically raided a checkpost named Sawan Patra”.

The Haji Pir Pass is just south of the main road from Muzaffarabad in Pakistancontrolled Kashmir to Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir.

“Pakistan army troops effectively responded to the attack,” the Pakistani statement said, adding that Indian troops had left behind weapons as they retreated.

One Pakistani soldier was

killed and another critically injured, it said.

Indian army spokesman Col Jagadish Dahiya told Reuters news agency it had responded to a “ceasefire violation” by Pakistan.

He added: “None of our troops crossed the Line of Control. We have no casualties or injuries.”

Another Indian army spokesman, Col Brijesh Pandey, told Associated Press that Pakistani troops had “initiated unprovoked firing” with mortar shells and automatic weapons at Indian military posts. One civilian home was de-

stroyed, he said.

“We retaliated only using small arms. We believe it was clearly an attempt on their part to facilitate infiltration of militants,” Col Pandey said.

There has been a ceasefire in Kashmir since late 2003.

India suspended a peace process with Pakistan following attacks by Pakistanbased militants in Mumbai in 2008. Negotiations resumed in February last year.

Last month, the nations signed an agreement to ease visa restrictions on travel for some citizens.

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FOREIGN NEWS Sudanese leaders commit to buffer zone

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HE leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have reaffirmed their commitment to setting up a buffer zone on their shared border and resuming oil exports.

African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki said both sides had agreed “unconditionally” to implement a deal first struck in September.

Presidents Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and Salva Kiir of South Sudan smiled and shook hands, but made no comment.

The neighbours came close to war after the South’s independence in 2011.

The talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, followed reports of renewed clashes on the disputed border.

African Union mediators will now lay out a timetable for the implementation of all outstanding agreements, according to an official document seen by the BBC. This is expected to be in place by the end of next week, and if the timetable is respected, a demilitarised buffer zone between the two countries will be set up.

That would allow the resumption of oil exports from the south and of cross-border trade.

“They’ve... agreed that actions should be taken immediately - or maybe as soon as possible - to implement all the existing agreements unconditionally,” Mbeki said.

“The presidents have also agreed that... the necessary decisions are taken to create the safe demilitarised border zone.”

Dad to govt: name India rape victim

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HE father of an Indian woman who was gang-raped in Delhi and later died says her name should be made public so she can serve as an inspiration to other victims of sexual crimes.

The father told Britain’s Sunday People newspaper: “We want the world to know her real name.”

Indian law protects sex crime victims by prohibiting identification.

One minister, Shashi Tharoor, has urged authorities to reveal the name so it can be used for a new antirape law.

The woman, 23, died last weekend in a hospital in Singapore from injuries suffered during last month’s attack.

The father told the Sunday People: “My daughter didn’t do anything wrong, she died while protecting herself.

“I am proud of her. Revealing her name will give courage to other women who

have survived these attacks.

They will find strength from my daughter.”

The laws on identification were introduced to protect victims from the social stigma associated with rape, and apply even after the death of the victim.

Although the system has not always been watertight, the high-profile case has brought a tough stance from the authorities.

Police filed a case against broadcaster Zee News after it carried an interview with the friend who was with the victim during the attack.

The victim’s friend was not named but his face was shown and police are investigating whether Zee News broke broadcasting laws relating to disclosure of the victim’s identity.

However, it remains unclear what could be done if the father chose to publicly name his daughter.

Last week, Tharoor, the jun-

ior education minister, called on the authorities to reveal the name of the gang-rape victim so that the new anti-rape law could be named after her.

He wrote: “Unless her parents object, she should be honoured and the revised anti-rape law named after her. She was a human being with a name, not just a symbol.”

The Sunday People said the father had given it permission to name him and his daughter.

It carried a photograph of the father but said the family had requested no photograph of the victim be used.

In the interview, the father also renewed his calls for the men who carried out the attack to be hanged.

“Death for all six of them.

These men are beasts. They should be made an example of and that society will not allow such things to happen,” he said.

Five men have been charged with abduction, rape and murder. A sixth suspect is expected to be tried as a juvenile.

A pre-court hearing for the five was held in the Saket area of the Indian capital on Saturday and the men have been summoned to appear in court today.

In his interview with Zee News, the friend said he and the rape victim had boarded a bus after a trip to the cinema and after failing to flag down an auto-rickshaw.

He said the bus had tinted windows, and that he believed the group of men had laid a trap for them.

He confirmed that the assailants had later thrown them off the bus and tried to run them over.

The case has caused a national outcry, and there have been frequent protests calling for greater protection for women.

The BBC’s Andrew North, in Delhi, says it continues to put Indian life under a sharp magnifying glass and for many people it is uncomfortable viewing.

A CAT has been detained in the grounds of a jail in Brazil with contraband goods for prisoners strapped to its body with tape.

The white cat was apprehended crossing the main prison gate.

The incident took place at a jail in Arapiraca city, 250km (155 miles) southwest of Recife in Alagoas state.

The confiscated items included drill bits, files, a mobile phone and charger, plus earphones The cat was taken to a local animal centre.

The jail holds some 263 prisoners.

A prison spokesperson was quoted by local paper Estado de S. Paulo as saying: “It’s tough to find out who’s responsible for the action as the cat doesn’t speak.”

Officials said the items could be used to effect a means of escape or for communicating with criminals on the outside.

The incident took place at New Year, but the photo has only recently been released.

Palestine changes name

China suspends new traffic law

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HINA has suspended tough new traffic penalties, designed to reduce the country’s soaring accident rate, following a public outcry.

The controversial rules imposed penalty points for motorists who drove through amber traffic lights, with a driving ban after two offences.

There were widespread complaints that drivers stopping abruptly at lights were causing more accidents.

More than 60,000 people were killed in road accidents in China last year.

The transport ministry says the ever-growing number of vehicles on the roads is making things worse.

In a bid to restore some order, new rules introduced on 1 January stepped up penalties for speeding, drinking and driving and using a mobile phone while behind the wheel.

But correspondents say it was the measure to stop driving through red and amber lights that went down badly with motorists.

Even the official Xinhua news agency joined the criticism after complaints that motorists were stopping so abruptly at traffic lights that they were causing collisions and tailbacks.

The government gave no reason for the climbdown saying only that it was reconsidering its policies.

Cat ‘arrested’ in Brazil

•George, a Palestinian Christian boy, dressed up as Santa Claus, shares sweets in the Church of the Nativity, accepted by Christians as the birth place of Jesus Christ, as faithful flock to the church to celebrate Christian Orthodox Christmas Eve in the West Bank town of Bethlehem...yesterday.

PHOTO:AFP

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Eve

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HOUSANDS of young men leapt into icy rivers and lakes across eastern Europe on Sunday to retrieve crucifixes cast by priests in ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.

By tradition, a wooden cross is cast into the water and it is believed that the person who retrieves it will be freed from evil spirits.

In the central Bulgarian city of Kalofer, 350 men in traditional dress waded into the icy Tundzha River with national flags. Led by the town’s mayor and encouraged by a folk orchestra and homemade plum brandy, they danced and stomped in the rocky

riverbed.

In the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, some 3,000 Orthodox believers turned out to watch priests hurl three crosses into the icy sea. Dozens— some wearing diving suits— dived into the waters to retrieve the crosses.

“We the people are so like the sea,” said Romanian Orthodox Archbishop Teodosie Tomitanul. “We hope that, as the sea has been calm until now this year, our souls will be just as calm.”

Some Orthodox Christian churches, including those in Russia, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, follow a different calendar, and yesterday was Christmas Eve, with Epiphany on January 19.

Dozens missing after Australian fires USTRALIAN authorities were searching yesterday for a number of people reported missing in wildfires that destroyed more than 100 homes in southeast Tasmania, officials said.

Police and rescue workers were going door to door in the southern Tasmanian towns of Dunalley and Boomer Bay to try to account for dozens missing after the fires hit the region on Friday, acting Police Commissioner Scott Tilyard said, according to CNN affiliate Network 10.

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While there have been no casualties reported so far, Tilyard said he was “fearful that someone may have died in this fire.”

“It is a very distinct possibility still, and I think people need to brace themselves that that may be the case,” Tilyard told reporters in Tasmania’s capital of Hobart.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated by sea and air from the Tasman Peninsula because the fires have blocked roads in and out of the rural communities, officials said.

Evacuee Pam Macfarlane told Network 10 she didn’t know whether her home had survived the blaze. The fire reached her neighborhood less than an hour after she learned it had skipped over a nearby canal.

“It was terrifying. ... I saw flames and I saw ashes coming,” she said.

Dazed residents sought shelter at relief centers.

“We’ve got people who are just walking in who’ve got absolutely nothing,” Tammy Mason, a relief coordinator, told Network 10. “They’re bewildered. A lot of them

just want clean underwear and just a change of clothes.”

Yesterday, the Tasmania Fire Service warned a dangerous wildfire was advancing on Taranna, a small town known for the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park.

“If your home is well constructed, prepared and actively defended, it may provide shelter,” the fire service said in a emergency warning message issued yesterday night. “If you don’t have a plan or your plan is to leave — leave now only if the path is clear.”

THE Palestinian president has ordered his government to officially change the name of the Palestinian Authority to “State of Palestine.”

The move follows the November decision by the United Nations to upgrade the Palestinians’ status to that of a “non-member observer state.”

President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday that all official Palestinian stamps, stationery and documents will now bear the new name.

A statement from his office said the move was aimed at enhancing Palestinian “sovereignty on the ground” and was a step on the way to “real independence.” Israel still controls most of the West Bank.

Israel objected to the Palestinian statehood bid at the U.N., calling it a unilateral step aimed at bypassing direct peace negotiations. Abbas denied that.

Israel had no comment yesterday.

Actor gets Russian passport FRENCH actor Gerard Depardieu has met President Vladimir Putin and has been handed his new Russian passport.

The actor had announced he was seeking Russian citizenship after the French government criticised his decision to move abroad to avoid higher taxes.

Depardieu met Putin in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Depardieu was then given his new passport, although the president’s spokesman said Putin did not hand it over personally.

Depardieu and Putin shook hands and hugged each other at the meeting in Sochi.

The actor was later invited to set up home in the central Russian region of Mordovia, known for its Stalin-era prison camps.

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SPORT EXTRA Messi targets fourth Ballon d'Or LIONEL MESSI, who once more set the footballing world alight in 2012, is favourite to claim yet another FIFA Ballon d'Or on Monday. The Argentine bagged an incredible 91 goals in the calendar year, breaking Gerd Muller's long-standing record of 85 by notching 79 for Barcelona and 12 for his national side.

"I'm delighted for him," the great German player said at the time. "He is an incredible player, gigantic.

He's such a nice and modest professional."

After his unprecedented year, Messi may pip Barcelona teammate Andes Iniesta and Portugal's Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo to the title of world's best player when the three-man list is whittled to one at the FIFA gala in Zurich. Voting had been open to selected coaches, players and journalists.

•Messi

Ronaldo hoping to win Ballon d´Or REAL MADRID star Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he would love to win the Ballon d'Or. The award for the best footballer in the world will be announced in Zurich on Monday and Ronaldo is hoping to go one better after finishing runner-up to Lionel Messi last year.

"Honestly, I will answer this question in a sincere way," he said.

"You don't know me but some other people do and they know how honest I am.

"Ok, I would love to win the Ballon d'Or, I won't lie."

Ronaldo previously won the award in 2008, but since it merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year award, Messi has won the past two years.

The Portuguese superstar helped Real win last year's La Liga title with 46 goals and became the first player to score against all 19 league rivals in a single season.

Former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United, recognised what he once had at his club.

"He's an unbelievable player. We have a pantheon of great players and Ronaldo

definitely compares with any of them," he said.

"Although he had a natural talent, he is in many ways manufactured himself - he practised and practised. He had a bit of the Eric Cantona about him in that way."

Ronaldo will be wearing new boots for the La Liga game against Real Sociedad later which are embossed with his remarkable achievements over last year.

He may have to find room for another statistic if he takes home the top award on Monday.

•Ronaldo

PAST WINNERS

YEAR

WINNER (Club - Country)

1991 Lothar MATTHÄUS (Internazionale - Germany) 1992 Marco VAN BASTEN (Milan AC - Netherlands) 1993 Roberto BAGGIO (Juventus - Italy) 1994 ROMÁRIO da Souza Faria (FC Barcelona - Brazil) 1995 George WEAH (Milan AC - Liberia) 1996 RONALDO Nazario de Lima (PSV Eindhoven & FC Barcelona - Brazil) 1997 RONALDO Nazario de Lima (FC Barcelona & Inter Milan - Brazil) 1998 Zinedine ZIDANE (Juventus - France) 1999 RIVALDO Vitor Borba Ferreira (FC Barcelona - Brazil) 2000 Zinedine ZIDANE (Juventus - France) 2001 Luis FIGO (Real Madrid - Portugal) 2002 RONALDO Nazario de Lima (Inter Milan & Real Madrid - Brazil) 2003 Zinedine ZIDANE (Real Madrid - France) 2004 Ronaldo de Assis "RONALDINHO" (FC Barcelona – Brazil) 2005 Ronaldo de Assis "RONALDINHO" (FC Barcelona – Brazil) 2006 Fabio CANNAVARO (Juventus & Real Madrid – Italy) 2007 Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite "KAKÁ" (Milan AC – Brazil) 2008 Cristiano RONALDO (Manchester United – Portugal) 2009 Lionel MESSI (Barcelona - Argentina) 2010 Lionel MESSI (Barcelona - Argentina) 2011 Lionel MESSI (Barcelona – Argentina) 2012 ???????????????????????????????????????

Iniesta also had a wonderful year, starring at the heart of Spain's midfield at the European Championships, where they claimed their third successive major tournament by trouncing Italy 4-0 in the decider.

The winner of the award in 2008, Ronaldo has faced constant taunts over being inferior to the Argentine, but did help Real Madrid to last season's Spanish title ahead of Barcelona netting 46 times - before starring for Portugal at the European Championships.

However, controversy followed him at the tournament after he was the unused fifth penalty taker in the semi-final loss to Spain.

Since its inception in 1956 by France Football magazine - initially as a Europe-only award before it was merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2010 - only Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten have won the Ballon d'Or three times. Zinedine Zidane and the Brazilian Ronaldo both lifted the FIFA equivalent on three occasions, but a fourth title for Messi would put him out on his own.

Why Iniesta should win Ballon d'Or COMPETITION for this year's golden ball is tough but surely Andrés Iniesta deserves the title.

6th of May 2009. Stamford Bridge. Andrés Iniesta scores the goal that paves Barcelona's way to the Champions League final.

The goal came seconds before the final whistle.

11th of July 2010. Soccer City. Andrés Iniesta scores the goal that secures the World Cup for Spain. The goal came seconds before the final whistle.

28th of May 2011. Wembley Stadium. Andrés Iniesta assisted Messi for the second Barcelona goal as the red and blue outclassed Manchester United for their fourth European Cup. Euro 2012. Andrés Iniesta is the player of the tournament as Spain break history by becoming the first side to win three major titles in a row.

Every year there is a golden moment for this golden player.

The Barcelona number eight has been described as the situations man. When times are tough you can rely on Iniesta to find a way out of trouble. 2012 was no different.

•Iniesta

THE GLADI GLAD

Who wins Ba

REGARDED as the most prestigious individual award in world football, the Fifa Ballon d'Or was created by France Football magazine in 1956 to honour the best European player of the previous calendar year.

In 2010, it was merged with Fifa's World Player of the Year and the award - voted for by journalists, and national coaches and captains - now recognises the best players in world football.

BBC Sport profiles Andres Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - the three contenders for the main prize to be awarded in Zurich on Monday.

Andres Iniesta - Barcelona and Spain The 28-year-old midfielder, who came through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, is one of a select group of players to have won the World Cup, European Championship and Champions League.

However, he has yet to win this award, coming closest in 2010 when he finished runner-up to club-mate Lionel Messi.

So, how has he earned another place in the top three?

Apart from producing moments of brilliance for Barca, he played the leading role as Spain won Euro 2012 to clinch back-to-back European Championship titles.

Iniesta won three man-ofthe-match awards during last summer's competition in

Messi, Ronaldo and In

Poland and Ukraine, and was named Uefa's player of the tournament.

He played fewer games than Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo at domestic club level, but nonetheless managed to achieve impressive feats.

Iniesta was a key member of the Barcelona team that set a club record for successive home games without defeat 55. The record came to an end in April 2012 when Barcelona succumbed to eventual champions Real Madrid.

He was also named the best player of the 2011-12 Champions League tournament, which saw his team knocked out at the semifinal stage by Chelsea.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque: "It's like when Roger Federer plays tennis, he barely sweats. Iniesta appears as if he makes no effort to play."

Iniesta helps Spain to Euro 2012 victory Spain-based journalist Andy West: "Iniesta is revered throughout Spain - not just by Barcelona fans - for the goal that won the World Cup final in 2010, and he cemented that status last summer with another brilliant series of performances in the Euros.

"He's a stupendous dribbler, a wizard with the ball at his feet - especially when he's wriggling through seemingly

non-existent gaps between defenders on the left wing. He was at his magical best in Barca's 4-0 win at Levante in November - he scored one and created the other three."

Lionel Messi - Barcelona and Argentina Is the 25-year-old the greatest player the world has seen?

Messi has already won the Ballon d'Or three times - 2009, 2010 and 2011 - and is odds-on favourite to become the first player to win the title a record fourth time.

The Argentine forward is arguably the best dribbler seen in football since compatriot Diego Maradona was at his peak in the 1980s.

But along with Messi's ability to evade and create comes his brilliant scoring record. And in 2012, the football world looked on in disbelief as he broke record after record.

In March, Messi became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match as Barcelona defeated Bayer Leverkusen 7-1. A hat-trick against Granada, later that month, then saw him claim the club's all-time scoring record.

He scored 14 goals in the 2011-12 Champions League, breaking the record of 12 that he had previously shared with former Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

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THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

SPORT EXTRA What people say about the contenders CHRISTIANO RONALDO CARLOS QUEIROZ "Portugal have a national team called Cristiano Ronaldo and a group of players who run after him."

his head, is technically good, takes penalties and good freekicks, and is a leader. I think Cristiano Ronaldo is a phenomenon.”

EMILIO BUTRAGUENO "Cristiano is a phenomenon. His style of play is unique. He is a player who, every day, wants to be better than he was yesterday. He's ambitious, with a huge ability to score goals and a very big influence in the dressing room. He is the greatest forward to ever wear the shirt of Madrid.”

DIEGO MARADONA “Cristiano Ronaldo had been struggling for form at international level for years.

The world's best player, along with Lionel Messi, seemed frustrated and petulant when playing for Portugal. But after a superb couple of games, Ronaldo started playing scoring three goals and bringing Portugal to an unexpected semi-final. It is always great to see the best in a superstar. He has shown his countrymen that he deserves a monument in Lisbon.”

SIR ALEX FERGUSON "He's an unbelievable player. We have a pantheon of great players and Ronaldo definitely compares with any of them.

Although he had a natural talent, he is in many ways manufactured himself – he practised and practised. He had a bit of the Eric Cantona about him in that way. He was definitely good value for Madrid.”

RUUD GULLIT "The same thing happens to Ronaldo as it did to Beckham – people criticise them because they are envious that they’re very good-looking. But for me, Ronaldo’s the ideal player.

He's fast, tall, is good with

LADIATORS In May, Messi broke former Bayern Munich striker Gerd Mueller's mark of 67 goals in a single European season, eventually finishing the 201112 campaign with 73.

Play media And in December, the diminutive Argentina captain grabbed his 86th goal of 2012 to surpass Mueller's 40-yearold record of having scored the most goals - in domestic and international games combined - in a calendar year.

Messi finished 2012 with 91 goals.

Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola: "We will not see another player like Messi."

Spain-based journalist Andy West: "Messi's statistics speak for themselves, but there's far more to his game than goal scoring. He's tremendously selfless - a real team player and won't shoot if he can see a team-mate in a better position.

"Another of Messi's great qualities is his humility.

When he scored the goal that took him past Gerd Mueller's calendar-year record at Betis in December, his spontaneous reaction was to run to Iniesta and thank him for the pass that created the chance. That speaks volumes about his mentality."

Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid and Portugal The showman came of age

in 2012.

Nearly everything Cristiano Ronaldo touched turned to gold in an unforgettable year for the 27-year-old Portuguese.

Last season, he helped Real Madrid to their first league title since 2008 with goalscoring feats that only his Ballon d'Or rival Messi could match.

Ronaldo scored 46 goals in total for Los Blancos becoming the only player in La Liga history to score 40 goals or more in a season twice.

The 2008 Ballon d'Or winner finished the 2011-12 campaign with 60 goals in all competitions, including at least one against each of Real's 19 domestic league opponents - the first time that feat had been achieved.

At Euro 2012, he scored three goals and produced some show-stopping performances to help Portugal reach the semi-finals, where they were knocked out

by Spain on penalties.

And in October, Ronaldo became the first person to score in six consecutive El Clasicos, as Real drew 2-2 with Barcelona.

Ronaldo lights up Euro 2012 Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho: "If Messi is the best on the planet, Ronaldo is the best in the universe."

Spain-based journalist Andy

•Emilio Butragueno

•Sir Alex Ferguson

•Ruud Gullit

ON LIONEL MESSI

s Ballon d'Or?

o and Iniesta in profile

NUNO “Messi is a great player, but Cristiano is absolutely tremendous. He is the best in the world because he's the most complete player. He is fast, powerful, scores goals, has so much quality and always helps his team out defensively if required. He is the perfect ten. I have never seen such a perfect football machine. Football has changed a lot, and I doubt that players such as Pele, Di Stefano and Maradona could do what Cristiano does now with such intensity.”

•Diego Maradona

West: "Ronaldo was the driving force behind Real Madrid's 2011-12 title campaign - his phenomenal blend of power, pace and precision was often virtually unplayable. His crowning glory came at the Nou Camp in April, when he scored the match-winner that effectively sealed the title.

"I'd say Ronaldo is a more mature performer than during his time in England he's less petulant, less prone to diving and has developed greater consistency. He's now happy to accept added responsibility and is a real leader for both club and country."

•Luis Fernandex

•David Silva

•Alfio Basile

•Gerd Muller

ALFIO BASILE "You cannot compare anyone to Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great human footballer, but Messi is a Martian. He can run even faster with the ball than he can without it. It's as if he's playing another sport. It's almost impossible to do the things he does at that speed."

GERD MULLER "My record stood for 40 years – 85 goals in 60 games – and now the best player in the world has broken it. I'm delighted for him. He is an incredible player, gigantic.

He's such a nice and modest professional, and I hope he gets one or two more goals in 2012 and that he can then hold on to the record for the

next 40 years. He's fantastic.

He only has one defect and that is that he doesn't play for Bayern Munich!"

LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI "Some people do not like Ronaldo because he is a great player, good-looking and has sex with all the ladies. People get jealous. The only bad thing about Ronaldo's life is Messi. If it was not for him, Ronaldo would have been the best player in the world for five years in a row now."

SAMUEL ETO'O "Messi is a God – as a person and even more so as a player.

I hope that he wins the World Cup with Argentina. To the Gods of the world, all I ask is that you give him that chance.”

ON ANDREAS INIESTA BORIS BECKER “Definitely Andres Iniesta.

It’s not that difficult to play well and win titles in a team like Barcelona, but it’s in the national side where you see a player’s true class. That was the case with figures like Pele, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane. With Spain, Iniesta has shown that he is among the best players of all time and that’s why I rate him higher than Messi or Ronaldo.

Even though the latter two have incredible scoring records for their clubs, they still haven’t won anything with Argentina or Portugal respectively.”

DAVID SILVA “The press often ask me about whether Messi or Ronaldo is the best, but for me something is very clear: Andres Iniesta is the number one. He is able to do even more difficult things on the pitch. He is magic with the ball and so influential.”

LUIS FERNANDEZ "There is not as much talk

about Iniesta as there is about Messi, but I would like him to win the Ballon d'Or. He deserves it for his career with Barcelona and Spain, and for his virtues. He does everything right: he sets up chances like only a few can and he also scores regularly.

Iniesta is a magician who always knows what to do when he gets the ball.”

SERGIO RAMOS “He is the enlightened one, [someone] touched by a magic wand. He commands so much respect on the pitch. As a football lover, I am proud to have played with him. He makes the difference and does things that no one else can do."

JUAN ROMAN RIQUELME "I watch Iniesta and realise that, even at my age, I could be learning new things."

FERNANDO TORRES “When he has the ball, it’s like everything else stops – like the camera is going in slow motion. “I’ve been playing with him since we were 15, and I have never, ever seen him play badly.”

•Eto’o

•Sergio Ramos

•Juan Roman Riquelme

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

60

AFCON COUNTDOWN

NATION SPORT

Slow ticket sales in PE, Rustenburg

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Drogba, Toure, others in Abu Dhabi for Egypt friendly rogba and his Ivory Coast teammates are warming up for the African Cup of Nations in Abu Dhabi.

Stars such as Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Asamoah Gyan are set to parade their skills in Abu Dhabi as they prepare to lead their country to glory in the African Cup of Nations.

The Ivory Coast, led by Drogba and Manchester City star Toure, are on a training

D

camp in the UA E capital and have lined up a friendly with Egypt on January 14.

Ghana, who will have Al Ain frontman Gyan leading their line, will face the Egyptians on January 10 and then Tunisia three days later.

But Ghana are sweating on the fitness of midfield star Andre Ayew after he injured a hamstring while training with his French club Marseille.

The Black Stars want to assess him before ruling him out.

Tunisia are in Group D alongside the Ivory Coast for the tournament, which takes place in South Africa from January 19-February 10.

Muntari inspires me, say Wakaso Ghana midfielder Mubarak Wakaso has revealed the source of his inspiration is Sulley Muntari.

The 22-year-old has become the newest sensation in the Black Stars team ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Wakaso impressed on his

international debut where his goal saw Ghana beat Cape Verde 1-0 in a friendly match played in November.

The Espanyol midfielder who was likened to Muntari during the early stages of his career now reveals the AC Milan player is indeed his role model.

“I really love him (Sulley Muntari) because he is a great player,” he told GHANAsoccernet.com.

“But I can never be Sulley

Muntari even though when I was a kid they used to call me junior Sulley.

“I only have good things to say about him and I hope one day I achieve the level he is.”

Wakaso is one of the players likely to make the final Ghana squad for the Nations Cup in South Africa.

His versatility makes him a must have player both at club and national team level.

HE Local Organising Committee (LOC) for

the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations will on Tuesday launch a public awareness campaign in all host cities in a last minute attempt to accelerate ticket sales.

With just 13 days to go before the start of the tournament, organisers of the event are particularly worried about the slow rate of ticket sales in Port Elizabeth and Rustenburg.

Port Elizabeth will host Group B, which is made up of Mali, Niger, DR Congo and Ghana, while Rustenburg will host Group D teams Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia and Algeria.

But the likes of Ivory Coast and Ghana, traditional giants in African football, are failing to lure fans to the stadiums.

“Over 300,000 tickets have been distributed for the tournament which includes those taken by the host cities for distribution,” LOC spokesperson Sipho Sithole tellsKickOff.com.

“Direct sales to the public are lower than expected but should pick up soon in Rustenburg and Port Elizabeth.”

While Sithole says“there is no direct answer to the cause” of the slow rate of ticket sales, the LOC hopes their planned public awareness drive will attract more people to the stadiums.

“The host cities, working with the LOC, Sport and Recreation, Brand SA, GCIS and CAF social partners will be implementing a massive public awareness programme starting from 8 January at all the host cities to drive ticket sales,” Sithole says.

“Zambia, Angola, Algeria and Morocco have arrived [in South Africa]. With the arrival of these teams, the vibe is beginning to pick up,” Sithole insists

Shakes: Teko will be missed Alhassane swings victory Niger way

F

ORMER Kaizer Chiefs legend Isaac ‘Shakes’ Khungwane has questioned the absence of Teko Modise from Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations squad.

Modise, together with Andile Jali and Sifisi Myeni, were the surprise omissions from Gordon Igesund’s side which will do battle in two weeks time in the continental showdown.

Khungwane says that the Sundowns play-maker would have made a positive impact should he have played.

“I feel Modise would have been an ideal player in the side. Not only does he play entertaining football but he also attacks which is what we need as a host nation,” said Khungwane.

Khungwane, who was known as a flair player in his day, does however admit that with the changing nature of

football, players like Modise are at best a luxury.

“Maybe if he was playing in our times he would have been in the squad. The transformation and growth of football has seen the most talented players not being selected.

“This has opened up doors to those who work extra hard and at some times produce average football,” Khungwane told Goal.

The former Amakhosi attacker does, however, believe that there are a couple of players who can take on the play-maker’s role.

“I think both of these players (Thulani Serero and Oupa Manyisa) represent what South African football is all about. Surely they have proved that they have the talent and what is left for them now is to continue working hard,” he said.

M

OROCCO-BASED striker Issoufou Alhassane ‘Dante’ was the game changer for Niger in a 3-1 win over Togo in Niamey on Saturday night.

Goals by Issoufou Boubacar, Mohamed Chikoto and skipper Moussa Maazou gave Mena a heart-warming victory leading up to this month’s AFCON in South Africa.

Tunisia-based defender Chikoto was arguably the man of the match after he scored an own goal and then redeemed himself by scoring at the end of the picth also.

However, Alhassane will share in the spotlight as he used his experience to lead Niger to victory.

‘Dante’ replaced ex-Jomo cosmos striker Issa Modibo Sidibe in the second half with scores tied at 1-1 and he went on to make the big difference between the two

2013 AFCON finalists.

“He was an inspired substitution as he completely changed the tide of the game. He may not have scored but he was crucial in the team’s eventual victory,” remarked Niger technical director Garba Lawali.

Alhassane is an

experienced, well-traveled striker who won the 2010 CAF Confederation Cup with unfashionable Moroccan club FUS Rabat.

He was 32 on New year and it would therefore be safe to suggest he is in the twilight of a career that has taken him to Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria and Belgium.

• Alhassane

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

61

SPORT EXTRA AFCON 2013

KESHI TO PLAYERS

Accept final list in good fate T

Super Eagles head coach has urged players who will not make the final cut to the Africa Cup Nations, to take the outcome in good fate.

Though Keshi has alluded to the reports making the rounds that he’s having difficult times coming up with a final list, only 23 players will be selected in the pool of 30 in camp to represent Nigeria in Africa’s most prestigious soccer tournament.

“Our preparation for the African Cup of Nations is going on without hitches,” he said. “And the players are

responding very well to our training schedule.

“But I must say the truth; there is selection problem now because all the players have been impressive in

camp.

“I’m doing my best to select a solid squad that Nigerians will be proud of. However, I have told the players to take the final list as they see

it when I announce the squad next week.”

The tournament kicks off on Saturday January 19 when the hosts South Africa face the Cape Verde Islands.

We can rule Africa, says Emenike

By Innocent Amomoh UPER EAGLES’ dashing striker Emmanuel Emenike has expressed confidence on the ability of the current crop of Eagles to win the Africa Cup of Nations and rule Africa again in the competition slated for South Africa later in the month.

After pulling a 1-1 draw against the star-studded Catalonia selected side which took place last Wednesday in Spain, the Eagles are camped in Faro, Portugal, where they intend to perfect strategies ahead of the soccer fiesta.

The Spartak Moscow of Russia forward said: “I perceive we will do better at the Nations Cup in South Africa. I am so confident in this team, we work hard every day in camp and the players are enjoying every moment.

“Team spirit is high and we see ourselves as one family.

The resolve is to make Nigerians proud of the national team again. We’re getting better as a team, everybody is ready to fight for a place and it really good for the team.

“Attention is not on us and that is to our advantage. But we have talented players that can rule Africa.”

He said if he makes the final cut he will definitely contribute his quota to the success of the team, adding that he is ready to fight for a place in the team.

“Everyone in the team is looking forward to the competition. It is of utmost importance that we make the country proud in South Africa,” he said.

T

HE present crop of Eagles assembled by Coach Stephen Keshi has been adjudged capable of winning the African Cup Nation which would commence in South Africa this month by a Brazilian Coach Periera De Souza Junior Moises who arrived in Nigeria over the weekend.

The Brazilian who has handled Brazilian’s top clubsidessuch as Arapongas Esporte Club, a first division club in Brazil between 20112012 and Head Coach at Caetano FC and Gremio Barueri FC 2008-2010 hinged his optimism on the impact of the home based players that was infused into the team disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on his arrival at the Muritala Mohammed Airport to resume work with the Ibadan Based Frenage Soccer Academy.

Moises thumped-up the approach employ by Coach Keshi for creating room for

new players to proof themselves and fight for shirt against the highly rated Nigerian professional players, liken keshi’s style to Brazilian national team’s Coaches.

“We followed Nigerian football very well in Brazil and watched good displayed of predominantly home players’ team against Catalonian side in a friendly match played recently in Spain, and that was an indication that Nigeria would be a team to beat in AFCON 2013", Former Brazilian junior national side noted.

Meanwhile, the coach has also declare to hit the ground running when resume duty with the Ibadan soccer school who would be commencing its second phase of residential soccer training programme where players would be selected to Europe branch of the academy, situated in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus.

Guinness declares more winners in the ‘Fly with the Eagles’ Promo

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• Emenike

Eagles good to win —Brazilian Coach

N • Keshi

FIFA condoles with Ivory Coast

F

IFA president Joseph S. Blatter has sent a letter of condolence to the Ivory Coast football federation and the entire country following the death of 61 people on New Yew eve when a stampede broke out on their way from fireworks display.

“It is with great sadness that I learned of the tragedy that killed at least 61 people after a stampede occurred in a stadium in Abidjan during the night of December 31, 2012

and January 1, 2013,” the letter said.

“On behalf of FIFA and in my own name I would like to extend my deepest condolences to you and the people of Côte d’Ivoire.

“I would be grateful if you could let the families and friends of the victims and the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and his government know that they have the full sympathy and support of the international football family at this especially tragic time,”

Four states for Lagos U-13 baseball, softball championship s part of its efforts to discover talents from grassroots, the Lagos State Baseball and Softball Association will kick-start the year with the staging of U-13 championship with four states expected to be part of the fiveday tournament.

The tournament will commence on January 15 and ends on 19th with four states expected to participate in the competition.

The states are Oyo, Kwara, Ondo and Ekiti with the host Lagos presenting six teams drawn from schools in the State.

According to the chairperson of the association, Onyeka Onuorah, the aim of the association is to develop the sport at grassroots level, as this would help to produce future

A

stars for the state and the country at large.

She added that from the tournament, players would also be selected to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming IBAF World Junior Championship coming up in March.

She said that other programes line up for 2013 by the association include the Under16 championship, The Little League championship, School Championship, State league while some American coaches that will be coming in July to develop the sport by organising clinics and grade the coaches, umpires and scorers.

For her, the focus of the association is on grassroots, which she believes is the bedrock of development in any sport.

it added.

Most of the victims were aged between 8 and 18. A three-day period of national mourning is being observed in the West African country since Wednesday.

IGERIA’S leading b e v e r a g e manufacturer Guinness Nigeria has produced more winners in the on-going Fly with the Eagles Promo.

The draw, which is the 21st in the series of the daily draw, produced winners in different categories. Chidi Okpe from Kogi, Uby Idiong from Akwa Ibom, Nelson and Ehis both from Delta and Edo respectively went away with the sum of 100,000 naira each.

In the jersey category as well, winners emerged bagging for themselves authentic Super Eagles jerseys. In this category are Azeez from Lagos, Okafor from Anambra, Usman from Kogi, Serah from Osun, Evelyn from Edo, David from Plateau amongst others.

The highlight of the draw was the announcement of the winners of the all-expense paid trip to South Africa with Endurance from Edo and Onyekachi from Ogun

emerging as the lucky winners.

Also present during the draws were representatives from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission who ensured that the draws were transparent in all processes.

Speaking during the draws was Brand Manager Guinness Nigeria , Uche Onwudiwe who reiterated Guinness Nigeria’s passion for the game “The campaign, “Fly with the Eagles” identifies with the intense love and passion millions of Nigerians share for football and the team’s aspiration to make Nigerians proud at the 2013 AFCON outing.”

The “Fly with the Eagles” campaign began on December 1 and will end on January 31, 2013, with a series of daily raffle draws. More Nigerians are expected to participate in the on-going promo so as to spread the opportunity all over Guinness highly esteemed customers.

Prime FC admits Insurance better

P

PRIME FC coach, Ademola Adesina has admitted that his team were inferior to their NNL Matchday 3 opponents, Bendel Insurance by a mile.

The encounter at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday ended 2-0 in favour of the hosts, Insurance.

Adesina said Insurance deserved their victory over his wards.

“Insurance played better and deserved to win, we did our best but momentary loss of concentration caused us the game.

“I shouted at them during the last minutes of the game but they didn’t heed the warning allowing the home side to score their second goal.

“I was angry but allowed the defeat to be since we have many matches ahead of us.

“I believe the next matches will be better and the youngsters in our midst will get into the demand of the league as quickly as we progress.

“On my side I discovered

there are still lots of work to do in every department of the team. I need to work hard to bring them to the height where we won’t be losing points carelessly.

“Officiating was superb, I concede defeat to Insurance, they were better and deserved to win,” said the former Nigerian defender to supersport.com.

Prime FC have earned three

points from three matches and the Osogbo-based side gaffer said his side are still in contention for the NNL title.

“No, it’s too early for any team to lay claim of the top spot the same as it is to write off any team.

“The title race just started and I make bold to say we’re very much in the race,” said the 2012 Federation Cup bronzewinning coach.

• Prime FC coach, Ademola Adeshina

62

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

THE NATION MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013

63

NEWS PDP BoT chair: Leaders push for consensus Continued from page 4

“If you read Article 12.77 of the PDP Constitution very well, it is categorical that the BoT should elect a chairman and secretary.”

Article 12.77 of the PDP reads in part: “The BoT shall elect a chairman and secretary from members of the Board. The chairman and secretary shall also be members of the National Executive Committee.

“Without prejudice to the provision of this Constitution, ensure that the person to be elected chairman and secretary respectively are of proven integrity and have contributed immensely to the growth of the party.”

As at press time, four zones are in the forefront for the chairmanship slot.

The geopolitical zones are North-Central, South-South, South-East, and South-West.

Out of the four zones, it

was learnt that only the South-East has not occupied the BoT chair.

But party leaders are arguing that the Southeast is having more than its fair share of appointments, with key portfolios such as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister of Finance, Debt Management Office, Budget Office, Bureau of Public Procurement, Ministries of Aviation and Labour.

A source added: “The South-East is virtually in charge of the nation’s economic management at present. It would be too much to concede political power to the region again.

“The North-Central appears to have been shortchanged because it has only the President of the Senate.

If members concede the BOT seat to North-Central, they have to look within and outside the body.”

On the part of the SouthWest, party leaders unanimously believe that it has been really marginalised.

The Zonal Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kayode Babade, said: “Our appeal is simple; we are urging the national leadership of our great party to honour our zone with the position of the BOT chairman.”

According to sources, the presidency is showing interest in the choice of a BoT chairman.

A source said: “The emergence of a new BoT chairman will determine the future of the zoning policy of the party and, by implication, where Jonathan’s aspiration will stand in 2015.

“So, the presidency cannot just watch idly and allow any distortion in BoT which could cost Jonathan a second term ticket. That is why horse-trading is going on at present.”

Some of those expected at Tuesday’s session are President Goodluck Jonathan, all past and serving presidents and vice-presidents; Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; past Senate Presidents and Speakers still in PDP and their deputies; all past and present national chairmen and national secretaries of PDP, all founding fathers and mothers of the party, two women selected from each of the six geopolitical zones; three members, at least one of who shall be a woman from each of the six geopolitical zones; and persons not exceeding six, who have contributed immensely to the growth of the party and found suitable by the Board.

Obi unveils Ojukwu’s statue NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi has urged Nigerians to be patriotic and put the nation’s interest above other considerations.

“Our patriotism should go beyond political party affiliation and other sentiments if, indeed, we want to see the country move to a higher level,’’ Obi said yesterday after unveiling the statue of Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu’s at the Nkpor Roundabout by Obosi Road, near Onitsha,

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Anambra.

He also renamed the roundabout after the late statesman and founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

“It is now to be known as Ojukwu Roundabout, Nkpor’’, Obi said, adding that the country would be a better place “if each one of us sees himself as his brothers’ keeper and help to contribute to community and state development efforts.

“As I am unveiling this stat-

ue of our great leader and founder of our great party, APGA, it is necessary that all should remember and imbibe the virtues of brotherhood, nationhood and love that Ojukwu exhibited so that the country can move forward.’’

Mr Ralph Nnabuife, Chairman, Idemili North Local Government, said the council embarked on the project to beautify the roundabout.

Nnabuife said the statue would serve as a means of renaissance of Ojukwu.

He said: “We as Idemili people want to immortalise him and make him fresh in our memories and that of our children.

“And by so doing, mould the character of our children and youths to aspire for greatness and still maintain the bands of brotherhood as Ojukwu did.

“This is one good way of making sure that they develop in life while still remembering home and the country in general.”

‘Lawmakers to stop religious extremism’ Onaiyekan as a “genuine man of God, academic per excellence, promoter of peace and a pride to the nation and Africa’’.

Cardinal Onaiyekan was born on January 29, 1944 in Kabba, Kogi State. He attended St. Michael Secondary School, Aliade, Benue State and the Major Seminary of St Peter and Paul, Ibadan, Oyo State. He was ordained priest on August 3, 1959 and consecrated into the prestigious College of Cardinals on November 24, 2012 in Rome.

He is the fourth Nigerian Catholic priest to be appointed a Cardinal, after the late Cardinal Dominic Ekanem, Cardinal Francis Arinze and Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie.

Continued from page 4

nal on January 6, 2013.

Kogi State Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi, who represented Governor Idris Wada at the service, said the occasion was a moment of pride for the government and people of the state.

He said Cardinal Onaiyekan, who is from the state, rose from a humble beginning to the peak of his episcopal career.

The Coordinator of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) Prof Ishaq Oloyede, who represented the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, underscored the need for religious tolerance and cooperation.

He described Cardinal

CBN extends deadline on legacy banks’ cheques

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the deadline for the acceptance of legacy banks’ cheques to March 31.

The apex bank had in November last year, directed banks and other financial institutions not to honour or present for clearing cheques from legacy or liquidated banks from January 2, 2013.

The legacy banks are those acquired last year following the joint audit conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2009 that led to the sack of some banks’ Chief executives.

The affected banks are Afribank Plc, Bank PHB Plc,

By Tonia Osundolire

ETB Limited, Oceanic Bank Plc, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Finbank Plc and Spring Bank Plc. Already, bank have started communicating the new date to their customers to inform them that such cheques can still be presented for transactions and clearing till March.

First Monument Bank Plc, in an email to its customers said: “The CBN has announced the extension of the deadline for the acceptance of legacy bank cheques (that is, those of Afribank Plc, Bank PHB Plc, FinBank Plc, ETB Bank Limited, Oceanic Bank Plc and Spring Bank Plc) to March 31, 2013.”

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07-01-13

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘Devolution will go a long way in reducing the acrimony that go with power struggles at the centre.’

VOL 7 NO 2,364

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

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HOSE who heaved a glorious sigh when former President Umar Yar’Adua passed on should rethink. Don’t gloat quietly. We have not slain his ghost forever.

In the words of Poet Dylan Thomas, he has not gone “gentle into that good night.”

The past few months point to his “rage against the dying of the light.” His meek and gentle soul is squirming in his grave. He haunts us from the soft earth of Katsina where his body was swathed in cloth and domiciled forever.

His ghost - or ghosts - hovers over us with subliminal vigour. Unlike other personages, Yar’Adua translated at death into many ghosts. The ghost of succession, the ghost of the cabal, the ghost of the doctrine of necessity, the ghost of acting or not acting president, the ghost of ethnic divide and northsouth infighting, the ghost as intriguer.

When he was sick, he was a Lazarus who died and came back to life. Like in the book of Genesis, when the serpent seduces Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, Yar’Adua “shall not surely die.” And the nation, ever facile to the theatre of the absurd, embraced it all, shivering with a sadistic thrill at all the actions, tensions, climaxes and anti-climaxes.

When he was buried and succumbed to the era of the shoeless maestro, we only had a short respite before he reminded us that our leaders are not always dead but they follow our scent. Hence, in all our histories, we even deified our dead, especially in Yorubaland.

Enter Ogun. Enter Oya. Enter Sango. Exit mortality.

He is not in the throes of the presidency today, but we see his ghosts in five states already, roiling and tormenting the governors. They include Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Enugu and Cross River. In each of these states, the troubles of the last days of Yar’Adua are alive and well.

As I write, Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River are abroad for medical reasons.

Governor Patrick Yakowa died in an unfortunate air disaster, while Governor Idris Wada escaped death in a fatal accident that lapped up his ADC. He sustained leg injuries and may be confined to the wheelchair for about half a year. All of these instances evoke the constitutional fever that dramatise our lack of faith in the glory of the rule of law. They also expose our political class for not transcending the puerile antics and feline manoeuvres of the intriguer.

Last week, Governor Suntai’s media team wired us a picture of the governor with his wife and newly delivered twins. Since pictures don’t lie, the message was clear: all

RIPPLES WE’VE DONE WELL, say Jonathan, PDP

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

The Indian rape case

agencies often take very conciliatory view towards offenders. This too must stop. While India takes steps to redeem its image, it is important that Nigeria should revisit the provisions in our laws dealing with that insufferable crime. It is also time law enforcement agencies got a new code of conduct concerning their response to reports of rape.

Part of the Nigerian response to rape must doubtless include documenting every case of rape, creating a databank of sex offenders which can be accessed on request by educational institutions and potential employers, and imposing very stiff penalties for rape convictions. Rape is an indication of underlying psychiatric problems. It must not be treated with levity. Until Nigeria recognises the huge responsibility it has to make the society safe for females, child or adult, legislation and enforcement will not match the horrendousness of the crime.

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •NMMA Columnist of the Year

Yar’Adua’s ghost

those (shall we say cabal?) who are hankering for his position on the pretext that he suffers brain damage and could not assume the post of governor again are baying for constitutional blood. The man is alive, they tell us, and capable of taking up the task when he resumes soon.

Is that Yar’Adua in the Suntai guise? Remember the story of the broadcast from Germany? Yar’Adua’s voice became the subject of acoustic analysts. Was it his voice? Was his voice faint, a feint, or ruddy, or technologically enhanced? Some are doing same to Suntai’s picture. At home, some politicians are already in the labyrinths of manoeuvres, trying to outdo each other in case the man is unable to return fully to this job.

In Enugu State, we have received a welter of news reports and rumours. A recent one has it that, just like in the late president’s time, Chime was expected to return to stave off impeachment woes before December 31 last year. Many people waited in vain. There were also reports of his death, which were denied. Both sides fuel such reports: those who want to prop their man and those who would oust him.

Governor Wada announced, with a hint of patriotic vainglory, that he did not want any

T

..even as the POTHOLES have graduated into TRENCHES

treatment abroad. But political players in the state say it was more out of survival. The man may see live ghosts around him already, like those of rival Echocho and legislators against whom he scored dubious victory over the leadership of the state house of assembly. He would rather limp at home or chafe in a wheelchair or snuggle in the humble succour of a local hospital than risk the omen of plotters plodding their way to his throne while he recovers in a foreign land. Yar’Adua was not well when he stole back into the country even if he could not resume his office.

Imoke’s story, like Wada’s, is still in sedate waters apparently, and his votaries are calming nerves in public. Like the early days of Yar’Adua, subversive tongues are either not wagging or are muted by mischief-makers jockeying for his power.

The most potent is the Yakowa story. Here the man dies but the state suddenly reminds us of the primordial temper bisecting Kaduna State: Christian versus Muslim, Hausa-Fulani versus others, northern Kaduna versus south.

That was the tension that whirled up the Yar’Adua story as the so-called cabal wanted to avert a Jonathan presidency because of his southern roots and Christian beliefs. In Yar’Adua’s case, he died and a southerner

came to power. In Kaduna, the northern, Muslim and Hausa-Fulani man took over.

Just as Jonathan felt slighted as the number two man, Yakowa’s successor confessed openly to the contempt with which some members of Yakowa’s cabinet fiddled with him in his days as second fiddle.

Who says we cannot see the ghosts of the late president at work? In all, we see that the political class is impatient with the law, and would want to force things. Power is a great aphrodisiac, and those with a will would grasp and beaver away to get it.

We should shun the sense of ill grace on both sides: those in power who would not leave and those outside grasping desperately to outplay incumbents.

The law is clear, but those who are sick love to squeeze the last out of their health until nature’s ultimate triumph either in their favour when they survive or against them when they are permanently incapacitated or die.

So when we thought that Yar’Adua had gone, we are reminded of what Mark Twain wrote: “Stories of my death are greatly exaggerated.” We also remember the great Azikiwe, when he was rumoured to have passed on. Ever a man of theatre, the Owelle of Onitsha quipped, “I am not in a hurry to leave this planet.”

When we invoke past leaders’ ghosts, it is often for ugly things. A decade ago, Adam Hoschfield wrote a book titled, King Leopold’s Ghost about the Congo in the colonial era. King Leopold, whom a historian described as a “big-minded man in an insignificant kingdom,” turned the Congo into a vast slave land of miners to enrich Belgium.

His ghost is invoked today because the mines inflict wars, hunger and other tragedies of the place today.

It is not to our credit that this is how Yar’Adua comes to memory, over our contempt for simple laws. But Yar’Adua fights back to jolt us to respect law and show decency, virtues of which he was a victim both from the machinations of those who fought for him and against him.

But Yar’Adua will not go until we rise above such malicious folly. United States President George Washington in his last days told his physician, “Doctor, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go.” Yar’Adua is like Duncan’s ghost in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, when the usurper Banquo exclaims to the ghost: “Avaunt and quit my sight. Let the earth hide thee, thy bone is marrowless and thy blood is cold.”

We need a political sacrifice to Yar’Adua, and that is a rise from our puerile politics to the dignity of law and order. When Socrates was dying, he said, “I owe a cock to Asclepius, do not forget to pay.”

The sacrifice we owe is a fidelity to the constitution. Then Yar’Adua can have an eternal rest.

As comedian Bill Cosby noted, the past is a ghost and the future is a dream. When Yar’Adua rests, we can follow our dream.

Which means the ghost is not Yar’Adua but us. When we do right, the ghost goes; when wrong, it appears.

SAM OMATSEYE

•The late President Yar’Adua

HE brutal rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in India midDecember has brought to the surface and to a climax decades of mistreatment of women in that country. Her death on December 28 in a Singaporean hospital may finally push India into taking more vigorous action against rape. But it is not clear to what extent the action will lead to a fundamental change in the attitude of law enforcement agents who seem to connive at the crime and, in some cases, even participate in the crime.

Nor is it clear how soon the action will compel change in a culture that denigrates women. Indeed, but for the massive countrywide demonstrations that greeted the rape of the medical student in New Delhi, it is doubtful the Indian criminal justice system would have risen stoutly to the challenge of doing something concrete about the cancer eating up the country. The stories of rape in India, some too graphic to recount here,

EMEKA OMEIHE

‘Is that Yar’Adua in the Suntai guise? Remember the story of the broadcast from Germany? Yar’Adua’s voice became the subject of acoustic analysts. Was it his voice?

Was his voice faint, a feint, or ruddy, or technologically enhanced?’

should shame the government into finally stiffening the laws against the menace.

While justice is expected to be done in the Indian rape case, especially considering that forensic evidence has implicated the five suspects already charged in court over the crime, other countries with lax rape laws, such as Nigeria, must not wait to be shamed internationally before they take steps to curb the crime and make the society safe for women. Sadly, like India, rape sometimes occurs in police stations in Nigeria. The Nigeria police authorities must ensure its stations are completely sanitised of that crime. Unfortunately too, when sex crimes occur outside police stations, law enforcement

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