The Nation January 09, 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

23 fuel marketers to get N94billion

PDP BoT fails to elect chairman

BUSINESS Page 12

NEWS

Page 63

•Raises committee on membership

•Minister clears the air

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 8, NO. 2366 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

CUP OF NATIONS

N150.00

•Keshi lists crack side against Cape Verde MORE •CAF picks Nigerian referee Edibe •AND ON PAGES •Eagles final squad to emerge today 13,14&51

2015: Govt crackdown on opposition leaders likely ‘Buhari, Tinubu, ex-security chief are main targets’

By Joseph Jibueze, Staff Reporter

A

MASSIVE crackdown on opposition figures ahead of the 2015 general elections is on the way, The Nation learnt yesterday.

The aim is to prevent the merger talks by opposition parties from being successful and constituting a problem for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the coming wave of arrests, even members of the PDP whose political leaning is in doubt will not be spared, according to sources, who pleaded not to be named because of ‘the sensitivity of the matter”.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday raised the alarm about “desperate measures being planned by the PDP-led Federal Government to discredit and silence key opposition leaders involved in the ongoing plans to form a formidable platform to confront the PDP in 2015”.

A former security chief is believed to be one of those being targeted. He is to be hurled before a court and charged with contract fraud, among others, according to sources who pleaded not to be named.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said the paranoia over the merger plans has driven the government “to resort to imprudent and crude tactics aimed at tarnishing the image of key opposition leaders, especially the ACN National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his CPC counterpart, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as well as their close political associates.”

The statement said “Tinubu is particularly a prime target of these evil machinations, because of his status as the leader of the country’s second biggest party, his progressive credentials as well as his electoral value, addContinued on page 4

•T AKING SHAPE: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola listening to Managing Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Mr •TAKING Shi Hong Bing, during the inspection of the light rail project…yesterday. With them are: Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right) and PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES other officials. Story on page 10

F

Jonathan, Obasanjo clash again on Boko Haram

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has again criticised the Jonathan administration’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. He believes more could be done to reach out to the militant Islamist group to find out what makes it violent.

In an interview with CNN, Obasanjo suggested that the government should adopt a dual-track approach rather than just cracking down on the group.

“To deal with a group like that, you need a carrot and stick. The carrot is finding out how to reach

To deal with a group like that, you need a carrot and stick...He’s doing one aspect of it well, but the other aspect must not be forgotten —Obasanjo

The former President contradicted himself...he said that when he was confronted with a similar issue in Odi, he applied force. Where exactly does he stand on this matter?

—Jonathan

out to them,” he said. “When you Obasanjo said President Goodtry to reach out to them and they luck Jonathan was “just using the are not amenable to being reached stick” in his efforts. “He’s doing out to, you have to use the stick.” one aspect of it well, but the other

aspect must not be forgotten.”

The government has said several times that it is ready for talks Continued on page 4

•SPORT P13 •LIFE P25 •MONEYP30 •INVESTORS P32 •POLITICS P23

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

2

NEWS 2013 SPECIAL

Furore over Petroleum Industry Bill •From left: Prof. Jide Osuntokun, Mrs. Olayinka Akindayomi, Prof. Ladipo Akinkungbe, Sen. Olu Alabi and Prof.

Olabopo Osuntokun at the memorial Symposium for Prof. Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun at University Teaching PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

It was a carry-over from the 6th Legislative Assembly. Mid-way into the present dispensation, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) – the magic pill against all that cuts the key sector – may again fail to scale the legislative hurdle, reports LEKE SALAUDEEN

I

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (left), in a handshake with the representative of the Etsu Nupe, Niger State , Alhaji Mohammed Bagudu and the Otaru of Auchi, Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, at the 16th Auchi Day celebration in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State ... yesterday.

•From left: Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Bauchi State on Special Duties, Alhaji Sabo Abubakar, his boss Governor Isa Yuguda and Commissioner for Special Duties Alhaji Bappah Azare, during the governor’s tour of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) formal education centre at Kangere in Bauchi ... Monday.

•From left: Secretary to the Enugu State Government (SSG), Mr Amechi Okolo, Acting Governor of Enugu Mr Sunday Onyebuchi; outgoing GOC 82 Div. Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Olayinka Oshinowo, with officers of the Nigerian Army and members of the state Executive Council during the GOC’s farewell visit to the acting governor ... yesterday.

T is no longer news that corruption, poor institutions, weak regulations and lack of transparency are the bane of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

But there is a new twist in the efforts to sanitise the all-importantsector – the mainstay of the nation’s economy. Another setback awaits the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which was initiated during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

After so much deliberation, the Bill could not scale the legislative hurdle before the Obansanjo administration wound up. The nonpassage of the Bill into law has in no small way hindered the muchneeded Foreign Direct Foreign Investment (FDI) to stimulate the economy.

The inability of the 6th Legislature to pass the previous versions of the PIB was traced to vested interests of key players in the oil industry, especially the multinational oil firms.

Following the nationwide outcry that greeted the partial removal of fuel subsidy early last year, the Federal Government raised a special task force to harmonise the various versions of the PIB which was forwarded to the National Assembly on July 18, 2012.

As the nation awaits the outcome of the presidential team, a clash is imminent over the PIB in the National Assembly, where members are sharply divided on the clause providing for the allocation of 10 per cent of oil revenue to producing communities.

Already, Senators from the North are crying foul that the Bill was designed to further enrich the oil producing states and the Niger Delta region, lacing their opposition with Section 116-118 of the Bill, which provides additional 10 per cent revenue for producing communities.

Section 116 of the Bill provides for the creation of a fund to be known as the Petroleum Host Community Fund (PHCF).

The Fund is to be used to develop the economic and social infrastructure of communities in oil-bearing states.

The contentious provision reads: “Companies engaged in upstream petroleum operations will be required to remit 10 per cent of their estimated ‘net profit’ to the Fund on a monthly basis. At the end of each fiscal year, companies are expected to reconcile their monthly remittances with the actual PHCF contributions payable, based on the ‘net profit’ computed in their actual tax returns and settle any under -remittance to the Fund.”

The Northern elite’s opposition to this provision is hinged on the existing revenue allocation formula, which they argued was skewed in favour of the oil producing states.

According to them, creating another special fund for the oil-rich regions

would be an over-kill with the 13 per cent derivation still being reserved exclusively for the oil producing states.

Besides, they said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) has access to an annual allocation of N500 billion from the Federal Government; the N400 billion budgetary allocation to the Niger Delta Ministry and the Amnesty Programme for demilitarised Niger Delta youths. The Federal Government has spent $3 billion and the development of the area by the oil fuirms through their social corporate responsibilities.

The ‘preferential treatments’, according to the elite, are all in a effort to cushion the effects of oil exploration activities.

The PHCF if established, would in addition to the development of the host communities, has a provision in its Section 118(5) for the deduction of the cost of repairing damaged petroleum facilities through vandalism, sabotage or other civil unrest, unless it is confirmed that the no member of the community was responsible for the damage.

This provision is expected to encourage host communities to protect petroleum facilities in their domain.

The fear of the North Senator Danladi Sankara of the People’s Democratic Partic (PDP) from Jigawa State has vowed that the Bill will not scale through.

To him, the Bill must be stopped because it was designed to satisfy sectional interest.

Sankara said: “It is clear the way it was crafted that only one section of the country is being favoured to benefit. While no one is saying the oil producing states/ communities should not benefit, such benefits should not be to the detriment of other sections. We will not allow it.

This country belongs to us all.”

Rights activist Shehu Sani pitched his tent with Sankara’s position. He said granting another 10 per cent to the already existing revenue generation to the zone will be unfair.

He argued that what a state in the Niger Delta gets from the Federal Allocation in a year is more than what is allocated to five states in the North.

His word: “Enriching one part of the country is tantamount to shifting the problem to the other part. This is not good for a country where there are security challenges.

“I don’t know how you are going to have peace where allocation of resources are so skewed in favour of one region to the detriment of other geo-political zones.

“The position of the Northern senators is in the best interest of the nation because what they stand for is equity and justice. The problem in the North is security challenges attributed to social and economic factors.

“Government should be wary of any policy or action that would further aggravate the problem of insecurity in the country.

“Our perception of PIB in the North is that the Bill is aimed at gradual disempowerment and impoverishment of other parts of the country. Those in

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

3

NEWS 2013 SPECIAL

•Sen. Sakara

•Sen. Nwaogu

•Sen. Buka Ibrahim

position of authority should know that injustice in one part of the country will affect others.

Southern leaders are bourgeoisie “Curiously, all the special grants paid to the Niger Delta states have not reflected in infrastructural development and the living standards of common people in the region.

“The Southsouth states have collected N1.7 trillion as special allocation in the past 13 years. The political elite in the Niger Delta are Nigeria’s version of the bourgeoisie that are institutionally manipulating their people.

“They portray their people as marginalised whereas they are trying to insulate themselves from the reality of their region.

“Niger Delta elite are the problems of their people. Even if the nation concedes 100 per cent of oil revenue to the Niger Delta states, it won’t solve the problems of peasant fishermen and farmers because of the greed on the part of the elite.

“The new 10 per cent grant being proposed in PIB will not favour the people of the Niger Delta, but the elite, who are part of the problem facing the people are the state governors, traditional rulers, militants and oil business people.”

To the Northern political class, Sani advised them to start thinking of Nigeria after oil because one day the oil wells in the Niger Delta will get dry.

“The North should be thinking of how to exploit the abundance mineral deposit in its domain for the economic development of the region and the people,” he counselled.

Senator Bukar Abba-Ibrahim of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) from Yobe State, widened the gulf created by the PIB. Apparently advancing what could be described as the official position of the North on the PIB, he said one of the reasons why the North is opposed to the PIB is because of its failure to make provision for the exploitation of other minerals in other parts of the country.

Abba-Ibrahim said: “We have over 800 million tonnes of limestone in

•Sen. Etuk

Objectives of PIB •Conducive business environment for petroleum operations to enhance exploration and exploitation of petroleum resources for the benefit Nigerians •Optimisation of domestic gas supplies, particularly for power generation and industrial development.

•Establishment of a progressive fiscal framework that encourages further investment in the petroleum industry while optimising revenues accruing to the government.

•Deregulation and liberalisation of the downstream petroleum sector.

•Promotion of transparency and openness in the administration of the sector.

•Promotion of Nigerian content through efficient and effective regulatory framework.

Gulane, Fune and Guljimba Local Governments of Yobe, but as a state government, you cannot go and exploit, it has to be done by the Federal Government.

Abba-Ibrahim, a former governor of Yobe, decried the poverty in the North arising from dearth of industries and the high unemployment rate in the region generally. He was particular about the marginalisation of the Northeast zone which has resulted in its backwardness.

conveniences for the benefit of the nation, to give back to the people where the nation’s wealth comes from.

“It is time the people of Niger Delta are adequately compensated.

Our colleagues from the north should not allow sentiments to becloud their sense of judgement while pondering on the merit of the PIB. It’s time to answer the cry of these people who have suffered over the years in the interest of the nation.

The North got it wrong

No opposition to Nomadic Eductaion, desertification programme

But a member of the upper legislative chamber from the Southsouth picked holes in the argument of his Northern colleagues on the PIB which he said was intended to sanitise the industry and address corruption.

The senator, Aloysius Etok of the PDP from Akwa Ibom, told The Nation that the 10 per cent of the PHCF provision in the Bill is meant to compensate the people whose lands have been degraded and whose wells and rivers have been polluted as a result of oil exploration.

Etok said: “The Senators need to visit the oil producing communities to appreciate what the people living in those communities are going through.

“The farmers have been deprived of their lands for farming, they don’t have drinkable water as a result of pollution and the fishermen are out of business because the oil spills have contaminated the river.

“The Northern senators cannot describe what is right as unfair. PIB is out to ensure justice, to compensate those who have sacrificed their

“We should stop looking at issues from the ethnic and regional point of view. Rather, we should look at the exigencies of the situation that prompted the evolution of policies or measures to address a particular issue.

“For instance, the Federal Government has introduced special education for the nomads in the North to bridge the educational gap between the North and the South.

No patriotic Nigerian will oppose such a programme.

“Even the desertification programme in the North that gulps billions of naira every year is essential to guide against the encroachment of the Northern territory by desert. If we had allow sentiments to reign, we in the Niger Delta would have demanded special school for fishermen afterwards ninety per cent of the funds used by the Federal govern to execute special programmes in the north

come from Niger Delta.

“After PIB, there should be Solid Mineral Industry Bill to cater for other minerals found in other parts of the country.

“Areas where such minerals are found would also benefit from the principle of derivation in revenue sharing. It is unfortunate that some states are illegally mining minerals in their domain without remitting the proceeds to the common purse.”

Opposition to PIB unnecessary The lawmaker said it was wrong for anybody to oppose the provisions of the PIB since they are meant to take care of the communities that had suffered over 70 years of environmental degradation associated with oil exploration and exploitation.

Etok called on his colleagues from the North to reciprocate the gesture of the Southern senators, who supported the HYPADEC Bill to take care of the communities affected by electricity production.

He said: “What is fair and equitable cannot be wrong. Nobody should be afraid of doing the right thing because doing the right thing can never be wrong.

“It is unfair for anybody to say that to give 10 per cent to oil producing communities to help ameliorate their plight is unfair.

“Therefore, fellow Senators from the North should rise above primordial issues and support the PIB for the sake of being fair and just, to every Nigerian irrespective of tribe, ethnicity or religion.

•Sanni

“By so doing, we Senators will be promoting our conscience in meeting what the international community is advocating for the Niger Delta region.”

Senator Nkechi Nwogu from Abia said the provision of 10 per cent revenue is not too much for the goose that lay the golden egg.

Her words: “The environmental degradation suffered by oil communities is peculiar to them. If we don’t take care of the communities and we start having problems, it will affect the economy.”

She warned that unless the host communities were taken care of, the country could start having problems that could hamper national development.

A specialist in tax administration, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, noted that the PIB has brought introduces some positive developments including moves to address host communities’ concerns, promotion of local content, removal of minimum tax, removal of restriction on capital allowances claimable and provision of tax deduction for abandoned project.

Oyedele describes the 10 per cent of net profit to be contributed by each upstream petroleum company as laudable, noting that the contribution made to the Fund will be available as credit against fiscal rent obligations.

The contentious issues, according to Oyedele, include dispute resolution and potential conflicts with the existing provisions of Chartered Institute of Taxation (CITA), which contradits other laws such as the NNDC Act and insufficient distinction regarding the roles of other agencies not mentioned in the Bill.

He urged the lawmakers to consider all aspects of the PIB, including transfer pricing, regulatory compliance, possible structuring, tax efficiency, project economics, financial reporting, and contracts/covenants.

The proposed changes may not be revolutionary, but the PIB, if passed in its current form, will mean that fiscal issues are no longer business as usual, he added.

Our grouse about Bill, by Governor Aliyu

C

HAIRMAN of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) Babangida Aliyu on August 24, 2012, hinted of plans by governors in the North to reject the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

According to him, the Bill is intended to take care of the Niger Delta alone.

He said the Forum raised a Committee, chaired by Ahmed Mosur to study the proposed bill and its implications for the people in the North.

The committee was given a mandate to submit its report within 90 days.

Aliyu, who doubles as the governor of Niger State, said the Forum have identified many provisions in the draft bill that are detrimental to the people of the region.

Speaking on August 24, last year, when he hosted royal fathers in the state who paid him a Sallah visit at his residence, Aliyu said the people of the zone

‘

You can see that the country is finished.

That bill is meant to take care of the people of Niger Delta alone. We won’t support it

‘

would need to study the bill before taking a position on it, noting that they had noticed “many things” that will affect them negatively and that those things needed to be discussed.

He had said: “We need to understand how to approach our members in the national and state assemblies. When issues like that come up, we need to discuss it so that the interest of our people who elected us will be protected.”

One of the sore points for Northerners is the granting of more powers to the Minister of Petroleum Re-

sources, which is recommended in the proposed bill.

If passed as it is, the minister will also become the chairman of the boards of plum parastatals in the ministry, as well as the boards of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF).

Furthermore, under the terms of the bill, the drafting of which was supervised by the Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke with President

Goodluck Jonathan, the minister will directly supervise the Petroleum Technical Bureau and the Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate, and recommend its officials for appointment.

Besides, the North is angry at a provision for the setting up of a Petroleum Host Community Fund (PHCF) to which all oil companies will pay 10 per cent of their profit from upstream activities.

An unidentified politician from the North was quoted as saying: “This section will make several billions of Naira available for the development of the Niger Delta, in addition to the funds provided to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta.

“You can see that the country is finished. That bill is meant to take care of the people of Niger Delta alone. We won’t support it.”

•Governor Aliyu

4

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

NEWS Crackdown likely Continued from page 1

•Deputy Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, flanked by officials of UBA Academy and matriculating Executive Trainees during the fifth matriculation of the UBA Academy Banking School in Lagos…on Monday

that as far as the PDP-led government is concerned, getting him out of the way is the best way to ruin the merger plans.” ‘’For the Jonathan-led Administration, and not minding its deceptive aloofness from it all, the race for 2015 has started in earnest and it is a do-ordie affair, and all means foul and unfair are on the table to cripple the opposition, by ensuring that nothing will be left of the integrity of its key leaders even if they are fortunate to make it to 2015. ‘’These opposition leaders are considered as constituting a clear and present danger to the electoral fortunes of the PDP in 2015, hence must be stopped at all costs and by whatever means,’’ the ACN said.

The party said a fortune had Continued on page 63

Governors meet on Constitution amendment

G

OVERNORS will meet today in Abuja to begin the consideration of knotty issues in the report of their 10-man panel on constitution amendment.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) will also hold talks on other national matters, including the controversy trailing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is assuming a North-South problem, and the new Revenue Allocation Formula.

Besides, the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold a crucial session on the crisis rocking the Adamawa State Chapter of the party.

The PDP governors are angry with the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on his handling of the crisis in Adamawa.

It was gathered that the PDP governors had protested to President Goodluck Jonathan on how Tukur was allegedly contemptuous of them by going ahead to allow the conduct of congresses at the ward, local government and state lev-

P

•PDP governors to meet Jonathan on Adamawa crisis From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

els.

According to sources, the 36 governors will start discussion on knotty issues in the Amaechi Committee’s report and matters arising in the ongoing constitution amendment.

The panel, headed by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, submitted the report last year but the forum was unable to discuss the recommendations.

Some of the issues in the template are single tenure of five, six or seven years; state police; true federalism; rotation of the presidency between the North and the South; creation of one new state from each of the nation’s six geopolitical zones; inclusion of the six geopolitical zones in the constitution, tenure for local government chairmen, 50 per cent control of resources by states; and abolition of State Joint Local Government Account and State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

A source, who spoke in con-

fidence, said: “If we form quorum, we hope to use the session to start considering the report and draw conclusion on knotty issues. We had set aside this document to avoid anything that could cause a crack in the Forum.

“It is not a day exercise, but we want to start early in the year so that at the appropriate time, we will submit a memorandum to the Constitution Review Committee of the National Assembly.

“While we are considering our own report, we will also pay attention to the ongoing review by the National Assembly to fine-tune our position paper or memorandum to the Constitution Review Committee.”

Asked if the governors have any timeframe to complete the consideration of the Amaechi Committee’s report, the source said: “We have not fixed any deadline but we will work in such a way that we will make our own input at the right or strategic time.”

PDP governors are said to be angry with Tukur and the National Working Committee (NWC) for allegedly ignoring their advice not to conduct congresses in Adamawa State .

President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted to meet with the governors, Tukur and a few party officials tomorrow.

A member of the PDP Governors Forum said: “When we noticed that there was crisis in Adamawa, we raised a committee, headed by Governor Sule Lamido, to look into the problems.

“The committee recommended that the status quo should be maintained, pending the time the President and other leaders of the PDP would find an amicable solution to the crisis.

“We passed this resolution to the party leadership but the National Chairman of the party went ahead to approve the conduct of congresses.

“All the governors are memContinued on page 63

Govt has will to fight terrorism, RESIDENT Goodluck says Jonathan

P

Jonathan yesterday said the government has the political will to fight terrorism, adding that efforts so far have yielded the desired result.

He spoke yesterday at a summit on security jointly organised by the Police and Vanguard.

Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Gambo-Jimeta blamed neglect of police funding by successive governments and general poor administration as responsible for the insecurity in Nigeria.

Gambo –Jimeta, who chaired yesterday’s session, described the insecurity in the country as “self-inflicted”.

President Jonathan, who was represented by Minister of Police Affairs Caleb Olubolade, said: “A lot of emphasis is being placed on training and retraining, improving the sophistication of weaponry and equipment, improved welfare of officers and men and the image of the police.

“I am optimistic that the political will being demonstrated by this administration will yield the desired result in the

fight against terrorism, improve crime investigation and enhance public order policing.

“This will guarantee the ultimate protection of lives and property and law enforcement in our society,’’ he said.

Gambo-Jimeta said successive administrations neglected the security agencies, the “organ of stability’’, in terms of funding.

“Our current situation is really self-inflicted; you cannot have a state and fail to provide for the institutions of the state that are supposed to support the well-being of the state and the citizens.

“Whenever you see a country running into security problem, it is when it starts to neglect this all-important foundation for the wellbeing of the nation.

“There is nowhere in Nigeria today where you can sleep with your eyes closed. Let’s put our priorities right, build a robust defence and internal security system,’’ Gambo-Jimeta said.

He decried a situation where criminal gangs were more Continued on page 63

Ex-President’s position contradictory, says Presidency Jonathan, Obasanjo clash again on Boko Haram

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has described as contradictory, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Boko Haram comment in his CNN interview.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati wondered where the former president stands on the issue, because according to him, Obasanjo had earlier accused the government of being too soft on the insurgents.

Abati also recalled a recent comment attributed to the former president in which he called for the Odi option in handling the issue, an option the presidency said did not yield any meaningful result.

He noted that it was surprising that the same Obasanjo could turn around to accuse the government of applying only the “stick approach” as against the “carrot and stick approach.”

“It is surprising. That means the former President contradicted himself. Were you not in this country recently when Obasanjo said that when he was confronted with a similar issue in Odi, he applied force? Where exactly does he stand on this matter?

He added: “You will recollect that a few months ago,

Continued from page 1

with Boko Haram if its leaders are ready to identify themselves.

The Islamist militants, who operate chiefly in the North, have carried out numerous deadly attacks on mosques, churches and businesses and are suspected of having links to al Qaeda, the international terrorist group.

Obasanjo, who recently said the government was slow in tackling Boko Haram, recalled that he acted swiftly and decisively when security personnel were killed in Odi” The government replied that the Odi expedition was a disaster as it trampled on the people’s human rights.

The former President said he had tried to reach out to Boko Haram about a year and a half ago through a lawyer who was acting as the group’s proxy, and had asked if they had external backing.

The lawyer told him that the group was receiving support from other NiFrom Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

former President Obasanjo made a comment about the federal government’s handling of Boko Haram. What he said at that time, he was more or less recommending the way he handled the situation when he was the presi-

gerians who have resources overseas or “other organisations from abroad”, Obasanjo said.

“If they had 25 per cent support a year and a half ago, today that support has doubled,” the former president said.

Analysts suggest that reaching out to Boko Haram may be increasingly difficult because the group has split into various factions, some with a domestic focus and others with a more pan-jihadi approach.

Resolving the issue is key to Nigeria’s progress, according to Obasanjo, who now heads an eponymous foundation that is working to promote human security across Africa.

“Boko Haram undermines security, and anything that undermines security undermines development, undermines education, undermines health, undermines agriculture and food and nutrition security,” he said.

International rights group Human Rights Watch says Boko Haram has killed more than 2,800 people.

In a report published late last year, Amnesty International condemned the increasingly

dent. That was purely a stick approach, now you claimed he said there should be carrot and stick, that dialogue should be adopted. It sounds contradictory to me.

“So, I really don’t want to believe that. I really think that there is a contradiction.

brutal attacks carried out by Boko Haram since 2009, but said Nigeria’s security forces “have perpetrated serious human rights violations” in response. A military spokesman rejected the allegations.

The militant group, whose name means “Western education is forbidden”, is fighting to impose a strict version of Sharia law in the northern part of the country.

In the past, the group attacked other Muslims it felt were on an immoral path, but it has increasingly killed Christians.

The U.S. State Department has accused Boko Haram of attacking mosques and churches to incite tensions between the two religious groups, hoping to drive a wedge between them. It has condemned some of the group’s leaders for alleged ties to al Qaeda.

However, despite the ongoing challenges the country faces, Obasanjo said he does not foresee Nigeria ever splitting in two, into north and south.

“We in Nigeria now know that it would cost us much more to break up than it will cost us to come together,” Obasanjo said.

Abati insisted that a lot of progress has been made by the government in its handling of the issue, likewise other issues contrary to what Obasanjo wanted the world to believe.

He said: “ But what we can say is that government’s ap-

proach in handling of the situation has been purposeful and result-oriented. Everybody can see that the federal government has really developed the capability in dealing with the problem and the evidence is really large in the progress that has been made.

•Obasanjo

Not just in relation to Boko Haram, also in redefining the security architecture in the country, and ensuring better productivity on the part of the security agencies. “

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2013

5

NEWS

Mama’s only sorrow was that justice wasn’t done on Dele Giwa’s death, say children

S

IBLINGS of the late Dele Giwa, pioneer Editor-inChief of Newswatch, whose mother, Mrs. Elekhia Ayisat Giwa, died yesterday at Haruna Ogun Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos, have said their mother suffered the effect of the versatile journalist’s death until her last moment.

Mrs. Giwa who died at 87, was said to have suffered a stroke on December 22 last year. She did not recover.

She is survived by five children, Tunde Giwa, Abiodun Giwa, Mrs. Veronica Omomole, Mrs. Fatima David and Mrs Habibat GiwaAboaba. There are many grand children.

Mama, we gathered, may be buried on February 9, even as her children said her remains will be transferred to the morgue in Military Hospital today from the General Hospital, Ikorodu where they were deposited.

The octogenarian was said to have developed hypertension after Dele Giwa was killed through a letter bomb on October 15, 1986.

Her children said her last wish was that the killers of her son be uncovered and brought to justice.

At her daughter’s house, Mrs. Giwa-Aboaba’s house where the deceased lived since 1999 till her death, sympathisers trooped in to commiserate with the family.

Some of them signed the condolence register.

Giwa-Aboaba told The Nation that her mother’s only sorrow was that the killers of her first child, Dele Giwa, were not brought to book.

She said: “Mama was a very tolerant person, very admirable and

Soyinka: immortalise Dele Giwa

T

HE Africa Today Group publisher, Mr Kayode Soyinka, a very close associate of Dele Giwa, who was with the late journalist when the letter bomb exploded, said justice eluded the mother as the killers were never found or brought to book in her life.

He also called for Giwa’s immortalisation.

He said: “We saw her last on the day Dele was buried at his village near Auchi in Edo State. She was a very strong mother whose pain was the most harrowing, especially being alive not just to witness the death of her son, but seeing the most heartless way in which he was killed. And she lived through the almost 27 years after Dele’s letter bomb assassination in hope of getting justice for the killing of her son. But justice eluded her.

“When we marked the 25th Anniversary of Dele’s

By Joseph Jibueze and Precious Igbonwelundu

always happy. She was always concerned about her children. She wanted to have us around her.

“But all her happiness vanished after the terrible way her first son was killed. Mama became hypertensive after the incident.

“She was not happy and the fact that justice was not done with the way her son was killed worsened her condition. You know that it was a very bad incident and very traumatic for her. And the way it happened, a letter bomb, she did not get over it until her last days because she cried over her son’s death everyday, especially because the killers were not found.

She nursed this unhappiness and most times, she was moody.

“But days before she passed on, she said she had forgiven the killers of her son and that she had

death, I wrote a personal letter to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, appealing to him to do something in Lagos to immortalise Dele Giwa - just like Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, to mention but a few. Dele deserves it.

“But my letter to the governor was not even dignified with a response and that pained me. I want to believe that the governor did not receive it. Mind you, I deliberately made it private then and did not give it to the press.

“Now that mama has now gone to join her iconic son, I appeal to all Nigerians to join me in begging our amiable Lagos State Governor to erect a statue in an appropriate garden in Lagos State, may be near where he was assassinated, in memory of Nigeria’s Prince of Press Freedom Dele Giwa. May mama’s soul rest in peace. God Bless her soul.”

prayed for Nigeria. She said her only wish remained that the killers of her son were brought to justice.

“She said she had handed everything over to God. We were happy she was gradually letting go and very hopeful she would recover from the illness, but that did not happen.

“Mama was not ill. She was a very strong woman and always took her medications. But on December 22, she suffered a stroke.

We took her to the General Hospital, Ikorodu and later to a private hospital. She died there this morning (Tuesday).

“The only sorrow I know my mother carried all through her life was the death of my brother and the fact that justice was not done.

We really did not see her death coming. We were all sleeping in the hospital and before we woke up in the morning, she had died.”

Aboaba recalled how late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, championed to bring the killers of Dele Giwa to book.

“Gani took the battle personally.

In fact , I will say he died as a result of the struggle because it was when they were throwing him in one prison or another that he contracted the disease that eventually killed him.

“Just like my mother did, I have handed over the death of my brother, which eventually led to the death of my mother to God. He is a righteous judge and the only one who can bring justice out even when men are trying to cover up.

“It may take time, sometime we may even think it is all over, but God will surely bring the killers of my brother to justice.

“I just wished there was justice before my mother passed on.

Probably the pain she felt would

•The late Mrs Elekhia Giwa

have reduced. Although she handed everything over, maybe knowing that the killers of her son have been exposed would have given her inner peace.

One of the deceased’s grandsons, who spoke with The Nation, Sunday Tiamiyu, said he would miss mama’s care and special love for him.

He said: “Mama brought me up from childhood and she trained me up to university. She would not do anything without me. Even if she’s in somebody’s house and I am around, she will ask that I should be called to come and if she is going to sleep in that house, she’ll make me sleep there too.

“In fact mama lived a fulfilled life. But for the death of her son, I doubt if she had any other regrets.

She was a great woman.”

Oshiomhole: Nigeria ‘ll surmount challenges

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said despite the challenges confronting Nigeria, it would emerge a stronger nation.

Speaking in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government, at the 16th Auchi Day celebration, he said the challenges facing the country are being experienced by other nations.

Said he: All nations have their problems. I’m confident that Nigeria will fulfill its mission on this planet. We may have some challenges, but we won’t fix them by lamenting our fate.

“I plead that the leaders resist temptations to say anything that will give the young ones the wrong impression that all hope is lost. Our task as religious leaders and royal fathers is to enlighten our people.

“The challenge of building a great country is not easy, but we must do a soul searching and pray to God to guide our hearts and thoughts and channel our energies to make the country work.”

The governor said the Auchi-Aviele Road built by his administration has been completed and that it would decongest traffic at the Auchi Polytechnic on the Okene-Benin Federal Highway.

From left (front row); Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka; former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Gambo Jimeta; Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd); Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar; and Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, at the National Summit on PHOTO:NAN Security Challenges in Nigeria in Abuja...yesterday.

Cynthia Osukogu: NAFDAC restricts distribution of Flunitrazepam ORRIED by the increasing abuse of Flunitrazepam that was allegedly applied and led to the death of Miss Cynthia Osokogu last year, the Federal Government yesterday placed restriction on the distribution of the drug in the country.

Cynthia, who was a postgraduate student at the Nasarawa State University and daughter of a retired Major-General, was allegedly killed by her facebook friends after she was drugged and raped at a ho-

W

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

tel in Festac Town, Lagos, last July.

The Director-General of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, at a news conference, disclosed that the drug would henceforth be limited to determined outlets and would be dispensed only on doctors’ prescriptions.

According to him, the decision followed the approval of action by the Min-

ister of Health, Prof.

Onyewuchi Chukwu, and safety review of submissions by the National Drug Safety Advisory Committee (NDSAC).

He said: “This news conference is significant because of the critical health concern, which the subject matter has raised in the last six months. We are familiar with the sad story of Cynthia Osukogu, who died as a result of an alleged abuse of Rohypnol.”

Noting that Flunitrazepam is registered

in Nigeria by Roche Nigeria Limited as a 1 mg tablet with the brand name, Rohypnol, he said: “The other brand registered is Swinol by Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited.

“In the United States of America, Flunitrazepam is strictly controlled; in Nigeria, until the recent incident, which claimed the life of Miss Osukogu, there had not been any report in the database. On the receipt of the reports, NAFDAC convened a meeting of the NDSAC for advice on the

way forward and the best way to limit the abuse.

“We also met the Marketing Authorisation Holders who submitted Risk Management Plan to address the safety issues. Now, the distribution of Flunitrazepam will have to be limited and restricted to determined outlets and dispensed only on the prescription of doctors. Mandatory Quarterly Reports on the distribution and use of the medicine has to be submitted by the Marketing Authorisation Holders to NAFDAC.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2013

6

NEWS Doctors seek help for autism patients From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

EXPERTS and concerned parents have called on the government to provide facilities for the management of children suffering from autism.

They also urged Nigerians to show understanding with the patients and offer psychological support for families with children having autism.

The call was made by discussants at this year’s Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun Memorial Symposium, held at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan yesterday.

Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun, Dr. Olayinka Akindayomi and Dr. Cornelius Ani discussed autism from various perspectives and offered a full understanding of the disease.

Fed Govt, Lagos quarrel over hotel, tourist’ cash

T

HE stage is set for a legal battle between the Federal Government and Lagos State over who has the control of hotels, travel agencies, fast food outlets and other related hospitality businesses.

The Federal Government has sued Lagos State for establishing Hotel Licensing Law Cap H6, 2003; Hotel Licensing (Amendment) Law No 23 Volume 43 of July 20, 2010 and Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law No 30 Volume 42 Lagos State of Nigeria official gazette of June 23, 2009.

In a counter-suit, Lagos is claiming that operators of hotels, motels, fast food and other related tourist businesses are under its control and not that of the Federal Government.

The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mariam AlomaMukhtar, yesterday consolidated the two suits following

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

an application moved by the Solicitor-General of Lagos State, Alhaji Lawal Pedro (SAN).

Pedro said the claims in the two suits are centred on the interpretation of the 1999 Constitution on the constitutionality and validity of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation Act Cap 137 Laws of the Federation 2004 and other Hotel Licensing Laws enacted by the state.

The apex court struck out the Attorney-Generals of the other 35 states from the suit after the claim against them was withdrawn by Lagos.

The Federal Government in the suit filed pursuant to Order 2 Rule (2), 6(1)(2) and (3) of the Supreme Court as amended 2008, and Section 4(2)(3), item 60 (D) part 1 of the second schedule of the 1999 Constitution, is asking the court to restrain the state from exercising control over tourist and hospitality cen-

tres.

The Federal Government also wants the court to restrain the state from “promulgating, passing into law, enacting or legislating upon issues or any matters relating to the regulation, classification and grading of hotels, motels, guest inn, travel agencies, tour operating outfits, resort, cafeterias, restaurants, fast food outlets and other related tourist establishments and from enforcing in any manner or way through itself or any of it’s agencies...”

But Lagos in its own counter-suits is claiming that operators of hotels, motels, fast food and other related tourist businesses are under its control and not Federal Government.

In the originating summons filed pursuant to Section 4(2), (3), (4), (6) and 7 of the 1999 Constitution, and order 3 Rule (2), Rule 6(1) and (3) of the Supreme Court Rules, the state wants the court to determine

*Whether the legislative competence of the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly is not as set out in Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 *Having regards to the provisions of Section 4(1)-(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the contents of Parts 1 and II of the Second Schedule to the Constitution, whether the legislative competence of the National Assembly is not limited to matters contained in the Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative list *Whether (if question 2 above is answered in the affirmative), the National Assembly lacks the power to make a law for the regulation of hotels, tourist establishments and hospitality business in any state in Nigeria. *Whether the provisions of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act Cap N137 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to wit: Section

4(2) (c) (d) and the Regulations made there under and Section 7 of the Act purporting to regulate hotels, tourist establishments and hospitality business is unconstitutional and therefore null and void. *A declaration that the House of Assembly of Lagos State is the body entitled to the exclusion of any other legislative body, to enact laws with regard to rendering technical advice to the Lagos State and local governments in the state in the field of tourism and with respect to registration, classification and grading of all hospitality and tourism enterprises in Lagos. *A declaration that the provisions of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act Cap N137 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to wit:Section 4(2) (c), (d) and the Regulations made there under and Section 7 of the Act is ultra vires the legislative competence of the National Assembly and therefore unconstitutional, null and void.

Fashola, First Bank MD for Eko Boys centenary award AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola and the Group Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, both alumni of Eko Boys High School (EBHS), Mushin, Lagos, will lead other awardees, as the school begins its centenary celebrations today.

The National President of the Eko Boys High School Old Boys’ Association (EKOBA), Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), said this yesterday.

According to him, other alumni to be given honours tagged: Centenary award of Excellence, at the Sir Adetokunbo Ademola Hall, Nigeria Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos include former military administrator of Bauchi and Borno states, Navy Capt. Rasheed Adisa Raji; a New York, United States of America banker/real estate consultant, Babarinde Thompson; multiple-award winning Mathematician, Prof Aderemi Kuku; Police Commissioner Tunji Caulcrick; and the late socialite and former president of EKOBA, Alhaji Santos Anjorin, among others.

L

ANPP describes govt’s telephone project as wasteful

T

HE All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) yesterday accused the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, of planning to make more money for himself through the N10 million free mobile phone project for rural farmers.

The project, ANPP alleged, is another means of corruption in the agriculture sector if it is not stopped.

A statement issued in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Emma Eneukwu, said: “The attention of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has been drawn to the widelyreported proposed distribution of N10 million free mobile phones to rural farmers by the Federal Government to keep them informed.”

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had earlier said the project would cost tax payers about N60billion.

Dr. Adesina denied the allegation, saying the project would be “supported through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Communications Technology and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Ministry of Women Affairs.”

The Minister said: “The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) will support this initiative. We intend to work with the existing mobile operators in Nigeria through a public-private partnership.”

Fed Govt to NAFDAC: eradicate fake drugs before end of 2013 From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

F

EDERAL Government yesterday instructed the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) to eradicate fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria before the end of this year.

Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, gave the directive when he visited NAFDAC and other parastatals in Abuja.

According to him, the government’s mandate is to achieve zero tolerance for fake drugs this year.

He said: “You have to use all strategies at your disposal to achieve President Goodluck Jonathan’s mandate for zero tolerance for fake and counterfeit drugs. This is the year we have to achieve this.

“If there are challenges standing in your way, please let us know.”

Prof. Chukwu went on: “While we are clamping down, we must show the people how it should be done. We must create jobs for our people. We must ensure that people are brought in to follow the rules and regulations in their businesses.

•Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zainab Maina (middle); United Nations Women (UNW) Country Representative, Grace Ongile (right); and Chief Executive Officer, Bronz and Onyx International, Moji Makanjuola, during a PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE workshop for media on gender related issues in Abuja... yesterday

Activists urge Presidency to probe INEC fire

A

DEMOCRACY-focused non-government group, Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has urged the National Assembly (NASS) and the Presidency to set up independent probe panels to investigate the cause of the fire that razed a part of the corporate head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Monday.

The group canvassed the introduction of a national policy on fire disaster to compel public and private institutions to make provision for fire fighting facilities on their premises.

In a statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and National Media Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said: “There may be more to the fire than meets the eye. This should warrant investigation to ascertain if there was sabotage. If the fire was caused by some people, they should be fished out and punished, to avert recurrence, especially as the 2015 General Election is approaching.”

The group said the controversy and interest generated across the geo-political zones concerning the poll means that preparation must be

made to prevent fifth columnists from damaging electoral infrastructures such as the voter register and hardware bought with billions of tax payers’ money.

HURIWA said the explanation by the media office of INEC on the possible cause of the fire was not plausible, given that it was the most strategic voter registry and information communication technology establishment that stored national assets, such as the voter register.

It blamed the hierarchy of the electoral commission for failing to put in place fire alert communication systems following the previous

experience during which parts of the corporate headquarters of INEC were gutted by fire.

The rights group also canvassed the location of a unit of the Federal Fire Service in strategic offices in the country, including INEC’s head office in Abuja, to safeguard vital materials, such as the soft copies of the voter register, to prevent billions of tax payers’ money from being wasted.

The National Assembly, it noted, must originate a legislation for a national legal framework on the national policy on fire disasters in the country.

Reynolds is International Bar Association boss

T

HE International Bar Association (IBA) has announced Michael J. Reynolds, Partner at law firm Allen & Overy, as the new President of the IBA. He succeeds Mr. Akira Kawamura of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune in Tokyo, Japan, who held the position from January 2011.

Based in the Brussels and Washington DC offices of Allen & Overy, Mr. Reynolds said on taking the helm, “I feel privileged to have been elected President of the International Bar Association and I look

forward to building on the work and momentum of my predecessors.

“During my presidency, I shall be focusing on the impact of climate change on all of us, but especially on the disadvantage,” he said.

Reynolds said he is determined to bolster the work being done “in this field in the context of the new climate agreement to which the international community has pledged commitment to the attainment of defined goals by 2015.”

He said: “We will also look at other ways of how the lives of the underprivileged are being destabilised, and will focus on the ways to enhance or preserve their access to justice.”

Mr. Reynolds said he would use his tenure to strengthen IBA’s engagement with legal professionals across the globe, in particular in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa); Mexico; Asia, with a specific focus on Vietnam, Indonesia and

Myanmar; and in Africa, including the African French and Portuguese-speaking countries.

As cross-border transactions increase and more work is done through the IBA to enhance cross-border law and standards, Reynolds said: “Cross-border transformations have perhaps been seen at their most radical in new technologies and social media.

An IBA task force will explore the impact and potential of these for justice and the practice of law.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

7

NEWS You must answer 38 charges, court tells Daniel

A

N Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, yesterday told former Governor Gbenga Daniel that he must answer the 38 charges proffered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Daniel is on trial before Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje for charges bordering on breach of trust, fraudulent conversion of public landed property to personal use, failure to declare his assets truthfully and stealing over N211 million while in office.

According to the EFCC, the N211 million was allegedly stolen in tranches.

Daniel was accused of building his Conference Hotel in Ijebu-Ode and his Aserudero Court home in Sagamu on landed property designated as judges’ quarters.

He was also accused of allocating four hectares of Ogun land in Agbara to his wife, Olunfunke, using her maiden name, Olubunmi Opawole.

The former governor pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted N500 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

Through his lead counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, Daniel applied for the quashing of counts 1-13 of the charge, which bordered on the alleged fraudulent conversion of state landed property to personal use.

Justifying the application last December 14, when the court heard it, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), one of Daniel’s counsel, argued that a Commission of Enquiry set up by the Ogun State government last September had already indicted Daniel on the alleged offences.

Oyetibo accused the state government of vilifying the

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

former governor by setting up a Panel of Enquiry to probe land allocations made by the Daniel administration.

He said by not waiting for the conclusion of the criminal procedure in court before setting up a Commission of Enquiry, coupled with the issuance of a White Paper on its findings and publicising it in a national newspaper, the state government had put the court in a difficult situation.

According to him, counts 1-13 amounts to subjecting Daniel to another round of trial on the same charges and could put him in a situation of double jeopardy.

EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the application, describing it as absurd and a mere ploy by Daniel to further delay the court’s time and process.

The court adjourned proceedings for ruling on the application till yesterday.

At the resumed hearing, Justice Mabekoje dismissed Daniel’s application.

He said: “There is no basis to grant the order sought by the applicant. It is unjust and unreasonable to grant the application. The issue dealt with by the commission is different from the main issue before the court.

“An indictment by a Commission of Enquiry does not amount to conviction. The accused person was not tried for criminal offences.

Only a court of law can try an accused for criminal charges.

“There is no justifiable evidence to support the argument that the publication is capable of causing double jeopardy. I dismiss the application.”

Oyo CP threatens to demolish Auxiliary’s house From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Oni’s appeal suffers setback

O

USTED Ekiti State “Governor” Segun Oni’s appeal against yesterday.

The matter could not be heard because the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its officers, who were joined as respondents, were not served the hearing notice.

Oni’s counsel Chief Joe Kyari-Gadzama (SAN) told the court that INEC was a nominal party but deserved to be heard in the interest of fair hearing.

He urged the court to grant a short adjournment because of the nature of the case.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi’s counsel John Baiyeshea (SAN), who appeared with Femi Falana (SAN), did not oppose.

Justice Mukthar adjourned the case till March 5.

O

Oni is praying the court to set aside the Appeal Court judgment, which removed him from office and declared Fayemi governor.

The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, gave the judgment on October 15, 2010.

The appellants (Oni and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)) filed a motion on March 14, 2011, at the Court of Appeal, Ado- Ekiti Division, seeking to set aside the judgment.

On February 27, the Court of Appeal dismissed the application.

Dissatisfied, the appellants went to the apex court.

Oni is challenging his removal on grounds that the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, who constituted and presided over the panel, and wrote the judgment sacked him, had close affinity with the National Leader of the

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu.

Oni alleged that Salami was biased and favoured the ACN. In the brief submitted on behalf of Oni by Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN), he argued that bias was enough ground to set aside a judgment.

He said: “Bias or likelihood of it makes a decision a nullity and is therefore a sufficient ground for the lower court to set aside its own judgment.”

In a preliminary objection, Baiyashea said the Supreme Court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the appeal.

He said: “This court has no jurisdiction to entertain this appeal, being an appeal emanating from the decision of the court below in the governorship election petition of Ekiti State arising from the 2007 governorship

election, to which Section 246 (3) of the 1999 Constitution is applicable.

“This application is not only frivolous and an abuse of court process, it is a subterfuge for an appeal in the governorship election petition of Ekiti State, from which no appeal lies to this court under the constitutional provision that was then applicable.

“Furthermore, the issues formulated on the purported notice of appeal in the brief of argument of the appellants do not relate to the grounds of appeal, in that they are completely at variance with the purported grounds of appeal.

“These are multiple errors and or blunders, which in our humble opinion, with due respect, have rendered this appeal incurably bad, grossly incompetent and liable to be dismissed.”

From left: Aregbesola; Secretary, Atakumosa West Local Government, Mr. Disu Oyedele; a contractor with Tage Resources Limited, Mr. Ali Awada; the Director of Works, Mr. Folowosele Abayomi and the Head of Administration holding a cheque...yesterday.

Osun contractors get N5.5b for roads

•11 suspected robbers held YO State Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu has threatened to demolish the house of a factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Lamidi Mukaila, a.k.a. Auxiliary, if he fails to report at the Police Headquarters to explain his role in the clash at Iwo road a year ago, in which many people, including students, were killed.

Speaking with reporters yesterday at the Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, Mbu said if Mukaila does not surrender himself before the week runs out, his house would be demolished and he would be forcibly arrested.

The police chief said: “His rival, Alhaji AbdulLateef Akinsola, also known as Tokyo, has appeared at the police headquarters to explain his role and has been granted bail with reliable sureties while investigation is ongoing.

“Auxiliary is still wanted by the police. Until he shows up and explains his roles in the crisis, we would continue to declare him wanted. Tokyo has many cases to answer but we treat him with honour because of his age. He is 63.

“He was released on bail after interrogation, having surrendered himself freely for investigation. Whenever we need him he shows up. If he refuses, his guarantors would be called to question. If Auxiliary does not surrender himself, I will look for him and, if I am pushed further, I will demolish his house.”

Eleven suspected robbers were paraded.

Mbu said five locally made pistols, 1,501 rounds of AK 47 live ammunition, pump action guns, five cars, N91,000, seven mobile phones and clothes were recovered from the suspects.

He said a “soldier”, Bada Yusuf, attached to 2 division in Auchi, Edo State, with No. 11NA/66/10245, who was part of a kidnap syndicate, was arrested last Wednesday.

Mbu said Bada, dressed in army camouflage, was arrested on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway while trying to collect ransom from the family of an Indian victim, Mr. Manoj Singh.

He said commercial motorcyclists, who carry more than one passenger, would, henceforth, be arrested.

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said ongoing road projects across the state were aimed at improving the economy.

Aregbesola spoke at the State Secretariat, Osogbo, while presenting chegues worth N5.5 billion to major contractors handling the 218km roads being built in all councils.

He said a similar amount would be released to the contractors when the projects are 40 per cent completed.

The governor said Osun would soon boast of one of the best road network in the country.

He said the condition of a country’s roads is a major indicator of its level of development, adding that bad road network causes accidents and have negative health implications.

Aegbesola said: “Good roads, on the other hand, will enhance economic activities, bring down the cost of goods and services and reduce wear and tear on vehicles.

“Our assault on bad roads

•Aregbesola says good roads’ll boost economy’ From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

is massive. At the state level, work is ongoing on different road projects, which are at varying stages of completion.

This is a demonstration of our resolve. The 218km roads are spread across all the local governments and one Area Office at the cost of N16 billion.”

Since 2010, the state government had been saving the Excess Crude Oil (ECO) funds of local governments towards the building of 10km roads in each council.

Six million Naira was drawn from the ECO fund savings for the project.

The state government helped the local governments to source N10 billion loan from banks to meet up the project cost.

The projects were kicked off on December 31, 2012.

Roads under construction include eight roads inherited from the past administration, totalling 144.29km; the dualisation of the 43.37km Osogbo-Kwara boundary

‘Our assault on bad roads is massive. At the state level, work is ongoing on different road projects, which are at varying stages of completion’ road and the dualisation of the Gbongan-OrileowuIjebu Igbo road.

Others are 15 Ilesa township roads; 14 Ede township roads; 20 inter-city roads totalling 319 km; 13 intra-city roads totalling 79.46km and select roads in six zones totalling 74.1km.

The governor said the roads are high quality roads with 50mm asphalt on stone base with concrete drainage where necessary.

He denied the allegation by the opposition that his government was arbitrary in awarding the contracts.

Aregbesola said contrac-

tors handling the projects were selected on merit from those who passed the prequalification test and had handled projects for the government satisfactorily.

He said: “They are still projects of the local governments. Our intervention is only in quality control and financial engineering. The works are still under the superintendence of the councils’ Directors of Works.”

The governor urged the contractors to abide by best practice, warning that the government would revoke the contract of anyone found wanting.

He said his administration would continue to act in the interest of the people.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Kolapo Alimi urged stakeholders to monitor the contractors.

Mr. Ibrahim Shittu of Kofas Engineering Construction, who represented the contractors, sought the support of the host communities and pledged that the projects would be promptly completed.

8

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

NEWS Five goats seized in Osun From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

FIVE goats were yesterday seized in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, by officials of the State Waste Management Agency (OWMA) for allegedly straying on roads and violating environmental laws.

OWMA Coordinator Mr. Henry Ogunbanwo said the owners of the goats, which were picked up at Dele Yesa, would soon be charged to court.

Ogunbanwo said the state government had warned residents to monitor their domestic animals to avoid public disturbance.

He said the five goats were being kept at the agency’s office in Osogbo and would be brought to court.

Ogunbanwo said the present administration would not tolerate dirtiness and environmental hazard.

He said officials of the agency would continue to move around the state to ensure compliance with environmental laws.

UNIBEN don claims HIV/AIDS cure drugs A UNIVERSITY of Benin (UNIBEN) Professor, Isaiah Ibeh, yesterday announced the development of a new drug that has shown substantial promise to cure HIV and AIDS. Ibeh, who is the Dean of the School of Basic Medical Sciences of the university, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the herbal drug had undergone “series of successful tests”.

There is yet no cure for HIV/AIDS. “We are at the threshold of making history, in the sense that we seem to have with us something that will permanently take care of what over time seems to have defied all solutions, said the don, who added: “We are talking about the latest discovery of an oral drug made from plants extraction in Nigeria for the possible cure of the pandem-

ic, HIV and AIDS virus.’’

According to him, research on the project was started in 2010 and culminated in the development of “Deconcotion X (DX)–Liquid or Bioclean 11 for the cure of HIV and AIDS’’. ` ‘The existing retroviral drugs are intervention drugs for the management of AIDS but our new discovery is a possible cure. We have tried to look at the product first; its toxicological analysis and discovered that it has a large safety margin.

“This means that if animals or human beings are exposed to it, they will not suffer any serious harm at all from the exposure. It also helped us to know the quantity we can conveniently give to animals and

will feel secure that nothing untoward will happen.

“We have also done the bacteriological analysis on it, after which we looked at its effect on the virus and the result was quite revealing and refreshing.”

Ibeh also said that the drug had been exposed to series of medical examination, both in Nigeria and in the United States. He added that the drug had performed well on patients with the HIV virus and had shown evidence of total restoration of damaged tissues.

“The result showed an increase in the body weight of the individual administered with DX. “The body weight was statistically significant when

compared with the control group.”

He said that further tests were being conducted to determine “at what point will a patient become negative after being administered the drug?”. “This verification is necessary because it is what is used to measure whether infection is still there or not.

So we need to know the siroconvention time.

“But preliminary results showed that of the five latest patients orally administered with the drugs, our finding is that up to seven months , three of them were siro negative while two were sill faintly positive.’’

Ibeh appealed for support from the Federal Government and relevant bodies to assist the university with relevant equipment to sustain the research.

KIND engages Ekiti councils on governance From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado Ekiti

The Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) has approved five councils in Ekiti State for the training of civil society organisations (CSOs) on the “constructive engagement of government functionaries in the councils on responsible governance”.

The councils are Ikere, Ekiti West, Moba, Emure and Efon.

The Executive Director of the Non-Government Organisation (NGO), Mrs. Amy Oyekunle, said the project was about how council officials can make political office holders socially and economically accountable to the people.

She said: “The project is meant to offer the councils an opportunity to score themselves on three sectors, including health, education and the environment.

“It is to let the local governments know what the communities think are important to be done and to also let the communities know what challenges the local governments face in delivering on such needs.

“This project will ensure more trust in the interaction between government and the people and occasion comprehensive and even development of councils.

“The project is being executed with the support of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs in Ekiti.”

At a stakeholders’ forum in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Commissioner for Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami said the government/KIND collaboration would “enhance development and improve the relationship between the people and government, especially at the grassroots”.

Court frees detained ACN members From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A

Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting in OkeEda, Akure, Ondo State, yesterday freed five members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who were arrested after the party’s mega rally in Ondo town on October 3, last year.

Jimoh Adebiyi, Ojo Gbenga, Joseph Ogah, Samson Otugbo and Oyewole Gabriel were accused of “conspiracy and conduct likely to breach the peace”.

They were detained at Olokuta Prison until October 29, when they were transferred to the Police Headquarters, Akure, and arraigned.

The accused told the court that they were arrested for wearing the ACN’s vest, which had the inscription: ‘Akeredolu for Governor’.

The Attorney-General, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who took over the prosecution of the case, said the accused had a case to answer and should not be granted bail.

Eyitayo sent three lawyers from his office and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP’s) to handle the matter.

Yesterday, the Magistrate, A. Akintoye, freed the accused, following the prosecutors’ absence at the second adjournment. Defence counsel Charles Titiloye told reporters that the judgment was a vindication of the rule of law.

He warned the state government against dragging the Judiciary into politics and witch-hunting the opposition.

Ogun PDP urged to unite •National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (middle) felicitating with the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama and his wife before Mahama’s inauguration in Accra.

Lagos lawmaker ‘not part’ of PDP meeting

T

HE member representing Ojo Constituency 11 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Lanre Ogunyemi, has dissociated himself from a meeting purportedly held by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, with PDP leaders and youths in Ojo Local Government.

Ogunyemi said the PDP group, Ojo Broom, circulated

By Oziegbe Okoeki

text messages and posted on facebook that his former campaign manager and aide were at the meeting.

Speaking with reporters in his office at the Assembly Complex yesterday, the lawmaker said he was not perturbed by the development, adding that the group’s effort to tarnish his image had failed.

He said: “I have and would

continue to enjoy the confidence of my leadership about my person and integrity. I remain a loyal member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and my loyalty to the party’s leadership has never been in doubt.

“It is on record that in my political career in over 20 years, I have exhibited unwavering loyalty to our party leadership. I have served at the topmost echelon as the

state secretary, special adviser and now member of the House of Assembly.

“Even when I did not hold any political office, my character remained impeccable and dependable. I thank all my leaders, constituents, supporters and well-wishers, who through their numerous call and visits, have expressed their concern, solidarity and confidence in my steadfastness.”

‘Olu Agbi Group no more in Ondo PDP’

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday said a group led by a former Ambassador, Olu Agbi, was no more in the PDP. In a statement by its Publicity Director, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, PDP said members of Agbi’s faction had been expelled from the party since October 15, last year.

It said: “Their expulsion is predicated on their serial indiscipline and disloyal actions, which contradict the party’s goals. It is, therefore, important that we correct the erroneous impression in the media that they remain

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

a faction in the party.

“They are completely extraneous and detached from the party. The confirmation for this is reinforced by the fact that one Femi Olaleye, who continuously addresses himself as a Professor, was never a PDP member.

“Our attention has equally been attracted by the serial outbursts of Dr. Dare Bada, who continues to perpetrate falsehood about the party for reasons not completely lost to us, as he has been bought by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the spon-

sor of the Agbi Group, to do just that.

“We have tried not to join issues with him because of his unenviable antecedent in politics. This is because like Mimiko, Bada’s politics is not issue-based nor propelled by the desire to ensure the common good of the society, but centred on pettiness and acrimony.

“We take cognisance of the way he betrayed the Alliance for Democracy (AD) when he joined us in 2002.

He later defected from the PDP to the then Action Congress (AC), which he destroyed in 2007 because he

was not given the party’s ticket. He betrayed the party for a fee when he crossed back to the PDP. “Bada is currently on a one-man riot squad not because he has any reason to so do, but because he has again been purchased to so do.

“In fact, it is germane that we put it on record that as the Director-General of the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation (OOCO), he failed to render any account to the party and it is our belief that men of honour must give detailed account of funds put at their disposal.”

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun West Senatorial District yesterday urged factions in the party to sheath their swords.

It warned that should Ogun PDP continue to carry on with a divided house, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) would remain in power beyond 2015.

Ogun PDP, in the last twoand-a-half years, has remained divided following the emergence of various factions.

There are no fewer than four factions in the party, including those of Prince Buruji Kashamu and Senator Dipo Odujirin, which is believed to be loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Ogun West PDP, in a statement by party leaders in the zone, including Mr. Kunle Salako, Chief Wale Egunleti, former Forestry Commissioner Ali Ajibode, Mr. Kunle Akinosi and Evangelist Titus Eweje, among others, urged the factions to dialogue and resolve their grievances.

It said: “We recognise dialogue as a time honoured veritable conflict resolution mechanism and urge aggrieved stakeholders to shun violence and embrace dialogue and conflict resolution procedures stipulated in the party’s constitution.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

9

NEWS ‘How to avert looming darkness’

Senate queries alleged $1.5b NNPC loan

T

HE Senate yesterday said it was unaware of a $1.5billion (about N240billion) loan allegedly obtained by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to offset debts to international fuel marketers.

The loan, according to reports was provided by some Nigerian and international banks and brokered by the Standard Chartered Bank.

The NNPC is believed to have put up 15,000 barrels per day of its oil production as collateral for the facility which is to be repaid in over five and half years.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said the National Assembly did not approve the loan.

Abaribe said: “Under the law, no government agency can borrow money without the approval of the National

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Assembly. We have to know if that was done first, but then the question to ask under the circumstance is, what happened to the N161billion supplementary appropriation that was approved by the National Assembly for government to take care of the shortfall in the fuel subsidy budget, particularly to ensure steady supply of petroleum products during the yuletide.”

Again, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe said there is no record of the deal before the Upper Chambers.

Abe said the committee was still trying to confirm the loan from the authorities of the oil giant.

He lamented that the committee has received several calls from Nigerians seeking to know whether the Nation-

Navy redeploys 224 senior officers •49 Rear Admirals, 106 Commodores, 69 Captains affected

T

HE Navy yesterday announced the redeployment of 224 senior officers across the country.

Fourty nine Rear Admirals, 106 Commodores and 69 Captains were affected.

A statement by its Director of Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, said most of the appointments will take effect from the second and third week of this month.

Some of the officers are: Rear Admiral J.N Amaino, who was moved from Admiral Superintendent, Navy Dockyard to Director of Marine Engineering, Naval Headquarters; Rear Admiral D B Boer moves from Admiral Superintendent, Naval Shipyard, Port Harcourt to Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard, Lagos; Rear Adm. J.B. Oladimeji has been redeployed from Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters to Defence Headquarters as the Chief of Administration.

Others are: Rear Adm. U.O. Jibrin, from Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters, now the Director Of Training, Defence Headquarters; Rear Adm. K.O. Komolafe, from Chief of Accounts and Budget to Group Managing Director, Nigerian Navy Holdings; Rear Adm. E.O.Ogbor has been named the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters. He was formerly the Chief of Training and Operations, Naval Headquarters.

Rear Adm. O.E. Ekwe, the former Commandant, Nigerian Navy Engineering College, Sapele is now the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Shipyard Port Harcourt; Rear Adm AOA Ikioda, formerly the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, is now the Moderator, National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru; Rear Adm. OB Ogunjimi, the former Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, is now the Chief of Training and Operations, Naval Head-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

quarters.

Similarly, Rear Adm. S.A. Orie, the former Director of Curriculum and Programme Development, National Defence College, Abuja, now the Managing Director, Nigerian Navy Engineering Services Support Company Ltd; Rear Adm D.O Osuofa.

Former Deputy Commandant, AFCSC, Jaji, Director of Logistics, Rear Adm. DO Osuofa has been moved to the Defence Intelligence Agency; Rear Adm. B.M Mshelia leaves as Chairman, Military Pensions Board to be Chief of Accounts and Budget, Naval Headquarters.

Former Chief of Naval Standard and Evaluation, Rear Adm JO Aikhomu is now Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command; Rear Adm. I.E Ibas is now the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command. He was moved as Navy Secretary; Rear Adm. G.E. Okoi of Flag Commanding Logistics Command is now the Director of Plans, Defence Headquarters.

Rear Adm. I.A Oyagha, formerly the Director of Transformation, Naval Headquarters now Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters; Rear Adm. S.H. Usman, Chief of Administration, now at the Naval Headquarters as the Chief of Naval Standard and Evaluation; Rear Adm. H.O Ngonadi, formerly Director of Administration, Naval Headquarters has been named the Navy Secretary.

Others are: Rear Adm. O.U. Emele, Moderator, NIPSS Kuru, now the Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters; Rear Adm. A Shettima has been moved as Director Development, Defence Headquarters to become Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command (and Commodore D.S. Audu of the Central Pay Office, now Chairman, Military Pensions Board.

‘Under the law, no government agency can borrow money without the approval of the National Assembly’ al Assembly approved the loan.

Abe said: “As at this (yesterday) afternoon, there’s no record of the loan deal before us.

“We are still trying to confirm the loan from NNPC. “The committee read about the loan deal on the pages of newspapers like other Nige-

rians and we have had concerned Nigerians calling to ask whether the National Assembly approved the loan.”

Replying a question, the lawmaker said: “We have no record of such before us.”

A financial expert who spoke on condition of anonymity said not all Federal Governments loans are supposed to be approved by the National Assembly.

He said: “It depends on the type of loan. If it is a loan from the Paris Club and London it has to go through the National Assembly. “If it is a concessionary loan, it may or may not go through the National Assembly for approval.

“But an investment loan may not require the endorsement of the National Assembly because the agency that

W •Senate President David Mark

obtained the loan must have worked out how to repay the loan.”

He, however, added that since the corporation is the “cash cow” of the Federal Government and considering the volume of cash involved it ought to seek the approval of the National Assembly.

ITH just nine days into the new year, Pastor J.A. Shodeinde of the Saints Gospel Church of Christ (The Hand of Fire Shadow Tabernacle), Igando, an outskirts of Lagos, has enjoined Nigerians to move closer to God to avert a looming gloom hovering over the country.

In his prediction entitled: “Valley of Decision”, the General Overseer, who quoted from Joel 3 versus 14, said: “We are in the valley of decision because the coming of the Lord is imminent. Everybody should move close to God to avoid an impending ‘darkness’ in the country. The situation in the world, particularly Nigeria today, is proving that the coming of the Lord is imminent and everybody should return to God.”

10

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

CITYBEATS

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

Man charged with robbery

By Adebisi Onanuga

A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN, Uchenna Mbah, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court for robbery. He was alleged to have robbed his victim of valuables worth N500, 000.

Police prosecutor Barth Nwakaoye, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) said the defendant and others at large, conspired to commit the offence on December 8, last year at 4:30p.m at No. 39 Jadesola Oshodi St, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos.

He told the court that the defendant, armed with a gun, allegedly robbed Mr Eluchukwu Okoye of a blackberry phone, jewellery and clothes.

Nwakaoye said when Mbah was arrested and interrogated; he claimed that he usually use a toy gun to operate.

The offence, Nwakoye said, contravened Section 1 (2) of the Firearms Special Provision Act, Cap 146, Laws of Nigeria, 1990.

The defendant's plea was not taken.

Magistrate A.O Isaac adjourned the case till January 21, pending the Director of Public Prosecution's advice.

Court remands two bus conductors in Ikoyi prison AN Igbosere Magistrate's Court sitting in Lagos yesterday remanded two bus conductors in prison for alleged robbery.

Magistrate F.O. Aigbokhaevbo, said the defendants should be remanded in prison pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Jelili Gbadegeshin, 24, and Tayo Abiola, 34, are facing two-count charge of robbery and stealing.

They pleaded not guilty. Gbadegeshin resides at No. 163, Olosa Bus-Stop, Mushin, while Abiola lives on Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Lagos.

The Prosecutor, Mr Steve Molo, told the court that the defendants were arrested by a vigilance group on November 21, last year, at Iwaya Area, Sabo, Lagos, with dangerous weapons. According to him, they had allegedly attacked Mr Bidemi Idowu's house at 1, Oyewole Street, Iwaya, Sabo, Lagos, and robbed him of N42,000.

He said during interrogation, the defendants confessed to the crime. He said the offences contravened Sections 289 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The case was adjourned till Feb. 8 for the DPP's advice

•The scene of the accident... yesterday

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Two injured in Lagos road accident

T

WO persons were yesterday injured in a multiple accident at the Independence Tunnel, Maryland.

A waste collection truck, with number-plate XU 76 APP rammed into a SUV marked LSD 740 BB from the rear.

The impact forced the SUV off the road with its two front tyres climbing the concrete blocks demarcating the Bus Rapid Transit corridor.

Two cars marked PP 398 KJA and KU 900 EKY were

By Segun Balogun

hit in quick succession.

Two persons occupying the SUV belonging to an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were injured. One of them, suspected to have sustained internal injury, vomited repeatedly. The injured were rushed to the hospital in a Lagos State Ambulance.

Passers-by blamed the accident on the waste truck with a bold inscription of "Dana Autos Co Ltd, Expert

in waste management." But the driver insisted the brakes were in good condition.

"My brake is working, but two vehicles were parked in the middle of the road and before I realised it, it had happened," said the driver, who refused to disclose his name.

The owner of one of the cars, Segun Adegun, corroborated the driver's claims.

He said: "A Hummer and another car were trading words. I don't know what happened between them, but the SUV blocked the

other car. While I was trying to navigate to the other lane, I just heard the bang.

Immediately the accident happened, the two vehicles sped off.

"Thank God for the BRT lane, we would have hit the bridge and it would have been more disastrous.

"I would have expected Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officials to first check whether he was drunk or even ask for his licence and check the condition of the truck's brakes, but they didn't. They only

came to tow the vehicles off the road to their office. Now we don't know who will bear the cost of repairs because the truck driver was not even arrested by LASTMA and he may manage to escape," he said.

An official said LASTMA's duty is not accident investigation, but traffic management.

Some officials of NSCDC however, drove off with the truck driver in an official vehicle marked "Lagos Command Anti-Vandal Squad."

Road expansion: Govt, residents settle out-of-court

T

HE Lagos State Government and owners of properties slated for demolition for the expansion of Ago Palace Way in Isolo have resolved their dispute amicably, Governor Babatunde Fashola said yesterday.

He said the matter was settled out of court in the public interest.

Fashola, who spoke while inspecting on-going projects across the state, said the development would ensure quick action on the project.

The property owners, he said, have agreed to compensation to enable government construct the road.

"The community has outgrown that road so we have to expand it and that probably explains the need for increased infrastructure "At Ago Palace Way, some of the properties needed to give way, everybody wants good road, but nobody wants it to pass through his house, so some of the landlords took us to court, but I think we have settled out of court and we need to pay compensation, these are the things that the residents do not see. I've heard complaints that the work has slowed down and

By Miriam Ndikanwu

the contractor has left, but the reason is that a citizen took us to court," he said.

The road, on completion would serve as a link from Okota to FESTAC. The tour took Fashola and his commissioners to Orile Iganmu area to inspect the on-going light rail project. He promised that the first

section of the 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway would be completed in June.

Fashola flagged-off the track work of the blue rail at Alaba Suru, CokerAguda Local Council Development Area, (LCDA), saying the work on the National Theatre and Alaba-Mile 2 rail stations are in an advanced state.

He added: "In order to finish the road, the con-

tractor didn't go on vacation during the festive period; all these are geared towards ensuring that the project is delivered on time for residents' use."

The first section of the road, which began from National Theatre, OrileIganmu to Mile 2 Bus Stop, he said, would be "fully completed" with the tracks laid.

"While construction work continues on the

rail project from Orile-Iganmu to Marina, the expansion work on the road from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko would also be intensified," he said, adding: "This is what we do with the loan collected by the state government. We don't use our loan to pay salaries and other recurrent expenditure, all we do with our loan is to provide capital projects that would be of benefit to residents."

•Governor Fashola (second right), Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr Aderemi Ibirogba (left), Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, Special Adviser for Works and Infrastructure Engr. Ganiyu Johnson and Hon. Hakeem Muniru on inspection of on-going projects in the state... yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

11

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

CITYBEATS Fashola redeploys five Permanent Secretaries

L

AGOS State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has deployed five Permanent Secretaries in Lagos State Public Service.

In a statement yesterday, the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, named those affected. Mr. Taiwo Adetunde Adedeji, from the Ministry of Housing to Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development; Mr. Nurudeen Ojora-Adejiyan, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to Local Government Service Commission; Mr. Lateef Dada Abari, Public Service Office to Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Mrs. Eniola Yonwuren, Civil Service Commission to Teachers Establishments and Pensions Office (TEPO) and Mrs.

By Miriam Ndikanwu

Regina Iyabode Obasa, Local Government Establishment, Training and Pensions to Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

The statement said the 16 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries have been assigned portfolios.

They are Dr. John Olusegun Oshinyimika, Office of Youth and Social Development; Dr. Abiola Olawunmi Awonuga, Office of Sports, Mrs. Onikepo Olufunmilayo Animashaun, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Fariudeen Abisoye Akodu, Public Service Office; Mr. Olatunde Idowu Agoro, Ministry of Rural Development; Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adebusola Balogun, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture; Mr.

Waliu Abiodun Onibon, Parastatals Monitoring Office; Mr. Naheem Olayinka Sahid, Office of Infrastructure.

Mr. Jamiu Adewale Ashimi, Local Government Establishments, Training and Pensions Office; Mrs. Omotayo Amoke Olabenjo, Civil Service Commission; Olusoga Olatunji Odunlami, Ministry of Housing; Mr. Adeyinka Tajudeen Jeje, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission; Mrs. Modupeola Agbeke David, Education District I and Mrs. Iyabo Funmilola Osifeso, Education District VI. Mrs. Ganiyat Adebola Afun and Dr. Francis Olatunde Williams, whose appointments were confirmed, retain their portfolios at Office of the Environment and Primary Healthcare Board.

•From Left: Head, sustainability and responsibility Guinness Nigeria Plc Andrianne Nwagwu, Ikenwachukwu (Rtd), Dora Nkem Akuyili, former honourable minister of Information and communication, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya managing director of CMC connect and Lolu Akinwunmi CEO Prima Garnet at the special colloquium on managing Nigeria’s image; whose responsibility at YBO 50.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Dana crash: pathologist’s absence stalls inquest

T

HE absence of renowned pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, yesterday stalled the resumed sitting of the coroner’s inquest into the Dana plane crash.

Coroner Oyetade Komolafe, a magistrate, said the inquest could not proceed because of Obafunwa’s absence.

All those on board the ill fated plane died after its crash at Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb on June 3, last year. Some residents also died when the plane crashed into their homes.

The inquest was scheduled to resume yesterday following the dismissal of a suit filed by a group, Civil Aviation Round Table.

Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court, Lagos, dismissed the suit because the plaintiff lacked locus standi to bring the case.

Obafunwa, who is the Chief Medical Examiner of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, testified on July 25, last year, on the cause of the victim’s death.

He was expected to submit the victims’ autopsy reports

•Give airline second chance

By Adebisi Onanuga and Oziegbe Okoeki

and also be cross-examined on his testimony.

Also to be cross-examined was Dana Airlines’ Director of Flight Operations, Capt. Oscar Wilson.

Meanwhile, a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Saka Fafunmi, has urged Nigerians to give the airlines a second chance. He urged them not to dump the airline following last year’s crash of its Lagos-bound flight from Abuja.

Reacting to criticisms trailing the resumption of operation by the airline last Friday, he said: “What happened to Dana’s aircraft was a system failure and if necessary corrections have been done by the airline, I think they are fit to start operation.

“If Minister of Aviation and other agencies of the sector have found the airline worthy to start operation, I think Nigerians should give them a second chance.”

Fafunmi, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, said the airline would have learnt from the crash.

“I know that the families of the victims would not want to fly Dana anymore because it is not easy to lose loved ones, but all the same, Nigerians should see it as what was bound to happen.

“How will you explain people losing their lives while sleeping? I want us to move forward and leave the past behind,” he said.

He called on the agencies charged with monitoring aircraft to ensure that they are in good shape.

Airline operators, he said, should do the needful to avert a recurrence.

“I know a lot of measures would have been put in place by the sector to put an end to such happenings and we should not forget that this happens everywhere, but we should only pray for God’s divine protection,” he said.

Fire razes shanties in Ebute-Metta IRE yesterday razed shops and shanties at Market Street, Ebute-Meta, a Lagos community.

The fire is coming barely 13 days after an explosion rocked the Jankara Market, still on the Island killing one, while about 40 others were injured and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

The fire according to an eye witness, started around 5:44pm.

It was learnt that the fire spread from Market Street to Kadara Street and affected over 50 shanties.

F

By Precious Igbonwelundu

“We all tried to put out the fire but it just continued to spread. Most of us are sawmillers and our houses are made of wood, I can tell you that the loss incurred in this fire will run into millions of naira,” a source said.

Director State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, who confirmed the incident, said it started from the burning of used tyres.

He said the fire started at Market Street and later escalated

to the Oko-Oba where many shanties were burnt.

Fadipe said: “The fire involved shanties, structures built with corrogated iron sheets and planks.

“Part of the saw mill at OkoOba has been affected by the fire.

“No life lost and no casualty recorded.

“My men have been on ground since the fire started. We have difficulty in putting the fire off because it is a riverine community.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

12

NEWS Naira rises on dollar sale

Fed Govt to pay 23 oil marketers N94b, says Okonjo-Iweala

T

WENTY-THREE oil marketers are to be paid N94 billion, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said yesterday. The cash is part of the N161 billion approved by the National Assembly.

The 23 oil marketers will be paid ”in the next few days.”

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, said the government was “committed to paying all companies which deserve to get subsidy payments just as we will not pay undeserving firms.”

For the balance however, the government is “waiting for the others to come and complete their paper work to complete their balance. That is the mandate we have from the President.”

Dr Okonjo-Iweala said.

She said payment was being carried out according to transactions, so some marketers (23) that have cleared their paper work on some of their transactions would be paid from the N94 billion.

However, Mrs Okonjo-

From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

Iweala noted that they may come back again with additional transactions, “but as of now, 23 marketers have done their paper work.They may still have outstanding claims because we do them in batches through the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the Debt Management Office (DMO).

“I have a list of 27 marketers for the remainder of the money, but some of them have already featured under this 23 and they may have to come back,” she said.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala stated that her ministry has made the N161.6 billion supplementary budget for subsidy payments which has been approved by the National Assembly and made available to the Central Bank of Nigeria since December 31, 2012, adding that the payments “are presently going through the CBN’s processes which include the conversion of the dollar equivalent from the foreign Excess Crude

Account to the domestic Excess Crude Account, and that will be concluded soon.

“We have to authenticate the amount and this process normally takes five days and a week between the CBN and the ministry.The Central Bank is very strict by trying to have all the documentation,” she added.

“The process is on, the money has been released and is being converted into naira by the CBN and I don’t think there is any issue with this.”

At present, the money, she explained,“is being credited to the account now by the AccountantGeneral of the Federa-

T

•Dr Okonjo-Iweala

tion. The conversion is being done and marketers who said they have not been able to access should go now to get their money.

It is not something that takes months,” Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said.

HE naira strength ened the most in three months after the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) sold dollars to lenders.

The currency rallied 0.6 per cent to N156.1 to the dollar, the biggest gain on a closing basis since October 4, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The currency lost 0.4 per cent last week.

NNPC periodically sells dollars to lenders to meet local spending needs. The oil industry is the secondbiggest source of foreign currency after the Central Bank of Nigeria, which sells dollars at auctions on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The CBN sold $150 million yesterday in its first sale this year.

NNPC sold an undisclosed amount of dollars to banks yesterday, which

supported the naira, Augustus Nwachukwu, an analyst at Lagos-based Stanbic IBTC Holdings Company, said.

Nigeria plans to sell N166 billion ($1.1 billion) of 91-, 182- and 364-day Treasury bills at an auction tomorrow, the apex bank said on Monday.

“The naira is supported by CBN dollar supply and inflows for the purchase of Treasury bills,” Sewa Wusu, analyst at Lagos-based Sterling Capital Limited, said by phone.

The rate on the nation’s 10-year naira debt fell 24 basis points to 11.28 percent, according to Monday’s prices compiled on the Financial Markets Dealers Association website.

Yields on the country’s $500 million of Eurobonds due January 2021 slid seven basis points to 3.854 per cent.

Kaduna Airport ready in three months

T

HE Kaduna Airport re modelling project will be completed in three months, the Federal Government said yesterday.

The General Manager, Corporate Services, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati, said the airport is among the first 11 scheduled for remodelling under the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

The contractor handling the

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

project has advanced about 80 per cent, and with the pace of work it would be ready for inauguration in three months, Dati said.

This is a part of strategies in the Aviation Master Plan which includes; upgrade and

development of dilapidated infrastructure, reformation of institutions as well as the transformation of key airports into a network of domestic and international hubs.

Meanwhile, operations at the airport has been shifted to the Hajj terminal pending the completion of construction

at the airport.

On completion, the airport will form a major hub with the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. This development will help to boost the economy of the state as well as increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Kano gets licence to operate 37 MFBs

C

ENTRAL Bank of Ni geria Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi yesterday declared that Kano State has made history as the first state to benefit from the CBN’s gesture of been granted a licence for the establishment of 37 MicroFinance Banks.

He explained that the CBN relaxed the guidelines for the establishment of MicroFinance banks for Kano State, due to the state government’s pursuit of economic empowerment programmes for youths and the unemployed in the state.

At the inauguration of MFBs yesterday, Sanusi said the banks will serve as an avenue for poverty alleviation, as well as empower jobless youths in the state.

Sanusi said governments’ were prevented from estab-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

lishing Micro-Finance banks, ostensibly to avoid political interference of its operations.

To this extent, he advised the people to take advantage of the benefits of the MFBs to establish their small and medium scale businesses.

In his speech, the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while thanking the CBN Governor for the gesture, said he decided to establish the banks in collaboration with the local governments, so as to reverse the trend, pointing out that commercial banks were non existent in 10 Local Government Areas of the state.

Also, Kwankwaso thanked all those, who contributed immensely to mak-

ing the dream a reality, adding that with the commissioning of the 37 banks, it now brings to 45 the number of MFBs in the state.

He expressed delight that the establishment and commissioning of the banks will at least provide employment opportunities to about 700 Kano indigenes, which will help reduce poverty in the state, as well as improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries and their immediate family members.

He promised that the state government would do everything possible to sustain the 37 banks in addition to eight others already in existence.

Meanwhile, 10 of the banks will start operations immediately, while the others will follow at the end of January.

SURE-P targets 10, 000 unemployed in Cross River

T

HE State Implementa tion Committee on the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P) in Cross River State is targeting 10,000 unemployed people this year, the Chairman of the programme, Agom Jarigbe, has said.

He said at the opening of the Sensitisation/ Orientation Workshop for the implementation of SURE-P yesterday, that 5,000 would benefit from the Federal Government’s SURE-P programme, while 5,000 would benefit from the state.

He said: “Right now, we are employing 3,000 and later, we will take more 2,000 making it 5,000, but before the year runs out, Cross River will have 10,000.”

He said beneficiaries of the programme are expected to be paid N10,000 monthly, adding that after one year, they would be absorbed into a larger en-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

deavour.

He said the beneficiaries are expected to carry out some services within the communities and advised them to work hard in order to justify the good intention of the government, adding that the government is targeting 370,000 beneficiaries across the country under the first phase of SURE-P. Chairman of the Calabar Municipality Local Government Area, Eta Mbora, said the SURE-P programme was in fulfillment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign promise.

Eta said the programme was purely meant for the unemployed and the vulnerable members of the society and advised the beneficiaries to avoid cheating.

“You must be unemployed for you to benefit in this programme. There is no need for cheating. It is just like

payment of unemployment allowance, ‘’ he said.

Earlier, the representative of the Southern District in the committee, Dr Ani Offiong said the beneficiaries were expected to work for five hours each day of the week.

Ani said the money was not meant for jamboree and called on the beneficiaries to brace up for the challenges of community services.

“You could be called upon to do anything five hours every five days of the week,‘’ he said.

In his contribution the representative of the United Bank for Africa, Mr Nelson Egbuka said that the Bank was the custodian of the funds and responsible for its management and disbursement.

Egbuka said the beneficiaries were required to open account with the bank from where their funds would be deposited.

AFCON: Pundits decry inclusion of one Nigerian referee Pg. 14

2013 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Super Eagles are improving, says Dosu Pg. 51

Sport

•Peter Edibe

PAGE 13

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

AFCON 2013

Mystery list

•Bright Dike

surfaces in the media

•NFF insists it’s fake

Pg. 14

Nigerian snub for ‘Killie kid’, Ibrahim

Pg. 14

ADEPOJU TO EAGLES

Pg. 14

Don’t be deceived by Zambia’s defeats

NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

14

NATION SPORT AFCON

51

COUNTDOWN...AFCON COUNTDOWN...AFCON COUNTDOWN...AFCON COUNTDOWN...AFCON COUNTDOWN...AFCON COUNTDOWN... NATION SPORT

AFCON: Supporters club appeal pleads for sponsorship to South Africa

Mystery list surfaces in the media •NFF insists it’s fake

•Rafiu Ladipo

•Dosu

By Stella Bamawo

AFCON 2013: •Ideye

ADEPOJU TO EAGLES

Don’t be deceived by Zambia’s defeats

Super Eagles are improving, says Dosu

AFCON: Pundits decry inclusion of one Nigerian referee

•Peter Edibe

Amoebi escapes punishment

Nigerian snub for ‘Killie kid’, Ibrahim

Igesund urges South African fans to back Bafana Bafana

•Rabiu Ibrahim •Amoebi

•Igesund

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

15

16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

HEALTH

PLEA

ADVOCACY

‘Ogun committed to HIV/AIDS campaign’

Etsu-Nupe urges unity

Rotary seeks peaceful co-existence

Ogun

45

Niger

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012

Lagos

47

48

Page 17

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Sokoto sets up displaced persons’ camps

T

•Governor Wamakko

HREE camps will soon be set up in Sokoto State for its internally-displaced persons.

The state Director-General Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Alhaji Hassan Maccido dropped the hint in the capital when he received members of a four-man post-flood health risks assessment committee set up by the Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Maccido said the camps will be spread across the state’s three senatorial zones, adding that “one of

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

[them] will cater for the victims of natural disasters like flood.”

According to Maccido, the camps will have the entire needed social infrastructure to make life easier and meaningful for the victims of all unforeseen natural disasters.

He said the planned camps are expected to have all necessary facilities for human habitation and would be replicated in the 23 local

government areas of the state in due course.

Maccido further explained that the aim was to avoid the usual fire brigade approach to disaster management.

“We need efficient disaster management and response mechanisms in Nigeria,” he added.

He further stressed the need for timely response to disasters in the country, urging, “We need to learn lessons from developed countries.

“We should thank God that we don’t have some of the most terri-

ble disasters like cyclones, earthquakes and hurricanes, among others.”

The SEMA boss said the state government was committed to empowering the agency to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

Maccido, who acknowledged the efforts being made at ensuring disaster control and management in recent times, commended the Federal Government for setting up the committee and for rising to the challenge of flood disasters in the country.

O

VER a thousand women have had their health concerns put at bay. No fewer than 80 were screened for breast and cervical cancer. Some others were tested for Hepatisis B and Diabetes. They also took various food items home.

Their benefactor was Hadassah Healing Foundation, (HHF), a faith-based non-governmental organisation.

The NGO is dedicated to the welfare of women and the downtrodden. Since inception in 2005, Hadassah has taken the plight of women seriously, attending to their medical and material needs.

The group has also given scholarship to indigent students and empowered women in small-scale enterprises. In addition, it has supported widows and orphans, giving them a reason to see the brighter side of life.

Hadassah has just given free cervical and breast cancer screening to 80 women. Mrs Nike Lamai, its founder, Hadassah chose to join other women to save womanhood from the ravaging scourge.

She said: “For me, there isn’t enough awareness as far as breast cancer screening is concerned. For cervical cancer screening, a lot of women don’t know what it is all about. We have been told that cervical cancer is the third largest killer amongst women today, and yet people don’t know much about it.

“Many NGOs are talking about it but it came up at Hadassah because I feel the awareness is not enough. I know how women die daily, basically because they are ignorant. It is so painful because this is a unique form of cancer that has cure.

“All other cancers spread fast once they start and there is no cure for them but for cervical cancer, once it is detected early, there is a cure for it. So why won’t I join others to lend a voice?

“Unlike other cancers, it doesn’t show. It has symptoms

•Medical personnel attending to some patients

Health relief for 1000 women 80 get free cancer screening, foodstuff From Kehinde Falode

but they are very negligible. It doesn’t show until it has really eaten deep into the patient’s body.

I actually started with the church; I took about 25 women for screening initially and one out of them turned positive. Here was a woman you never could have thought had it, after all, it doesn’t show on the face.

“The doctor was so thankful that

she came at that time and it was detected early. She could just have died suddenly.

She added that with the partnership with Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, the burden of bearing the cost of the screening alone was eased because it is quite expensive going to the private hospital for screening.

“When I did my own screening, it was N15, 000. How many women can afford that amount, just for one screening, not to talk of both cervi-

cal and breast cancer screening?

That means we are talking about N25, 000 per person. Thanks to God and Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, especially the president of foundation, Dr. Femi Olaleye, we were able to screen hundreds of women free of charge”.

Hadassah also embarked on a free medical screening for Hepatitis B and Diabetes at Lawal Court at Alausa community in Ikeja and at Majidun in Ikorodu, Lagos distributing food items to more than

240 women and also 100 women and men respectively.

In its first outreach, this year, the foundation visited the Girls Remand Home, a corrective centre for girls between 11 and 17 years in Surulre, Lagos this year and food, clothing and sanitary items were donated to more than 40 girls. It was mind-blowing meeting with the wonderful instructors and the girls according to Nike, president of Hadassah.

Some were brought by their parents because they had gone out of •Continued on Page 45

HEALTH

PLEA

ADVOCACY

‘Ogun committed to HIV/AIDS campaign’

Etsu-Nupe urges unity

Rotary seeks peaceful co-existence

Ogun

45

Niger

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

Lagos

47

48

Page 17

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Sokoto sets up displaced persons’ camps

T

•Governor Wamakko

HREE camps will soon be set up in Sokoto State for its internally-displaced persons.

The state Director-General Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Alhaji Hassan Maccido dropped the hint in the capital when he received members of a four-man post-flood health risks assessment committee set up by the Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Maccido said the camps will be spread across the state’s three senatorial zones, adding that “one of

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

[them] will cater for the victims of natural disasters like flood.”

According to Maccido, the camps will have the entire needed social infrastructure to make life easier and meaningful for the victims of all unforeseen natural disasters.

He said the planned camps are expected to have all necessary facilities for human habitation and would be replicated in the 23 local

government areas of the state in due course.

Maccido further explained that the aim was to avoid the usual fire brigade approach to disaster management.

“We need efficient disaster management and response mechanisms in Nigeria,” he added.

He further stressed the need for timely response to disasters in the country, urging, “We need to learn lessons from developed countries.

“We should thank God that we don’t have some of the most terri-

ble disasters like cyclones, earthquakes and hurricanes, among others.”

The SEMA boss said the state government was committed to empowering the agency to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

Maccido, who acknowledged the efforts being made at ensuring disaster control and management in recent times, commended the Federal Government for setting up the committee and for rising to the challenge of flood disasters in the country.

O

VER a thousand women have had their health concerns put at bay. No fewer than 80 were screened for breast and cervical cancer. Some others were tested for Hepatisis B and Diabetes. They also took various food items home.

Their benefactor was Hadassah Healing Foundation, (HHF), a faith-based non-governmental organisation.

The NGO is dedicated to the welfare of women and the downtrodden. Since inception in 2005, Hadassah has taken the plight of women seriously, attending to their medical and material needs.

The group has also given scholarship to indigent students and empowered women in small-scale enterprises. In addition, it has supported widows and orphans, giving them a reason to see the brighter side of life.

Hadassah has just given free cervical and breast cancer screening to 80 women. Mrs Nike Lamai, its founder, Hadassah chose to join other women to save womanhood from the ravaging scourge.

She said: “For me, there isn’t enough awareness as far as breast cancer screening is concerned. For cervical cancer screening, a lot of women don’t know what it is all about. We have been told that cervical cancer is the third largest killer amongst women today, and yet people don’t know much about it.

“Many NGOs are talking about it but it came up at Hadassah because I feel the awareness is not enough. I know how women die daily, basically because they are ignorant. It is so painful because this is a unique form of cancer that has cure.

“All other cancers spread fast once they start and there is no cure for them but for cervical cancer, once it is detected early, there is a cure for it. So why won’t I join others to lend a voice?

“Unlike other cancers, it doesn’t show. It has symptoms

•Medical personnel attending to some patients

Health relief for 1000 women 80 get free cancer screening, foodstuff From Kehinde Falode

but they are very negligible. It doesn’t show until it has really eaten deep into the patient’s body.

I actually started with the church; I took about 25 women for screening initially and one out of them turned positive. Here was a woman you never could have thought had it, after all, it doesn’t show on the face.

“The doctor was so thankful that

she came at that time and it was detected early. She could just have died suddenly.

She added that with the partnership with Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, the burden of bearing the cost of the screening alone was eased because it is quite expensive going to the private hospital for screening.

“When I did my own screening, it was N15, 000. How many women can afford that amount, just for one screening, not to talk of both cervi-

cal and breast cancer screening?

That means we are talking about N25, 000 per person. Thanks to God and Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, especially the president of foundation, Dr. Femi Olaleye, we were able to screen hundreds of women free of charge”.

Hadassah also embarked on a free medical screening for Hepatitis B and Diabetes at Lawal Court at Alausa community in Ikeja and at Majidun in Ikorodu, Lagos distributing food items to more than

240 women and also 100 women and men respectively.

In its first outreach, this year, the foundation visited the Girls Remand Home, a corrective centre for girls between 11 and 17 years in Surulre, Lagos this year and food, clothing and sanitary items were donated to more than 40 girls. It was mind-blowing meeting with the wonderful instructors and the girls according to Nike, president of Hadassah.

Some were brought by their parents because they had gone out of •Continued on Page 45

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

18

T

Borno to give 90,000 vegetable seeds HE Borno State government is planning to distribute 90,000 vegetable seeds to farmers for dry season farming in the state. Governor Kashim Shettima said this while inspecting the new 25-hectare Konduga Irrigation Scheme in Konduga, headquarters of

T

Niger spends N1.22bn on Almajiri schools

T

•Chief Executive Officer, BrandHealth, Mr Emman Udowoima (right) presenting the award for the most Trusted Brand (won by Fidson’s Astymin brand) to Product Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Friday Enaholo in Lagos

Katsina to get ICT institute

T

HE Katsina State government has awarded N964.3 million contract for the construction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Business Institute in Katsina. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Science and Technology,Alhaji Sule Kuki, signed the contract on behalf of the state government in Katsina on Monday. He said the first phase of the project was awarded to Messrs Zeen Engineering Ltd. with a completion period of 12 months.

According to him, the first phase of the project comprised construction of administrative

block, four storey-building classrooms, four workshops and an e-library. He, however, said the second phase of the project, which involved construction of auditorium, cafeteria, students’ hostels, staff quarters and mosque among other facilities, would come in due course. Kuki said: “the institute is envisaged to qualify for accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) when completed. It will, therefore, offer training in certificates, diplomas and degree courses for the state indigenes and Nigerians at large.”

HE Niger Universal Basic Education Board said it spent N1.22 billion to construct seven Almajiri Schools across the state. The board’s chairman, Alhaji Uba Hassan, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Minna.

He said the amount included the intervention fund from the Federal Government. Hassan said the Education Trust Fund (ETF) provided N395 million for the construction of two schools while the National Universal Basic Education Commission gave the balance spent on five schools.

He said the ETF funded-schools included a boarding one in Kontagora, equipped at N320 million and another in Minna, at a cost N75 million. He said the UBEC-funded Almajiri schools comprised three boarding types in Pago, Bida and Gulbin Boka at N720 million as well as two others in Minna and Mokwa.

Hassan said the schools had been completed except that of Mokwa, which contract was awarded late in 2012. He said when completed, the school would ensure that Almajirai were kept off the streets and given the basic formal education, in line with the Federal Government’s transformation agenda. He said the N150 million grant from UBEC was used to train 2,700 teachers across the state, to enhance their capacity and improve pupils’ performance at internal and external examinations.

T

T

HE Chairman, Nasarawa State House of Assembly’s Committee on Education, Mr Raphael Saka has decried the low level of school enrolment of the girlchild in the North. Saka told journalists there was the need to address the imbalance if Nigeria must attain its set target of Education For All (EFA) by year 2015. ‘’It is only in the North that people are forced to go school, especially the females. It is a hard sell convincing parents that a girl should be educated first before getting married. If you say you want all to be educated by 2015, how feasible is that when a part of the country is educationally backward?” he asked.

The lawmaker, who attributed the develop-

By Jeremiah Oke

council in January first.

“I want to assure you that the council will do our best to support the baby. Also, as our normal tradition, the chairman of the council will be available to give name to the baby on the eigth day of delivery; once again, I want to congratulate the family” “I also want to call on the parents of the baby that they should try and raise the child in the way of God so that he can be a good ambassador of his family, the local council, the state and the country as a whole”.

Contributing, the mother of the baby, Mrs. Idayat Sulaimon, gave glory to God for her save delivery and was grateful to the council chief for the gift items donated.

She said the family would ensure a proper training for the baby and would appreciate the role of the council on the eigth day naming ceremony.

In her own speech, the wife of the council chairman Alhaja Omolola Oyesanya congratulated the baby and said the baby belongs to the local council especially the wife of the chairman as the mother of the council. She urged the parent of the baby to ensure that they give him quality education that will makes him great in the future.

• Hon. Oyesanya (left) presenting the gift items to the mother of the baby

•Governor Shettima

Lawmaker decries low level of girl-child enrolment

Council donates to first baby of the year HE chairman of Ikosi-isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos state Hon. Abdlfatai Oyesanya has donated undisclosed amount of money and some materials to the first baby of the year in the local government.

The baby, according to Nurse Tolu Banjoko who took the delivery, was delivered around 2am at the maternity centre of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, located at the premises of the Local Council secretariat in Ketu Lagos.

Banjoko said the baby was about 3.6 kilograms on arrival and both the baby and his mother were healthy, adding the delivery was carried out smoothly without any conplication.

The baby boy belonging to the family of Mr. and Mrs Idayat Sulaimon was welcomed by the chairman of the council, Hon. Oyesanya, his wife Alhaja Omolola and the management team of the council.

After donation of the items, the chairman of the council charged the parents to raise him in the fear of God so as to be a good ambassador of his family. He reminded them of the tradition of the council to name the child after eight days of delivery.

According to him: “ I congratulate the family of this little boy, Mr and Mrs Sulaimon for having the first baby of the year in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA in 2013, it is part of our duty to ensure that we welcome any first baby delivered in our local

HE Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has appealed to religious leaders to use religion to foster unity, peace and harmonious co-existence among Nigerians.

Abubakar made the appeal at the fourth graduation ceremony of 70 students of Madarasat Tahfizil Quran Wa Tarbiyatul-Islamiya School, Bida, and the school’s N20 million appeal fund in Bida.

“The two major religions of the world, Islam and Christianity preach peace, as such, the leaders of both religions should join hands to foster unity among Nigerians,”he said.

He cautioned all those that were aggrieved to always use dialogue to resolve their differences rather than confrontation. The Etsu Nupe urged Nigerians to pray fervently against bomb blasts at places of worships and public functions. He said it was unfortunate that while Nigeria was experiencing true democracy, some disgruntled elements were trying to thwart such development for their

Borno Konduga Local Government Area of the state.

Shettima said that the idea was to ensure mass production of vegetables in the state this year.

“Government is poised to ensure the return of the past glories of agriculture in the state. I urge all our farmers to key into the government agenda to ensure that agriculture takes its pride place in the scheme of things.”

Speaking at the occasion, the state Commissioner for Agriculture,AlhajiUsman Zanna, said that the Konduga Irrigation Scheme was set up as part of government’s efforts to ensure full realisation of the state’s agricultural potential.

Zanna said that about 100 households were expected to benefit from the scheme. He said that the government had spent about N14 million to procure three lister pumps for the scheme to ensure hitch-free operation.

47

Nasarawa ment to the poor attitude of people towards education, urged the government to embark on monitoring and supervision in the school system. “No matter the amount of money allocated to the sector, without proper monitoring of policy implementation, it would be a waste of resources.’’

Saka said Nasarawa State on its part was paying the required attention to education through policies that continued to encourage students, teachers and parents. “Parents in this state are very lucky because they do not have to worry about payment of registration fees for final year examinations, because government now pays for its indigenes’ NECO examination. Indigenes are now given a fair chance on admission, and education is second on the state’s budget allocation,” he said.

The lawmaker, who also bared his mind on journalism practice in Nigeria, said the issue of poor remuneration for journalists needed to be tackled. He said this was necessary for the country to have a focused and stable media. ``Journalists deserve better pay to make the profession attractive to all and sundry,’’ Saka said.

The lawmaker, who said he practised journalism before going into active politics, said the media was a veritable tool in the sustenance of any democracy.

A

S part of his Corporate Social Responsibility, Proprietor of Access International School, Magboro, Ogun State, Dr Jonathan Akpan has organised a capacity building retreat for the operation staff of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Lagos.

Delivering a paper entitled ‘Conduct and Comportment of Patrol Team Leaders: Customer Service Perspective’, Akpan advised the officials that their comportment has to be positive, adding that the level of comportment that an individual exhibits is an expression of the inner values and the degree of emotional intelligence that such a person possesses.

The proprietor noted that pressure can be a factor that influences comportment and conduct of people especially when there is little or no compliance to set standards but added that ability to handle stress and pressure is a major de-

Etsu Nupe urges unity Niger selfish interests. Abubakar said: “Anybody who believes in the Day of Judgment and Allah should contribute to the building of schools and Mosques even without waiting for an appeal fund launching. We should learn to spend our resources in the course that Allah will bless us.’’

The school’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, Alhaji Mohammed Tswachi, urged governments at all levels to invest to reposition the Qur’anic education system in the interest of the nation’s development.

Training for FRSC officials terminant of the attitudinal tendencies of people handling safety and orderliness on the highway.

He said the seminar is to expose patrol team leaders to different concepts that will change their orientation about customers and also have the notion that as workers in a government agency, there is more to what they are presently offering.

Akpan urged the officials to adopt a positive attitude, saying attitude is the foundation of service and without this, one will never find the necessary motivation to solve the problems of customers.

“Acknowledge the fact that the citizens are the most important thing for the agency and

•Comrade Abiodun ARemu (left) receiving an award from the past chairman, Medical Consultants Association, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Dr Mohammed Adebayo Salisu at the 2012 Guild’s AGM Dinner at the LCCI Events Centre, CBD Ikeja. With them is the Lagos State Medical Guild Vice Chairman, Dr Ibrahim Ogunbi.

Family warns land trespassers

T

HE Fletcher family, who got court judgment on the ownership of vast land in Ofada Village, Mowe, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, has urged residents in the area and the public to disregard rumour getting round that there is crisis in Ofada land.

The family, speaking through its head, Madam Patience Aduke Fletcher, said after Justice N.I. Saula of Ogun State High Court delivered judgment last May in suit number AB/237/2008 giving the ownership of the vast land to it, some thugs were sponsored by unknown interests to cause chaos in order to shatter the peace in the community.

“We want to use this opportunity to discourage any reprisal from any quarters because we want peace in our land,” Madam Fletcher said.

The 80-year-old matriarch, who was in company of other family members, warned troublemakers to stop using the family’s name to foment trouble in the community.

She said Fletcher family in support of peace in the community.

She debunked the claim that the family is effecting the court judgment it obtained in its favour with hooligans, saying there was no way the rightful owner would claim its possession with the help of thugs.

“After we got the court judgment in our favour and thugs were being used by other parties to cause trouble, we wrote to the In-

By Wale Ajetunmobi

spector-General of Police who directed the Commissioner of Police in ‘D’ Department to investigate and protect lives and property in Ofada land. Afterwards, we visited the area in company of anti-riot policemen to paste the court judgment in all houses in the community. So, are they saying the policemen were thugs?” Madam Fletcher asked.

Claiming that the traditional ruler and native of the village were tenants on the land, Madam Fletcher said: “Ofada was founded by the late Bishop David Soremekun Fletcher, an Igbein indigene who was captured as a slave to Sierra Leone. After his freedom, he came back to Abeokuta with a copy of Bible and rice. He went to found Ofada Village with his two siblings because of his new-found faith in Christianity.

“When he discovered that his siblings had not purged themselves of traditional beliefs, he chased them away from the land with his sword, from which the village derived its name of Ofada which means sword-drawer.

“Forefathers of the present Baale (village head) and others were tenants, who later came to stay in Ofada with the permission of Soremekun Fletcher. They vowed not to practise idol worshipping and were paying tax to Fletcher, their overlord. Even Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, confirmed this history when the matter was brought before his traditional court.”

GLAMOUR, funfair, ecstasy and sincere appreciation to God Almighty were paramount at this year’s Igbogbo Day celebration.

For all indigenes of Igbogbo and their invited guests in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Government Area came together to appreciate God for the gift of life and promote the socio-cultural entity called “Igbogbo.”

The dignities in attendance were His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Johnson Olatunji Fatola, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun as the Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Kunle Oduborisa representing Senator Segun Ashafa, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, Head of Service, Lagos State, Hon. (Mrs.) Adebimpe Akinsola, Member Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikorodu Consistuency 11.

Also present were the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, , Alhaji OLawale Amusa, Managing Director/CEO, Homat Group of Schools, Igbogbo was the chief launcher and Hon. Adegbenga Basanya, Chairman, Igbogbo/ Bayeku Local Council Development Area.

His Royal Highness, Oba (Dr.) Olatunji Fatola commented on the development in the area over the years through government and individual efforts towards attaining greatness. He said: “We should be filled with unlimited joy for the milestone achievement that were features of the celebration.

He also urged everyone to ensure the completion of Adeboruwa palace pavilion, even as he enjoined the government to pay urgent attention to the roads from Ipakodo to Igbogbo, Bola Tinubu Way, Igbogbo to Igbe/Ewu Elepe, among others.

commit yourselves to doing your best to delight them in each interaction, develop a genuine interest in helping the customers when they need you”, he said.

The proprietor also listed the 10 commandments of customer service which include knowing who is the boss, be a good listener, identify and anticipate needs, making customers feel important and helping customers understand ones systems.

He also told them to know how to apologise when something goes wrong and give more than expected and to always treat their subordinates well.

On how to handle difficult customers, Akpan said six critical thinking techniques to handle difficult people on the highway can help keep situations under control if not even resolve them.

The techniques according to him are: Recognise your assumptions, slow down, assess the situation in its entirety, not getting emotional, draw a conclusion and take action The FRSC boss, Mr Imaebong Akpabio, expressed deep appreciation to the proprietor and called on other spirited individuals as well as corporate organisations to complement governments’ efforts by rendering social services to government agencies as he told them to take a cue from Akpan.

Church programme

Briefly

Community celebrates

•Alhaji Abubakar

•Dr Akpan flanked by Mr Imaebong Akpabio (left) and B.O Adeola, who represented the Lagos State Commissioner of Police at the programme.

Council chief bags award

T

HE chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area Apostle Oloruntoba Oke has been named the best council chairman of the year.

According to the organisers, Oke was the best among the 57 chairmen in the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs in Lagos State.

Presenting Oke with his award in his office at the council secretariat, the Chief Executive Officer of Grassroots Achievers Awards, Mr Ayo Sogbuyi said Oke got the awards for his prudent management of the council’s lean resources and his health, job creation and welfare of the aged programmes.

Sogbuyi, who is also the publisher of Celebrity magazine said: “An opinion poll of all the council chairmen in the state confirmed Oke as coming tops in all areas of development, and for reducing poverty in his area.”

He therefore called on other chairmen to emulate Oke in order to arrest the sweeping rate of poverty, especially at the grassroots.

He said if all chairmen and other political leaders at the grassroots decide to work, the lot of the common man would improve tremendously and the state would move towards achieving concrete results on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Oke, while accepting the award, thanked the organisers for the honour. He said the award which came to him as a surprise is not only “a good way to end the year, but the right tonic to begin a new one.”

He continued: “In line with my political leader’s view that the reward for hard work is more work, I can only restate our commitment to continue to pursue the best for our people. We are driven by the passion to make

a difference in the lives of our people and we shall not rest until this is done.”

Present at the brief ceremony was the ViceChairman Mr Babatunde Raj-Label, the Secretary, Mrs Olayemi Oke-Osanyintolu, some Special Assistants and other members of management staff.

THE Redeemed Christian Church of God Miracle Centre in collaboration with the King’s Fortress International Ministries will on January11 to January 12, hold a 24hour At Horeb Prophetic and Praise Prayer meeting at 6:00am daily. The theme is “Taking Back All”. The venue is 19, Bello Folawiyo Crescent, Off Ikosi Road, by Mr. Biggs, Ikosi, Ketu Lagos.

Speaking on the programme,the Chief host,PastorA.Doherty described it as total praise worship of God in high heaven, saying that Jacob Service Programme theme for this January edition is “From promises to performance”.

He, however, said this month Jacob service is all about spirutal, marital and financial matters. It is set to hold at 19, Bello Folawiyo Crescent, off Ikosi Road, by Mr Biggs, Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos at 6:00pm. It is scheduled for January 30.

• Oke (middle) receiving the award from Sogbuyi (left). With them is Raj-Label.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 9, 2013

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Assad and the U.S. are blind to reality in Syria

Subsidy suit •We wonder if the suit to cancel subsidy is a ploy supported by the Jonathan administration

T

HE emergence, in the dying days of last year, of a chary suit asking the court to compel President Goodluck Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy, even when he has promised not to do so in a recent Presidential Chat, has left several public mouths agape. One Stanley Okeke, reportedly described as a ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Anambra State had filed the suit in a Federal High Court, in which he listed as defendants the President and two of his ministers: Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum, and Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, the Minister of Finance.

Okeke is peremptorily asking the court through a 27-paragraph affidavit to which he deposed to determine, among others: Whether the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is validly competent to order the removal and or abolish the fuel subsidy scheme in view of the official corruption and abuse of office inherent in the fuel subsidy regime; whether it would be proper and lawful for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to completely remove and abolish the fuel subsidy regime despite the perennial fuel shortages and the attendant long queues in our filling stations; whether it would be proper to re-channel funds meant for fuel subsidy scheme into the building of infrastructural facilities, despite the fact that the 2nd and 3rd defendants, being appointees of the President, by not ensuring a corruption-free subsidy regime, have not failed in their principal duty to Nigerians.

Equally, he wants the court to make an order directing Okonjo-Iweala to stop fur-

ther payment of fuel subsidy because, in his words, the payments had been corrupt, illegal and unlawful; and to compel the President to return to the Federation Account “such money earlier appropriated and or approved for the payment of fuel subsidy.”

The suit has generated serious public opprobrium. Understandably too, because Nigerians were taken through such contentiously deceitful judicial path during the June 12, 1993 presidential election crisis, the public is being wary of this perceived double-faced suit. In 1993, a group, Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), went to court, pretending to be fighting for the country’s democratic interest, but was later discovered to be hatching the machinations of the then ruling military hegemony.

What could then be the real motive of Okeke, a staunch member of the president’s party? Could his motive be altruistic or motivated by unseen official goading?

Nigerians believe that the suit is a ploy to mischievously use the judiciary to remove fuel subsidy. And this is why the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), civil society organisations and notable Nigerians have reportedly criticised it. Mr. Femi Falana, human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, an elder statesman, among others, reportedly described the suit as a “dubious diversion” that must be aborted.

We have no doubt that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will join in fighting any attempt to remove fuel subsidy through the back door. Some civil society

organisations have promised to join the suit to oppose the plaintiff and the interests being represented. The NLC should equally offer itself to be joined too. Nigerians should not be punished for the racketeering of fuel smugglers ripping the public till through orchestrated claims of fuel subsidy money.

We recognise the right of Okeke to approach the court, but there is the urgent need to be convinced about his true intentions; more so since the suit is not that of a class action. Nigerians are better informed and cautious now because of their recent history. We want to know, just as the public is craving to know, whether Okeke’s suit is inspired by love for the people or love for government, or even love for self?

‘Nigerians believe that the suit is a ploy to mischievously use the judiciary to remove fuel subsidy. And this is why the Save Nigeria Group (SNG), civil society organisations and notable Nigerians have reportedly criticised it. Mr. Femi Falana, human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, an elder statesman, among others, reportedly described the suit as a “dubious diversion” that must be aborted’

A call for transparency • Full disclosure needed on award of contract to rehabilitate the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

W

HEN, on November 19, 2012 the Federal Government revoked its contract of reconstructing the dilapidated Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with Bi-Courtney Highways Services Limited , many Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief.

The government said it was compelled to take the step because the concessionaire had serially breached terms of the contract and failed to perform. Carnage on the old highway was another reason given for terminating the agreement.

Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, who announced the government’s decision, also explained that two construction giants, Julius Berger and RCC, had been picked for the task of immediately rehabilitating the ever-busy road. Two weeks later, the minister was on hand again to announce that the two companies had been given a deadline of eight weeks to make the road motorable and stop avoidable deaths caused by the bad portions.

It has since been observed that the companies have been at work. It is however disturbing that the government has failed to be transparent in awarding the contract.

Nigerians deserve to know what the rehabilitation is costing taxpayers. It is unacceptable that provisions of the law would be wilfully breached by elected officials of state. The Public Procurement Act is clear on the procedure for award of major contracts.

At the time of award of the concession of the road to Bi-Courtney in May 2009, the public was told that it would cost the concessionaire N89 billion to meet the specifications. Now that emergency work has been commissioned, we deserve to know the terms - the cost, scope and the fine details. The point must be made that, even for good causes, public fund must

be judiciously expended.

It is even more intriguing that the plan to build up the capacity of the road to carry the heavy traffic it bears has been broken into two. The first phase, expected to be concluded by the end of this month, is just for rehabilitation. Thereafter, the minister has disclosed that the more desired expansion of scope and modernisation would be contracted.

Why didn’t the Federal Government go the whole hog at once? After terminating the contract with Bi-Courtney, the process of ensuring that road users do not have to wait unduly ought to have been activated at once by getting the project advertised, bids invited and the contract awarded in record time without infringing on the law.

The contractors could then have been mandated to ensure a rehabilitation to proceed with reconstruction and remodelling.

The government owes the people a duty to explain what it plans to do with the road now. Would it be handed another concessionaire on similar terms? Would it be a regular contract to be financed and funded by the Federal Government? How many lanes shall we expect on each side as well as other amenities like rest areas, etc. These are simple decisions that should be made by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and pushed to the public for input.

If it must be concessioned, the pitfalls that dogged the relationship with BiCourtney must be avoided this time. A scrutiny must be carried out to ensure that only firms with requisite experience, interest and financial muscle are brought on board.

Besides, despite the road being federal, it is important to carry along states that are direct stakeholders, that is Lagos,

Ogun and Oyo whose people live along the corridor. The point was made early enough by the governors of the Southwest who even opted to take over the task to ease the burden of traffic snarl and the impediment it had constituted for integration.

It is repugnant that the Federal Government is already talking about tolling the road after rehabilitation this month. This does not only constitute policy inconsistency, but amounts as well to exploitation. We see no justification for the return of toll gates that were dismantled at a hefty cost under the Obasanjo administration when reconstruction work is yet to commence.

While the road that links Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the country, to the West, East and North deserves expeditious attention, the law must be respected and it must be awarded at the most competitive price and to those with the capacity to do a thorough job.

‘The government owes the people a duty to explain what it plans to do with the road now.

Would it be handed another concessionaire on similar terms?

Would it be a regular contract to be financed and funded by the Federal Government? How many lanes shall we expect on each side as well as other amenities like rest areas, etc. These are simple decisions that should be made by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and pushed to the public for input’

S

YRIAN PRESIDENT Bashar al-Assad delivered a speech Sunday that had the virtue, at least, of offering clarity. No, he insisted, he would not step down. He would not negotiate with the rebels who control much of the countryside and parts of major cities.

He would not consider the compromise “transition” proposal being pedaled by a U.N. envoy with the backing of his ally Russia, as well as the United States. Instead, he said, he would fight to the end against “enemies of God and puppets of the West.”

The State Department offered a succinct judgment on Mr. Assad’s hour-long speech, his first in six months: “His initiative is detached from reality, undermines the efforts of [U.N.] Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, and would only allow the regime to further perpetuate its bloody oppression of the Syrian people.” After 22 months of protests and civil war in which his regime has steadily lost ground, Mr. Assad is offering the same hollow political formulas and slogans about terrorists that he has clung to all along.

The tragedy is that there is scant sign that Mr. Assad will be compelled to face reality any time soon. Despite their gains, Syria’s rebels continue to lack the heavy weapons necessary to break the regime’s hold over Damascus or to stop the artillery, missiles and planes Mr. Assad is using to pummel cities.

With the United States and other Western governments refusing to help, recent reports have said that rebel arms supplies are drying up.

Last week, U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay estimated that more than 60,000 people have been killed in Syria, a “massive loss of life [that] could have been avoided if the Syrian government had chosen to take a different path than one of ruthless suppression of what were initially peaceful and legitimate protests by unarmed civilians.”

She added: “Unless there is a quick resolution to the conflict, I fear thousands more will die or suffer terrible injuries as a result of those who harbor the obstinate belief that something can be achieved by more bloodshed, more torture and more mindless destruction.”

The Assad speech made clear that the ruler and his clique remain locked in that belief.

But it also illuminated the fecklessness of U.S. policy. The same State Department statement that began by condemning Mr. Assad for undermining Mr. Brahimi concluded by saying that the Obama administration would continue to support the latter’s initiative, along with the “framework for a political solution” that the dictator had just rejected. Like the Syrian regime, the administration has become impervious to fact or real-world developments.

Mr. Assad is not the only one who will bear responsibility for the frightful carnage Ms. Pillay’s agency has documented. As she put it, “the failure of the international community, in particular the [U.N.] Security Council, to take concrete actions to stop the bloodletting, shames us all.” Syrians, she said, have “repeatedly asked: ‘Where is the international community? Why aren’t you acting to stop this slaughter?’ We have no satisfactory answer to those questions. Collectively, we have fiddled at the edges while Syria burns.”

– Washington Post

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: The National Bureau of Statistics publication ranking Sokoto State at the bottom of development in Nigeria is far from true reflection of the state. The indices of development include state of critical infrastructure and the living standard of the population.

At the inception of Wamakko administration, aggressive efforts were geared towards renovation and construction of schools across the state which resulted in increase in enrollment of boys and girls into schools. The abolition of discriminatory school fees encouraged more pupils into all schools up to tertiary levels. Governor Wamakko’s administration established a State University that has started admitting students in various faculties completed. The institution has not operated from any temporary site, but stands on its foundation site. Education is a veritable tool of fighting poverty. The youth are now empowered through education. The state has scored high in this direction.

On the area of health care deliv-

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

National Bureau of Statistics wrong on Sokoto ery services, the administration provided necessary facilities and equipment to existing hospitals, motivated the health care workforce. The drug revolving scheme was introduced to afford citizens access to free medical care.

New hospitals have been constructed across the state that medical services are now available to the masses. There are free medical services for children 1-5 years and pregnant mothers. More medical personnel have been recruited.

More indigenes have been trained or are being trained to meet the manpower needs in the health subsector. The state paid fully its coun-

terpart funding to international donor agencies in the health sector.

Sokoto State is in the front runner of providing grassroots mobile medical surveillance system where well equipped medical vans penetrate every nook and cranny of the state to treat patients free, detect outbreak of diseases and are ready hands to transport critical cases to tertiary institutions in the State capital, Sokoto for adequate treatment.

Moreover, the first phase of the School of Midwifery at Tambuwal is at advanced stage of completion.

This is to complement the efforts of the College of Nursing , Sokoto and School of Health Technology ,

Gwadabawa to provide manpower needs of the health sub-sector.

Over 600 roads have been constructed across the state. These roads have opened inter and intra community intercourse which helps in evacuation of farm products to desired markets. The administration has constructed much irrigation farming system which benefits the farmers thereby increased their output. The farmers are busy all year round and so their earning capacity.

Sokoto State is one of the major beef producers in the country. The administration has provided much grazing reserves for cattle herders.

More veterinary hospitals have been

Northern leaders should seek for peace first

S

IR: I refer to the lead caption of the Sunday edition of The Nation of January 6, 2015: Babangida, Buhari others begin consultations.

I concede to these elder-state men of northern extraction the unquestionable right to associate peacefully and confabulate politically. But I do not know whelther these men fall within the class of men cardinal Ottaviani wrote of when he said “nearly everyone can read but only few can think”. If they belong to the class of men who can think their priority will be on how to work for peace, security and unity.

At this time, some despicable species of Homo sapiens are on the verge of “Afghanistanising “the Nigerian state. Yet these men called elder-statesmen see no need to consult with those merchants of sudden death to lay down their weapon and embrace dialogue in the interest of peace and security. Their sole ambition like men with incurable monomania and irredeemable idée fixe are busy consulting for 2015 presidency.

If those growing army of Canes Venatici (hunting dogs) succeed in

there unthinkable quest to sink this geographical ship called Nigeria in the ocean of disintegration, then which country will Babangida and his associates rule in 2015?

Sincerely I wish to appeal to them to join hands with the federal government to restore peace back to the northern part of Nigeria. The transformation of places of worship into cemetery by those who kill in the name of religion and education should worry them and not 2015.

The killing of fellow men like dogs

should be condemned by these elder-statesmen in the interest of security of life and properties. I expect these leaders to push for the end of the on-going groundless hostility.

I think its imperative to admonish northern leaders with the words of Robert Green that “give to every human being every right you claim for yourself”. If the northern leaders think the presidency is their birth right, then they must be able to concede such right to the Ijaws,

Igbos, Yorubas, Benin’s and other tribes which make up Nigeria.

Finally, those who know General Obasanjo should advice him that he cannot northernise his ethnicity. It is immaterial if he relocates to Kaduna or the North in search of 2015 presidential candidate. The people will decide who governs them. The Ota farmer has just one vote.

• Ehi G.O. Benin-City

constructed with adequate supply of drugs to take care of the health of the animals. The herders testify to relief from animal diseases and good health of their animals that are being transported to other parts of the country. The herders now make more money from their sales which stave off poverty.

The administration has constructed over 2000 housing units which are being allocated on owner/occupier basis to civil servants. This is in addition to 30-40 houses constructed in each local government. More have been earmarked to be constructed against 2013 fiscal year.

Through the department of rural roads, rural water and rural electrification so many rural areas are now opened up to modern amenities that cottage industries are springing up everywhere to benefit the youth who now combine farming with commercial activities in the rural areas. Life is much better for young men and women in the rural areas. These are signs of improvement in the standard of living.

The state government through the Skills Acquisition Programme has trained over 12,000 youths across the state in various trades such as plumbing, electrical fittings, tailoring, carpentry, soap making, brick laying etc. They are equipped, on graduation, with tools and cash to set up their own trade.

One wonders how the National Bureau of Statistics arrived at its conclusion.

• Mohammed S. Umar Sokoto

Mr President, please stop this bloodshed

S

IR: I write in reaction to President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement on New Year day that all the Boko Haram suspects responsible for the various attacks in the country have been apprehended. The President also gave himself kudos for preventing a wave of terror attacks from the extremist sect during the Yuletide. I beg to say that this is nothing but unnecessary vain-glorying.

All over the world, leaders are always privy to information that

the general populace does not possess. This is why they are people of few words; this is so that they do not reveal sensitive information which are inimical to their interests. An example is President Obama having knowledge of Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts a year before the operation to take him out was eventually carried out.

President Jonathan in all honesty cannot say he does not know those behind these attacks. Then why do we have the SSS,DMI,DDI,Police

Army, Navy, Airforce, NIA, e.t.c?

All these agencies submit daily reports to the President yet he is in a quandary about what to do. I know that he might not have enough evidence to arrest these evil fellows but he can employ Machiavellian principles to bully these fellows to stop their fiendish acts. This will also create an image of strength thereby helping his Presidency. Let us not forget that Former President Obasanjo employed these tactics between 2003 to 2007 to pursue his

objectives. No wonder Baba as he is fondly called cried out recently that Jonathan is doing nothing while Nigeria gradually slides into the abyss.

Great heroes are birthed from the womb of great crises. Let him put aside political considerations, because if he fails to act now, he will forever be consigned to the dustbin of history and posterity will never forgive him.

• Peter Ovie Akus University of Port Harcourt.

21

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

COMMENTS

The colour of rape; Prevention; Rainy season Road works and 365 day FRSC Campaign

T

HE colour of rape is the title of a short story in my book Nene And Other Stories published by Bookcraft. Rape is a beast attacking a less powerTony ful being. Why is it that Marinho the poor in strength must die ‘to live’ and get justice? The Indian student called ‘India’s daughter’ dying 13 days after being raped and thrown out a moving bus is horrifying. All such boys’ or men’s evil plans and recordings for facebook coverage of such heinous acts says a lot about the social, family, institutional, medical, police and legal stigma, systems and structures in many countries involving black, white and yellow peoples i.e. worldwide. Naturally Nigeria is replete with similar episodes from the poor to the privileged, from disorganised to organised society and even police stations are involved in such violent abuse of uniform privilege. Kidnap by political thugs and ritualists for rape, ritual and other abuses in public transport are rife.

The dangers to female petty traders and hawkers are well documented but still young girls and even educated female bank officials are sent unaccompanied to ‘the male meat market’ i.e. the rooms, houses and offices of customers and clients to deliver wears from bread to requesting bank deposits and to collect money owed or promised often at a high price- rape. Does the girl or woman ordinarily want sex in those circumstances? Remember that non-consensual sex, we-did-not-agree-but-I-had-to-or-he-would-have-becomeviolent-or-denied-me-my-goods sex, even when not resisted sex, is also rape. The female should she be expected to die in order to prove beyond a doubt that she was raped. Prevention is better than cure as you cannot cure a rape victim. The memory is never erased by love or money but justice is a good start. But as any rape victim knows, a lawyer’s probing questions are almost as humiliating as the rape but even more public.

Prevention and successful prosecution includes proper, easily read and remembered numbering of taxis, okada,

danfos and their drivers for easy identification, driver ID stuck to the back of driver’s seat so that back-seat passengers can identify the driver and vehicle ID which are all used to prevent sexual assault, robberies and other attacks in normal countries. What sexual excesses and crimes, lecturerstudent, student-student, lecturer-lecturer, go unreported in our tertiary institutions? To quickly get a legal case from any rape that will stand up in court, the NMA, Nurses council and government police, health and legal ministries must ensure that the ‘International RAPE PROTOCOL’ is available and operational in clinics, hospitals, police stations and female and male prisons. Are medical students, nurses and police officers taught this protocol during undergraduate, tertiary, postgraduate and cadet training? Are sympathetic female police officers automatically chosen for investigation and interviews in rape cases?

All women politicians, perhaps this will be a useful use of so-called first ladies, civil servants, corporate women, women’s groups in and out of government and women NGOS should set aside their political and ethnic and religious differences and take a real constructive visible and vocal STAND AGAINST RAPE’ in the media and on the roads, putting ‘RAPE’ on the agenda. Beyond powerful rallies, banners, posters and television and radio talks a lot of education and preventive information strategies must be done by and to the male sectors of the country as they are the perpetrators. Specifically this should target male market boys, area boys, thugs, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, religious leaders targeting religious youth organisations and the targeting of male dominated government organs like the civil service, the armed forces, the police, customs, Civil Defence, FRSC and NGOS like Boy Scouts, Man O War, the Red Cross etc to educate firstly themselves and then targeted segments of the community. The citizens can be easily engaged through the use of slogans and songs in Nollywood and Nollysongs and even careful use of comedy and MCs at public promotional functions using local languages on the air. A neglected educational avenue is the multibillion naira poster commercial market. Posters can declare messages like ‘RAPE IS NOT OK, IT SHOULD BE 21 YEAR JAILABLE CRIME.’ ‘REPORT OFFENDERS.’ ‘DATE -

DO NOT RAPE’. ‘LET HER ‘NO’ MEAN ‘NO’ TO YOU’. ‘HER ‘NO’ MEANS ‘NO’. ‘WHEN YOU RAPE –THERE IS NO ESCAPE’ ‘FROM YOUR CONSCIENCE AND THE COURT’.

Imagine the local and global impact if such a variety of messages are adopted by advert gurus for corporations who make billions of advert stickers and posters daily like Coca Cola, Pepsi, MTN, Glo, Etisalat, Star, Gulder, Guinness, Malta, Maggi, etc and immediately include them in their advert material for campaigns.

The Nov/Dec 2012 repair the ‘holiday roads’ must be extended 12 months a year, as in normal countries. If Nigerian governments and contractors are too incompetent for rainy season work, they should quit and let another government come in or compress 12 months’ work into the dry season by double time work, day and night, with extra crews. Actually due to ‘incompetent mobilisation’ we only have three months a year to build Nigeria’s road network, so it will be 2080 that we get our East West Road and our second Niger Bridge, which governments have failed to deliver for over 30 years.

I go don die!

Similarly, if FRSC claims its EMBER campaign a success, government should direct FRSC to conduct EMBER level of activities year-round to keep sanity on the roads. Start with an FRSC ‘UARY’ CAMPAIGN.

‘The Nov/Dec 2012 repair the ‘holiday roads’ must be extended 12 months a year, as in normal countries.

If Nigerian governments and contractors are too incompetent for rainy season work, they should quit and let another government come in or compress 12 months’ work into the dry season by double time work, day and night, with extra crews’

Manko’s ‘rare’gesture

T

HIS year’s New Year festivities did not go without some alluring side issues. One of them was the gesture extended to ‘suspects’ in police custody in Lagos.

On New Year’s Day, Umar Manko, the Lagos State Commissioner for Police, ‘disarmed’ himself and put aside his uniform in order to cater for the needs of suspects in his custody. He transformed into a Father Christmas, dishing out food and drinks to suspects brought out from the cell of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARS), at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos.

When asked for his comments on the unusual gesture from equally unusual quarters, Manko said the suspects deserved to celebrate the New Year like others. According to him, policing the society is not limited to crime prevention and control, but uniting people. He added that being a suspect should not deprive one the enjoyment of his fundamental human rights. Manko further said that the gesture would be extended to other suspects in police custody across the state, adding that Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Area Commanders (ACs) had been given instructions to that effect.

In all, no fewer than 125 suspected robbers, kidnappers, arms dealers and receivers of stolen goods, among others, were hosted by Manko. Some of the suspects who spoke to reporters at the occasion thanked Manko for his gesture. This ‘social interaction’ between the police boss and the suspects was the

first of its kind in the command’s history, and I doubt if this had happened anywhere before in the history of the Nigeria Police.

Since he was posted to Lagos as Commissioner of Police, I have watched Manko’s activities on the sidelines with keen interest. In the first instance, I knew he must possess some outstanding qualities to deserve such a posting to a state regarded as the commercial capital of the country. In addition, Lagos is undoubtedly an irresistible attraction to criminals, which is why the government cannot toy with the issue of security.

In my curiosity, I had inquired from some of his colleagues those qualities that stood him out as a person to police a state like Lagos.

One of them, Leye Oyebade, Deputy Commissioner of Police who once called the shots at the state CID, Panti, Lagos and now with Zone 5 Police Headquarters in Benin, spoke glowingly about him. He described Manko as a peaceful, easygoing and hardworking police officer. In terms of policing, he said, the police boss is a tactician, a master strategist who can hold Lagos successfully when it comes to fighting crime and criminals wherever they are.

Not quite after my ‘inquisition’, late last year, daredevil armed robbers struck on a bright Sunday afternoon. From Agege to Gbagada, Anthony to Mile Two to Surulere and almost everywhere, the rampaging armed robbers left their signature mark – sorrow, tears and blood. It was a day the hoodlums

‘Manko’s gesture is worth emulating by his colleagues all over the country, many of who are known to be ‘goalkeepers’. As goalkeepers, they grab whatever money or anything that comes their way without any inclination to give to the less privileged or even their subordinates who are usually short-changed.

momentarily took over Lagos with little or no resistance from the police. Worst affected by the onslaught of the hoodlums were bureau de change operators who lost huge sums of money and some of their members to the melee that ensued.

That ‘coordinated’ operation by the hoodlums jolted the police hierarchy. Mohammed Abubakar, the Inspector General of Police, who quickly dashed to Lagos to assess the situation, described his men as “sleeping on duty” on the fateful day. Manko, who later addressed the press, did not betray any emotions.

Rather, he ordered all Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, in the command to be on their toes. He warned that any DPO who allowed criminals to have a field day in their areas of jurisdiction would be severely dealt with.

But Manko did not stop there. He went about diligently to match his rhetoric with actions. Pronto, some members of the gang were apprehended. From there, the Compol spread his dragnet to many states outside Lagos. At the end, almost all the hoodlums who participated in that orgy of violence were reined in. This was followed by the police’ seizure of the cache of arms in the custody of the criminals. The way and manner their ‘armoury’, which included many dangerous weapons and even grenade launchers, was uncovered is a testimony to the job of a “master strategist”. Their chief ‘armourer’ or arms supplier was also taken in.

From then on, the police boss had recorded streaks of success in his exploits against crime and criminality in the state. I am not saying that crime has totally been wiped out of Lagos, but the fact remains that wherever the call of duty demands, Manko has been able to rise to the occasion.

However, this is not to say that only Manko deserves to be singled out for commendation for policing

Lagos. Security, as we all know, is a collective responsibility. The Lagos State government has made it one of its topmost priorities to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state. Through the Security Trust Fund initiated by the state government, corporate bodies and other well-meaning individuals in the state have, through their collaboration, been sustaining the fund. This is probably why the security agencies in the state have been living up to expectations in recent times. Besides the police, there are other security agencies like the Army, the State Security Service, the Navy, Air Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to name a few. These outfits are toiling day and night to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state. The relative peace in the state is due to the synergy between them.

But there could be a few slips here and there. If we all live to our responsibilities in the society; if we all volunteer prompt information to the security agencies; and if we don’t engage in any cover-up, whether of our neighbour, relation or even children who may have been lured into crime and criminality, the state and the country will be a better place to live in. This is because criminals live amongst us.

They are not visiting ghosts from any other planets. If we turn a blind eye, they could endanger the lives of our neighbours, our relations, our friends or acquaintances, our children and even ourselves. Criminals constitute an intolerable nuisance to the society. That is why they must be exposed and stopped in their tracks at all times.

Back to the main gist. Manko’s New Year’s gesture is a novel development. This is because suspects in police custody all over the country are usually treated as sub-human beings. Whenever a suspect is arrested, in most cases, when he appears in public, you see a half-

Dele Agekameh clad person almost stripped to the pants. The suspects look unkempt.

Some are battered in the course of interrogation to the point that they give up in police custody and are buried as unknown persons.

Therefore, what Manko has demonstrated is that we should treat the unfortunate ones in our midst with human face. If this is so, perhaps, we might soon be living witnesses to a situation where the police will refrain from extra-judicial killings of suspects; where innocent people will no longer be framed up or railroaded into jail on trumped-up charges; and where policemen will not brutalise innocent people and even suspects in the name of extracting confessions from them. No doubt, this will engender a situation where policemen will respect the fundamental human rights of all regardless of status in the society.

Manko’s gesture is worth emulating by his colleagues all over the country, many of who are known to be ‘goalkeepers’. As goalkeepers, they grab whatever money or anything that comes their way without any inclination to give to the less privileged or even their subordinates who are usually shortchanged.

Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

22

COMMENTS ‘Re ‘My man of the Year? Let subsidy fraud step forward’ (December 23). Your choice is incontrovertible. And I am satisfied with it.

Since January 2, 2012 the issue and the problems of unresolved panels, probes, fuel scarcity and illegal fuel price hikes by some major and independent marketers, persist. Is this a country at all? Nothing other than corruption – oil issues dominated Nigeria in 2012. I fear for our own type of democracy. From Lanre’

• Okonjo-Iweala

For Segun Gbadegesin The late Most Revd. J. A. Adetiloye was the second Bishop of Ekiti Diocese and not the first. Rt. Revd. Bolanle Gbonigi served in Akure Diocese and not Ekiti. Anonymous Ajimobi has failed the people of Oyo State. He lacks ideas to carry along component units that make up the state. From Ismaila, Kaduna Good, if the state governor will think over the lecture and members of ThinkOyo will always tell the governor what he wants to hear except the truth. Anonymous Thank you, sir, for the historical essay on the late Primate Adetiloye. I am particularly excited reading about Sir Herbert Macaulay’s father who history has not been kind to. This has reinforced my plea to the Yoruba race to develop a hall of fame for our heroes. I am happy that the Yoruba Education Trust Fund I proposed some years back to Dr. Fredrick Faseun has taken off. Equally, sir, Yoruba or Oodua hall of fame for heroes is hereby proposed. I will be grateful if I could be invited for formal presentation. I used to be an active journalist. I am too eager to read your book.

From Gboyega Amoboye, Owo Thank you, for the serial publication of the lecture delivered on the ‘Responsibility of citizenship: the youth in focus’. The lecture was well packaged. My comment is on the summary of the lecture that the destiny of the state or the nation is in the hands of the youth. I quite agree; are you talking of the youth who are not empowered for the challenges of tomorrow through enployment? Or who are not going through the proper channels of democracy and good governance? The only notable and unifying orientation and practice among Nigerian youths of today, inrrespective of ethnicity and class, are political thuggery, yahoo plus, kidnapping, exam malpractices, European football leagues and all sort of social vices. So, I wonder why our leaders should rely on tomorrow they have emptied and paralyse today. If we should put the nation’s destiny in the hands of the youth, they should always be carried along in all socio-economic and political activities in the country; change their orientation, empower them with jobs and make our educational institutions functional. From Fola Afolalu, Ado Ekiti Re: Responsibility of citizenship: the youth in focus-3. The final write-up on the above subject was encouraging for those who are development-minded. Both the leaders and citizens need to be up and doing. The cooperation between the government/leaders and citizens in Oyo State will, however, require the LED to see the leaders ‘shedding weight’. If I were the Governor, I would be transparent enough on the commissioners and legislators’ pay. Then, if I am taxed in a way, I would gladly accept and pay! Let us cooperate. From Lanre Oseni If the jobless population has reached 50 per cent of total Nigerian population, the govt will face Ajaokuta Steel Company quickly, the largest steel company was abadoned during IBB’s regime, when he wanted to change the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja. Ajaokuta is now a source of campaign for politicians, both state and federal. Ajaokuta is an albatross on the neck of the government. From John Onimisi, Kogi Central It was speculated that most of the cel-

ebrated figures that drafted the American Constitution had slaves who were Yoruba.

Some of the slaves enlightened their masters on the old Oyo Empire’s system. Hence, the Kabiyesi became President, the Ogbonis, Senators and the Oyomesi, House of Reps. The Aare OnaKakanfo, the Balogun, the Bashorun and others are visible in the American system. The religion aspect is not missing. Please, take a closer look, America copied us. We can impeach the Kabiyesi with all his power, but the American President can watch his own impeachment on TV. From Cardinal Wole Arogundade of Sinners Redemption Assembly, Abuja Responsibility of citizenship: The youth in focus (2), back page of The Nation 28-12-2012.

Whose speech, please? Anonymous For Dare Olatunji Oh Lord as we celebrate this year’s season of goodwill forgive us our trespasses and provide us a right course in our affairs.

Amen. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! From Mohammed Haruna It seems to me that our leadership suffers brain wave. They must be seen to be working even if to build mobile schools for the nomads while other things are left undone.

The fact of the matter is that the think tanks of the government are Nigerians who are much distanced from the real Nigerian situation. They are bent on stuffing drugs down the throat of a man suffering from malnutrition instead of giving him good food.

From Steve A. That was a good one on Benito Aderemi. I hope the government will take steps to fix the epileptic petroleum refineries. From Niyi Taiwo They will ban wheat because they cannot think of investing in generic research to get the strain of wheat that can thrive in Nigeria. Wheat grows well in the north of India with similar climate conditions. Are you aware that even if Nigeria is the largest cassava producer, it is the largest domestic (not industrial) consumer? Be kind, sir, to hint the minister that the success of his ministry is in the reduction of food prices and not in eliminating a fertilizer cartel. From Ade Please, help me tell Okonjo-Iweala not to go overseas for the borrowing. Tell her to call a meeting of all governors and ministers. I am sure only two or so of the governors and ministers have more than five times the amount she is looking for. From Sabia Esit Eket, Akwa Ibom May all the good things from God continue to hunt you until you are located where ever you may be in 2013, in Jesus name! Happy 2013. From Renner Tiebiri Good one, Uncle Dare. I think Nigerians should expect the best from Goodluck Jonathan; he will try his best but as he said Nigerians should play their role dilligently. From Lanre, Magboro Re: The year that was 2012. The year 2012 started on a bad note of deceit and ended on destruction of lives. 2012 was a wasted year economically, developmentally and industrially. The political assessment by Doyin Okupe is a ruse. The PDP-led Federal Government is a big failure in all sectors of the economy. See how much we are paying for petrol and electricity now. The government has said nothing on this. What a shame!

The government is overdue for better replacement. No employment, roads, security, electricity and visible infrastructure! May God lead us aright and free us from this administration. Enough of unfulfilled promises! From Pastor Odunmbaku Re: The year that was 2012. Year 2012 was more catastrophic than of mixed feelings fuel-price increase, resistance achieved N97. Quick-wins by the government on price increase did not show; flood and other disasters, air-mishaps-DANA/Navy, Boko Haram attacks, kidnappings, sickness of government functionaries and rumoured deaths marred the year which ended with

petrol fuel scarcity with attendant arbitrary price increases of between N110 and N120, up to January 2013. With all the aforementioned ills and horrors, solutions to moving forward are: kill corruption and enforce our existing laws. It is quite unfortunate for Nigeria. From Lanre Oseni.

For Gbenga Omotoso They are stone-hearted. They will not listen. Olorun a se idajo. Ride on. Anonymous The President can afford to be slow in decision making in as much as he is no longer shoe-less and his household is in affluence, while majority of us remain shoe-less and in abject poverty. He will always remain on top of the situation when no one close to him is hit by the bombers or touched by the kidnappers.

From Daramola, Lagos Amen, my editor! The problem is that our rulers (not leaders) do not cherish solemn prayers. They prefer the shout of ‘HOLY GHOST FIRE!’ above their heads. Well, let us hope they will be able to handle the ‘fire’ when it comes. My prayer goes to a President who surrounds himself with free-loaders who ‘protect’ him from the true feelings of his people and make him believe that genuine critics of his actions are political opponents after his job. But, it is said that: history, like electricity current, has no feelings. Let us hope he remembers that.

Compliments of the Season! From Olu. Your piece A prayer at Christmas was Godsent to Nigeria and the world. Merry Christmas! God bless. From Nnamdi Azubuike Compliments! I join you in praying not for a new dress or bicycle but for our corrupt leaders who loot the treasury and live in presidential mansions, receive treatments abroad, spend billions on food and refreshments amid Boko Haram attacks, kidnapping, corruption, exam malpractice.

I further join you during this Christmas to pray for justice, truth and love for many who go to bed hungry; some feeding from dustbins, and the homeless, in Jesus Name.

Amen. From Abang Joe Happy New Year, Mr. Omotoso. May we witness more years in peace. Terrorism, kidnapping will never stop until injustice is put to a halt. PDP National chairman said our leaders ignored him; Andrew Azazi, may his soul rest in perfect peace, said it was injustice that brought insecurity in the country. Our leaders scolded him. An honest person will find it difficult in this country because when you are saying the truth people will take you as their enemy. With injustice, corruption will go on forever; with justice, there will not be insecurity. With justice, terrorism will say bye to our land. Mr. Goodluck, you have been called upon to wake up in 2013, Mr. Goodluck, wake up now because whatever you do will speak against or in your favour in future. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa Dockyard Lagos Re: A prayer at Christmas. The last two paragraphs of your write-up summed it all up. Once there is justice, the right people, rather than money bags, will win elections; Nigeria will be on the right path. May we help ourselves as Almighty God has helped us enough. From Lanre Oseni.

Re:A prayer at Christmas. There has been no Tiv/Idoma clash in Benue in the last 10 years. What we have is Tiv farmers/Fulani herdsmen clashes. From John Tyav, Makurdi For Tunji Adegboyega Sir, you’ve made the point concerning Chief Stanley Okeke’s unnecessary worry over fuel subsidy in your article of January 6 titled: “Anti-subsidy suit: Another ABN show?” Nigerians like him do not want food on ordinary Nigerians’ tables.

They loathe financial/economic equality;

•Jonathan

they develop hypertension once they see anyone outside their cabal making financial progress. There’ll soon be a government in Nigeria that’ll be most unfriendly to such Nigerians as Chief Okeke. If they think it is impossible, they should wait and see. From Kayode Sopein, Abeokuta.

Re: I insist, Sambo must have his N13bn palace (your column of December 30 refers). It is not a joking matter if an allegation of N13-N14 billion to refurbish, remodel and furnish the VP’s official residence is true.

Whether for religious or cultural taste necessity, the amount should be reduced to N6 billion. Such things should often not be told the public as, ordinarily, many would faint or die when they hear such information. People are suffering. In a decent nation, devoid of poor attitude and corrupt tendencies, N14billion, if well managed, would create small-scale industries that would employ about 15,000 Nigerians. I want to believe that Vice President Sambo did not make the request for the refurbishment and remodelling requiring the amount in question (N14bn). If he was not misquoted for the taste, the National Assembly should approve not more than N6billion for the whole project. I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year. From Lanre Oseni.

One measure of intellectual rigour is the ability to avoid the temptation to use men as mirror for truth. The title of your essay on Sunday, December 30, made me wonder whether you were aware of this principle. It would not be correct for anyone to say the misdeeds of Jonathan reflect his religion. I am a columnist like you, but I won’t do that. From Ola. Tunji, you no go kill people with laughter with your sarcastic caption I insist, Sambo must have his N13billion palace. His religion and culture must be reflected. I can’t agree less …

I enjoy your column a lot. Thanks! From Barr. Felix Ogbadu, AIG (rtd).

Thanks for your irony in I insist, Sambo must have his N13bn palace. Nigeria is in trouble since we have no leaders. From Dan. What a seriocomical piece you had on December 30. May God deliver us in this country. Anonymous.

I am sorry you will be attacked with abusive responses because many Nigerians do not understand satire pieces. From Ayo Ojeniyi.

My dear Tunji, thanks for your satire on our N13bn palace for our VP. You made me laugh in the New Year. I pity my country, Nigeria. Thanks. Anonymous.

Honestly, Tunji, I think the problem we are having in this country is not corruption but ignorance; ignorance in the sense that they have no human feeling except their high taste in government. Anonymous.

Re: My man of the Year? Let subsidy fraud step forward’ (December 23). Your choice is incontrovertible. And I am satisfied with it. Since January 2, 2012, the issue and the problems of unresolved panels, probes, fuel scarcity and illegal fuel price hikes by some major and independent marketers, have persisted. Is this a country at all? Nothing other than corruption – oil issues dominated Nigeria in 2012. I fear for our own type of democracy. From Lanre.

With ‘Corruption’ as your ‘Person of the Year’, (Nation December 23) you have identified the worst sin Nigeria is saddled with.

Have a swell time. From Bayo.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

23

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The deregistration of political parties has continued to generate controversy. JEREMIAH OKE examines the views of the protagonists and antagonists of the exercise.

• Akande

T

HE deregistration of 28 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last year has continued to generate serious controversy among the politicians.

The leaders of the affected parties are also challenging the power of INEC to axe the parties in the court. They claimed that the deregistration of the parties had violated the freedom of association enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

The chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, has been critical of the INEC’s decision.

However, he said the option for the deregistered parties is to merge with virile parties.

Musa said, while exploring this option, the battle to enforce Sections 40 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution would continue.

The chairman of the electoral commission, Professor Atahiru Jega, has maintained that the decision of the commission to deregistered parties was final. He said it was in accordance with the constitutional provision. He pointed out Sections 222 and 223 of the constitution have outlined the conditions for registration and deregistration of political parties.

“Political parties are supposed to register with INEC and have offices in Abuja. They are supposed to hold periodic internal elections; they are supposed to have executives that represent their federal character composition in two- thirds of the states of the Federation. The Electoral Act, in particular, also says parties which do not win any seat in any of the elections can be deregistered”, he explained.

In the last presidential election, out of the 68 registered political parties, only 20 parties presented candidates for the presidential race.

The poll results released by the INEC showed that only four political parties could prove their worth. Other parties scored less than one percent of the total votes cast.

The breakdown of the 2011 presidential election result indicated that 39,469,484 votes were cast. 1,259,505 were invalidated.

TheAction Congress of Nigeria (ACN) polled 2,079,151, which represented 5.41 per cent; All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)

• Tukur

• Jega

• Onu

How many parties does Nigeria need?

917,012 (2.40 per cent), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) 12, 214,853 (31.98 per cent) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 22,495,187 (58.89 per cent). The performance of other parties were poor. The Fresh Democratic Party scored 0.09 per cent, National Conscience Party (0.09 per cent), and Social Democratic Mega party ( 0.03 per cent). Many of the mushroom parties do not have representatives in the state and federal legislature. Neither do they have council chairmen and councillors elected on their platforms.

However, opinion is divided on the deregistration. A political scientist, Professor Abubakar Momoh, noted that the freedom of political association and assembly is sacrosant in the constitution. But he stressed that the opportunity should not be abused.

The Lagos State University (LASU) don submitted that the many of the deregistered parties had nothing to offer, adding that their records were not impressive. “ They don’t have personnel, they don’t have offices and they don’t participate in elections.

Indeed, many of them just went to register like registered companies waiting for the day they will get a contract. Meanwhile, they are giving the electorate the impression that those political parties exist, but in truth, they do not.

“If you look at our ballot paper today, you see that it looks like a sellotape. So ,it confuses people and, if INEC deregisters them, it

will reduce the numbers of the parties on the ballot paper.

“The procedure for the registration a political party is very clear.

Also, the procedure for the deregisteration is clear in the Electoral Act. The freedom of the association must not therefore, be abused. So, let them be serious about registering a political parties. They are misleading and confusing the electorate. The right to form a party should not be subjected to abuse”, he added.

Momoh also pointed out that the long list of parties on the ballot paper could confuse voters on poll day.

Former labour leader Chief Frank Kokori shared the same view. He said Nigeria should have emulated the United States of America (USA), which operates a two party system.

“I am one of those advocating for two party system. During the SDP days, I was the National Financial Secretary and I contributed so much to the struggle, both at the labor level and political level. Those parties were like Republican and Democratic Parties of the United State of America.

Britain has Conservative Party and Labor Party. Beside those parties, you can have few parties to satisfy certain ideological leanings, but the major ideological divide is expressed in those two major political parties. In other words, it could be either right nor left so that INEC will be able to monitor their activities. There-

fore, to me, Nigeria does not need multi-party system like we have now”, he added.

Kokori said the mushroom parties have become business ventures, adding that their founders only collect subventions from government in vain. “Those parties have no business to be in politics. As you can see, those parties were used as machinery. So, all they are doing is to register and collect the take-off grant by the government and portray themselves as political parties. Nigeria does not need that, if we really want to strengthen our democracy. So, I support what the INEC is doing.

Former Supreme Court Justice Gorge Oguntade supported this argument. He said the proliferation of parties is undesirable.

“Those parties are meaningless.

They are registerd parties, but they are not functioning. If we want to be honest, it is good to deregister them. A party which has no representation at the local government level, no representation at the state level and at the federal level, what is it doing and why do the people refer to it as a political party? After all, political parties are formed to win power. So, I think that INEC has done very well”.

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Segun Olalude, shared the same opinion.

The lawmaker, who represents Epe Constituency 11, said the deregistration is in national in-

‘Those parties are meaningless. They are registerd parties, but they are not functioning. If we want to be honest, it is good to deregister them. A party which has no representation at the local government level, no representation at the state level and at the federal level, what is it doing and why do the people refer to it as a political party? After all, political parties are formed to win power. So, I think that INEC has done very well’

• Momoh

terest, adding that it would improve the electoral reform.

“The deregistration is for the benefit of Nigerians and I will like to say Nigeria does not need many political parties. It will be meaningful, if we can have only two parties, and anybody who wants to go for the conservative bloc will do it, while anybody who wants to go for the progressive camp will do that as well. So, I want to commend what Jega and his people have done”, he said.

The vice chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos State, Chief Akani Seriki, said: “It is unfortunate that those parties could say they wanted to challenge INEC in court. They should be ashamed of not having even a councillor and they call themselves political parties. If I were Jega, I will deregister more.

In Nigeria, we don’t need more than three political parties. So, I think Jega is on course”.

But CNPP leader Musa disagreed with Seriki. He chided INEC for axing the parties. “The first thing we are considering is legal action in court with two premises. The first is to seek for the annulment of the deregistration.

The second option is to register a new political party with clear social objectives. The third is to merge with other political parties”, he said.

Musa maintained that INEC lacked the power to outlaw registered political parties. He insisted that the move conflicted with Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

“It is clearly stated in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But in our own case, we will not rely on legal action alone because we know that INEC did what they did on instruction and the instruction is part of the PDP’s plan to rig 2015 elections. If we rely on going to court alone, they may drop the issue and they may have gotten what they wanted because they know how to manipulate the electoral system. So, we are going to consider the other alternatives”.

Analysts averred that, if the parties succeed in court, the deregistered parties may bounce back. But if the INEC decision is affirmed by the court, the agency would have succeeded in weeding out the mushroom parties.

24

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

POLITICS

‘Controversies over oil benchmark patriotic’

H

OUSE of Representatives mem ber Alhaji Zakari Mohammed has said that the controversy trailing the oil benchmark was in order. The chairman of the Media and Public Affairs Committee told reporters in Kosubosu, Kwara State that the House would act on the matter in national interest.

Mohammed, who represents Baruten/Kaiama Constituency, spoke at the presentation of two buses and 25 motorcycles to the Peopoles Democratic Party (PDP) ward and local government executive committees in Baruten, Kaiama local government area of the state.

He said: “We in the House said $80 per barrel, the federal government said $75. Let me tell you, in recent times, even in 2008 when we had meltdown, the barrel has never fallen below 100 dollars per barrel. So, we are now saying that why not let’s move on and make it 80 dollars per barrel so that the excess of five would be used to service domestic debt so that, rather than the public sector going to borrow money in the banks, it is the private sector that money should be made available so that employment opportunities would be improved upon. The only time that you can say our economy is doing well is when the private sector moves.

“The Senate and House have agreed on a midway. Senate said 78, we said 80. But we have agreed at 79 eventually and the Federal Government adopted 79. That is exactly another way to tell people that we are very patriotic in our approach and that the house is not just the House of greenhorns; it is where we have experts to look at the economy. No individual has the monopoly of running economy because in some other parts too you know we have people who are worth their onions.”

The legislator described the recent steps taken by some state Houses of Assembly to domesticate the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act in their states as steps in the right direction as it would assist greatly in strengthening democracy.

He said: “It was in 2011 during the sixth Assembly that FoI Act was passed and, of course, the President assented to it. It is one of the steps to strengthen democracy. Because it would ensure there are no barriers to information especially for the media.

That it came was quite encouraging.

“If other states will domesticate it, why not? For us we believe that the media should have access to information and that of course will give us the strength and also strengthen our democracy in this part of the world. As much as possible we will try and see what happens, we will encourage that and for us as a nation we should begin to thread towards that path.”

On 2013 budget, Mohammed said the National Assembly had played its constitutional roles by passing the bulk figure, adding that “the details of it, the nitty-gritty of it would then be worked out as soon as the house resumes from break”.

Itsekiri leader raises alarm over violence in Niger Delta

A

• Mohammed From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

He stressed: “We have passed a figure of about N4.987tr. for us we are expecting that when we come back, we would be able to look at the issues- the sectoral breakdown will be given by January. What we have is we have promised Nigerians that before Christmas we are going to pass the budget, we have done that, kept faith with it in spite of the fact that we have some reservations in it. But all those reservations will definitely be discussed in the plenary when we are discussing the sectoral analysis of the budget this year.”

Mohammed also spoke on the deplorable condition of roads in Kaiama local government and gave hints of steps taken rectify them through the federal budget.

He said: “As it is, we have Baruten/ Kaiama road which is about 87kilometrers. Last year , we were able to get it into the budget, about N99m for the engineering design and drawing. This year, we are looking at the possibility of getting it back into the 2013 budget so that, at least, some parts of it will be awarded. I am sure, if that is done, we believe that the economic activities around there, we are agrarian, will at least be improved upon. Then, the Kishi/ Kaiama road, the state government actually wanted to award the project but we are looking at the limitation, it is a federal road. It has limitation.

But I am sure that the state government is actually thinking about doing it to get reimbursement much later.

“Our own prayer is that, this year , we will try and see how some funds will at least get in there. Because it is a sorry state, that journey is not supposed to take us to at least an hour but we ended up spending more than two hours or three hours and it is seriously affecting economic activities in that area. So, we are calling on the federal government to look at it, give it a second look so that the people of Kaiama and Baruten to Ejiba extension will be happy”

N Itsekiri leader, Chief Rita Lori Ogbeboh, has warned that the violence being perpetrated by kidnappers in the Niger Delta could lead to anarchy. She said that judges were being held to ramsom by the kidnappers, thereby preventing them from performing their duties.

The woman activist recalled that she had petitioned the relevant authorities to take prompt actions to arrest the dangerous trend warning that “delay and complacency could be dangerous.”

Ogbeboh told reporters in Lagos that, if the kidnap of judges persisted, plaintiffs and lawyers may also become victims of kidnapping and assassination.

She said the trend is worrisome, recalling that Justice Flora Azinge of OtorUdu High Court, Delta State, could not sit for two months “because kidnappers had asked her to pay a ransom of N20m or she would be abducted.”

She said: “A judge, Justice Okon, who was to deliver an interlocutory injunction over a parcel of land belonging to the Okereke people was kidnapped on his way to court and the case has been a subject of incessant adjournment till date. Another judge, Justice Mukoro, who took over the case from Azinge was also waylaid by unknown gunmen who attempted to kidnap or assassinate him. They riddled his car with bullets on his way to the court from Ugheli, thereby instilling fears in him to prevent him from adjudicating on the matter.

“Justice Mukoro Ogbeboh was also in charge of another case between the Oil

By Jeremiah Oke

Producing Communities and the Delta State Oil Producing Commission (DESPADEC), in which the communities were asking the commission to account for a sum of N1bn allegedly diverted to private businesses”.

She added: “I have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), urging them to quikly do something drastic to curb the anarchy that is gathering momentum on daily basis. If the judiciary that is the last hope of everybody is dragged in the mud, the consequences would be so grievious that all the security agencies combined together would become helpless when people resort to self help.”

Ogbeboh objected to the drafting of soldiers to “harass, intimidate and persecute innocent citizens as Delta State government continues to erect structures on the land under litigation”. She urged the Chief of Army Staff to withdraw his men to the barracks.

She said: “We should not forget the fact that there is money in Delta State and there are also guns. If we allow the people to resort to self help to demand for their rights, the Bokoo Haram problem would just be a child’s play. And that is why we are calling on the whole world to focus on Delta State to make it safe for human habitation. Bad pre-

cedence Delta State is laying, if the whole country catches the bug, things will totally fall apart,” the concerned woman warned.

She added:“If a High Court Judge was prevented from doing his duties to the country, then, aren’t we heading for anarchy. Even when I threatened to go to court, if nothing was done on the matter, mum, sadly is the word, even with no indication that the matter is being investigated.

Justice is being arrested and I am therefore, vindicated. There is no guarantee of justice again in Delta State and the state is descending into anarchy.”

• Mrs Rita Lori

Rights activist: justice will prevail in Edo

A

SOCIAL critic, Donald Inwalomhe, has said that justice will prevail at the tribunal hearing petition on the last year’s governorship election in Edo State.

He said the comments of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate,Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, and other PDP chieftains in the media would not change the course of justice.

Inwalomhe said the judiciary will never neglect the path of justice in the state.

In a statement, the activist warned agsint rumour peddling, urging hired writers to realise that the partisan interests they were defending may not be in the interest of democracy. He maintained that PDP cannot get victory that has eluded it through the ballot box on the pages of newspapers. He said the unguarded comments may be subjudice.

Inwalomhe said that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was the peoples’ choice, advising the PDP to prepare for future elections.

He added: “My question is this, when Airhiavbere and Afejuku knew Oshiomhole wasn’t qualified for the elec-

• Comrade Oshiomhole

tion, why did he not challenge him at the initial stage at the High Court, so as not to allow INEC waste it’s funds conducting the elections in July 14, 2012.

“Section 31of the Electoral Act 2006, it empowers Airhiavbere and his co-travelers to challenge Oshiomhole in a High Court. What stopped them?

“In line with the same section as above, INEC verification commit-

tee of candidates’ particulars came to Benin City to do their job, where was Airhiavbere? What stopped him from raising this issue of certificate? What prevented him from proceeding to court? The law is clear and unambiguous on these issues.

“Oshiomhole presented his Primary School testimonial, Modern School Certificate, Diploma certificate from Ruskin, NIPPS and Zaria and was validated by Prof. Agbebaku at the tribunal when he testified that he was Oshiomhole’s classmate, what else does the PDP candidate want?”

My consolation is that they are, however, convinced that Oshiomhole won the election but abandoned those contestation in court for certificate issue.

Again, they got it all wrong; they should seek redress at the normal courts.

I want to advise Airhiavbere and his co-travelers such as Afejuku, Aigbekan, Osaze Ijesuorobo among others to sheath their sword and allow the issues presented at the Tribunal to be properly ventilated before sponsoring commentators, political columnists, and armed-chair writers.

Do we agree?

Jakande calls for state police

H

OUSE of Representatives member Mr. Deji Jakande has called for state police, saying that it wikll reduce insecurity in the country.

The lawmaker from Somolu Constituency lamented the stiff opposition by some stakeholders, who he said, were out of tune with reality.

Jakande, who spoke with our correspondent in Lagos, said state and community policy systems would safeguard life and property and boost public confidence.

He said: “It is worrisome that governors who are chief security officers in the states cannot issue directives to the police in their states. We need to revisit this federal structure and devolve more powers to the states. The federal government is too power-loaded. This is not in consonance with the spirit of federalism.

“My argument is that only those who have the knowledge of the environment can police the place adequately. Policement who understand the geography, sociology, language and tradition of the environment will police the place very well because they are also stakeholders”.

• The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, in a handshake with the National Chairman, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Sam Nkire at a validation conference on INEC’s 2012 - 2016 strategic plan to improve the work of the commission held in Abuja.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

Life

25

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

A mysterious tree of ‘life’

SEE SEE STORY STORY ON ON PAGE PAGE 28 28

Married to books, work – Page 26

For the love of fun – Page 27

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

26

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) recounts to Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN how his romance with books as a youth made him what he is today.

Married to books, work

T

HE late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, once explained his marriage to books. His love for books motivated him to read and read and read. Even in detention and those stormy political days, he still found time to read.

He recalled a thinker as having advised: “Read everything about something and something about everything.”

Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) is hewn from the same wood like Awo when it comes to books. “Right from my youth, books have remained my bosom friends,” he told The Nation, adding: “This is one attitude that our youth must imbibe. They must read to secure their future.”

Akinlaja spoke when his mentor, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), treated him to dinner on his recent elevation to the rank of SAN. The event took place at Ikere-Ekiti, their hometown.

It was attended by achievers in academics, law and other fields. Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko was there. Others are Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, Ekiti State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation; former Governor, Old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua; Dele Adesina (SAN); Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Ayo Daramola; Ife Adedipe, SAN; Adebayo Adenipekun, SAN; Goke Fakunle, SAN; C.T Omotunde, Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese; Most Revd. Philip Ajakaiye, Bishop, Ekiti Catholic Diocese; Prof. Daniel Adefolalu of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure; John Bayeisha, SAN; Dr. Gani Adeniran who represented the Governing Council, University of Ibadan, where Olanipekun is ProChancellor; Remi Olatubora, Commissioner for Education, Ondo State; R.O Balogun, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin; Akinlaja’s kinsman, Col. Emmanuel Akinola, rtd; Olu Afolabi, former Librarian, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife; Benson Enikuomehin; Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Omowumi Ogunlola, Member, Ekiti State House of Assembly; Chief Akin Fasae; Justices of the High Court of Ekiti State, and Olawaye Alonge.

Akinlaja’s admirers thronged Olanipekun’s palatial home in Ikere GRA, in large number.

Encomiums were poured on Akinlaja by guests for being a diligent lawyer and loyal follower of Olanipekun.

Olanipekun set the ball rolling. “Dayo is a man who is prepared at all times to serve as a disciple. He is ever prepared to be mentored. And rightfully, when we were preparing Governor Kayode Fayemi’s case, he was with us and he brought his industry to bear. Today, no doubt, he is reaping the fruits of his commitment to his chosen career.”

He recalled how God used him to lift Akinlaja, urging the Commissioner to do same to the younger ones.

To Jegede, Akinlaja’s SAN award is well-deserved, adding that he is the fifth person to become a SAN from Wole Olanipekun’s Chamber.

Extolling Akinlaja, Adesina said: “Dayo is a very diligent young man who deserves to be emulated by any youth.”

Both Mimiko and Afolabi attributed Akinlaja’s rise in the legal profession to his knack for hard work and excellence, they said he imbibed from Olanipekun.

In excitment, Akinlaja’s mother, Mrs Funmilayo Elizabeth jumped out of her seat singing God’s praises.

She rolled on the floor, praising God for her son’s journey so far. Most of the guests joined her in singing and dancing. Olanipekun was the lead singer. He entertained his kinsmen in their local dialect with their famous native songs. “Ufi lilale kaa joko isi o; Amoye lilale kaa joko isi ooo…”

He led as others, including Akinola, joined in the chorus.

Though Akinlaja could not match his wife in dancing, he was a delight to watch when he joined others on the dance floor when the University of Lagos musical band took over from ‘singer’ Olanipekun.

Akinlaja said Olanipekun deserves a vantage portion in his memoir for the “wonderful role” he has played “in my life”.

How has the wife, Mrs. Funmilayo Bukola Akinlaja coped with a workaholic husband? “As far back as in our courtship days, I had known him to be somebody who loves to read and work hard. In fact, since we got married, I have always wondered the one he loves the most between his books and I. Day and night, he works. I must admit that I’m lucky to have him as a husband.”

•Akinlaja

REMINISCENCE Recalling her son’s love for books, Akinlaja’s mother told The Nation: “Dayo, right from when he was in primary school, never hid his passion and love for reading.

Even when he was hungry for food, he would be reading as he kept pestering me for his meal. He never joked with his books and that has remained his nature till today. I thank God for what He has perfected in him and his siblings. He is a good example for any forward-looking youth.”

‘As far back as in our courtship days, I had known him to be somebody who loves to read and work hard. In fact, since we got married, I have always wondered the one he loves the most between his books and I. Day and night, he works.

I must admit that I’m lucky to have him as a husband’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

27

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Looking for where to take your kids for fun? Then, you should visit Fun Factory, Lekki, where families had a swell time during the Yuletide, EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

•Fun factory Mickey Mouse spot

•Children having fun at the slide

•The centre’s train ride.

For the love of fun

T

HOUGH the Yuletide is over, its memory lingers in the minds of many. But there was a challenge for many during the season – places where they and their children could

have fun.

“There are not many fun places to go these days and it is very sad. I feel for kids born at this time,” Mrs Esther Brown, a mother of two, said.

Going on an outing organised by her club, the Lekki Penisula Lions Club, with children of the Sought After Orphanage, Ajah, Lagos during the Yuletide brought back sweet-but-bitter memories for Mrs Brown. She decried the situation where only a few can afford the small number of fun places. The visit to the neighbouring Fun Factory, Lekki, brought to her mind what today’s children from humble background were missing. As one who enjoyed the pleasures of the defunct National Amusement Park for nine years, she recalls that it was fun to be thre those days as the place was a symbol of unity of sort.

“I was seven years when I first visited the National Amusement Park and kept going there till I was 16 years. It is unfortunate that those things do not exist again. Then you could afford it, and go round the merry-go-round and other play things for next to nothing. And everybody played together irrespective of your background and that helped us to eradicate any class discrimination that may have existed while on the playground. But with the downturn of things also came its decay,” she said.

Mrs Brown called on the government and corporate bodies to resuscitate such facility across the country.

She said: “Coming here made me remember the good old days and the fun we used to have there. I was happy being in the midst of the

RECREATION children. A place like the Fun Factory which gives one the feel of amusement park should be replicated across Lagos to give opportunities to children from other areas and different backgrounds. Since the fall of the park, we need things such as Fun Factory to make the children happy.

“If a fun centres such as this and the ministadium at Lagos Island funded by the local government can be created across the state and other parts of the country, it would help to bridge the gap between children from different backgrounds and give them the opportunity to network with friends. If the government or corporate bodies could invest on or come up with such facilities, and make them affordable to people, it would go a long way in touching lives and give the kids fun that would last a lifetime in their hearts.”

For parents as Mrs Brown, and their wards, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Fun Factory Limited, Mrs Bolanle Mabawonku, said the fun centre was established five years ago.

“It was inspired specially by the love for children. Seeing that the children are enjoying themselves along with their parents makes me happy,” she said.

Although the centre now gives children and their parents lots of entertainment from 10am to 6pm daily, it was initially meant to be a crèche.

“It was inspired due to inadequate recreation centres where children and parents could go to for relaxation. There was a day I wanted to go to the saloon, and I needed a place that had a nanny where I could drop my threemonth old daughter. I drove around Lekki en-

‘Coming here made me remember the good old days and the fun we used to have amusement park. I was happy being in the midst of the children. A place like the Fun Factory which gives one the feel of amusement park should be replicated across Lagos to give opportunities to children from other areas and different backgrounds.

Since the fall of the park, we need things such as Fun Factory to make the children happy’ virons for hours before I found one which was not even suitable at all. And there were not many options of fun places to take the kids to, where one could also relax: that was what brought about Fun Factory. And so, with the support of God and my husband, it was established in 2008,” she said.

The centre has gone beyond just entertaining children to being a one-stop recreation centres where young ones and their parents can catch all kinds of fun. Beside the playthings, swimming pool, snooker palour and game centre, is the Fun Turf, a mini-sport centre where the men can catch up with their sporting skills. Its tickets cost from N2000 per child.

Given the economic downturn experience last year, how has been the journey so far?

Fun Factory CEO was asked. Mrs Mabawonku

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

•Mrs Mabawonku

said: “It has been amazing. There have been lots of up and downs especially last year. The major challenge, which is not uncommon with running business in the country, has been no constant electricity power supply. But despite the challenges, business has also been good and we have God to thank for it all. A-year-and-ahalf ago, we were able to open two more branches at Bodija in Oyo State capital and Ikorodu. And we intend to open others some points in the year. Fathers are not left out as they can also meet with the “boys” at the Fun Turf. And so, we are open to partnership and suggestions. We are also ready to give franchise to other interested people/organisations.”

As a businesswoman, wife and mother of two, Mrs Mabawonku said blending marriage and career is her utmost priority. “I function well at home and at work. I don’t allow the home to suffer because of business and vice versa. It has all been amazing. Wake me up at 2am; I am good to go be it work or home!”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

28

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•The Iroko tree

Ever heard of Nteje, a community in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State? In that rustic town is a unique natural phenomenon , a 200-year-old mysterious Iroko tree. ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU reports from Nnewi.

A mysterious tree of ‘life’

T

HE rustic town of Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State is noted for its largeness. It comprises 48 minor villages created out of the three major villages — Ezi, Ikenga and Ifite. But its size is not its only unique feature. The place boasts of a 200year-old mysterious Iroko tree.

Although there are five Iroko trees in one place housing the moribund water project by the Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme, they are regarded as one. The tree bears many local names. At times, it is called Ogbo, Okwolo. Other times, it is Okpo Ama Urukabi.

The tree has many mysterious tales sorrounding it. Among others, it is reputed for sweeping its surrounding unaided. Residents of Nteje also believe that if a woman wants a child, the mysterious Okpo tree is capable of giving her.

Its history and myths To guard the 200-year-old tree is its custodian, the over 130-year-old Chief Priest, who is also the oldest man in Nteje, Chief Samuel Ikefuna Okafor. The priest calls it Ogbo rather than Okwolo. On the day this reporter met him at his abode near the tree, he spoke passionately about the many myths surrounding the tree. Pa Okafor, who feeds the land of Ogbo (Iroko), was a well-known welder in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before he returned home.

He said: “You can never see any branch or leaf of the Iroko tree fall on the road. I give the Ogbo land food. I am the head of the clan while Chukwudi Diobi is the spiritual head. My duty is to pray in the traditional way to live a good life. If anybody does evil and it is reported to us, we will urge the person to go and appease Ogbo but if the person refuses, then the person will die mysteriously. ‘’The Iroko helped us very well during the war, this fact is very celebrated among our people. Nobody will consider cutting the Ogbo.

•200-year-old tree stirs emotion in Anambra MONUMENT If anybody tries it, Ogbo will hang a rope on his neck. If I try to do any evil intentionally, in less than one week, I will be a dead man.

This room contain the property of Ogbo and I am the custodian. Nobody tries anything funny with Ogbo –the great Iroko tree in Nteje. People don’t stay there in the morning except in the evening or during meetings and full moon.”

Beyond all that, he said, the tree is a “giver of children”.

“In this community, if our women are giving birth to female children and they want the other sex, we summon the elders to complain to the tree, and once they do that, the Okpo would become generous after our presentations. And if witches are disturbing people, the person can comfortably come and sleep under this mysterious Iroko tree and his or her problems will be over,” he said.

‘The Iroko tree helped us very well during the war...

Nobody will consider cutting the Ogbo. If anybody tries it, Ogbo will hang a rope on his neck. If I try to do any evil intentionally, in less than one week, I will be a dead man.

This room is containing the property of Ogbo and I am the custodian. Nobody tries anything funny with Ogbo – the great Iroko tree in Nteje’

• Pa Okafor

Igwe Rowland Odegbo, Abogu II of Nteje said the tree plays several roles in the community. “The Iroko tree has been here for over 100 years. It is the oldest tree in Nteje; and has a rich history and lots of merits. Story has it that when Nteje was at war with Awkuzu , they engaged the services of the white men with guns while the Nteje people engaged the services of Ada people from Uzuakoli. During the

war, all the women and their children were housed on the Iroko tree for protection while the men and Ada engaged the enemies. We prevailed in that war.

“But in these modern days, the Iroko has served the purpose of being a social gathering place where people gather regardless of the village they come from, creed or religion. It •Continued on page 37

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

29

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Forecasts Niger Insurance Gross Premium - N2.73b Profit after tax - N212.95m Mutual Benefits Gross Premium - N2b Profit - N885.633m Regency Alliance Gross Premium – N812.596m Profit after tax – N256.437m Learn Africa Turnover - N1.06b Profit after tax - N58.336m Total Nigeria Turnover - N46.676 b Profit after tax - N942.1m MRS Oil Nigeria Turnover - N51.20b Profit after tax - N712 m Eterna Turnover - N27.64b Profit after tax - N563.834m Okomu Oil Palm Turnover - N2.667b Profit after tax - N1.044b Stanbic/IBTC Bank Net operating income N16.805b Profit after tax - N2.737b ASL Turnover - N1.084b Profit after tax - N101.355m GT Assurance Gross Premium - N3.892b Profit after tax - N710.62m Cornerstone Insurance Gross Premium - N1.223b Profit after tax - N80.01m Oasis Insurance Gross Premium N562.500m Profit after tax - N79.868m African Alliance INS Gross Premium - N1.215b Profit after tax - N107.213m Berger Paints Turnover - N976.303m Profit after tax - N88.258m SCOA Nigeria Turnover - N835.0m Profit after tax - N18.200m Dangote Sugar Refinery Turnover - N38.251b Profit after tax - N3.49b Studio Press Nig. Turnover - N3.375b Profit after tax - N20.422m Julius Berger Nig. Turnover - N80.125b Profit after tax - N2.55b Intercontinental Wapic Ins Gross Premium - N1.41b Profit after tax - N250.450m Equity Assurance Gross Premium - N2.45b Profit after tax - N287.283m Standard Alliance Insurance Gross Premium - N2.142b Profit after tax - N475.964m Continental Reinsurance Gross Premium - N6.917b Profit after tax - N805m PRESCO Turnover - N2.60b Profit after tax - N800.9m RT Briscoe Turnover - N4.553b

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

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Analysts pick banking stocks for 2013 returns I

NVESTMENT analysts at FSDH Securities have said relatively low prices, good dividend outlook and emerging financing opportunities that may boost banks' incomes stand banking stocks in good stead as toasts of investors this year.

In its Banking Industry Review and Outlook made available to The Nation on Monday, FSDH Securities said the balance sheet position and operations of banks as well as their relative stock market valuations point to the attractiveness of banking stocks.

According to the report, the drivers of investment in banking stocks in early 2013 would include good dividend payment expected from the 2012 business year and attractive valuation of banking stocks as banks are still trading at low multiples.

Banks have common finan-

By Taofik Salako

cial year, ending December 31.

Early audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2012 are expected in late February or early March. Quoted companies are expected to file in their audited reports not later than three months after their year-end, according to the best practice rules of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Analysts at FSDH said emerging financing opportunities in the economy, especially in power, transportation, agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and oil and gas sectors, should drive banks' earnings going forward.

"The economic reform in the

country presents a huge opportunity for the banks operating in the country. The Central Bank of Nigeria and other regulators in the financial market have taken proactive steps to implement a number of policies to make banks focus on their core banking business, develop specialisation and safeguard the Nigerian banking system," the report

highlighted.

Investment pundits noted that banking sector's robust balance sheet, after the bad loans purchase by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has strengthened the capacity of banks to increase their risk assets in the near-to-medium term, a major plank for expected future growth.

According to the report, banks need to grow their risk assets to earn more income going forward, especially given the comfortable capital base of banks as the industry's average capital adequacy ratio is above the minimum regulatory requirement.

Analysts, however, said that banks need to put in place additional strategies to reduce their cost to income ratio adding that in spite of the comfortable capital base, banks could do more with additional tier two funding.

‘Airspace redesigning 'll save costs for airlines’ WGS 84 compliance is one HE redesigning of the of the steps taken by Nige-

T

airspace to make it compliant with the World Geodetic Survey 84 the latest technology in air routes - will save millions of naira for carriers, the Man-

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

aging Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Nnamdi Udoh has said.

ria to meet the International Civil Aviation Organisation standard and transit to performance-based navigation.

Mr Udoh said the redesigning of the airspace would help to reduce transit time by 30 per cent and reduce the cost of air transport.

It would also minimise the impact of weather and other disruptions as well as achieve 99 per cent on time departure and arrivals.

The NAMA boss explained that the new airspace design would also limit passenger processing time in the airport to less than 10 minutes.

He, however, listed some of the challenges in the aviation industry as poor policy environment, inadequate infrastructure, poor financing, poor regional leadership, operational inadequacies and insecurity.

He said if air transport must attain the expected seven per cent annual growth rate, impediments to an open market should be cleared and a process put in place for the full commercialisation and liberalisation of the industry.

•From left: Interim Head, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNIFEPFI), Yuki Yasui, discussing with Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at the Annual Bankers' Committee Retreat in Calabar.

Freight forwarders accuse minister of interference

T

HE National Council of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has accused the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar of interferring in the affairs of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

It said the minister "sees Council as a parastatal under his ministry."

In the letter dated January 4, 2013, sighted by The Nation, the NAGAFF founder, Boniface Aniebonam, also stated that the chairman of CRFFN is not an appointee

CBN defers rollout of cash-less banking nationwide - P 30

By Oluwakemi Dauda

of Mr President as it is in the case of other parastatals, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Security Agency (NIMASA), the Nigeria Shippers' Council (NSC) and the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

NAGAFF said: "We believe the CRFFN was domiciled in the Transport Ministry in order to give it impetus and necessary protection to meet the desired interest of its establishment. However, recent happenings in

the Council suggest that you seem to see the Council as a parasatal of the Transport Ministry, whereas the CRFFN Act has told us that membership of the Council does confer status of public servant on the elected members of the Council.

“This is why the chairman of the Council must be an elected member whose name is in the register of CRFFN." The power of the Minister to give direction and character to the Council, NAGAFF said, is not absolute. Section 5 of the Act that

Companies predict early leads on 2013 earnings - P32

established the council stipulates the power of the minister in that regard.

He said the categories of registered members that form the register of freight forwarders are three - individual, corporate and registered associations.These three groups of private membership, he added, are the owners of the CRFFN. Consequently, he said any attempt to administer the Council without their mandate or input is a breach of the Act. "With the dissolution of the first Council, it is our

considered opinion and advice that we now need to run and manage an inclusive Council with a view to achieving set objectives.

We, therefore, suggest that while constituting the new interim governing body of the Council, you may draw representatives from the three categories of registered members and a few from government representatives, such as NIMASA, Maritime Academy, Oron and NIWA to form the steering Council with a mandate to organise sustainable election," he said.

Violators of ‘no premium, no cover policy’ to pay N500,000 fine -P 34

30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

MONEY

CBN defers rollout of cash-less banking nationwide

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has explained why cash-less banking did not take-off in other parts of the country on January 1 as proposed.

It said the change in plan is to provide opportunity for assessment of the Lagos scheme by stakeholders.

CBN Spokesman Ugochukwu Okoroafor told The Nation that though there is substantial progress in promoting e-payment initiatives in the country, there is no system that does not have its challenges.

“Some of those challenges experienced in promoting the initiative in Lagos have to be discussed and addressed before the nationwide rollout,” he said.

Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Banking and Currency Mr Jones Onyereri, said the rollout should start after 80 per cent success rate is achieved in Lagos.

Speaking at the African Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) induction in Lagos, he said the

• Lagos scheme under review Stories by Collins Nweze

cash-less policy would lead to a reduction in bank charges to accelerate financial inclusion.

Last year, 90 per cent of banking transactions conducted in Lagos State were still cash-based, according to data obtained from the Financial Derivatives Company Limited. For instance, despite the high penetration of mobile phones in the country, the use of mobile banking is yet to gain momentum.

According to Okoroafor, structures are in place to address complaints that may arise from the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of Sale (PoS) terminals and online transfers.

These structures, made it possible for them to correct any anomaly, during transactions. He promised that where such hitches become rampant, the CBN would

intervene.

“The CBN is studying feedback on Lagos Pilot before nationwide rollout of cashless banking policy to accommodate stakeholders’ observations. We will go ahead with nationwide rollout after studying their feedbacks. There have been lessons learnt,” he said.

Analysts insist that the CBN has to address issues relating to epayment fraud, power failure during the use of ATMs and PoS, delayed credit to PoS merchants accounts and debiting of customers’ accounts without payment.

On fraud, the CBN in collaboration with Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) have set up fraud detection portal to enable banks to share fraud data information. The CBN has also mandated banks to resolve ATM-related complaints

within 72 hours or be sanctioned among other initiatives.

The apex bank said it is on top of the situation of combating electronic fraud.

CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo, explained during an e-payment forum in Lagos, that the CBN “has set up an industry-wide Nigeria e-Fraud Forum, which will serve as an official body to represent the industry on fraud-related issues, while enabling a forum for payment of stakeholders to share data on fraud attempts and tackle these issues, to minimise fraud

attempts and limiting losses”.

Despite challenges facing the initiative, CBN said there has been an increase in the payment channels to meet the targeted growth for the industry.

It said PoS channels have been increasing in tandem with the aspirations of the financial regulator to promote the cashless banking initiatives.

The apex bank said the number of ATMs has increased in the industry compared with what it was a few years ago. It said the emphasis is on the payment platforms to foster the growth of cashless banking and further made more people have access banking services.

Nigerian, Zambian banks target $1b power projects

A

NIGERIAN investment bank will partner Zambia’s largest distributor of power in the financing and development of six new hydroelectric power stations worth over $1 billion in Zambia, an industry official has told Reuters.

Managing Director, Corporate Development at Zambia’s Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) Michael Tarney said the six projects have capacity of over 800 megawatts (MW).

Tarney spoke after the signing of an agreement for the joint development of power projects by CEC and the Nigerian company.

“We are immediately looking at the $150 million Kabompo gorge hydro power project in northwestern Zambia and the five Luapula river projects estimated to cost $1 billion.

“The Kabompo project was moving well with financial close expected to be reached this year.

The Luapula projects have a combined capacity of 800 MW and this year we are doing feasibility stud-

ies but I think we should be starting construction maybe 2013 to 2014,” he said.

Analysts said the relationship with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) should boost CEC’s chances of winning the bid for units of a Nigerian state power company lined up for privatisation, Tarney said.

Nigeria plans a multi-billion dollar privatisation of its power sector to improve efficiency and had split the distribution network of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into 11 different units worth about $100 million each. “The relationship with AFC whose shareholders include the Nigerian government means we have a local partner,” he said.

AFC Chief Executive Officer Andrew Alli said he was happy to find CEC as a potential partner. According to him, the power privatisation in the country offered an opportunity for huge investment by CEC and AFCoutside Zambia.

Mobile money agents seek clear pricing for services • From left: Deputy Governor, Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Alhaji Suleiman Barau and his Financial System Stability counterpart, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu at a retreat in Calabar, Cross River State.

Why MfBs’ can’t recapitalise • Expert blames govt, DFIs

W

HY did many microfinance banks (MfBs) fail to meet the December 31, last year deadline, for their recapitalisation? It is because the Federal Government and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) did not come to their aid, says Managing Director, Support Microfinance Bank Sunny Akahmiorkhor.

The MfBs were required to recapitalise with N20 million; N100 million and N2 billion, according to their category.

Akahmiorkhor regretted that the MfBs framework, which requires state and local governments to contribute one per cent and five per cent of their annual budget to MfBs operations was not being implemented.

He said the government’s noncommitment to MfBs’operations made it difficult for leading DFIs, such as the International Finance Corporation, International Development Bank (IDF) and Depart-

ment for International Development (DFID), to assist MfBs. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has accused MfBs of being deficient in their understanding of micro financing. It said poor corporate governance and a high level of non-performing loans, among others, are also key challenges facing the subsector. According to CBN’s operational guidelines for the establishment of microfinance banks, they are not expected to engage in excessive spending.

Last month, it warned that the deadline for recapitalisation would not be extended. In a circular, Director, Other Financial Institutions of CBN, O.A. Fabanwo, said it was exigent to remind directors and shareholders of the deadline.

Fabanwo advised the MfBs to conduct due diligence and seek professional legal and financial advice.

Many of the MfBs liquidated by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) ran into trouble

when their debtors refused to pay back their loans, over 80 per cent of which were unsecured. Besides, some of the MfBs were taking excessive risks, and branching out too quickly without considering resources at their disposal and whether loaned funds were for short or long term obligations.

A unit MfB bank is authorised to operate in one location without branches/cash centres and is required to have a minimum paid up capital of N20 million; its state counterpart is expected to have a minimum paid up capital of N100 million. It is allowed to open branches within the same state or the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

But the national MfB is authorised to operate in more than one state, including the FCT. It is required to have a minimum paid up capital of N2 billion and is allowed to open branches in all states of the federation and the FCT, though subject to the approval of the CBN.

C

ONSUMERS, merchants and other agents of mobile money are demanding a clear pricing structure for the effective implementation.

According to a survey conducted by Visa Incorporated, respondents said individuals are price sensitive and also evaluate alternative options carefully. The survey analysed the financial services needs and expectations of mobile money among about 2,500 consumers, mobile money agents, and merchants in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Ninety per cent of consumers expressed interest in making use of these services in the future, but cited costs of calls as the primary reason for choosing a mobile network operator.

Also, lack of prevalent accessibility to mobile money agents was ranked as a key barrier to the adoption of mobile money.

It said to drive adoption, cash and customer service will need to be accessible to meet expectations even as 54 per cent of consumers cited quick and easy access to cash as a key benefit of mobile money.

The study also found that security concerns associated with carrying cash and the need to quickly send money to family members living far away are among the key drivers of mobile money adoption.

The Visa study suggested that

the success of mobile financial services is determined by how deeply a mobile money provider understands its customers and tailors the service to the needs of consumers and mobile money agents – from service menus, to marketing and education.

It also found there is high awareness of mobile money services and capabilities among consumers in developing economies. “Eighty- one per cent of consumers surveyed intend to use mobile money to send money to family members, 56 per cent to pay utility bills and 52 per cent to save money for their family.The primary driver to adopt mobile financial services is the need to protect funds from theft and the ability to more easily send funds and pay bills,” it said.

“Not having prevalent accessibility to mobile money agents is ranked as a key barrier to the adoption of mobile money. In order to drive adoption, cash and customer service will need to be readily accessible to meet expectations. Fifty- four per cent of consumers cited quick and easy access to cash as a key benefit of mobile money,” it said.

The study included in-depth qualitative and quantitative research on money management needs, habits and practices as well as factors that need to be addressed for the adoption of mobile money services.

31

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

MONEY

IFRS: Non-compliant firms’ accounts may be rejected T

HE financial reports of quoted manufacturing com panies whose accounts for the year ending December 31, 2012 do not contain basic provisions of the International Financial Reporting Standard rick being rejected, the Fenancial Reporting Council (FRC) has said.

FRCis charged with enjoying accounting rules, and ensuring that other regulating bodies comply with their own regulations.

Speaking to The Nation in Lagos, FRC’s technical resource person Uwadiae Oduware said impairment test on assets, consolidation of entities bought, consolidation of investments where investor has less than 50 per cent control, loans obtained at below market rate, among other, are expected to be included in the financial statements.

Accounting reports that do not contain these stand the risk of being rejected, he added.

Oduware said firms are deemed not to have complied with IFRS when their financial reports lack these basic elements.

He said: “The deadline for the adoption of IFRS for manufacturing companies was December 31, 2012.

Though there is no punishment for erring firms, FRC may reject financial statements that do not reflect

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

basic provision of IFRS to serve as deterrent to others. Impairment test is not optional for any entity reporting on the basis of IFRS.” He said firms are not only required to carry out impairment test or review of their assets at the end of every financial year, but they must include it in their financial reports.

He said Impairment of Assets known as IAS 36 is well spelt out in IFRS guidelines, stressing that firms that failed to carry out the test have violated IFRS rules.

Mr Oduware said: “When a company buys assets, it must estimate the usefulness of such assets vis-à-vis its lifespan. For instance, if the assets are expected to last five years, and could not last that period due to certain problems or changes, the assets must be reviewed to know the extent of impairment or depreciation.

“If a firm has a property close to the lagoon, and concluded that the property will last for 25 years. But due to flood, among other natural disasters, the economic life of the property has reduced. Based on this, the owner of the property is expected to carry out an impairment test on the asset to know the level of depreciation. This must be reflected in the financial statement of the company, as part of require-

ments for complying with IFRS.” He said many entities are looking for ways of avoiding this requirement because of its cost implications, stressing that the development will have grave consequence on the company.

Oduware also said firms that failed to consolidate their entities before preparing their financial reports have breached IFRS rules.

He added that firms are required to consolidate investments where investor has less than 50 per cent control to ensure transparency, adding that financial institutions are guilty of this misconduct. He said such actions would not be tolerated under IFRS implementation.

Former President, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Alhaji Bashir Borodo said IFRS is still the most realistic antidote to problems relating to compilation and production of financial reports.

He said the IFRS option is a more viable and error-free system, when compared with what obtained in the past. He said manufacturing companies have no choice than to comply with IFRS. “Ultimately, this is the way to go in Nigeria, not minding the fact the country is lacking technical expertise to execute the IFRS. The reason is because the idea will check financial malpractices,” he added.

‘400,000 have mobile money accounts’ ONLY 400,000 Nigerians have mobile money accounts in Nigeria, Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFINA), has said.

In a survey, the body said this number is registered with mobile money operators in Nigeria, out of the 28.6 million with bank accounts.

It said 4.8 million adults are aware of mobile money accounts.

According to the survey, the number of people that are accessing mobile money services would increase as the idea gains acceptability.

It noted that ignorance, poor infrastructure and regulatory policies have affected the growth of mobile money payment system.

The unbanked population, the survey added, would reduce drastically as more people embrace the mobile money system. It said the development would help the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to achieve the goals of its financial inclusion programmes.

MfBs seek capacity building THE National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMBs) has called on operators to improve their capacity.

The association’s Chairman, Southwest Region, Mr Olufemi Babajide, said the need for training is imperative for the growth of the sub-sector.

He said the banking sector can only develop when workers have the requisite knowledge.

Mr Babajide said the operations of microfinance banks are different from that of commercial banks, advising operators not to mix the two. “We have been trying to let operators know that micro financing is a specialised area, and, therefore, must be treated as such.

“The capacity building initiatives must be top down to achieve meaningful progress in the subsector. Both the junior and senior officials must acquire enough skills to drive the performance of their banks.

“CBN’s guidelines said the workers must from time to time acquire knowledge to encourage the growth of the banks and the economy in particular. We must abide by the guidelines to develop the industry,” he added.

ICAN seeks vibrant economy THE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has called for the strengthening of relevant institutions to achieve economic growth.

It also advocated greater financial transparency in all sectors of the economy to attract more foreign investors into the country. The body said in a statement that the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is a step in the right direction for the country to grow economically.

According to ICAN President, Mr Doyin Owolabi, the institute has produced about 36,500 chartered accountants and 14,500 accounting technicians who are providing values to their diverse clientele and employers in the various sectors of the national and international economies.

He also said the institute was aware of the challenges facing the local environment, hence its resolve to conceptualise programmes that would cater for the needs of the country.

He said the Students Special Project is one of the programmes to promote accounting in the country, stressing that the initiative would reduce the dearth of chartered accountants because it would help in training more people.

‘Explore forex opportunities’

• From left: Manager, Kaduna International Airport, Alhaji Garba Ringim; General Manager, Corporate Communication, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati and Head of Operations, Kaduna International Airport, Mr Liman Kutigi, during inspection of Kaduna International Airport project.

Experts predict improved consumer price index T

HE Consumer Price Index (CPI) will improve this year if the government reviews its macroeconomic policies, experts have said.

According to the experts, the CPI fluctuated last year because of the government‘s misplaced priorities.

CPI measures average changes in the prices of goods and services consumed by people daily. It is a major determinant of the rate of inflation. Usually, when the CPI is high, it has a corresponding effect on the rate of inflation.

The experts said the CPI of 11.3 per cent and 11.7 per cent in August and September last year, as provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), can be improved once the government provides a stable and favourable interest rate regime, and enhance productivity.

Former Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) President Mr Emmanuel Ijewere said the economy was not produc-

tive last year because of huge interest rates occasioned by the fixing of Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 12 per cent. This, he said, affected productivity, resulting in constant variations in the prices of goods and services.

He said: “The huge interest rates have crowded out the private sector operators, resulting in low productivity. Once this happens, it would be difficult to moderate the prices of goods and services in the country. The banks can no longer advance credit to the critical sector of the economy. They are moving and concentrating on fixed-income instruments such as Treasury Bills.“ Ijewere advised the government to improve agriculture and food price index in particular. Noting that the food price index is a subset of consumer price index, he explained that the two can go together.

“Agriculture is now being put forward as the major driver of employment in the country. The government must not relax if it wants to achieve food sufficiency, stabilises the prices of foodstuffs, and foster economy growth.

Former Director of Budget and Research, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr Titus Okunronmu, said CPI would improve when the government provides friendly and growth enhanced policies.

He said the government has focused more in checking inflationary rates to the detriment of productive sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture.

Mr Okunronmu said there should be a price control mechanisms in Nigeria, arguing that this would check the surge in the price of commodities. He said the government can provide stable inflationary rates, consumer price index, among other economy barometers, once there are no infrastructural challenges.

NIGERIANS have been advised to tap into the enormous opportunities in the forex market to enhance the growth of the economy.

Director, FXTM Nigeria, Mr Abiola Akinyele, who spoke during at a forum in Lagos, said investment in the forex market, would create more employment opportunities.

He said enormous opportunities exist in the forex market for people who are ready to invest in it.

Akinyele said not everyone has the time, experience and expertise needed for active fund management. He, however, said everyone can benefit from the FXTM investment service known as the PAMM account - where experienced and professional forex traders can trade currencies and other financial instruments for others.

He urged Nigerians to unlock the potential in the forex market, adding that there are a lot of benefits to be derived from such investments.

According to him, the country has immense business opportunities because the economy has opened up to foreign investors.

How to reduce lending rate THE cost of lending can be reduced if banks share some of their key infrastructure that raise the cost of operations, analysts have said.

Chief Risk Officer, Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Emmanuel Abolo, said the cost of lending always rise in line with banks’ cost of operation. He said shared-services is the viable means of reducing such costs.

Speaking at the Nigeria Development and Finance Forum, Abolo said though banks want to support entrepreneurs, the cost of lending has been a major roadblock. He said by sharing key infrastructure and co-operating with one another, banks in the continent will have their cost reduced drastically.

Analysts insist banks need to share services in terms of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) use. In many cases, the machines are mounted too closely, with basic infrastructure repeated in all the cases. By sharing and networking the infrastructure, the banks will save a huge fund, which could reduce cost of credit.

Also, the mistrust and cut throat competition that exist in the industry is even affecting cooperation in terms of loan syndication which is also a viable means of reducing cost of banking operation and volume of risk in each transaction.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

32

THE NATION INVESTORS

Companies predict early leads on 2013 earnings

S

EVERAL companies expect to pull through the initial lull in the early months of this year with substantial earnings to set the 2013 business year on a robust outlook, according to forecasts released by quoted companies.

Emerging forecasts from several quoted companies for the first quarter ending March 31, 2013 showed that most companies expected positive bottom-line and many were quite optimistic they could build on expected improvements in sales and profitability in the year just ended December 31, 2012.

Initial earnings estimates from agricultural,manufacturing, downstream oil, banking, construction and insurance sectors

Stories by Tonia Osundolire

among others indicate that companies would be able to sustain their average dividend payouts while many annualised earnings imply strong potential for increase in payouts.

The Board of Presco Plc has estimated that the agricultural company could pool total sales of N2.37 billion within the first three months of 2013. They estimated that profit after tax for the period could be N686.0 million, implying probable net profit of more than N2.7 billion for the whole year.

Banks are quite bullish on earnings outlook for the year with Skye Bank estimating net profit of N4.46 billion in the first quarter.

According to forecasts released by

the bank, gross earnings could be N32.85 billion while profit before tax would be about N5.58 billion.

Access Bank indicated it expected profit after tax of about N12.42 billion in the first three months, implying a conservative annualized net profit of about N50 billion.

Gross earnings is estimated at N51.44 billion while the bank expects pre-tax profit to be about N15.15 billion.

First City Monument Bank said it expected profit before tax to be N4.3 billion within the period.

Profit after tax is estimated at N3.21 billion while gross income is projected at N31.48 billion.

Directors of Eterna Plc projected that pre and post tax profits could be N361.5 million and N260 million. Total turnover is expected at

N6.56 billion. Continuing positive bottom-line would further consolidate the recovery of the downstream oil company, which recently returned to positive net earnings.

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has estimated a net profit of N1.31 billion on total income of N41.8 billion during the first quarter.

In the insurance sector, industry leading stocks remained optimistic on earnings outlooks. Mansard Insurance, formerly Guaranty Trust Assurance, said it could record a gross insurance premium of N6 billion while a net profit could be N481.04 million.

Custodian & Allied Insurance projected gross premium of N4.06 billion and higher net profit of N967.76 million.

Many analysts said the relative stability and early passage of the national budget would impact on the performance of companies.

Private sector operators under the aegis of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said early passage of the 2013 budget has heightened the prospect of improved budget implementation in 2013.

It outlined that the early passage of the appropriation bill holds several benefits for the economy and Nigerians including good prospects of better budget implementation in 2013 and better planning space and time horizon for stakeholders in the economy because of the signalling effect of the budget both from appropriation and policy perspectives.

House insists on Oteh’s probe

T

• Trading at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)... on Monday.

Funding stalls SEC's complaints framework

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said the much-expected launching of the complaints framework by the commission will likely take longer than expected this year.

Speaking with The Nation yesterday, the spokesperson of the commission Mr Obi Adindu said: "There are a lot of impinging variables that will delay the launching of the complaint framework. A major one is the zero allocation for the commission in the 2013 budget.

“According to clause 10 of the budget, the commission is not al-

lowed to spend any internally or externally generated fund.’’

For the input and enlightenment of stakeholders, he said they can have as much input as possible in the framework since it’s meant to work for the development of the capital market.

However, some shareholders said for the launching to be effective, investors’ input are paramount.

The SEC was, therefore, urged to carry the investors along.

Last year, the apex market regulator and market operators moved to introduce a harmonised com-

plaint management framework to address complaint regime.

Zonal Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Sunny Nwosu, said the commission has done any effective awareness campaign and as such, shareholders were not aware of the initiative.

Nwosu said: "Investors should be involved in the scheme of things because they are the major actors in the market and knows where the shoe pinches."

He added that some investors lost confidence and interest in the market because of SEC's inabil-

Central banks revise liquidity ratio for banks

T

HE Basel Committee has released revised Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) for banks following endorsement the endorsement of the new rule on January 6, 2013 by the Group of Central Bank Governors and Heads of Supervision (GHOS).

The LCR is an essential component of the Basel III reforms, which are global regulatory standards on bank capital adequacy and liquidity endorsed by the G20 Leaders.

In a statement made available to The Nation, the Basel Committee

noted that the LCR is one of the key reforms to strengthen global capital and liquidity regulations with the goal of promoting a more resilient banking sector.

"The LCR promotes the short-term resilience of a bank's liquidity risk profile. It does this by ensuring that a bank has an adequate stock of unencumbered high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) that can be converted into cash easily and immediately in private markets to meet its liquidity needs for a 30 calendar day liquidity stress scenario. It will im-

prove the banking sector's ability to absorb shocks arising from financial and economic stress, whatever the source, thus reducing the risk of spillover from the financial sector to the real economy," it stated.

The LCR was first published in December 2010. At that time, the Basel Committee put in place a rigorous process to review the standard and its implications for financial markets, credit extension and economic growth. It then committed to address unintended consequences as necessary.

ity to ensure speedy resolution of their complaints.

He however urged the commission to ensure good publicity and investor education for its policies.

Specifically, President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Boniface Okezie, said the policy would not change investors' perception of the market caused by the nationalisation of some banks He said: "The commission should be proactive in its regulation and ensure investor protection to bring positive change in the market."

Managing Director of Compass Securities Limited and the President of the Association of Stockbrokers of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr Emeka Madubuike, said the initiative would foster market transparency, investor protection, market integrity and high ethical standard.

Madubuike said it would boost investors' confidence and make the market their preferred destination.

He noted that, "the state of complaints’ handling is far short of what is required in the market when compared with other emerging and developed markets”.

HE House of Representatives has said its probe of the administration of the Director-General (DG) of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, should not be confined to the allegation levelled against the chairman of the probe panel during the public hearing.

Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media, Hon. Afam Ogene, said the decision of the House not to appropriate funds to SEC for the 2013 fiscal year was not a vendetta against Ms. Oteh.

Speaking at the weekend, Ogene said members of the House and the director-general have been embroiled in a longdrawn battle since the probe of the commission by the lower chamber about one year ago, during which the DG accused the probe committee of demanding bribe from SEC. The probe ended with a reprimand of Oteh by the Federal Government, but the lower chamber has maintained since then that Oteh must go.

He said: "The House had already begun investigations into the activities of SEC before the DG's allegations against then Chairman, Hernan Hembe, and the probe could just not be halted because of the allegation.

"Which one came first?" Ogene asked. "This same House was already having a public hearing on SEC when Oteh made her allegations. That an issue arose midway during an investigation shouldn't abort a process that was already ongoing.

"During this process, issues had been raised regarding Oteh's competence, regarding some resources of SEC that were paid into private accounts, issues bordering on corporate governance, whereby staff were recruited from outside the system and issues regarding indecorous working relationship with key commissioners in SEC." He added that the issues were already on top of the committee's work before Oteh made her allegations.

"Up till now, they are still mere allegations because the parties involved are still in court," he said.

"So, until Oteh proves her allegations, they remain mere allegations. So, the above issues had been established long before Oteh made her allegations," he added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

33

Taxation

Tax environment and film industr y

T

HE tax environment can affect the activities of individuals

and corporate bodies either positively or negatively.

Filmmakers and relevant stakeholders should begin to align goals and strategies to grow the sector with particular intention to claim their own share of the package of tax incentives the government has granted to other sectors of the local economy.

In developed countries, the type of tax regime in place influences business planning and investment decisions.

In the business environment, the tax environment has impact on employment, output, income and economic growth rate. It is imperative to note that regulators and stakeholders have critical roles to play.

The film industry has attracted global attention. Our films are viewed all over Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and continental America. As such, the government may not be unwilling to grant special tax incentives to further enhance the growth of the film industry, thereby create job opportunities and develop a vibrant film industry.

The Federal Government is making efforts to ensure that the tax environment is investment friendly, and has such provided a number of tax incentives to specific sectors in the economy to stimulate growth and development.

Globally, an investor friendly tax environment will attract foreign investment, while the flip side will discourage foreign investment. The tax incentives available within a nation's tax environment constitute part of the investment opportunities for local and foreign investors to build on.

The following already exist in the Nigerian law: "The creation of a film industry development fund to be listed in the 5th schedule of the CITA Cap C 21, LFN 2004 as amended "Investment tax credit "Deduction of reserve made out profit for research and development "Tax exemption on income earned from abroad brought into Nigeria " Low company tax of 20 per cent for small companies in the preferred sectors as per 1996 fiscal policy analysis "Pioneer status

• Ag Executive Chairman, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed Mashi

‘The creation of a film industry development fund to be listed in the 5th schedule of the CITA Cap C 21, LFN 2004 as amended’ "Low tax treaty concession rate of 7.5 per cent for foreign investors "Accelerated capital allowance scheme "Loss relief "Repatriation of net earnings outside Nigeria by foreign investors "Allowable deduction of cost of film production.

In the real sense the Film Industry need a better understanding of the tax law and how it applies to the industry.

Notably the only tax incentive that the Film Industry acknowledges is the one granted under Decree 32 of 1996 which provides that 100 per cent of the foreign income earned from abroad by authors, playwrights, artistes, musicians, and sportsmen etc is exempted from tax provided that the income is repatriated into Nigeria in foreign currencies through a domiciliary account with a Nigerian bank.

There is no gainsaying that the foreign investment in this sector will go up with some tax incentives applied to it.

Following the tax incentive technical committee made up of FIRS and NFC to work out a package of incentives to be presented to the Federal Government, the situation is bound to change with the

unprecedented growth, which the industry has seen in the last two decades, particularly the tremendous achievement of the last five years.

The following are the recommendation of the technical committee for inclusion into the Nigerian tax law: "Exemption of 20 per cent of income of film-makers; provided such income will be put into reserve to be used in further acquisition of film equipment "Low rate of tax of 20 per cent for small companies in the film industry based on classification of the film industry as a preferred sector in the Nigerian economy "Rebate on import duties on importation of film equipment and materials by local and foreign film production companies "Preferential loan facilities to be made available to investors to aid development in the film sector "Insertion of ‘film practitioners’ in the list of economic actors mentioned in S19(1) of PITA 2004 Third schedule item 30 "Audio-visual film materials imported into Nigeria to be exempted from VAT "10 per cent levy from exhibition and theatre receipts should be ploughed into the proposed film development fund.

The film industry has attracted global attention third only to America's Hollywood and India's Bollywood, making it an investors delight.With this level of achievement, the government, no doubt, will be willing to grant tax incentives to spur further growth in this very important money spinning sector of the economy. A similar incentive has been granted to the tourist industry which is one closely linked with the film industry.

Also, very important is the need for enterprises in the film industry to register with the relevant tax authorities for tax purposes and file their income tax returns and pay their taxes as and when due to encourage government to grant these incentives. It must be noted that the Federal Inland Revenue Service is doing a lot to encourage different sectors of the economy to optimise value and potential, this will invariably increase voluntary tax compliance. The ball is now in the court of filmmakers to take advantage of this opportunity to grow this sector.

34

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

INSURANCE

Violators of ‘no premium, no cover’ policy to pay N500,000 fine Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

• Banmore

F

IRMS and brokers that flout ‘no premium no cover’ policy of the National Insurance Commissionin (NAICOM) are liable to N500,000 fine, it has been learnt.

A document from the Commission states: “As a result of the growing challenges arising from huge levels of outstanding premium reported in the financial statements of insurance companies, and to protect the interest of policy holders and other stakeholders from negative consequences of the gaps in existing practice, insurance brokers and underwriters are required to comply with the re-

quirements.

“Any insurer who grants cover without having received premium or premium notification from the relevant insurance broker, shall be liable to a fine of N500,000 in respect of each cover so granted.

“All insurance brokers shall within 48 hours of receiving insurance premium on behalf of any insurer, notify the insurer in writing in each case, of receiving such insurance premium. An insurance broker who fails to notify the insurer of any premium received on his behalf shall be liable to a fine of N250,000 in each case of failure to notify.”

In the case of a lead insurer and co-insurers, it indicated that a lead insurer, who fails to pay other co-insurers premiums received on their behalf within 30 days, shall be liable to a penalty of 10 times the amount of premium not remitted.

The document said that insurers shall quarterly, and not later than 30 days after the end of each quarter, notify the commission of premium acknowledged as having been received by the brokers, but not remitted to them.

It said any insurer that failed to render this return shall be liable to a fine of N5,000 daily for which the non-rendition continued.

On the insurance brokers, the NAICOM new rule indicated that insurance brokers shall quarterly and not later than 30 days after each quarter, render to the Commission returns of premium received and unremitted to the insurers.

The Commission said any broker that failed to render this return shall be liable to a fine in the sum of N5,000 for each day for which the non-rendition continues.

Penalties imposed on an insurance operator before the new circular shall be disclosed in its annual financial statements and report to shareholders, the Commission stated.

However, the Managing Director, Royal Exchange Prudential Life, Wale Banmore, praise NAICOM for the policy.

He told The Nation that about one week into the implementation of the policy, so many clients who otherwise would just have written, expressing their intention to stay on cover, had really backed it up with payments.

He said: “I don’t want to mention names, but it is vey encour-

aging, it has not been like that in the past years. There may not be a 100 per cent compliance from day one, but it is an ongoing exercise.”

Banmore said the position of NAICOM became necessary because of the Commission’s desire to help both the public and the underwriting firm, stating that the law is not new as it has been in existence, even before the insurance Act of 2003.

“What the law is simply saying is that there will be no cover unless the premium is fully paid, that is what is done worldwide, he added.

He explained that there are two ways insurance premiums can be paid, either directly to the insurance firms, or through the intermediaries, such as registered agents or brokers who will make the full payment to the underwriters before a cover can be granted.

Banmore said it has always been like that, but due to exigencies and other factors, people will insure their properties.

However, the premium will not be paid on time, adding that some only come to pay when

there is a claim. This is what NAICOM is out to fight because it has put a lot of strains on the underwriters, he said.

He said NAICOM is out to protect the public by insisting that insurance firms must be ready to pay their claims when it is due, and at the same time protect the firms so that they can ensure their funds come to them as at when due, stating that every cover must be accompanied by premium payment.

The Royal Exchange Prudential boss said the government is not exempted from the rule.

“Although the government contributes about 60 per cent of insurance premium to most insurance companies, the rule does not exempt them,” he said.

He said the industry is watching to see how the government would respond, but he assured that if there is no payment from the government and a claim occurs, no insurance company in Nigeria would respond.

He said NAICOM is watching underwriters and has thretened to sanction any firm that may flout the order.

IEI settles N990m claims

I

NTERNATIONAL Energy Insurance Plc has said it made N990 million claims settlement between January and October of the last financial period.

In a statement the firm said this was part of the company’s promise to settle claims to its insured clients promptly.

According to the statement, this shows the company’s core values of proficiency, integrity, innovation, dependability and friendliness, which had been earning IEI trust and loyalty from its customers.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mrs. Roseline Ekeng, said transparency and reliability were the most enduring values to earn customer trust.

She stressed that the business environment requires more open hands and doing what you say.

“The customers are wiser and more exposed today to global best practices, and no wellmeaning underwriter will hide under any guise,” she added.

According to the statement, different categories of the claims settled covered motor, fire, general accidents, marine cargo, marine hall, bond, oil and gas, industrial risks, public liability and aviation.

It stated that IEI is one company that got right its core strategic business direction which is energy insurance.

The company said it has sound technical and experienced energy underwriting unit in Nigeria.

“With the best crop of hands and sound management, IEI has demonstrated a consistent growth-led business model that has withstood the test of time,” the statement added.

Law Union & Rock donates to the needy

L

• A cross section of contractors handling Federal Ministry of Education projects during their meeting with the Minister of State for Education Mr Nyesom Wike in Abuja.

PHOTO: NAN

Insurers urged to seek more training

T

O remain relevant in the industry, the Director-General, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) Mr Adegboyega Adepegba has urged insurance practitioners to get adequate training.

Adepegba told The Nation that the body has been given statutory powers to train and retrain insurance professionals, noting that it is doing its best to ensure that professionals are well-trained before they are certified.

He said for anybody to become a professional, he must have passed the institute’s exams. He explained that they are in three

parts: certificate, diploma and advanced diploma.

He added that the institute provides many services, which enable the students to be prepared for the exams.

Explaining the mode of operation, Adepegba said: “We also have a college trains those who would take the examinations and those that will come in for refresher courses.

“The institute also has some exam programmes that it conducts regularly, annually and others at intervals, such as conferences, seminars, in-house programmes and the Mandatory Continuous

Professional Development (MCPD).

He said under him, insurance education has improved, noting that members of the institute are getting the best training.

He added that education is not something one gets from one source, advising students and members of the profession to develop and re-develop themselves.

He said the MCDP programme ensures that students write, carry out research and attend programmes that can broaden their knowledge about the practice of insurance.

AW Union and Rock Insurance has donated cash and other things to Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, a school for mentally and physically challenged children, in Yaba, Lagos.

The insurance team was led

by Miss Ngozi Ochei of the Cor-

porate Communication Unit and Miss Stella Bello; Mr Imo Okorie Imo, Head Strategy and Planning.

They were received by the school’s Headteacher Mrs. F. A. Durowoju.

The students and staff of the home expressed their gratitude to the organisation.

Mutual Benefits Assurance, others win awards

T

HE Management of Inspenonline has named the President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) Mrs Laide Osijo, the Insurance Man of the Year 2012.

She emerged top out of many insurance operators considered for the award. Within the short period she has been in the saddle of leadership of the largest insurance brokers’ fraternity in African, she has distinguished herself and has

used her wealth of experience to reposition insurance practice.

Commissioner for Insurance Fola Daniel was awarded the Good Leadership Award for his steps in repositioning the industry and providing adequate security for policyholders.

Mutual Benefits was named the Insurance Company of the year. It was picked as a result of its stride in retail insurance through well- developed micro-insurance channel.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

35

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Bee keeping a money spinning enterprise H

ONEY is an important part of the local diet. It is medicinal and can also be used in place of sugar.

However, over time it has become hard to obtain pure honey.

Consequently, honey has become expensive and found its way into the list of imported items. This has created business opportunities for bee keepers.

Speaking with The Nation, the Chief Executive, The Consult, Ismail AbdulAzeez, said apiculture, or beekeeping, offers opportunities for additional income for city dwellers and those in rural areas.

He said beekeeping is an investment for mining wealth, adding that it can also create jobs, and products and services.

It, however, begins with knowledge of the business and a desire for new opportunities.

He said a prospective entrepreneur needs a small space. After finding this, the next step is to create hives. As many as 30 hives can be kept in an area as small as 25 x 50ft. One can start with N150,000 after land acqusition.

Azeez said the average honey production from a hive is 20 litres. He said on N2,000 per litre, the farmer can make a fortune.

According to him, beekeeping can be integrated into small farms, including those that produce fruits and vegetables needing pollination.

Bees also fit into small-scale livestock production, including pastured poultry. Locally produced honey can be attractive and can be used at farm stands and gift shops.

Those who employ both sound beekeeping and business practices, he noted, can generate a substantial part-time income from the sale of honey.

Success in beekeeping requires an intimate knowledge of the biology of the honey bee, as management practices are based on colony habits and bee behaviour.

These skills, he said, could be acquired after two days’ training.

New beekeepers need to make observations of bee activities and

Bee on a flower Stories by Daniel Essiet

examine their colony's hive frequently.

According to him, a person who is curious, investigative and open-minded about bees and beekeeping is more likely to succeed than one who starts with a primary focus on making money.

For those who like being their own boss and who enjoy working outdoors, beekeeping can offer ample rewards. However, individuals who are highly allergic to insect stings should not keep bees. Only about one in 1000 individuals are highly allergic to bee stings, but they should keep an insect sting kit in their car or home.

Getting stung occasionally is a part of beekeeping. Protective clothing and keeping bees of a gentle line means those stings will be infrequent.

The key retail outlets are supermarkets and provision stores.

Beekeepers harvest their honey, take it to market, and sell their produce to vendors, who then

Azeez

Bee keeper

sell to consumers. Sufficient supply of top-quality packing materials do exist, though, as is evident from shelves full of wellpresented honey at main retail outlets.

Demand for honey outstrips supply and there exists a market opportunity for producers to sell large quantities of high quality honey. High standards for the harvesting, packaging and handling of the products are also essential.

The challenge is retailers’ reported frustration with unreliable supply patterns and inconsistent qualities of honey. Supermarkets indicated that their intake of honey could be more if supply was consistent in terms of quality and timing of deliveries.

Major problems facing the honey sector, include limited access to extension services, training, and investment for business growth; inadequate beekeeping skills and equipment; poor production and processing technologies.

While the majority of

beekeepers produce surplus honey for sale, others also may specialise in one or another type of beekeeping. For example, rental of hives for pollination is an important component of the beekeeping industry. Rearing queens and package bees for sale is an even more specialised component. The decline in the number of beekeepers creates opportunities for new or existing beekeepers to provide honey to markets formerly served by those who left the industry.

Beekeepers who raise queens with a minimum of chemical pest treatments would have an advantage.

For producers, it is impractical and unwise to attempt to eliminate mites from bee yards. The strategy that gives queen producers an edge is to produce queens of disease resistant lines of bees.

Beekeepers can earn additional income by making and selling products made with beeswax and honey.

These include homemade soap, hand crèmes, furniture polish and candles. Beeswax is a byproduct

of producing honey and at best is a minor source of income for beekeepers. Some beekeepers have found strong demand for value added honey products.

Azeez said one can depend on bees and apiary products for a living. The upward trend in honey prices can be partially attributed to the development of several forms of retail markets.

Honey producers develop their own brands and sell to consumers through road stands, farmer's markets, and local outlets.

Honey producers are able to extract price premiums since consumers are more willing to pay for locally produced and specialty honeys, such as organic honey.

To market honey through cooperatives, producers have to be members and must be able to deliver a specified quantity of the product (quota). Production beyond quota levels can be sold to the co-op at a reduced price or to different buyers. Bulk honey is usually sold in barrels to packers who then package honey products using their own label.

Grooming tomorrow's entrepreneurs

E

NTREPRENEURSHIP is the latest buzzword across campuses, as thousands of young Nigerians opt to become job-creators rather than jobseekers.

As Nigerians seek an independent career path, George Essien,Chief Executive Officer, Learn and Earn Ventures, is taking the campaign to help, encourage and mentor entrepreneurs to handle the problems of starting a business.

Essien saw the opportunities ahead and realised that being an entrepreneur was an alternative career path. He has not taken paid employment since he left the university in 2007. He felt he was cut out to be a motivational speaker. He studied Microbiology at the University of Uyo. While on campus, Essien started promoting entrepreneurship, which brought him face to face with many people. He ran his small business with great ambition.

Upon graduation, Essien was ready to start his own business under the brand name - Learn and Earn Ventures. Leveraging on his exposure, he was able to

meet a few investors who gave him N1 million to open shop and start his business. He sold books, audio CDs, tapes and seminars to introduce young entrepreneurs to markets. Today, he said the company is thriving.

He encourages socially responsible and youth-oriented ventures in media publishing and production.

Essien explained how to start and run a business during one of his seminars. He is much more savvy and knowledgeable about the benefits of setting up personal businesses.

He has taken the campaign to the radio. The response, Essien said, has been massive with letters and emails rolling in seeking information.

He said : "You don't need to be great to start, but you need to start to be great. My non-governmental organisation (NGO) and business began because I started. When one starts, the forces of life come to one's aid."

His television presence on the local scene also added to the success of his business.

For him, encouraging entrepreneurship among students in their formative years

will ensure that they become 'job creators' instead of 'job seekers'. As long as the market continues to expand, the potential is unlimited. Essien is promoting entrepreneurship to foster pilot projects, create consequence companies and build capacities. Consequently, in 2010, he launched an NGO, Powerminds Community, to challenge youths to embrace entrepreneurship. It has a branch in the United Kingdom and the focus basically is to create a platform for the successful business people and wannabes or upcoming entrepreneurs come together and share ideas, synergise and learn. He believes entrepreneurship is what a typical youth needs to hear, not the promise of a white collar job that is not existent.

According to him, his group is not just about promoting entrepreneurship, it's a way of rethinking business. As a business teacher, he has helped trained hundreds of people in the rural communities by showing them how to produce, package and promote products, such as soap, cream, bleach, detergents, among others.

Many students began looking for capital to start of their businesses, so Essien initiated investors and entrepreneurs cooperative to help them raise funds for the businesses that he taught.

He trained young Nigerians to develop business plans and start enterprises.

Essien said it was challenging to promote entrepreneurship in Akwa Ibom a typical civil service state where everyone believed in working for the government.

He said:"As a matter of fact, people took pride in that. Breaking into this system was difficult. In fact, my first investors were not natives."

Also, because of the mindset, the funds available quickly diminished because a lot was put into publicity. Soon, he was looking for more funds again to push his business. There was a time the organisation was duped of about half a million. This, still, didn't deter him. His group has put together numerous personal development seminars, including e-conference, helping people acquire e-skills or online business skills. The organisation hosts a biannual conference

Essien

of orators, women in business conference, entrepreneurship class.

Besides, every year, the organisation holds awards for entrepreneurs and to also raise funds for charity.

36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

DISCOURSE The 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine was the first vaccine against the organism but it was poorly immunogenic in infants less than 24 months of age and failed to induce an anamnestic antibody response. 32 The 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine was efficacious but did not contain serotypes 1 and 5, the major causes of invasive pneumococcal disease in Africa.33 The 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenza protein D conjugate vaccine contains serotypes 1,5, and 7F in addition to the serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C , 19F and 23F available in the 7-valent vaccine.

In conjunction with colleagues in Mali, we conducted a randomised open vaccine trial of the 10-valent conjugate vaccine when administered with other NPI vaccines to assess its immunogenicity and safety. The report showed that 97% of vaccinated subjects had antibody concentration e” 0.2ug/ ml for the pneumococcal serotypes except for 6B (82%) and 23F (87%), see Table 7. 34 At least 85% of subjects had opsonophagocytic activity against all serotypes. The main adverse events were fever, pain and redness. The vaccine was found to be safe, immunogenic and compatible with NPI vaccines.34 The results are consistent with findings by other researchers.35

Health in interest of the public Text of the Inaugural Lecture delivered by the Provost, College of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof Olumuyiwa Odusanya, at the ivory tower.

•Continued from last Friday Poliomyelitis in Nigeria The progress made on immunization in Nigeria has a dark spot: that of continuous transmission of poliomyelitis. The beginnings of the rejection of polio vaccine and of its unintended consequences are well known to health workers such that Nigeria exported the polio virus to several parts of Africa and the rest of the world. In 2012, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan are the only countries that remain endemic for poliomyelitis. Nigeria is the only country that is endemic for types I and III strains of the wild polio virus (WPV). As at September 2012, Nigeria had recorded 84 cases of WPV in 11 states (all in the north, Figure 6) accounting for 94% of the polio burden in the African region of WHO.25 Figure 6. Nigeria Polio cases as at September 21, 2012.25

The age analysis of the poliomyelitis cases shows that 74% were less than three years and over half received less than three doses of the oral polio vaccine and were susceptible to the infection (Figures 7 and 8, data from WHO Nigeria). The cooperation of all is needed if Nigeria is to become poliofree. This may be the time to focus on sanitary disposal of faeces as an additional control measure. If more sanitary facilities were to be provided, could this intervention persuade more communities to accept the vaccine?

Fig 7. Age group of WPV cases Jan-Sep 2012 as at Week 38

•Prof Odusanya

My Contributions to Immunization Sabonggida-Ora Vaccination Project I was privileged to commence from inception a privately sponsored community-based immunization project in Sabonggida-Ora, the headquarters of Owan West LGA, Edo State in 1997. The project was sponsored by SmithKline Beecham Biologicals as a corporate social responsibility. I had the support of two senior management staff, Dr. Vincent Ahonkhai in the USA operations and Dr. François Meurice in GSK Biologicals in Belgium. Equally important was the role of a surgeon in the area, Prof. Ewan Alufohai who was our link person on a day-to-day basis. It was my lot to gain acceptance into a hitherto unknown community to me, obtain community approval, employ staff, arrange logistics and get the programme started.

The programme emphasis was purely service but it became a priority project and research unit. Using skills expected of a public health physician, I was able to get the programme commenced on March 27, 1998 and commissioned by the then Permanent Secretary of Edo State Ministry of Health, Dr. S. Okpaise. The programme is still running actively 14 years after.

To my knowledge, the programme was the first to vaccinate children against DPT and Hepatitis B using a combined DPT/ HB vaccine with an advantage of fewer injections for the children. Since 2009, the programme has commenced administering a combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The programme managers had been committed to surveillance, data collection and conducting epidemiological surveys. The programme had received visits from the National NPI office and submits data monthly to the Local Government.

Vaccination Coverage in Sabongidda-Ora At the programme onset, the full immunization coverage (measles vaccine uptake) was 43% 22 but after two years this was raised to 78%.26 The coverage of Hepatitis B (3rd dose) was 58% from a situation where it was not being administered. After eight years of service, a third survey was conducted and 61% of the children were fully immunized and yellow fever vaccine coverage was 51%.27 The significant determinants of full vaccination (measles vaccine uptake) were knowledge of mothers on immunization and the place (facility) where vaccination was administered. The trend on immunization coverage in Sabongidda-Ora is shown on Figure 9.

Table 7. IgG antibody responses (22F-ELISA) against individual pneumococcal vaccine serotypes and cross-reactive serotypes 6A and 19A (ATP immunogenicity cohort)

NOTE. GMC, geometric mean antibody concentration; prevaccine, before the first vaccine dose; post-dose 3, 1 month after vaccine dose 3; N, number of subjects with available results (this number varies per time point and per serotype depending on the amount of serum available for testing).

We have then conducted a follow up study to administer booster doses of the pneumococcal vaccine in the study group 12 months after the primary study. Previously vaccinated (primed) subjects received one dose while previously unvaccinated (unprimed) subjects received two doses of the vaccine. The results showed immunogenicity in both the primed and unprimed subjects and the adverse events were as observed in the primary study. These are very major contributions in the area of vaccines and immunology.

Nigeria has now licensed both the 10 and 13-valent pneumococcal vaccines.

IV. A Functional Health System for the Public (Restoring the Health of the Public) The six building blocks of the health system have a common goal: that of improving health. Health systems particularly health facilities play a central role at the secondary level of prevention; that of early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Service Quality

74% < 3 years Fig 8. OPV status of WPV cases Jan-Sept 2012 as at Week 38.

In addition we have conducted immunological studies in the community. A study by Odusanya et al showed that vaccinated subjects had a significantly lower rate (P = 0.04) of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg, 1.3%) compared to the unimmunized group (4.6%). 28 Furthermore, we conducted another study to investigate the efficacy of Hepatitis B Vaccine five to seven years after vaccination.

The markers of infection (antibody to the hepatitis B Core antigen [anti-HBC], and HBsAg) were significantly reduced in the vaccinated group (Table 6). The vaccine effectiveness against exposure (anti-HBc) was 84.6% (95% confidence interval 77.8, 89.3%) and against infection (HBsAg) was 84.7% (95% confidence interval 68.2, 92.6%). The results showed persistence of antibodies to the surface antigen (anti-HBS) which indicates adequate protection of the vaccinated subjects.

Table 6. Hepatitis B Vaccine Markers in Study Subjects.

Study group HBV Markers Anti-HBc Vaccinated (n=449) 47 (10.5%) Unvaccinated (n=373) 161 (43.2%)

51% < 3 doses

HBsAg 9 (2.0%) 44 (11.8%)

Anti-HBS e” 10 ELU/ml 275 (61.2%) 68 (18.2%)

Pneumococcal vaccine trials.

Pneumonia is the leading cause of deaths in children worldwide and kills an estimated 1.4 million children under the age of five years annually more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Streptococcus pneumonia is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Key strategies for treating, preventing and protecting from pneumonia include case management at all levels, vaccination and control of indoor pollution.

The quality of service of a health system has a major impact on the health outcome of the population served and is crucial to the achievement of the health related millennium development goals. A well functional health service should have some key characteristics.Good service delivery is a vital element of any health system. Service delivery is a fundamental input to population health status, along with other factors, including social determinants of health. The precise organization and content of health services will differ from one country to another, but in any well-functioning health system, the network of service delivery should have the following key characteristics: • Comprehensiveness: A comprehensive range of health services is provided, appropriate to the needs of the target population, including preventative, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services and health promotion activities.

• Accessibility: Services are directly and permanently accessible with no undue barriers of cost, language, culture, or geography. Health services are close to the people, with a routine point of entry to the service network at primary care level (not at the specialist or hospital level). Services may be provided in the home, the community, the workplace, or health facilities as appropriate.

• Coverage: Service delivery is designed so that all people in a defined target population are covered, i.e. the sick and the healthy, all income groups and all social groups.

• Continuity: Service delivery is organized to provide an individual with continuity of care across the network of services, health conditions, levels of care, and over the life-cycle.

• Quality: Health services are of high quality, i.e. they are effective, safe, centred on the patient’s needs and given in a timely fashion.

• Person-centredness: Services are organized around the person, not the disease or the financing. Users perceive health services to be responsive and acceptable to them. There is participation from the target population in service delivery design and assessment. People are partners in their own health care.

• Coordination: Local area health service networks are actively coordinated, across types of provider, types of care, levels of service delivery, and for both routine and emergency preparedness. The patient’s primary care provider facilitates the route through the needed services, and works in collaboration with other levels and types of provider. Coordination also takes place with other sectors (e.g. social services) and partners (e.g. community organizations).

• Accountability and efficiency: Health services are well managed so as to achieve the core elements described above with a minimum wastage of resources. Managers are allocated the necessary authority to achieve planned objectives and held accountable for overall performance and results. Assessment includes appropriate mechanisms for the participation of the target population and civil society.

• To be continued

37

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Okara, others for The Bridegroom

A mysterious tree of ‘life’

V

ETERAN writers Gabriel Okara, Elechi Amadi, and Prof. Charles Nnolim are expected as special guests at the unveiling of the book, The Bridegroom by Angus Obinna Chukwuka on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The 162-page anthology of poetry uses issues of love, engagement and marital relationship as a pivot to highlight the multifaceted problems of Nigeria. The unveiling is billed for the same day the author would be wedding his heartthrob, Anita Nnnenna Nwaze at Savannah Hotels, Old Aba Road, Rivers State.

The wedding cum unveiling will afford guests the opportunity of networking with the veteran writers. According to the author, "veterans like Gabriel Okara (poet), Elechi Amadi (novelist) and Prof Charles Nnoli (literary critic) have contributed immensely towards the development and pride of African literature.

They are about the finest and oldest minds we are in literature that are still relevant today.

They are men of no mean repute. They are the eagles on the 'Iroko' and deserve all the accolades. That is why they have been invited as guests of honour and would be truly honoured".

The couple would be partnering with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) to achieve this feat, it was learnt. Also, certificates of honour would be given to the veterans by Law Sector Chambers, a literature friendly law firm. Chukwuka is a poet, playwright and novelist. He is also a practicing lawyer based in Port Harcourt, specialising in human rights, oil and gas, property and estates, and maritime and shipping laws and practices. His other works include Letter to Satan (poetry, 1995), The Covenant Child (novella, 1997), To Restore the Dignity of Man: The Challenge of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (text, 1998).

•The moribundwater project •Continued from page 28

provides shelter in all weather conditions. It is a resting place for people till 8 pm, exchanging banters with another. And if you want to hear the latest news or juicy gossip in the community, go there. People from all shades come there to drink and unwind. They discuss all kinds of things at Okwolo which is what we call it.”

The tree, he added, also serves as a coliseum of sorts. “It could be said to be a market of last resort. If your produce or goods for sale have not been bought, especially palm wine, visit the Okwolo and you will go home with empty containers. When I was running for the President-General of the community or the Igweship stool, I always go there to find out my level of acceptance. It is like a coliseum where people go for challenge of supremacy. I don’t go there now because of my status. I am now the father of all, although I sometimes pass by and greet them,” he said.

The tree, Igwe Odegbo said, serves as a local security mechanism. “There is no mystery but it is historic. It has never killed anybody in Nteje, Ezi Ikenga and Ifite. But I must tell you any big decision taken in the communities is done under the tree. It is a sacred ground for Ifite that our forefathers and our people have continued to hold it in the same awe. It is strategic security wise because whoever passes by that arena is known and monitored,” he said.

The Iroko endangered But despite its mythical role, it has become endangered. According to its faithful, expectedly, certain Christian groups have become opposed to its existence. Those groups, they noted, had made several efforts to destroy it but to no avail.

They lamented that over the years, most churches in the town had been trying to convert worshippers of the Iroko to their own faith. It shares fence with a church. “Even the moribund town hall close by once served some churches before they relocated”, they said.

On religious groups’ attempts at felling the Iroko tree, the Igwe said: “Absolutely no religion should attack the tree even though religious people now trespass where they should not. But they cannot just go into any community and cut the trees, not in Nteje. Religion and tradition should exist side by side. I don’t believe trees can be used to impoverish people. It is a play ground for children during the full moon.

There are no taboos associated with the tree.”

The Secretary-General of Nteje Youth Development, Comrade Emmanuel Anaukwu said the tree is, indeed, mysterious, and has mystical powers, according to history.

Anaukwu said: “There was a time some Christian groups suspected to be born-again Christians during one of their crusades attempted cutting the mysterious Iroko tree but they were unsuccessful.”

Diamond Bank seminar

By Akande Kayode

D •Ikenga Nteje

•Igwe Odegbo

Chief Ogugua Ifediora Ezeani of Ikenga Nteje, 100, said the church cannot kill tradition because tradition was there before the church came from wherever. The church and his worshippers were visitors but ‘we were born here and met tradition. The Iroko was here before we were born. Nteje is a man with three sons and the Iroko is significant in the history of Nteje. I cannot explain whether it is a shrine or not but for sure there are mysteries surrounding it.’

There was another Iroko tree at Ikenga, which was cut down because bees from it stung Onunkwo Egbuche to death.

Pa Okafor added: “Church would not cut down this Iroko tree because it is indestructible. Church and tradition should preach and uphold truth and fairness for a better society.”

Ozo Udefi Uba and Ozo Sylvester Nwalutu, seen enjoying fresh air under the tree, shared their ‘iroko’ experience. “We don’t look for canopies and seats when Ogbo trunks are there.

It equally protects us from witchcraft. If rain is falling and you rush under the tree you will not be soaked by rain. Apart from the Ada war we fought with our brothers to establish our rights it was very useful during the Biafran war because we always take cover there. “You

can’t cut it. You can’t even use a machete on its trunks not to talk of cutting down the ‘Orji’ itself. If you cut a stem or trunk of the Ogbo you will be killed instantly by our people because you are an enemy to us as a community. The only thing that can save the person is if it was done mistakenly and the person is ready to do rituals to appease it, then we will not react,” they said.

‘On the issue of the mysterious nature of the tree, please I reserve my comments on that. But I must say it never constituted any nuisance to us. It has been there for years; and I was told they use it for their ancestral meetings. The Constitution provides freedom of religion’

The response Efforts to get the church leaders to speak on the issue before press time were unsuccessful. Many were not ready to speak, perhaps seeing it is as unchristianly. The founding Pastor of Living Faith Church, Amaokpo Orukabi, Pastor Frank Abia, said when he came to the village, he heard stories about the tree but refused to be distracted from his mission to preach the gospel and win souls for Jesus.

He said there were traditions before Christianity which should not be shoved aside by force without true practical exemplary life. He declined comment on the mysterious nature of the tree, saying he prefers to face his duties rather than concern himself with distractions that would cause confusion are against the freedom of worship enshrined in the Constitution.

He said: “On the issue of the mysterious nature of the tree, please I reserve my comments on that. But I must say it never constituted any nuisance to us. It has been there for years; and I was told they use it for their ancestral meetings. The Constitution provides freedom of religion. I don’t believe in forcing people to become one’s convert. I believe the steps to converting souls are not just preaching the truth but by living a life worthy of emulation in practical day-by-day living with others.”

IAMOND Bank Plc has reiterated its resolve to encourage productivity among the youth through sponsorship of capacity building, learning and extra-curricula activities.

Speaking at a youth development seminar, which was part of the 2012 Calabar Festival, Mrs Ayona Trimnell, Head of Corporate Communications, said the bank’s decision to sponsor the programme was informed by the it’s commitment to capacity development, especially amongst young Nigerians.

Mrs Trimnell said: “Diamond Bank will continue to support initiatives that promote productivity among the youths in Nigeria through educational and extra-curricular activities.

Our underlying objective is the need to engage youths positively to reduce delinquency and involvement in societal ills. This has seen us make huge investments in youth empowerment programmes.”

The programme was designed for youth between the ages of 16 and 25 years and with the aim of increasing their capacity towards personal and career development. The event closed with a graduation ceremony at Old Residency MUSON, Calabar.

About 100 youths participated in the programme and were awarded certificates of participation.

Diamond Bank’s sponsorship of the programme comes to join a number of similar sponsorships aimed at helping Nigerian youths develop adequate capacity for leading successful lives. These include the donation of brand new Toyota Coaster buses to various universities nationwide, the sponsorship of the Vision of The Child Painting Competition of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival, the donation of the Eduportal educational platform to Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna amongst others.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

38

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Obi’s wife’s gives prison inmates varsity scholarships Obi’swife’s •Babies of the year get gifts

A

T the beginning of every year, she visits the prisons. The visit is to give the inmates a sense of belonging. This year, which is nine days old, was no different. When Margaret Peter-Obi, wife of the governor of Anambra State, visited prison inmates last week, their joy knew no bound.

They got more than what they expected from her.

Okoye Chukwunonso Christopher, Chikezie Anene and Chinwuba Anachunam David who had just gained admission into the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) got promises of scholarship from the governor’s wife.

Mrs Obi usually visits the prison along with two others. She embarks on the visit in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development led by its Commissioner, Lady Henrietta Azuka Agbata. The visit is coordinated by the Director, Social Welfare in the Ministry, Mrs Rose Udeagbara.

The inmates also got over 18 bags of rice, 14 bags of beans, 22 bags of garri, sanitary items, beverages, tubers of yam, cartons of soap, detergents, disinfectant, over 300 pieces of towels, food spices, a set of computer, among others.

Others were mattresses, blankets, water pumps, sewing machines, car tryes, diesel, cobweb brooms and N100,000 each. These items were presented to the prison inmates at Onitsha, Awka and Aguata in the spirit of Christmas.

And through that visit, Obi’s wife has equipped their skill acquisition centres at Onitsha, Awka and Ekwulobia prisons, where many inmates have been empowered in crafts and computer knowledge as well as other skills. She urged them not to neglect skill acquisition.

The inmates, who surprisingly were more articulate than some of their guards reeled out their needs that moved the governor’s wife. She assured them that a leeway would come and, indeed, they believed her because earlier promises were fulfilled.

The governor’s wife extolled the comportment of the prison inmates during the interactive session and thanked the prison staff for shepherding the flock entrusted in their hands.

Mrs Obi assured the inmates that prison is not a place to suffer, but a corrective and formative place, a punitive institution. She advised them not to stay like people who don’t have hope, but to think of what brought them to the prison and how to avoid such act when released.

She said: “So many people have acquired some skills from the prison, some attended schools from prison. So, we praise you for writing your exam here and securing admission in NOUN. We shall support three of you that gained admission. We are already talking with the judiciary to fast track the cases of those who are still awaiting trial. We thank the governor, for his all inclusive government hence it is possible to remember you people here as our brothers and sisters always in all aspects to ensure you are a bit comfortable here. I assure you that the issues you raised would be properly studied and looked into for solution.”

Lady Agbata enjoined them not to go back street life, but to always do whatever that will promote peace in the society.

She said: “Your stay here pains us as mothers. Please try and avoid the act that led you here when you are out. God knows why you are here and our prayer is that you are freed”.

Deputy Controller of Prisons Chigbata Anthony Uchenna and Mr Ndupu Azuka, praised the governor, his wife and her team for their gesture for remembering those behind bars.

•Mrs Obi handing over a cheque to Mr Chigbata From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

PHILANTHROPY Mr Chigbata revealed that Awka Prisons inmates are 440, but only 22 are convicted while others are awaiting trial.

He said: “They used to pay this kind of visit twice yearly; and each time they come, so many good things come with them. In 2010; the governor donated Hilux vehicles for the prison, which help us attend to court cases. When our wall collapsed in June this year, the governor came to our rescue by rebuilding it. We thank him and his wife for her support to the prison, but like Oliver Twist, we need some more. Our cell is a close system and they need to bath regularly and a generator plant of about 10-13 KVA that can power the sumo.”

Mrs Obi also donated items and cash worth several millions of naira to the families of the first babies of the year in three senatorial zones of the state.

Mrs Obi gave the families a cash gift of N100,000, N70,000 and N50,000 and other donations including milk, powder , beverages, pampers, sanitary towels, among others respectively to parents of the first, second and third babies of the year in the state.

Other babies delivered on the new year day were also appreciated with the sum of N20,000 each among other items among other items donated to them including milk, powder, lotion, beverages, pampers, sanitary towels to mention but a few.

The first baby of the year in Anambra state, baby Ani , a bouncing baby boy was delivered by Mrs Amaka Ani from Ihiala at University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra South senatorial zone by 12:12am and weighed 4:6kg.

The second baby was delivered by Mrs. Emmanuel Nnagboo at Primary Health Centre Nteje by 12:15am and weighed

•Some of the donated items

2.5k.g while the third baby, baby Ejiofor, was delivered at exactly 2:30am at Amaku General Hospital, Awka and weighed 3.kg. Out of the six babies delivered on New Year day, five were males.

While congratulating the mothers of the new born babies for safe delivery, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Obi accompanied by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Agbata explained that the visit was aimed at rejoicing with the new born

So many people have acquired some skills from the prison, some attended schools from prison.

So we praise you for writing your exam here and securing admission in NOUN. We shall support three of you that gained admission. We are already talking with the judiciary to fast track the cases of those who are still awaiting trial’

babies in Anambra State as they are the greatest gift of the year to the state and mankind.

She, therefore, prayed fervently for the new born babies for God's protection and care.

She said: "First babies of the year is a traditional thing not only in Anambra State but all over the nation and we do this to support the citizens. Our prayer is that the good Lord protects the children so that they will be successful in life and bring blessings and succour to their parents, the state and the entire nation and beyond".

Mrs Obi urged mothers to exclusively breast feed their babies. "It has a lot of advantages to the baby and to the mothers as it is the best way to immunise the children" she said.

The parents of the babies praised the governor and his wife for their kind gesture.

Mother of the first baby of the year, Mrs Amaka Ani praised God for a safe delivery, saying she would ensure her child is given exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months.

39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

A call for religious harmony

I

F I claim to have known the author Emmanuel Joshua, prior to this review or even more than what was stated about him in page 171 of the book under review, I would be betraying my conscience; but just like the Bible eloquently and logical puts it: “By their fruits we shall know them…”

I came to know Emma by his fruit (i.e. the content of book under review), for if one can express his/her view in words or writing, then one cannot hide his/her identity or nature.

I am convinced, Emmanuel is a personality that has formed his attitude and refined it through a thorough, long and exhaustive or careful observations of nature and voracious reading, and as such tries to live up to his name Emmanuel (i.e God’s will being with us); by trying to pull humanity away from the brim of destruction to that of salvation.

It is the reality of the time that our world is now like a global village and so is living and existence moving along that line; i.e fashioning out a life of multi-communal, multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural co-existence. Though there are differences as regard the definition of religion between various religions, which arises from their perception about God and divinity, this bring about differences in worship forms and rituals; not withstanding we find similarities and commonness in the social items of these religions; i.e in their “classification of what is right and what is wrong or what is good and what is bad”. Every religion teaches its adherents to be good and to do good deeds. This shows unanimity in issues of doing well to humanity though there might be some variations in some details; summarily, we all concur in social relationship even if we differ in faith and their practices.

I have seen the writer as a person in search of truth, which is one of the beautiful names of the divine. Emma had saddled himself with the sole duty of “Communicating the truth” the truth he is advocating for is to help people of conscience reconstruct their understanding of religions and there purposes, which are very much misunderstood.

As a philosopher said: “Every generation should identify its mission and live up to it or betray it” Well! Emma had indeed identified the mission of his generation, his existence and he tries to live up to it. It is therefore not a surprise that he is a member of a disciplined profession, coupled with his training and life experiences. I am proud of people of his quality. It is observed that in the whole

BOOK REVIEW Title:

In Search Of Religious Harmony

Author:

Emmanuel Joshua

Reviewer:

Engr. Ya’quob Saleh Isah Al-Jasawi AlMaliki

Pages:

171

world, it is only humankind that hunts its kind (animals and other species do not ) and again only human kind can betray his or her true feelings, where what he does or says is different from what he meant.

Emma had indeed assiduously tries to bring humanity to the true meaning or essence of existence. By the content he is admonishing us to reason together as directed by the Lord in Isaiah 1:18; as God is not the author of confusion (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

The work is what a philosopher may call “a model of fruitful argumentative cooperation” based on “logical positivism”.

With effort of people like Emma, Surely we see a harbinger of better tomorrow that we see today, working towards avoiding ready-made interpretations of their people’s opinions in the name of religious rulings.

He used his talent to enlighten humanity in accordance with Creator’s intension. He preached better understanding between humans. May Allah in his infinite mercy continue to guide him aright and add to his strength for the benefit of humanity, amen.

As can be seen from the lines above, it is indeed a fact that the monstrosities and chaos the religious communities or its memberships (who supposed to be the mirror reflections of the true essence of their religions) have created for the societies have indeed made our positive achievements as humans in other areas of live very pale and insignificant, it is like we are leaving behind to humans a legacy of miseries and pains injustices upon injustices are always mate to God’s creatures, which lead to retaliation upon retaliations due to impatience and as such precipitating reaction and counter- reactions. “The young and in most time the innocents, continue to pay for the culture of hatred enshrined by the corrupt elderly members of the societies, which leads to self-destruction”. By the attitude of the unfocussed elderly who claimed to be religious or perpetrating evils in the name of God or with God’s endorsement (per se) they are proving that “heavenly religions are

most poorly introduced, as such misunderstood even by their adherents”. Many people create troubles among neighbors for purposes they know better. Such socially infected people do what they do because they are mentally sick, but I seem to understand the book content the heartfelt wish of the writer is to enlighten the majority of neighbors to learn to keep low or die down the culture of hatred of one another and unnecessary anger, for bloodshed to stop, for peace and trust to permeate all warring communities.

Today human beings by their attitudes are more brutal and cruel than hyenas, where the powerful will crush the weak with no fear of reprimand from any quarter. Cruelty and brutality receive approval by those at the top and bloodthirsty people are exalted and the act is seen and considered as a virtue. It is indeed a period in which true faith is in trial. This made it pertinent and a responsibility to people of conscience and those people that truly practice and abide by their religious teachings to do something about the situation; at least good deeds are never ever redundant.

In this regard, the book is an effort to inspire the society particularly the younger generation to harmonise intellectual enlightenment with humane activism thus, sowing the seeds of future happiness in the country.

I had gone through the book (In Search Of Religious Harmony) carefully with wrap attention. It is a 5.75" X 8.0" size, one hundred and seventy (170) pages of averaged, thirty (30) lines per page; easy to read or plain English, captivating and comparative analysis

in publication.

In summary, I have found the book, In Search Of Religious Harmony to be a persuasive dialogue to people of conscience and also challenging to all those that deserve to be called humans, particularly the Christians and Muslims who seem to be dominant in numerical strength in our society, encouraging them to practically show more voluntary adjustment to goods in their actions in the area of love and peace which will enhance the wellbeing of the entire mankind, and this is the will of Allah or God (as people may call him based on their inclination), the creator of the universe.

It is acknowledged by many for experience, that our misdeeds in such things as unjust quarrels over our beliefs and certainties have caused much misunderstanding while religions; particularly Islam do not sanction wars or know any “Holy Wars” but only “Just Wars” ”unjust wars”. This misunderstanding of religions by even their adherents is coupled with the other disorders we put in place through our actions such as hatred, envy, oppressions, unguided sentiments, bigotry, conflicts, killing and other insular arrogances. Like the author highlighted, these bring upon the earth “…unhappiness against the will of the Creator, which made the world (today) worse than the period that necessitated revealing these heavenly guided books”.

Experience has shown that most of our sufferings are mostly the outward manifestations of our handiwork.

If religions propagate sets of values such as love, kindness, virtue and peace etc., towards meeting the standard the Creator wants to see in humanity and not only holding these values and beliefs as name tags or badges, then our actions showed that we are almost far away from those values we suppose to practice. True believers are exceptional and display elements of elegance and profundity in character. Their stand in the society is based on the consciousness of their stand before God, so they stand with politeness and kindness. Even in time of oppression they act in lawful self-defense.

Like the book highlighted that our actions or inactions are the result of our minds, which is like a factory that produce both positive and beneficial products that attracts Allah’s favor it is opposite that are negative, which attract his wrath.

In a nutshell the book is a call or revival of new order that reflects on concern for harmony and peaceful co-existence. Books like this try to introduce true religious essence on the intellectual (not confrontational) fronts, showing amicable relationship between religions and humanity.

Kelani shoots Dazzling Mirage, Ma’ami CINEMA

A

WARD-WINNING filmmaker Tunde Kelani has changed gear this year. He’s shooting a new feature, Dazzling Mirage just as he’s back to location to film some missing parts of Ma’ami, starring Funke

Akindele.

Ma’ami, which has done cinema and festival circuits in Nigeria and Brazil’s BENVIDO A Nollywood: Welcome to Nollywood in Brazil, British Film Institute’s Film Africa, the Edinburg Film Festival, Scotland, the African Film Festival, Glasgow and New York African Film Festival 2012, has enjoyed rave reviews. The decision to shoot the missing scenes, according to TK is not unconnected with the fact that the film has not been released, he’s poised to make it a better picture with those scenes that are yet to be shot. Undaunted by the ravaging piracy and lack of fund vis-a vis infrastructures that have stalled Nollywood, the 2012 ZUMA Films Best Director, said he’s committed more than ever to take a plunge. ‘’ 2013 it’s a sink or swim year for the movie industry in Nigeria. No doubt, the industry has been ravaged by continuous piracy and very slow development of infrastructures which continue to pose great challenges for Nigerian filmmakers but we are determined not to stop and in spite of all these adversities, the show must go on.’’

His next effort, Dazzling Mirage is a continuation of his literature to screen approach to filmmaking. Dazzling Mirage written by Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare, according to Kelani who has just returned from the Dubai International Film Festival as a member of the Jury, said it’s a story that

will touch the nerve of a nation and our approach to sufferers of sickle cell anaemia and the myths. ‘’ Even then it is an interesting love story, because all of us are connected directly or indirectly to the sufferers of this ailment. I’m intrigued by the writer’s approach to weave a love story with it and that to me, it is an attraction. I have also had personal relationship with sufferers of this ailment and I consider it my responsibility to bring their story to fore.’’

Egbokhare’s Dazzling Mirage, published by Loud Books, is a narrative about the adoptive daughter of the Adebayos. It is a story of her travails and triumphs against the odds of physical pains and psychological traumas which she experienced in her journey towards self-fulfilment. Dazzling Mirage is about different kinds of love, marked by acts of betrayal and loyalty, the life of a typical sickle cell disease sufferer who by reason of her peculiar genotype is sentenced to bouts of crises which makes life very unpredictable. Egbokhare holds a Ph.D in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan, where she teaches writing skills.

The story is being adapted for screen by UK-based Ade Solanke, nominee, Best New Play 2012, Pandora’s Box, off West End Theatre Awards; winner, Best Playwright 2012, Nigerian Entertainment and Lifestyle Awards; winner, Best Playwright 2011, African Film Awards.

Typical of Kelani, the production of Dazzling Mirage will be a capacity building

•Kelani

project that will involve aspiring filmmakers and to this effect, a new set of equipment have been ordered to achieve hands-on experience.

40

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

THE MEETING OF TWO ANCIENT CULTURES Mural of the OriOlokun of Ife and Queen Idia Head of Benin at GreenHouse Art Centre, Ogun State, by its founder, Princess Iyase-Odozi, depicting the relationship between the Yoruba and Edo cultures.

Remembering Tunji Oseni at 70 From Lanre Idowu

TRIBUTE

•Oseni

L

AST, Saturday, Tunji Oseni would have been 70. Being in the celestial realm, he is not around to celebrate the event with family, friends and associates. As we join his family to offer prayers for the continued repose of his soul, let us spare a thought for some of those qualities that stood Oseni out as a distinguished journalist and quintessential gentleman. By so doing, we will be sustaining a conversation between the past with the present to guide the future.

Tunji Oseni was an educated mind who symbolised the best in us. Educated at Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, he showed early interest in journalism by writing for his school magazine, “The Trumpeter”. He later studied Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, transferring to University of Lagos when the civil war made Nsukka too hot for academic life. He earned a postgraduate diploma in International Relations at the University of Ife and a Master’s in Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota.

Armed with these credentials he gave a cumulative service of 36 years to the media, working in print (Daily Sketch, Sunday Times, The Comet and Anchor), news agency (OPECNA) and broadcasting (Voice of Nigeria) as a reporter, writer, columnist, editor, editor-in-chief, ad-

ministrator (Daily Times) and trainer (Tosen Associates). His last job was as a reputation manager (Senior Special Assistant, Media) to President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In all these roles, he came across as committed and principled. There was no denying that in his heart, he breathed journalism, lived journalism and died with the best interests of the profession in his heart. This commitment is best remembered through his work, “Media All the Way”, which he was working on when his earthly journey ended on November 29, 2004. In fulfillment of his wish, that 577 page book, a great testament to his professional versatility, was posthumously presented on January 5, 2005, his 62nd birthday, by Diamond Publications. His other published works included his 1998 work, “The Media, Transition and Nigeria” being proceedings of a seminar of the same title organised by him and Hosting 140th Anniversary of the Nigerian Press (2000), which he co-edited with Lanre Idowu. He was one of the earliest people to promote media criticism as a genre of Nigerian journalism through the creation of “Caught Out: A critical look at the Nigerian Press”, a well followed column in the Sunday Times written by Lade Bonuola when Oseni edited the paper in the 70s.

Oseni has been celebrated as one of Africa’s renowned public intellectuals. An intellectual is someone who brings rigour to thought, who is fastidious about facts, and whose analysis is grounded in facts. The challenge of that is to ensure that knowledge underpins everything journalists put out as communicators. As his own story shows, he believed in formal education but also supported continuous self-improvement through reading and research to play the role of a public watchdog creditably.

A believer in the Press as a strong pillar of democracy and development, he argued that a vigilant press should uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people. He rightly understood that for journalism to attract and retain bright and young entrants it must foster a sense of future hope among them and develop a sense of selfreliance among veterans. He frowned at any attempt to glorify the unethical or demean the standing of journalists.

He didn’t just talk about it. He worked to remove temptations that propelled it by initiating a scheme which later became known as the Nigerian Media Foundation Endowment Fund. His idea in 1991 was to “start a scheme under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Journalists into which all practising journalists will contribute an agreed sum….Journalists will have to demonstrate by their own total involvement, and contribution that they want the scheme to succeed.”

The Fund was launched on October 13, 1992.

N33 million was collected at the launch. To date, there is no satisfactory explanation of how the money realised was utilised despite Mr. Oseni’s regular exhortations to the Sani Zorro administration to do so. Succeeding NUJ administrations have not shown enough sincerity to educate members and indeed the public on why journalists should be trusted in future with similar schemes. The real need for having the Fund remains sadly unmet. That is a tragic disservice to the memory of Oseni who dreamt the need for it. It is important to come to terms with the past so that we can forge ahead with the future with journalists’ interests being uppermost in our hearts.

Oseni’s decency and modesty are loud reminders that journalists are no more than mediators of reality for the public. Journalists are not newsmakers; just interpreters of the world around us. Their strength then should be in the respect their work commands; in expanding frontiers of understanding, in having a healthy regard for the other person’s point of view. Not in unnecessary self importance.

A life of commitment, decency and principles is one that stands out the giant from the Lilliputian. Oseni struck the press as a giant because he approximated the best in us. He said the right things on our behalf.

In asking us to carry ourselves with dignity he knew that impressions open the lock into the mind. A shabbily dressed and hungry looking journalist conveys the impression of a untidy mind, who cannot be trusted with information and who would put stomach considerations above everything else. In being decent, we pay tribute to our persons as to the other person.

In his last newspaper article, “Let’s set Nigeria a-GOG”, published October 1, 2004, Oseni

captured the attributes of a gentleman: decency, integrity, selflessness, non-violence, strength of character, respect for principle, fairmindedness, dependence on hard work, keeping to one’s words and quiet disposition as opposed to unrestrained noise making. He called for the emergence of more of such tribesmen. ”Oftentimes, the gentleman is mistakenly perceived in Nigeria as a weak person given to not forcing his way through in a situation in which only force yields results. To believe in the non persuasive approach is itself a weakness, especially in the democratic era which we have been operating. It is no weakness to be respectful of the other human being who has as much stake in the country as the leader and who put the democratically elected leader in place in the first instance.”

Adding: “I am so convinced that in every state of Nigeria, we have gentlemen of merit. They may have been pushed aside by what the ongoing “carry-go” requires that they have adopted a wait-and-see attitude. But now we have seen enough of the damage done by the non-gentlemen that we have to whittle their number or cause such improvements on them that they retrace their steps.”

Tragically, ungentlemanly conduct still reigns in the land. The garrulous strut as if they own the land; the meek and humble are trampled upon in clear disregard for what the holy books say. In still thinking about Nigeria on his sick bed, barely two months to his transition, Oseni demonstrated his concern for the future, his abiding interest in public affairs—where it was and where it ought to be.

Without principles, without decency and without people of honour and valour to promote them, society will hardly renew itself. Oseni demonstrated that he was a man who lived to assure a better tomorrow.

Until we learn to respect due process, and accord primacy of place to the time-tested values of decency, diligence, honour and integrity, progress will elude the land. In a land with few authentic heroes, the nation needs to celebrate the exploits of our good ambassadors such as Tunji Oseni. May his soul continue to rest in peace!

•Idowu is CEO/Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Publications Ltd. Portions of this article were previously published in a tribute to Oseni in January 2005. This was to be run last Saturday but for technical reasons.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

41

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Looking Through A Child’s Eyes When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can’t carry a tune and don’t have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.

My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words.

If they don’t know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that. My kids say, “Hi God!!! Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy.”

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and clothes, and dirty carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach, or to learn

QUICK CROSSWORD

sHoWbliTz Smith, Jay-Z Back Obama’s gay stance

On May 9, President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to announce support for same-sex marriage. Now two of the country’s celebrity Black stars actor Will Smith and rapper/businessman Jay-Z, are backing President Obama on his controversial stance on gay marriage. While promoting his upcoming blockbuster film “Men in Black III” in Berlin, Smith told the Associated Press that Obama’s support of gay marriage is a “brave” move particularly in an election year.Meanwhile, Jay-Z, whose actual name is Shawn Carter, also made his pro-gay stance public, backing our president in his support of legalizing same-sex marriages.

In Philadelphia, when announcing a two-day music festival in early September, Jay-Z sat with CNN’s Poppy Harlow to discuss some issues and one of them was Obama’s startling comment about his support of gay marriage. JayZ, who has rallied round Obama since his 2008 campaign days, told news reporters “I’ve always thought of it as something that was still, um, holding the country back,” In the not-too-distant-past, Smith was at the center of a gay controversy himself. There were reports that he was involved with actor and running buddy Duane Martin.

Star Magazine reported that Smith and Martin had maintained a gay relationship for years. It was implied that their union was responsible for the downfall of Smith’s marriage to Jada. The rumors of Smith’s possible sexual preference began to pick up steam after he completed the 1993 film “Six Degrees of Separation,” where he portrayed a gay college student

POETRY Mind Behind Bars As the days progress From the rising of the sun My heart won’t cease its twists Of anguish.

This cold hospitality under locks Is poison for any mind.

Yet I see faults erased On the crunch guilt’s kolanuts.

I admit, I’m lost.

The rain has departed Now the sun wears his shoes, I rust on this spot still.

There have been no wages Of all my days in this cage.

The tears keep streaming, Fuelling the heart’s drive And now a stench I wear.

My flesh swells in fear And strange sickness.

Please ring the bell of justice, I tell the angels Hovering this rusty cell.

- Habib Akewusola

Good Friend So many names to call a friend, The list is far from short, Like buddy, pal and good old chum, And some might say cohort.

Partner sounds too western, Confidante just doesn’t fit, We could try to use acquaintance, (I don’t like that name one bit).

We’ve tried out quite a lot here, But they all feel like dead ends, So I’ll just stick with what has worked, And call you my good friend.

- Jennifer Wilson

ACROSS

DOWN

1.Complete (5) 2. Massive(5) 6. Have courage to (4) 7. One who trades (6) 10. Bow (3) 11. Uncooked (3) 13. Specialist (5) 14. Perch (3) 15. Quarrel (5) 17. Liabilities (6) 20. Lobby (5) 21. Epoch (3) 22. Pitcher (4) 23. Expands (5)

1. Mammary Glands (5) 2. Pull Forcibly (5) 3. Mix (5) 5. Thread (6) 8. Recess (4) 9. Bemoan (4) 12. Afloat (5) 14. Influence (4) 16. Stay Upright (5) 17. Sketch (4) 18. Wager (3) 19. Anger (3)

WORDWHEEL

Form as many words as you can with the letters in the wheel.

Every word must make use of the letter at the center, i.e. the letter T. A 9-letter word with the meaning “ UNPLEASANTLY NOTICEABLE” is hidden in the grid. This is the star word. 2letter words and proper nouns are not allowed. Words up to forty score excellent.

JUMBLEWORD Unscramble the word jumbled in the grid below and place the deciphered word in the blank grid.

Humour A Nigerian Naval officer was addressing the rank and file of the force and told them of new uniforms, boots, increased remuneration the force has approved for them. As he mentioned the approved items, the crowd kept shouting “hurray!”such that the officer could not hear even his own voice again. He got angry, brought out his gun and fired in the air. Everyone became quiet and the officer, quite enraged warned “ if you hurray againnnnnnnna, you shall hurray yourself”.

Got wind of a criminal act, plan?

Alert your friend,The Police.

To conquer oneself is the best and noblest victory; to be vanquished by one’s own Pep Talk nature is the worst and most ignoble defeat. - Plato

42

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

43

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

JOB VACANCIES One of the leading Trade Union organizations in the public sector of the Nigerian economy has need to increase its staff strength in order to meet its expansion and strategic repositioning.

The Union therefore requires qualified candidates to join its fold. Interested candidates must have progressive social vision, a flair for writing, and ability to work with little supervision. They should also be prepared to work in any part of the federation.

QUALIFICATION BSc (Honours) with minimum of Second Class Lower in Humanities and Social Sciences. MSc and other relevant professional certificates are an added advantage.

AGE LIMIT Those above 35 years of age need not apply.

Transmission of Application Qualified candidates are to apply online via e-mail to: info@bureaucrathouse.com Application closes on Friday 25th January, 2013

44

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

45

Health relief for 1000 women •Continued from Page 17 hand, some had been abused, and others were picked from the road.

“We spoke into their lives and their future. We prayed with them and led them to Christ and of course, we also had lots of gifts for them. It was a wonderful time. We left there crying because what I saw in them was bundles of talents and destinies being wasted as it were.

But I trust God that the seed we have sown in their lives will yield a bountiful harvest. It was such a touching moment.

We have also decided to partner with the home so we can give continued friendship and support”, she said.

One major outreach of the faith based NGO is the Hadassah conference which over the years had impacted many lives positively.

The HADASSAH Conference 2012 was not left out.

The theme for this year’s conference, I Will Arise, held at Balmoral Hall, Oregun in Ikeja was filled to capacity as people trickled into the meeting from the morning of September 15 till the evening receiving the blessings of God as there were music ministrations, prayers and admonition being offered by different ministers.

Among the beneficiaries of the past Hadassah yearly conferences who came to testify was Mr Daniel Emilelobo who according to him suffered from low sperm count.

He said, ‘As a married man, I attended Hadassah 2010 having suffered from infertility. I had consulted different medical doctors but was told that I had a low sperm count which varied from 0% to 27%.

It was a difficult time for my wife and me. We took series of drugs but no avail. My wife encouraged

T

HE Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka has said that the Ibikunle Amosun administration will not rest on its oars in its efforts to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the state.

Dr. Soyinka stated this at the Ita Osin Motorpark in Abeokuta at a programme organised by the

•Members of the group and some of the items donated me to stop taking the drugs and focus solely on God since there was no improvement.

Prayers were made and shortly after my sperm count which hovered between 0 and 27 % increased to 80%. In the same month, my wife became pregnant during that period and she gave birth to Esther

Oluwafarati Emilelobo”, displaying the baby girl.

The conference in its seventh year was fulfilling as a lot of people were blessed and testified of God’s miraculous intervention in their lives.

Pastor Nike Lamai, who is grateful to God for his provision and

wonders said: “It all started in 2005 with our annual conference and since then, we have been holding conferences every year.

The theme for this year is: I will arise. Between January and now, we have seen tremendous difference in the lives of our women.

I think it was last year God spoke

to me and said we should take Hadassah outreach to the hinterland, the highways and the byways, beyond the familiar terrain.

God said he has called me to the rejects of the society, the downtrodden; women that people will not want to associate with”, She said with a smile on her face.

‘Ogun committed to HIV/AIDS campaign’ Ministry of Health as part of measures to sensitise and increase awareness on the virus.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe, the commissioner

noted that the state government was determined to reduce the HIV/ AIDS prevalence from 3.1 to 0%, explaining that the government has provided necessary facilities as well as free treatment and diagno-

•From left: Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Health giving out condoms to people during a sensitisation programme on HIV

sis for the benefit of the people living with the virus.

Speaking on the partnership between the state and the private sector on HIV and AIDS prevention, Dr. Soyinka revealed that government had been providing enabling environment for them to work effectively, just as it had been providing counterpart funds to execute HIV and AIDS prevention programmes in the state.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Tunde Olowonyo, explained that aside from the sensitisation programmes being embarked upon by the ministry, government had also undertaken various steps to fight the scourge.

He said these included reduction of the infection from mother-tochild so that pregnant women can bear HIV-free children, provision of additional supplement to improve immunity as well as access

to treatment and diagnosis.

Dr. Olowonyo also advised members of the public not to stigmatise or discriminate against people living with HIV and AIDS, pointing out that being positive to the virus does not indicate that they cannot perform functions like other normal human beings.

In an interview, the Director, State HIV and AIDS/STI Control Programme, (SASCP), Dr. Ranti Oladehinde disclosed that the aim of the programme was to sensitise and create awareness on the disease, its mode of transmission, and prevention, adding that centres had been provided in all the 20 local government areas for the people to access free HIV and AIDS counselling, testing, and treatment.

Highlight of the event included lecture and enlightenment programme on HIV and AIDS as well as demonstration on the use of both male and female condoms for prevention.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

46

NGO lifts widows at anniversary

A

non-governmental organisation (NGO), Green and White Initiative has donated materials to show love to the widows and indigent students.

The materials, donated during the Yuletide, included food items, garments and household utensils.

The gesture was to mark the NGO’s first year anniversary.

The ceremony held at Anthony Village campus of Lagos State University (LASU).

The NGO, which adopted green and white colours, was founded in 2011 to cater for the basic needs of indigent widows and deprived youths who cannot afford basic education. When it took off, scores of widows received ready-made clothing materials and food items.

Speaking at the programme with the theme A society without you, the coordinator of the organisation, Ms Chinwe Osuagwu, noted that the initiative came into existence out of necessity, adding that the NGO brought message of hope to the less privileged in the society.

Osuagwu, who is a 400-Level student of History and International Relations in LASU, said she could not withstand situation when there is no basic need to keep life going, saying her personal experience led to the establishment of the NGO. “It moves me when people are hungry because I have also experienced poverty at its crudest form.

There were times I could not afford to buy recharge cards and other basic things I needed as a person.

Anybody who has passed through this condition will know how it feels to be on the poverty line. I believe this condition can be changed in the

•Osuagwu cutting the anniversary cake with the widows

By Wale Ajetunmobi

lives of so many people if these essential materials are made available to the needy,” Osuagwu said.

She advised youths to have a clear purpose, saying if one has a determined will, he could become a good story out of the slum. She eulogised the late Mrs Ngozi Agbo, her childhood friend and former The Nation’s Campus Life coordinator, who she said was the force behind the founding of the NGO. Speaking on theme of the programme, Dr Blessing Ayinkwa of Faculty of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG) noted that if society must be better, its youth popu-

lation must be engaged positively and productively.

The don emphasised on mass education for illiterate parents as panacea for societal failure, saying adults must be educated to lecture the youth coming after their generation.

“Today, television is full of entertainment and it is the youths making it happening. Parents no longer tell their wards to read again; they rather encourage their children to be Miss World. But when the child becomes Miss Universe without knowledge, she will come back to the society to make it worse,” Dr Ayinkwa argued, urging youths to be advocates of

It moves me when people are hungry because I have also experienced poverty at its crudest form. There were times I could not afford to buy recharge cards and other basic things I needed as a person change and role models.

Earlier, Reverend Geoffrey Ibezie, Osuagwu’s pastor, urged people to support the initiative to change the condition of the needy in the society.

After the lecture, the widows present at the event joined members of the organisation to cut the cake of the anniversary. Afterwards, garment materials and food items were donated to the women.

‘Nigerians need attitudinal change’

N

•Pastor Awom

IGERIANS have been advised to develop a positive attitude that will help propel them forward in the face of daunting challenges.

Founder of the Motar Prophetic Ministry of Gethsemane Church Pastor Ndubuisi Awom gave the advice while preaching on the theme “Break the Limits” in Ikotun, Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Area, Lagos State.

He said the country has not been able to realise its potential due to certain limitations, most of which, he said, are man-made.

The cleric added that Nigeria and Nigerians have gone through some excruciating experiences despite

By Chinaka Okoro

God’s abundant love for the country.

“We have gone through a lot of pains and troubles. We have been suffering and smiling in a country God has blessed so much with both natural and human resources,” he said.

Continuing, he said Nigerians are experiencing these ugly situations owing to what he referred to as the handiwork of our enemies which is sin. He stated that Nigeria’s multifarious problems needed spiritual approach.

He identified high level corrup-

tion as one of the greatest impediments to growth and development, noting that “Nigerians have to break this particular limitation for the country to move forward. One of the ways to break this phenomenon is through shunning circumstances that make them do things that are unethical and anti-social.

He condemned those who vilified President Goodluck Jonathan when he observed that Nigeria’s problem is not corruption but wrong attitude towards issues. He reasoned that “if Nigerians refuse to live a crummy lifestyle there would be no incidence of corruption because, he said, corrupt tendencies breed from dishonesty, lies, fraudulence, and tackiness. Therefore, Mr President’s view is flawless,” he said.

He said that for Nigeria to be free from the present crossroads in which she found herself, “we need freedom from the grip of corruption, freedom from the power of poverty, freedom from the power of hatred and injustice, freedom from the power of bloodshed, freedom from the power of armed robbery and kidnapping and freedom from the power of ethnicity.”

He urged Nigerians to be positive in their thinking about the country and exhibit unconditional love and commitment so as to improve the economic fortunes of Nigeria. This he described as a call for righteousness to reign over evil, and a call for Nigerians to come together in unity and pray for the country.

We need freedom from the grip of corruption, freedom from the power of poverty, freedom from the power of hatred and injustice, freedom from the power of bloodshed, freedom from the power of armed robbery and kidnapping and freedom from the power of ethnicity

•Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan (second right); cutting the tape to flag off Operation Grade and Roll 20 Roads in the council. With him are Chairman, Ejigbo Road Trust Fund Board, Dotun Oriowo (third right); Council Secretary, Remi Gbadegeshin (left); Council Special Adviser on Health Services, Mrs Oluwayemisi Alashe (second left) and other members of the Road Trust Fund and council officials

48

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

Some people have been indoctrinated to the extent of killing themselves alongside others.

Those who indoctrinated them are not being fair to themselves, the victim and the larger society

Rotary seeks peaceful co-existence

T

HE answer to Nigeria’s security challenges lies in peaceful co-existence.

That was the message of the Rotary Club of Agege (District 9110,) as it contemplated the country security worries.

Sobriety and displeasure were written all over the club’s President, Rotarian Linus Adaba’s face as he revealed his club’s concerns over the development. That was why the association mounted its current caompaign, ‘Peace through Service.’

Former President, Rotary Club of Egbeda, Rotarian Tijani Shuaibu who was at the GRA, Ikeja where Adaba had an encounter with Newsextra, also seethed with agony while sharing Adaba’s worries over the rate of mindless killings and other crimes in the land.

“We can’t but urgently re-orientate Nigerians now on the need for peaceful co-existence,” Shuaibu cut in.

With them in the peace-seeking tête-à-tête included a Hausa man and an Igbo man who hanged on Adaba’s lips as he “ministered” to them passionately on the crying need for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

A leading figure in the nation’s financial sector, Adaba who is now a decade old in the charity organisation, disclosed that in 2002, his Rotarian friend, Friday Adebudo, encouraged him to join the Rotary.

It was when the latter just returned from an international convention in Barcelona.

A smile was nowhere on his mien while the encounter lasted.

In fact, he revealed to Newsextra that he had had countless occasions to shed tears while brooding on the exacerbating plight of the deprived lot in the country.

The Kogi State-born economics expert, firmly believes that whether you belong to Rotary, any other charity body or not, if one has the wherewithal, one must have the

By Dada Aladelokun

heart for the less-privileged around him. “The entire life is about human inter-dependence. As a child, you are dependent on your parents; when you are grown up, some will depend on you for some succour and when you grow old, you need some people to depend on; that is how life is. As a student of economics, the free market enterprise cannot make everyone equal in terms of our needs. Some people find themselves in some awkward situations by no fault of theirs while for others, it’s by accident. Therefore, if you are lucky to be privileged, you must have a place for such people in your hearts for a better society; you must have a passion for some level of charity,” Adaba said.

Exuding appreciable sense of fulfillment, he recounted some of the project he had been executing in the current Rotary Year. His words: “We have been executing projects in line with the current aspirations of the Rotary International, our parent body. They include eradication of illiteracy, reduction of infant mortality, empowerment of women and others including peace project. We donated incubators to the General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye and the one on Lagos Island Maternity where we also donated treated mosquito nets to pregnant women. We graduated 25 students in a vocational school where we provided them with sewing machines with which they could start a meaningful life with what they learnt. We bought grinding machine for a blind man. He is happy today and we are still in touch with him. As we speak, no fewer than 60 people have enjoyed our micro-credit empowerment scheme. We have an ongoing scholarship for Miss Grace Oladele of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, AgoIwoye.

In the second half of the Year, Adaba hinted: “We will be embark-

•From left: Former President, Rotarian Agnes Olatubi; President Linus Adaba and his wife

ing on eye projects possibly including eye screening, treatment of glaucoma and eye cataract cases and giving out of eye glasses to patients especially in Agege area.

Looking at this country today, it is obvious that we are not at peace and this resonates aptly with our peace project which is now centred on spirited advocacy to restore peace and understanding among us. Without peace, there cannot be any meaningful economic development in the country.

“As a business person, I know that there are many investors who are unwilling to come into this country because they see ours as a terrorist state owing to the unmitigated killings, kidnappings and bombings going on. Look at the northern part of the country,

the onslaught by the Boko Haram sect is a major headache for the government and the people. And the whole saga gets more troubling when the killings are taken to a suicidal level. Some people have been indoctrinated to the extent of killing themselves alongside others. Those who indoctrinated them are not being fair to themselves, the victim and the larger society. This must be discouraged and that is a major mission of the Rotary in the current Year.”

In exasperation, Adaba blew hot when asked to comment on the place of the government in the entire scenario. Hear him: “It is sad that our government at all levels has been found wanting in terms of ensuring good life for the masses of our people in particular. Look at

the level of unemployment among youths; look at how much is being budgeted yearly without translating to anything for the people; all these breed frustration and discontent and the resultant effect is what is now staring us all in the face.”

His recipe: “Let every political party make free education at all levels an inviolate policy. When people can read and write, they won’t be a willing tool in the hands of any body. Their minds will be insulated from any indoctrination. In fact, the peace we are now preaching in the Rotary, if it will be necessary, will find ready hears because people can then read paper and understand news. The government of the day must make it a sacred duty to tackle unemployment problem whichever way it can.”

Council boosts security with vans T HE Chairman of Olorunda Local council Area, Lagos

•Hon Abudu hands out one of the vans

State, Mr Amida Abudu has handed out two brand new vans to the Nigeria Police.

Presenting the vehicles at the council secretariat in the presence of executive members, management and staff of the council, Hon. Abudu said that the acquisition of the vans was inspired by the state government under the leadership of Mr Babatunde Fashola, which takes security seriously.

He said: “The Lagos State government has set up a Security Trust Fund as an intervention programme to take care of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies. Through this, amoured vehicles and other security gadgets have been purchased for the police to stem the rising wave of the crime in Lagos State.”

Speaking further, Abudu said: “The Olorunda Local Council Development Area is complementing the effort of the Lagos State government by doing a lot to boost the activities of the police

By Emmanuel Udodinma

in our locality.”

The council boss said: “Today our administration is presenting two security vans for both Area K Police Command and Morogbo Divisional police station to enhance their patrol functions so as to combat crime in our area.”

He urged the recipients to ensure that the vans are deployed for purposes for which they were acquired and given out.

He also appealed to residents of Olorunda council to cooperate with security agencies if the area will have a crime-free environment.

An excited ACP, Adesina Soyemi, the Area K commander who led the team to take delivery of the vans, praised the Abudu administration, saying the vans would enhance their work.

Like Oliver Twist, however, he appealed to the council chairman to give the command headquarters a facelift.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

PREMIERSHIP ...PREMIERSHIP ...

NATION SPORT

49

Agent: Lampard will leave

L

•Suarez

Rodgers: Fans should enjoy Suarez

S

UAREZ again hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the wake of his handball goal that helped the Reds beat nonleague Mansfield 2-1 in Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie.

The Uruguayan, whose career has been marked by a series of controversies, controlled the ball with his right wrist before steering Liverpool's second goal over the line after his initial shot had been saved by Stags goalkeeper Alan Marriott.

It could be argued that the goal would not have created nearly as much of a stir had it been scored by any other player, and while Rodgers feels Suarez's reputation goes before him, he insists the 25year-old should be embraced for his exceptional ability.

"He has had seven yellow cards this year, but he hasn't warranted all seven," said Rodgers.

"He is a wonderful professional. I think in this country we need to enjoy it whilst he is here because he is a brilliant talent.

"He is a good man as well, a good family man, and as a manager, he is someone who wants to come in and work.

"He wanted to start yesterday's game, even though he has really been my only striker for the last six months.

"Yesterday was a game he was up for because it was street football for him, he enjoys that type of game.

"But I can only talk about his talents. I always try to educate the players, with regard to every aspect of their life.

"As I've said, he's very receptive, and we go forward with him."

Suarez was sent off during the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal between Uruguay and Ghana for a deliberate handball on the goal-line, and when Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan missed the subsequent penalty, Suarez celebrated gleefully on the touchline in a match the South Americans went on to win.

Since moving to England he has served an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra before refusing to shake Evra's hand in the next meeting of the sides last February, and has been accused by some managers of going to ground too easily to win free-kicks and penalties.

Despite the furore surrounding Suarez's goal and the debate as to whether he should have owned up to his indiscretion, Mansfield striker Matt Green knows he would have done the same if in that position.

Green set up a pulsating finish with a 79th-minute goal that arguably should have been the equaliser if referee Andre Marriner and his assistants had deemed Suarez's 19th of the season as a deliberate handball.

Green, who described his own strike as a "dream come true" and "something (he would) remember for the rest of (his) life", said of Suarez's goal: "Obviously, as a goalscorer you don't care how it goes in the net.

"I'm not saying that's the right way to put it in the net,

but you claim anything as a striker."

Asked if he would have taken such a goal, Green replied: "If my name was on the scoresheet, I would have as well.

"But it is really gutting to be put out of the FA Cup by something like that against such a big club."

The stark reality for both clubs and their 93-place difference in the standings is whilst Mansfield face Kidderminster in the Blue Square Premier this weekend, Liverpool head to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.

For Rodgers, his side face a crucial period in their bid for Champions League football next season as three of their next four games are at United, Manchester City and Arsenal.

At Anfield earlier this season, the same three fixtures yielded just a point, a fact Rodgers is convinced can be redressed.

"They're tough games, but we'll be in better condition for those games than we were earlier in the season," said Rodgers.

"We picked up one point from those three games, even though we played well in two of them.

"But this is a team that is improving every day, every week, and we're all really looking forward to the second part of the season.

"Our continuity in our game is getting better, and the more they work with each other the better they become.

"There is no doubt they are big games and we will look forward to them."

Sturridge working towards fitness

S

TURRIDGE, recruited last week from Chelsea, took only seven minutes of his Reds debut to score on Sunday, latching on to fellow England international Jonjo Shelvey's through-ball to net the opener in the FA Cup third-round tie at Mansfield.

The 23-year-old failed to convert further chances that followed, though, and

•Sturridge

Sturridge - who last played a senior match in November hopes an improvement in his physical condition will help him demonstrate a more clinical edge.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "I haven't had much training.

"I've only had three sessions with the lads and then a light session on Saturday before the game.

"I am lacking sharpness in

front of goal. I missed a few chances but hopefully once I get my fitness those ones that I missed will go in.

"It was a great pass from Jonjo - the vision and the weight of the pass for the goal was perfect. He made it quite easy for me to take the shot first time.

"We haven't had much time to work on stuff but we were both on the same wavelength.

We get on well on and off the field.

"All the lads have been great with me and they've made it easy for me to settle in over the past few days.

"I want to say thank you to them for making me feel so welcome. I look forward to playing with them for many years to come."

Liverpool went on to beat Mansfield 2-1, with Luis Suarez netting their second goal on 59 minutes in controversial circumstances and Matt Green then pulling one back for the non-league hosts with 11 minutes of normal time remaining.

The ball struck Suarez's arm before crossing the line for his winner and regarding the incident, Sturridge, who had been substituted for the Uruguayan, said: "I didn't have a great view of our second goal from the bench and I haven't seen it again.

"I didn't see exactly what happened but the goal stood and we're through to the next round which is what really matters."

AMPARD moved alongside Kerry Dixon as the Chelsea's all-time leading scorer on 193 goals when he converted a penalty in Chelsea's 5-1 FA Cup third-round victory at Southampton, prompting a chorus of 'sign him up' from the travelling support.

But Lampard's agent Steve Kutner has seemingly dashed hopes that the England international will stay on at Stamford Bridge.

Kutner was quoted in the Daily Mirror as saying: "Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan during the Club World Cup then again reconfirmed with me after the Everton victory that in no circumstances will he be offered a new contract to stay at the club after the end of this season.

"Nothing since has changed in any respect.

"Frank has had to accept that and just wants to carry on playing football for Chelsea

so as to finish the season as successfully as possible for the club that he loves."

Lampard has been linked with a move to Los Angeles Galaxy, following in David Beckham's footsteps.

•Lampard

Holtby could make Spurs UT Heldt said that move now could be brought

B

forward if terms can be reached with Spurs.

•Holtby

Quoted in the Daily Mail, he said: "If Tottenham ask for Holtby in the January window, we will talk to them about it. Nothing has happened yet, but, from our point of view, we are prepared to speak to them.

"It would have to be done quickly, because we would have to find a replacement for him."

Ba enjoys dream debut

D

EMBA BA quickly went about making an impact at his new club, drawing Chelsea level with a goal that proved the catalyst to a 5-1 win.

The Senegal international had not been sure if the first one was his after hitting home a Juan Mata effort on the line, although his second was far more clearcut.

Ba slotted home impressively under pressure but was not going to try and wrestle Chelsea's late penalty off Frank Lampard in the search of a hattrick.

"I'm not that crazy," Ba said, with Lampard firing home to put him joint second in Chelsea's all-time scorers list with Kerry Dixon.

"I don't think I have made a debut like that before. That's a great one and I'm pleased, I'm going to enjoy it a little bit.

"It's great, when you see the fans they show you they're happy for you and the team-

mates when they come and congratulate you it's a good feeling.

"The three behind me make football look easy. I just try to run in behind and try to create space as well for them.

"I know when they have some space they will be very dangerous."

The brace at Southampton was the ideal end to what has been a whirlwind week for Ba. "I woke up on Wednesday and I prepared myself to play (for Newcastle) against Everton," he said.

"I got a text from the manager that said I needed to come and see him.

"From that moment I knew that everything was fixed and I'd go.

"I travelled down as quickly as possible to London to watch the (Chelsea) game against QPR and after that the next day I had a medical so it was very busy.

"Now I'm just going to have one day off chilling with my kids and just relax."

Glory deny Owen reports

F

ORMER England international Michael Owen has so far failed to make an impact since joining Stoke in the summer and has been widely linked with a switch to the ALeague in the January transfer window.

But the Glory have moved to distance themselves from the reports by denying interest in the 33-year-old.

"Michael is a player who comes with a high pedigree but it's not the direction I want to take the club," Perth coach Ian Ferguson said in a statement.

"I am looking for a younger player and a player who has been playing more regularly.

"I have three or four irons in the fire that I am pursuing,

which is good.

"In terms of Michael, there was contact from an agent if we were interested, it was discussed at a good level, but I have made the decision he is the not the player needed at Perth Glory."

•Owen

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

50

EUROPEAN LEAGUE

NATION SPORT

Mourinho: I won’t be a hero forever

R

EAL MADRID manager Jose Mourinho admits he is happy to not always be a hero at the club but has called on supporters of the Spanish giants not to put added

pressure on his players.

Club legend Iker Casillas was dropped for the second game in a row as Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-3 on Sunday.

Mourinho was met with crowd whistles as his name

was read out before kick-off.

"I do not like to always be in a comfortable situation or be a hero forever," said the former Chelsea boss.

Casillas, who was also dropped for the 3-2 defeat by

Malaga two weeks earlier, came off the bench after just six minutes on Sunday as his replacement Antonio Adan was sent off.

The Madrid goalkeeper had also been cheered by the home fans at the Bernabeu when his name was read out before the game.

While Mourinho does not mind being the villain, he believes the pre-match whistles directed at him were disrespectful towards Adan.

"If they whistle me for leaving Iker on the bench, fine, and if they whistle me for poor performances, that's

OK by me," said Mourinho, who is under pressure because Madrid trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by 16 points.

"The fans and the media don't have a problem with Adan, they have a problem with me for my decision, but Adan suffers for this pressure.

"I think it shows a lack of respect towards Adan. He has been at Madrid 16 years, he came through the youth ranks and he has the right to be happy.

"The media have turned a problem with Mourinho into a lack of respect towards Adan."

Heitinga to be sold to Ajax

T

HERE are reports that Everton defender John Heitinga will be sold to Ajax.

After recent speculation linking the 29-year old with a move away from Goodison Park, it now appears he is set to return to his homeland and rejoin the Dutch giants, whom he left in 2008.

Heitinga’s agent recently told reporters the Dutchman was unhappy at Goodison Park and would be interested in a move away. The former Athletico Madrid man has become increasingly frustrated at his lack of regular games this season due to the form of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin.

Johnny announced the news that he wouldn’t be fit to play the game at Cheltenham on Twitter but immediately deleted the Tweet.

This sparked a number of rumours about his future and if there was any truth to his apparent injury, but sources says that he is likely to move to Ajax and a deal has been done to take him back to the Amsterdam Arena for around £3 million.

Heitinga has played over 100 times for Everton and has captained the side during his time at the club. The defender

•Mourinho

•Heitinga joined the Toffees in 2009 and won the Player of the Season in the 2011-12 campaign, but has struggled to hold down a regular place in the team this season.

David Moyes may bring in Vegard Forren as Heitinga’s replacement once the deal goes through, as he bids to freshen up his defence.

•Piazón

Besiktas target Chelsea starlet BESIKTAS are interested in the possibility of a loan move for Chelsea striker Lucas Piazón.

The Black Eagles are facing a striker shortage following the injury of Mustafa Pektemek and Batuhan Karadeniz struggling for match fitness.

Hugo Almeida has excelled this season, however, the Istanbul giants lack a viable alternative.

The club is estimated to be in debt to the tune of •80-•100 million, a problem chairman Fikret Orman has made his priority to resolve.

The Black Eagles have been forced to change their transfer policy which has suffered from years of mismanagement and over spending.

Besiktas, have been attracting young talents recently with the promise of first team football.

The Eagles lured Arsenal youth Og (uzhan Özyakup) in a surprise move this summer and have given the 20-yearold midfielder a regular starting position.

Piazon joined Chelsea from Sao Paulo for •7.5 million during the summer transfer window. The 18-year-old Brazilian striker has played once in the Premier League this season.

Laurentiis: We will fight until the end

A

URELIO De Laurentiis, president of Serie A side Napoli, serene but also decided, is enjoying success in Rome and raises the potentiality of his team and blue project.

"This Napoli grows and will battle until the end," he said.

"This year we have 10 points

more than last year. So it means that the team is growing.

“The road is still long, there is much still to be seeding for arriving even further. We have the second best defense and the third best forward. It is clear that we will fight until the end of the Championship.

Then there will be episodes more or less favorable, but the team ever has great physical and psychological condition."

“The market in January is a repair campaign. So it's not always long-range investments. If we need to replace someone we're going to do. Then we are confident about reviews of second instance for Cannavaro and Grava, and then we expect the evolutions. We are for a targeted policy not schizophrenic. We will look at the balance of the group, we will give to the coach

righteous men and someone will come certainly because we have players coming out.

And then I hope to get points on the field, because in football is always fully open up to the end with all three points."

On his Matador, Laurentiis said: "Cavani is a world-class champion. I am not interested in bids or auctions. Cavani is with us. We send to the sender every request."

Bolívar leaves Internacional

F

•Edinson Cavani

ORMER Monaco defender Bolívar has left Internacional after the player’s contract was cancelled following talks between the two parties on Thursday morning.

Bolívar, 32, who rejoined Inter in 2009 for his second spell at the Beira-Rio, won two Copa Libertadores titles (in 2006 and 2010) while at the club, as well as the 2008 Copa Sul-Americana.

An agreement between the club and the player, whose contract ran until the end of 2013, was put in place weeks ago but was only confirmed Monday after Bolívar returned from holiday.

The fallout between the defender and Inter goes back

to a refusal by the player to take a place on the bench for a game against Corinthians.

Fellow defender Juan was suffering from a headache and Fernandão, who was coach at the time, asked Bolívar to be backup for the game but the player refused.

Bolívar, who played for city rivals Grêmio earlier in his career, has been linked with a move back to the blue half of the city but Vanderlei Luxemburgo has denied interest.

But the player’s future could be sorted out quite quickly and he is said to be in talks with a number of Brazilian clubs.

“We're talking, we're talking,” he told Lancenet!

•Klopp

Klopp satisfied with Dortmund’s position

C

•Bolívar

OACH Juergen Klopp is adamant that Borussia Dortmund are no worse than they were last season.

The reigning champions currently sit third on the Bundesliga table, trailing leaders Bayern Munich by 12 points.

But Klopp remains ambitious ahead of the second half of the season.

"We are definitively no worse than last season, we are

just a few points short," he told the club's official website.

"Our attacking potential is overwhelming, but the 22 goals we conceded in the first half of the season is an unusually high number for us.

"We are very ambitious and we want to play an outstanding second half of the season. Our way of playing will clearly be recognisable again."

Dortmund resume Bundesliga action away against Werder Bremen on January 19.

Cole: I need a Spanish passport!

52

Wednesday, January, 9 2013

President-General of Supporters Club of Nigeria, Rafiu Ladipo, admitting he used to carry Juju for the Super Eagles of Nigeria

I’ll Pep

Up

Premier League

•Guardiola

•Messi

•Cole

‘Arsenal can forget about a new Villa’ AFCON COUNTDOWN...AFCON COUNTDOWN...AFCON COUNTDOWN...

Rafiu Ladipo admits

Eagles used juju

Angola announces final 23 for AFCON

Ghana missing key players for AFCON

•Afonso •Afonso •Mensah

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

53

54

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 8-1-13

Investors gain N33b as stocks rally

A

INVESTORS earned about N33 billion in capital gains yesterday as the stock market continued to ride high on the back of increased demand by bargain hunters and dividend-minded investors.

Aggregate market value of quoted equities, which had risen by by 1.57 per cent on Monday, rallied N33 billion or 0.36 per cent to close higher at N9.297 trillion.

The main index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI), showed corresponding growth with market capitalisation with a gain of 0.36 per cent to close at 29,089.51 points.

The congruence between market capitalisation and the ASI affirms that the rise in market value was actually due to increases in market considerations of equities rather than new or supplementary addition of shares.

The bullish market outlook was also evident in turnover and number of deals. Number of deals, volume and value, saw increases of 50.1 per cent, 38.75 per cent and 68.72 per cent respectively.

Besides general gains, yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance was driven by value gains posted

By Tonia Osundolire

by United Bank for Africa (UBA), Nestle Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries, Guinness Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.

A total of 529.790 million shares worth N3.71 billion were traded in 6,857 deals.

The financial services sector remained atop activities table with 398.826 million shares worth N2.775 billion in 4,340 deals. The banking stocks were the most sought after in the sector.

Contrary to the performances recorded on Monday where all the banking stocks appreciated in value, the reverse was the case yesterday as five banking stocks witnessed profit taking.

The Conglomerates sector followed at a distance with 83.755 million shares worth N103.703 across 234 deals.

Others with relatively high volume were Consumer Goods, Oil & Gas, Industrial Goods and Services with 15.876 million shares, 13.583 million shares, 5.605 million shares and 5.011 million shares respectively.

On the price movement table, 34 equities reflected on

the gainers table, a 29.17 per cent drop from the 48 recorded on Monday. Leading the table was UBA with an increase of N0.46 to close at N5.14 followed by UACProperty with a gain of N1.16 to close at N13.22.

Also on the table were NASCON, Oando, Fort Oil, Livestock, Betaglass, Wapic, Eterna Oil and Gas and Cutix.

On the flip side, DN Meyer led the list of 23 losers with a drop of N0.15 to close at N1.40. Others on the table were AIICO, Custodian and Allied Insurance, Bagco, MRS, Morison, Evans Medical, Phama Deko, NPFMCRFBK and Neimeth.

Meanwhile, UBA will be listing two of its subsidiaries on Friday January 11, 2013, According to the Scheme of Arrangement, both UBA Capital Plc and Africa Prudential Registrars Plc will be listed on the NSE at N1.16 and N1.59 respectively, while Afriland Properties Plc will be listed at a future date.

UBA Capital consists of the non-commercial banking and capital market businesses of the old UBA Group; UBA Asset Management Limited, UBA Trustees Limited, UBA Stockbrokers Limited, UBA Metropolitan Life Insurance Limited and UBA Insurance Brokers Limited.

Africa Prudential Registrars Plc will retain the share registration business of the old UBA Group.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 8-1-13

THE N

55

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

MONEY LINK

CBN releases exposure draft on e-payment

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released exposure draft on e-payment arbitration to enhance e-payment efficiency in the country.

In a circular to all banks, mobile money operators, and payment service providers, the apex bank advised all stakeholders to submit their

Stories by Collins Nweze

input on the draft to enable it arrive at final framework.

It said issues relating to number of agents, type and nature of agents including considerations for super agents are critical areas being considered in the draft exposure. It said all the pro-

people and the economy. It would reduce the cost of cash handling and cost of funds, with available statistics showing that the CBN and the banks would have spent over N200 billion on cash management by 2012. This cost can be ploughed into infrastructure development. It would also mean that majority of Nigerians would

cesses for this line of banking to become functional in the country will be finalised by this year-end.

According to the CBN, there have been a lot of improvements in the Nigerian payment system, including the drive for financial inclusion. “The cashless economy initiative has tremendous benefits for the

Why external reserves dropped in Dec.,

by FBN Capital A NALYSTS at FBN Capital have linked the ‘modest’ $300 million decline in foreign exchange reserves in December to concentration of foreign currency expenditure in dollars.

As at the end of last year the reserves stood at $44.2 billion.

The investment and research firm said in an emailed report that this was the first decline at month-end since July.

“This is the fourth successive year in which reserves have declined in the final month despite the seasonal fall off in merchandise imports in the immediate run-up to the holiday season.

One explanation could be a con-

centration of foreign currency expenditure by the Federal Government,” it said.

Consequently, FBN Capital, predicted the decline as one-off and would continue to view the Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreignexchange policy as a success.

Reserves rose by $8 billion between July and November ending, and the currency has appreciated marginally too.

These were driven by the hike in the cash reserve ratio for banks by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), and the CBN’s ruling that dealers could

may have been disbursements in December. They currently provide close to nine months’ cover for the imports of goods at 2011 levels, and six months when services are added.

The nation’s foreign-currency reserves have rose 32 per cent last year to $43.45 billion as of November 16, according to data on the CBN’s website, an exercise that has further strengthened the naira.

“An interest rate of 12 per cent will check excess money supply and demand for dollars,’’ Wale Abe, chief executive officer of the Financial Market Dealers Association, which groups lenders trading in the money market, said.

no longer simultaneously bid at the wholesale Dutch auction system (WDAS) and draw on its lending windows.

More so, sales in the WDAS amounted to $990 m in December, compared with $1.03 billion the previous month.

This easing of demand, it said, could be explained by the healthy supply of foreign exchange to the interbank market by offshore investors in naira-denominated debt.

Official reserves include the balance in the excess crude account (ECA), from which there

Euro-area economic confidence rises

E

CONOMIC confidence in the euro area increased more than economists forecast in December even as the 17-nation currency bloc remained mired in its second recession in four years.

According to Bloomberg report, an index of executive and consumer sentiment rose for a second month to 87 from 85.7

in November, the European Commission in Brussels said.

Economists had forecast an increase to 86.3, according to the median of 24 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. The unemployment rate in the euro region rose to a record 11.8 per cent in November, the European Union’s statistics office said in a separate report.

The ECB lowered its growth forecast for the euro area on December 6 and now predicts a contraction of 0.3 per cent in 2013.

The improvement in sentiment is in line with strengthening business confidence in Germany, Europe’s largest economy. Still, German factory orders fell more than economists expected in No-

vember amid weak demand from outside the euro area.

“We expect the uncertainty emanating from the sovereign debt crisis, which has been hanging like dark clouds over the euro-zone economy, will continue to ease,” said Christoph Weil, an economist at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt.

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

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 8-1-13

SYMBOL UBA UAC-PROP NASCON OANDO FO LIVESTOCK BETAGLAS WAPIC ETERNA CUTIX

O/PRICE 4.68 12.06 8.01 13.03 8.11 1.42 9.98 0.63 2.39 1.53

C/PRICE 5.14 13.03 8.74 13.68 8.51 1.49 10.47 0.66 2.50 1.60

DNMEYER AIICO CUSTODYINS BAGCO MRS MORISON EVANSMED PHARMDEKO NPFMCRFBK NEIMETH

O/PRICE 1.55 0.78 1.53 2.60 23.76 3.30 0.83 2.35 1.18 0.95

C/PRICE 1.40 0.71 1.40 2.38 22.58 3.14 0.79 2.24 1.13 0.91

Nigeria’s trade balance improved significantly from $8.62 billion in second quarter, 2012 and $1.60 billion in third quarter, 2011 respectively to $12.37 billion in third quarter, 2012.

Aggregate exports rose by 8.2 per cent from $22.53 billion in third quarter, 2011 to $24.37 billion in third quarter, 2012 while aggregate imports declined by 42.7 per cent to $11.99 billion in the review period.

It said the degree of openness, depicting the share of Nigeria’s total external trade to Gross Domestic Product dropped further to 54.52 per cent in third quarter, 2012 from 59.64 and 65.97 per cent recorded in the preceding quarter, and the corresponding quarter of 2011, respectively.

Imports as a percentage of GDP also decreased by 5.09 percentage points to 18.0 per cent from its level in second quarter, 2012.

CHANGE 0.46 1.16 0.73 0.65 0.40 0.07 0.49 0.03 0.11 0.07

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

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 1.00 136.47 125.53 0.80 1.13 0.92 100.00 1,000.00 1,763.58 11.31 1.39 1.87 9,733.03

9.08 1.00 136.14 124.60 0.77 1.13 0.91 100.00 1,000.00 1,754.53 10.75 1.33 1.80 9,479.29

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

CHANGE 0.15 0.07 0.13 0.22 1.18 0.16 0.04 0.11 0.05 0.04

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

LOSERS AS AT 8-1-13

SYMBOL

T

HE aggregate foreign capital inflow has risen to $6.07 billion in the third quarter, 2012, an economic report released yesterday by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

According to the report, the figures compared with $3.43 billion and $3.24 billion, recorded in second quarter, 2012 and third quarter, 2011, respectively. This represents an increase of 87.39 and 77.09 per cent.

Of the total capital inflows, foreign direct investment (FDI) accounted for 23.79 per cent while portfolio investment (PI) accounted for 76.21 per cent. Further analysis showed that both FDI and PI inflows increased over their levels in second quarter, 2012 by 81.0 and 75.9 per cent.

It said PI in aggregate foreign capital inflows suggests the need to put in place measures against capital reversal.

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency OBB Rate Call Rate

Foreign capital inflow hits $6b in Q3

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

• CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

stop subsidizing the cash handling cost of heavy cash users,” it said.

It said electronic banking was introduced to give a new face to financial transactions, adding that there are various aspects of electronic transactions, it noted that telecommunication firms play important roles in this regard. The apex bank also ordered banks to change from strip-based to chip-based cards to encourage the growth of electronic transactions.

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 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

56

NEWS North’s youths call for unity • Decry insecurity From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

A GROUP of northern youths, under the aegis of the Association of Northern Youths for the Advancement of Peace, Harmony and Development, has decried the insecurity in the region.

In a statement yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, by its President, Melvin Ejeh, the group said: “The situation is taking a negative toll on the socio-economic life of the region.”

The group decried the alleged neglect of a minority section of the North by the majority.

It noted that the situation would have an adverse effect on the region’s unity, if it is not stopped immediately.

The group also decried the systematic hijack of the North’s political and economic fronts by those it said use sentiment and religion to get by.

It noted that until this inequality is addressed and the North comes together as one, achieving peace in the North will be a mirage.

The group advised political and religious leaders as well as various stakeholders to work for the peace, unity and mutual respect among the residents.

It added: “Everybody in the region, who constitutionally qualifies for a position, should be supported. This should not be based on religion, because the North belongs to all of us.

No individual or any religion is superior to another because we are all God’s creatures.”

Kwara ACN hails Supreme Court ruling on council chair

T

HE Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday said Monday’s ruling by the Supreme Court, which affirmed the reinstatement of the sacked Ekiti Local Government Chairman Dele Abiodun, is a rebuke of “the illegalities, corruption and impunity of the Bukola Saraki years”.

The apex court, on Monday in Abuja, threw out the appeal filed by the Kwara State Government and upheld the decision of the Appeal Court, which held that Abiodun was illegally sacked and should be paid his entitlements till the day his tenure expired.

In a statement in Ilorin, the state capital, by ACN Chairman Kayode Olawepo, the party said: “On Monday, January 7, the Supreme Court, in

•Flays attack on CPC office a unanimous judgment, handed down a sharp rebuke to the illegalities, corruption and impunity of the Bukola Saraki years in Kwara State by upholding the Appeal Court ruling, which reinstated the sacked chairman of Ekiti Local Government, Dele Abiodun.

“We recall that Abiodun, a staunch advocate of local government autonomy, was summarily dismissed without any form of fair hearing by the Saraki administration for no other sins than his challenge of the illegal deduction of funds accruing to his council from the Federation Account. Abiodun heard of his dismissal on Radio Kwara without receiving a prior letter. His councillors

were later coerced to do a kangaroo impeachment and Abiodun was, in what was akin to the Joshua Dariye saga, sent away from the seat, for which the people of the council had elected him.

“But, as the lower courts had affirmed, the Supreme Court said an emphatic no to the rule of thumb that was the hallmark of the Saraki administration. This ruling is indeed a confirmation of our consistent stand that the regime was as lawless as it was corrupt - contrary to the fake appellation of ‘transparent leader and democrat’ being accorded the former governor by the hungry crowd in the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We salute Abiodun for his

courage, belief in the rule of law and dogged fight for justice and fairness in the face of intimidation and political victimisation.

“Although Abiodun’s term has lapsed, the ruling is a victory for the rule of law and fairness and a rebuke to the impunity that was the norm in that era. We hope that Kwara State will, without further delay, pay all the entitlements and the arrears due to Abiodun as an elected chairman.”

The party also condemned the attack on the Congress for Proghressive Change (CPC) office in Ilorin.

It described the attack as a threat to democratic freedom and public peace.

ACN added: “We also con-

• Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu planting rice at the official start of this year’s dry season rice farming at Majin Gari, Lavun Local Government.

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Jang prays for Wada’s recovery From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

PLATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang has prayed for the quick recovery of his Kogi State counterpart, Idris Wada.

Jang led a prayer session when he visited Wada at his private home in Abuja.

The Kogi State governor is recuperating in Abuja from an injury he sustained in an auto crash.

The Plateau State governor thanked God for sparing Wada’s life.

He expressed sadness over the death of Wada’s Aide de Camp, Idris Mohammed, in the accident.

Gaidam gives N5m, houses to ex-servicemen From Duku Joel, Damaturu

‘FCTA to resettle 8,000 indigenes’ THE Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, yesterday said nine communities, comprising over 8,000 indigenes, would be resettled by June.

Of this number, 3,200 would be given homes and 4,800 others plots in Apo in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Galuwyi-Shere, in Bwari Area Council.

The minister spoke in Abuja when she reviewed the performance of the resettlement scheme of the FCT Administration (FCTA).

She said the three communities, comprising 2,571 households, would be resettled in the first quarter of this year in the Apo Resettlement Scheme, while six communities, comprising 5,172 households, would be resettled by the second quarter at GaluwyiShere.

demn the attack on the CPC secretariat in Ilorin allegedly by some PDP thugs. We join the CPC to call on the law enforcement agencies to bring the culprits to book in the interest of communal peace. No political party should be allowed to constitute a threat to the existence of others or individuals for holding divergent views.

“We note with dismay that the attack on the CPC office came days after the party issued a scathing criticism of the PDP for resorting to namecalling because Kwara ACN leader, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), pointed out a serious anomaly in the state’s 2013 budget, in which the recurrent expenditure far exceeds capital expenditure.”

Nigeria is in a mess, says Emir

T

HE Emir of Zuru in Kebbi State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Sani Sami (Sani Gomo II), yesterday gave a damning verdict on the state of the nation.

He said: “Nigeria, in reality, is in a mess and is plunging into confusion.”

The monarch spoke at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi, Etsako West Local Government in Edo State, during the 16th Auchi Day celebration.

He noted that all aspects of Nigeria’s existence, including its peace and unity, are under threat.

The retired general said nobody can predict what will happen to the nation if Nigeria is allowed to break up.

According to him, the derailment from the cardinal principles of the nation’s foundation plunged Nigeria into socioeconomic and political upheaval.

Gen. Sami said the socio-economic and political atrophy weighing down the nation was not sectional but the result of parochial selfish interest.

He added: “I do not understand why Nigerians should try to destroy Nigeria and believe erroneously that God will save Nigeria. We Nigerians try to wreck Nigeria. We should also know that only us can salvage Nigeria.

“The sorry state of the nation, or its perilous state, can only be traced to ourselves. We ne-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

glect the fundamental reasons for the existence of Nigeria as a country. We threw away the binding principles that brought us all together.

“We must change our attitude and resolve to respect the principles that gave rise to the emergence of the Nigerian experiment. Our leaders and the led should humble themselves and avoid being guided by corrupt and nepotism.”

The emir urged traditional rulers to call Nigerian leaders to order to ensure better governance.

According to him, it was monarchs that cleansed the nation’s mess, which has enabled the government of the day to survive.

The Chief Imam of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s mosque, Sheikh Abdul-Lateef Abdul-Hakim, in a lecture, entitled: Programming a community for eternal purity, progress and prosperity, urged religious leaders with the fear of God to participate in politics.

He said those killing in the name of religion are ignorant of the teachings Islam.

The Imam said Nigeria could be prosperous without reviewing the current constitution.

According to him, Nigerian leaders only need to abide by its content and implement it with the fear of God. Abdul-Hakim said only Section 6 (6c) of the Constitution needs a review.

Edo State Governor Adams

Oshiomhole said Nigeria has a leadership challenge.

The governor said it is unfortunate that Nigerians lament their woes instead of tackling them.

He noted that Nigeria can achieve greatness as a nation, even if some people cannot see the way forward.

Oshiomhole promised to focus on politics of progress and development and not divisive politics.

He added that his administration would bring more development to Auchi kingdom.

The Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, said the celebration was to bring the people together to praise God and plan the growth of the community.

T

HE Yobe State Government yesterday said it will sponsor ex-servicemen to this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam spoke in Damaturu, the state capital, at the launch of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance and Appeal Week.

The governor also donated N5million and five houses to the ex-servicemen under the Yobe State Owner-Occupier Housing Scheme.

Gaidam urged the nation not to forget soldiers who are serving their fatherland and those who have died in the war against the Boko Haram sect.

He called for compassion among Nigerians to the plight of the ex-servicemen, who he said have fought hard to keep Nigeria together.

The governor personally donated N500,000 to the appeal fund.

Each member of the State Executive Council (Exco) donated N50,000 and promised to donate another N20,000.

Deputy Governor Abubakar D. Aliyu donated N200,000 while the member representing Bade/Jakusko Federal Constituency, Hassan ElBadawe, donated N300,000.

Gaidam directed the Ministry of Finance to make the money available to the legionaries by January 10.

The governor noted that a new proposal for an office complex should be submitted to his office for approval with immediate effect.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion of Ex-Servicemen, Capt. Zakary Garba, hailed the Gaidam for the gesture.

He said the legionaries have never had it good as now.

Wamakko inaugurates N1.12b homes for flood victims S

OKOTO State Governor Aliyu Wamakko has inaugurated the N1.12billion 250 housing units built for victims of the 2010 floods in Tanane village, Silame Local Government.

The governor warned the committee, which will supervise the distribution of the houses, to avoid partisanship and selfishness.

He said: “You should be just and fair to all and sundry in the discharge of this all-important assignment.”

The Nation reports that 400

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

similar housing units are being built for Goronyo flood victims.

Already, 350 others have been completed for other victims in Gada.

At Tanane, Wamakko said the housing units have basic social infrastructure to ensure the comfort of the victims.

The governor explained that the project would give the victims a new lease of life.

He said: “The estate has been provided with water, clinic, electricity, market, primary school, green belt and roads, among others.”

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Sahabi Gada, hailed Wamakko for the gesture.

He said N780million was distributed to the 2010 flood victims, besides other materials.

Silame Local Government

•Wamakko

Chairman, Alhaji Mani Katami, also hailed the government for the gesture.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

57

NEWS UNICEM gets MD From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

T

HE Board of Directors of United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited has confirmed the appointment of Olivier Lenoir as Managing Director.

The former MD, Didier Tresarrieu, resigned on December 7 for personal reasons.

According to the Chairman, Board of Directors, John Coumantaros, Lenoir’s appointment takes effect from January 1.

He said: “On December 7, the UniCem Board accepted the resignation of Didier Tresarrieu and has decided that he will be succeeded by Olivier Lenoir, with effect from January 1.”

Lenoir is a graduate of the Paris Business School “Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris”.

Until his appointment, he has been the Deputy Managing Director of the company since 2010.

‘Detractors behind my ordeal’

T

•Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (second left); the Iyaseh of Asaba, Chief Patrick Onyeobi (left); the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien ( second right) and Chairman, Oshimili South Local Government Chinwe-Monu Olarenwaju, when the governor visited the Asagba...yesterday.

Delta board to notify CBN, EFCC on missing N1.1b from bank T HE Delta State Board of Internal Revenue has said it would report two banks to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the “disappearance” of N1.106 billion tax paid by Chevron Nigeria Limited.

It was gathered that the money was deducted from December salaries and allowances of Chevron’s staff.

The money was paid through a first generation bank to the Board’s account on December 27 via CBN/RTGS confirmation number O0032P0026000012.

A controversy ensued when the money failed to reflect in the board’s Diamond Bank account, weeks after the elec-

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

tronic transfer was reportedly done.

Financial experts say the process usually takes hours to complete.

The Branch Manager of Diamond Bank in Asaba, Mrs. Noma Imilar, who was contacted on Monday, refused to comment.

She said only the topmost echelon of the bank’s headquarters in Lagos could comment on the matter.

However, a DBIR source said: “The Chairman, Thomas Joel-Onowakpor, is determined to pursue the case to its

logical conclusion.

“Plans are on to invite the EFCC to unravel the mystery of where the fund was within the last 11 days.”

“We are also contemplating making formal complaints to the CBN through the relevant channel because this is not only embarrassing, it is unethical.”

The Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) could be called upon to unravel the truth and prove which side is telling the truth.

Our independent investigation showed that the incident has led to a frosty relationship between the two banks.

One of the correspondence obtained by our reporter had one banker telling the other: “I am telling you in confidence that we have not received it.

“You confirmed that you sent it since the 31st (December)!

“How come it has not yet reached us? You are a banker and integrity is very key.”

Joel-Onowakpor said: “It is true that we have been trying to fish out which bank is holding on to our funds.

“When we are through, the bank will be publicly sanctioned and I also expect CBN to take action on this.”

Search your conscience, Sylva tells Dickson From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

•Sylva

F

ORMER Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva has told his successor, Seriake Dickson, to search his conscience on the claim that he (Silva) left only N4, 451 in the state’s coffers.

In a statement by his media aide, Doifie Ola, yesterday, the former governor described Dickson’s claims as “the outburst of an illegitimate governor troubled by an attack of conscience.”

Ola said it was interesting that a year after Sylva left office, Dickson is still obsessed with his ghost.

The statement reads: “Sylva never contested election with Dickson.

“He was illegally excluded from seeking re-election by the forces that dragged Dickson into office and foisted on Bayelsa the ignominy that Dickson and his gang have been trying to whitewash with Sylva’s name.

“But they have continued to fail. Bayelsans and Nigerians have become wise to the gang’s deception.

“Bayelsa State has never had it so bad. Bayelsa is mourning the Dickson disaster.

“Everyday, all you hear is

that some phoney amounts have been saved, but nothing is happening in terms of delivery of projects.

“Rather than concentrate on what leadership ought to be, Dickson and his gang are busy chasing Sylva’s shadows. This clearly shows how confused he is.”

The aide said contrary to insinuations by the governor, Sylva ran the most prudent and transparent government Bayelsa ever had since the Fourth Republic.

“Despitethe enormous challenges Sylva faced when he took over from Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the state’s debt profile was not anywhere near what Dickson and his gang want the world to believe throughout Sylva’s stay in office.

“By our records, we would

have concluded payment of all our outstanding debts, except the bond, by last February.

“It was a project-specific loan; all money was paid directly to the contractors.

“No money came to the Sylva government. And the projects for which the loans were taken were almost completed at the time he left office.

“The Sylva government had no chance of mismanaging the bond.

“The question of rising interest rates on the bond does not arise so long it is being serviced according to terms.

“All we can advise Dickson and his gang is that they should stop these face-saving pranks with Sylva’s name, for it will never confer legitimacy on them.”

UNIBEN lecturer arrested for ‘extortion’

A

SENIOR lecturer at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has been arrested on the orders of the university’s management for allegedly extorting money from students.

The senior lecturer was arrested after he allegedly collected marked money from a female student.

Sources said the senior lecturer is an Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Law. He represents the faculty in a committee set up to coordinate students’ inter-faculty movement

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

every session.

It was gathered that the lecturer was arrested by the security unit after which it was discovered that the lecturer belonged to a syndicate specialising in extortion of students.

The female student was said to be studying English in the Faculty of Arts and wanted to change to the Faculty of Law. She was reportedly asked to pay N150,000 by the lecturer before her request could be approved.

Another lecturer was said to have encouraged her to report the matter.

The student reportedly played along and pleaded to be allowed to pay N100,000, which was agreed to by the lecturer.

It was gathered that as the student was about to pay the money into an account, the lecturer called her phone and asked her to deliver the money in his office.

The lecturer was arrested after he collected the marked money and was handed over to the police.

A source said:“When his (lecturer’s) office was searched, security personnel discovered a list containing 18 names, including the female student’s.’’

The institution’s spokesman, Harrison Osarenren, confirmed the incident.

Osarenren said: “The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodi, has applauded the team that exposed this syndicate.

“The lecturer will be arraigned in court soon.’’

HE Bayelsa State House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence in the Speaker, Kombowei Benson.

Benson was implicated in the misappropriation of N78million being the money for a parliamentary conference in South Africa Benson said some members of the House were behind his ordeal.

He wondered how he could have embezzled money approved by the governor.

“There was no ill motive for spending the money.

N78million was approved for 24 members, how much should have come to each member after travel expenses?

“I know some of my colleagues are behind my travail.

They are desperate to take over my seat.

“Yes, we went to South Af-

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

rica late, we are not disputing that fact. But those investigating the matter over exaggerated it.

“There was no intention of enriching ourselves with the money.

“There is no fire without smoke,there must be fire before smoke.

“This seat is an enviable seat,there are people scrambling to take over power every now and then.

“Some aggrieved former local government chairmen may be partnering some members on the issue.

“This is because during the investigations by the Assembly on some former chairmen, they wrote a petition on the N78 million issue.

“I can always resign and apologise if I have made any mistake.”

Rivers to promote on merit From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

T

HE use of geographical spread and seniority in appointing directors in the unified local government service in Rivers State has been stopped.

This was made known yesterday in Port Harcourt by the Chairman of the Rivers Local Government Service Commission, Azubuike Nmerukini, at the closing of a three-day workshop for junior staff in local governments in Rivers South-East Senatorial District.

Nmerukini, who was represented by a commissioner in the commission, Jonah Tamuno, said henceforth, the appointment of directors in the unified local government service would be based on hard work and productivity.

He said: “Gone are the days when appointments are based on geographical spread and seniority, which have not encouraged increased output in the service.

“If you want appointment, you must prove it by the way you perform your duties and how you fare in other positions given to you in the past.”

Akwa Ibom Assembly passes budget

T

HE Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly yesterday passed the budget of N470.08 billion into law.

A breakdown showed that N118.79billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure andN351.29billion for capital projects.

The Speaker, Samuel Ikon, urged the executive to continue to exercise fiscal discipline in the implementation of the budget.

Ikon said the fifth assembly would do its best to leverage development in the state through the making of good laws.

Governor Godswill Akpabio had, on November 20, presented a budget outlay of N459,305 billion made up of N188.79billion

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

for recurrent expenditure and N340.52billion for capital projects.

The House augmented the figure by N10.77billion for capital expenditure.

Presenting the report to the House, the Chairman, Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Onofiok Luke, told the lawmakers that despite complaints by ministries on non-release of funds to execute some projects, “the performance of some ministries last year’s budget was fantastic.

According to Luke, the performance of some ministries in the 2012 budget made the Committee to realise government priorities.

Justice Ayo for burial Friday

T

HE remains of a judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Abisoye Esther Ayo, will be buried on Friday.

She died on December 30 last year. She was 47.

A statement by the husband, Olabode, said service of songs/Christian wake will hold tomorrow at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Goshen Parish) Lekki Expressway, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

On Friday, a valedictory service will be held at the Foyer of the High Court, Igbosere, by 9am. Funeral service will hold at the church by noon.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

58

NEWS

Three held for killing Abia businessman

T

HE Abia State Police Command said it has arrested three suspects on the killing of a popular businessman, Chief Iroeke Ukaku, and the abduction of his two daughters last Friday at his Abiriba home in Ohafia Local Government.

Addressing reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, Police Commissioner Ambrose Aisabor said the matter was not a kidnap but murder caused by revenge.

He said: “It is a case of murder. This is because the scenario

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

we saw and the things we met on ground showed that it is a revenge mission and not that of kidnap or murder, as people are speculating.”

The police chief explained that on that fateful day, he got a report about 8.30pm from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area on the incident.

Aisabor said he immediately deployed his men to the scene.

According to him, prelimi-

•After several attempts to enter his room, by firing several shots at the bulletproof door, the assailants allegedly held his eight months grand-daughter. nary investigation revealed that the late Ukaku, on December 24, reportedly hired a “Bakassi group” from Aba.

The group allegedly arrested some boys in the community and extorted others.

Aisabor said he got information that on the day Ukaku was allegedly murdered, his assailants had killed two Bakassi men at the gate to his home.

The killers, he said, went upstairs where the businessman was relaxing.

After several attempts to enter his room, by firing several shots at the bulletproof door, the assailants allegedly held his eight months grand-daughter.

They alledgedly threatened

to smash her head on the wall if the busienessman refused to come out, it was learnt.

Ukaku reportedly offered himself following the threats.

The police chief said the assailants killed him on the spot.

Aisabor said from police investigation, no ransom has been demanded by the abductors of the two daughters of the late Ukaku.

He added that investigation is still ongoing on the matter.

“We shall let the public know what happened in the end,” Aisabor said.

Obi resumes visits to schools

A

NAMBRA State Governor Obi yestertday resumed his visits to schools after the Yuletide break.

The governor yesterday visited Marist Brothers’ Secondary School, Nteje; Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkwelle Ezunaka; New Era Secondary School, Onitsha; Army Day Secondary School, Onitsha; Community Secondary School, Awada; and Union Secondary School.

He gave cheques to some of the schools to rehabilitate their structures.

Obi urged others to evaluate their needs.

At each of the schools, the governor inspected facilities, interacted with the teachers and pupils.

He advised the pupils on the need to be serious about their education.

According to him, education is the biggest asset those growing up should acquire, if they wish to be successful in a competitive society.

Obi assured the pupils that his administration would upgrade the facilities in their schools.

The governor regretted that the facilities were collapsing because past administrations neglected the schools.

He recalled that before his administration, no school in Anambra State had basic infra-

M

•Obi (second left); Commissioner for Education, Uju Okeke (second right); Principal of Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Mrs Maureen Egbuniwe (right) and the Senior Prefect, Obi Hope (left) during the inspection of dilapidated structures at the school...yesterday.

structure.

Obi said his administration has rehabilitated most schools by providing basic infrastructure, including science laboratories, materials, computers with internet facilities, generating sets, boreholes, conveniences, buses, fencing, among others.

The governor promised that all the schools in Anambra State would be equipped by the end

of the year.

At Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Obi was moved to tears at the level of dilapidation.

The governor regrettable that Anambra indigenes, who he accused of celebrating vanity, did not show concerns about rebuilding the institutions where their children are trained.

At Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje, the principal,

Rev. Mike Iwu said: “It is on record that this school is one among many which have benefitted immensely from the generosity of your administration. We thank you for your interest in schools. This really shows that you understand that the children of today are leaders of tomorrow.”

The Principal of New Era Secondary School, Onitsha, Dr. Ngozi Agbabamila said: “We

cannot thank you enough for your vision for the state and your commitment to actualise that vision more than any other governor since the state was created. Your dedication, support, encouragement and love for education are beyond expression. Schools just resumed yesterday and here you are today visiting us, when some people are still busy holidaying.”

FRSC officials sleep on Niger Bridge for two days Nnatuanya, blamed the gridlock on people driving Trapped on a bridge against traffic.

EN of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), led by its Onitsha Unit Commander, Mr Anthony Chukwuemeka Metah, at the weekend slept for two weeks on the Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

They faced an unusual traffic gridlock, which they battled for days without much success.

This followed the fear that the bridge might collapse, if the heavy traffic on it was not properly controlled.

It was learnt that while the gridlock persistent, petty criminals had a field day.

They reportedly snatched commuters’ mobile phones and ran way before anyone could pursue them, especially in the night.

The Nation reports that since Saturday, there has been a traffic gridlock on the bridge.

The traffic jam began when Southeast indigenes, who had gone home for the Yuletide, were returning to the Southwest and other parts of the country.

A combined team of FRSC and security agencies, including the Army, battled everyday to manage the situation.

The rescue mission was on the order of Anambra State Sector Commander of the FRSC,

T

RAVELLERS, who were returning from the Southeast to Lagos and other parts of the Southwest last weekend, had tales of woes to recount.

Their sad experience stemmed from the agonising hours they spent on the Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The traffic gridlock on the bridge, especially on the Lagos-bound lane, took over four hours to ease. Vehicles just stood still.

Parts of the bridge are said to be in a bad shape, leading to a vehicles using only a lane.

Most of those trapped in the gridlock were returning to the Southwest and other parts in the North after the Yuletide.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Mr Hyginus Omeje.

The FRSC chief led his men from Awka, Nnewi, Ihiala and Igboukwu to rescue the gridlock at Onitsha. He left the scene at 10pm.

The traffic jam started few days to Christmas when traders were making last minute shopping at the popular Onitsha Market.

Holiday makers had hectic time passing through the bridge, despite the increased patrol by the FRSC men.

Speaking with The Nation yes-

By Nneka Nwaneri

This reporter spent over four hours to across the bridge. There was a long queue of vehicles, which extended to the Upper Iweka Bridge.

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials on the both ends of the bridge said they needed to ensure that every car took its turn to pass.

An FRSC officer, who spoke in confidence, explained that the bridge was too weak to handle the huge traffic plying it everyday.

The bridge was completed in December 1965 at the cost of 5million Pounds.

terday, Metah said: “We are still here and the traffic is still heavy.

But we are battling to control it. It is indeed hectic. We have been here since Christmas.

“Remember what we have here is go slow and not a holdup. Vehicles are moving slowly and progressively. We decided to make the Niger Bridge one way traffic to avoid a heavy load on top of the bridge to avoid its collapse. There is fear everywhere that the bridge is weak and can collapse. Besides, there is heavy traffic on the road. Since this place is a major gateway, we are careful to avoid cutting it off by the likely

collapse of the bridge, until a second Niger Bridge is built.”

“We did the one way traffic at a time because, if there is multiple lane traffic and there exists a lock jam on the bridge, nobody knows what will happen to Nigerians on the bridge.

Besides, it’s bad to image what would happen if a truck breaks down in the middle of the bridge, since it is the one mobility exit corridor from Onitsha from the numerous entry points. So, it was a big traffic management approach...”

The Secretary Awka North Local Government, Paul

He said: “We are here because of poor judgment of people who drive against the traffic. I have been here for four hours and what I noticed is that our people have been misbehaving. If not for what Governor Peter Obi did, by making the road motorable following an appeal to the Federal Government, people would have been here for days. We thank Obi and the members of the FRSC and other security officials for easing the traffic.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government, under President Goodluck Jonathan, to hasten the construction of the second Niger Bridge. This will enable commuters, who have nothing to do in Onitsha, to pass through Ogbaru –Ihiala and go their way instead of causing confusion in Onitsha.”

The Nation reports that the Federal Government, on August 3, 2005, awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the Niger Bridge for N2.4 billion.

The repairs were carried out in the nights but the bridge is still believed to be weak and needs another to complement its load.

PDP makes u-turn on dissolution of Adamawa exco From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

T

HE power tussle between the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, has deepened.

Nyako appeared to be having an upper hand, as the National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday rescinded its earlier decision on the dissolution of the Adamawa State Executive committee of the party.

The Tukur-led national body, on October 17, 2012, announced the dissolution of the state Exco, headed by Alhaji Mijinyawa Kagauma.

In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party had said the sacked Exco “flagrantly disregarded and shown serial disobedience to the decisions of the NWC”.

A nine-member Caretaker Committee was sworn in to replace the sacked Exco. The caretaker committee was directed to run the affairs of the state chapter for three months, pending further directives from the national leadership.

At yesterday’s briefing, chaired by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, the party leaders said they were “shocked and surprised” to read in the newspapers that ward, local and state congresses were held in Adamawa State last week. Tukur did not attend the briefing.

Sam Jaja stated: “For the records, the National Working Committee, hereby dissociates the party leadership from the purported congresses which were neither authorized by the NWC nor monitored and/or supervised by the national secretariat. In the history of the PDP only the national secretariat of the PDP conducts state congresses.

“The NWC is therefore surprised, shocked and embarrassed to read in the newspapers of the purported ward, local government and state congresses said to be on going in Adamawa State.

“Based upon the above therefore the NWC hereby declare the purported congresses null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

“Consequently, we hereby declare that the only state executive committee constitutionally recognised by the party is the Kaugama executive lawfully elected in March 2012 and endorsed by the national convention”, Jaja maintained.”

Pa Adeyanju for burial

F

UNERAL service for a community leader, Pa Philip Ishola Adeyanju, wil hold on December 11, 2013 at the Methodist Church, Odo Ona, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Pa Adeyanju died on December 14, 2012.

He was 88.

A statement by one of the children, Pastor Kayode Adeyanju, said the burial will be preceeded by a Christian wake at the United African Methodist Church, Odo Ona on January 10.

It added that the burial will take place at the Sango Cemetery the following day.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

59

FOREIGN NEWS Opposition seeks court ruling ENEZUELA’S opposion Chavez tion leader Henrique

V

Capriles has urged the Supreme Court to rule on a dispute over what happens if President Hugo Chavez is not sworn in.

Capriles says the constitution sets January 10 as a deadline, and if Chavez cannot be sworn in, the National Assembly leader should act as caretaker president until new elections are held.

The government argues the inauguration is a formality for an incumbent leader.

Chavez, in hospital in Cuba after cancer surgery, is unlikely to attend.

In a news conference to discuss the constitutional row over Chavez’s inauguration, Capriles said Venezuelans had voted for President Chavez, not his vicepresident and ministers.

With 48 hours to go until

the inauguration, it was inconceivable that the government had still not revealed if Chavez would be able to attend, said Capriles.

“There is a constitutional conflict in Venezuela. I don’t know what the Supreme Court magistrates are waiting for,” he said.

“The country is waiting for a clear interpretation of what the constitution says.”

Chavez, 58, has been in power since 1999 but has not been seen in public since his latest operation last month, and government officials have acknowledged that he has suffered complications caused by a lung infection.

His condition was “stable”, and he was “responding to the treatment”, said Information Minister Ernesto Villegas in his latest update.

Capriles said the constitution states that Chavez’s

DR Congo rebels declare ceasefire

M

•Capriles holds the Venezuelan Constitution during the briefing...yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

term ends tomorrow.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, should take power, albeit temporarily, if Chavez is unfit to take his oath tomorrow, Capriles said.

“Chavez does not cease to be president if he cannot attend the inauguration. But

you cannot have a power void, and that is in the constitution.”

Government officials have stated that Chavez will remain in power beyond 10 January, as his absence is only temporary.

Attorney-general Cilia Gomes said that his oath can be taken at a later date.

23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a unilateral ceasefire ahead of a second round of peace talks with the government.

The rebels told a news conference in the Ugandan capital Kampala that they hoped the government would follow suit.

An attempt last month to negotiate an end to the nine-month rebellion in the east of the country failed.

Up to 800,000 people have been displaced since the rebels took up arms against the Kinshasa government in May. “We’ve been for peace... today we’re declaring that we’re in a ceasefire,” M23 spokesman Francois Rucogoza told the news conference in Kampala.

“Even if the government

Ex-US lawmaker launches gun FORMER US con- control campaign

India rape suspects deny charges A

T

HREE of the five men accused of the abduction, gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi will plead not guilty to all charges against them, their lawyer has said.

Manohar Lal Sharma told the BBC the three - Mukesh Singh, Akshay Thakur and Ram Singh - should get a fair trial.

The five accused were charged on Monday. The next hearing in the case will be held tomorrow.

The case has shocked India and prompted a debate about the treatment of women.

A sixth suspect, who is

thought to be 17, will be tried separately in a youth court if it is confirmed he is a minor.

Tomorrow, a magistrate is expected to transfer the case for trial to a special fast-track court.

If convicted, the suspects could face the death penalty.

Prosecutors have said they have extensive forensic evidence.

Sharma said he would file a representation letter on behalf of his clients tomorrow.

“I believe the accused should get a fair trial and I have come forward to represent them,” he said, adding that he plans to challenge the

police over their handling of the evidence linking the accused to the case.

It is not clear how the other two suspects - Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma will plead or who will represent them.

Earlier reports said they had offered to give evidence, possibly in return for a lighter sentence.

The lawyers’ association in the district of Saket, where hearings in the case are being held, has refused to defend the accused because of the outcry the crime has provoked.

The case has triggered numerous protests, as have suggestions by various public

figures that women themselves can be partly to blame for being raped.

Most recently the popular guru Asharam, known to his followers as “Bapu” or father, told followers that the tragedy would not have happened if the victim had chanted God’s name and fallen at the feet of the attackers.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, spokesman for the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, condemned the remarks.

“For him to make the statement in relation to a crime which has shocked the conscience of the country is not only unfortunate, but deeply regrettable,” he said.

UN agency: Syrians lack food aid

O

NE million Syrians are going hungry and helpless due to the 22-month civil conflict in the country, the UN says.

The World Food Program (WFP) says it is helping 1.5 million Syrians, but continued fighting and an inability to use the port of Tartus to deliver food mean many people are not receiving aid.

The UN estimates that more than 60,000 people have been killed in the uprising, which began in March 2011.

Rebels have gained con-

trol of swathes of northern Syria in recent months.

The increasingly dangerous situation meant the WFP had pulled its staff out of its offices in Homs, Aleppo, Tartus and Qamisly, said agency spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs.

Late 2012 saw a sharp rise in the number of attacks on WFP aid trucks, said the agency, which has also been hit by fuel shortages.

Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency said the number of refugees fleeing the violence in Syria had leapt by

nearly 100,000 in the past month.

It said there were 597,240 registered refugees and individuals awaiting registration as of 6 January - up from 509,559 the month before.

The UN estimates that around four million Syrians are in need of humanitarian aid.

Opposition forces have been making considerable gains in recent weeks, but their efforts to take control of areas around major cities including Damascus have

Indian troops killed in Kashmir

T

WO Indian soldiers have been shot dead in the disputed Kashmir region between India and Pakistan, officials say.

The Indian army said a patrol was attacked by Pakistani soldiers in “a grave provocation” near the so-called Line of Control.

Pakistan denied the accusation. The deaths came two days after a Pakistani soldier was killed near the LoC. Kashmir is claimed by both nations in its entirety and has been a flashpoint between them for more than 60 years.

Tuesday’s shootings took place near Mendhar, 220 km (140 miles) north of the Indian city of Jammu, Indian officials said.

The Indian army said in a statement that a group of regular Pakistani soldiers crossed the LoC, “having taken advantage of thick fog and mist in the forested area”.

The soldiers “were moving towards [their] own posts when an alert area domination patrol spotted and engaged the intruders”, it said.

A firefight broke out between Pakistan and Indian troops, lasting about half an hour before “the intruders retreated back towards their side” of the LoC, the Indian statement said.

The dead soldiers were named as Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh.

“This is yet another grave

provocation by [the Pakistan army] which is being taken up sternly through official channels,” the statement went on to say.

But Pakistani military officials denied what they described as an “Indian allegation of unprovoked firing”.

“It appears to be Indian propaganda to divert the attention of the world away from the Sunday raid on a Pakistani post by Indian troops in which a Pakistani soldier was killed,” they said.

Pakistan has alleged that Indian soldiers crossed the LoC at the time of Sunday’s incident, a charge denied by the Indian army.

Exchanges in the disputed area are not uncommon but rarely result in fatalities.

met with stiff resistance and increasingly destructive air strikes.

On Monday, the New York Times reported that Israeli intelligence indicated Syrian troops were mixing chemicals - suspected to be the deadly nerve gas sarin - at two storage sites, and filling dozens of 500-pound (225kg) bombs that could be loaded on airplanes.

The reports in late November prompted a flurry of international statements warning the regime of President Bashar al-Assad against using chemical weapons on his own people.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, GODSPOWER FRANCIS and GODSPOWER MGBEKE are one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as GODSPOWER FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Charity Kele, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. IGBO CHARITY UZOMA. All former documents remain valid, Abia state University, N.T.I, Ministry of Commerce and industry should please take note.

refuses to sign a ceasefire agreement we’ll continue with the negotiations,” he added.

M23 has accused the government of President Joseph Kabila of failing to honour an earlier peace deal to integrate rebels into the army.

The rebels made rapid gains late last year. They seized the main city in the region, Goma, in November, but withdrew under international pressure.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende said the government did not have much confidence in the rebel ceasefire, Reuters news agency reports.

“We don’t think we can see this as a concession from people who don’t tend to do what they say. We’ll wait and see. We want to know why [they’ve made the announcement],” he is quoted as saying.

gresswoman who survived a gunshot wound to her head during a mass shooting has launched a campaign against gun violence.

Gabrielle Giffords’ Americans for Responsible Solutions initiative aims to raise money for gun control efforts.

It comes as the White House holds talks with groups representing gunowners, victims and the video game industry.

A school shooting in December that killed 20 children and six adults has fuelled debate over gun violence.

Ms Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly - both gun owners -

wrote in USA Today on Tuesday: “In response to a horrific series of shootings... Congress has done something quite extraordinary - nothing at all.”

The couple also highlight the influence of the gun lobby, adding: “Achieving reforms to reduce gun violence and prevent mass shootings will mean matching gun lobbyists in their reach and resources.”

The initiative aims to counter the influence of powerful pro-gun groups such as the National Rifle Association, which in 2011 spent more money on lobbying than all gun control groups combined.

TODAY IN HISTORY

1957: Sir Anthony Eden resigns Sir Anthony Eden resigns as prime minister of Britain due to ill health after one year and 279 days in the post.

ITEMS FOR AUCTION SALES. 3(nos) 40 FT container of long grain rice.

12V Delphi, Auto and Truck Batteries...20ft container.(3000 pcs) each container.

40ft container of truck tyres and inner tubes.

20ft container of Eyquem long,and Champion Spark plugs.

2(nos)30 Tons R model Mack Dump Trucks.

1(nos)20 ft containers of Baby Wears.

1(nos)20 ft container of Brake fluids:Bendix 0.5L. 20 ft container of Heavy Duty Caterpillar Filters.

VENUE: TINCAN ISLAND PORT,LAGOS ENQUIRIES- 015873210,08027921284,08035004681.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

60

LAGOS ST ATE GOVERNMENT STA MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT ATION TRANSPORTA PUBLIC NOTICE DISPOSAL OF ABANDONED/UNCL AIMED VEHICLES ABANDONED/UNCLAIMED The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation hereby notify the general public, especially owners of vehicles impounded by the Ministry’s law enforcement agencies that 617nos vehicles (listed hereunder) that have been in its custody for upward of one (1) month and above have been slated for public auctioning if unclaimed by their owners within one (1) month from the date of this publication.

Members of the public whose vehicles appear on the list are hereby advised to claim them after payment of appropriate fines from Wednesday, January 9, 2013 – Friday, February 8, 2013. Thereafter, unclaimed vehicles shall be auctioned in accordance with Section 8 Subsections 5 and 6 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law (RTL) 2012 and Public Roads, Setbacks (social, religious and commercial function provision) Removal of Obstruction Law 2008.

As a follow up to this, interested members of the public desirous of participating in the auctioning exercise can inspect unclaimed vehicles of their choice at any of the underlisted vehicle depots of the Ministry of Transportation from Monday, February 11 – Friday, February 15, 2013.

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 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 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131

REG. NO GZ 52 KJA DB 212 MUS XX 816 EKY AX 498 AKD XR 833 EKY XG 833 MUS XJ 677 KTU QT 254 FKJ EZ 150 APP XA 342 SRA CU 744 SMK XV 635 LSR XA 593 YEE XN 440 KTU AS 159 KRD BG 800 KRD XM 487 GGE AA 983 FFA AG 243 ABS XA 721 ABB AL 417 KSF GP 165 AAA AP 426 GDD DD 929 AAA XC 659 KJA XF 636 FKJ DF 366 APP AH 487 AKR XK 220 BDG AH 482 BDG AU 947 LND XJ 236 MUS FA 209 LND AA 721 ABB XZ 304 BDG QR 181 JJJ QK 372 AGL QL 720 FKJ QP 46 GGE QN 759 MUS FE 623 EKY XL 659 KJA AH 943 MUS LA 390 SN AT 406 KTU XA 434 LAR CU 92 KTU AU 341 GRA AW 968 FST MG 945 AAA XC 278 AGG NO NUMBER AJ 623 FFF BU 91 JJJ AU 813 LND OT 866 BDG QS 971 FST QU 777 SMK QS 656 GGE QP 383 SMK QP 361 LSD QQ 94 LND QU 96 KJA QT 687 EPE QU 14 KTU QU 183 AAA NO NUMBER JT 31 AAA XH 855 AGL XG 234 KRD AZ 02 FST XF 855 EKY JH 37 KJA UB 577 LND XN 713 KRD XY 193 BDG XH 717 JJJ BZ 373 MUS BK 157 AGL ES 64 EKY AP 488 AAB BL 595 LSD XX 185 LSR XB 916 BDG AG 967 JJJ XN 537 KTU XL 824 FKJ AH 227 KNE XP 506 LND XW 107 AAA XC 983 GNN BM 42 LSD AJ 450 APP LS 699 AAA AQ 869 EPE XA 684 LAW XH 866 APP XB 516 BDG XA 204 FNN XR 719 AKD AJ 304 KTU XL 541 BDG XJ 579 AAA QY 801 LSD QP 922 APP QU 219 AAA QJ 130 FST QR 374 KTU QS 658 AAA QQ 837 EKY QP 67 APP QJ 453 AKD QY 23 KSF QU 459 KJA QT 170 MUS QM 643 MUS QQ 357 JJJ QU 254 AAA QG 933 EPE QB 180 DDA XD 748 LSR XK 729 ENU QN 510 LND QY 44 LND QR 629 FKJ QY 763 APP XD 726 KTU UK 602 KJA NO NUMBER EX 443 EKY HG 675 KJA

VEHICLE MAKE/TYPE OPEL CAR NISSAN CAR V/WAGEN BUS FORD CAR NISSAN BUS V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN BUS TRICYCLE RENAULT BUS V/WAGEN BUS NISSAN CAR FORD TRANSIT V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN BUS NISSAN CAR V/WAGEN PASSAT V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN PASSAT M/BENZ FORD BUS V/WAGEN BUS MITSUBISHI NISSAN BUS TOYOTA V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN LT BUS FORD SALOON CAR COSATER BUS MAZDA BUS DAEWOO RACER COROLLA SALOON TOYOTA CARINA CHEROKEE JEEP DAEWOO RACER FORD BUS BAJAJ TRICYCLE BAJAJ TRICYCLE BAJAJ TRICYCLE BAJAJ TRICYCLE BAJAJ TRICYCLE HONDA PRELUDE V/WAGEN BUS MITSUBISHI CAR PEUGEOT WAGON TOYOTA CROWN TOYOTA BUS MAZDA PEUGEOT TOYOTA V/WAGEN TOYOTA BUS HONDA CRX OPEL KADETT TOYOTA CARINA II V/WAGEN BEETLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE BAJAJ TRICYCLE 2TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE HONDA ACCORD V/WAGE BUS V/WAGEN BUS MITSUBISHI CAR NISSAN VANETTE SALOON CAR MITSUBISHI CAR HYUNDAI BUS V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN LT VOLVO ROVER CAR HONDA TOYOTA M/BENZ V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN BUS MAZDA RENAULT BUS V/WAGEN BUS M/BENZ MITSUBISHI BUS V/WAGEN BUS URVAN BUS V/WAGEN CAR MAZDA BUS NISSAN NISSAN V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN BUS MITSUBISHI BUS V/WAGEN BUS MITSUBISHI CAR V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TOYOTA ISUZU TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE TRICYCLE V/WAGEN TOYOTA PEUGEOT 505 PEUGEOT

COLOUR BLUE BLUE WHITE BLUE YELLOW BLUE YELLOW YELLOW WHITE LSCC ASH WHITE LSCC LSCC BLUE ASH LSCC ASH ASH YELLOW BLUE BLACK RED

LOCATION VIU APAPA VIU APAPA VIU APAPA VIU APAPA VIU APAPA VIU APAPA VIU APAPA VIU APAPA VIU IPAJA/AYOBO VIU IPAJA/AYOBO VIU IPAJA/AYOBO VIU IPAJA/AYOBO VIU IPAJA/AYOBO VIU IPAJA/AYOBO VIU IKORODU ZONE VIU IKORODU ZONE VIU IKORODU ZONE VIU IKORODU ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE LSCC VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE WHITE/BLUE VIU EJIGBO ZONE ASH VIU EJIGBO ZONE BLUE VIU EJIGBO ZONE LSCC VIU EJIGBO ZONE BLACK VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE YELLOW VIU EJIGBO ZONE YELLOW VIU EJIGBO ZONE YELLOW VIU EJIGBO ZONE YELLOW VIU EJIGBO ZONE YELLOW VIU EJIGBO ZON YELLOW VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU EJIGBO ZONE VIU APAPA ZONE VIU BADAGRY ZONE VIU BADAGRY ZONE VIU BADAGRY ZONE VIU BADAGRY ZONE VIU BADAGRY ZONE VIU BADAGRY ZONE VIU OTO AWORI, AGBARA VIU OTO AWORI, AGBARA VIU OTO AWORI, AGBARA VIU OTO AWORI, AGBARA VIU BARIGA ZONE, WESTEX VIU BARIGA ZONE, WESTEX VIU BARIGA ZONE, WESTEX VIU BARIGA ZONE, PAPELEHIN YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE YELLOW VIU ISHERI ZONE VIU ETI-OSA ZONE, AJAH VIU ETI-OSA ZONE, AJAH VIU ETI-OSA ZONE, AJAH VIU AJAH ZONE VIU AJAH ZONE VIU AJAH ZONE VIU AJAH ZONE BLUE VIU IPONRI ZONE VIU IPONRI ZONE VIU IPONRI ZONE ASH VIU OKO OBA BLACK VIU OKO OBA RED VIU OKO OBA ASH VIU OKO OBA BLUE VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA BLUE VIU OKO OBA RED VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA WHITE VIU OKO OBA ASH VIU OKO OBA BLUE VIU OKO OBA BROWN VIU OKO OBA BLUE VIU OKO OBA ASH VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA WHITE VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA ASH VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA GREEN/WHITE VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA GREEN/WHITE VIU OKO OBA VIU OKO OBA YELLOW VIU AYOBO IPAJA YELLOW VIU AYOBO IPAJA YELLOW VIU AYOBO IPAJA YELLOW VIU AYOBO IPAJA YELLOW VIU AYOBO IPAJA YELLOW VIU AYOBO IPAJA YELLOW VIU AYOBO IPAJA RED VIU ADEOLA ODEKU BLACK VIU AJAH ASH GBAGADA GREEN GBAGADA

S/N 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262

REG. NO QP 816 KJA NO NUMBER QR 008 KJA XE 687 GGE XL 450 EKY XG 994 FST FE 955 KJA XH 221 KJA XE 126 APP CG 267 AAA CF 800 SMK XM 77 BDG XN 496 FST XC 799 MAP XE 737 LSD BM 844 EKY BM 266 PHC AQ 399 KSF EQ 385 KSF AA 609 DEA XP 566 SMK CA 989 GGE BD 265 FST EC 974 EKY AJ 894 PHC XN 827 SMK RC 231 EPE AR 38 ARD CX 761 GGE XF 961 AAA DM 838 KJA XF 643 EKY XR 05 EKY FW 827 AAA XM 963 JJJ JA 604 AAA BD 351 FST XD 753 BDG BS 684 KSF CK 856 LSD BV 995 KRD HL 827 KJA FC 579 KJA DQ 75 ABC BW 236 AAA AA 84 SLK XE 376 JJJ BG 233 AAA AA 737 ERE AR 67 JJJ AV 128 LND FP 59 KJA JV 462 EKY DY 818 KRA AE 680 RSD BM 837 KTU EU 624 AAA XP 827 KJA GP 876 KJA DL 322 KJA AJ 802 AGL HN 933 KJA BV 787 GGE XB 132 KTP AU 594 KRD XX 88 GGE XK 262 SMK XB 149 FST XH 253 FST EJ 34 LND AM 519 LND AX 510 AGL CG 776 AAA XH 329 AAA XP 448 GGE XU 705 AKD AE 282 AMK CY 567 LND XK 180 EPE XH 334 KRD BL 126 ABJ AE 692 AKA CK 18 LND XF 544 AKD XD 973 NND AL 244 KSF NO NUMBER BE 372 MUS CV 547 LND DR 348 KJA AP 744 FKJ BT 422 JJJ AA 580 AGL BL 479 JJJ AJ 903 LSD FS 639 KJA XE 585 SMK XJ 744 LND XN 664 LSD BC 124 BDG XN 917 GGE XG 225 AKR XK 929 EKY AZ 11 LSR XB 159 KTP BU 700 JJJ XM 709 MUS DE 663 AAA XG 914 KSF XL 60 FKJ XB 498 JGB YE 213 KJA XS 559 AGL XL 554 MUS XS 215 AAA XM 465 FST DE 322 FST XL 385 SMK QT 866 BDG QW 402 KRD QJ 922 MUS XG 531 KTU BB 292 AKD XD 858 LND XT 966 EPE XS 815 LND AV 893 FKJ GE 47 KJA HL 650 AAA AT 370 MUS AS 606 KSF

VEHICLE MAKE/TYPE HONDA SUZUKI SUZUKI TOYOTA V/WAGEN V/WAGEN M/BENZ NISSAN FORD TOYOTA M/BENZ TOYOTA V/WAGEN AUDI TOYOTA TOYOTA M/BENZ NISSAN MAZDA MAZDA NISSAN MITSUBISHI TOYOTA OPEL CAR HYUNDAI BUS SUZUKI CAR LANCER CAR CAR MAZDA BUS MITSUBISHI JEEP LT BUS V/WAGEN CAR M/BENZ CAR V/WAGEN CAR MAZDA MAZDA V/WAGEN BUS TOYOTA NISSAN FORD CAR PASSAT MITSUBISHI OPEL HYUNDAI MAZDA NISSAN BUS OPEL HONDA DAEWOO RACER MITSUBISHI NISSAN BLUEBIRD M/BENZ BEDFORD PLUP MAZDA BUS PEIGEOT NISSAN MITSUBISHI BUS V/WAGEN BUS NISSAN HONDA TOYOTA TOYOTA JEEP PEUGEOT V/WAGEN IVECO BUS NISSAN BUS M/BENZ TRUCK V/WAGEN LT BUS V/WAGEN PEUGEOT VOLVO FORD V/WAGEN V/WAGEN V/WAGEN FORD V/WAGEN V/WAGEN V/WAGEN MITSUBISHI V/WAGEN NISSAN SUNNY V/WAGEN V/WAGEN LT MAZDA MITSUBISHI GALANT NISSAN NISSAN V/WAGEN VOLVO VOLVO MITSUBISHI PICK-UP M/BENZ TOYOTA MAZDA V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN BUS MAZDA MAZDA BUS V/WAGEN BUS

COLOUR NAVY BLUE BLUE BLUE YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW GREEN YELLOW BLUE WHITE GOLD YELLOW YALLOW YELLOW YELLOW RED YELLOW BLUE BLACK RED GREY GREEN BLACK BLACK GREEN LSCC RED BLUE WHITE LSCC BLUE LSCC LSCC CREAM LSCC WHITE BLUE YELLOW RED BLUE BLUE BLUE GREEN BLUE GREEN BLACK BLUE WHITE RED BLACK GREEN BLUE WHITE BLUE WHITE BLUE LIGHT GREEN YELLOW BLUE BLUE WINE BLUE BLUE BLUE LEMON GREEN BLACK YELLOW BLUE LSCC

WINE WHITE YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW WHITE YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW GREEN YELLOW RED YELLOW YELLOW ASH RED RED BLUE GREEN ASH GREEN ASH BLUE RED ASH YELLOW YELLOW YELLOW BLACK LSCC LSCC LSCC VOLVO BROWN V/WAGEN BUS LSCC VOLVO WHITE MITSUBISHI LSCC TOYOTA LSCC MITSUBISHI LANCER BLUE V/WAGEN GOLF LSCC MAZDA LSCC V/WAGEN LSCC V/WAGEN BUS LSCC V/WAGEN GOLF LSCC V/WAGEN BUS LSCC V/WAGEN LSCC MITSUBISHI BLUE V/WAGEN LSCC TRICYCLE RED TRICYCLE RED TRICYCLE RED V/WAGEN PASSAT LSCC AUDI 100 BLUE V/WAGEN BLUE/WHITE MITSUBISHI BUS GREEN V/WAGEN GOLD YELLOW OPEL OMEGA WINE MAZDA 626 GREAM KIA RIO WHITE PEUGEOT 504 GREY NISSAN BLUE

LOCATION ADEOLA ODEKU ADEOLA ODEKU ADEOLA ODEKU VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU ONIGBONGBO VIU BADAGRY ZONE VIU PWD VIU PWD VIU PWD VIU PWD VIU PWD VIU EPE VIU EPE VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IPONRI VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU IKORODU VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU OJOTA VIU MILE 2 ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE ADEKUNLE ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU IBA ZONE VIU OKE ODO VIU OKE ODO VIU OKE ODO VIU OKE ODO VIU OKE ODO VIU OKE ODO VIU OKE ODO VIU OKE ODO VIU COKER AGUDA, ISHOLA VIU COKER AGUDA, ISHOLA VIU COKER AGUDA, ISHOLA VIU COKER AGUDA, ISHOLA VIU COKER AGUDA, ISHOLA VIU COKER AGUDA, ISHOLA VIU COKER AGUDA, ISHOLA VIU COKER AGUDA, ISHOLA VIU COKER AGUDA, EMPIRE VIU COKER AGUDA, EMPIRE VIU COKER AGUDA, EMPIRE VIU COKER AGUDA, EMPIRE VIU COKER AGUDA, EMPIRE VIU COKER AGUDA, EMPIRE VIU COKER AGUDA, EMPIRE VIU BARIGA, WESTEX VIU BARIGA, WESTEX VIU BARIGA, WESTEX VIU BARIGA, WESTEX VIU BARIGA, WESTEX VIU BARIGA, WESTEX VIU BARIGA, WESTEX NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA

S/N 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393

REG. NO XX 572 EPE CQ 848 AAA CM 966 JJJ AX 233 EPE BF 37 KSF XW 626 LSR AA 329 ACA JN 135 KJA CQ 640 AAA AT 326 AKD AW 18 AKD DQ 537 LND DH 145 LSR XY 418 AAA NO NUMBER MT 165 FST AR 850 GGE XA 593 LND AL 745 GGE AS 239 EPE BC 943 KSF NO NUMBER XD 468 LND LA 344 SKH NO NUMBER AR 48 AGL JT 233 KJA QY 729 LND XC 248 KRD NO NUMBER BG 422 AAA NO NUMBER XC 815 LSN XL 114 AAA XC 698 LND XD 868 LND BD 340 PHC NO NUMBER AQ 173 LSR GL 302 EKY AS 606 KSF XU 829 FST NO NUMBER NO NUMBER NO NUMBER XA 88 ZUR AZ 219 BDG BR 285 EPE AG 257 AGL XT 512 AKD BL 223 AKD LC 826 KJA XA 497 TUN XY 551 AAA XY 471 MUS XG 139 AAA XW 127 EPE SZ 281 AAA GL 400 KJA XD 940 LSD XH 287 EPE XB 831 REE XD 747 UNN NO NUMBER XC 161 NND XR 501 KSF UC 522 KJA DD 324 SMK BS 883 AKD NO NUMBER XW 106 GGE AE 433 EDE DG 536 PHC BX 466 MUS AY 786 AKD UNREGISTERED NLC 64 LA AX 737 KRD CA 629 JJJ XX 278 GGE XV 881 KSF XA 859 DSZ XB 250 TKP XT 337 LND AG 548 FGE CL 799 FST AY 755 AGL BL 994 FST XQ 583 FKJ XV 287 SMK QX 364 KTU XD 504 RSH EM 13 KRD BU 631 KRD GV 819 KJA XN 490 KRD XY 477 GGE XY 520 AAA XH 545 LSR EP 896 LSR EW 415 EKY XS 443 GGE XQ 508 SMK AA 250 AVT CV 909 SMK BK 384 EKY FKJ 520 AA XT 365 AKD XC 151 WEN FH 55 KJA EJ 423 AAA XJ 244 AKR XM 232 KTU XD 854 EKY XL 118 AKD AQ 291 AAB BD 754 KSF XA 981 AKA XT 662 FKJ XK 770 BDG XY 833 AKD BX 289 MUS XM 467 KRD YA 106 KJA XE 960 FKJ XZ 456 KTU XM 232 EKY XA 465 ZLL XQ 132 LND XQ 43 FST AV 890 FKJ

VEHICLE MAKE/TYPE COLOUR V/WAGEN BUS LSCC V/WAGEN BLACK CARAVAN DODGE BROWN V/WAGEN BEETLE BLUE TOYOTA STARLET ASH V/WAGEN LT BUS LSCC V/WAGEN BLACK BMW BLACK V/WAGEN PASSAT LSCC MITSUBISHI BLUE DATSUN BUS BROWN HONDA PRELUDE BLUE V/WAGEN GOLF BLUE FORD BUS WHITE PEUGEOT 506 DARK GREEN V/WAGEN BLUE M/BENZ ASH V/WAGEN LSCC CAR BLACK V/WAGEN BEETLE RED CAR RED VOLVO WHITE V/WAGEN WHITE/BLUE V/WAGEN SANTANA BROWN V/WAGEN BEETLE BLUE NISSAN BROWN BMW BROWN TRICYCLE RED TOYOTA BUS NISSAN DODGE JEEP JETTA V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN BUS BEDFORD TRUCK V/WAGEN BUS JETTA V/WAGEN VOLVO M/BENZ NISSAN SUNNY MITSUBISHI CIVILLIAN SKODA TOYOTA STARLET OPEL KADETT TOYOTA STARLET THRYSER V/WAGEN BLUE NISSAN SILVER M/BENZ GREEN V/WAGEN LT LSCC NISSAN GREEN HONDA BLACK V/WAGEN LT LSCC GOLF LSCC V/WAGEN LSCC MAN TRUCK BUTTER BUS LSCC HONDA ACCORD BLACK TOYOTA COROLLA LIGHT GRAY V/WAGEN LT LSCC VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC MAZDA LSCC FORD WHITE TOYOTA LSCC V/WAGEN LSCC SIENNA GRAY M/BENZ BLACK NISSAN BLUE RANG ROVER BROWN V/WAGEN LT LSCC LEXUS BLACK HONDA ASH HONDA BLACK MITSUBISHI LANCER ASH LEXUS BUS WHITE LEXUS BUS GREEN/WHITE NISSAN BUTTER MAZDA RED M/BENZ LSCC V/WAGEN LT WHITE V/WAGEN LSCC V/WAGEN LT WHITE V/WAGEN LT LSCC HONDA GREY FORD ASH MAZDA GOLD HONDA ASH V/WAGEN LT LSCC V/WAGEN WHITE TRICYCLE LSCC NISSAN GREEN OPEL WINE BENZ OPEL VANAGON MAN DIESEL MAZDA VANAGON PRIMERA PRIMERA VANAGON V/WAGEN GREEN/WHITE M/BENZ BROWN GOLF SILVER M/BENZ BLUE XTERRA SILVER V/WAGEN LSCC V/WAGEN LSCC TOYOTA WINE OPEL WINE MITSUBISHI YELLOW V/WAGEN YELLOW MITSUBISHI GREEN V/W YELLOW TOYOTA BLUE HONDA GOLD TOYOTA YELLOW VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC BENZ LSCC NISSAN WHITE VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC VANAGON LSCC PEUGEOT BLACK

LOCATION NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA NCI, GBAGADA VIU GBAGADA VIU GBAGADA VIU GBAGADA VIU GBAGADA VIU GBAGADA VIU GBAGADA VIU GBAGADA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA VIU BARIGA LASTMA ZONE 1, OLOWU LASTMA ZONE 1, OLOWU LASTMA ZONE 1, OLOWU LASTMA ZONE 1, OLOWU LASTMA ZONE 2, ALAUSA LASTMA ZONE 2, ALAUSA LASTMA ZONE 2, ALAUSA LASTMA ZONE 2, ALAUSA LASTMA ZONE 2, ALAUSA LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 3, IPONRI LASTMA ZONE 4, SHODI LASTMA ZONE 4, OSHODI LASTMA ZONE 5, MILE 2 LASTMA ZONE 5, MILE 2 LASTMA ZONE 5, MILE 2 LASTMA ZONE 5, MILE 2 LASTMA ZONE 5, MILE 2 LASTMA ZONE 5, MILE 2 LASTMA ZONE 6, AGEGE LASTMA ZONE 6, AGEGE LASTMA ZONE 7, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 7, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 7, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 7, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 7, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 7, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 8, IKORODU LASTMA ZONE 9, VI LASTMA ZONE 9, VI LASTMA ZONE 9, VI LASTMA ZONE 9, VI LASTMA ZONE 9, VI LASTMA ZONE 9, VI LASTMA ZONE 9, VI LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 10, MARYLAND LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

61

SPORT EXTRA AHEAD CAPE VERDE FRIENDLY

GLO SOCCER ACADEMY EVICTIONS

Keshi to field strong squad •Minister trains with Eagles

I

T is most likely that Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi will line up a very strong squad to face the National team of Cape Verde in another friendly match tonight in Faro Portugal. This has become Imperative because of the presence of Nigerian Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, who breezed into the Faro, Portugal camp of the national team at noon on Tuesday and in no short time, joined the team in training. This underlined his youthfulness as he still found the time to be at both sessions held at 3:30pm Portuguese time (4:30pm Nigeria), observing every move of the players and the Stephen Keshi led technical crew.

In company of the Director, Elite Athletes in the Sports Ministry, Dr Bolaji Ojo-Oba, the minister took time to make a personal observation and declared that he was encouraged to come and watch the team in Faro, Portugal, after a superlative performance against the Catalan selected side, which the Eagles held to a 1-1 draw in Barcelona last Wednesday.

The Minister will be the Special Guest at the Algarve Stadium in Faro, Portugal, when the national team takes on their Cape Verde counterparts in another tune up game ahead of the South Africa 2013 championship.

“The Eagles have raised the

hope of every Nigerian by their performance in the game against Catalonia and we hope it will be the same spirit that the team will take to South Africa for the Nations Cup proper”, Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya quotes the Minister as saying.

The Minister did not formally address the players after Tuesday’s evening

training but assured that still he was still around, he will address the team after the game against Cape Verde, obviously with a message from President Goodluck Jonathan. “So far I’m impressed with the tactical approach of the coaches and I see this collection of players doing us proud at the Nations Cup”, he said.

Meanwhile, the list of 23 players who will don the national colours at the

AFCON 2013 championship will be made public Wednesday.

Head Coach Stephen Keshi said he has heard of a list making the rounds in Nigeria but urged soccer-loving Nigerians to ignore the list purportedly issued by him.

“We will give out the names of the 23-man squad on Wednesday, I plead with Nigerians to be a little bit patient with us because it’s a difficult thing to do”, he said.

Shittu bares mind on AFCON snub

N

IGERIAN defender, Danny Shittu has finally broken his silence on why he turned down a chance to be part of the 2013 Afcon in South Africa.

Shittu, 32, was named in Nigeria's provisional squad for the Africa Cup of Nations by head coach, Stephen Keshi.

But the Millwall centre-back rejected the offer and has now explained the rationale behind his decision in an official statement released by QSM Limited on Monday.

"I'm honoured to have been called up for the Super Eagles squad but I am disappointed to say that the timing for me this year is unfortunate as I have a lot of personal commitments which would make it hard for me to give my ALL to the National Team as you know whenever I wear the Super Eagles jersey, I

always give 100%.

"My heart will always be with the Super Eagles and I wish my team mates all the best in the coming Nations Cup tournament," rounded off Shittu in his statement.

Millwall manager, Kenny Jackett, had first made a statement saying that Shittu will reject Nigeria's call to be part of their pre-Afcon plans.

"I don't think he's going to go and I don't think he's been in touch with them. At the moment that's the decision.

"It was a surprise but it shows how well Danny has done. He's only in the preliminary squad so that's going to be cut down.

"But congratulations to him because he's in there based on his performances," Jackett had said.

The AFCON will hold between January 19 and

February 10 with Nigeria's Super Eagles starting off their campaign against Burkina Faso on January 21.

Lagos monarch urges youths to channel energy to sports

T

HE Oba of Ijora Kingdom in Lagos State, Oba AbdulFatai Aromire Ojora has advised youths to invest their bustling energies into sporting activities that would bring glory to the country rather than indulging in venal practices like crime and violence.

Oba Ojora gave the advice in his palace while receiving, Master Sodiq Ayinde, one of the evictees from the on-going TV Soccer Reality Show, the Glo Soccer Academy.

He urged youths in the country to emulate their colleagues in the Soccer Academy by combining academics with sports rather than joining delinquent groups to wreak havoc on the society.

Oba Ojora commended Sodiq for bringing glory and honour to Ijoraland and urged the evictee

not to be demoralised by his eviction from the Academy, but to use the wealth of experience gathered to improve his dexterity in football .

Speaking in an interview, Sodiq, an SS 2 Student of Ifo Model Grammar School, Coker Village said he was happy to have been tutored by world-class coaches at the Academy, adding that his world view had changed from the ghetto mentality he had before going to the Academy.

“I need to work on my finishing as a striker. I also hope to play for Manchester United one day. I will not like to start my football career in Spain. I thank Globacom for this oncein-a-lifetime opportunity given to young boys to showcase our skills. May God continue to bless the organisation...” Sodiq added.

RCA WRESTLEFORCE EXTRAVAGANZA

Hogan, Flair to storm Rivers State •Wrestlers fight for $75,000 prize money

R

ENOWNED wrestling champions, Hulk Hogan and Rick Flair will storm Rivers State, Nigeria for the maiden Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi (RCA) Wrestleforce Extravaganza.

Speaking at a press briefing at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos yesterday, Coordinator of the championship, Prince Hameed Olanrewaju said the championship, which will be held at two senatorial districts in Rivers State, will feature at

least 300 wrestlers spread across the various continents.

With 75,000 US Dollars up for grabs as the prize money for the championship, the local Organising Committee, (LOC) is headed by Mr. Anthony Banigo, an indigene of Bonny Island, who has been mandated to organise a befitting competition to honour Governor Amaechi for his contributions to sports development in Rivers.

"We are in fruitful discussion with Hulk Hogan for him to be

the Match Commissioner and Rick Flair as the Ring-side Judge for the championship," Prince Mohammed, a former Nigerian wrestling champion said.

"Other notable wrestlers coming for the event include Chris Bambikiller Raaber of USA, Headshrinker Alofa (USA), Marimitsu (Japan), Rosto Poulet (France), Giant Dee (Mexico), Big Boss (Australia), Loco Mason (Wales), Brody Steele (Canada), Auraora Singh ( India), Ridvan Faraq (Kuwait), Noudeen Michael (Angola) and Michael Kovac (Hong Kong).

CONTINUED S/N 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470

REG. NO VEHICLE MAKE/TYPE AW 161 BDG MITSUBISHI XT 257 LND VANAGON AT 272 USL NISSAN CP 628 MUS PASSAT XB 990 AAA VANAGON CA 714 RSH TOYOTA KC 30 KJA HONDA FST 855 XA V/WAGEN XR 761 SMK V/WAGEN LT QU 362 EPE TRICYCLE XU 57 LSR DAF AM 848 LSR LEYLAND TRAILER XC 104 DDR MACK TRAILER TANKER BODY TANKER YR 457 KRD V/WAGEN XU 947 KJA GMC XA 723 FGG MACK XD 207 LND FIAT NO NUMBER IVECO XA 864 MGA DAF NO NUMBER IVECO XA 933 WSW FIAT MF 820 AAA OPEL BX 188 KSF V/WAGEN DS 391 GGE TOYOTA CAMRY XC 689 FFA MAZDA 323 XJ 354 EKY TOYOTA HIACE AY 786 AKD MITSUBISHI CP 572 LND MAZDA XH 642 AGL V/WAGEN IM 825 WC TOYOTA EJ 510 KJA M/BENZ AR 772 KRD BENZ JS 124 KJA PEUGEOT AE 402 FUF PEUGEOT XP 907 FKJ MAN XM 104 JJJ MAN XR 388 KSF MAN AA 494 WSN PEUGEOT XB 875 EGB FUOLS GT 787 AAA GATEN BR 783 FKJ PEUGEOT HL 454 KJS BLUEBIRD AV 09 AGL NISSAN KL 785 EKY FORD CL 727 RSH MAZDA LW 47AAA HONDA YA 616 EPE V/WAGEN PASSANT BQ 106 MUS TOYOTA BB 241 BDG MAZDA AM 80 TTD MAZDA GE 333 MUS M/BENZ NU 726 KJA HONDA EE 705 EKY DAEWOO LEGANZA XA 502 MEK MAZDA 232 AU 528 LSR PEUGEOT 605 XH 471 NSH VANAGON XV 656 AAA VANAGON EL 654 KRD MITSUBISHI DY 370 AAA MAXIMA CAR XC 861 AGL MITSUBISHI XF 792 AKD VANAGON FC 536 KRD NISSAN BT 655 KTU BMW AV 811 FST NISSAN FV 700 EKY HONDA BV 776 FKJ LEXUS MY 880 KJA NISSAN BU 615 GGE MAZDA XZ 216 JJJ VANAGON XA 481 GUE M/BENZ TRUCK XV 102 AKV MACK XV 491 BBR MACK AE 58 ANG NISSAN XM 571 SMK V/WAGEN XN 560 JJJ V/WAGEN LT XH 898 FST FORD

COLOUR LOCATION GOLD LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LSCC LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LSCC LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY BLACK LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY LSCC LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY WINE LASTMA ZONE 11, ANTHONY ASH LASTMA ZONE 12, ALAUSA LSCC LASTMA ZONE 12, ALAUSA LSCC LASTMA ZONE 12, ALAUSA YELLOW LASTMA ZONE 12, ALAUSA WHITE & RED LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA GREEN LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA WHITE LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA WHITE LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA RED LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA BLUE/BLACK LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA ASH LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA ASH LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA WHITE LASTMA ZONE 13, APAPA WHITE LASTMA ZONE 14, AJAH GREY LASTMA ZONE 14, AJAH BLUE LASTMA ZONE 14, AJAH WINE LASTMA ZONE 14, AJAH SKY BLUE LASTMA ZONE 14, AJAH WHITE LASTMA ZONE 14, AJAH ASH LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU BLUE/WHITE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU LSCC LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU WHITE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU ASH LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU ORANGE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU BLACK LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU BLUE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU WHITE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU WHITE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU WHITE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU BLUE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU GREEN LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU WHITE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU ASH LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU BLUE LASTMA ZONE 15, SHOMOLU WINE LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA ASH LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA WHITE/GREEN LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA LSCC LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA GREY LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA RED LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA WHITE LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA WHITE LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA BLACK LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA BLUE LASTMA ZONE 16, PEN-CINEMA BLACK LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO BLUE LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO BLACK LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LSCC LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LSCC LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO WHITE LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO RED LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO ASH LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LSCC LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO BLUE LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO BLACK LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO WINE LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO BLUE LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO BLACK LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO RED LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO RED LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LSCC LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO WHITE/ORANGE LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO WHITE LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO WHITE/BROWN LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO BROWN LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LSCC LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LSCC LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LSCC LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO

S/N 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547

REG. NO XQ 353 LNG CG 831 LSR AG 125 BGN HS 671 EKY XC 483 EKY XL 254 KSF XE 366 FST KJ 187 AGL XC 434 UMA XN 705 LSR FKJ 158 XA XV 433 LND XD 150 FSL XK 308 AKD XL 970 KTU AR 303 BDJ XB 791 YAB FF 630 KRD XY 989 AKD APP 125 XA XL 937 MUS AJ 186 LUY CQ 890 MUS DS 229 LSR XZ 04 FST NO NUMBER DS 207 LND XS 317 JJJ XN 123 AKD FH 32 AKJ XB 150 KRD AT 298 EPE NX 884 AAA BX 398 EKY DH 932 LSR BJ 262 EPE CL 411 LSR EE 704 KRD XX 435 KJA HA 640 KJA BC 660 EPE NO NUMBER CW 246 GGE EM 681 AAA CW 784 LSR BH 488 AKD EP 359 EKY XT 700 EKY XP 908 LSR AZ 174 RSH DF 764 MUS UWN 829 AA XU 100 AKD XY 261 AAA FW 164 EKY DE 404 MUS XX 435 KAJ XM 777 AAA NO NUMBER XV 344 FKJ XN 414 ENU XA 978 PTG XP 287 FKJ XN 934 EPE FW 974 AAA DE 03 LND NO NUMBER AQ 845 FST HA 640 KJA EE 245 LND XC 561 TTD DR 152 GGE XJ 978 FST EJ 391 LSD AG 79 KTS NO NUMBER DA 833 LND

VEHICLE MAKE/TYPE BENZ BENZ BMW BENZ MITSUBISHI V/WAGEN LT VANAGON VANAGON DAEWOO BUS V/WAGEN GOLF MIDI BUS RENAULT V/WAGEN V/WAGEN V/WAGEN HONDA MITSUBISHI MITSUBISHI V/WAGEN RENAULT M/BENZ CAR V/WAGEN BUS V/WAGEN V/WAGEN LT CAR NISSAN MINI BUS MINI BUS MINI BUS PEUGEOT DATSUN NISSAN BLUEBIRD CHRYSLER VOYAGE SUNNY VOLVO MAZDA HONDA NISSAN VANAGON BMW DODGE TOYOTA MITSUBISHI M/BENZ M/BENZ M/BENZ TOYOTA VANAGON V/WAGEN LT TOYOTA COROLLA MAZDA 626 VOYAGE VANAGON GOLF HONDA MAZDA V/WAGEN TRUCK LUXIRIUS TRAILER TRAILER TRUCK TRAILER BUS TOYOTA M/BENZ COLES TRACTO TOYOTA BMW CHRSYLER LT PICK-UP BMW LT. BUS ACURA MAZDA NISSAN MAZDA

COLOUR LSCC GREEN ASH GREEN WHITE LSCC WHITE WHITE WHITE YELLOW WHITE LSCC LSCC ASH WHITE RED LSCC LSCC LSCC BROWN WHITE V/WAGEN LSCC BLACK ASH LSCC LSCC GREY MILK GREY BLUE WINE LIGHT BLUE BROWN WINE WHITE LSCC BLACK GREEN WHITE SILVER BLUE WHITE BLUE CREAM GREY LSCC RED YELLOW BLACK LSCC LSCC GOLD ASH LSCC BLUE WHITE WHITE WHITE WHITE WHITE WHITE RED ASH WHITE WHITE WHITE GREEN BLUE WHITE LSCC ASH ASH ASH ASH

LOCATION LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LASTMA ZONE 17, OJO LASTMA ZONE 18, IKOYI LASTMA ZONE 18, IKOYI LASTMA ZONE 18, IKOYI LASTMA ZONE 18, IKOYI LASTMA ZONE 18, IKOYI LASTMA ZONE 19, OKE ODO LASTMA ZONE 19, OKE ODO LASTMA ZONE 20, PWD LASTMA ZONE 20, PWD LASTMA ZONE 20, PWD LASTMA ZONE 20, PWD LASTMA ZONE 20, PWD LASTMA ZONE 20, PWD LASTMA ZONE 20, PWD LASTMA ZONE 21, MUSHIN LASTMA ZONE 21, MUSHIN LASTMA ZONE 21, MUSHIN LASTMA ZONE 21, MUSHIN LASTMA ZONE 21, MUSHIN LASTMA ZONE 21, MUSHIN LASTMA ZONE 22, ORILE LASTMA ZONE 22, ORILE LASTMA ZONE 22, ORILE LASTMA ZONE 22, ORILE LASTMA ZONE 22, ORILE LASTMA ZONE 23, EPE LASTMA ZONE 23, EPE LASTMA ZONE 24, BADAGRY LASTMA ZONE 24, BADAGRY LASTMA ZONE 24, BADAGRY LASTMA ZONE 24, BADAGRY LASTMA ZONE 24, BADAGRY LASTMA ZONE 25, BARIGA LASTMA ZONE 25, BARIGA LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 27, EJIGBO LASTMA ZONE 28, AJEGUNLE LASTMA ZONE 28, AJEGUNLE LASTMA ZONE 31, MILE 2 LASTMA ZONE 31, MILE 2 LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI

S/N 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617

REG. NO XV 954 SMK YC 526 KJA CF 104 MUS BJ 544 MUS XL 535 ENU BC 721 SMK NO NUMBER AJ 963 JBD AV 558 BDG FV 637 AAA KK 125 EKY FS 876 ABC XR 403 LSR BQ 729 KSF BB 741 KRD GW 353 KJA XU 12 GGE BK 59 AKD XP 526 EKY XK 757 KTU NO NUMBER XM 780 KSF XV 719 APP XR 316 KTU NO NUMBER AW 989 BDG NO NUMBER XN 538 AKD XF 836 AKD BX 536 MUS XJ 529 BDG FF 478 KJA DM 327 LND AT 245 AKD LK 675 AAA AG 632 BNY XM 784 GBK XQ 176 KRD XM 764 FKJ AE 836 AJW CG 700 AAA XF 704 EKY HK 578 EKY MV 02 APP CN 221 EKY NJ 179 AAA AJ 465 AKD ME 75 KJA BB 913 LSD CM 286 KTU DD 254 AAA AA 423 APP NO NUMBER NO NUMBER KM 135 AAA GT 553 KJA NO NUMBER CL 418 LSD CV 796 GGE NO NUMBER AT 326 AKD AW 18 KRD CQ 640 AAA NO NUMBER DH 145 LSR AR 850 GGE JT 233 KJA MT 165 FST DQ 537 LND NO NUMBER

VEHICLE MAKE/TYPE V/WAGEN URVAN TOYOTA LEXUS BUS V/WAGEN HIAB VAN BMW OPEL RENAULT HONDA V/WAGEN HONDA VOLVO BMW V/WAGEN HONDA V/WAGEN RENAULT BUS MAZDA TRUCK 2TRUCK TRUCK TRUCK BENZ BENZ FIAT HEAD PICK-UP PASSAT FORD V/WAGEN BMW CANDOR BENZ BMW HONDA TRUCK TRUCK TRUCK BUS MITSUBISHI JEEP V/WAGEN M/BENZ CIVILLIAN COASTER TOYOTA HONDA ACCORD NISSAN SUNNY HONDA CIVIC BMW AUDI TOYOTA CAMRY DAEWOO CAR SAABA CAR V/WAGEN BUS JEEP CHEVROLET GALLANT CAR TOYOTA CARINA II PICK UP BENZ CAR LT BUS TOYOTA CELICA TOYOTA LITE ACE V/WAGEN V/WAGEN V/WAGEN GOLF BENZ CAR BMW V/WAGEN BORA HONDA PRELUDE PEUGEOT BUS

COLOUR LSCC LSCC RED BLACK LSCC LSCC BLUE WHITE ASH ASH BLUE BLUE LSCC GREEN BLUE BLUE LSCC PURPLE LSCC BLACK ORANGE RED GREEN WHITE LSCC GREEN LSCC BLUE BLUE BLUE ASH ASH BLUE GREEN YELLOW WHITE GREEN LSCC BLUE WHITE/BLUE GREY WINE BLACK GREY LIGHT GREEN BLACK BLUE BLACK BLACK YELLLOW GREEN WINE WINE ORANGE ASH YELLOW BLACK BUTTER BLACK DARK BLUE GREEN GREY GOLD BLUE BLACK GREEN

LOCATION LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI LASTMA HQ, OSHODI ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED OJODU ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ ABANDONED LASTMA HQ

Signed: J. O. Coker, mni Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

62

SPORT EXTRA Ferrer begins fourth Auckland title bid

F

ERRER says he won’t need the support of the usually strong Spanish armada as he begins his quest to join Australian great Roy Emerson as a four-time winner of the Auckland Open.

The top four seeds in Auckland join the tournament for Wednesday’s second round after getting byes in the first round and they are headed by Ferrer, who begins his bid for a fourth title when he takes on Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan.

Spanish players have dominated the Auckland tournament numerically for the past few years, and the fleet has been led by world number five Ferrer, whose three Auckland victories include titles in 2011 and 2012.

But the armada has mostly sailed for Australia in 2013, with only two berthing in Auckland - Albert Ramos, who was beaten in the first round, and Ferrer.

“Of course I prefer when there are more Spanish players,” Ferrer said.

“But if they are not then no worry, I am focused with me.”

Ferrer is coming off a season in which he won seven titles, including his first ATP Masters 1000 series in Paris.

He will be highly fancied to join Emerson as a four-time tournament winner but says his attention is on his game with Lu, who earned his second round place with a three-set win over Benoit Paire of France on Tuesday night.

“To win one ATP title anywhere it’s difficult but to win four times in the same tournament is much more difficult,” Ferrer said.

“But I’m not thinking if I win here or not, I am only focused on my next match.”

Also beginning their Auckland campaigns are two highly-ranked Germans, second seed Philipp Kohlschreiber and third seed Tommy Haas.

Sanya Richards-Ross talks to David Cox about ... H

‘Tyson’ Marquez set for comeback

SANYA Richards-Ross first dreamed of winning an individual Olympic gold at the age of nine. On August 5, 2012 she finally completed a journey which has seen her experience plenty of the unforgiving side of sport at the highest level.

For an athlete who clocked a scorching 48.70 back in 2006 to break the US 400m record, her winning time in London was a relatively pedestrian 49.55. But in 2012, Richards-Ross wasn’t interested in fast times. This time it was purely gold on her mind, whatever it took.

“I remember when I sat down with my dad and I talked about this year, after having a very disappointing 2011 coming off of injuries, my goal this season was to win,” she says.

“I didn’t care if it was 50 seconds which won the race, I just wanted to compete well every single time and beat my competition.

“I really watched how Christine

(Ohuruogu) executes her race when she’s on and how Amantle Montsho was running her race, and I really just trained to try to beat them. And I think I was successful in doing that.”

When we speak, it’s three months since the Olympics and training has already begun for the IAAF World Championships in Moscow. But for Richards-Ross, her triumph is still just sinking in.

She says: “Oh it’s such a relief. Big time, big time. I’ve wanted it for so long, since I was a little girl. I of course had success in the relay, which I don’t take for granted because those were sweet moments, but it’s just great to finally have won one individually in an event I work on every day so, yeah for sure, it feels like a huge weight off my shoulders.

It’s a great relief.”

To understand just how much this medal means to Richards-Ross, one has to rewind the clock four years, to a time when she

was experiencing very different emotions.

She arrived in Beijing as the overwhelming favourite for gold but, beset by nerves, she went out far too fast in the final and was overhauled by both Christine Ohuorugu and Shericka Williams in the last 100m. She still came away with an individual bronze and gold in the relay but, as far as she was concerned, it might as well have been nothing.

“Man, every time I reflect on that time and talk about it I realise that it still kind of carries a little bit of sadness for me,” she says.

“Sometimes I talk about it and I still cry about it, but it was a very, very, very difficult time for me.

“I took a few months off and I remember I was still crying a little bit about it and Coach (Clyde) Hart, who’s just the best ever, kept telling me, ‘You have to get past this. Your best is still yet to come,’ and so I was able to start my training and in 2009

I had an extremely successful year, a great way to rebound, but it was really difficult right after Beijing.”

But now, instead of looking back, Richards-Ross knows it’s about looking forward. So what does 2013 have in store?

“My goal now for 2013 is to get back under 49 seconds and do it more than I’ve ever done it,” she asserts. “I’m really going to start focusing in on my race again. For me, I think my speed’s always there. For me the secret is in my execution and this year I was a little bit tentative on the back stretch all season long. I had Beijing in my mind and so I was just wanting to make sure that I finished strong.

“For me the secret to running the fast times is really executing my back stretch well and not losing too much momentum as I build back up my speed. In 2013 I really want to knock some more off my American record. I think it’s time to do that.”

ERNAN “Tyson” Marquez is ready for his comeback. Zanfer Promotions announced that the former flyweight titlist will fight an opponent to be determined on March 23 in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Don’t miss any of the latest boxing coverage from around the world. Follow us on Twitter and stay informed. Join » The 24-year-old Marquez (34-3, 25 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since Nov. 17, when he was dropped three times and stopped in the 10th round of a tremendous slugfest with Brian Viloria in a flyweight title unification bout in Los Angeles.

According to Zanfer’s Fernando Beltran, Marquez will fight on March 23 — at the Estadio Nuevo Sonora, home of the Caribbean World Series next month — and then seek a rematch with Viloria.

“There are great plans for ‘Tyson’ Marquez and we will seek a rematch with Viloria for the second half of 2013,” Beltran said. “But if Viloria decides to climb to junior bantamweight then ‘Tyson’ will seek the WBO flyweight title that would become vacant.

Hernan Marquez has our full support.

The public likes him, he is young, healthy and very dedicated, and certainly will be world champion again.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013

63

NEWS PDP BoT fails to elect chairman

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) last night failed to elect its chairman.

At the end of a three-hour meeting at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the board raised a sixmember committee to review it membership which generated controversy at the meeting.

Former Information Minister Prof Jerry Gana is chairman of the committee. Other members are: Alhaji Shettima Mustapha, Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Senator Stella Omu and fomer Deputy Nationa chairman Chief Olabode George.

The committee was given three weeks to submit a re-

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

port.

The committee will determine the authentic members of the board. These will include those who are statutory members, the founding members and those elected for a period of time.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada Chief Ojo Maduekwe spoke to reporters early today on the outcome of the meeting alongside Board’s Secretary, Senator Walid Jibrin, who was asked to continue in that position, Prof. Gana, and Presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati.

Maduekwe said the committee would align the membership of the board to en-

sure that the election is a model of internal democracy.

He said the meeting did not discuss or endorse any of the twelve candidates.

“The meeting did not come close to election, nomination or endorsement of any aspirant. There was no deadlock and no gridlock,” he said. He also denied the existence of major cracks in the PDP family.

He however admitted some form of disagreements as a result of different interests.

On the Adamawa crisis, Gana said the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has set up a committee made up of President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo,

leaders of the National Assembly and some elders to resolve the crisis.

Jibrin confirmed the 12 members who showed interest in the BoT chairmanship as: Dr Alex Ekwueme, Dr Ken Nnamani, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Dr Amadu Ali, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, Chief Don Etibet, Chief Yekeen Adeojo, Senator Onyeabor Obi, Chief Harry Akande and Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun.

President Jonathan presided over the meeting which was attended by Vice President Sambo; President of the Senate David Mark and Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwwal.

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was absent.

2015: Govt crackdown on opposition leaders likely Continued from page 4

The party said a fortune had been earmarked for the phased campaign, which has already started with a welloiled media war, being waged especially online, denigrating these leaders. ‘’Some key government agencies have also been coopted to dig up any dirt they hope can be plastered on the targeted leaders while foreign intelligence agencies have been contacted in a desperate attempt to unearth any information that can be used to discredit and disgrace these major opposition figures thus distracting them from the merg-

er plans. ‘’Indications are that highly-combustible sectional and religious issues that are being manipulated by desperate forces to divide and destroy are not off the table as long as exploiting them can shut down the opposition. Or how else does one interpret a recent PDP statement that President Goodluck Jonathan is being criticised by the opposition because he is from a minority ethnic group? ‘’And what about the continuous efforts, which have failed so far, to portray a key opposition leader as a sponsor of Boko Haram? His nom-

ination as a ‘facilitator’ of some phantom peace talks was not an accident, but was carefully choreographed to portray him as a religious zealot and terrorist not fit to preside over the affairs of the nation,’’ it said.

The ACN warned that every action of the PDP-led Federal Government concerning the stated evil machinations will be put under the microscope henceforth, and called on all lovers of democracy and the rule of law to be on the alert in the days and weeks ahead to help forestall the evil plan. ‘’Those who either conveniently acquiesced or opted to

dine with the devil when many progressives took to the trenches during the long, bitter and gruelling battle to enthrone the democracy we are now enjoying apparently do not value it, and will stop at nothing to endanger it on the altar of selfish personal interests and political expediency. ‘’It is, therefore, incumbent on all Nigerians, especially those who believe that all hands must be on deck to nurture and strengthen our democracy, to be vigilant. After all, it is said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,’’ the AC N said.

Governors meet on Constitution amendment Continued from page 4

bers of the National Executive Committee (NEC). By ignoring our advice, Tukur believes we are unimportant.

“The challenge at stake is not about Governor Murtala Nyako but it borders on the deliberate slight of the PDP Governors Forum.

“Were it not for the intervention of the President, we also know what to do because governors are certainly in charge of party structure. The PDP Chairman and his team have been violating PDP Constitution.

They have not called NEC meeting regularly as enshrined in the party’s constitution.

“We are certainly taking our anger against the PDP National chairman to Mr. President.

We want the kangaroo congress nullified.”

Asked what was really at stake in Adamawa, the source added: “It is about power struggle to hijack the PDP structure in the state ahead of 2015 poll.

“This is the type of the problem which led to the sudden exit of a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.”

A party leader in Adamawa said: “We are happy that the President is intervening because he would be able to have a first hand knowledge of how Governor Nyako has hijacked the PDP structure.

“The main issue is that the governor does not believe in a transparent and democratic process. The National Secretariat of the PDP stood by the truth and due process. The conduct

of the congresses was not a personal agenda of the National Chairman.

The acting Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Nathan Musa, had on January 2, stopped the conduct of the state congresses.

Justice Musa restrained the PDP Caretaker Committee, following complaints against the conduct of the ward congresses of December 27, last year.

But the Caretaker Committee went ahead with the ward and local government congresses.

It was learnt that PDP stakeholders defied the court order because it was alleged that the governor hurriedly appointed the acting CJ to stop the congresses.

A leader of the party in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, said the appointment of Justice Musa as an acting Chief Judge was a violation of Section 271 Subsection 1 of the Nigerian constitution He said “such an appointment is not only unconstitutional but a direct disregard to the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Federation Maryam Alooma Mukthar.

“The Chief Justice of the Federation, wrote a letter to the state governor which specifically requested the governor to forward the name of Justice Bathimawus Popo Lawi being the most senior justice of Adamawa State for appointment as substantive Chief Justice of the state and to forward to her office the date of his confirmation and swearing in. But the governor refused to do so.”

101

09-01-13

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7 NO.2,366

‘If Nigerian governments and contractors are too incompetent for rainy season work, they should quit and let another government come in or compress 12 months’ work into the dry season by double time work, day and night, with extra crews’ TONY MARINHO

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

F

OR the umpteenth time, President Goodluck Jonathan has seized the opportunity of his attendance at a church service to reassure Nigerians that the end of Boko Haram insurrection in Nigeria is well nigh. This time it was a service on the last Sunday of last year at the Ekklisiya Yan Uwa a Nigeria (EYN), in Abuja, to mark the end of 2012.

“We are,” he told the congregation, “suppressing the insurgency. For instance, before Christmas, we were told the whole of Abuja will be burned down, including Maiduguri, among others. Though we had some incidents but they were minimised... I assure you the excesses of Boko Haram will be brought to a reasonable control in 2013.”

I do not know any member of the congregation, much less talk to anyone of them. But I’ll be surprised if the President’s assurances induced anything else but “we’ve-heard-all-thisbefore” big yawn. After all, have his past assurances not almost always been followed by even worse spate of bombings allegedly by the sect?

It will be a big pleasant surprise if the President’s assurance makes any difference this time. However, I, for one, have my doubts based on at least three reasons. First, we have a President who seems easily given to hyperbole, at least on Boko Haram. This is a dangerous flaw in anyone’s character, but even more so in a leader, if only because it will invariably lead him to over-react in looking for solutions to a problem.

The reader will recall how our President once described the sect’s threat as worse than the country’s civil war between 1967 and 1970.

This was at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, during the 2011 end of year service. It simply beggars belief that anyone, much less the president of a country who, like our own President, is old enough to have experienced it, can compare the horrors of a full scale war with the effects of any insurrection.

The President was back again to his hyperbole mode during last year’s end of year service. This time he went beyond our borders to compare the Boko Haram insurgency to the civil war in Syria and to the rebel insurrection in Central African Republic. The wars in those countries, he said, are “akin to what Boko Haram is trying to do in Nigeria, to take over Abuja so as to make me and those in government to go and hide.”

His comparison of Boko Haram with the CAR rebels is understandable, but isn’t it incredulous that he will compare himself with Syria’s president, Bashar Assad, whom the West and Israel, the main sources of our President’s foreign security advisers in his fight against the sect, regard as the bad guy who should be kicked out of office and out of his country or who, better still, should be dead?

The second reason I am sceptical about the President’s last assurance that the end of Boko Haram is nigh is his predilection for using churches instead of secular institutions to make pronouncements about the sect. Since last November alone he has used occasions of church events no less than four times to pronounce on the sect, as if Muslims too have not

RIPPLES NO FUEL PRICE HIKE in JANUARY–NNPC

We’re ready to OCCUPY NIGERIA again

People and Politics By MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Still playing dangerous politics with Boko Haram been victims, probably worse, of the sect’s terror. Our President’s apparent preference for churches, as against secular institutions, to speak on this ostensibly religious issue exposes him to suspicions that he is not averse to exploiting religion to divide and rule Nigerians.

Thirdly, his recent altercation with his erstwhile benefactor, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo – of recent there appears to have been a falling out between the two over the President’s handling of Boko Haram suggests that, like so many Islamophobes in and out of this country, he believes in one law for terrorism in his part of the country and another for the Muslim North.

The genesis of the altercation between benefactor and protégé, as we all know, was Chief Obasanjo’s dismissal of the President’s handling of Boko Haram as “tepid” compared to the iron fist with which he said he had handled a similar insurrection by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) in November 1999.

The former president couldn’t have chosen a more apt occasion to rebuke his protégé; the 40th anniversary celebration in Warri on November 22, last year, of the call of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor to the ministry. As president of the Christian Association of Nigeria few, if any, have spoken more forcefully than the pastor against any form of accommodation with Boko Haram. To date no president of CAN has been as hawkish as the pastor, not even Dr. Sunday Mbang, the retired Prelate of the Methodist Church, who was once quoted as saying, “Whether they like it or not we will not allow any Muslim to be president of Nigeria. I am declaring this as President of CAN.” (Thisday, July 31, 2000.)

As if to add salt to an injury, Chief Obasanjo’s belligerent former spokesman, Femi FaniKayode, added the gratuitous, and evidently incorrect, rider that Odi effectively destroyed

MEND; as several press adverts that seem to have the imprimatur of the Presidency have pointed out, MEND merely went deeper underground after Odi only to return with a vengeance that ultimately forced the Federal Government to negotiate an amnesty for all Niger Delta militants.

In his own response to the former president, President Jonathan, during his media chat last November, in effect, described Odi as a crime against humanity. When, he said, as then deputy governor of Bayelsa, himself and his boss, Diepriye Alamieyeseagha, visited Odi after the operation ordered by Obasanjo all they found were, “some dead people, mainly old women and also children.

None of those militants was killed. None. So the bombardment of Odi was to solve the problem but it never solved it.”

This raises the logical question of why the President has since persisted in using the same method against Boko Haram insurgency that he has strongly denounced as a crime against humanity. One possible answer is that for the president MEND was “us” but Boko Haram is “them.” Another and related answer is that it is against his political interest for peace to return to the North where opposition to his retention of the presidency in 2015 is likely to be strongest.

Those, like the President, that insist on a hard-line solution to Boko Haram obviously miss the historical lesson of terrorism, even of the emergence of Boko Haram and of the apparent inability of government to destroy it. Contrary to Obasanjo’s claim of government’s failure to nip the sect in the bud, its massacre in Maiduguri in July, almost ten years to the anniversary of Odi, was predictably worse, if only because Odi is a hamlet compared to Maiduguri as Borno State’s capital.

It is also telling that when the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua ordered the army

HARDBALL

T

HE two photographs reprinted in this column were published co-incidentally on the same day, yesterday, and they tell graphic stories of two disparate cultures that lead the reader to one unenviable and unflattering conclusion. Picture 1 (top right) shows some of the 60 suspects arrested on Monday by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) somewhere near Ikorodu, Lagos State, for alleged pipeline vandalism. That is not a problem, for Nigerians no longer flinch at indiscriminate arrests, a habit their law enforcement agents have perfected over the decades. The real problem for Nigerians who still retain some cultural pride is the treatment given the suspects. They were made to sit on the ground, their shirts removed, and their dignity, which is worth little in these parts, trampled on the ground. The photograph shows the suspects looking forlornly at the weapons they allegedly used against the NSCDC officials.

Move over to Picture 2 (bottom right) and see the treatment given some 15 Russian suspects alleged to have sailed into Nigerian waters illegally. They were seized, together with their ship and a cache of weapons, and handed over to the police for further investigations. But here again the problem is not whether the allegations against the white

to put the sect down, he boasted that “The operation we have launched now will be an operation that will contain them once and for all.”

As we are all by now painfully aware, putting down Boko Haram has been anything but a cake-walk. And no one interested in ending its terror will deny the fact that what Amnesty International described at its November 1, 2012 press conference in Abuja as “serious human rights violations carried out by the security forces in response (to Boko Haram), including enforced disappearance, torture, extra-judicial executions, the torching of houses and detention without trial,” will never work.

Anyone who imagines that it will should take a lesson in the history of terrorism. One good place to start, as I once mentioned on these pages, is a three-page primer on the subject in The Economist of August 20, 2005. As the report pointed out in a comparative history of 19th and 20th century anarchism and contemporary jihad, just like repression did nothing to stop the former it also cannot on its own deter the latter.

Terrorists, the magazine said in its wise editorial to the West on the subject, “...can be caught, sometimes before they have done anything terrible. That argues for excellent intelligence and police work. Perhaps their numbers can be reduced by ameliorating the grievances that lend them justification for their attacks. That argues for political action. And certainly the public needs re-assurance. That argues for honest explanation – that terrorism does not threaten any western government, that retribution, like police injustices committed in nervous haste, is likely to provoke more violence, that new restrictions are unlikely to bring new safety.”

None of these three elements – excellent intelligence and police work, political action and honest explanation – exists in President Jonathan’s strategy for bringing an end to Boko Haram terror.

Instead what we have, as I said on these pages in my longest piece on the subject to date (December 6, 2011), is a government that seems hell-bent on playing dangerous politics with Boko Haram.

Corrections Last week’s piece elicited a number of reactions on factual errors it contained along, of course, with many interesting comments. I’d intended to publish them but lacked the space.

I’ll do so next week, God willing, along with reactions to the piece before on the 70th birthday of General Muhammadu Buhari, former military head of state and a leading opposition figure.

•For comments, send SMS to 08023211188

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Two cultures and low self-esteem men are plausible or not, though it strains credulity a little; or whether they would soon be released to Russian embassy officials in Nigeria, for this also seems very likely. The problem for the culturally finicky is that all the Russian suspects were photographed standing, not sitting degradingly on the ground. None of the Russians was stripped of his clothes, and their weapons, which they claimed was for their defence on pirate-infested high seas, were not spread mockingly before them.

The judicious will find it hard to understand this self-deprecating Nigerian mentality. Indeed, it’s no use trying. Many analysts suspect there is a fundamental behavioural dysfunction afflicting Nigerian officials, whether in high places or in the law enforcement agencies. It is perhaps time we challenged our psychologists and sociologists to attempt an explanation of the malady. Or, maybe, a leader with enough chutzpah and self-esteem would one day rise and put an end to this disgraceful affliction.

•Picture 1

•Picture 2

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361.

Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO