The Nation July 16 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

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House Leader

Corrupt ministers will be exposed

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Speaker in dilemma Page 3 - Jonathan over Mulikat, Ajibola VOL.05 N0. 1822

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

Unlucky couple Page •They left their one-year-old baby at 12 home to withdraw money from the bank, but were swept away by flood

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

N150.00

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Six escape 3 death in Port Harcourt air mishap

BOKO HARAM

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South East leaders, PDP chiefs demandemergencyruleinBorno Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife Chief Agunwa Anaekwe Alhaji Mohammed Goni Dr. Shettima Mustapha Amb. Saidu Pindar Arc. Ibrahim Bunu Engr. Mohammed Abba Gana Dr. Bitrus Togu Hon. Muhammed Kumalia Hon. Fanta Baba Shehu Hon. Ilya Steven

OPPONENTS Brig.-Gen. Abba Kyari Modu Ali Sheriff Shettima Ali Monguno Alhaji Abba Satomi Amb. Ahmed Yusufari AVM Al-Amin Daggash AIG Zanna Laminu Mamadi AIG Mukhtar Alkali (rtd) Imam Babagana Asil Alhaji Tijjani Bolori

CBN awards N133bn loans to farmers

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State PDP, Ohanaeze lead agitation More states evacuate indigenes from Maiduguri Five policemen injured in fresh bomb attacks

PROPONENTS

2 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Five policemen injured in fresh Boko Haram attack

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HE Borno State capital witnessed another bomb blast at Bomponari by-pass around 8 pm yesterday.

Five policemen in a patrol vehicle were injured as unknown persons threw a bomb in their vehicle.

As a result of the blast, the area was thrown into confusion as people ran for dear lives and the street was deserted.

Spokesperson for the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Col. Victor Ebhelemeh, confirmed the incident, adding that some arrests had been made. He, however, declined to give further details.

Tony AKOWE, Kaduna and Joseph ABIODUN Meanwhile, residents of Maiduguri are still leaving the state in their hundreds despite the state government’s appeal to stop people from leaving the state.

In the mean time, a Kaduna-based legal practitioner, Barrister Sadau Garba, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan not to involve traditional rulers in the north and other Islamic organiszations in the process of engaging members of the group currently doing battle with security agents in Borno state in dialogue.

House leader: Speaker in dilemma over Mulikat, Ajibola Traffic jam after a petrol tanker with registration umber XA 847 KPR fell at First Rainbow Bus Stop along Mile 2-Oshodi Expressway with all its content spilled on the road yesterday.

PHOTO: Isaac Jimoh AYODELE

•Members want choice subjected to election Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Jonathan under pressure to F declare emergency rule

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S the security situation in Borno State worsens, individuals and groups have begun to mount pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in order to check the activities of Boko Haram, the militant Islamic sect that has been attacking people and institutions around the state.

At the forefront of the agitation for emergency rule in the state are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the state as well as the Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

The Nation investigation revealed that PDP stakeholders in Borno State have made representations to President Jonathan, asking him to declare a state of emergency in the troubled state.

Already, 76 members of the Borno PDP Stakeholders Forum have issued a statement, urging the President to declare a state of emergency. Numbered among them are former governor of the state, Alhaji Mohammed Goni; former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Shettima Mustapha; Amb. Saidu Pindar; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Arc. Ibrahim Bunu; Engr. Mohammed Abba Gana; Dr. Bitrus Togu; Hon. Muhammed Kumalia; Hon. Fanta Baba Shehu and Hon. Ilya Steven.

The statement of the proemergency group reads in part: ”We must all act now to save the situation. Declare a state of emergency to create an enabling environment to address the aforementioned.

“Subsequently, a Judicial Commission of Enquiry should be set up to undertake appropriate investigative measures. The Federal Government should in the interest of peace and justice immediately arraign and prosecute all the principal actors involved in extra-judicial killings in Borno State .

“The government should engage in a dialogue with the leaders of the sect. Government should consider granting amnesty. The amnesty should include a programme of jobs,

• Borno PDP, Ohanaeze lead agitation Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation training and placement.”

But while members of the PDP Stakeholders Forum are mounting pressure on the President to declare emergency rule in Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima and key leaders of the ANPP have kicked against the measure.

The leaders include former Military Governor of the defunct North-Eastern State, Brig.-Gen. Abba Kyari; ex-Governor Modu Ali Sheriff; exMinister Shettima Ali Monguno; Alhaji Abba Satomi; Amb. Ahmed Yusufari; AVM AlAmin Daggash; AIG Zanna Laminu Mamadi (rtd); AIG Mukhtar Alkali (rtd); Imam Babagana Asil (the Imam Idaini of Borno) and Alhaji Tijjani Bolori, among others.

Acting under the auspices of Borno Leaders of Thought, they appealed to “all and sundry to give peace a chance.

“We are calling for a safe conduct of our fleeing people back to their homes and places of business,” they said, noting that the use of force under any guise could not address the conflict in the state.

They added: “We on behalf of the people of Borno and all peace-loving people of the country wish to state as follows: That since the commencement of current conflict in Borno, the situation has been deteriorating.

“That the expectation that the intervention of the military in the conflict might bring the situation under control has been grossly misplaced.”

However, Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday aligned itself with the position of pro-emergency group as it asked the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Borno State to enable government to deal decisively with the worsening activities of the Boko Haram sect in the state. Condemning the spate of killings by the Boko Haram sect, the Ohanaeze urged the financiers

of the sect to come out of their shells.

Their position is contained in a communiqué they issued after an emergency meeting of the Ime-Obi (Elders Council), which took place in Abuja.

The body expressed concern over ‘’the deteriorating security situation in Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State and the wanton destruction of lives and property in the North Eastern zone.”

Former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who is also the Chairman, Ime-Obi Ohaneze in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), noted that the body strongly condemned the activities of Boko Haram sect “and their collaborators who have claimed responsibility for the series of bombings in Maiduguri, Bauchi, Kaduna, Suleja, Abuja and other parts of northern Nigeria.”

The body described as senseless’’ the killing of innocent Nigerians and destruction of public and private property by members of the sect.

It noted that it was against all ethical, traditional and religious norms for the sect to engage in killings for whatever reason.

It advised the sect to stop forthwith the spate of bombings and “embrace dialogue, including other legal means, in laying their grievances against the Federal, state, corporate or private authorities.”

Apart from urging members of the sect to lay down their arms in the interest of peace and tranquility in the country, the body called on the “rich/politician financiers of Boko Haram to come out clean, embrace dialogue and stop shedding crocodile tears with the rest of honestly concerned and worried Nigerians.”

It said that President Goodluck Jonathan should urgently declare a state of emergency in Borno State .

It insisted that there was no doubt that what was happening in Borno State was a serious “threat to the democratic

institutions in the place.”

It posited that declaration of a state of emergency would empower federal authorities to directly handle the unhealthy situation unfolding in the state.

The body called on the Federal Government and the military authorities to ensure that the lives of innocent Nigerians, especially Igbo indigenes who incidentally were the next largest population in the state after its indigenes, “are protected and their property also protected from organised and unorganizsd looting.”

It further “charge the Federal Government to henceforth ensure early intervention in any state where the activities of the sect and their collaborators are noticed as delays usually lead to loss of innocent lives, property and distortion of economy of the state and country at large.

Apart from Ezeife, other prominent members of the Ime Obi who attended the meeting are: Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, Secretary-General; HRH Eze Ibe Nwosu, Igbo I (Eze-Igbo Abuja); Barr. Calistus Nwabueze Obi, Chairman Ohanaeze FCT; Chairman Ohanaeze FCT, Rep. Abia and Rt. Hon Chief Agunwa Anaekwe, Rep. Anambra State.

Others are Hon (Chief) Silas Arinze Ilo, Rep. Enugu State; Elder Barr Onwu O. Arua, Rep. Ebonyi State; AVM Konye Ekezie (Rtd), Rep. Imo State; Engr John Ogbuh, Rep. Enugu State; Ogbueshi Patrick Osadebeh, Rep. Delta State; Chief Harrison Omeoka, Rep. Rivers State and several other delegates.

A presidency source, who spoke in confidence, said: “There is no basis for any fear by anybody at all, including the ANPP government in Borno State .

“There is nothing like state of emergency declaration in that state. The President believes that security agencies and the military can address the situation in the interest of the nation.’’

RESH facts emerged yesterday that the leadership of the House of Representatives is still in a fix over who to choose as House Leader between Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande and Hon. Muraina Ajibola.

But some members are mounting pressure on the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to subject the choice to voting in the plenary to resolve the stalemate.

The Speaker had on Tuesday released the list of principal officers for the 7th House of Representatives.

They are Hon. Leo Okuweh Ogor (Deputy Leader); Hon. Ishiaka Bawa (Chief Whip); Hon. Ahmed Mukhtar (Deputy Chief Whip); Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (Minority Leader); Hon. Samson Osagie (Deputy Minority Leader); Hon. Suleiman Abdulrahman (Deputy Minority WhipANPP leader); Hon. Garba Datti (Deputy Minority Whip/CPC leader).

The Speaker claimed that consultations were still in progress over the choice of House Leader from the SouthWest.

Findings however indicated that the Speaker and his team are in a fix on who to choose between Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande (who was defeated by Tambuwal) and Hon. Muraina Ajibola, who jettisoned his ambition for the election of the Speaker.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that while Mulikat is the favourite of the Presidency for the post, Muraina Ajibola is highly favoured by the South-West PDP and pro-Obasanjo’s camp.

It was also learnt that most members, who worked for the emergence of Tambuwal as Speaker, are behind Ajibola.

For swaying votes in favour of the Speaker, pro-Tambuwal lawmakers felt Ajibola should not be dumped at the last minute.

It was gathered that the Speaker and other principal officers of the House are looking at a larger picture of stability in the lower chamber.

Following the Presidency’s opposition to the alteration of the zoning formula, which led to the election of Tambuwal as the Speaker, it was learnt that the House leaders have been trying to pacify Aso Rock.

According to findings, one of the rapprochement plans designed by the House leaders is the alleged concession of House Leader to Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande.

But members are still insisting that Ajibola, who had given support and loyalty to Tambuwal and his deputy, should not be sacrificed at the expense of pleasing the Presidency.

They have vowed to resist imposition of Mulikat on the House by the Presidency.

The Speaker and other leaders however felt “it is time to heal wounds and forge a harmonious relationship with the Presidency.”

A reliable source in the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “The House leaders, especially the Speaker, are in a fix. They want to please the Presidency and put the crisis of confidence over their election behind them.

“They are having difficulty in convincing their loyalists on why Ajibola must be denied the office of the House Leader after he has demonstrated absolute loyalty to Tambuwal.

“If they go ahead to announce Mulikat, they may for the first time face revolt from the same platform they used to become the leaders of the House.

“That is why they are consulting and prevailing on members to let Mulikat be in the interest of a new found ‘love’ with the Presidency.

“If the Speaker and his officers refuse to accede to the request of the Presidency, they would have finally declared war against the Executive and disrespect President Goodluck Jonathan.”

A member of the House however said: “We have been warning Tambuwal against making his arch-rival (Mulikat) the House Leader. By implication, the Speaker and his principal officers will not last in office.’’

NEWS 3

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

ACN condemns PDP’s call for Fashola’s resignation HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for calling on Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to resign from office over the recent flooding in the state. The ACN described the call as a failed attempt to make political capital out of an unfortunate situation.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said instead of heaping condemnation on the state government, it should rather be commended for being proactive and responsive over the unfortunate flooding incident.

ACN described as ‘’warped logic’’ PDP’s call for Fashola’s resignation. It argued that if PDP’s logic were to be extended, then President Goodluck Jonathan should by now have resigned from office over the worsening insecurity in the land, especially from the rampaging Boko Haram; over the crippling effect of kerosene scarcity for which his government has no clue; over the skyrocketing cost of diesel and the soar-away exchange rate for the naira, not to talk of the worsening state of infrastructure.

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Augustine AVWODE Assistant Editor ‘’Flooding, like tsunami or hurricane, is a natural disaster for which no government, not even in the developed countries, has found a foolproof remedy. However, what Nigeria has been suffering from under the PDP are PDP-made disasters, which could have been averted by purposeful governance,’’ the party said.

ACN said long before the rains started, the government had been warning residents to brace up for what would be an unusually intense rainy season, while also clearing drainage and opening flood channels across the state in an effort to mitigate the likely impact of the heavy rains. ‘’Unfortunately, Lagos received 264mm of rainfall last Sunday, which the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research said was the equivalent of the volume normally received in a whole month. When this is added to the topography of Lagos and the unsavoury attitude of some residents in turning drainage into refuse dumps, the effect was far reaching.

CBN loans N133bn to farmers Yusufu AMINU IDEGU, Jos,

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it has so far loaned out the sum of N133.65 billion out of the N200 billion agric loan to farmers across the country.

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi made this known in Jos yesterday while commissioning the fish feeds plant established by the Grand Cereal and Oil Mills Limited Jos. Represented by a board member of the CBN, Dr. Joshua Oziri, the CBN governor said, “ N1bn was set aside for each beneficiary of the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) initiative, which grand cereal is a beneficiary.”

According to Sanusi, “Not less than 133 commercial agriculturists have benefited from the N1 billion loan across the 36 states in the country, as a step towards ensuring food security, job creation and development of the country’s economy.

“The N500 million Grand Cereal and Oil Company Ltd (GCOL) fish feed plant has the capacity to produce 22,000 metric tonnes per annum through the assistance of the Central Bank of Nigeria‘s Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme.

“The apex bank is ready to partner with the private sector in areas of agriculture, as it has so far released over N133.65 bn to 14 commercial banks to grant soft loans to farmers across the country.

“This fish feeds plant is of the biggest fish feed mill in West Africa.”

The CBN governor commended the governor of Plateau State, Dr. Jonah Jang, for creating an enabling environment for the GCOL to expand its operations in food supply and animal feeds.

In his remarks, governor Jang said, “My administration is ready to partner with any investor who would want to go into food production.’’

• A cross section of the Batch 'B' 2011 National Youth Corps members listening to a lecture at their orientation camp in Sokoto... on Friday PHOTO NAN

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Corrupt ministers will be exposed -Jonathan

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday spoke tough again about his determination to curb corruption in public offices. He warned ministers and other government functionaries that his administration would not protect any corrupt minister.

He also warned that public funds are meant for the public good and so should be judiciously used.

The President also charged the ministers to work hard to ensure that Nigerians are not disappointed in line with his campaign promise.

He further asked the ministers to adopt his promise not to let down Nigerians as their watch words.

President Jonathan spoke during the opening of a twoday induction programme for ministers/special advisers and permanent secretaries held at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

The retreat, which was the first in the series initiated by the administration, was aimed at pointing out the policy direction of the administration to the ministers and other political appointees.

The essence, according to the President, is to achieve a more purposeful, effective and productive service delivery.

TUC directs senior workers to embark on wage strike

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HE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has directed all its affiliates (Senior workers) to embark on the Minimum wage strike on Wednesday.

At a press briefing in Lagos, the Congress President, Comrade Peter Esele said no member at any level should fail to comply with the directive.

Esele said the directive is the decision of the National Executive Council meeting of the Congress.

He said the “ NEC- in- session after careful deliberations and critical analysis of the objective realities contingent upon the ongoing Minimum wage debacle has reached the following resolutions for the progress and advancement of the country and for the empowerment of Nigerian workers knowing that historically the battle for freedom and enthronement of a just, equitable and egalitarian society that would provide equal opportu-

Dupe OLAOYEOSINKOLU nity and access to all Nigerians irrespective of their place in the society, has never been won without a determined and sustained battle by the oppressed makes the following declarations” “ That all states and private sector employers must comply with the provisions of the 2011 Minimum Wage Act and no group at whatever level should contract out of the law on this issue.

The NEC-in-session also condemned and described as unfortunate the Governors’ Forum decision that the total implementation of the minimum wage act be predicated upon a review of the revenue allocation formula in favour of the states.

Besides, TUC also condemned the call for the removal of Petroleum Subsidy as a basis for the full obedience and compliance with the

•Vows to disown ministers with questionable character Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja The retreat will be succeeded by another retreat with the private sector, targeted at growing our economy with inputs from all stakeholders.

He therefore warned: “Let me reiterate that public funds are meant for public good, and I am quite pleased to note that this administration’s fidelity to the rule of law is common knowledge, because neither the Vice President nor I will offer protection to anyone in government whose integrity is called to question.

“We must by our deliberate action engender a paradigm shift and challenge Nigerians that will steer confidence.

“Transformation in my view is taking what you have and making the best of it. In so doing, you create a paradigm shift. We must by our deliberate action engender a paradigm shift and challenge Nigerians that will steer confidence,” he further added.

While also congratulating

the ministers and other appointees, the President reminded them that Nigerians were waiting to see how quickly the administration would translate ideas and words into action.

He also reminded the ministers that Nigerians are eager to see the promises made in terms of visible growth in the economy, job creation, improved electricity supply, security, better healthcare facilities, qualitative education and effective public transport system.

“As you are well aware, Nigerians are waiting to see how quickly we are to translate ideas and words into actionable and measurable outcome for the benefit of all. Our compatriots are eager to see the promises we have made in terms of visible growth in the economy, job creation, improved electricity supply, security, better healthcare facilities, qualitative education and effective public transport system.A sincere and determined fight against corrup-

tion, working for enduring peace and happiness for all Nigerians,” he also noted.

The renaming of the Ministry of Commerce as Trade and Investments, the President said, was part of positioning the government for effectiveness.

He therefore warned that the ministers must bear in mind his campaign promise not to let down Nigerians in all their activities.

“This is in a nutshell, what I expect from you. If for any reason whatsoever you do not remember anything I have said to you today, then please just remember this, that I promised Nigerians I will never let them down during my campaigns. Because that was my promise, that should also be your promise. Go forth to your various fields and fulfil that promise.

“We promised an improved funding of educational institutions that already exist and that I will ensure quality access to education for all children of school age. I promised to tackle youth restiveness and insecurity by investing in education. We also pledged at various times to reduce the incident in the education sector by being proactive by addressing issues of staff welfare and other concerns.

Six escape death as aircaft skids off runway in Port Harcourt •NCAA warns pilots over bad weather

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•Esele

provisions of the minimum wage act.

It therefore directs all its affiliates to embark on a threeday warning strike effective from Wednesday the 20th of July to Friday, the 22nd of July, 2011 and calls on all-well meaning Nigerians to show understanding and support.

RISTOW Aircraft on Thursday skidded off the runway of Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, Rivers State, with six persons escaping death.

The six persons in the chartered aircraft comprised four passengers, who are employees of Total Oil company, and two crew members.

It was learnt that the aircraft overshot the runway around 7:30 pm on Thursday, causing panic at the airport, but none of the occupants was injured.

The Deputy General Manager, Public Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Port Harcourt, Mr. Victor Arisa, who confirmed the incident, said the airport was opened for flight around 1.30 am yesterday.

Arisa added that planes had been landing and taking off at the airport after the unfortunate incident.

Meanwhile, worried over the fallout of the torrential downpour that has occasioned heavy flooding in Lagos and other parts of the country, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday cautioned aircraft pilots to

Kelvin OSA- OKUNBOR and Bisi OLANIYI, Port Harcourt exercise caution in adhering to advisory weather information before they carry out their flights, even as he said any airline that violates the weather minima will have its operation license revoked.

The Director General, Dr Harold Demuren, who spoke in an interview with journalists at the Aviation House, explained that it had become imperative for the regulator to caution airline pilots, as the agency would not want any carrier to take steps that would jeopardise the safety and security that has been achieved in the aviation industry.

Demuren spoke just as he dismissed the claims in some circles that Lagos State and some parts of West Africa will be hit by Tsunami, explaining that the NCAA sent some helicopters that flew at very low level around the Atlantic Ocean to confirm the possibility of any threat of Tsunami, which he said was nonexistent.

4 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Ekiti disengages council chiefs for failing exam

Mimiko, Ondo workers urged to end industrial dispute

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Damisi OJO, Akure AS the strike embarked upon

by Ondo State workers over N18,000 minimum wage entered the fourth day, an activist and immediate past Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Comrade Sola Iji, yesterday urged the two parties to find amicable settlement to the dispute.

The legal practioner expressed dismay that the ruling Labour Party (LP) government could be caught in the web of non-adherence to the welfare of workers that should be its priority.

He said the development should not have degenerated to the level where workers would down tools. Iji who spoke with The Nation said “industrial relation is not conducted in such a way one party will want to lord itself over an issue that should be handled with mutual understanding”.

The legal luminary pointed out that since the issue of N18,00 minimum wage had become a law and obligation binding all levels of governments and public organizations, the state government should have taken necessary steps to avert dispute. ”It is terrible intention for the state government not to pay the money, even the earlier agreement reached by the two parties on N14,000 minimum wage is illegal.

“After the issue had become a national law, there should be no more negotiation and excuse for the state government not to pay unless, it is preparing to create anarchy,” Iji stressed.

Osun Speaker assures striking health workers of Assembly’s intervention Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo SPEAKER, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, has assured striking state health workers of the readiness of the state parliament to bring them to a roundtable conference to discuss the challenges facing the sector.

The Speaker in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Mr. Goke Butika, stressed that the state House of Assembly would not shy away from its responsibility to the people.

Salaam, who assured that the House would always hear out all parties in any given industrial issue in the state, disclosed that the Assembly under his leadership had started investigating the problems in the health sector with a view to finding solutions to them.

The Speaker expressed the House’s worry on the industrial action recently embarked upon by the state health workers, noting that immediately the state Assembly concludes its investigation on the matter, the leadership of the striking health workers would be invited for a dialogue with a view to resolving the problem completely.

•L-R: Hon. Rotimi Makinde representing Ife Federal Constituency; Chairman, Ife Central Local Government; wife of Osun State governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola; and Coordinator, O-CLEAN, Hon. Bola Ilori, at an on-spot assesment of dredging and channelisation work going on at the historical Esimirin River in Ile Ife yesterday

Tinubu defends Aregbesola’s delay in appointing commissioners

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ATIONAL Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said yesterday that there was nothing unusual about the delay by the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in appointing commissioners, affirming that governance in the state had not taken the back seat, rather the state had been saving huge sums of money with the ingenuity with which he had been running the state.

Tinubu, who spoke to reporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, explained that at the time Aregbesola took over the leadership of Osun State, it was not convenient for him to have appointed commissioners when the state House of Assembly had the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in majority.

Tinubu said : “ What is the hoopla about it? There are so many other states without commissioners yet. He couldn’t have appointed commissioners immediately after the court judgment and

Kelvin OSA- OKUNBO he inherited a PDP house. So, until after this election, he had no house “It is only after the April election that he can start and the constitution says ‘appoint’ and doesn’t say when and you have to have a house to clear the nominees appointed. What is the hoopla?

I don’t think some people are busy. Is the state government not functioning? He has created jobs and the delay has translated to savings for the state.

“There are bureaucracies; the permanent secretaries who are competent to run their various ministries are there.

“To really plan and erase the rot of the past administration which he inherited, it takes a lot of time to do that.

He’s in China now and he’s seeking agricultural collaboration that will create thousands of jobs; he created 20, 000 jobs immediately he got there. The state is functioning.”

Tinubu called on the Federal Government to accord

the centre of excellence a special status, especially in the area of infrastructure decay. “ We’ve been talking about that over the years.

There is a need for the Federal Government to pay a special attention to Lagos State. It’s because we are not behaving like a civilized part of the world. Lagos is entitled to special attention.

This is the economic heartbeat of this country. This is the political barometer of the country. When you change capital, you should even have severance compensation for the change.

“Two, you can not abandon the infrastructure. It didn’t happen in Germany when they moved to Berlin and Brazil and other parts of the world, but gradually, we will get there. Until we invest in our political understanding, honesty and commitment to our sense of patriotism, we will not appreciate the values of human beings and we will not develop as a nation without doing that.”

On how to stem the rising

insecurity in the country, Tinubu said: “ We have to focus more on the security of lives and property of our people and ensure there is effective intelligence gathering, but without undue interference in the fundamental rights of the citizenry and without abuse of power. We should not be fire fighters all the time”.

“Sometimes it affects us that we have this feeling of departmental failure or systemic failure, but instead of curing the disease, we actually add to it. That is why we have recurring problems in those areas. The economy is terrible; there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor.

“We have the problem of unemployment and we should not stoke the problem of religion in the country. We should work for religious tolerance. Since we say we must be together in diversity, our diversity must be used for the economic and religious prosperity of our people. It’s a leadership deficiency; there is a problem in the country.”

Lagos, Ondo evacuate 255 from Borno S the crisis in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, continues unabated, two states in the South West, Lagos and Ondo, yesterday commenced the evacuation of thier indigines from the state.

While Lagos evacuated over 200 residents who are students of the University of Maiduguri, Ondo evacuated 55 people comprising 50 students and five corps members.

The first batch of the Lagosians were received by officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency( LASEMA) led by the General Manager, Dr. Oluwafemi Osanyintolu, at the old domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos,

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Kelvin OSA- OKUNBO and Damisi OJO, Akure According to the LASEMA boss, the evacuation of the Lagos residents followed the alert raised in Maiduguri, which prompted the agency to dispatch its officials to the crisis zone.

He explained that at the instance of the directive of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, LASEMA had to mobilize its officials to Maiduguri to facilitate the evacuation of the residents because “the protection of lives and property of the people is a cardinal principle of the government.”

He said efforts were in top gear to ensure the safety of the lives and property of people trapped in the crisis zone.

The LASEMA boss said: “We

are trying our best; we are on top of the situation; we are acting on the directive of Governor Fashola to ensure that the over 200 Lagos residents who are students of the University of Maiduguri are evacuated home safe”.

In Akure, the students who were brought in three buses, were welcomed at the Governor’s Office by the Special Assistant to the Ondo State governor on Students and Youth Matters, Comrade Olamide George.

The evacuees were subsequently offered accommodation and food by government because of the long journey.

The students were immediately given forms qualifying them to get bursaries being paid to students of the

state origin While welcoming them on behalf of the governor, the state Acting Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Taiwo Kolawole, said the government responded quickly to the distress calls of its indigenes because it could not allow them to suffer unnecessary hardship over bomb attacks in Borno State.

Kolawole noted that government would not fold its arms and allow the indigenes of the state in the northern part of the country to be exposed to danger.

On his part, George said that the crisis in Borno should urgently be addressed so that people would not die because of what he called ‘some people’s wickedness’.

HE Ekiti State Government has relieved some directors of administration and directors of Finance in the local government system of the state who recently failed a series of examinations and interviews conducted for them.

However, government has assured the affected officials of receiving their terminal benefits.

Those who were successful have been elevated to the newly created posts of administrative secretaries.

The examination and interview were conducted for councils’ directors of administration and finance on Grade Level 15 to 16.

A statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Aderemi Ajayi, said the reform being carried out in the local government service was to entrench good governance, transparency and accountability.

Ajayi said the result had since been released and the successful officers were being recalled from leave and directed to report to the commission for posting instructions.

“The successful directors have been elevated to the newly created posts of administrative secretaries (Cconsolidated) or GL 17 as the case may be. This is designed to remove stagnation in local government service.

“The directors of administration and directors of finance who were not successful in the selection process have been disengaged from the service.

“However, they will all receive their terminal benefits.

The vacuums created by this exercise will be filled by the successful administrative officers and accountants in a similar selection process con-

Osun tackles flooding

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OLLOWING its resolve to eliminate the menace of annual flood in the state, Osun State Government has commenced the dredging and channelization of the Esimirin River in Ife. Addressing the teeming crowd at the site, the wife of Osun State governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, called on the people of the state to desist from dumping refuse and other waste material on river path across the state.

Inspecting the level of work at the river in company with O-clean coordinator, Hon. Bola Ilori, yesterday, Mrs. Aregbesola said the environmental sanitation scheme of the state government was intended to touch the people’s attitude to return to the glorious past of maintaining clean and healthy environment which informed the creation of OClean programme by the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“It is our hope that at the end of 90-day emergency, we would have substantially raised the profile of our environment and health consciousness,” she said.

At the time of the visit of the wife of the governor to the river site, O-Clean team was at the site with excavators clearing the water path and dredging the river with a massive swap-bogey which is described as the biggest dredging machine available in Nigeria.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Tribunal declines Akwa Ibom ACN’s move to present evidence of election materials’ theft

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HE Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal yesterday said it was unnecessary for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to present pictorial andvideo evidence in support of its allegation that officials of the Independent National electoral Commission(INEC) has tampered with election materials.

Lawyer to ACN’s candidate in the last governorship election, John Akpanudoedehe andhis running mate in the last election, Ime Umanah, Prof Yemi Osibajo (SAN) had told the tribunal on Thursday that INEC officials were caught stealing election materials as part of efforts to frustrate their case.

The tribunal’s Chair, Justice Adam Onum said at yesterday’s sitting that since INEC did not deny the allegation, move by the ACN to present its evidence to buttress its allegation was needless. He said the INEC’s lawyer only claimed not to have been informed of the development when the allegation was made.

ACN had, prior to the day’s proceedings, mounted two large television sets and Digital Vidoe Disc (DVD) playing devises in the courtroom, with the expectation that the court would demand that the video be played.

When Osibajo tried to justify the need for the court to see the video, Justice Onum said: “I thought we have put that behind us?

Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (INEC’s lawyer) did not deny it. He only said it was not brought to his notice.”

The tribunal proceeded to entertain arguments from parties on applications by the first, second and fourth respondents (Governor Akpabio, his deputy, Nsima Ekere and INEC) seeking, among others, the dismissal of the petition and the petitioners’ counter application.

Arguing the respondents’ applications, lawyer to Akpabio and Ekere, Bayo Ojo (SAN) and INEC’s lawyers, O .

Anunmoye prayed the court to dismiss the petition, challenging Akpabio’s election.

In their separate arguments, both lawyers contended that the petitioners failed to comply with the provisions of paragraphs 18 (1) and 47 (2) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) by applying for the issuance of pre-hearing notices on them (the respondents)through a motion ex-exparte.

They argued that Paragraph 47 (2) provides that any application for the issuance of prehearing notice most be by way of a motion on notice and that any deviation from the provision rubs the tribunal of the jurisdiction to hear the petition.

Ojo stressed, in his argument, that Paragraph 47 (2) has prescribed the mode for executing Paragraph 18, which is the issuance of notice for pre-hearing sessions, adding that since the provision stipulates a procedure, such procedure most be adhered to.

He argued that, the petitioner having failed to comply with the said provision of Paragraph 47(2) of the Electoral Act, and that failure has rubbed the court the jurisdiction to further

•Says INEC did not deny allegation

•To rule Monday in Akpabio, others’ applications Eric IKHILAE and Kazeem IBRAHYM, Uyo hear the petition, it (the tribunal) should dismiss the petition and vacate its earlier exparte orders, including that on which pre-hearing notice was issued on the respondents.

In his counter argument, Prof Osibajo challenged the competence of the applications and urged the court to dismiss them on the ground that they violated the provision of paragraph 47(1) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Heargued that the application for the issuance of prehearing form and notices was not required to be served on the adversary party as argued by the Akpabio,Ekere and INEC in their applications.

Osibajo contended that the applicants failed to file their motions to dismiss the petition with seven days after the close of pleadings, arguing that the condition precedence for the filing notice of pre-trial is that pleadings must close.

He further attacked the competence of the applications on the ground that they were brought under the wrong rules. He argued that an application can only be made under Order 26 Rule 11 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009 (under which the applications were brought) where an order exparte is first obtained and served on the party.

The petitioners’ lawyer further argued that it was wrong for the applicants to apply for the setting aside of an ex-parte order not served on them,

noting that under Paragraph 18 First Schedule of the Electoral Act, the order made is not served on anyone.

He submitted that the application is incompetent because they failed to comply with the mandatory requirement of Order 26 Rule 11 of FHC Rules.

On whether or not application for pre-hearing notice could be made by motion on notice or motion ex-parte, Osibajo, relying on the decision of the Appeal Court in the case of Riruwai versus Shekarau (2008) 12 NWLR (pt 1100) at page 164 paragraph C, argued that such application could be made either by motion ex-parte or motion on notice.

He observed that while the applicants relied heavily on the Riruwai/Shekarau case in

the written addresses on a similar application by the Progressive Action Congress (PAC), a case dismissed by the tribunal on Thursday, they deliberately left out the case in their addresses in the current applications.

On the applicants’ argument that service of such motion for the application for pre-hearing notice was mandatory, Osibajo, relying on the case of Akpokiniovo versus Agas (2004) 10 NWLR (pt 881) 394 at 422 argued that non-service of process can not vitiate a proceeding where it does not affect the fair hearing of the other party.

He submitted that non-service could only affect the petition if the non-service deprives the respondents their right to fair hearing. He urged the court to hold that the ex-parte application filed by the petition on 27 June and dismiss the respondents’ applications.

Rulinghas been reserved for Monday July 18, 2011.

•A cross-section of suspected cult members from the Enugu State University Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu being paraded by 82 Division, Nigeria Army, Enugu at Abakpa Barracks... at the weekend.

PHOTO: AFP

Committee confirms 2, 035 workers in Imo

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HE disagreement in some quarters surrounding the suspension of 10,000 jobs, by the Rochas Okorocha - led administration, may have finally been laid to rest as the committee set up by the governor to review the jobs has submitted its report, approving the restatement of only 2035 of the suspended workers.

According to the Secretary to Imo State Government (SSG) , Prof Anthony Anwuka who received the report on behalf of Imo Government, all the 2035 persons out of 4,238 already cleared were among the first tranche of those employed and who were adequately screened, adding that they can now smile and get back to work.

A government release signed by the SSG has directed the workers to go to their respective local government councils to check their names.

According to the SSG, others would only be considered based on additional reviews and depending on existing vacancies in the civil service.

Prince Charles Onuoha, Chairman of the review com-

Emma MGBEAHURIKE, Owerri mittee, while presenting the report to the SSG said, a total of 8211 people came for screening out of the 10,000. He said 1,789 were discovered to be ghost workers created by the past administration. A total of 3,973 candidates did not pass the screening due to reasons based on one of the crite-

ria. 438 persons were successful based on the criteria used for the review.

Prince Onuoha said some candidates scored below 50% which was the pass mark, some did not take the qualifying examination while some had numbers showing forgery because all the candidates were given the sane number but that some came into the job with forged numbers. For

others, appointment letters were issued after 30th May, 2011 after the exit of the past government while some were back-dated.

Prince Onuoha further revealed that some of the beneficiaries are over 40 year of age which the civil service rule prohibits, and some presented mutilated birth certificates reflecting younger years of birth.

20 cult members arrested in Enugu Chris OJI, Enugu HE Nigerian Army yesterday paraded 20 alleged cult members suspected to have forced some female students to have sex with themselves.

Briefing newsmen before parading the suspected cult members at 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Assistant Director , Public Relations of the division, Lt Col Sagir Musa, disclosed that nineteen cult members belonging to six different cult groups were arrested in their hideouts in Agbani by troops of 82 Division Garrison Anti Kidnapping Unit between July 8 and July 12 this year.

Musa stated that a patrol team of 103 Battalion moved to the Enugu State University of Science and Technology(ESUT) following sporadic gunshots at the institution on July 4 and arrested one of the pepertrators of the crime with 5 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, Major General Sarkin Bello , he disclosed, consequently directed that a thorough investigation be carried out in order to fish out the pepetrators.

Musa disclosed further that “ it was the preliminary investigation conducted by division,s intelligence group that led to the arrest of the 19 other members of different cult groups.

The patrol team, according to him, recovered 4 locally made pistols, 10AA cartridges and video clip where some female students were forced to have illicit sex with themselves during the raid.

Musa said 10 telephones handsets including the one used for recording female students that were brutally forced to have immoral sexual intercourse with themselves were also recovered from the hideouts of the cult members. “ It was such a nasty , terrible, brutal situation where cult members captured female students and forced them to have sexual intercouse with themselves. “ It is worthy of note that the cultist have been freely raping girls, maltreating their colleagues at will and committing all manners of atrocities on campus and at Agbani general area of Enugu City” he stated.

The arrested cultists and items recovered from their hideouts , he disclosed further, would be handed over to the Nigerian Police Force for further actions.

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Ministers should go through cultural orientation – Oba Sonuga

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INISTERS should undergo a cultural o r i entation immediately after their appointment.

The move would help in national development, it was said.

Former Director of Culture, now a monarch, Oba Gbenga Sonuga, said this during a media workshop for arts writers and editors at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO).

He was one of the speakers on the theme Sustaining Nigeria’s Democratic Process: The Imperative for the

Evelyn OSAGIE Culture Sector.

Oba Sonuga said: “Any Minister of Culture must go through a cultural orientation process as soon as he is appointed. Such orientation should be handled by the NICO. “I would advise that NICO should organise a culture seminar for the ministers not only the Minister of Culture. This would help them understand what culture entails and how to harness our culture for national development. Tourism will never grow unless there is cul-

tural growth.”

He called on the government to scale up cultural orientation in all spheres, lamenting that culture had not been given the centre stage in national development.

Oba Sonuga, however, tasked culture workers to produce a cultural blueprint for the government to work with.

He said: “Culture has not been given the pride of place it deserves in the face of national development.

This is because there has been no cultural design to work with. I charge the managers of cultural insti-

tutions that while they are applying for and struggling to get their budgets across, they must present the minister with a cultural agenda geared towards national development. They have not seen anything to work with.

In the same vein, Prof.

Sophie Oluwole urged Nigerians to revisit the concept of culture, especially that which pertains to reading.

She said Nigerians had not benefited from reading, noting that they had not been reading things that relating to their culture.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

FinBank , FCMB, Intercontinental, Access sign merger pact

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HE coast became clearer at the weekend for the planned business combinations between First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc on one hand and FinBank Plc and Access Bank and Intercontinental Bank Plc on the other as the banks signed Transaction Implementation Agreements (TIAs) that would lead to eventual merger of the financial institutions.

The TIAs by the two sets of merging partners came on the heels of earlier technical implementation agreement between Union Bank of Nigeria and a group of core investors led by African Alliance Capital (ACA).

With these agreements, three of the seven rescued banks are set to fast-track and round off their recapitalisation processes ahead of the September 2011 deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The four other rescued banks include Afribank Nigeria, Oceanic Bank International, Bank PHB and Spring Bank Plc. All the seven rescued banks are quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the announcements at the weekend coincided with a rebound in the stock market. The All

Sports minister not…

Continued from Back Page Festival are good.

Today, not one of the new talents discovered in Port Harcourt is ready for Nigeria’s quest for honours at the 2010 London Olympic Games.

Time past, table tennis engaged the youth. Any flat surface served as the board. Companies struggled to identify with it. At some point, brand new Peugeot 504GL cars were given to male winners and the Indoor Sports Hall at the National Stadium in Lagos had its foundation threatened by the thunderous applause from ping pong fans.

Such was the attraction in table tennis that young men and women went to China to train and Nigeria soon became the home of ping pong in Africa.

The knock-up hall in Lagos is an eyesore and it has affected the game. Table Tennis is dead in Nigeria because the companies can no longer leverage their products and services.

Dr Seyi Robert re-engineered squash. It became a brand, with companies picking the bills. But NSC chiefs’ unwholesome polities eased him out. Now, squash is tottering for recognition.

The late Brai Ayonote took boxing to a new height. We only talk about boxing when Bashiru Ali (Bash Ail) starts his tantrums, especially over his oldest boxer fight.

Steve Onyechalam made swimming a gold pool for Bendel State at the National Sports Festival. I remember Ngozi Enwonzor (now Mrs Ngozi Chris Momah), the young village girl who won over 10 gold medals in swimming. Nigeria produced good swimmers. Now, our swimming pools are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

NSC has become a house of comedians in the last decade, leaving their task of supervising over 29 other sports undone. Things must change.

Share Index recovered to 23,832.14 points yesterday as against 10-month low of 23,715.42 points recorded in previous trading session. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities rose from N7.583 trillion to N7.620 trillion.

The TIAs by the banks fol-

‘With these agreements, three of the seven rescued banks are set to fast-track and round off their recapitalisation processes ahead of the September 2011 deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’

lowed earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties.

Group Managing Director of FinBank, Suzanne Iroche said the business combination would strengthen the bank and enhance values to all stakeholders.

“We welcome this Strategic investment which will strengthen the financial position of the institution. I am positive the process will bring value to all stakeholders,” Iroche said.

According to her, the TIA represents a milestone in the recapitalisation process aimed at restoring confidence to the banking sector.

A joint statement issued by both FinBank and FCMB explained that the business combination will involve a Scheme of Arrangement, followed by a Scheme of Merger to be executed in accordance

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public that the original copy of rights of occupancy with Plot No 64 CAD Zone EO7 file No. KD14051 at Sabon Lugbe South East Extension, Plot Size 2330.82M2 belonging to Maj. Gen. Yunana Nom of No.6 Alkali Road Kaduna, is missing. These allocation letters were issued to him by FCDA on the 13th May 1999. If found contact the above address or the nearest police station.

with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The combined bank will be a unique financial institution with proven corporate banking capabilities, strengthened commercial banking business and a robust platform for retail growth,” the statement said.

It stated that the merged entity will benefit from unique transactional banking platforms and offerings on both sides, leverage capital, optimise synergies and drive shareholder value.

The Group Managing Director of FCMB, Ladi Balogun said the business combination would accelerate the attainment of the bank’s strategic and financial goals, as well as create improved retail platform.

However, both firms will have to secure the approvals of their shareholders, the Cen-

PUBLIC NOTICE OLASUPO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olasupo Bashirat Olanike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olasupo Bashirat Olanike. All former documents remain valid. Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, NYSC and general public take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT I, Alhaji Ahmed Kolawole Ashorobi of 19 Nathan Street, Yaba Lagos is the bonafide owner of flat 6 Block 97 Iponri Low Cost Housing Surulere Lagos.

The property was purchased outrightly from LSDPC in 1988 but the allocation letter cannot be found.

Anyone who has interest in the said property in whatever way should contact LBIC HQ Dept. Alausa Ikeja within 21 days of this publication.

Signed: Alhaji Ahmed Kolawole Ashorobi.

tral Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Federal High Court to com-

plete the merger process.

Already, the four banks have notified authorities at the NSE of the technical implementation agreements.

PUBLIC NOTICE ORI OKE ILE ANU AGBARA CHURCH The general public is hereby notified that above named church has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “c” of the companies and allied matters act no. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1- Prophet Kehinde Omodara 2- Prophet Ajayi Alabi 3- SNR. Apostle Adeyemo Adeyemi 4- Mrs Alice Akeke 5- Mrs Janet Omodara 6- Mrs Mary Anyomo

-

Chairman Leader FIN. Secretary Woman leader

- Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1- To teach and preach the word of God 2- Serve as solutions centre for spiritual problems.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, corporate Affairs commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED : TRUSTEES.

PUBLIC NOTICE MEGA FRIENDS CLUB OF NIGERIA The general public is hereby informed that the above named association with headquarters in Lagos, Lagos State, has applied for registration under Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES: 1.

Mr. Raphael Omeili 2.

Mr. Uchenna Ndukwe 3.

Mr. Okechukwu Egboka 4.

Mr. Ejikeme Nwaolisa 5.

Mr. Peter Kwazu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.

To encourage discipline, moral standards and good brotherliness amongst members.

2.

To assist members financially and morally in times of need.

3.

To assist the less privileged in the society.

Any objection to the registration, should be addressed to the Registrar – General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28days of this publication.

Signed: Uche Ikwueme (Mrs) Solicitor

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

E

CONOMIC management and planning are the end product of politics and governance .

Indeed their successful execution determine the lifespan of governments , the welfare of the socio-economic environment as well as the security and political stability of the modern nation state .These at least appear to be what most nations in the world are learning too late and at great cost nowadays ,given the news across the world this last week on sovereign debts , the role of women in politics and youth unemployment.

Last Thursday the Italian Senate was debating how to make cuts in its budget so that Italy does not require a bail out from the EU or IMF and fall into the category eurozone nations on the verge of default like Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain –the pigs‘ of the EU. Even the mighty USA was threatened with the downgrading of its high quality Aaa credit rating by the rating agency Moody’s Investors Service if it can not increase its debt ceiling by August 2 as required by US law.

In Nigeria the President asked that the salaries of two key Special Advisers be increased to ally with the nature of their responsibilities and senators reportedly snapped back that the President was cutting the budget and should not expect such approval from the senate which is trying to reduce it emoluments by 40%..

Amidst all these former Finance Minister Mrs Okonjo Iweala returned as Finance Minister in Nigeria after giving a lecture on prudent economic management at her confirmation hearing to the effect that given the way the budget of the nation was being run since she left the Finance Ministry the nation was surely heading for the woods. More ominously again in Nigeria the NYSC authorities gave permission to youth corps posted to Borno state to change their postings for security reasons allied with the Boko Haram bombings in the north east of Nigeria.

All the issues I have highlighted above lead me to the uneasy conclusion that overseas, abroad and locally in Nigeria, governments and global leaders generally have not treated their economies with the required husbandry and circumspection leading to unmanageable sovereign debts and huge repayments which seem to mortgage the future of such countries.

The sad truth is that the future of any nation are its youths and at the end of the day they are to pay for any debts incurred by the present generation of leaders and governments. It is therefore provocative to these youths that governments not only create huge sovereign debts but such debts are not used to create jobs as expected of productive deficits in the long run ; but lead instead to increasing youth unemployment .The only consoling aspect of the scenario I am about to paint today is that in glo-

Managing debts, youths and women

bal financial and economic management terms at least, it seems our women folk have become our economic salvation army as signified by the return of Okonjo Iweala in Nigeria and the advent of Christine Lagarde as the new MD of the IMF. Going back to the eurozone it is apparent that the demonstrations against austerity measures in Europe are being led by youths who have no jobs in the first instance rather than those facing redundancies or are being laid off. In Spain the rate of youth unemployment is said to be 24% and about 40% of this are youths. Yet this is a nation with the highest paid footballers in the world like Ronaldo and Kaka in Real Madrid bought for $80m and $55m respectively .In the Arab world the street revolts in Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen are being led by unemployed youths and such restive youths are making more and more demands to get jobs and for those who have mismanaged the economy to be brought to justice. Indeed in Egypt policemen have been tried and are being sacked in their hundreds and ministers are being jailed for corruption by the courts. Yet as at last Friday the demonstrators were back at Tahrir Square accusing the army of not

Surely the saying that what a man can do a woman can do better is very apt and well founded in global financial management given the credentials of Okonjo Iweala and Lagarde nowadays. We can only ask our men in leadership to gird their loins, learn from the women leaders moving fast enough and asking the army head of the interim government, a Field Marshal to follow former president Housni Mubarak out of office.

According to media reports‘ chronic youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb‘ because the world’s

youths believe that‘ the older generation have taken the future of the young.’ Researchers say that the highest youth unemployment in the world is in North Africa and the Middle East and the lowest are in South East Asia . Which explains why the bitter street uprisings of the Middle East get worse after prayers every Friday.

Although the angry unemployed youths of the world have been given names in each nation they exist that has not assuaged their anger against their governments and leaders . In an online article by Peter Coy titled‘ The Youth Unemployment bomb‘ the unemployed youths in Tunisia are called –hittistes – which is French-Arabic slang for those who lean against a wall; in Egypt they are called - Shabaab atileen –which means unemployed youths; in Britain they are called – NEETS- which means‘ not in education, employment or training ‘;in China they are called ‘ant tribe ‘ who are recent college graduates who crowd together in cheap flats on the fringes of big cities because they could not find well paying jobs ; in God’s own country the US they are called ‘boomerang kids‘ youths who move back home after college because they cannot find jobs.

It is important to stress that the UN the foremost assembly of the world’s nation is aware of the danger posed to world peace and stability by the challenge of global youth unemployment. At a ceremony marking the International Day of Cooperatives on July 2 UN Secretary General Ban Ki –Moon asked that cooperatives globally should include young people in their plans and programmes. This according to the UN boss is because historically and from experience, Cooperatives prosper even in difficult times as resilient businesses and have a robust reputation for promoting self - reliance .Ban Ki – Moon then observed that cooperatives should recognize youths as valuable partners in the cooperative movement for economic growth and development . He then concluded his message by saying that‘ the active inclusion of young women and men in social and economic development helps reduce social exclusion, improve productive capacity, break cycles of poverty, promote gender equality, and raise environmental responsibility. ‘ All these goals and benefits of youth employment and more must have informed the establishment of the NYSC in Nigeria . Unfortunately the youth programme is about to be truncated because of security fears . This is because if the government cannot guarantee the safety of Corps members it should not send them to certain death as happened to those killed during the last elections in Bauchi state . In Nigeria too it is said that with a population of 150m, 40mare unemployed and 45% of them are said to be between ages of 15 to 40 which means they are mostly youths.

Which also means that the problems of youthunemployment rocking the socio- economic and political fabric of the Middle East and North Africa are very much with us here in Nigeria.

The lingering hope for us in Nigeria is that hopefully we will listen to someonelike Okonjo Iweala and her predecessor in office Aganga who both told thesenate confirmation committee before they were confirmed as ministers that weshould not be running a budget that has 70% as recurrent expenditure as thisdoes not make for growth or the provision of jobs to our mass of unemployed youthsAs a woman and a mother I expect the new Nigerian Finance Minister to make youth employment and fiscal discipline her priority. This was what earned Christine Legarde her spurs as the most successful EU Finance Minister during her tenure in that office in Paris. That also earned her the job of IMF Managing Director and successor to her compatriot DSK who was brought down from grace to grass for attempted rape in his hotel a day before an IMF meeting in New York in the US .

Surely the saying that what a man can do a woman can do better is very apt and well founded in global financial management given the credentials of Okonjo Iweala and Lagarde nowadays. We can only ask our men in leadership to gird their loins, learn from the women leaders how to cut their coats according to their clothes and thus secure the future of our teeming unemployed youths .If I have sounded so socially responsible as a concerned citizen of the world today I ask for some forbearance. Yesterday was my birthday. Greetings!

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Prof. Babatunde Adeleke is the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho. The 1971 University of Ibadan 1st Class graduate of Chemistry had also served as the Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree. In this interview with our Assistant Editor, AUGUSTINE AVWODE, Prof Adeleke who is now back to the Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, stated that contrary to recent insinuations that he left the accounts of LAUTECH in the red, he actually left more than a billion naira in the accounts.

He argued that it would amount to injustice for anybody to undermine the works done by indigenes of Osun State in a bid to take over the institution.

Excerpts:

Prof. Adeleke

I left more than N1bn in LAUTECH’s accounts — Ex-VC, Prof Adeleke

About five months to the end of your tenure as the VC of LAUTECH, you were forced to go on terminal leave. What happened?

Well, on April 26, 2010, I was compelled to go on terminal leave. I was supposed to spend five years, which should have ended on September 30, 2010. But the Oyo State Government, under Chief Adebayo AlaoAkala, through the Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, asked me to go on leave so that they could appoint a new VC. That was the content of the statement issued. It was strange to me, but that was what they wanted. But Osun State Government, the co-owner of the university was not consulted and apparently did not agree and so asked me to go to court, which I did. After that, I travelled out of the country for about a month or so and I came back and waited for my tenure to run out.

When my time was properly over, I resumed my initial appointment at the University of Ibadan as a professor of Chemistry, and I have been there since then.

One would expect you to at least speak out about the happenings at LAUTECH. Why did you keep quiet all this while?

I kept quiet about LAUTECH not because I did not know what was going on, but I decided it was not necessary for me. I do not want to distract the attention of the new VC because I have been in that position. I mean that would be the second time I would be holding such a position. The first was when I was Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

Somebody took over from me when I was appointed to LAUTECH, and there was no dust raised. So, you must allow the new man to find his feet and do what God would allow him to do. That has been my position until my friends started calling me and drawing my attention to some pronouncements and press conference by the new Vice Chancellor about two months ago.

You mean the allegation that you left a debt of about N500 million and the account in red?

Yes. Those who are close to me know very well the type of man I am. I am not boasting. But I thank God for who he has made me. My friends have been perturbed about the allegations and I have assured them that I did not leave the accounts of the university in red. I have explained to them that the university, at two different points, borrowed money to pay salaries and arrears of new salary structure and also monetization, and this happened because the Oyo State Government failed to meet up with its obligation to the university. And on the two occasions, the council, first under Chief Femi Lanlehin, when the money was not forthcoming from Oyo State Government, the council approved that money should be borrowed to pay salaries and that the council

LAUTECH was one of the 11 universities that were ranked among the top 100 universities in Africa. And, in fact, LAUTECH was number 76 of the 100. Others were mostly federal universities. Of course, LASU was there, which was number 83 or thereabout.

So, the university was doing extremely well in all aspects. There was peace, discipline and there was progress. There were physical developments that can be seen also.

Obviously, there has been a crisis of confidence among the owners. When exactly would you say it started?

I think it started around 2006. But the undercurrent has been there for some time.

There are some people, even within the university system, who felt that they should occupy some positions. They felt that Oyo State alone should own the university. And again, it was that agenda that they were playing on and merely used the excuse of Osun State establishing its own university as a reason for wanting to take over the university completely. At the beginning, if you want to trace the history of LAUTECH, the people who worked for the establishment of the university were mainly from Osun State. The first set of people to make a formal presentation for the establishment of a university for Oyo State then in 1990, the Council was that of the Polytechnic Ibadan and the chairman of that council was Prof. J. A Faniran, a professor of Chemistry at the University of Ibadan and a native of Ejigbo in today’s Osun state. The Chairman of the Technical Implementation Committee for the establishment of the university was Prof. Tugbiyile, also from Osun State. The chairman of the Funding Committee, Mr Abidogun, was also a man from Ejigbo, Osun State. These were the principal actors for the establishment of the university in 1990.

And every compound in Osun State was taxed to contribute to the university. So, right from inception, the people of Osun State contributed significantly to the establishment of Oyo State University of Technology.

If it is suggested today that for the sake of peace Osun should hand over the university to Oyo State, would you support the idea?

Then what happens to the contributions of Osun State? Look, the first Vice Chancellor of the university was from Osun State. He was appointed while the two states were still old Oyo State. He was appointed on merit. The

would work on the Oyo State Government to pay the money. Similarly, under Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, we were at a crossroads and facing a similar situation. Again, the council approved that the university should borrow some money to pay the salaries and arrears.

Osun and Oyo had an agreement as joint owners that the financial commitments would be 50:50 from both sides. Osun State had already given us money for the two periods, which amounted to some N900 million. The total loan which we took was about N525 million, which was part of the money that we were expecting Oyo to give the university. The difference between the N900 million Oyo State owed us and the N525 million that we took, which was about N325 million, came from our internally generated revenue (IGR).

And were you able to ensure industrial stability with the loans?

Yes! We thank God, there was no closure.

The academic calendar went on well. In fact, the university was so stable within the five years that we held five convocation ceremonies during my tenure. The last we had was on April 23, 2010. It was the 10th convocation of the university, and out of the 10, five were held during my administration and the university then was about 20 years old.

What other things can you point to as achievements during your tenure?

To start with, the university was stable, and this was attested to by the number of students wanting to come to the university across whole country, not just from Oyo and Osun states. Secondly, our programmes were all accredited. About 80 per cent had full accreditation. When I got to LAUTECH in 2005, only five out of 29 programmes had full accreditation. By October 2009, all the courses were accredited and we had only six as interim accreditation, others had full accreditation.

In terms of professional courses, all of them had full accreditation. From the Medical/ Dental Council of Nigeria, the Nursing Council, ICAN, COREN, name it, we had full accreditation for our courses. The university was there at the top. In January 2010,

‘

I left over a billion naira in various accounts of the university. And I have listed all these things out in terms of which account and how much. And these figures were given to me by the Bursar of the university as the normal practice of weekly report. This was the last one he gave me on April 19, 2010

,

first Registrar is from Osun State and the first librarian also from Osun State. These are the people who did the dirty works. They are the people who did the spade work.

So, where would you put all their efforts if you just want to kick out Osun State? There is nothing in the establishment of the university that shows Oyo State is disadvantaged in any way. If you look at the number of staff when I was there, out of 2,120 members of staff, over 1,200 were Oyo indigenes; more than 60 per cent. Osun indigenes were just about 600 and the rest from other states. And in terms of students population by the time I was there was about 50-50. Oyo had probably 51-49. In which way is Oyo state disadvantaged?

All I am saying is that where there is no justice, there can be no peace. And Oyo’s attempt to take over LAUTECH unilaterally without due regard for all the contributions of Osun people is unjust and it cannot be defended at all.

Did you leave any money in the school’s account, apart from the N500 million debt?

I left over a billion naira in various accounts of the university. And I have listed all these things out in terms of which account and how much. And these figures were given to me by the Bursar of the university as the normal practice of weekly report. This was the last one he gave me on April 19, 2010. A week later, on the 26th, they asked me to go on compulsory leave. So, the figures I can quote are those given to me by the Bursar of the university.

And the person who was the school bursar when I was there is the bursar now. So, I felt he should have given them the correct figures as to the finances of the university as at the time I was leaving. And that was why I was taken a little aback when these figures were flying about.

What has become of the case in court?

Essentially, it was not my case. It wasn’t my case because the two governments were financing a university and if a decision was unilaterally taken by one government concerning a principal officer, it was not the responsibility of the affected officer to fight his own case.

The government that was disregarded and pushed aside should fight the case, especially when it was obvious that the other government wanted to take over the university. So, what is my own? I was an employee of the university and my tenure has a limit. By September 30, 2010, my tenure would have come to an end. Whether I was asked to go on leave or not, I would have handed over by September 30. So, if the takeover bid had waited maybe for just six months, I would not have been involved. And it would still be the responsibility of the Osun State Government to fight its own battle. So, I had to take the decision when I discovered that it is the fight of Osun State Government. So, I stayed out of it.

Of course, the Osun State Government said they took the case to the Supreme Court, but up till now, we have not heard anything.

After the storm...

Travails of Lagos flood victims Thriller/19

Social Scene 41

SCREEN / 25

Uche Jombo out with Damage

‘My life as a historian turned banker and health expert’

11

Saturday

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

SPECIAL

'Why I 'Why tried to kidnap the kidnap man who sponsored sponsored my wedding’ wedding’ my

Continued on Page 13

12

T

HEY left home in the afternoon of last Sunday to dash to the bank and return to meet their one-yearold baby. Unknown to Mr Taiwo Oloruntoba and his wife, they had embarked on a journey of no return.

Oloruntoba, an employee of GTBank attached to the Mobolaji Bank-Anthony branch of the in Ikeja, Lagos had moved with his wife and only baby into a new apartment at Oke-Alo Estate, Gbagada, Lagos State only a few months ago, but they met their untimely death in the floods that ravaged Lagos on Sunday.

Investigations revealed that the couple was due to attend a function later in the evening, but it suddenly dawned on Oloruntoba and his wife that they did not have enough money on them. Hence, he took his wife in his car to fetch some money from the nearest Automated Teller Machine (ATM) facility, leaving their one-yearold baby with their housemaid.

A source who asked not to be named said the couple set out in the rain, but by the time they were returning home, the heavy down pour had resulted in floods that submerged their car. Left without a choice, the couple allegedly tried to abandon their drifting vehicle and find their way out of the tide, but both husband and wife were swept away by the aggressive flood.

The source said: “The couple left their residence on that day to cash some money from an ATM machine. But while they were returning home, they were caught in the flood and it swept them away. It was the efforts of local divers of Ilaje stock that led to the discovery of their bodies several hours after the incident.”

The housemaid was said to have become worried when she could not fathom why the couple did not return on time. She decided to call their mobile phones but got no response. This aroused her suspicion that something must have gone wrong and she quickly raised the alarm.

Another source, however, explained that the couple’s one-year-old baby had suddenly fallen ill and the couple wanted to buy some drugs for the baby, hence the need to cash some money from the ATM. They had no premonition of the tragedy that hung in the air.

“The couple, according to what we learnt, had wanted to cash some money from an ATM outlet in order to buy some drugs for their sick baby. The arrangement was for them to cash the money first, after which the woman would be taken to where she would get the drug. Unfortunately, they did not return home alive,” the source said.

A resident, who simply identified himself as Samuel, said: “It was their housemaid that raised the alarm that her bosses had not returned home several hours after they left to cash some money from an ATM outlet nearby. A search party was then launched for the couple and for several hours on that day, they could not be found.”

Findings revealed that the next day, Monday July 10, 2011, the efforts of the local divers who combed the nooks and crannies of the area for the couple’s whereabouts yielded fruits when their car was discovered near Gbagada Estate but without the couple in it.

Subsequently, the husband was found dead in one of the canals in Gbagada while the body of the wife was discovered in a canal at Ketu on Tuesday, July 11, 2011, thus confirming that they were swept away by flood.

Some residents who spoke with our correspondent explained that the

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Unlucky couple •They left their one-year-old baby at home to withdraw money from the bank, but were swept away by flood

‘

The husband was found dead in one of the canals in Gbagada while the body of the wife was discovered in a canal at Ketu on Tuesday, July 11, thus confirming that they were swept away by flood

Saturday Specialok.TI

•The couple on their wedding day

Kunle AKINRINADE

community had been under the threat of floods and that whenever there was heavy downpour, residents stayed in their homes to avoid being swept away by flood.

A highly placed source explained further that the deceased couple only moved into the community a few months ago and were apparently unaware of the situation in the environment.

The source said: “My brother, flood is the major problem that is tormenting our community and it has been like that for some time now without any

‘

solution. The couple moved into this area a few months ago without knowing the precarious condition of their environment whenever it rains.

Whenever there is a heavy downpour, we (residents) usually stayed at home to avoid being caught in the floods. ‘’Believe me, if the late couple knew that it is dangerous to go out when it rains heavily in this area, they would not have gone out at all. It is so unfortunate that the young couple was swept away by the floods without getting any help, leaving behind a toddler who will never grow up to know her parents except through photographs.”

The housemaid was said to have become worried when she could not fathom why the couple did not return on time. She decided to call their mobile phones but got no response. This aroused her suspicion that something must have gone wrong and she quickly raised the alarm

’

’

Meanwhile, the death of the couple may have sparked a row in the community as some people are insisting that the couple must be buried near a river because of the circumstances surrounding their death, while family members said that such burial was against their belief as Christians.

“The Ilaje divers who discovered the bodies of the late couple insisted that they must be buried near a river because of the way they died. But family members of the couple insist that such a burial arrangement negates the tenets of their faith as Christians. ‘’Although, those who retrieved their bodies initially refused to release them to their family members on the excuse that there was need to carry out traditional propitiation if at all the bodies would be released for burial, they later soft-pedaled after collecting some money for necessary propitiation.

“Please tell the government to do something fast about the incessant flooding in Lagos so that residents, especially those who live in floodprone areas or communities can sleep with their two eyes closed. We are told that more rains are coming this year.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police could not be reached for comment at press time.

A

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

‘Why I tried to kidnap the man who sponsored my wedding’ A

32-year-old man has confessed that he kidnapped his brother-in-law in a bid to become rich like some of his peers at his Amaohura Maise native town in Imo State. Matthew Anusiem demanded the sum of N2.6 million after kidnapping Chief Ben Echiwodo, a 56-yearold businessman, who ironically, was said to have borne all his marriage expenses and also bought him a car.

In his confessional chat with The Nation Matthew said he got into kidnapping business by accident.

He said: “I am a kidnapper by accident. I had wanted to get rich quick to meet up with some of my age mates in my village. My financial situation appeared to get worse with every effort I made.

“I sell drugs at Ariaria Market in Aba, Abia State. I did not intend to harm my co-in-law; I only wanted to collect small money from him to help me feed my family and boost my business.

“When my drug business was not yielding enough money, I added rubber slippers to it. I sold slippers in day time and drugs in the evening because health officials used to disturb those of us who had no licence.

“Like I told you, I became a kidnapper by accident, because the other three members of my gang duped me and deceived me into becoming a member of the gang so that I could recover my money quickly.

“When the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, led by SP Abba Kyari located me, I did not run because I had heard that they would not shoot one if one surrendered oneself and does not try to run away.

“Chief Ben Echiwodo, the Akajiudo I of Mbaukwu Ihite Ezike, Mbaise Imo State, is my coin-law. The last born of his mother-in-law, Lynda Anusiem, is my wife. She was living with Chief (Echiwodo) before I married her. It was Chief that trained her from nursery to secondary school.

It was even Chief who sponsored our wedding. His first son, Emeka Echewodo, is my friend.

“When Lynda and I got married, Chief made sure that the wedding went well, and he blessed our marriage. He provided the cars we used for the wedding. He also provided the cash and food and gave us good advice on how to live happily as husband and wife.

“He advised me to work hard and pray always for divine help.

He said if I heeded his advice, I would not have any problem. He did not know that I was nursing the ambition to become as rich as he is, so that I could take good care of his daughter who came from a wealthy family.”

Anusiem recalled that his marriage to Lynda was blessed with two beautiful girls named Chinazor and Chisimidihia, aged two years and six weeks respectively. “Even Chief’s wife, Dorothy, came to stay in my house to help my wife to take care of her babies and prepare delicious food for the family before my wife was strong enough to continue her domestic chores.

“Because Chief had helped me a lot even in my business, I had no courage to go to him to ask for money, particularly after he had challenged me to take good care

•Mathew, chief suspect Ebele BONIFACE

of my family.

“One day, I got a message purportedly from the MTN, telling me that I had won N2 million. I saw the MTN text message as a saving grace. I scrolled the text message again and it directed me to go straight to the MTN office and ask of a member of staff called Joseph, who would assist me to cash the money.

“When I called the number, Joseph directed me to come to MTN office and call him on the phone.

“The following day, I went to MTN office. I called the number and discovered that Joseph was standing outside the office with an MTN cap and vest. He beckoned to me and I went to him. He was happy when he saw me and he gave me a handshake. Again, he assured me that I had won N2 million.

“As we were talking, a woman came with bundles of naira notes and told him that she had collected her own N2 million. A moment later, another person, a man this time, came and told him that

he had also collected his own N2 million.

“He then told me that I had seen it with my eyes that the N2 million prize was not a fluke. He then told me that those who had collected their own N2 million gave bribes ranging from N400,000 to N500,000 to facilitate payment.

“I told him that I didn’t have enough money and he agreed to collect N200.000 on that day and collect the balance of N200,000 later. I gave him N200,000 and he took me somewhere in Ngwa Village with two of his colleagues.

“When we got to a small house, they brought out wine, roasted meat and powder. After making me to eat the meat and drink the wine, all of us robbed the powder on our faces. They told me that what we had done was a covenant and that I should not tell anybody whatever they did with me or I would die.

“A few days later, around January 2010, I went to them and told them that I was still trying to get the balance of N200,000. It was then that they asked me whether I had a rich relation or friend that

•The Victim, Chhief Ben Echiwolo

• Adaku, one of the suspects.

could assist me and that they would give me an idea of how to get money from him.

“When I asked how, they said the person would be kidnapped and would be compelled to pay a ransom of N1 million or more. I gave them the name of one of my rich friends called Ugo. They called him and threatened to kill him if he did not pay the sum of N400,000. But he told them on the phone that he would not give them one kobo. Instead, he told them to come and carry him alive and do whatever they wanted with him.

“When they realised that he was not be duped, I gave them the phone number of Chief and they called him and told him to produce N400,000 or they would kill him and all his family members.

Chief was afraid and paid the sum of N400,000 through a lady’s account number I gave him. I paid the lady, Adaku, N50,00 as commission. I later replaced the sum and gave the gang the sum of N400,000, bringing the total sum I paid them to N600,000.

“Then Joseph gave me an idea to open a new account for a new deal with Chief. This time around, they told Chief to pay the sum of N2 million or he would be kidnapped. They told me to connect Adaku whose account I had used earlier.

Narrating his ordeal in the hand of the kidnappers, Chief Echiwodo said: “I am a trader in Ariara Market, Aba in Abia State.

I have changed my phone numbers more than three times because of these heartless kidnappers.

Last year, they threatened to kill me if I failed to produce N400,000.

Because I was afraid, I paid the money into the account they gave me. They sent text messages thanking me.

“This year, March 2011, they called me again threatened to kill me and my family if I failed to give them N2 million.

Fearing for my life, I told my people, and when they noticed that it was affecting my health, they rushed me to a hospital. I became hypertensive. My BP was rising and I nearly had a stroke. I started running from one place to the other. I ran to Lagos, to the Catholic Mission at Ijeshatedo, Surulere where my brother is a reverend father.

“But while I was there, they called the reverend father to produce the N2 million or they would kill him and still get me. This made me to know that they were still tracing me and I felt unsafe.

Based on this fact, my brother reported the matter to the church and after serious deliberation with a committee set up by the church, they decided to write a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, who immediately directed the Special Anti-Robbery Squad led

by SP Abba Kyari to fish out the kidnappers.

“Based CP Yakubu’s instruction, Kyari mobilised his men into action. They asked me to deposit money in the account, and through the guarantor of the account owner, they were able to trace Adaku who assisted the SARS to locate Matthew, while Joseph and one other are still at large.

“When I realised that the kidnapping was organised by my coin-law I was very surprised. But my joy is that my BP has come down. My in-law is heartless. If I knew, I would not have given him my daughter.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “I knew that the suspect, Matthew, would be arrested, because no kidnapper has been reported to the Lagos State Police Command without being arrested.”

I sold slippers in day time and drugs in the evening because health officials used to disturb those of us who had no licence. Like I told you, I became a kidnapper by accident because the other three members of my gang duped me and deceived me into becoming a member of the gang so that I could recover my money quickly

14

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

•The electric pole that fell on the deceased’s workshop

Breadwinner electrocuted, others critically injured as heavy rain damages electric poles

Saturday Specialok.TIF

’

T

HE heavy downpour that left Lagos flooded last Sunday left grief in its wake in different parts of the city. As many as 20 lives were believed to have been lost in the incident Lagosians had not anticipated, much less prepared for.

Numbered among the casualties was a 48year-old electronics technician called Lanre Rasaki. The native of Abeokuta, Ogun State was said to be assisting one of his customers whose car had developed an electrical fault in front of his shop at No 4, Adebiyi Street, Ilamoshe Estate, Oke-Afa, when thunder struck and an electric pole bearing high tension cables fell on top of his shop.

Recalling the incident amid tears, Rasaki’s wife,Taiwo, said: “My husband was helping a customer to check the battery of his broken down car when the incident occurred. There was a sudden thunder strike and electric poles started falling. Everyone ran for cover, but my husband was electrocuted before he could escape.”

It was gathered that the deceased was involved in an okada (motorcycle) accident some years ago, following which he had been limping. This, it was gathered, was the reason he could not run as fast as other people to avoid the deadly cables that fell on his shop and electrocuted him.

Two other passers-by, including an expectant mother, who managed to survive the ugly incident were said to be in critical conditions at undisclosed hospitals in Lagos.

Kunle AKINRINADE Taiwo said: “On Monday morning, the husband of the pregnant woman visited me.

He said doctors had already told him that the baby in his wife’s womb had died and that they were trying to remove it through operation. He said his wife was on danger list and that people should help him pray for her safety.”

Throwing further insight into the incident, a resident, Mr. Bayo Oladekan, said: “It was around 6.30 pm when the incident occurred.

There was this bright lightening and thunder struck several times. Before we knew it, the poles began to fall, killing the unassuming technician. Two other people who also fell victim are now hovering between life and death.

“You can see that one of the poles is still lying on top of the deceased man’s shop days after the incident. That shows the kind of people that run the PHCN (Power Holding Company of Nigeria).”

A brother-in-law of the deceased, identified simply as Engr. Egbetayo, said: “Immediately the incident happened, Rasaki was rushed to some private hospitals in the area, but he was rejected. He died at about 2 pm while he was being rushed to Isolo General Hospital.”

Describing the deceased, one of his neighbours, simply called Nike, said: “Mr. Rasaki was a nice and unassuming man. He would always mind his business. I never saw him quarrel with anyone. Although, there are

other shop owners in the area, he was always the first to open his shop and the last to close.

He always strove to satisfy his customers. It is so sad he died in such a tragic way.”

A community leader, who asked not to be named, explained that before the incident, he had made repeated visits to the PHCN office in the area to complain about the conditions of the fallen poles, but his visits were of no effect.

He said: “I visited the nearby PHCN office to notify its officials about the conditions of the fallen poles and cables, but they turned a deaf ear to my plea. We knew that the poles could not withstand rainstorm, and that was why we said they should replace them. But they did nothing to arrest the situation.”

Further narrating the circumstances in which her husband died, Taiwo said her husband could not escape like the other people at the scene because his legs prevented him from running as fast as others. Rasaki was said to have been involved in an accident that left him with a fractured leg a few years earlier, which affected his legs and made him to limp.

She said: “PHCN officials did not respond when they were contacted shortly after the incident. It was not until the following day that some of them visited the scene. They said the incident was not their fault and that there was nothing they could do unless the residents repair the poles.

“They only disconnected the cables from the poles and left. And they told us before they left that they would not come back until the poles were fixed.”

When our correspondent visited the scene

•Rasaki

of the incident, a number of the poles were in decrepit state. Many of them had developed cracks and it was certain that they could collapse at any time.

Many of the shop owners did not open their shops as a mark of respect for the late technician. The street was also deserted because of the presence of the pole that still lay on the deceased’s workshop.

There has been a rise in the rate of electrocution resulting from falling electricity cables in the city lately. A similar incident occurred at No 14, Audu Baale Street, Iwaya, Yaba, Lagos on June 18, 2011, when a housewife, Aminat Arowolo was electrocuted. The food vendor run into the house when she noticed that an electricity cable had fallen in front of the house during a downpour. Shortly after the downpour, however, she came out of the house to return to resume business only to step on the live cable, which killed her instantly.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, Business Manager of PHCN, Ikotun District, Mr. Oluwadare Oseni said:" I got wind of the tragic incident a few days ago and I swung into action by asking my men to move to the scene and to effect repairs.

As I speak, we have been able to put concrete on some of the weak electric poles in order to strengthen them while about seven old poles has been replaced with new ones. Most of the accidents occurred because of the use of substandard wooden electric poles and cables by residents. To this end, we are currently carrying out awareness campaign to dissuade residents from installing substandard cables and wooden electric poles and I have also directed my men to

15

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

We’ve been in blackout since our monarch was remanded in prison for alleged rape —Osun community residents A

COMMUNAL clash clash is imminent between the people of Ilowa and Idoka in Obokun Local Government Area, Osun State. The two communities are suspecting each other over the alleged rape of a corps member based in Idoka by the Alowa of Ilowa, Oba Adebukola Alli.

The traditional ruler has been the butt of public odium since the rape case began. He has been arrested, quizzed, detained and granted bail before he was eventually charged to court for rape.

Since the case started at an Osogbo Magistrate Court on March 25, 2011, the monarch has been told to remove his beaded crown in court, placed on house arrest and finally remanded in prison.

When the rape case began, the monarch appeared not to be cooperating with the process of the law. For about four consecutive sittings, he did not appear in court, claiming that he was suffering from stroke. But the court insisted that justice must be done, and in good time too. More so because the victim is a corps member who has limited time to spend in the state. The National Youth Service Corps, which is also interested in the matter, is working round the clock to ensure that the alleged victim gets justice. For security reasons, she was redeployed from Osun State to Abuja, from where she has been going to court, even after the completion of her service year last month.

The accused counsels have presented many medical reports concerning the monarch from government hospitals, including that of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital Complex, Osogbo, ObafemiAawolowo University Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital, Ibadan and one from a private

•Oba Alli

•Alowa’s Palace

•Saloro of Ilowa, Chief Isaac Oduremi

Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo hospital in Ibadan to prove to the court that he was sick. But the prosecuting officer has pointed out flaws in the reports and the court has ordered that by being in prison custody, the accused would be able to receive the best of medical care. Theshock of the ruling that he should be kept in prison custody led to the accused slumping on the floor of the court.

Last Monday, the accused was brought to court in a prison ambulance.

Since March 25, 2011 when the alleged rape was committed by the monarch, the rustic town of Ilowa has been in the news. Before then, the town had hardly enjoyed a mention in the local media, not to talk of national ones, because it is a small agrarian community populated by subsistence farmers. But today, Ilowa situated between Idoka and Idominasi communities, has been enjoying negative publicity since the report of the alleged rape hit the public domain.

Members of the community, who spoke with our correspondent on the plight of the monarch, expressed mixed feelings Some of his acquaintances from childhood described him as a carefree individual. But while they would

•Yeye Rise of Ilowa, Chief Emila Olagunju

not speak too good of him, they wished he would get over the crisis.

In spite of the bad publicity the case has given the Ilowa community, the kingmakers and people of the town would rather throw their weights behind him, saying

‘

While they admitted that the development had given the town a bad image, they insisted on recognising Oba Adebukola Alli as their monarch.

They said they had resolved to support the embattled monarch in his trying moment because he had been their economic pillar since he succeeded his late father, Oba Rasaki Alli, about six years ago

,

•Babalola Ganiyu, Alowa’s gardner

they would not remove him. Our correspondent was in the town and spoke with the Obala, Chief Lawrence Adebayo; the Yeye Rise otherwise known as women’s monarch, Chief Emilia Olagunju; the Saloro, Chief Isaac Oduremi; the Loro, Chief Ogundele Abe; the Odole, Chief Olatunji Jeje and the Oba-Odo, Chief David Oduremi.

While they admitted that the development had given the town a bad image, they insisted on recognising Oba Adebukola Alli as their monarch. They said they had resolved to support the embattled monarch in his trying moment because he had been their economic pillar since he succeeded his late father, Oba Rasaki Alli, about six years ago.

Chief Emilia said the monarch, who was said to be critically ill in Ilesa Prison, had always been paying their electricity bills. The Saloro recounted how the monarch had paid two years electricity bill of every household in the community, which has less than 100 houses.

According to the monarch’s domestic worker, Babalola Ganiyu, immediately the travails of Oba Alli started and he could not attend to the community, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria had cut off electricity supply to the town. The people of Ilowa are

also claiming that their monarch’s travails was being spiritually teleguided by the neigbouring Idoka communit.

Ganiyu fingered the pastor of a popular church in Idoka as the mastermind, saying Oba Alli was involved in a land dispute with the people of the town.

But the warden of the church said the allegation was far from truth, saying the people of Ilowa should rather leave their pastor and Idoka people out of the matter, advised the people of Ilowa to face the criminal charge preferred against their monarch.

The Obala, evidently in his 90’s, said the accused should be freed without delay, maintaining that his throne and the whole community will always wait for him.

When some of the chiefs were asked why they had not been going to court with the monarch, they said they feared that their presence in court could escalate the problem. They also claimed not to know who to call for help.

Rather, they said, they have been crying and nursing their wounds quietly each time the town gets negative mention in the media.

The community might be missing the economic assistance they were getting from their monarch, but only the court can determine his fate.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

B

LESSED, the scriptures say, are peacemakers because they will inherit the kingdom of God. This popular refrain probably inspired a 39year-old tailor, Abel Obayomi, to intervene in a quarrel between two of his neighbours, but it eventually cost him his life.

The ugly incident, which occurred at Onihale community in Ifo, Ogun State on June12, 2011 has since left Obayomi’s family in deep mourning.

Until he met his untimely death on the fateful day the deceased, an indigene of Idere near Igbo-Ora, Oyo State, resided at the Orile-Kajola part of Onihale, where he also had his tailoring shop. According to The Nation investigation, at about 3.30 pm on the fateful day, an elderly neighbour of Obayomi, simply called Baba, had approached a food vendor near his shop to buy food. On getting there, he met one Gbenga Elepo beating a nine-year-old boy who was deaf. Baba wasted no time in reprimanding Elepo for descending on nine-year-old deaf.

Elepo, however, did not take kindly to Baba’s remarks. In anger, Elepo left the nine-year-old boy, transferred his aggression to the elderly Baba and started beating him. The development attracted the attention of Obayomi, who made to separate the two, But in the ensuing affray, Elepo, aided by some of his friends, beat Obayomi mercilessly and eventually stabbed him to death.

Recalling the circumstances surrounding Obayomi’s death, an eyewitness, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said: “He (Obayomi) wanted to plead with Gbenga (Elepo) to stop beating Baba when Gbenga turned his anger on him.

Gbenga and his friends turned him into a punch bag before they stabbed him to death. He (Gbenga) is a notorious person.

Everyone in this community fears him and his gang.”

Another eyewitness, who also pleaded anonymity, said: “Everybody in this community lives in fear of Gbenga and his gang.

Many have even fled their homes to avoid being killed by him and his gang members. Although he has been arrested, there are fears that his group might launch a reprisal against the people they suspect to have a hand in the arrest of their leader.

“The gang members are ritual killers. There was a day they wanted to kill a pregnant woman in the community. The woman managed to escape. The next thing Gbenga did was catch a fowl, cut its head and drank its blood in broad daylight.”

“He and his gang members did not just kill the tailor. They also removed his intestines and dumped his corpse in the bush somewhere around Majensise Junction at Onihale.”

Meanwhile, Baba, the elderly man who was injured by the suspect, is recuperating in a private hospital, while Elepo (Gbenga) and his friends have been arrested and detained at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Abeokuta.

One of the deceased’s younger brothers, Bayo Samson, explained that nothing had been heard concerning the suspect since he was arrested shortly after the incident.

Samson said: “We received the news of our brother’s gruesome

•The late Obayomi

Tragic end of a peacemaker •Stabbed dead while trying to calm feuding neighbours Kunle AKINRINADE death with shock, because he was someone who would not hurt a fly. We were informed about his death two days after the incident, when his corpse was discovered at a junction in the town. He has since been buried after a post-mortem was carried out on his remains.

“I could not even take a second look at his corpse in the mortuary, because his body had swollen up with machete cuts all over

the body. He lost his wife about two years ago and has since been taking care of his five children alone.

“However, we have not heard anything concerning the suspects that were arrested. The only thing we were told by the police was that the prime suspect had been transferred to Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos.”

Another relation of the deceased, Mr.Ayo Olawoyin, said he was the one who brought him to Lagos a few years ago. “He

‘

stayed in my house for some time before he moved into his own apartment at Onihale where the incident took place.

“He was a very quiet person who could not hurt a fly. We have since relocated his children to our home town. We learnt that his alleged assailant is very notorious in the community.

“Now, family members are blaming me for bringing him to Lagos. But I can understand. If he had become successful, they would not have blamed me for bringing him to Lagos.

He and his gang members did not just kill the tailor. They also removed his intestines and dumped his corpse in the bush somewhere around Majensise Junction at Onihale

,

“ I don’t want the matter to be swept under the carpet, because nothing has been heard about the suspect since police arrested him. But the elderly man, whom my brother wanted to rescue from the suspect before he was killed, has since left the hospital.”

Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) for further investigation, adding that the suspects would be charge to court.

He said: “For now, the matter is being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department, and I can assure you that nothing will be left undone to ensure that justice is done. At the completion of investigation on the matter, the suspects will be charged to court.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Mother mourns as Nollywood actress awaits the hangman Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano roborated the other.

The Nation learnt that upon the delivery of judgment by the Court of first instance, Rabi was not perturbed as she displayed an attitude that stunned, not only her relations but her colleagues who had tried to ensure that she got her freedom through state pardon by lobbying the then governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, to use his veto powers to set the actress free. Indeed, the actress was to later display another queer attitude at the court premises where she openly boasted that she was not perturbed at the death sentence.

According to those close to her, she even shouted at her sister who was crying over her fate. “I am ashamed of you. What is it after all? With or without the sentence, death is an inevitable end for all human beings. Don’t cry for me because everyone will die one day,” she retorted at the Court premises.

Determined to ensure Rabi’s freedom, her lawyer, without informing her, appealed the judgment. But the controversial actress was not lucky as the Appeal Court sitting in Kaduna and presided over by Justice Alkali Ba’aba in 2008, upheld the High Court judgment and sentenced Rabi to death by hanging. Today, Rabi inexorably awaits the hangman’s noose as the Supreme Court nailed her sentence penultimate Friday.

But this development has elicited deep sorrow in Rabi’s family.

When The Nation visited Tudun Wada, where Rabi’s mother and her siblings reside, a sea of sympathizers were trooping into the house to console the old woman popularly known as Hajia Cecilia.

The poor woman wailed endlessly and repeatedly rolled herself on the ground, uttering words that were not directed at anyone in particular.

One of Rabi’s sisters, who declinrd giving her name, said: “Mama is not in a mood to speak to anyone. She is devastated over the news of Sister Rabi’s case. For more than nine years, she has not set her eyes on Sister Rabi. And now, they said she is going to die.

This is pathetic. I want to plead with the Federal Government to pardon my sister and make her live again. No one had followed them to the picnic. They were only two, and who would have known all that transpired?

“They said Sister Rabi confessed to have poisoned the man, but I know my sister as a very care-free person and could give in to any pressure. She is also hypersensitive and might have made the alleged confession out of anger. In any case, we are not celebrating the dead man. It is unfortunate that he died. But is there no way they can save my sister’s life?

“The man in question, Mallam Auwalu, was like a brother to us.

It remains a puzzle to me why my own sister would have killed her boyfriend whom she was fond of.”

Our correspondent waited for

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The Nation learnt that upon the delivery of judgment by the Court of first instance, Rabi was not perturbed as she displayed an attitude that stunned, not only her relations but her colleagues who had tried to ensure that she got her freedom through state pardon

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ALLS and text messages seized the airwaves in Kano and other parts of Nigeria as soon as a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, July 8 pronounced a death sentence on Rabi Ismaila, a Nollywood actress.

And as reactions greeted the judgment led by Justice Francis Fedode Tabai, the entire Tudun Wada, a tiny community in Kano metropolis where Rabi grew up, went into mourning.

The apex court, after examining a confessional statement made by Rabi and other evidence before it to the effect that she actually drugged and drowned her boyfriend, Auwalu Ibrahim during a picnic at Tiga Dam on December 25, 2002, had upheld the judgment of a Kano State High Court and an appellate Court in Kaduna, both condemning the Hausa film actress to death.

The case, which dragged for about nine years, saw Rabi behind the bars as her lawyer, Mr. Taiwo I. Taiwo, struggled to set her free from the allegations of culpable homicide punishable with death, according to Section 221 (b) of the Penal Code. Rabi, known for her flamboyant lifestyle and intimidating profile as “a street goddess” within the social circles in Kano, was said to have lured one of her boyfriends, Auwalu, a young politician, to an outing at Tiga Dam, where she doped the young man with poisoned chocolate. Thereafter, she pushed the unconscious Auwalu into the bowels of the Dam after removing the sum of N10, 000 from his pocket.

To her undoing, Rabi when dragged to a Kano High Court, confessed to have killed Auwalu but was forced to plead nonguilty to the murder charge after tutorials from her lawyer. However, on January 5, 2005, Justice Halliru Mohammed Abdullahi found Rabi guilty of culpable homicide. According to Justice Haliru, the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Rabi committed the act and therefore must face death by hanging.

The Judge further stated in his judgment that: “circumstantial evidence before the court also adduced that the convict was guilty as such,” adding that all the evidence in possession of the court pointed to the fact that Rabi committed the offence on which basis she was sentenced to death. He noted that nine witnesses testified in the court, and each of them cor-

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Blessing Ojumo Female 21 years 4ft tall dark Awori Egun Hajia Muse Ariyo of No. 10 Thomas Close Surulere Lagos Police Station

Name: Sex: Age: Height: Complexion: Languages spoken: Contact: 174 Broad station.

James Nkama Male 29 years 5ft tall Light English and Igbo Mrs Udok Eze Onalaka of No. Street or Ebute Ero Police

Name: Sex: Age: Height: Complexion: Languages spoken: Contact:

Olalekan Alawode Male 41 years 5ft tall Dark Yoruba and English Taiwo Alawode of No. 28,

close to two hours to see if Hajiya Cecilia would at least utter some words after she had calmed down, but she remained dazed and speechless, fidgeting with her hands and legs. Occasionally, she uttered words that were not audible. She would look up, raise her hands, and would shout hysterically, “Oh, Rabi, why must it be you? Rabi, why ending this way? Why can’t somebody do something to save you from death? They called you all sorts of names, but I know you too well, my daughter. You are a nice

Morning Star Street, Ejigbo Lagos or Ejigbo police station.

Missing Person Name: Sex: Age: Height: Complexion: Languages spoken: Contact: Okoya or Surulere

•Ismaila

Stolen vehicle Type: Colour:Wine Reg. No. Chasis No: Contact: Type: Colour: Reg. No: Chasis No: Contact:

Toyota Camry

girl and God will surely vindicate you. Please, Government, help save my daughter’s life.” .

Some of the neighbours who spoke with our correspondent wished Rabi would be given a second chance, though they showed some misgivings over her alleged escapades while she lived in Tudun Wada. But the hope of Rabi living again remains very slim as the Supreme Court has slammed a final judgment on her, which even President Goodluck Jonathan may not be able to upturn.

Reg. No. Contact:

EY 603 KRD SFU Ikoyi, Lagos

Type: Colour: Reg. No. Location:

Toyota Camry Ash TC 759 KJA SFU Ikoyi Lagos

BP 450 AKD 4TIBF22K7VU036121 Sabo Police station

Type: Colour:Red Reg. No: Location:

Infinity Jeep FX 35 Gold IJOBA JNRASO8U43X102497 Sango police station, Ogun State

Type: Honda CRV Colour:Blue Reg. No: CZ 658 MUS Contact: SFY 13, Milverton Road, Ikoyi Lagos

Recovered vehicles Type: Colour: Reg. No: Chasis No. Location:

Lorry Light green XH 62 BDG

Type: Colour:

Nissan Pathfinder Metallic Green

SFU Ikoyi Lagos

Toyota Camry BE 454 KRD SFU Ikoyi Lagos

Type: COlour: Reg. No: Contact: Ikoyi, Lagos

Jaguar Green DE 601 SMK SFU 13, Milverton Rd,

Type: Colour: Reg. No: Contact:

KIA Sephia Green GP 639 AAA SFU Ikoyi

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

C

ould you tell us exactly what you do at the Carnegie Corporation of New-York?

I am the Director of Higher Education and Libraries in Africa Programmes for the Carnegie Corporation of New-York (CCNY).

The CCNY was 100 years old last month. It was founded by Andrew Carnegie, one of the leading industrialists in America in the 19th Century, who made significant fortunes and gave it all away in philanthropy. Some of his key areas of interest are education and peace. These were the two cornerstones of his philanthropy. We are worth $3 billion, and we give away between 100 and 160 million dollars every year.

We work in Africa right now. Our work in Africa at one time covered five countries – Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, and Tanzania. We concentrate on higher education and libraries in Africa.

Our key partners for some time in Nigeria were University of Ife, University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University, the ICT Forum of Nigeria, which is a big ICT national research, and ENREA National Research and Advocacy Group.

We now concentrate on postgraduate education and postgraduate training and research, with emphasis on doctoral and post-doctoral programmes.

We support important pan-African continental intervention in post-graduate training and education. One is known as the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA). That includes two main players – the University of Ibadan and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The aim of CARTA is to transform doctoral training in demography, public health areas and social sciences. The goal is to produce over 100 PhDs in the next five to six years. The head of CARTA is Dr Alex Eze, who is at the African Population Health Research Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. We also support what we know as Research Initiative for Science Education (RISE). RISE is another support to African science networks. One of our partners here is the Federal University of Technology, Ado-Ekiti.

RISE is also producing PhDs and Masters. Our main work is developing and retaining the next generation of academics in Africa.

We have another programme called African Humanities Programme, which Nigerians have won quite a a lot. It is run out of the American Council of Learned Societies. These doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships to African Academics have benefitted institutions like the Tai Solarin University of Education and Nassarawa State University.

And because it is competitive, it does not just go into the so-called old universities who think they are the best. You only need to go there and write your proposal for your doctoral work. I was even shocked to see Ebonyi State University winning it. If something is competitive, then it is open to everybody. You test yourself along an international jury, because it’s a peer review mechanism made up of juries in a number of African universities. We work in areas of institutional support, postgraduate fellowships and networks.

The title of your paper at the 34th edition of AVCNU was, ‘Imagining the next generation of Nigerian graduates.’ What were you trying to portray?

What I am trying to bring out is that there is no one image of the next generation of university graduates. But we need some things. There must be good democratic system. Our graduates must

Most Nigerian vice chancellors are arrogant —Prof. Akin Aina

•Prof. Akin

be digitally literate. They must be people who are not only specialists in a narrow profession; they must have the complete capacity to think out of the box, to be creative and also ask the right questions. They must be rigorous and know procedures of approaches.

With your international exposure, what in your view is responsible for the slow movements in the growth of our universities?

(Cuts in) Good infrastructure!

Our universities are paying too much for utilities like electricity supply. If the Federal Government can get electricity supply, water, good roads and public safety right, the universities will thrive. Universities are spending too much of their time dealing with what is not their core functions which are teaching, learning, research and public service. Vice-chancellors today are chief security officers, chief policemen, chief procurement officers and chief godfathers.

But they should be leading our universities into intellectual heights. I really salute and envy the vice-chancellors because 90 per cent of their task is not related to their core functions. And then the funding is limited, and the laws that set up these universities at the federal level limit the flexibility of universities.

At the state level, you have to dance up to the governor’s tune, because at times, you might have a governor that is not supportive because they come with political agenda. When they come to power, they want to appoint the next Vice-Chancellor from their village. It is not about merit. The federal, state and private universities, whether faith-based, secular or communal, all have a major

The Programme Director of Higher Education in Africa for the Carnegie Corporation New York, Prof. Omotade Akin Aina, was a guest speaker at the 34th Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) Conference held at the Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State penultimate Thursday. In this interview with ADEGBAMILA ADEGUNLE at the venue of the conference, the alumnus of London School of Economics and University of Sussex, UK bares his mind on a wide range of issues affecting t h e development of education in Nigeria

role to play. Each of them is engaging issues, giving access to students on education. But the state and federal government must bring about the way it controls the university in a different

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Vice-chancellors in South Africa don’t behave like vice chancellors in Nigeria. There is a culture of a Nigerian chief executive.

Even at this AVNU conference, I saw some vice-chancellors coming in with armed policemen.

When I visited Cape Town, the vice chancellor drives his own (Volkswagen) Beetle. The ViceChancellor drove me to my hotel and even had a drink with me. But here, there are armed escorts for vice chancellors.

,

way. It is not just about saying ‘we give you nine more universities now.’ What is the autonomy of those universities? How is the post- graduate training going on?

The first six universities - University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Benin, and University of Jos should be training post-graduate students for us, concentrating mostly on their areas of excellence.

Let them plunge themselves into international research networks and collaboration. They should concentrate on 40 per cent production of post-graduates. They should be striving for excellence in PhDs and Masters. Six to eight universities in this country can produce the manpower for the 116 universities or thereabout.

Government, through Education Trust Fund (ETF), should set up a National Research Foundation (NRF) that has money that is given on a competitive basis for research. And the NRF should have a leadership that can work with the private sector and communities to identify priority areas in both basic and applied research.

It is not only about sickle cell, malaria or HIV, but basic research that can yield results in about 10 to 20 years for applied research.

That is why our universities are not on the ranking list anywhere.

There is not enough funding. The research culture and environment in Nigeria is not good. The ETF is trying. I must salute Prof.

Muhammed Yakubu. He is a dynamic person, innovative and visionary. But he does not have enough freedom, because he is a major grant maker but his board

limits him to be able to deploy his resources to transform Nigeria.

Let’s get away from all the groups like NMIDC, PTDF and the rest and have a consolidated national research foundation and a trust around it. Let’s have a consolidated research funding mechanism that identifies some core disciplinary course alteration or clusters, maybe 17 or 21. There will be those for supporting Ph.D training, Lecturer 2 or Lecturer 3 either public or private, universities will be able to apply. If you are a good researcher or academic, no matter what corner of the world you are, you should be able to apply for research funding, working with undergraduate students, friends and colleagues in other universities, both in Nigeria and outside.

President Goodluck Jonathan has said the Fedral Government will focus on universities alone while state and local governments take care of basic and secondary education…

(Cuts in) The polytechnics, universities of education, universities of agriculture, colleges of education, nursing schools, all of them need to be catered for. The Federal Government cannot fund all of them. Let the Federal Government concentrate on the 37 federal universities. The funding must be systematic, focus-directed in the next 10 to 15 years. It is not the kind of funding you do this year and stop the next because the governor or the minister had changed. Something good is already happening.

It is a pleasure and privilege to be at AVCNU conference, because we saw that the vice chancellors are truly making an impact. I see •Continued on Page 39

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Saturday

THRILLER

After the storm...

Travails of Lagos flood victims

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

A

LL kinds of things drift in the tide wastes that flood Christiana Arije’s yard–weeds, driftwood, lizard cadavers, tadpoles, frogs and a lot yet unidentifiable in the yard. It takes time to hear what the landlady seems to be saying. With grief nudging her, you cannot put into words how the 58-year-old’s misery could find its voice.

Crickets chirp like old ghosts from under a wrecked buoy, a light wind peels back the tide wastes to reveal a sand grave and what is still left of what used to be the front pavement of her bungalow. All around the compound, the ghosts of hastily eaten animals hover like a spent kite. In her backyard, a giant rat eats out of something, perhaps a fowl cadaver, thus littering the yard with the bones of yet another ghost.

There seem to be too many ghosts in the yard; the ghosts of things that were – a lamp, two rooms, a fence and a dead cat. The ghost of Arije’s endeavours before the surge and her fears too. “In the 30 years that I have lived here, I had never witnessed such terror. I was at home lounging with my grandchildren like I usually did every Sunday. Around 4 pm, I asked them what they would like as supper and they said they would eat rice. But just before I rose from my seat to prepare the meal, I heard some very horrid noise and spine-tingling screams about the neighbourhood. I rushed to the door to peep outside and I saw this giant flood coming at us.

It had overflowed the canal running through here from the Agege abattoir. It had cars, torn roofs, animals and some people in its tide. And it was rushing quite madly at us.

“I screamed at the kids to stop peeping through the windows. I told them to hide under the bed but then I remembered that they could drown hiding there so I bolted the door, locked the windows and gathered them all around me on the bed,” discloses Arije.

Despite her efforts, the flood gushed chillingly into her compound, submerging it. Then it made its way into her house, running close to four feet from the floor. She says: “All our furniture has been spoilt by water. I could not save any of my grandchildren’s books too. I promised them I would buy them new books.

I don’t think I can get such money in a long while. But I thank God that we are alive...What saved us was that my house is built on a bit of high rise. If not, who knows what could have happened to me and grandchildren?”

A lot could have happened. They could have been swept away and drowned like the 10 victims or more that lost their lives in the downpour that drenched last Sunday in a gush of red.

Oluwo Atorilaye, a local chief bemoans the disaster that has thrown many Lagos residents in a state of mourning. “They said 10 people died. Another account claimed 25 people died.

What are we to believe? The water was overflowing and gushing madly at six feet from the ground. Some of my neighbours climbed a very high fence to escape it, but the water pulled down the fence and swept them away. I still can’t remember how I survived it.

I just remember that I was running and then swimming like mad...The water destroyed my house. It swept one room away. Now I have just one room and a badly damaged roof left. I am yet to overcome the madness and shock of it all,” he laments.

Kabiru Gbadebo, 12, has however overcome the madness and shock tormenting the souls of adult victims like Atorilaye. Perhaps he hasn’t.

Maybe he is simply living in denial. But whatever the case is, the Primary 3 pupil of Oko Oba Primary School, Agege seems to have shrugged the near death experience he had away like a bothersome fly.

When The Nation visited his badly damaged neighbourhood, Gbadebo was busy shovelling sand silts away from the canal to make way for stagnant tide to pass. According to him, he decided to stay away from school to assist with relief efforts.

“I am doing this so that when next there is a heavy downpour, the rain won’t flood the canal and cause it to overflow,” he claims.

Determinedly, Gbadebo seeks to do his bit to prevent a resurgence of the riotous storm that sacked his community and ruined an erstwhile promising Sunday for the residents of Ladoje, Oko Oba and neighbouring districts of Agege, Lagos.

It was indeed a sorry fate that befell many residents of Lagos that fateful Sunday as torrential rainfall forced many to remain indoors for most part of the day. “Many Christians and Muslims were unable to attend their various worship houses as the rains started early, precisely around 6 a.m. Around 7.30 p.m. it was still raining in different parts of Lagos.

Consequently, most travellers got stranded as the rain disrupted flight operations for hours and made departure and landing difficult for aircrafts, even as the runway of the Lagos airport was overrun with flood.

Travails of

•Residents of Ladoje attempt to dry their sodden household furniture in the sun

Olatunji OLOLADE, Assistant Editor Air traffic controllers described the rain as the heaviest in recent times, stressing that airplanes were diverted to other airports until the Lagos runway was free of flood.

Various parts of Agege, Agbado-Ijaiye, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Obalende, Orile Iganmu, Surulere, Aguda, Idi Araba, Ikorodu road, Ajegunle, Maryland, Ogba, Akilo, Abattoir, Aboru, Egbeda, Ajegunle, Ojota and Yaba to mention a few, were submerged by the flood, leading to loss of lives and destruction of property valued at millions of naira.

Several people died while others sustained grievous injuries as houses and fences collapsed in the rain that lasted about 15 hours.

Commuters were stranded at various bus stops across the state as the rain flooded major highways and bypasses, rendering mobility impossible.

Drainages, canals and alleyways were overrun by the flood which caused many vehicle engines to pack up, causing severe traffic jams on major roads. Consequently, many travellers got stranded and had to trek very long distances to get to their homes around midnight.

It was gathered that as the flood sacked a bungalow in Agege, a widower and his daughter, a four-year old, were swept away by the fast moving current, which broke down the fence on which they had sought refuge.

Their whereabouts were unknown as at press time.

The current realities of Lagos state’s flood management challenge wholly dispels the state’s former Commissioner of Environment, Muiz Banire’s pledge that there would no longer be flooding in the state.

Banire promised so during a tour of duty in the state a few months ago. He said with the various investments by the state on drain clearing and the construction of new drainage channels, residents should entertain no fear of flooding.

The recent rainstorm that overran drainages and other flood channels to claim lives and property in the state has, predictably, heightened the apprehensions of many people in the state.

Abiodun Olumide, an Isheri-based banker, argues that it would take a “a great degree of damage control and proactive measures by the state government” before the citizens’ confidence is restored.

“Nobody here trusts in the government anymore. I do not believe in the ability of the government to tackle the flood. They don’t

•Arije

•Atorilaye

really care about us. Do they? The Governor obviously missed Ladoje, Oko Oba and other affected parts of Agege during his tour. I wonder if they are actually aware of our suffering,” laments a middle-aged woman and resident of Oko Oba who lost her kiosk and makeshift canteen to the flood.

The familiar victims Coastal towns are by far the most developed of Nigeria’s urban areas and by implication, have a high concentration of residential, industrial and commercial facilities. This form of urban development has, however, been indicated to be a large creator of risk for much of the urban population, particularly the urban poor who live in more vulnerable physical and human environments.

These include the poor communities often living in the most hazardous and unhealthy environments. Many build their homes and grow their food on river floodplains in towns and cities. Others construct their shelters on steep, unstable hillsides, or along the foreshore on former mangrove swamps or tidal flats.

People suffering these poor conditions may find their difficulties compounded by the consequences of climate change.

According to Dr. Ibidun Adelekan of the Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, “sea-level rise will have significant impacts on coastal areas of Africa, especially on its coastal megacities, because of the concentration of poor populations in

•Gbadebo potentially hazardous areas that are more vulnerable to such changes. The urban poor face a worsening situation as the effects of climate change, including floods arising from increasing frequency of storm surges and heavy rainfall of long duration or high intensity, become more severe.”

Why the cities flood Urbanisation restricts where floodwaters can go by covering large parts of the ground with roofs, roads and pavements, thus obstructing natural channels, and by building drains that ensure that water moves to rivers more rapidly than it did under natural conditions. Large-scale urbanization and population increases have led to large numbers of people, especially the poor, settling and living in floodplains in and around urban areas.

As people crowd into Nigeria’s major cities, human impacts on urban land surfaces and drainage intensify. Even moderate storms now produce quite high flows in rivers because of surface overflow from hard surfaces and drains.

Water flowing through a series of culverts and concrete channels cannot adjust to changes in the frequency of heavy rain, as natural streams do. They are often obstructed by silt and urban debris, particularly when houses are built close to the channels. Such situations frequently arise when poor people build on low-lying floodplains, over swamps or above the tidewater level on the coast. The effects of

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

f Lagos flood victims •Arije and Joseph, her grandson, inspect the ruins of a wing of her bungalow

•This electric pole hangs dangerously over residents of Ladoje after being uprooted by the flood last Sunday

climate change are superimposed on these people-driven local land surface modifications.

Changing atmospheric conditions have been identified as a major factor in the outbreak of floods and general upset of a city’s climatic condition. The humid tropical climate of Lagos for instance, is influenced by her coastal location and nearness to the equator and is characterised by two distinct seasons: the wet season, which occurs mainly between April and October while the dry season is experienced during the remaining months of the year.

During the rainy season, many parts of Lagos are susceptible to flooding. Major causes of floods in built-up areas are uncontrolled expansion of impermeable surfaces due to increasing urbanization resulting in increase runoff volume, runoff responses under high intensity rainfall, building on floodplains, lack of storm water drainage, failure to maintain existing drainage systems and weak institutional capacity of the urban administration.

Changes in the intensity and pattern of storms have also been listed as factors that may influence the risk of flooding. Recent studies of rainstorms in Lagos between1960 and 1980 revealed that most rainstorms within the period were rather small in size as the yielded less than 12.7mm of rainfall. Analyses of rainstorms in Lagos Island for the period 1971 to 2005 show that in more recent years, rainstorms have been heavier even though the number of rain days per annum has reduced.

A costly deluge The total cost of damages and loss of human and animal lives occasioned by the recent rainstorm are however, better imagined.

Although a recent study which investigated the cost of climate change impact in Nigeria with special emphasis on destroyed buildings and social infrastructures by wind and rainstorms between 1992 and 2007 revealed that asides the loss of lives, which are usually not well accounted for, the total cost of damage to buildings, vehicles and social infrastructures amounted to N85.03billion within the 16 years of the survey.

That is an average of N5.31 billion per year.

By implication, the country must have lost roughly N255.84 billion across the 36 states to wind and rainstorms alone within 16 years.

Although data collected for this study ended in 2007, published information on the cost of rain hazards in Nigeria show that in the month of March 2008, rainstorm in Oyo and Ogun States, Nigeria destroyed over 3,000 houses and properties worth millions of Naira. In April 2008 alone, over 500 persons were rendered homeless, while property worth over N900 million were destroyed in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria by a rainstorm.

The total cost of damage to buildings, cars, electrical installations, and markets among others rose from N2.78 billion ($23.6 million) in 1992 to N 9.7 billion in 2007 with the peak of N10.8 billion in 2006 and the least of N2.12 billion in 1994.

Making the best of a sad situation Currently, individual coping strategies include “… bailing water out of the house with buckets,” says Folagbade Moroundiya, 35, a grocer and resident of Isheri. Some wealthier community members use mechanical water pumps to remove water from their homes.

People build temporary plank bridges between houses across the wetlands to be able to move about during flooding. The most helpful individual action at the household level however, has been to block water inlets with pieces of cloth to reduce the amount of water coming into the house, and then to remove the blockage after the level of the water has gone down to allow the water already inside the house to flow out.

Another important coping strategy for households is the sand filling of rooms on an annual basis.

This activity costs between N6000 and N15, 000 every wet season, depending on the level of flooding experienced. For many households on the lower income level and the unemployed they are not able to avail themselves of this coping measure and are therefore highly vulnerable to the flood impacts.

Furthermore, because majority of population

•Youths in Oko Oba, Agege, loiter outside their waterlogged apartments

•This collapsed bridge linked Ladoje Primary School to the main road in these communities are artisans and traders who are dependent on work done on a daily basis, the restriction of economic activities due to floods makes them more vulnerable as their livelihood is jeopardized as a result of flood events. Since flooding of communities is highly linked to infrastructures and poor management of the environment, the vulnerability of poor urban population is highly linked to poor urban management and government’s inability to deal adequately with the issues.

To tame a surge The federal government, through the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the World Bank have produced flood maps of areas affected by flood. The initiative actually recognises areas with normal and abnormal flooding. Likewise state governments are initiating efforts at solving flood problems, but their emphasis according to Samuel Iyiola, of the Department of Geography, University of Lagos; focus more on urban flooding and not on coastal hazard magnitude.

Dredging of coastal parts of the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria has attracted huge financial involvement on the part of the federal government. The most recent being that spent with the view to solving coastal flood problems in South-Western Nigeria, Victoria Island, Lagos in particular.

Apart from this there are construction works in coastal and flood prone areas in Nigeria.

The shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Victoria Island are covered using concrete in order for shores to withstand the influence of waves.

Damming of streams, failures of dams, dredging and unplanned channelization of streams all lead to flooding especially in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. In order to solve the problem of man induced floods, which are becoming a feature of the Niger Delta area.

Human interference with the courses of stream channels during various construction works must be monitored.

Agnes Okoliko, 42, an architect and estate consultant advises that the government make greater efforts at stemming the tide of activities geared at sand-filling ocean floors citing the

Ogunpa flood disaster and the Japan’s recent tsunami catastrophe as worthy pointers to the dangers inherent in such acts.

In periods of extra-ordinary heavy rainfall, it might spill disaster on the communities in the neighbourhoods. Similarly, tidal floods need more serious attention. The coastal areas and mangrove swamps of the Niger Delta areas naturally experience high tidal range causing the diurnal flooding of the areas by Ocean water and this creates the brackish water environment. Ocean surges similar to what has been mentioned in the case of coastal Lagos can be solved through dredging and building of embankments according to experts.

Noble as their suggestions are, they run a striking parallel to Arije’s heartfelt wishes. The embattled grandmother currently struggles to mitigate the damages foisted upon her household by the flood. She has given up on reconstruction efforts of the two rooms torn apart by the flood. But she still hopes that the Lagos state government would come visiting Ladoje, Oko Oba among other areas overrun by the flood.

“Tell Fashola (Babatunde Fashola) to come and repair our house...Sebi he will come to repair our house?” asks Joseph, Arije’s grandchild.

“He will. He will come,” replies Arije.

It is a rare optimism that Arije affects. In the dark reality of her world, it glitters bright and clear like an emerald, dazzling with a will 58years old and the valour of a tenacious spirit.

“Tell the government to help us. Tell them we are suffering here too,” says Arije with a slight inflection that implies that her utterance was meant to pass as a plea even though it sounded off as an order.

Then she wanders inside closely followed by her grandson. “Omi ti ba gbogbo iwe mi je...eni e ma ra imi fun mi...(All my school books are spoilt.

You said you will buy me new ones)” prattles the seven-year-old after her.

With a torn roof to mend, two collapsed bedroom walls and a totally sunk front yard, it may take forever for Arije to buy new books for her grandchild.

22

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

ADVERTORIAL

FINANCIAL SITUATION OF LAUTECH AT MY FORCED EXIT 26-04-2010 INTRODUCTION

WEMA, Osogbo SPRING, Osogbo Since I left LAUTECH on April 26, 2010 and since the end of my tenure on September 30, 2010 as Vice Chancellor, I had restrained myself from commenting on the happenings at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso. However, I Balance for 2008/2009 Session became uncomfortable when my friends called my attention to the negative comments on my tenure as ViceChancellor by the current leadership of LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.

I have taken over leadership of two higher Institutions in the past and not once did I comment negatively on—— Total my predecessors in office, either publicly or privately. Instead I had acknowledged their positive contributions and when I had the opportunities promoted them. At OSPOLY Iree, where I was Rector between January 2002 and September, 2005, I appointed my predecessor in office as the Dean of a new Faculty, the Faculty of B. FEES PAID BY SCRATCH CARDS Financial Management, when he returned to the Institution after his sabbatical and accumulated leave. In 2006, as Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, I recommended to the NUC my predecessor in office for the award of the Best GTB, Ogbomoso Vice-Chancellor in Nigeria State Universities without any prompting from my predecessor. He eventually wonExternal PG Programme the award. The behaviour of the current leadership of LAUTECH is therefore very strange to me to say thePre-Degree Science Programme 1 Sales Admission Form least.

2 PDS Acceptance Fees I was going to ignore the comments, but for the sake of posterity and to set the record straight, I have 3 PDS School Fees decided to provide the following information, on issues raised on page NEWS 5 of THE NATION, Saturday, June 4 PDS ICT Training Programme 25, 2011 by the current Vice-Chancellor and earlier comments by him and his Registrar.

Part-Time Degree Programme

FINANCIAL SITUATION OF LAUTECH AS OF APRIL 26, 2010

The half-truth and distorted financial information coming out of the current LAUTECH leadership is particularly disturbing knowing that the same Bursar, Mr. E. A Alagbe, an ICAN Fellow, was my financial adviser when I was the Vice-Chancellor and he is the financial adviser of the current administration of LAUTECH. The figures given below are taken from the reports of the Bursar, to the Vice-Chancellor, on weekly bank balance as of April 16, 2010 and balances on sales of scratch cards as of April 19, 2010. It should be noted that the 10th Convocation Ceremonies of the University took place between Monday 19th April to Friday, 23rd April, 2010. I was forced to proceed on terminal leave by Monday, April 26, 2010 without the benefit of preparing any handing over notes/reports which would have prevented the current unfortunate controversy on the financial position of the University as of April 26, 2010.

A.

FEES PAID THROUGH PURCHASE OF SCRATCH CARDS 2009/2010 Amount of Money left in various banks as of 19/04/2010 Banks Balance (N)

Level

100 200 200 300 300 300 400 500 500 Acceptance fee Undergraduate

FBN, Ogbomoso SKYE, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso WEMA, Ogbomoso SPRING, Ogbomoso UBN, Ogbomoso Intercontinental, Ogbomoso OCEANIC, Ogbomoso AFRIBANK, Ogbomoso UBA, Ogbomoso

GTB, Ogbomoso

CLINICAL STDs Osogbo

65,955,000.00 88,614,000.00 20,962,000.00 16,073,000.00 10,467,000.00 67,792,000.00 81,743,000.00 44,570,000.00 35,368,000.00

40,009,000.00

FIN BANK, Osogbo

859,672.00

= Total

C.

Over

586,485,53 2,680,000.00 757,348,34 ————— 476,436,506.40 ==============

Over 99,000,000.00 Over 100,000,000.00

12,000,000.00 ——————— 200,000,000.00 =============

SCHEDULE OF BANKS WEEKLY BALANCES AS AT 16/04/2010 (i) (ii)

TOTAL In various banks Outstanding debt on salary account SKYE Bank, Ogbomoso

N425,695,894.24* N465,435,089.33*

*Note:

This amount includes, N189,470,429.55 which was part of the capital Grant by Osun State Government for the projects at the College of Health Sciences, Osogbo. The money was in FINBANK, Osogbo. **A loan of about N525,000,000.00 to pay arrears of monetization, areas of CONTISS as approved by the Governing Council under the Chairmanship of: (a) Chief Femi Lanlehin (b) Chief Bolaji Ayorinde This was part of about N900,000,000.00 that the Government of Chief Alao Akala refused to pay LAUTECH, though Osun State Government had given LAUTECH the equivalent amount. See below: (A) (B) (C)

N476,436,506.40 N200,000,000.00 N425,695,894.24 ————————— Grand Total = N1, 102,132,400.64 ============== The grand total of all the balances is above N1bn. This was how much I left in LAUTECH.

PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN DURING MY TENURE – OCTOBER 2005 – APRIL 2010 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 D.

PROJECTS

Construction of Student’s Affairs Building Construction of Fine Arts Studio Construction of 1000-Seater LT for FAS Construction of Science Laboratory for Earth Sciences Department Construction of Science Laboratory for SLT Department Construction of Block of Offices for SLT Department Construction of Block of Offices Earth Science Department Construction of Anatomy Laboratory for College of Health Science, Osogbo Construction of Lecture Halls/Offices; Osogbo Construction of 2nd access gate for LAUTECH, Ogbomoso Construction of Faculty of Environmental Science LAUTECH, Ogbomoso Donated Construction and Rehabilitation of Intra-Campus Roads, Ogbomoso Construction of Seven (7) Laboratory/Workshop for Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Ogbomoso Lecture Hall and Offices in Faculty of Agric. “Abandoned Adeojo House”, Ogbomoso Molecular Biology Laboratory at Mercy Land CHS, Osogbo, Equipment and Lab. Restructuring and Furniture Lipid Research Laboratory, Department of FSE, FET, Ogbomoso Equipment and Furniture and Renovation Central Research laboratory, Equipment and Renovation at Ogbomoso New Vehicles for:Principal Officers (5)+; Chairmen of Councils (3)-; Deans, Directors and others (15); 30 Seater Students Buses (3); Students Field Buses (2)-; Staff Buses (5)Others (Security, Library, LAS, LAUTECH Consult, (5) URP Building, (Donated) Ogbomoso MBA – Collaborators donated building, Ogbomoso LAUTECH International College Hall ICT Building, CHS, Isale Osun Osogbo (Donated) Public Toilets for Students (3), Ogbomoso Industrial Borehole and Water distribution system to Lab. And workshops, Ogbomoso ICT Infrastructural Development, Ogbomoso and Osogbo Faculty of Engineering and Technology (Faculty self-help) (i) New Faculty Workshop - (ii) Computer Aided Design (CAD) Centre Department Self-help-(i) Physics (2) two, 7 Rooms Buildings (ii) Biology – one 5-Rooms Building(iii) Management Science Office Complex and 100KVA Generator Set (iv) General Studies – one 6-Rooms Office Building Construction of PDS ICT Building Ogbomoso Construction of 100 level science Labs. (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) Ogbomoso Construction of Lecture Halls/Offices for faculty of Engineering & Technology, Ogbomoso 1000 Seater Lecture Theatre of Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, Ogbomoso Construction of Road Network Phase I at College of Health Science, Osogbo Perimeter Fencing of College of Health Sciences, Osogbo Clinical Laboratory for College of Health Sciences, Osogbo Information & Communication Technology Centre, Ogbomoso Perimeter Fencing (Lot I & 4), Ogbomoso Dualization of 2nd Access Gate, Drainages, Culverts and other works, Ogbomoso Construction of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences Building, Osogbo Construction of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Building, Ogbomoso Construction of Health Centre, Osogbo Construction of 1000 Seater Lecture Theatre – 2Nos PDS Administrative Building, Ogbomoso External Works for ICTC/PDS ICTC, Ogbomoso 500 Seater Lecture Theatre, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso (Donated) Computer Testing Laboratory LAUTECH, Ogbomoso (Donated) Teaching & Research Equipment, Ogbomoso and Osogbo

STATUS

Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed

Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed‘ Completed Completed Completed 98% Completion 98% Completion 98% Completion 98% Completion 85% Completion 75% Completion 95% Completion 95% Completion 60% Completion 70% Completion 60% Completion 60% Completion 60% Completion 60% Completion 60% Completion 40% Completion 35% Completion 35 % Completion On going

ACADEMIC QUALITY AND RATING

The total number of programme at LAUTECH is 29.

The NUC Accreditation status of the programmes is as shown below: Status Full Accreditation Interim Accreditation Yet to be visited Truth is sacred Glory be to God Almighty

As at October 2005 5 (17.2%) 14 (48.3%) 10 (34.5%)

As at October 2009 23 (80%) 6 (20%) 0 (0%)

SIGNED: Professor Babatunde B. Adeleke, FCSN, C. Chem. FICCON

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 08077408676

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Ghanaian fi lmmaker, Shirley Frim pong-Mans o

Acting is not for me

23

24

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

STANDh BY! Wit

VICTOR AKANDE

Afro Hollywood Best Entertainment Writer 2009

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 08077408676 (SMS only)

THINK

SNAPSHOTS

nt part of An importa s of any the succes is its civilisation late the mu ability to e t led to the a factors th f other success o s.—Eric civilisation rt Reine

NFC/NBC’s digital marriage on SHOOT! 2011

I

asked if it was a one-nightstand or a marriage that will continue, and Bunmi Cole, Assistant Director (Content) of the National Broadcasting Commission, sitting next to Afolabi Adesanya, M.D, Nigerian Film Corporation looked at the latter in the faceshe smiled and said to every one in the room; “it's a perfect marriage”. And before I could speak out the observation taking form in my mind, Adesanya himself took us back to 2005 when a quartet was formed involving the two institutions mentioned above, with the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).

The heads of these four arms of the country's information, art and culture stronghold had thought it wise, not only to encourage and boost creative art, but to protect sanity within the socio-economic strata of the media industry by ensuring that products are exportable and bring profitable returns on investment to the glory of our national income.

Even though the quartet had not faired well enough among these government agencies, this visible examples of the SHOOT training project which the NFC and NBC are now partnering is, to borrow the words of Mrs. Cole, a perfect marriage that is long overdue.

Be that as it may, SHOOT!, an annual film and television training workshop put together by the NFC since 2005 as part of its statutory responsibility for capacity building for the motion picture industry has taken three major decisions that deserve applause.

With the training landing in Lagos, the hub of film and TV production outfits, and largest single concentration of broadcast stations, there is an evidence of not only making the service affordable but convenient for most practitioners. That SHOOT is landing in Lagos has also broken the seeming monopoly of Jos, which houses the NTA Television College, an only domestic training centre in a country with over 200 TV stations.

I am particularly concerned about the dearth of veterans in the television industry like it was in times past. It is worrisome that even though

But perhaps the biggest of them all is the fact that the NFC/NBC collaboration is targeting the global deadline on the need to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting in line with the International Telecommunications

Union's (ITU's) deadline for 2015 most of the big guns in the film industry today cut their teeth in the television sector, there appears to be a gap in the technical areas of TV production which only training and retraining can fill. I like to see a situation where by camera men in TV stations would grow to be called Director of Photography and content directors who merely shoot television features in the name of documentary, truly honing their skill.

Looking through the line-up of facilitators, and not finding a foreign resource person like in the past editions also suggests that we are beginning to appreciate our own.

But perhaps the biggest of them all is the fact that the NFC/NBC collaboration is targeting the global deadline on

That SHOOT is landing in Lagos has also broken the seeming monopoly of Jos, which houses the NTA Television College, an only domestic training centre in a country with over 200 TV stations.

the need to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting in line with the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU's) deadline for 2015.

On this column of March 27, 2010, while treating the subject of 50 years of television in Nigeria, I recall mentioning that the Nigerian Television Authority's Lagos Channel 10 Station unveiled Nigeria's first television station Internet portal, launching Nigeria into the cutting-edge of digital broadcast which may have marked the country's first steps towards readiness for Internet-based television broadcast, technically referred to as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

What this is prompting us to see is that the era of broadcast territory regulation is over, giving way to a new era in which today's broadcast territory regulator may just become a broadcast content monitor, not even a content regulator.

Taking an assessment of Engr.

Yomi Bolarinwa, D.G of the NBC's vision of ensuring that Nigeria is ahead of most African countries with a directive for a 2012 switchover date, there is no doubt that the ambitious target may pay off for Nigeria in the end if we must see ourselves as giant in the continent.

However, in our search for technological advancement, we must not lose focus of rich local content because indeed, have we not helped the success of foreign TV programmes at the expense of our own? Do we not directly or indirectly promote cultural imperialism, because the qualities of our soaps are far less when compared to Mexican dramas? Would it be the fault of our youths if modernisation is taken as an abandonment of their culture?

I hope that by the time the digital television era come to be, heralding the payment of radio and television licence fee by users, the nation will be better organised on broadcast policy and as users of television are being taxed at the point of purchase, only then would we begin to understand that information business and knowledge is power. May be then, our broadcast institutions will also understand the need for quality content in an industry that promises to be competitive like never before.

WRITE TO US! Do you watch Nollywood movies? What do you think of the Nigerian motion picture industry? Send your review of any movie or short essay on any topic of your choice about the film industry in not more than 200 words. Send entries by e-mail to: victor_akande@yahoo.com or SMS your short comments to 08077408676

Is this another Jenifa?

N

OLLYWOOD actress Mercy Aigbe has finally released her new work.

But this new movie seems to be another Jenifa in the making, because it is full of hilarious scenes. The new movie is titled Osas (Omoge Bini) with the likes of Mercy Aigbe, as well as some other fantastic actors such as Toyin Aimakhu, Iyabo Ojo, Kayode Akinbayo, Helen Paul, Koffi Idowu (comedian), Bayo Bankole (Boy Alinco in Papa Ajasco), Kelvin Ikeduba, among others.

The movie which was directed

by Muyideen S. Ayinde is about a colourful and eccentric Bini girl who gains admission into the

University of Lagos. Though she is intelligent, she is not very exposed.

Despite her eccentricity, she manages to become firm friends with a girl from a rich family.

However, trouble rears its ugly head when they both fall in love with the same guy.

Producer of the movie, Mercy, has revealed that the movie will hit Nigerian cinemas in November and will be taken to the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Port Harcourt, and University of Benin.

The actress also said the movie will be taken to the UK, US, Dublin and Italy.

Stephanie, Kelani, Izu Ojukwu celebrated

N

OLLYWOOD actress Stephanie Okereke, revered director Tunde Kelani, and ace director Izu Ojukwu (Desperadoes, Sitanda, White Waters) were recently celebrated when a five-part documentary focusing on their works and that of some other creative individuals was premiered at Silverbird Cinemas ,Victoria Island, Lagos, on June 29, 2011.

The documentary was produced

by Communicating for Change - a non-governmental association which uses radio, TV, print, market research, theatre, capacity building, & special events to help

change behaviour and attitudes about vital social and environmental issues from a distinctly African perspective.

The documentary series titled RedHOT was filmed over a twoyear period, and it is a description of the life and work of 17 amazing Nigerian artists. Some of the other people featured in the documentary are veteran artist and print maker extraordinaire Bruce Onobrakpeya, photographer TY Bello, Flautist Tee-Mac, music producer Cobhams Asuquo, and Female drummer, Ara. The documentary was produced with the assistance of the Ford Foundation.

GOLDEN EAGLETS WHO ARE COAHES

We’re well prepared Ugbade, Ikpeba —Godfrey Oboabora shine with youths

Pg. 30,35

Pg. 34

Nation Saturday, July 16, 2011

FREE COPY

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•Male sprinters at the last National Sports Festival held in Port-Harcourt. PHOTO: Bola Omilabu

18TH NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Can Lagos raise the bar?

Pg. 30, 35

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

30

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COP A COCA-COLA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP ...COP A COCA-COLA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP ...COP A COCA-COLA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP ...

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Wisdom of wing play •Ikpeba •Ugbade

•Ugbade’s Team Calabar celebrating with their winners’ medals and trophy after defeating Ikpeba’s Team Ibadan 2-1 in the final match of this year’s Copa Coca-Cola Youth Championship played at the Campus Square in Lagos

GOLDEN EAGLETS WHO ARE COACHES: NDUKA UGBADE (REACTION TO VICTORY) It’s quite interesting that we managed at least to win this trophy, this year’s Copa Coca cola and most important is the education gotten from this and the level of understanding that I myself was able to acquire from all these. And honestly speaking, I must congratulate Coca Cola for providing this opportunity to these young lads because in recent time, you could see that in Nigerian history it’s been violence all through with our youths, you understand me. So this is another way of taking them off the streets, giving them quality soccer education, making them to know all the big stars, getting involved with them and exposing them to a greater future so that their tomorrow can be better.

Above all, what they’ve gotten here, like some of my boys told me that they‘ve gotten great education.

What was the experience like handling the Calabar team?

Wonderful, wonderful, it introduced me to a new level different from what you do abroad.

In this part of the world it’s very difficult tactically to manage youths, why? Because when you give information, you‘ll have to say it times and times and time again for them to be able to carry them out.

And I‘ve discovered a new way of reaching them, and this new way

is not (to) stop talking, and continue to talk and continue to encourage them instead of shouting on them and trying to manipulate them to get it right. Coca cola gave me the opportunity of travelling to Calabar to where they played the Zonal final (involving) Bayelsa, Cross River State and Akwa Ibom and I had to pick 20 (players). Then Coca Cola again said ‘that is not enough, you must go to transfer knowledge’, you understand, because what we are talking about is education, I went back to Calabar for about three or four days. We had a lot of time and I had to train them scientifically, you know for the physical fitness to be able to match up with the demand with some technical and tactical information. At the end of the day, somehow it paid off.

Turnout today?

Very impressed, occasionally, when people are losing, you understand me, crowd tend to develop soft spot for them so that was why they‘re calling for the penalty, so I could understand this.

But at the end of the day, the young lads, both teams,‘ve been able to show that we can develop great talents in Nigeria and bring them to an understanding level to be able to contest for this trophy.

What’s your message to the NFF? They are here today, that this is a point where we can always discover most of the youths and

Ugbade, Ikpeba shine with youths •Eagles stars who are coaches The Copa Coca-Cola Youth Championship has come and gone. Calabar claimed the champions crown and Ibadan took the second spot in a keenly contested football competition at the Campus Square on Lagos Island. The South Southerners stepped up to the winners’ podium courtesy a 2-1 win over their South Western counterparts. After the final match, coaches of both sides, Nduka Ugbade and Victor Ikpeba spoke on the championships. Also players who claimed individual honours shared their experiences on their feats and the football fiesta.

OLUSOJI OLUKAYODE was there bring some that are still outside there that never have the opportunity of coming here that coca cola is giving the opportunity as well wherever they are, (all over)

Africa that they can come and be part of any of the national teams.

Ugbade versus Ikpeba, you were a defender you were able to outscore him today, how does that

really feel?

Very happy but you know it’s all about fun and football so it is not enmity, it is friendship. I was shouting Ikpeba mi ni gba oo, Ikpeba

mi ni gba oo (Ikpeba I will not give in o, Ikpeba I will not give in o), you understand me. It’s all about fun.

How do you feel about the award?

It’s interesting, very wonderful, I’m so happy about it and I thank Coca cola so much What are your hopes now for the future?

Yes I’ve always got a big dream that one day I will handle a very big team, I will have the opportunity. I am trying to start up an institute, a mobile institute where I have to go round the states training coaches because this is my job. I’m trying to introduce a kind of football in Nigeria and all over Africa, a new football philosophy.

Godwin Opara is out of jail, a former colleague of yours, how do you feel?

Very sad because he went to jail but he can pick the pieces of his life together and start all over again.

What words do you have for him and his family (with his wife still in jail)?

That they pick up again where they. There is no breakage in life.

You can always be stopped a bit and then you continue again. No matter what happens, we’ve seen worse things than that and people were able to pick up themselves and rise up to the occasion again and get back to their feet and do great things.

VICTOR IKPEBA

Can we get an African football of the year like you (were) from these boys?

Yes why not because in life you know these are the areas we can

develop, these are the future of Nigerian football, African football and World Football, you know. I was not privileged to have this, this possibility these young lads are having though I was able to represent my country at the Under 17 level. So these guys are the future of Nigerian football and why not, we might even have a Ballon ‘D Or one day from this lads. So far I’ve seen some good players from Enugu zone, Kaduna zone, Lagos Zone and the Calabar zone. It’s not about who wins, it’s all about getting these raw talents at this stage of their life.

Your teammate from 1989, Godwin Okpara has been released from jail.

Yeah, I’m happy about it because I was very close to him, very close to the family, I’m very close. All these while I do keep in touch with the kids you know.

I know one of the kids has cancer, it’s very sad but I’m happy that he’s back from that hell (he went) and he has to start all over again. So I wish him well, I can’t wait for him to come out.

How about your wife?

I don’t need to comment about it because I know the family very well.

Silly things happen in life you know, we don’t know how it happens. All we have to do is to pray for him so that he can come back and start to reorganize his life again.

ST ARS ATTRA CTION & AWARDS ...ST ARS ATTRA CTION & AWARDS ...ST ARS ATTRA CTION & AWARDS ...ST ARS ATTRA CTION & AWARDS ...ST ARS ATTRA CTION & AWARDS ...

STARS TTRACTION ARDS...ST ...STARS TTRACTION ARDS...ST ...STARS TTRACTION ARDS...ST ...STARS TTRACTION ARDS...ST ...STARS TTRACTION ARDS...

Ebiye Moses, Golden Boot winner You are the top scorer. How does it feel?

I feel so happy. I really feel so happy. I knew I would be the highest goal scorer.

What gave the assurance that you would be the highest goal scorer?

Last year I didn’t come but this year I knew I would be the best.

Have you ever been highest goal

scorer in any competition before now?

Yes So what next now?

I am going to give thanks to God. What are your dreams?

I hope to be one of the people they will take to (Chelsea in London) You want to go to England Yes Okay you are hoping to be one of those that will go to England for

the African Championship?

I believe I will be there But apart from that what do you really wish to achieve, where do you really wish to be in the next four, five years?

I pray God (will) help me, I will be in Chelsea Nojim Adam, Kaduna captain on Fair Play Trophy Your team was not able to win the third place but you got the third

place award, how do you feel?

We thank God for the opportunity; it’s not do or die affair. Thank God what we got for ourselves.

Belief Imete, Calabar defender, competition’s Most Valuable Goalkeeper How do you feel?

I feel good because this is an opportunity that Coca Cola has given to us to expose ourselves and I believe before 2015 we know

people who will lift the World Cup have come so we just need encouragement, we know we’ll make it in life.

So you believe you are going to be among those who will lift the World Cup someday?

Yes I believe, by God’s grace it will happen. It must surely come to pass.

What are your expectations for the African Championship that will be held at the Chelsea ground

in London? Are you hoping to be there?

My dream is to be there, with God I will be there, I believe so.

Wisdom Jumbo, MVP You are the best player of this competition, how do you feel?

I feel happy sir, very happy When this competition started did you think you were going to be the best player?

No sir

You are a defender, it’s not normal for a defender to be the best player of a competition, what would this do to you?

I am very happy sir How will this award help you in future to believe in yourself?

It will make me go higher What are you dreams?

To play football.

How, to where I want to go far more to abroad.

Where abroad?

Spain What club?

Barca Where do you stay at the moment?

I stay in Cross River Apart from football, what would you have loved to do?

Nothing Just football Yes sir

IT is not good testimony that Nigeria was kicked out of the All Africa Games soccer events by Ghana.

It is equally sad that the country was shown the exit from the female and male events by our perennial rival on the continent of Africa. It is sadder that Dream Team V showed technical naivety by trying to defend the two goal cushion when they were meant to be attacking. The best form of defending is attacking, so say soccer experts. It is not enough to sit back in your half defending and not counter attacking. That strategy comes with a lot of pressure and pressure makes you break. You make mistakes and you concede cheap goals.

I knew we were not going to win the game in Kumasi. The players were complacent. They thought they had won the away match. They thought the 31 home win is enough to ride on to Maputo. They thought they were going to Ghana for a tea party. The withdrawals and the spate of injuries that rocked the team was a bad omen that all was not going to be well with the team. The coaches even forgot that a player they lined up against the Ghanaians was ineligible to play until they got to the pre-match meeting. The blame is on the doorstep of Austin Eguavoen just as previous victories were placed on his wide shoulders The Ghanaians, according to reports, employed wing play, which is an old trick, to deny the dream team the ticket. It worked for them because the dream team chose to defend. It is sad that wing play is going out of fashion with our national teams and clubs. I have watched Ahmed Musa, the VVV Venlo player and see a typical wing player. My prayer is that he stays in the national team for a long time. He has just broken into the national team and should be an answer to the wing play question. We have to return to wing play. The strategy can be employed without making it obvious to every one that we operate from the wings. It was wing play that gave us our first World Cup goal in 1994 in the United States of America (USA). The build up came from the middle and play swung to the right wing and then the cross from Finidi George which Rasidi Yekini converted with an ordinary tap in. It was wing play that gave Nigeria her third goal in that memorable friendly against Argentina in Abuja. The cross came from Taiye Taiwo and was converted through a header by Uche Ikechukwu.

I often disagree when opponents of wing play claim that it is old fashion. Big teams still play in the wings. Arsenal which has Theo Walcott rampaging in the right wing is a good example. Barcelona plays in the wings and they are champions of Europe. Manchester United’s equalizer against the Catalans in Wembley came from wing play.

I hope Austin Eguavoen and Samson Siasia believe in wing play. If they do not, I advise that they experiment with it and see how it pans out. And the key is Musa with his speed and ability to deliver telling crosses. He operates from the right and Taiye Taiwo would have provided the missing link from the left if he had not been tamed of his ability to overlap.

Former Super Eagles coach, Amodu Shaibu once told the world that there are other ways of playing football. He is right. There are other ways to play football, but wing play is the surest way to score goals and every right thinking coach would settle for it as one of the options of attacking football. Teams that do not play from the wings play ugly football. You never see the goal coming when you do not play from the wings. You are disjointed and your football does not flow.

John Obuh is a coach that wants to do well. He is taking the Flying Eagles to Columbia for the U/20 World Cup. According to reports, Obuh is flying to Venlo to convince the coach to release Musa to him. He realized he cannot fly without the right wing and has taken the fight to have wings to Holland. He is a wise one. Wise coaches do not do without the wings.

INBOX Osaze Odemwingie is not indispensable. If he cannot apologize to the coach, he can as well kiss goodbye to the national team. Pride usually goes before a fall.

Gabriel, Abuja You are too big for this comparison you made with what happened in Cameroon and the misbehavior of Osaze. If you love Osaze like many of us do, advise him to be humble. Song refused to shake Eto’O. He did not snub the coach or walked out on the team as Osaze did. Osaze is still a one season wonder.

Anonymous Your last statement in your column, Nigeria Needs Osaze, is unfortunate, unnecessary and insensitive. It is amazing you did not see the reason why Osaze should come down from his high horse. The truth is that Osaze needs Nigeria more than the Super Eagles need him.

Anonymous Help me tell Samson Siasia that he should bury his ego and invite the most dedicated, determined and loved Nigerian player in Osaze to play for Nigeria.

Siasia should remember that when Mikel Obi and Taiye Taiwo could not honour his invitation for China, Osaze was there for him and Nigeria. Siasia should think.

Nma, Niger State.

Is Osaze that we have known all these years that bad? I need to be educated, but I doubt it so much. Somebody is on an ego trip. Siasia should not squander our goodwill.

Paul Audu You do not leave your best warrior at home when going to war. Eagles need Osaze more than Osaze needs Eagles.

Ade, Warri.

Please, can you tell me another way by which Osaze can be penalized for disobeying Siasia and offending his teammates? Nigeria is bigger than you and I. Shola, Offa.

When the twitter issue between Osaze and Siasia broke, the same Siasia told football loving Nigerians that he had no problem with the player only for him to raise the issue of indiscipline. An average Nigerian coach is proud and it is based on ego. Siasia must watch it because those who are singing his praises may be the same people to pull him down.

Goddy Urewuji, Nsukka.

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

31

NATION SPORT

Another view of National school sports revival project T

HERE has been noticeable and deliberate effort by the leadership of the National Sports Commission under Dr. Patrick Ekeji to re-invent and position sports administration in the country in line with global best practices in the area of packaging sports activities as a tool for public-private partnerships.

This is indeed commendable and the very first of this effort was manifested in Team Nigeria which was engineered

by Dr. Ekeji, when he assumed office as the Director of Sports Development. Unfortunately, that concept turned out to be a one off and we are yet to learn how that vehicle ran out of steam though it has been canvassed in some quarters that the concept from it’s design lacked sustainable value in its commercial proposition and hence unable to attract the desired Corporate patronage.

A thorough reading of the concept of Team Nigeria will show that while it is spot-on in naming, the originators failed to diligently explore possible points of value for proposed partners. It has to be repeated that behind every façade of corporate speak on social responsibility is a deepseated commercial objective and once this cannot be located, it becomes the end of story.

It is a common practice for Sports Marketing agents to conceptualize ideas premised on using the positions of friends and collaborators in government to rail-road corporate organizations into non-beneficial partnerships.

The fundamental flaws in such concepts do not lend

•Patrick Ekeji

By Harry Iwuala

them to achieving a successful buy-in from the private sector whose marketing communication and sales objectives are tied to the intrinsic commercial value of marketing assets to their brand building and product/services promotion. It is possible that the Team Nigeria concept collapsed because at the time, it was sold in exchange for access to government and for those that identified with it at the time, they called time once the patronage they sought from government was secured or no longer existed.

This background is instructive because there have been so many ideas birthed to induce sponsorships from corporate organizations using the name of government while posturing as genuine agents of change. Project Officers in corporate organising who raise issues on absence of value offering in the proposals are told not to worry and assured that their interest will be considered. You then begin to wonder how such apostles of change are bent on using budgets for taking care of persons carrying out their normal responsibility. This is not just about the sports industry but witnessed in nearly all spheres of government operations where ideas are conceived for more of self aggrandizement and less of public good.

There is a new buzz word in the sports industry which revolves around ‘the revival of national academicals’. The nearest one came to finding anything about ‘National Academicals’ was associated with a Rugby team founded

in 1886 by former students of the Glasgow Academy. There is also the Hamilton Academicals founded in 1874 and are today playing in the Scottish League as the only team that developed from a school team. But my search was not able to throw up nowhere a national academicals sports competition. This is not to say that Nigeria cannot take the initiative to originate positive ideas that can improve the stakes in our march to development and bequeath same to the world.

Perusing the working document for the revival of national school sports, it was difficult finding anything new being offered and my fear is that it has all the marks of the usual projects that will end up lacking the public commercial support that is required to sustaining it beyond the tenure of office of its promoters. It is premised on a plan to have the federal government provide the take-off funds for the first three to four years in anticipation of securing private sector participation. The projections are whimsical and will only mislead government to wasting scarce funds. Nigerians must be told the truth about this concept brimming with wild fantasies of its promoters.

That the project was not conceived on strong values that can drive private sector participation can be gleaned from the working document which proposed to organize a President Jonathan Peace Cup in June 2011. The Peace Cup supposedly meant to promote unity after the violence in some parts of the country in the wake of the declaration of

the Presidential election results was a cheap shot at propaganda and sycophancy.

It is high time we did away with the notion that sports events must have to be named after sitting government officials for such programs to succeed. One remembers vividly, a similar football competition spear-headed through Professor Borisade Babalola’s as Minister of Education and named after President Olusegun Obasanjo during his tenure. The failure of that project is sufficient to dissuade the current crusaders to seek other methods and strategy for instituting enduring talent identification and development projects. Perhaps, the country would have been milked a whopping N180m from the tax payers coffers for this jamboree if not for the string of security challenges the country faced in the days after the elections. But who knows, it could well still be in the works.

The working committee is also proposing a take-off grant of N300m from the federal government, N100m from the states and N100m that will be sourced from the private sector. It then projects that federal funding will reduce in later years starting from 2012 when N250m will be required from the FG. How viable is this concept and what are the chances that such grandiose projection of private sector participation will be realised?

To answer the above posers, it is necessary to examine the workability of the concept. We are talking about organising and coordinating a national secondary schools competition in about six sports that will have state teams and not individual schools. It follows that the states are expected to harness their playing personnel from the aggregate of participating schools from the local councils through to the state finals. It also follows that there will be competitions organized at the council levels and herein lies the major flaw of the concept. A fact of the current practice of democracy in the country is that we only have two tiers of governmentthe federal and states. The local councils have no say in the administration of their funds and therefore hardly functions except at the discretion of the state. It is thus inconceivable that the local councils can meaningfully contribute to the sourcing of talents within their jurisdiction except we plan to gloss over that aspect.

It has not been considered if the states budgeted for this project for which they are expected to contribute funding mid-way into the fiscal year.

Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) was able to institute what has been acknowledged as national academicals because it has been wholly funded by the company.

To cont’d next week Harry Iwuala is a renowned Journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria

VOICE OF SPORTS

With Clement Nwankpa Jnr. sportswar@yahoo.com

‘Eagles’ Destroyers’ (1) WRITING under the headline ‘Siasia must hear this’, I had stressed on the need for a natural holding midfielder in Siasia’s current set-up. In fact, whoever did not read that piece will ask “What must Siasia hear?” I brought to his cognizance that one of his key defenders told me that the back four will be better off with a shield from a solid enforcer. I couldn’t agree any less because the midfield combo of Mikel Obi and Joel Obi does not provide the requisite shield for the defence. It is left to be seen how the pair will cope against a more formidable opposition. Imagine a Lionel Messi, for instance, charging at the Eagles from deep without encountering a midfield shield. So there is the need to have a water-carrier do the dirty work behind the duo.

Since Siasia cannot sacrifice any of the Obis in his line-up, it means he could opt for a three-man midfield. That entails jettisoning his traditional 4-2-3-1 formation for a 4-3-3.

The nature of midfielder being referred to here is the one former Eagles Technical Adviser, Clemence Westerhof would call a ‘destroyer’. Those days after experimenting with the likes of Emeka Ezeugo, he settled for unsung Sunday Oliseh.

This player was meant to ‘destroy’ and not necessarily construct. While the likes of Austin Okocha, Moses Kpakor, Mutiu Adepoju and Thompson Oliha did the creative stuff, the ‘destroyer’ was to kill off the opposition’s incursions, protect the back four and let his team have more access to the ball. Siasia needs a ‘destroyer’. Who would fit the bill? Check these out!

OBIORA NWANKWO Physically, Obiora cuts the picture of Patrick Vieira, one of the best ever in that position. After breaking into the main team of Inter early last season, he made some cameo appearances in the Champions League before being shipped off to Parma in the winter on loan. The good news is that he featured under Siasia at the U-20 World Cup, Egypt 2009. Naturally a holding midfielder, he also spared out in the central defence in the absence of Kingsley Udoh. This adaptability is also a plus. I admire Nwankwo’s polished tackles and technical alertness in the holding role. I am also enamoured with his physique but the fact that he is yet to make a full cap is a minus. But his involvement with the U-23s could be a step in that direction. The future of the Eagles in this position lies in this guy.

FEMI AJILORE Femo may have grown into a two-way midfielder, one adaptable to the offensive and the defensive roles, at FC Groningen but he is more suited to his original holding role. Alongside Sani Kaita, he formed a formidable midfield combo at Beijing 2008. Since this is the era of the Siasia boys, he is in good company but his poor outing against Sierra Leone in Siasia’s first game in charge may not have done his chances a world of good.

Come to think of it, with the silky and more offensive duo of Joel and Mikel, a more combative player is needed behind them.

I don’t think Femo is the most ideal option.

DICKSON ETUHU Like Obiora, Etuhu also have an imposing physique but has the advantage of being more experienced at the international level. With two Nations Cup and one World Cup appearances, he has the requisite experience to shoulder this responsibility.

He was an ever-present in the last World Cup and many expected he would be carried along in the new dispensation but the change in technical crew and injuries have been clogs on his wheel. If Siasia seeks a quick fix in this position, Dick could feature highly but his occasional loss of concentration is the sour side of his game. Sometimes, his offensive inclination makes him lose sight of his defensive responsibilities.

JULIUS UBIDO Heartland’s Ubido would be mentioned here because it is obvious Siaone likes this guy. Before Siasia was named Eagles coach, he had told me of a certain holding midfielder in Heartland named Ubido whom he fell in love with during his stint as Heartland coach so I am not surprised Ubido has featured prominently in Siasia’s home-based lists even as he had occasionally made Eagles A list. He doesn’t have the physique of Obiora and Etuhu but he is a fighter. He still has a lot to prove at this level just as his temperament calls for caution.

OLUFEMI OLADAPO Not many will remember this wiry holding midfielder Ladan Bosso unleashed at the U-20 World Cup, Canada 2007 but he earned an invitation under Berti Vogts for the 2008 Nations Cup build-up. The IK Staart of Norway player is neat on the tackles and also has good ball handling skills. He should get a look-in. Why not?

YUSSUF AYILA Ayila does more in the central defence for Dynamo Kiev these days and Siasia has listed him as a defender in the current squad but we all know he has featured more as a defensive midfielder in the national team. He even scored an international goal against Algeria in Oran in 2003. He is the ideal defensive midfielder the team needs now even if it is on a stop-gap basis.

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

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33

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

T

HE 17th edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged Garden City Games, has come and gone, but

the memories that come with such events will continue to linger in the minds of athletes, officials and the Nigerian public.

With the kind of opening and closing ceremony put up by the host, which reminds one of the Olympic Games, it is a fact that Port Harcourt has really raised the bar of the Sports Festival with its achievement, which might be difficult for other states to beat.

At the end of the event, Rivers’ medals’ haul gave them a total of 299 medals (135 gold, 78 silver and 85 bronze medals), while Delta, winners of the immediate past three editions of the festival in 2004, 2006 and 2009, finished second with 82 gold, 89 silver and 81 bronze medals. The 2002 festival hosts and winners, Edo, were in third place with 46 gold, 41 silver and 43 bronze medals, while Ondo was fourth with 30 gold, 32 silver and 43 bronze medals. Bayelsa placed fifth with 19 gold, 23 silver and 38 bronze medals. Ogun who hosted the 2006 festival placed sixth with 19 gold, 22 silver and 46 bronze medals.

The best three states at the NSF shared N45 million, with contingents of Rivers state, the overall winning state, went home with N20 million, while the first runner up, Delta state, was richer with N15 million and the second runner up, Edo, returned home with N10 million.

HIGHS Despite the fact that Port Harcourt has set the bench mark in terms of organisation in the 17th edition of the National Sports Festival, there are, however, mixed reactions from athletes and officials. Some believe the host had done enough to open another chapter in the history of the Sports Festival, while others noted that Port Harcourt would have fared better.

One of its most exciting times of the Garden City Games was when a seven-year old girl, Iyefu Onoja, representing Benue state in Chess stunned the experienced participants at the event to win a bronze medal. The young girl, who could not even understand the import of the feat she had attained, but was only excited playing her game as a way of catching her fun, went the first four games unbeaten until she lost in the semis and finally emerged third in the category that she featured.

Another talking point of the Garden City Games was when a new African and national records were set in the female weightlifting.

Chinenye Fidelis, 17, from Akwa Ibom set a new national record in the 53kg snatch event. She lifted a total of 85kg to erase the old record

NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL FINAL MEDALS TABLE

18th NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL

Can Lagos raise the bar?

•Fashola

By Akeem Lawal who was in Port Harcourt of 82.5kg set by Patience Lawal of Kwara at the 2006 edition of the Games in Abeokuta.

Fidelis also set a new African record in the clean and jerk with a lift of 120 kg to cancel the old record of 112kg also set by Patience Lawal.

The old African record in that category was set at the All Africa Games in Algeria in 2007.

Two new festival records were also set in 20 kilometre Walk Race for men and women final at the festival. Rivers State’s Lawal Oluwaseyi set a new record of 1hr 45mins in the men’s category to break the old record of 1hr. 48mins set by Lagos State Oluwole Ogunmujo at the ‘91 edition held in Bauchi. In the women category, Idahosa Florence of Edo State also set a new festival record of 1hr. 58 mins to erase the time of 1hr. 59 mins set at the KADA Games in 2009 by Queensly Asedo.

LOWS This year’s edition of the National Sports Festival was marred with series of protests by many states against medal haul by the host which they believe was achieved by dubious means. States like Bayelsa, Edo and Kaduna could not hide their feelings as they pointed accusing fingers on the ways and manner by which Team Rivers dominated every event they partake.

Some of the athletes that took part in the festival complained about chaotic organisation that characterized the event. Chief among the complaints being made by contingents from different states of the federation are logistical problems bordering on inadequate accommodation, poor feeding and nerve wrecking transportation.

At University of Port Harcourt, whose hostel facilities serve as the Games Village, athletes complained of sub-standard accommodation ravaged by mosquitoes, poor feeding and the tiring distance from competition venues to the Games Village.

An athlete from Ondo State, who wanted to be identified simply as Rosemary said, “due to the

“This year’s edition of the National Sports Festival was marred with series of protests by many states against medal haul by the host which they believe was achieved by dubious means. States like Bayelsa, Edo and Kaduna could not hide their feelings as they pointed accusing fingers on the ways and manner by which Team Rivers dominated every event they partake.”

SN

State

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.

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28.

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33 34.

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Rivers Delta Edo Ondo Bayelsa Ogun Oyo Benue Lagos Akwa Ibom Kano Plateau Abia Imo Cross River FCT Kaduna Kwara Bauchi Ekiti Enugu Kebbi Anambra Katsina Osun Nasarawa Niger Borno Jigawa Adamawa Kogi Taraba Yobe Ebonyi Zamfara Gombe Sokoto

Gold 135 82 46 30 19 19 17 17 16 16 12 10 10 8 7 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

sports festival have also had to suffer some inconvenience as the Media Centre initially planned to be situated at the main venue of competition was moved to Hotel Presidential, leaving the media men with an up- hill task of covering various centers of the competitions scattered around Port Harcourt.

• Athletes, officials and the Nigerian public

distance we woke up around 4 a.m. and prepare ourselves in order to keep up with time due to the ‘go slow’ at Choba before getting to the venue already tired.”

For Director of Sports, Osun State Sports Council, Apostle Peter Adedeji, the athletes and officials would not have complained about transportation if the venues were centralized in a particular area.

“In the areas of facilities, like the volleyball and other courts are model, the swimming pool, the tracks, everything is world class. So as per facilities, they are ok. But when we talk of areas as per venues, the venues are scattered and far apart. If the festival is to be successful, in my candid opinion, most of these events should have been centralized within one or two places. But when they are scattered to almost eleven venues, first you will go into logistic, providing transportation to all the athletes.

There were occassions one might not know when an event will start, some may start as early as 8 or 10 o’clock and if you don’t have enough vehicles, you are finished.

Then look at the traffic congestion.

So if those things have been put into place, then the number of venues should have been minimized to

two or three”.

This point was corroborated by the Assistant Director, Head of Sports Development, FCT Sports Council Abuja, Mrs Dilichukwu

• Swimmers dive for laurels

Onyedinma, who noted that the traffic took toll on their athletes.

“The major problem is the traffic, the distance of the events centers from the University of Port

Harcourt where the athletes were accommodated, was too far. Going from Choba to Civic Center, to Agbani Darego Hall to City Hall and the Adokie Amasiemaka

Stadium, all these centers are very far away from where we were lodged and it somehow affected our athletes, but we thank God our minister and director were up to it.

• Hockey players in action

We had enough for transportation in addition to the ones Rivers State gave us; we were able to meet up with our target.”

Also, Journalists covering the

LAGOS 2012 At the closing ceremony, Lagos State received the hosting flag of the next edition and all attention has now shifted to Eko 2012. To many, most of the logistic problems encountered in Port Harcourt at the 17th edition, should be avoided in the 18th edition in order to have a successful hosting.

According to Apostle Adedeji, Lagos has the facilities but the attention should be more on accommodation and logistics.

“We thank God Lagos has the facilities at its disposal. This is not the first time the state will be hosting the National Sports Festival, the first or second festival which I happen to be part of was held in Lagos and that of 1975 was equally held in Lagos.

“So invariably, the only areas they

Silver

Bronze

Total

79 89 41 32 23 22 21 14 16 8 7 22 9 16 12 12 6 6 7 6 4 0 6 2 0 0 3 3 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 0 0

85 81 43 43 38 46 28 25 29 26 10 16 19 37 17 22 12 12 7 8 6 0 14 5 11 7 9 8 5 3 7 3 4 2 2 0 0

299 252 130 105 80 87 66 56 61 50 29 48 38 61 36 40 23 23 18 18 13 3 22 9 13 9 13 12 8 6 10 5 5 3 3 0 0

should concentrate on are just the areas of accommodation. Facilities are on ground, they will just improve on them. The National Sports Commission is there at the stadium in Surulere, they also have the Teslim Balogun Stadium too. So you can see various events taking place simultaneously in the two centers, unlike what we have here.

So they have the facilities on ground, they only need to do more in ensuring that proper accommodation and logistics are well taking care of.”

But for Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, FCT will be hoping to surpass the Garden City Games by preparing adequately for the next edition in Lagos.

“We always have our expectations, we always have our plans, and we have good coaches and good secretaries. We have a good administration on ground and thank God our minister is back, all the promises, encouragement and motivation are on ground and all the athletes that have all gone because you will be surprised that our athletes were poached to other states and I know that with what is on ground now, they will all come back and if they all should come back, I bet you we will make better appearance in Lagos”.

However Lagos has assured of raising the festival bar in 2012. Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Council, Tayo Balogun believes the state will live up to expectation when it hosts the 18th edition of the festival.

“You have to bear in mind that Lagos does not poach athletes like other states. We’ve been developing our youths and they will explode when Lagos hosts the next edition.

“More so, our camping of athletes will start the moment we get back to Lagos. There is nothing to be ashamed of because we know that we have the will and manpower to surpass what we have seen in Rivers.

That does not mean we are taking anything away from them.

“They have done absolutely well and we commend them for that.

Watch out for Lagos. We have a Governor whose love for sports is incomparable with any other Governor. We’ll raise the bar higher,” Balogun said.

THE NATION SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

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NATION SPORT

T

HERE are so many factors and properties that make football the undisputable king of sports.

Apart from having launched a FIFA World Cup finals as far back as 1930, with several growth indices and crucibles over the decades and so much to talk about its administrators, players, referees, coaches and indeed other workers, football has become such a monster (in a manner of speaking, that is) that swallows everyone. In our dear country and indeed other countries, it is a terrific passion.

Football matches have a massive atmosphere and ambience about them, and more so when rivalry is involved. When Nigeria play Ghana, it can be likened to when Brazil play Argentina. You can also look at England vs Germany in Europe, or Japan vs Korea Republic in Asia.

In the first leg of the 10th All-Africa Games qualifying match between the National U-23 team, Dream Team, and the Black Meteors of Ghana,played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday, 25th June, the Ghanaians scored first.

Their approach to the match was war-like, with the mentality of the yampounder. Days before, there had been complaints of inadequate feeding and poor practice pitch by the Ghanaian delegation, which the NFF and the Edo State governmentpromptly addressed.

However, the Ghanaian officials and players did not convey to the Ghanaian public the correction and adjustments that were made by the NFF and Edo State government, and the feeling of ill-treatment of the team persisted in the former Gold Coast.

It was in this context that the return leg match took place in Kumasi last Sunday.

On our part at the Nigeria Football Federation, we had no illusions as to what we had on hand and that informed the arrangements that were made. Our officials were on the GFA to inform us of the date, venue and time of the match but we did not have an idea until the mandatory 10 days before, when we were told the game would take place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi on Sunday, 10th July.

Well informed of African football intrigues and schooled by the manner of the elimination of our National Women’s team, Super Falcons by the Black Queens of Ghana from the All-Africa Women’s Football Tournament (at the El-Wak Stadium, Accra when a lastminute penalty helped the Ghanaians to a 2-1 win), we planned for the second leg involving the men with every seriousness it deserved. We did not have so much money but when the GFA told us there was no way to fly our boys from Accra to Kumasi on Friday (two days before the match), we knew we had to charter an aircraft.

That was how we came about the Air Nigeria aircraft that flew the team to Kumasi direct. The rules say you cannot transport a visiting team by road once the distance is superior to 200 kilometres. The distance between Accra and Kumasi is 300 kilometres. But here,

Inside The Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

Kumasi’s raging battle should the GFA continue to insist there was no way they could get an aircraft to fly the team, it would become a bother.

The NFF also sent an advance team of two officers, who contacted the Ghana Football Association and the Nigeria High Commission in Accra before setting off for Kumasi on Thursday, 7th July. The duo, alongside the Minister-Counsellor of the Nigeria High Commission, Mr.Andrew Idi, did not arrive in Kumasi until late in the night.

Even at that, they set to work quickly and inspected the hotel that had been booked for our team by the GFA. It happened to be one dingy, unbefitting structure alongside Stadium Road.

There was obviously no security in the place and it was unpresentable. The team searched all over Kumasi before securing the Sports Hotel, directly opposite the Baba Yara Sports Stadium and more presentable.

By the time the delegation arrived aboard Air Nigeria aircraft on Friday evening, everything was set. I must at this stage, once again, express our heartfelt appreciation to the Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his wonderful support and assistance to the team, and also the N15 million boost to the squad after the 3-1 win over Ghana in the first leg.

It is also important to note the contributions of other stakeholders who supported the team in one way or the other, and more importantly, the Number One supporter of all National Teams, the President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR. No one expected velvet gloves’ treatment in Kumasi.

From the moment our team landed, they were ready for any situation and set to confront all challenges.

African football is nothing if not laced with all the subterfuge and intricacies that make things difficult for the away team to succeed.

Yet, no one could have expected the scale of intimidation and attacks at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium when our boys went for their only training session on Saturday, eve of the game.

Before the first leg match, the Black Meteors had complained about the state of the pitch they were given to train, and on the eve of the match, they were allowed almost two hours to train at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

In Kumasi, it was different.

Our team asked to be given the period of 3.30pm –

4.30pm to train, but with 20 minutes still to go, the Ghanaian players and officials, contrary to practice, stormed the pitch from the gate, with drumming and dancing, creating an unbelievable din. It was comical, and at the same time, distracting.

No one was being given a chieftaincy title and this was certainly no venue for a village meeting. But they carried on without let and even as our officials pleaded that the noise be reduced so that our team could round up and leave, Ghanaian officials invaded the pitch, pushing and shoving our officials to ‘get away’.

“Get away from here; is this your land?” shouted one official. “Of course, it is not our land but we have a right to train for one hour at the match venue, and our time is not up yet”, said one of our officials. All these fell on deaf ears. Worse was to come.

As our players made their way off the pitch, the uncontrollable fans started hurling sticks and stones and bottles at them. Ghanaian officials, incensed that our cameramen were recording the incident, charged forward at every Nigerian journalist in sight and demanded their cameras and writing implements.

At the same time, our supporters were being harrassed and attacked in the stands. Some of them were injured. As the team bus drove away from the Stadium, our players and officials saw a group of Nigerian journalists being attacked by the Ghanaian fans. They ordered the driver to stop and went to intervene. That saved the day there.

In the night, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Ghana,Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro came to the hotel and gingered the players with kind words, promise of cash and instant beefing-up of security. He was in company with the Deputy Defence Attache of the High Commission, Lt. Col. Amos Egbejule. That was so reassuring.

You can then understand the anguish and grief at the Dream Team losing that match 2-0. Having won the first leg 3-1, all they needed was restrict the Ghanaians to a lone goal and we would be in Maputo.

Unfortunately, it was not to be, and it was so painful. The disappointment rang loud in our brains. Four years ago, the Black Meteors had prevailed over our team by the same away-goal rule in the last hurdle to the AllAfrica Games, and the same Ghanaians stopped the Super Falcons.

Looking back at the game,

a number of lessons have been learnt. You really cannot force players to come and represent their country if they don’t want to, and there is little the Federation can do if clubs insist on stopping their Nigerianborn players from matches that do not fall on FIFA-free days. But we would always search and go for the best and deploy whatever tactics are necessary within the civilized context to get our best players to dorn the green-white-green at any point in time.

We also now have to spread our net wider and scout better for quality players at home and abroad, for all the National Teams.

On their way to glory...

The next time you see the National U-20 team, Flying Eagles, they will be playing in a Four-Nation Tournament in Panama city, capital of Panama, which is about two hours by air from Colombia. Host Panama, Portugal and Mexico – all heading to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, are the other teams taking part.

Just like the Super Falcons before the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Flying Eagles cannot complain of inadequate preparations or lack of NFF support ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The camping in Port Harcourt, the training camp in Faro, Portugal and friendly against the Portugal U-20 team (which ended 0-0) did well for the squad, and no doubt helped Coach John Obuh select his list of 21 players for the FIFA U-20 World Cup last night.

Our country has a huge pedigree at U-20 level, and in this wise, we expect so much from the Flying Eagles when the FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off in Colombia on 29th July. Our team starts its campaign against Guatemala in Armenia on 31st July.

Mexico the champions...

Host Mexico was crowned the champion team of the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Sunday in an electric atmosphere at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Imagine a FIFA U-17 World Cup without Nigeria, threetime winners and vice champions of the previous edition staged at home!

Next week, the NFF Technical Committee will meet to make recommendations to the Executive Committee on a new coaching crew for the U17 team, so that the job of recruiting new and quality players can start immediately. There is no time to waste.

Next Week: Still Football Academies

on

• Godfrey Oboabona

We’re well prepared —Godfrey Oboabona

I

N his words to CAFONLINE.COM Sunshine captain Godfrey Oboabona confirmed that he is confident that his team will come out victorious on Saturday.

Cafonline: how is your preparation for Saturday’s match against Dcmp( DR Congo)?

Godfrey Oboabona: We prepared very well. We moved into camp immediately after the end of the local league match last Sunday and we have been working so hard so far.

DO you think you will win this match?

By the grace of God we will win convincingly.

This is our first match in the group stage and it is important for us to win to give us confidence.

What do you know about

Enyimba?

I have no idea about them until now because our coach hasn’t talk with us about them.

You will play this match as underdogs considering the fact that this is your first debut on the continental level, do you think you can go all the way?

Yes, we are not afraid of any team and we hope to play the finals What is the mood in your camp.

The spirit is very high and the morals also, we are united. We are determined to write our club’s nam on the history of the continent forever by winning this cup' Any injury in your camp?

Nothing serious except for some minor knocks here and there.

Adegoke: We have League, Cup double in sight

D

OLPHINS full back, Mutui Adegoke says he is not bothered by the threat of Sunshine and Kano Pillars to the title winning run of Dolphins.

Adegoke says he is sure that the club will win the Premier League and Federation Cup titles to add to the Rivers State FA Cup they have already won against Sharks.

“We have already started the season on a winning note and we are confident we will continue that way,” Adegoke said.

“After winning the Rivers State FA Cup from sharks we determined in our

hearts that we will go the extra mile to get the League and Cup double just like it happened in 2004 and we see ourselves close to achieving that.”

Asked on what he feels about the fact that Dolphins are now second on the log to Sunshine and the resurgent form of Kano Pillars, Adegoke waived them off as not being threats to the ambitions of Dolphins.

“We are taking the games one after the other and we have very difficult road games against Pillars and Sunshine but that will not take away the fact we know where we are heading and we know we will get there.”

Olubanwo Fagbemi

On Sport Sport On SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

36

e-mail: deewalebf@yahoo.com

An AAG nightmare

T

•Patrick Vieira

End of an era

F

ORMER World Cup winner Patrick Vieira has announced his retirement from professional football and will take up a newly-created role off the pitch with Manchester City.

The 35-year-old Frenchman, who was released by City at the end of last season, has accepted the position of football development executive and will help in the development of young players among other responsibilities.

Vieira said: 'It was something I was preparing for in my head and I think it was the right time.

“It's a sad day and a sad moment but overall I've enjoyed the years I've spent in football. Football has brought me a lot.

“I think it will be difficult to find a job that will give me as much satisfaction as football has given me but I just want to give back to society and give back to football what it has given to me. And what a fantastic club for me to do it.

“This role is a fantastic new challenge for me and I am very grateful to Manchester City for offering me this opportunity.

'I have a lot to learn about the non-playing areas of the business but there are many very experienced people here for me to learn from and I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to the club's ongoing success.”

Vieira was City boss Roberto Mancini's first signing when he left Inter Milan to return to the Barclays Premier League in January 2010.

He was not a regular starter but made 47 appearances in total,

scoring six goals, with his final run-out in a City shirt coming as a late substitute in the FA Cup final victory over Stoke in May. And Vieira says he was proud to be part of the team that won the first piece of silverware in the blue half of Manchester for 35 years and has tipped his former club to win more trophies in the coming seasons.

“I was really proud to be part of the team last year and I think the team responded really well to the expectation,” he added.

“The future is looking fantastic because talent has come in and the team is really hungry to win silverware.”

In his new role, as well as working in the youth set-up, Vieira will also help to deliver the club's social responsibility programme and get involved on the commercial side.

The Frenchman added: 'I am particularly pleased to be given the opportunity to work with the club's community scheme.

“Manchester City has a great reputation for its commitment to its community and charity partners and I believe I can help to take that message to an even greater audience.

“Everyone at Manchester City - the fans, the staff and the players - have made me and my family feel very welcome here over the past two years and I am very happy to have been given the chance to stay and develop my career away from the pitch.”

Vieira rose to prominence when he joined Arsenal from AC Milan in 1996 and he went on to enjoy great success in nine seasons with the Gunners.

The combative midfielder won three Premier League titles and was part of the 'Invincibles' team that did not lose a match in the 2003-04 season.

He became club captain following Tony Adam's retirement in 2002 and also won four FA Cups, including the penalty shoot -out triumph over Manchester United in 2005 that remains Arsenal's last trophy.

Vieira was, however, a controversial figure who collected cards to go with his medals and he was sent off 10 times in Arsenal colours.

He left the Gunners to join Juventus and won the Serie A title in 2006, although the Turin side were then stripped of the trophy amid the Serie A match-fixing scandal and the Frenchman moved on again to Inter Milan.

In a hugely successful spell, Inter won the league for four successive years but Vieira found himself increasingly troubled by injuries and departed for Manchester before the Italians' Champions League triumph in 2010.

On the international stage, the Frenchman was a key part of the team that won the European Championships in 2000 and also made a substitute appearance in France's World Cup final triumph over Brazil two years earlier.

Vieira will report to City's chief football operations officer Brian Marwood, who described him as the 'ultimate professional'.

Marwood said: “His experience in the world of football is virtually unparalleled and he will be a huge asset to our club as

old and young alike benefit from his knowledge.

'His contribution to world football during his time as a player was extraordinary and he will be remembered as one of the greatest players to grace the Premier League.

'Whilst it is sad to see Patrick's playing career come to an end, we are delighted that he has chosen to extend his time with Manchester City in this new capacity.

'Wherever he goes he commands the respect of his audience and we believe he will make an invaluable contribution to our club as we build on our recent successes.'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger led the acclaim for Vieira.

Wenger described his fellow Frenchman as a 'special' player and pledged Arsenal would always remember his contribution to one of the club's most successful eras.

Vieira joined Arsenal from AC Milan in 1996 and was a key component of the teams which won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998 and 2002, before as captain he guided the team which became known as the 'Invincibles' to another title in 2004.

Arsenal did not lose a league match that season, and in 2005 they won the FA Cup when Vieira scored the winning spot-kick in a penalty shoot-out against Manchester City.

He left after that match, having spells with Juventus, Inter Milan and most recently City, where at the age of 35 he has agreed to take up a role as football development executive.

HE pain of defeat intensifies whenever Nigeria succumbs to Ghana in the battle for football supremacy, and last Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Ghana in the return leg of the final round of qualifiers for the Maputo 2011 All Africa Games (AAG) in Kumasi was no less crushing. Ahead with a 3-1 •Eguavoen result from the first leg in Nigeria two weeks earlier, the Under-23 team handled by Austin Eguavoen weren’t tipped to lose despite going to battle with some big name absentees, notably VVV Venlo wing wizard Ahmed Musa.

But lose they did, gifting Ghana’s Black Meteors the Games ticket on the away goals rule despite a 3-3 aggregate finish. Ghana thus put another one over the old West African rival after opposition from the same quarter cancelled out the Super Falcons from the women’s football event of the Maputo AAG. Aware of the regional foe’s capacity to induce horrors, fans literally interpreted Eguavoen’s vision of extending the Dream Team V’s recent winning streak beyond a “classical” Ghanaian selection decimated by withdrawals during the match day countdown. Whether the Nigerian coaches or the players – who typically underrated less intimidating opposition – gave their best in Kumasi is another matter considering reports of player indiscipline before and after the match.

Few apparently reckoned with potential damage to team spirit by acrimonious sharing of the 15 million naira gift from the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in support of the qualification quest. Brittle from a divisive sharing formular that amplified the difference in status between Eguavoen and the least involved player, the team might have arrived Ghana primed for tactical disintegration.

In employing pre-match underhand tactics as suggested by stoning of the visiting team by unruly opposition fans in addition to questionable accommodation arrangement, the Ghanaians surpassed commensurate treatment alleged from the first leg in Nigeria. But Eguavoen should have factored the contingency as well as a means to counter relentless attack from the desperate Ghanaians in his match plan.

In the event, he adopted a defensive formation which the Ghanaians stretched to plunder. Identifying the counterproductive approach of the relatively formidable Nigeria set-up, Ghana’s coach Kwesi Appiah said: “I think Nigeria shouldn’t have defended. If I were the Nigeria coach I would have told my boys to go all out in the game because we were down by 3-1 and the only way to scale through is to put pressure on us which they fail to do.”

We expected as much, and Eguavoen really should have done better. After all, did Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia not chart tactical conquest of the same opponent and in similar dire straits en route to the Beijing 2008 Olympics?

The latest surrender to a Ghanaian squad without most of its big guns and earlier misdirection of the Super Eagles’ opening campaign of the 2012 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers indict Eguavoen’s tactical competence. Drafted in following Swede Lars Lagerback’s fruitless reign last year, the caretaker boss hesitated in decision making, oscillating between tactical naivety and overwhelming reliance on the old guard as manifested lately.

Faced with the prospect of injecting fresh blood into the sagging Eagles of South Africa 2010 World Cup infamy, Eguavoen shaped to heed popular demand but dropped the eager, ambitious lads who diligently applied themselves to training. One after the other, the same players that toed the skewed Mundial path regained relevance in the national team set-up.

But for Siasia’s advent as Eagles coach, many anticipated express return under his immediate predecessor of the two most vilified players of the 2010 campaign, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Sani Kaita. Eguavoen was apparently averse to calculated tactical risk - the hallmark of great coaches.

If he initially impressed with the same methods with the Under-23s despite clamour by some for prosecution of the Maputo 2011 and London 2012 Olympics qualifiers with a standing home-based squad, the quality of opposition in the later stages appeared to justify the inclination. Ghana’s commitment to comparable preparation before the twolegged showdown certainly merited matching firepower.

Still, there is much left to play for with the eight-team final qualifiers for London 2012 looming. The coach must step up and dig deep, or risk having another rival snatch victory at the death. Worse, an adverse career turn could follow.

39

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

‘For university teachers, strike is outdated’ us becoming like India or Brazil, because any country that does not have knowledge economy cannot pick. In Nigeria, we have the largest higher education market in Africa with about 117 universities, 90-100 polytechnics, colleges of education schools of nursing and several others. We need to rethink our higher education system so that they are holistic and then we have the quality assurance. But government must give the universities the space and the autonomy to make their moves.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is threatening a fresh strike based on some components of the 2008 ASUU/ Federal Government agreement which the latter is yet to implement...

I was a member of ASUU. But the world has changed and ASUU needs to change with the world.

That is my message. ASUU is not on the curve. Let my comrades be the 21st Century comrades. What ASUU should be doing is not by strikes anymore. We’ve had enough of strikes. Our children are not in school for eight months.

Our aim now should be using our whole armoury of intellectual and creative powers locked in that constituency to begin to make transformation and form a think tank pressure group.

I’m sorry to say, as a former member of ASUU, I think collective bargaining should no longer be centralised. Every ASUU should negotiate with its own VC and Governing Council. Let the Federal Government set minimum standards for salaries. There is no reason why the salary scale of some lecturers or professors should be the same in all universities. ASUU needs to see how our universities can be a competitive structure, and it is not by shutting up the universities for months when their counterparts in private universities and universities outside the country are churning out graduates. And when research laboratories should be functioning seven days a week, they shut it down. That is not the solution anymore.

Let’s see what the challenges are in the developed world, and let’s begin to work from our small universities. The governance system is not good enough in many of our universities. Students should have a voice, able to say what they think of ASUU and access lectures. We must have learning and teaching-centred universities.

These archaic modes of resistance must go. We must embrace progressive politics in relation to new social movement. I’m not advocating an unbridled and uncontrolled market- based solution.

What I am saying is that if we are going to have a solution, it must take in all the stakeholders –private, public, community and even the civil society. ASUU must reorientate itself to be able to work with forces of progress.

I am getting increasingly impatient when I read stories about ASUU threatening strike one time or the other. Let us have a new face of academic staff unionism. We should be using our brains. Is shutting down universities amount to using our brains?

But the union has always argued that in this part of the world, the only language the government understands is strike.

That does not mean we should shut down the universities for three months and then we are back to square one. Ghana is do-

ing better than us. A lot of the energy here is not the kind driven by government but academics, administrators, professors and clearheaded chancellors and private providers. The problem with Nigerian public universities is that nobody owns them. The question ASUU should be asking is who owns the University of Nssuka, UNILAG, OAU, UI? Is it the university community or the Federal Government? What is the vision for Nsukka? These universities are owned by the current students, past students, academic community, local community, and partly owned by government. We need to have the conception of ownership and vision. Everyday, it is as if all ASUU cares about is the Federal Government. They should also care about our students, many of whom are not graduating, or they are graduating less literate than when they came into the university.

We should stop all these handouts things. No Nigerian university teacher today is on any citation index. The only people appearing in top flight citation index are Nigerians outside the country. We know we have lots of problems politically. Legislators are earning more than they should be earning. If we cut the salaries and benefits of all the legislators by 50 per cent, Nigerians will have a lot of money to use elsewhere. These are bigger question ASUU alone cannot solve. They should call the civil society.

From your exposure, what differentiates the average Nigerian Vice-Chancellor from his counterparts overseas, especially in terms of leadership?

You have to be careful here.

There is this Nigerian higher education culture. With all due respect to my Nigerian vice chancellors and CEOs, they are all partakers in the overall Nigerian governance culture. Vice-chancellors in South Africa don’t behave like vice chancellors in Nigeria. There is a culture of a Nigerian chief executive. Even at this AVNU conference, I saw some vice-chancellors coming in with armed policemen. When I visited Cape Town, the vice chancellor drives his own (Volkswagen) Beetle. The ViceChancellor drove me to my hotel and even had a drink with me. But here, there are armed escorts for vice chancellors. But a time will come when you will realise that as a vice-chancellor, your security is not with armed policemen but your constituency, if you have to make your campuses safe for yourself. We know there is kidnapping, robbery and all that, the VC thinks he needs to have armed escort. But when they now have armed security, it is the same policeman that jumps out to open the door for you. So, what makes you different from the general-governor, or colonel-administrator? That is the militarisation of the Nigerian values. Our social values have been militarised and it gets into the universities. So, we tend to carry the authoritarian rather than democratic pattern of leadership. But let

me also say it is different at Covenant University. The Vice Chancellor talks to her students all the time, wants to privilege and prioritise them. And I hope the VCs of other private universities will borrow a leaf from her.

At the Board of Carnegie Foundation, I work with the presidents of three international universities.

But I have never seen them with police escort. I have never seen some of the vice chancellors outside Nigeria who are my friends with police escorts. They even drive their own personal cars.

Sometimes, the larger-than-life image of some of our vice chancellors makes it so costly and so intensive in terms of competition that we do not see leadership as stewardship and service. There is need for some flexibility. Vice chancellors need to have an e-mail or facebook through which their students can reach them. You must be able to meet with your students, eat in their cafeteria. Some of them are my colleagues, some my seniors and others my friends, but we are still all part of a family of intellectual community in Nigeria and Africa. Whether a VC likes it or not, it is hard to be humble when you have police escort, because before you get out of your car, 20 people are already falling over themselves to open the door for you. It is hard to be humble when you go to a buffet and they don’t allow you to carry your food by yourself. They can’t even carry their bags. The only thing they are allowed to carry is their cell phones. Some of them don’t even carry cell phones.

Why can’t a leader carry his own things himself? The culture of leadership in this country does not help our leaders, and universities must be sites of change. Covenant University is an example of that site of change. Some of my colleagues in the vice chancellorship position are quite impressive and down to earth. But our Nigerian leaders are not allowed to be true to themselves or even behave like human beings, because once they become leaders, they become spirit.

The Federal Government has just created nine more universities while the nation is suffering from a dearth of manpower in academics and lecturers are still departing the country for greener pastures. How can this trend be reversed?

I can tell you a lot of people in the Diaspora want to come back, but they don’t know the conditions of service in Nigeria have improved. Now there is a spirit of competition. If the people in the Diaspora know, they will come back on sabbatical or short fellowship. We are doing that with the University of Ghana. We have Ghanaians in Diaspora linkages, and in our institution, we are looking at the African in Diaspora.

Some of the best brains in History, like Prof. Toyin Falola from the University of Texas, USA and Prof. Olupona of the University of Harvard are there, while Prof.

Abiola Irele has come back home.

There are many of our brains out

,

•Continued from Page 18

•Prof. Akin

there who do not want to retire and grow old overseas. They don’t want to retire in America, Europe or Saudi Arabia. These are the ones who can supervise PhDs. For instance, now in StalinBurch University, anybody who wants to have their retirement age extended beyond 65 years will be committed to supervising PhDs and mentoring young scholars by publishing with them. The same thing should happen here. Seventy years retirement age should not be automatic, like what ASUU is agitating for, saying because you are 65 years and therefore you should be given extension to 70. No! Let us ask what you have done in the last five years. The South African system, gives incentives to mentoring and academic production. If you have been a professor between 60 and 65 and you have not written one paper, produced one Ph.D, why should you be retained till you are 70? You have to demonstrate what you have done. Besides being the director of programme or dean of a department, how many younger academics have you written or published with in the last five years? The blame is on both sides.

That brings one to the frustration some PhD students suffer in the hands of their supervisors. Do you also think this can be adequately

I’m sorry to say, as a former member of ASUU, I think collective bargaining should no longer be centralised. Every ASUU should negotiate with its own VC and Governing Council. Let the Federal Government set minimum standards for salaries. There is no reason why the salary scale of some lecturers or professors should be the same in all universities

,

addressed?

This is one of the works we are doing with the University of Cape Town. There is a memorandum of understanding between the students and the supervisors. As a supervisor, how many times do you see the student? As a student, how many times do you see the supervisor? What is expected of you that year? When you have submitted you proposal, what is the turnaround in reading it? No supervisor should hold anybody’s chapter for proposal for more than six weeks without correcting and returning it to them.

And as a student, when you submit your PhD dissertation, the turnaround for external examiners should not be more than eight weeks. Manual of supervision has to be in place. Universities should impose standards. There is a responsibility of the students and obligation of the supervisors, and there must be rewards and sanctions. People are given money for supervising. It could be more than N10.000 or N15.000 or less for each PhD students you are supervising. That is the whole incentive structure. We have email addresses to which you can send your things. We have SMS through which a student and his supervisor can communicate. But ultimately, there must be an agreement, and that is already happening in some African universities and internationally. The Dean of Post-Graduate, and Deputy ViceChancellor countersign. Postgraduate students cannot continue to be victims.

But then, a lot of post-graduate students are busy working. They are not submitting their works on time. They don’t meet deadlines, yet they want to blame their supervisors who have forgotten about them and gone on to other things.

40

WHO in the world conceived the idea that love is blind? I will not forgive that individual. What has blindness got to do with love? A wise person should be open eyed enough to even begin to ‘see’ the person he or she is‘falling’ for. Better still, the person they desire to spend the rest of their lives with.

Ever since the drama; of the man that murdered his banker wife unfolded, I had severally shuddered to think of the torment this poor lady, (now at peace with the Lord) must have gone through in the hands of a man that had hitherto professed to love and to hold her in ‘sickness and in health’. A man that had vowed before God and man to forsake all others, a man that had vowed to stick to her for better for worse. A man that had vowed to forsake his father, his mother to cling to her. I shudder to think the shock she must have expressed to watch the jobless man she had loved unconditionally, a man she forsook all other men and even all other gainfully employed men for. A man that she had as a dutiful wife planned for his forthcoming birthday celebration and even applied and got permission to go on Vintage Vera, Today’s treatise: Hell hath no fury… was another masterpiece of yours, but your gaffe was conspicuous, you propounded the theme; analyzed it and proffered the solution thereby leaving us bereft of comments! However, what do people want out of marriage by playing god? The first marriage – Adam and Eve – had no love in it, it was full of distrust from the word go. The earlier couples regard as academic examination which they write, pass and obtain the certificate which they can fall on later in life should things go awry, the better life will be for all and sundry. It has worked pleasantly for me for forty three years and I see no reason why it should not work well in other cases equally.

Olofinsao Julius Akinloye Hi Vera, The story on ‘Hell hath no fury’ is a specimen of the unfortunate drama of matrimony.

You find out that a woman with a vindictive spirit is not the best to live with as a wife.

Found either in man or woman, it never always good relationship in marriage.

Goody Om Hi Vera, Your piece on hell hath no fury was splendid. It should serve as a lesson to most of our women that act first before putting on their thinking caps. Have a blissful birthday ahead even when you have refused to share your rice and stew with us. Be good, Comrade Aloy Attah Dear Vera, Just finished reading your col-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Until murder did them part a casual leave so she could plan his birthday! I still shudder to think what went through her mind as she watched him stab her ‘twenty-times’ till she breathed her last’. She must have thought to herself, what did I do? How did I end up with this monster’ How in the world did I wait till this happened, leaving my child motherless? Why did I not leave when I could?’, why did I choose to please society? A society that labels divorced or unmarried women as irresponsible; she must have thought; why did I not leave him, when I could? She must have further told herself and encouraged herself that at least she died a married woman.

I had hitherto promised myself never to write on this incident. But some of my readers; had written and sent me several mails; ‘Vera, they said, what is your take on this incident?’ And then I asked myself, my take?

Months back I had written about ‘Should a spouse remain in an abusive relationship?’ I sited instances of people who did and died in umn; Hell hath no fury; it really shows that two wrongs don’t make a right. Good to know that you are a July baby I’m one too.

Wishing you the best of birthdays this year.

Abraham Lafia Dear Vera, Life is never a smooth ride.

The rich also cry. No situation or system in life is ideal and this is the more reason why the two parties in a relationship must learn how to tolerate each other.

Inasmuch as there can not be two kings in a palace nor two captains in a ship, it is quite necessary for the husband to remain ‘stupid’ if his wife is the stubborn type and vice versa. However, Vera, I know you know it won’t be a bad idea if one of the two parties decide to walk away (apologies to Frank Edoho) if the home front becomes too cold for his or her comfort. This is a better option than the one recently reported by the papers in Nigeria. Why must any man or woman exhibit the animalistic tendencies in him or her by bathing the other party with acid or murdering him or her outright?

That to me is a love misplaced.

One jealousy carried too far. The consequences of such are shame, regret, etc. Love between husband and the wife or that between a boy and a girl can only blossom if one party loves the imperfection of the perfectly.

Remi Adesina Dear Vera, Your article this week really touched me. I learnt a lot of lessons and it was educative, more power to your elbows. Happy birthday to you. Long life and prosperity.

the process. I wrote at the risk of incurring the anger of my family, of a late aunty of mine, who suffered battering in the hands of her husband even till her old age. I wrote of how her children, now grown up with good jobs got her an accommodation so she could relocate and leave their father; how she politely turned down their offer with the excuse “Oh my dear children, thanks so much for your generosity, but who would cook for your father when I pack out?” So the children gave up and wished their parents luck, because they knew their mother would be needing it.” Ironically, luck was not enough to keep her alive. When the beast in her now elderly husband came up again, he beatup her to a pulp and unaccompanied by their now tired neighbours, he attempted to rush her to the hospital and she died in the process. As I write this piece, the stigma is still with her children. I recall how a would-be husband of one of my late auntie’s daughters dumped her because he was

told her dad killed her mother. She is still single but doing well career wise, no doubt, why should a spouse remain in an abusive union?

Why? To please the society?

I read that the slain wife refused to discuss her abusive relationship with anybody.

Even when friends and colleagues observed some scars in her body, she was quick to give ‘excuses to cover up.

The question now is why do we stay?

Research findings show reasons why battered women don’t leave; when they should.

Fear-Our fears are not unfounded given the fact that battered women are more at risk during leaving or after having left an abusive relationship. It is very important that our expression of fear not to be minimized. If a decision to leave has been made, a safety plan must be put in place if one has the reason to be afraid for their life. One should not take any chances if ones partner threatens to kill one. When you are dead you are dead…that’s it

Text messages Re: Hell hath no fury…

Kenny Adesoji Ibadan.

Vera, I wish you long life and fulfilled life…

Happy birthday Oloyede Gabriel Dear Vera, Easier said than experienced.

What would you do if your twin sister snatched your man and they are married till date with children?

ID, Ota Dear Vera, Happy more years and fulfilled life. Since rice will not be enough I will come drink and dance Cheers Joe Wonderful Vera, Happy birthday to you. Wishing you many more years of Feminique 08065441959 Birthday girl Vera, A thousand feathers to your wings! You will fly unperturbed to the pinnacle of your profession because you are a prolific and well-focused writer.

Have no fear as you are on the right track. Enjoy yourself on your birthday. Many happy returns.

Olofinsao Julius Akinloye, Ibadan Vera, You are an icon. A master at what you do. A true professional.

A columnist per excellence and

a plenipotiany of the journalism profession, I, like other adherents of your column rejoice with you today as you add another year. Now, close your eyes for prayer – every enemy dancing “yahooze” in your life shall begin to “kolomental”, they will “jasikanga” they will cry “mo gbe” and you will celebrate and shout “Mo bo lowo won”.

Happy birthday baby and many happy returns of the day.

Remmy Adesina, Ibadan

Children – Being a single parent is a strenuous experience under the best circumstances and for most women, conditions are often far from fair and just when it comes to receiving either equal custodial access or full custody of their children from the court system. The enormous responsibility of raising children alone be overwhelming.

Often, one’s abuser may threaten to take the children away from us if we make attempts to leave.

Feelings of guilt: Sometimes we may believe that our spouse is ‘sick’ and or needs our help; the idea of leaving can thus produce feelings of guilt.

Promise of reform: Some abusers promises it will never happen again, we want to believe this is true.

Sex-role conditioning: Most men are still taught to be the protector and the family provider; to leave is to abandon them and admit failure.

Religious beliefs and values: Religious beliefs reinforce the commitment to marriage. Many faiths hold

broken. ‘We get to hear ‘I wanna move on’ from the women side not less frequently.

To Vera, the relationship buffhappy ‘buffday’.

Cheers Seun Osinkolu, Ogbomoso Vera, God have given you enough life so you must give us enough rice come July 16, 2011 In fact, go and borrow. For that wicked wife, she did not forgive and forget. Men are still after the

that the husband is responsible for the welfare of his family. This may be a powerful reason for staying in a destructive relationship.

Lack of resources: Since one of the major components of abuse is isolation, we often lack a support system.

Our family ties and friendships have been destroyed, leaving us psychologically and financially dependent on our abusive partner.

Lack of finances and economic reality: The economic reality for women (particularly those with children) is often a bleak one. Perhaps economic dependence on the abuser is a very real reason for remaining in the relationship. Public assistance programmes have been drastically reduced and those that remain provide inadequate benefits.

Society disbelief concerning battered spouse: Many people turn a ‘deaf ear’ to marital violence and believe that what goes on behind closed doors is a ‘private matter’. The observance of child abuse, burglary etc is often reported whereas an assault on a husband or significant other may not and often is not reported.

Love for spouse: Most people enter a relationship for love, and that emotion does not simply disappear easily or in the face of difficulty. After a battering, abusers are often extremely penitent. Because one’s self esteem is so low following the incident, the apologies and promises of reform are often perceived as the end of the abuse.

My take on this is simple; I would rather be unmarried and stay alive than die married in an abusive relationship.

So, what’s your take? forbidden fruit they first served him.

Jonah, Jos. Vera, Grace speaks; grace enables; grace quickens; grace singles out; grace open doors; grace heals.

May you enjoy all the elements of God’s grace in this month of perfection.

Happy birthday to you today, Our own Dear Vera.

Vera, Happy birthday Angel Chidi, in fact you are the last Angel, I am a reader of your column. If I have just a prayer left I would give it to you. The peak of your desire shall be the beginning of God’s wonders for you this year and always.

Ogbekhe Solomon Vera, Your piece each time keeps reminding me that there is no specialist in the world except God. Good decisions are not borne in anger but out of wisdom and maturity.

Nnamani Felix, Makurdi Vera, I barely know why a love affair should be ‘triangular’ in nature. It is the worst shape ever for a relationship, except if God is allowed to take the third angle and not a human nor a social object. I wonder if it’s a survey, that will determine who between men and the women folk are of heartbreakers than heart-

•Mr. and Mrs. Bankole during celebration of their wedding anniversary

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

'I was so big I had to travel to Singapore in search of weight-loss' w With a successful career in the banking and communication sectors before she ventured into enzymatic health/weight management and beauty spa, not many would suspect that Evelyn Okere, the Managing Director of St. Eve Concepts, trained as a historian at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). She spoke with KUNLE AKINRINADE about her foray into business as well as her challenges and the dreams she is yet to fulfill.

H

OW long did it take you to find your feet in this business?

Luckily, I had technical partners who were coming from America and Singapore to train us. I was really shocked at what people had been benefitting from enzyme supplements for several decades in other countries of the world. So, I was determined to make sure the information got out as much as possible. Also, I undergo training periodically.

You studied History in the university and now you are a health management expert.

How did you acquire the expertise?

Before now, I had done some business, worked in Guaranty Trust Bank and Vmobile. It was after I left V-mobile that I set up St. Eve Concepts, because I am passionate about health. Apart from this, I once had a health issue. I was overweight, so I had to go to Singapore in search of a herbal tea. Then, I would exercise, swim, do karate and all that, but I wasn’t losing weight. In fact, I actually developed pains in my knees and ankles and I couldn’t climb any staircase. So, in Singapore, I attended a health programme on how enzymes could be used to treat such a health problem.

Although it was a seven-day programme, I found that I could actually climb the staircase by the third day. I came to the conclusion that if it worked for me, it would work for a lot of people. So, I brought the knowledge home, did a lot of research and started developing it.

We have organised seminars to bring the awareness to people. For instance, in 2010, we did a health promo and gave out a car to the lucky winner.

How many people have you been able to train?

We have trained a lot of people.

Some have left because they couldn’t cope with the pressure.

But some are still working with us. We also have people who come to us to learn how to do enzyme supplements as a business, because it is a very difficult thing to do. The reason is we are into services and not products sales. We don’t just give you all sorts of supplements to take. What we do is called live blood analysis, where you will see your blood cells moving under a microscope connected to a TV monitor. Before now, you would do a blood test, go back home and come back for your result later. So, after examination, we tell you your nutritional basics. And it has opened my eyes to the fact that good nutrition is actually the backbone of a healthy body. In order to continue to share knowledge with people, we are coming up with a health magazine called St. Eve. It

will soon hit the newsstand.

Why the name St. Eve? If you have been in a business for five years and people already know you for it, you will naturally want to register your other businesses in that name for strategic reasons.

In addition, when I was leaving V-mobile, my intention was not to set up St. Eve. Maybe I should let you know that I am a bit spiritual.

I am a catholic. So, I only wanted to sell rosaries and allied items then. Therefore, I only wanted to use the name of a saint or somebody, but I couldn’t come up with any immediately. Out of exigency, I just said ‘St. Eve’. And that was it!

Why did you have to jettison the idea of selling rosaries?

Actually, while my husband (he is a medical doctor) and I were heading for a place in Singapore, he just said, “Come, come …” and he was pointing to a place.

But I told him we should rather go and look for our herbal tea because we were both having some health issues. And that was how we ended up at that centre where I had the training. So, it was not as if I woke up and decided that I wanted to be doing this. I wanted to be selling rosaries.

You said you once had a health issue.

How serious was it? Would you describe it as your worst experience in life?

It wasn’t as if I was admitted in a hospital and was given some sedatives. It wasn’t that critical. But I was much bigger than I am now. My weight was probably too heavy for my bones, so it started affecting my knees.

Then, I noticed that I was falling sick every month. I would exercise, but it even got to a

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

My role in the suspension of police sergeant for 16 years —Ex-police commissioner Abubakar Tsav F

stage that doing so became very difficult because the energy wasn’t there. So, it was a health issue for me because I knew my body wasn’t normal and I was too young to start having a knee problem.

Apart from this, I had another health problem called edema, which describes a condition where you have water retention.

In fact, on a flight, my feet would smell so much that I would not be able to put them inside my shoes. Even when I was not on a flight, I would just sit down and my ankles would swell. So, the enzyme supplements have helped me to become a better person today. Even if I wasn’t into it and somebody else was doing it, I would still patronise the person because of its inherent benefits. Even then, I used to have this stomach upset that would last three days. So, I would say it has been my worst experience so far.

How did you meet your husband?

I got to know my husband while I was working in the bank. I actually sought his help in a transaction on a property, which involved a friend of mine. From there, we became friends. We are happily married with kids and he has been a wonderful partner and a dependable ally.

What really informed your interest in publishing a health magazine?

The real motive is my passion for healthy living. St. Eve Concepts, an enzymatic health /weight management and beauty spa company, was established five years ago. In the past years, we have done everything to get as much attention as we can. Sometime ago, we went out in the streets to give people fundamental information about their health.

It was then we realised that a lot of people didn’t really have adequate information about their health. So, we were inspired to come up with this magazine.

More importantly, for the past five years, we have been educating people on the essentials for a healthy human body, which is to digest your food. Immediately your food is digested, the nutrients go to every part of your organ. And when that happens, you have a healthy body. As a result, we have been telling people about enzyme supplements. Enzymes are what you have already in your body that aid food digestion, so, why do we need to give you more? It is because the environment doesn’t make it conducive enough for you to have your food digested easily. How? Your food is

contaminated with chemicals in order to preserve it. The vegetables you eat are contaminated and the chickens you eat are also contaminated with chemicals to make them grow faster. So, you now have a whole lot of chemicals stacked up in your system.

Apart from this, man has continued to recreate the world to make it better for him to live in. Yes, it is not a bad idea that we now have microwaves, frying pans and so on, but the problem is that some of these things have their radiation effects on our health.

I am sure you are aware that there are quite a number of health magazines on the newsstands across the country today. Why would anyone want to buy St. Eve magazine?

Let me say, first and foremost, that St. Eve is different from the existing health magazines in so many ways. It is not the usual health magazine where you would read about terrifying illnesses; and it is also unlike other magazines where you would find some incomprehensible Latin ‘jargons’ that people can not pronounce. St. Eve is a more friendly, more informative and more entertaining magazine. The issue of health is not limited to the human body. Rather, your environment, mental well-being and the things around you also add to your health. So, you will find in St. Eve both beauty and fashion columns, among others.

So, you don’t sell any product?

We have some products, but we don’t give them out like you would buy over the counter at a pharmacy. We carry out live blood analysis on you and we tell you what enzymes will be good for you from whatever we have seen. So, it is a service, though products are included.

You are coming up with a health magazine at time a lot of publishers of similar magazines are closing shops due to low patronage. How do you intend to cope with the inherent challenges of being a publisher?

Whatever you do in life, you must have something to show for your efforts at the end of the day. So, we hope that everybody working on the project will always have something in return. But more importantly, the reason we are doing this is to bring health to the people as much as possible. Health magazines are not selling very well because people want things that have to do with health free. But the fact is you must pay for something that has to do with your life.

ORMER Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubarka Tsav, has reacted to an allegation by a police sergeant, Amos Olaniyan, that he masterminded his unlawful suspension from the force for the past 16 years.

In an interview with our correspondent at his residence in Makurdi, Benue State after the story of the distraught policeman was published by The Nation last Saturday, Tsav said he Olaniyan did not tell the truth, adding that he would add to his punishment if he had the chance.

Dismissing the claim of the policeman that he was verbally suspended, Tsav said that nobody in the force would suspend anyone verbally, “because it is his query that would be used by the Provost Marshall to stop his salary.”

He recalled the circumstances that surrounded the suspension of the police man, saying : “When I was posted to Oyo State as a Commissioner of Police, I got information that some policemen •Tsav used to mount road blocks and extort money from politicians and other road users. So, I called all my divisional police officers (DPO) and warned them to desist from the act.

“But one day, I was attending a meeting at the Zonal office. I saw a road block with some policemen extorting money from hapless motorists. I then ordered my driver to stop and search them.

“When I conducted a search, I found some money neatly concealed inside the Land Rover vehicle they were using. I took the money, N1,250, and handed it over to the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, because it was not in my area of control. But I didn’t know what happened or how the matter was •Olaniyan treated.”.

On the claim by the policeman that he was verbally suspended for 16 years, Tsav said he was being miserly with the truth because there is no way the police would suspend anyone verbally and his Uja EMMANUEL, Makurdi salary would be stopped, since it is the query that was issued that would be used to stop his or her salary . laxity that resulted in the bombing of Recalling a similar case, he said: “When we arrested some policemen for extorting police headquarters by the Boko Haram sect recently. money and they were being tried, an The Nation had reported last Saturday Assistant Commissioner of Police July 9, 2011 how Seargent Amos approached me and said that I should pardon them. I was furious and reported Olaniyan with Force number 115200 was allegedly suspended from Nigeria him to the Inspector General of Police Police Officer in 1994 following (IGP). And because he was a senior allegation of corrupt practices by the police officer, the matter went to the former Oyo State Police Commissioner, Provost Marshall and he was tried and Alhaji Abubakar Tsav (rtd). punished accordingly.

Tsav had allegedly sighted Olaniyan “So, what I am saying in essence is that and others while on crime patrol along the policeman must have been tried by the Lagos-Ibadan expressway way while the Provost. In his case, the on his way to Zone 2 Police Command, Commissioner of Police has the right to Onikan, Lagos for a meeting. outrightly dismiss him without refering He was placed on Orderly Room Trial his matter to the IG.” alongside other members of the team and He advised the affected policemen to take the matter in good faith and look for they were subsequently exonerated by the Mr. MA Yusuf, the Delegated Officer another job. in the office of the Provost Marshal, Zone Tsav attributed the high level of 2, Police Command, Onikan, Lagos. corruption in the Nigeria Police to lack But despite his exoneration, the Police of proper supervision by the police authority has yet to reinstate him while authorities charged with such his team leader has since been responsibility. This, he said, led to the reabsorbed.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

First Lagos military governor, ex-NFA chair, others grace Unity Hospitals’ medical director’s 70th birthday

M

ANY who witnessed the 70 th birthday of the Medical Director of Unity Hospitals, Dr. Michael Obafunsho Peters are not likely to forget the event in a hurry.

It was such that those who are still very young would wish to be old. The birthday party afforded the school mates and old

friends of Peters to meet with him after so many years. It was a gathering that saw people who are in the age bracket of 70 exchanging banter, sharing jokesand reliving their school days experiences.

Apart from the celebrant who was full of life, his wife, Mrs Sola Peters, a retired principal of the University of Lagos

L-R: Rev. (Mrs) Lilian Edun, a retired banker; Dr. Michael Obafunso Peters, host and Medical Director, Unity Hospitals Group Ltd, Lagos; his wife and former Principal of the University of Lagos International School, Akoka, Mrs Sola Peters; Lady Caroline Ikhazoboh and Prof.

(Mrs) Elizabeth Egbochukwu at the 70th birthday celebration of Peters at the Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral Hall, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday.

International School was the cynosure of all eyes. She was elegantly dressed in native Iro and buba. It was one of the few occasions when the medical doctor cum lawyer would appear in the Yoruba traditional flowing gown, agabda.

The presence of a former Military Governor of Lagos State, Sir Mobolaji

Johnson and former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, Group Captain Obakpolor spiced the event.

The two ex-military men were seen sharing jokes and excahanging banter.

The event was also used to launch the biography of the Unity Hospital’s medical director.

The book, which was written by the host’s wife, Sola, highlights the life of the medical doctor. In one of the chapters, Mrs Peters paid glowing tribute to her husband. The proceeds from the book, according to the family, would be given to charity.

R-L: First Lagos State military governor, Sir Mobolaji Johnson; Former Nigeria Football Association chairman, Group Captain John Obakpolor and Lady Funmilayo Johnson, during the presentation of Dr. Funso Peters’ biography at the Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral Hall, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday.

Bigwigs on parade at AES Third Annual National Conference

Where?

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr Abubakar Muhammad, represented President Goodluck Jonathan, and former Minister of Finance and Industry, Dr (Mrs) Nike Akande during the third annual conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial (AES) in Lagos

University don loses father

and

•Mr. Felix Boni and Mr. O. Akpata

What

H.R.H Eze Prof. G.O. Nwankwo (OON), Imo State traditional ruler (left) and H.R.H. Igwe Prof. Laz E.N Ekwueme (OON), Anambra State traditional ruler at the event.

Professor Kayode Abiodun Olotua of the Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has lost his father, Pa (Chief) Adejumola Olotua, the Oludaiye of Iyereland, Owo. Olotua died on May 25, at the age of 101.

The late Oludaiye of Iyereland is survived by wife, Madam Dorcas Bolanle Olotua, children and grandchildren. Among them are Prof. Kayode Olotua, (FUTA), Dr. Folusho Olotua (AAU, Akungba Akoko), Mrs Remi Ogundowole.

He will be buried in October .

Emzor Pharmaceuticals holds wellness race Emzor Pharmaceutical Indusries Ltd will hold its monthly wellness race on Saturday, July 16, 2011. The event, which is to promote healthy lifestyle Alhaji Lukman Afolabi of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Lagos (right) and his wife, Sakirat and body fitness, will begin from the company’s corporate head office in Isolo to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

Oluwatoyin Afolabi during the first birthday of their daughter Lamlat Olanike Afolabi.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Cape Town Fashion Week T

HE Cape Town Fashion Week began Thursday, July 14, with some of the most promising designers in African fashion.

The African Fashion International (AFI), the Cape Town Fashion Council , South Africa and the Cape Town Tourism expertly selected the designers participating in the week in a strict curatorial process. And the designers showcasing include Abigail Betz,Lisp, David Tlale, Michelle Ludek, Danielle Margaux, Fabiani, Undacova,among others.

•Model for David Tlale

•Model for Lisp

•Model for Gavin Rajah

Search for Nigeria’s best stylist begins T

HE annual National Hairstylist Competition kicked off at the Kelvo Beauty Point, Port Harcourt with the zonal preliminaries. This marks the seventh edition of the creative event. Twelve participants took part in the hair combat.

They included Kings Beauty Point, Hair Connection, Henro Salon, Princeso Beauty Point, Nke-jay Beauty Salon, Ifytex Salon, Omedams Unisex Beauty, Rose Beauty World, Wani Beauty Salon, All stars Salon, Hairmasters Salon and Bloom Salon. Two styles were used to judged the best in creativity,style and finishing. The styles were hot-water set and wigs styles. The styles were created from X-pression Ultra

Braid, Kelly and Daniella weavons.

The winners were Abia, Rivers , Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers. THE first position went to All Stars Salon,second to Ifetex Salon, third to Nke –Jay Salon, fourth and fifth went to Hair Connection and Wani Beauty Salon. All the participants were given certificates of participation, products and gift items from the supporters Linda Manufacturing Company.

The theme of the competition is Redefining Our Rich Hair Culture and its main objective is to make an impact in the braiding sector by creating the longest braids in the world.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

‘We saw death face to face’ •Survivors of collapsed building recount ordeal

S

TEPHEN Egede, Oliver Ikejia and his sister, Chinyere, would have been among the dead occupants of the collapsed building at Mogaji Close, Idumota, Lagos Island, but they cheated death by the whisker.

The three lucky occupants of the building were among those thanking their stars for being alive to tell their stories when our correspondent visited the site of the building in the week.

Sharing her story amid hot tears of joy, 24-year-old Chinyere,a native of Nnewi, Anambra State, selling recharge cards, explained that she was sleeping when the incident occurred about 9.00p.m on the fateful day.

She said:” I had just returned from where I am selling recharge cards during the rain that fell that night and after having my dinner, I went to bed immediately. My brother, Oliver , had also gone to sleep when suddenly we were woken up by a deafening bang and everything went blank. The following day, about seven men forced their way into our apartment on the third floor which had then been covered up by the rubble of the collapsed building. My brother was the first to be rescued and it was him who raised the alarm that I was still trapped inside the building before our rescuers brought me out unscathed. Four other occupants on our floor have gone with the incident.

“The house never showed any sign of distress, contrary to what some people have been saying.

There was no single crack on any parts of the building and that is why the incident remains a mystery to me. However, I am lucky to have escaped and give glory to God for saving my life and those of my brother and other occupants too.”

Her explanation encored in the words of Olivia. He said:”I came home early on the day about 6.p.m which was rather unusual of me.

My sister and I were discussing when we suddenly fell asleep.We were woken up by a rude bang and before we knew it, our room had been covered by the rubble of the building.

“My sister and I were rescued on Wednesday, July 5, and it was a miracle that we came out of the building alive. We did not have any premonition that the building would collapse and that we would be taken to the death’s door step, but I thank God for saving me from

•People trying to rescue victims from the collapsed building

‘

The house never showed any sign of distress, contrary to what some people have been saying.

There was no single crack on any parts of the building and that is why the incident remains a mystery to me. However, I am lucky to have escaped and give glory to God for saving my life and those of my brother and other occupants too

,

Kunle AKINRINADE the claws of death.”

It was not the same thing for Ebonyi-born Stephen Egede who, despite his narrow escape, sustained injuries on arms and legs.

The 32-year-old bus driver recalled how providence set him free from death’s dragnet on the fateful day.

“When I returned home that

•Chinyere Ikejia

night, I met my wife in the room where she was attending to our two- month- old baby. Then I made straight for the bathroom in order to have a shower before settling down for my dinner. While I was bathing, I suddenly noticed that the bathroom was sinking as if I was inside an elevator and I started shouting Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!, and

•Oliver Ikejia

the sinking stopped a few minutes later. My brother, I saw death face to face and it was a miracle I am still alive to recount my ordeal.

“Miraculously, I found myself outside on the ground floor with injuries on my arms and legs. While I was calling people to help me rescue my wife and kid who were then trapped inside the building,

my wife suddenly came out unscathed, cuddling our baby to her chest.

“Surprisingly, when we were taken to the Lagos Island General Hospital, doctors did not treat me at all. They instead said I should thank my stars that I am still alive, adding that I should go and offer thanksgiving to God in my church,”he said.

Lawmaker seeks demolition of dilapidated buildings Tajudeen ADEBANJO

I •Stephen Egede

•Jumoke

RKED by the spate of col lapsed buildings and increas ing loss of lives, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, has called on the relevant agency in Lagos State to embark on the demolition of dilapidated structures.

Hon Okoya-Thomas said this would avert future occurrences of the unfortunate incident.

The federal lawmaker visited the scene of the collapsed build-

ing to sympathise with the victims of the incident.

“My heart goes to them, especially this raining period that they need shelter,” she said.

Hon Okoya-Thomas lamented the present state of some of the buildings in the area.

“All those dilapidated houses should be pulled down to pave the way for new ones that would meet the present age where people would live without fear.

The Ministry of Housing should, as a matter of urgency, embark on housing projects not only in that area but other places in

Lagos.

“Also the owners of the properties should take into consideration the lives of inhabitants which are sacred,” she said.

The lawmaker urged the property owners to allow government to manage the buildings if they are not buoyant enough to rebuild them.

“Obviously, she affirmed, the materials used to construct those structures are sub-standard, hence the collapse of the buildings.”

She hailed those who participated in the rescue operations.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

•Miccom golf course

Miccom: Haven of peace M ICCOM Golf Hotels and Resort,one of the best hospitality facili ties in the country, is in the idyllic community of Ada in the Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State.It is a threehour drive from Lagos and about 20 minutes from the state capital, Osogbo.

The first pull one feels in the resort is the overwhelming tug of its sylvan ambience. It is evocative and leaves one with strong imageries that remain long after one might have left the facility.

Whenever one thinks of Miccom, the imagery of lush landscape, green, well manicured lawns that stretch as far as one’s eyesight could carry, is stamped in one’s brain. The serene environment, apart from drawing the addictive golf crowd, has also transformed the facility to become one of the foremost resorts for retreat and conferencing. It has 90room accommodation, a banqueting hall that could sit 500, three meeting rooms that could each take 40 persons. This is in addition to other recreational facilities like lawn tennis, swimming pool and so on. Of course, the king of them all is golf.

The feeling in Ada comes very vividly. No matter how shallow

one’s personality, the ambience of Ada leaves with nothing but an introspect reflection on life and appreciation of nature.

But the best asset of Miccom is the ability of the resort to fuse the facilities into a perfect harmony with the nature. While detaching oneself from the bustle of city life, one could still keep abreast of happenings through the internet and other communication facilities provided. In Miccom, one enjoys the best of two worlds.

Of course, it has an 18-hole standard golf facility, but one needs not play golf to appreciate Ada’s Miccom. You could just embark on journey deep into the tamed wild expanse of golf course: The clear water streams here and there, the natural rocks that are fused into the golf course, the palm trees, tall and erect, swaying to the rhythm of the wild breeze. One could promenade on and on. The landscape is captivating and pulls one to explore its depth and experience the essence of nature.

The Managing Director of the resort, Mrs. Bukola Adubi (nee Ponnle) talked about the resort. She said the resort, having consolidated its position as the leading retreat and conference resort in the country, “is primed for the next level.”

Despite the success of the resort in Nigeria’s hospitality landscape, Mrs. Adubi said Miccom Hotels and Golf Resort

•Miccom Hotels and Golf Resort

was a fluke due to the circumstances that brought it into existence. She talked about the concept of the resort: “My parents are keen

golfers and they are from Ada where the hotel is situated. They had an acre of land inherited

Continued on Page 50

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Miccom: Haven of peace Continued from Page 47

from my grandfather and bought some plots. They later did a nine-hole golf course.

“After a few months, they said ‘oh, many people play golf; why don’t we build small basic rooms that people can just shower and clean, so that they can go from there.’ They built these rooms, about 24 of them. Before we knew what was happening, there was a wedding in town,and people said‘oh, can we borrow your rooms for our guests?’ Again at this time, the golf was taking off; people were coming to play; there were the Lagos big boys. Then we bought more land again and increased from nine to 18 holes and then we had extra land.

People were still coming.

We later had 90 rooms. It was at that point I came in.

That was in 2003. People where saying ‘never, it cannot work. Who will come here?’ There was no telephone at that time, no GSM, no contact, absolutely nothing. “ We had spent a huge some of money already and no bank would loan us anything because nobody thought it was a viable

project. I think the rest is history.”

On how the resort has fared , she said: “Quite viable. It has been a very interesting journey. The first three years were quite challenging because nobody wanted to come.Later people started coming.Now guests come from Abuja, Port Harcourt and other places; they drive down.

They come on people’s recommendations.”

Adubi said:“You know the funny thing is, the golf part of the whole set-up forms maybe 30 per cent of clientele. We have also come to realise that our golf tournament or golf as a game can only be played, because of our location, during the weekend because most golfers are in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and so on. They have their regular days. So the golf helps us push for the rest of our business which is corporate retreat because these same big boys are managing directors and heads of companies that would come for retreats. ‘’We have three categories of guests. I will say 60 per cent fall under corporate retreats. They are the ones that are always doing something; then golfers are 20 to

25. Then there are weddings, birthdays, honeymooners, people on vacation. We have huge vacation crowd for Easter and Christmas. People who normally don’t come home or people that travel out of the country for vacation.

Now we have an increasing number of them that will come with their families.

“Osun State is vast and fantastic and sometimes I tell a few people that I know in government that I patronise and advertise their tourism sites more than the state itself. They are fantastic. I have been to a few sites myself and they are amazing. We encourage our guests to visit the tourism sites, even corporate people that come for retreats. We encourage them to take a day off to go and see the sites.

“We always encourage a half or full-day tour. Some of these people have never gone out of their comfort zone and when they go for retreat, they don’t leave the hotel.”

Whether for retreat or conferencing or simply for leisure vacation, it is almost a sin for one not to experience nature in its glory that Miccom and Ada offer.

•Aerial view of the Miccom golf course

•Poolside relaxation

Kehinde FALODE: 08023689894

Beans and yam porridge

Fresh green mealies (also known as corn, sweet corn and maize) are most simply boiled and buttered; they are delicious roasted over the coals. It is important that the mealies are fresh, straight from plant to fire if this is at all possible. Kernels should be plump and shiny.

Uchechi NZE

Most people have one reason or the other why they do not eat beans. Yet it is advisable to have beans in the family menu, especially when you have young children in the family.

The cooking method detailed here will help eliminate the problems associated with beans.

Ingredients •Beans (brown/black eyed) – •Red palm oil – •Crayfish (1 handful) •Onions – three medium sized bulbs •Pepper and salt to taste •Seasoning – three maggi cubes •Yam/plantain/sweet potatoes/baby corn (optional) Method •Soak the beans in cold water for five hours. After that, boil the beans for five minutes and remove the water. Then wash the beans in cold water. This process is to help reduce the gas inducing elements.

•Wash, peel and cut your yam/plantain/sweet potatoes into a cube.

Coal-roasted corn

Ingredients: •Corn •Salt •Melted butter Frying instructions: •Fold back the leaves, and strip mealies of their silk. Then dip in cold water for 30 minutes, and then roast over hot coals for 20-30 minutes. Brush occasionally with melted butter until the kernels are smoky and delicious. Turn frequently to ensure even cooking.

•erve warm, sprinkled with a little salt and smeared with butter.

•Put the beans in a pot and pour water up to the level of the beans and start cooking.

•Cook till tender, adding more water from time to time. Always keep the water at the same level as the beans so that when the beans are done, you will not have too much

water in the porridge.

•When the beans porridge is soft, add the onions, grinded crayfish, pepper and seasoning.

Cover the pot and keep cooking for five minutes.

•Then instead of cooking for five minutes, cook till the added yam / plantain / potatoes are

done.

•Add the red palm oil, salt to taste and cook for more five minutes.

•Beans porridge is ready. But if you cook the beans porridge without any of the additions, serve with fried plantain, fried yam or fried sweet potatoes.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Golden Tulip Hotel opens

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OLDEN Tulip Festac Hotel, Lagos has officially been opened. The hotel was declared open by the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Joke Orelope Adefulire.

The governor commended the owners of the hotel for investing in the big project and promised to continue to support private sector investment in the state, most especially the hospitaslity industry.

In his welcome address on the occasion, the group managing director of UAC Nigeria PLC, Mr. Larry Ettah, said the UAC group decided to acquire the property through the privatization programme of the federal government based on the company’s desire to “take the troubled edifice that was once a national pride and

create out of it a tourist destination that will reshape the entire landscape of AmuwoOdofin and Lagos State in general.”

He said the transformation had been achieved by sheer determination, resilience and commitment to deliver the company’s set objectives; also that the company had always pride itself on its contributions to the different sectors of the national economy and that the hotel was a testimony of “our UAC’s commitment to empowering the Nigerian people.”

Ettah said the hotel complex, when fully completed, would “provide employment opportunities for thousands of people and also reshape the socio-economic landscape of this community.”

The managing director of UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) PLC, Mr. Hakeem

Ogunniran, in his speech said his company’s subsidiary, UPDC’s subsidiary, UPDC Hotels Limited, had leveraged significantly on UPDC’s success in the property development industry and the expertise of its technical/managers, Golden Tulip, to create a hotel and conferencing facility that was tailored to meet the needs of the market and the locality in which it was situated.

Ogunniran said Golden Tulip Festac Hotel has been redeveloped “to an exquisite four-star hotel, with 471 rooms, long stay apartments, office and retail space as well as a corporate residential facility for corporate clients.”

Still on the Golden Tulip Festac Hotel, the UPDC managing director said the property was being developed in three phases: the first phase was refurbish-

ment Block C which contains commercial outlets and 471 rooms consisting of 390 standard rooms, 66 executive rooms, 12 general suites, two ministerial suites and one presidential suite; the Block C was rebuilt into a complex consisting of conference hall, a banquet hall, meeting facilities, kitchen and restaurants.

He added that a double volume vestibule had been created to link Blocks A and C to house the main lobby and reception.

In the Block B, the second phase of the project, he said, would be redeveloped into a complex consisting of apartments, conference hall, banquet hall, meeting facilities, kitchen and rewstaurants.

On the cost of the project, the UPDC boss said the property had so far gulped N18 billion inclusive of capitalized interest charges.

51 Airbus soars over Boeing

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IRBUs is trouncing Boeing in the race to be the world’s biggest plane maker, claiming over $72 billion dollars worth of orders and commitments at the Paris Air Show, where the popularity of its new fuel-efficient jets twice broke records for the largest order ever.

Airbus’ success cast a long shadow over Chicago-based Boeing which recorded only $22 billion in orders and commitments and raised questions over the U.S. planemaker’s ability to compete in a market dominated by concerns over high fuel prices.

Airbus CEO Tom Enders and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes signed off Thursday on an $18.5 billion order for 200 of Airbus’ new A320neo aircraft, which has proven to be the star of the aviation industry’s premier event.

The order is the largest ever, eclipsing the previous record set just Wednesday by another A320neo customer, Asian carrier IndiGo. Airlines often negotiate discounts on large deals.

The recipe to Airbus’ gains over Boeing is deceptively simple. It modified its existing workhorse jet, the A320, with improved engines and modified wingtips to make it allegedly 15 per cent more fuel-efficient than Boeing’s 737.

NTDC boss addresses Rotarians

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HE Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, will give a key note address at the official installation ceremony of Rotarian Kenny Ejakpomewhe as Governor, Rotary International District 9110, holding in Lagos today.

The event, which will be held at Muson Centre Onikan, would witness the exchange of baton from the current Governor, Rot. Deinde Shoga. to Rot. Ejakpommewhe as Governor for 2011-2012.

Also at the event, a non-Rotarian but one with Rotary’s vision, Dr. Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi, will be conferred with the Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Afolabi is the chairman of Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL).

‘Tourism, tool for poverty alleviation’

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•Golden Tulip Festac Hotel

Old Oyo National Park commissions hall

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LD Oyo National Park, one of the wild life parks in the country has commissioned a multi-purpose hall at the park’s headquarter in Oyo, Oyo State.

This was done during a three-day working tour of the park by members of the National Park Service Commission led by the chairman of the board, Senator Hamisu Musa.

The National Park Service Commision board also used the period of the tour to visit the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111. The members were received by the retired Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu .

In his speech at the palace, Senator Hamisu emphasized the important position of Old Oyo National Park in the development and management of parks in Nigeria. He said the park and the traditional council need to partner together on harnessing the

abundant potential.

This, he said, could be achieved through the encouragement of local communities to produce souvenirs, local arts and craft to sell to tourists, thereby generating employment and reducing poverty.

Responding to the chairman’s speech, Oba Adeyemi thanked the board for the visit. He commended the National Parks for their efforts to preserve and conserve the nation’s natural resources. He also praised the federal government for establishing the National Parks as this has afforded many people the opportunity to view the wild animals in their natural habitat and also see some old relics like the ones in the Old Oyo National Park.

This, the traditional ruler said, had encouraged education, recreation and eco-tourism.

According to him, this effort by the government will re-

duce capital flight as Nigerians would minimize their visits to other countries for the purpose of viewing wild life.

Other projects commissioned during the tour included an elctrification project, 450 KVA power generator and other projects.

OZAMBICAN President, Mr. Armando Guebuza, de scribed the tourism industry as an industry with the capacity to alleviate poverty. The President was speaking after joining the UNWTO/WTTC Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign. He said: “We support tourism as an area of major importance in our agenda to fight poverty,” said Mozambique’s President, Armando Guebuza.

“Given its impact in terms of jobs and income and considering its multiplier effects in other areas of the economy, tourism has proven to be a sector of high relevance in the socio-economic development of our country,” said President Guebuza.

President Guebuza received an Open Letter from UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) President and CEO David Scowsill highlighting travel and tourism as one of the most effective solutions to today’s global challenges.

During his official visit to Mozambique, Mr. Rifai also met Prime Minister Aires Ali who reiterated the government’s commitment to tourism. “We are fully committed to the development of tourism in Mozambique, as the government has recognized the sector as strategic for the overall development of the country,” he said.

“Mozambique has unique resources to advance tourism and make of it a real driver to improve the lives of its people. Moreover, it has the political will to do so. This is confirmed by President Guebuza joining our campaign, but also by the fact that tourism is extensively featured in the government plan for the coming years.

“The plan identifies tourism as a strategic sector in the socioeconomic development of the country, contributing to job creation, income generation, and the strengthening of national unity,”Mr Rufai.

Croatia to host tourism media conference

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•The Conservator General of the National Park Service, Haruna Abubakar, commissioning an electrification project

HE first international conference dedicated exclu sively to the relationship between tourism and the media is to be held by UNWTO and Croatia under the title Tourism in the Headlines (12-13 September, Zagreb, Croatia).

The conference will address why, despite being one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economic sectors, tourism rarely makes the headlines or the economic pages of newspapers. Globally, as an export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals and the automotive industry, yet its economic and development relevance is often overlooked by the media.

The conference aims to improve the extent and accuracy of tourism coverage; a highly image-sensitive sector in which negative press and sensational stories can mean the loss of livelihoods. Counting on the presence of top communications experts, it will also be an opportunity for tourism communicators to learn of the tools and strategies available for getting their story across.

Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism of Croatia and featuring CNN as global media partner, Tourism in the Headlines will bring together members of the global media, the specialized travel media, communication officials from tourism administrations and communications experts from around the world.

52

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Training: A vital key for raising

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EAR Reader, It’s another exciting week, and I’m glad to have you back again. Last week, I brought you the introductory part of this wonderful topic. I said though some people lay up material possessions as inheritances for their children, including money, but the greatest inheritance you can leave behind for your children is a good Christian upbringing.

Quite a number of parents only teach their children; they do not engage them in actual training. Many children can recite what they have been

W

ISH your memory were a little sharper? Want to remember names and numbers as well as you could a few years back? Brain experts swear by the following six simple techniques.

1. Never forget a name: Look, snap, connect.

There are three steps to psychiatrist Gary Small’s favorite tactic, which he calls “Look, Snap, Connect.” The first is to tell yourself that remembering a particular name is a priority, says Small, who’s also the director of the UCLA Center on Aging and author of several books about memory and cognition, including The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head.

•Really focus (LOOK) on a name and face you want to remember.

•Create a visual snapshot (SNAP) of the name and face. Note a key visual characteristic: Big ears? Silver hair? Blue eyes? Dimples?

Also create an image about the name: A cat stands for Mrs. Williams, a dollar bill for someone named Biliaminu. “I sometimes see a famous person with a similar name,” Small says. “So Omotola Adamu becomes Omotola Jalade wearing shined shoes and eating a

taught, but often times their behaviour is at variance with the teachings. The reason is that the teachings have not become part of them; therefore, they depart from the teaching later in life.

For good results, child upbringing should be done as specified by God, and that is by training. That is why this week, I shall continue this teaching by showing you the Importance of Child Training: i.

Child Training Is A Commandment!

Child training is a commandment. God’s Word says: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). A commandment is not optional, it im-

plies an obligatory or compulsory task. In the light of this, God’s commandment is not designed to grieve you, but to make life wonderful and fulfilling (I John 5:3). ii.

Child Training Constitutes The Future Generation!

You must understand that the children of today will constitute the pillars (both of the church and the society) tomorrow.

Therefore, if we, as parents, will sow the seed of bringing up our children in the fear of the Lord today, we are guaranteed a glorious harvest tomorrow. We must raise them up to lead lives of dignity and good morals for others to emulate. iii.

Child Training Releases The Potential In Our children!

Training helps children to discover who they are and their ability, because every individual is endowed by God with certain talents and potentials. So, when you engage that tool of training on your children, they begin to develop themselves until they

Godly children II

emerge victorious. iv.

For Speedy Development!

When children are born, they are like plasticine — soft, pliable and mouldable. God’s Word says: For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little (Isaiah 28:10). Do not say your children are too young or too old, rather, train them progressively in the way that they must go. Therefore, engage this key of training right on time. v.

Child Training Is Profitable!

A trained child, today, becomes profitable to his parents tomorrow, while an untrained child, today, will bring heartache, pain and shame to his parents in the future. Child training is not just a commandment from God, it is rewarding as well. You can imagine how happy Hannah was as the mother of Samuel, or how Eunice was as the mother of

Timothy. It is better to train up a child than to repair an adult.

Children must never be left alone to go their own way. You, must of necessity, continuously show them which way to go, and that’s what training is all about.

Raising Godly children requires grace. This grace is available, if you give your life to Christ. Do you want to give your life to Jesus Christ? Say this prayer: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner.

Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8; 07026385437.

For more insight, these books authored by Pastor Faith Oyedepo are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Understanding Motherhood, Raising Godly Children, and Marriage Covenant.

Brain experts’ six best memory tricks burger.”

•Join the two images (CONNECT): The simple act of thinking up images helps cement them in your memory — and ups the odds that the new name will materialize for you the next time you encounter the person.

2. Another name trick: Use it before you lose it.

If a new name goes in one ear and out the other, try to trap it inside your head by using it immediately, by deliberately repeating the name: “Nice to meet you, Joseph.”

Then use his name in conversation every few minutes while you talk: “So Joseph, how long have you been with your company?” And, “That’s a great point, Joseph.” You might feel a little like a genial newscaster, but you don’t have to overdo it. Every few minutes is sufficient.

Remembering names is tricky because we’re distracted by the social interactions of the moment. And names are arbitrary, a type of information that’s harder to retain.

“Simply saying the name aloud a few times helps it

stick,” Robbins says. As you walk away from the person, say the name again to yourself: “So that was Joseph Jonathan of ABC Company.”

3. To remember to do something: Picture it.

Don’t want to forget to meet your friend for lunch?

Need to remember to take your medicine? Create an image that associates the task with something else happening around the same time, and then picture yourself following through when you see that cue, suggests memory specialist Mark McDaniel, a professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis.

Say the mailman comes just before lunch. Now picture yourself getting up to go to lunch when you see the mail truck. Odds are good that when the truck appears, that’s what you’ll do.

“The concrete environmental event cues you. It triggers the intention,” McDaniel says. Studies have shown that women who visualize doing breast selfexams in the shower are more likely to actually do them. Diabetics are more likely to monitor blood glucose daily when the task is tied to another everyday event.

Remember to take a new morning medication by imagining yourself doing so when you sip juice at breakfast (if you have juice every day). Remember to drop off dry cleaning by picturing doing so as you pass a particular landmark at that intersection.

4. To remember where things are: Put them in your path.

Visual reminders are like crutches. Without them, we have to conjure up an answer from thin air (“Now where did I put my umbrella?”) or,

worse, remember to remember the thing in the first place (“Darn! Forgot my umbrella again!”). Storing an umbrella (or keys, or sunglasses) right by the door makes you more likely to remember to find it and take it with you.

Having a habitual storage spot, like an umbrella stand, is another memory booster.

rains? Again, use a visual reminder, Small says. Move the umbrella right in front of the door as soon as you see theweather forecast.

Similarly, leave papers you need to take home with you on the floor beside your desk, right in your footpath.

Assemble ingredients on a counter before you begin cooking, so you’re unlikely to forget any. Put a package bound for delivery in your car when you have it ready; don’t expect to remember to look for it when you’re leaving the house.

5. To recall important events: Do a nightly review.

Parents sometimes use a “review the day” tactic at bedtime to give young kids a warm, fuzzy feeling and to

recap the day’s best teachable moments. A similar process can help your brain recap what’s important.

It’s easy: Before going to bed, run a mental review of the key things that happened that you want to remember. You got a call confirming an appointment for tomorrow? Promised a friend you’d follow up about lunch? Made a new acquaintance? (What was her name? Her job? Her partner’s name?)

Better yet: Carry a small notebook into which you jot critical things to remember during the day. Review these notes at day’s end. “Most people find that the combination of writing and then reviewing really helps,” psychiatrist Ken Robbins says.

•Once you are able to boost your memory, you would not only help boost your brain but your connection with people

6. To recollect anything: Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

A tactic that goes by the fancy names of “spaced rehearsal” or “expanded retrieval” is a favorite because it’s so effective. Simply repeat something over and over at slightly extended intervals.

Memory specialist Professor Mark McDaniel says the tactic is often used with Alzheimer’s patients. “And if it works for many of them, it can work for someone with a healthy brain,” he says.

To use it: Say you want to remember a name or a short shopping list, or — as is often the case for Alzheimer’s patients — you need to remind yourself or your loved one to check a calendar. Repeat the name or task to yourself. Wait 15 seconds. Silently say it again to yourself. (“Bob Manuel” or “Check the calendar.”) Wait 45 seconds. Spaced Bring it back up. Wait 90 seconds, then repeat. “If you can remember it after five minutes, you’re in good shape,” McDaniel says. “It’s been well stored.”

“Leaving it where you can see it so you don’t forget helps your prospective memory, which is remembering to remember things, like where you put something,” psychiatrist Gary Small says.

But what if the umbrella stand becomes “invisible” to you because it’s sunny on most days, so you risk forgetting the thing when it

Avoiding childlessness:

53 Coping with diseases

Surrogate pregnancy

HIV/ AIDS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

Continued from last week

Surrogate pregnancy is pregnancy carried for another woman who cannot or does not want to carry the pregnancy by herself.

If the egg that was used to generate the baby came from the surrogate mother, this is called traditional surrogacy. If the egg did not come from the surrogate mother, this is called gestational surrogacy. If the surrogate mother is paid for the service, this is called commercial surrogacy. If the surrogate mother does it without reward, this is called altruistic surrogacy.

Artificial insemination could be done at home or in a clinic.

Fresh or frozen sperm may be used in the clinic.

What’s up the sleeves of science The desire to reproduce is unquestioningly an innate part of normal humanity.

Some may sacrifice this desire as in the case of religious celibates. Others may override it with other goals in life. The vast majority of humans do not put it aside and naturally suffer tremendously if they cannot fulfill this desire.

Infertility is a disease, an

P

ELVIC inflammatory disease (PID) is a serious infection of the female reproductive system that can develop when certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) go untreated.

In most cases, it occurs when bacteria from the STD in the vagina or cervix move into the uterus and upper genital tract. The most common organisms that lead to PID are gonorrhea and chlamydia, highly contagious STDs. Because STDs can lead to PID, the best way to prevent it is to abstain from having sex. Sexual contact

objective evil, and presently appears to occur in apocalyptic scale in many societies all over the world.

Some couples who cannot reproduce naturally, artificially, or by third party assistance or who do not want to use artificial or third party means could adopt.

Adoption is not reproduction but is an option for couples who do not want to remain childless.

Medical scientists know the vast potential of positive research discoveries that can help human reproduction.

In vitro fertilization, freezing of sperm and ova, the use of stem cells (cells that can be used to reform natural tissues that have been destroyed by disease), gene therapy (manipulating genetic information inside cells to make the cells do what we want), and transplantation of various tissues or organs from donors or from synthetic procedures are being studied by scientists to find better solutions to infertility.

Scientists, of course, are not perfect and allknowing and all humanity is advancing in knowledge and necessar-

with Prof. Dayo Oyekole

T ily improving our understanding of nature and dominion over nature.

The social, moral, and religious consequences of all these also partake in our well-being or lack of wellbeing.

Avoiding infertility and childlessness I have been married to my wife for the past one year now and we have been suffering from infertility issue. It may interest you that I was the one that deflowered her after our wedding. Even all tests conducted on her and myself have shown nothing. What do we do.

Dear Reader, Thank you for sharing your problem.

Indeed, in life, some things are mysterious having no human explanation, physical or spiritual, and we are left to faith or fate. I would encourage you to be optimistic because your marriage is still young and the chance of having a child naturally between you is still high if truly there is no physi-

PID and infertility with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner increases the risk of contracting any STD. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a serious infection of the female reproductive system that can develop when certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) go untreated. In most cases, it occurs when bacteria from the STD in the vagina or cervix move into the uterus and upper genital tract. The most common organisms that

Dr. ’Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For questions or comments on this article please call 07028338910 or E m a i l bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com

lead to PID are gonorrhea and chlamydia, highly contagious STDs. Because STDs can lead to PID, the best way to prevent it is to abstain from having sex. Sexual contact with more than one partner or with someone who has more than one partner increases the risk of contracting any STD. A woman, {name withheld} was brought to my clinic half dead last week.

She had chronic pelvic pains accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fainting and rapid douse.

I asked them to go for ultra sound and the result was PID. She was treated and she left.

PID is a genital infection that has spread into the internal sexual organs.

Usually it can be a complicated issue of untreated Sexual Transmitted Diseases . When this is not treated, the bacteria that causes the disease can affect the fallopian tube, ovaries and uterus.

In most cases of PID there may not be any symptoms. Some people may not be aware of their being affected until probably they go for a routine check-up or in the process of looking for the fruit of the womb discovered through medical help.

But when symptoms of PID reflect , they include these:

cal (bodily or environmental), psychological, or spiritual problem. If there is a problem, certainly, you need to solve it in order to succeed in becoming parents. Regrettably, with infertility and other health problems, prevention is better than cure. Avoid anxiety and despair or allowing the problem to destroy the goods in your life.

Take care of other matters that help to keep the two of you close and happy.

What do you do? Do whatever is peaceful, rational, loyal, and pleasing, between the two of you, taking care of body, mind, and spirit and believe in blessing. Wishing your dream comes true.

•Aching in the lower abdomen.

•Pain during intercourse •Painful urination •Frequent urination •Discomfort during menstruation •Irregular menstruation •Vaginal discharge with foul odour •Boil-like rashes There may also be general malaise with fever or chil,nusea, symptoms of pregnancy, vomiting, early morning sickness, general weakness, weight loss.

Diagnosis may be difficult because the symptoms mimic those of appendicitis.

I always tell people not to take issues regarding health with levity because that could be so costly.just walk to our office ,as a Thailand trained alternative doctor, I use more of Asian products to treat people and we have documentary evidence to back up our claim. So if you have any symptoms as related herein, try and go for ultra sound scanning and high vaginal swab to know what type of bacteria you have contacted and that will help in treating you.

Remain healthy.

•Dr B. Filani is the Chief Consultant of Sound Health Centre, Lagos. You can contact him on 08023422010 or on facebook or email soundhealthcentre@yahoo.com.

HE term AIDS is an acronym that stands for “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome”. It is acquired because the victims do not inherit the condition, but contract it.

Immune deficiency means that the victim’s natural bodily defense mechanisms are unable to function properly, and “syndrome” refers to the combination of different abnormalities or diseases making up this condition.

AIDS is a complex of diseases and symptoms resulting from unexplained immune deficiency; caused by a retrovirus, culminating in a “mixed-bag” of life-threatening opportunistic infections, which invariably results in death.

The retrovirus that causes AIDS is known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with types I, II, and III already isolated.

Although there have been wide speculations and insinuations as to the origin of the virus (HIV), the fact still remains that the first cases of AIDS were diagnosed in North America, Europe and Central Africa about the same time in 1981. Since then, cases are being reported all over the world and most countries now have people with “full-blown” AIDS as well as carriers infected with the virus. It occurs in about 1 to 10 percent of the population and the incubation period is 4 to 10 years.

The virus has been isolated mostly from semen, vaginal secretion and blood. It is generally believed to be contracted through sexual intercourse, transfusion of contaminated blood, use of un-sterile instruments such as needles, blades and catheters, trans-placental infection, organ transplant, tattooing and circumcision as well as breast-feeding.

The major characteristic feature of AIDS is weight loss of about 10kg within 1 month without a known cause. Other symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, persistent cough, skin infections, oro-pharyngeal candidiasis, swollen lymph glands and night sweating.

Prevention Prevention of AIDS is achieved through avoidance of casual sex, and other factors that may predispose to HIV infection; as well as sterile procedures in clinico-surgical practices.

Treatment and Control Before recommending our treatment and control packages for HIV/ AIDS, it is pertinent to ask the following questions: 1. Why do outbreaks of serious infectious diseases leave some people devastated and others free?

2. If some people are known to be carriers and could go around with the virus for up to 15 years before they physically breakdown, couldn’t there be ways of helping to cleanse the virus from the system before it manifests?

3. Are the sufferer’s thoughts, aspirations and living habits not affecting the disease cycle as well as response to treatment?

If yes, then in Holistic Lifecare, we are committed to total cure of HIV/AIDS sufferers when they have just been tested and diagnosed positive, when they are still able to eat, drink and move around on their own, but not when they are expecting their funeral the next day!

The Holistic Natural Remedy being suggested for restoring good health, vitality, and total cure in HIV/AIDS sufferers; is a combination of herbal, nutritional and psycho-social therapies at the appropriate time and in the right proportion.

Notable among the useful herbs for HIV/AIDS are Aloe vera, Allium sativum, Harpagophytum zeyheri, Echinacea augustifolia and Zingiber officinale.

For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

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•Tinubu

•Jonathan

Thickening call for true federalism T

HE chorus is increasingly gaining ground. And the push to revert to the status quo ante and make Nigeria live the true meaning of a federal state, the way things were in pre-1966, is gathering momentum. Among politicians, labour leaders, lawyers, businessmen, human rights activists and other professionals, the clamour is the same. There is a sudden awareness that ensuring fiscal federalism would be the game changer Nigeria needs, not only for socio-economic and political stability, but for the much sought after

Augustine AVWODE Assistant Editor rapid development.

The argument has been that the system, as it is now, not only stifles development initiatives at the state and grassroots levels, but actually encourages laziness and corruption. It has been described as foisting a schoolmaster-pupil relationship instead of co-ordinating partnership on the Nigerian project.

Such a lopsided arrangement, it has been argued, has reduced the

federating units to mere servants ever looking up to the federal body for direction and salvation, particularly in terms of revenue for the projects and programmes they have to execute. But even at that, the shared revenue leaves the states unable to do what they ought to do as the lion share is retained at the centre.

Blaming military legacy The present concept of federal arrangement was never the intended interpretation given to the federal

structure envisioned for Nigeria by nationalists who fought for the country’s independence. It was hinged on fiscal federalism. But with the incursion of military rule into Nigeria’s body politics and the attendant central command structure of the army, the federal concept as arranged for the country was bastardized. The nail was firmly put on the coffin of fiscal federalism when the late Gen Aguiyi Ironsi decreed a unitary system of government for the country in 1966.

The concept of fiscal federalism

was first introduced in Nigeria in 1946, following the adoption of the Richards Constitution. The period 1947-52 marked the beginning of the recognition of sub-national governments during which financial responsibilities were devolved to the three regions-North, West and East.

At independence in 1960, these three regions were clearly autonomous and controlled large chunks of the revenue they were able to generate individually. From 1960 to 1966, the constitution gave the fed-

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‘ The fact that

it makes it practically impossible for states and other component units to flower and bloom has made the call for a review of the country’s principle of federalism

,

erating regions such enormous power that the central government had only 15 per cent of the nation’s revenue.

It was this system and provision in the nation’s constitution that provided the foundation for the rapid socio-economic development witnessed during the first republic. Unfortunately, that giant stride, which if maintained, could have put the country firmly in the league of developed nations of the world, was tinkered with as soon as the military took over the reins of governance. The civil war was used to justify the revision of that fiscal formula.

And so when in 1966, the era of military rule effectively started in Nigeria , the structure changed from four regions to 12 states that were created in 1967 by Gen. Yakubu Gowon. Ever since then, more states have been created with military fiat. Today, there are 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a near status of a state and 774 local governments recognised by the constitution of the federal republic.

In place of the smooth running federal government that was in operation in the country before came a mock federal arrangement which has been variously and derogatorily described as ‘lopsided’, ‘quasi’ federal structure.

With the abolition of the initial principle, the country’s political, social and economic development has been the worse for it. And as the military firmly centralised and concentrated the country’s revenue in the hands of the Federal Military Government, such giant strides made by the various regions in the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Mike Okpara in the West, North and Eastern regions respectively became a thing of the past.

And with the war over, a systemic rot in national life called briery and corruption emerged. This gradually gave way to a full blown practice of plundering of the national coffers and gross abuse of public office.

The military government had simply taken the funds that rightly belonged to state and local governments into the coffers of the federal military government. The implication was that these two tiers of government were denied the wherewithal to carry out their functions for the progress and welfare of their citizens. And before long, infrastructure decay all over the country became a common sight, even refineries were

so badly affected that it has since resulted in avoidable endless importation of fuel with scarce foreign exchange, among many other social side effects.

The new thinking The new thinking today, however, is that there should be a reversal of the order of fiscal transfer in the country to adequately reflect the federal norms as envisaged by the founding fathers of the country.

The current fiscal arrangement which leaves 52 per cent of the nation’s revenue in the hand of the federal government has been described as “oppressive.”

The fact that it makes it practically impossible for states and other component units to flower and bloom has made the call for a review of the country’s principle of federalism more trenchant.

After the April general election, the main opposition party in the country, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) ,in May at an interactive session with ACN National Assembly members-elect at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja made it clear through its national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the party would fight for true federalism which will lead to a change in the revenue allocation formula.

The party’s thinking, according to the Asiwaju, is that only fiscal federalism can accelerate Nigeria ’s de-

•Mark

•Agbakoba

velopment.

Tinubu declared that the Federal Government does not need more than 25 to 30 per cent of the nation’s resources, yet it collects 52 per cent.

Tinubu said then that: “We are the largest opposition party in the country. What we are saying is a controlled mechanism that will ensure a better and more assured free and fair elections. We have Federal Republic of Nigeria and we are running a federal constitution. Then we are here to ensure true federalism and I hope I am clear. Now fiscal federalism is mandatory for us. It is only the legislature that can effect the change in the revenue sharing formula.

“In the last 12 years, I have not heard that the revenue allocation has been reviewed and implemented.

We have a lopsided revenue sharing formula.

“Critical to that, you have a lopsided revenue formula giving the Federal Government 52 per cent of the commonwealth of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria. It is not acceptable. The real people are there in the states and local government areas.

The Federal Government should not take more than 25-30 per cent of the revenue.”

He went on: “In the federal principle under the constitution, it is the states which ceded power and trust to the Federal Government to hold certain aspects in trust on behalf of the states. Without the states, there is no federal. The situation is sad. So, we have not been running an effective federal system; it has been a unitary system and it has to stop.

And we have to work hard on that.”

The ACN is not the only body that feels that the federal principle in operation in Nigeria should be looked into with a view to correcting the lopsidedness in it and more importantly ensuring that the component or federating units play their roles in a way and manner that will engender visible development for in the country.

Former president of the Nigeria Bar Association and a Senior Advo-

‘ to that, Critical you have a lopsided revenue formula giving the Federal Government 52 per cent of the commonwealth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is not acceptable. The real people are there in the states and local government levels. The Federal Government should not take more than 25-30 per cent of the revenue ,

cate of Nigeria, Chief Olisa Agbakoba SAN, has also demonstrated his concern and determination to see that a balancing is quickly effected in this regard by sending a bill to the National Assembly.

With a title: “An Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999…” actually brought in more things than just the ensuring of a fiscal federalism.

Agbakobah appealed to the Seventh Assembly to ensure that the constitution is amended to reflect true federalism. He suggested that a slim federal government with limited functions is the best for ensur-

ing national development.

Other Nigerians of repute have been quoted as supporting the idea.

The current controversy surrounding the payment of the minimum wage of N18,000 has also brought to the fore the need for an urgent review of the document from where all governments at all levels in the country derive their powers. Early in the week, the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, Peter Obi, the Governor of Anambra State, was quoted as saying that states in the region would be able to pay the money provided there is a review of the revenue formula.

A member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the ACN, Hon Adeyinka Ajayi, who was a former Coordinator of the Millennium Development Goals for Osun State, recently told The Nation in an interview that without changes in the polity that will ensure fiscal federalism, development will be hard to achieve in the country. According to him, fiscal federalism and strengthening of democratic institutions are issues critical to development.

“These are critical issues that need to be addressed, if we are to move forward together as a nation. People have been talking about fiscal federalism for a long time, but we need to adopt a different approach to it because fiscal federalism is the way out of Nigerian problems. The earlier we understand that, the better.

Respect of the sovereignty of the federating states. The idea of the federal ceding power to the state is an aberration. The states that are sovereign in a federation cede power to the federal. Such states are sovereign and own all that is within their jurisdictions. The present situation is that the federal government has between 50 to 53 per cent of national income, a practice that is against the concept of federalism.

The states and local governments combined should earn more than the federal government because that is where the power and some of the resources reside. That is fiscal federalism”, he stated.

The political will Political analysts are, however, not sure if the country and the political class as currently constituted will be able to muster the political will to effect the needed change.

The thinking is that the political elite, who are in more ways than one benefiting from the current warped arrangement, will make it impossible for such a change to take place notwithstanding the fact that it will be like setting the nation free from the crutches to which it has been condemned for the past 38 years.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a chieftain of the ruling party from the South-South, said political actors will not want to upset the apple cart for reasons of self- preservation.

“The issue at hand is not new. Were you not in this country when at a time resource control was on the lips of everybody. At the Calabar gathering of the South-South People Assembly in 2005, what was the demand of the region? Was it not true federalism? We all went to the charade Obasanjo called the National Political Conference and instead of addressing the issue, he attempted to use it to legitimise his fancied Third Term gambit. You recall that we all staged a walk-out. Today, the region, I mean the Niger Delta, is in a position to, once and for all, effect a change in the system that has enslaved them for decades. But what do we see? Nobody is talking about it and we are all pretending as if we have arrived. We have not arrived; four years are a definite tenure; it will soon end and we will all be back to square one. I only hope that it will be taken care of now, other wise, forget it”.

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There can’t be development where there is violence and terrorism — Sen Okowa Senator Ifeanyi Okowa currently represents the Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State. A former Secretary to Government of Delta State(SSG), he has been on the political turf for over 20 years. He started as secretary to his local government council, and later became the executive chairman of the same council for two years. Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, he has held various political positions in state such as Commissioner for Agriculture, Commissioner for Water Resources Development and Commissioner for Health. In this interview with our Assistant Editor, AUGUSTINE AVWODE, he argues that with the kind of violence ravaging some parts of the country, the hope for development is nil. He gives the April polls a pass mark and states that his mission in Abuja is to give his Anioma nation“effective representation”. Excerpts:

T

HE country is in the throes of terror and violence being perpetuated by the Boko Haram sect. What do you think this portends for the country?

Certainly it is not a good development at all. First, it is a very wrong time for us to experience this type of distraction because we all know that we are in a hurry to catch up with the rest of the world and we need a total peaceful atmosphere in the country to be able to get on track.

Second, the way the whole thing has been going makes it difficult to really fathom what exactly the sect wants. If there are grievances, I expect that those behind it should be able to come forward and table before the federal or state or local government, whichever tier of government that they feel can solve their problems or even if it is a traditional ruler.

Bombing innocent citizens is not going to bring solutions to the problems they have.

So far they have made peace impossible in many parts of the north east and with that, development has taken flight. Which government can mobilize contractors to site with this situation? The leading tertiary institution in the area has just been closed down indefinitely. Is that a sign of progress or development? No. We need peace, we need to employ legally approved means to seek redress. And I want to appeal to those behind this to please, for the sake of whatever they hold dear, give peace a chance. This is not good for our image as a country. Nobody is happy that this is happening in this country. We should give peace a chance because there can’t be development where there is terrorism and violence.

Then I want to appeal to the security agents to step up their intelligence gathering mechanism. We cannot afford this wanton destruction of lives and property; it is not good at all.

During the primary and main elections in April, the people of Anioma displayed so much support for you. What would you say could be responsible?

Well, first, I would not say I am surprised because I have been here with them for a while now and they have come to see me as a son they could trust. And we have always related very well with people who are in the political class and those outside the class.

Actually, I must say I was overwhelmed by the level of love shown to me and I believe that all my years in government, particularly from 1999 till 2010 when I resigned as SSG to run for the senate, I never betrayed them once and I always did my utmost to ensure that their interest was protected. I am sure that probably made the love so massive and I sincerely hope that we can build on that while I pray to God on daily basis to make me reciprocate the love they have for me.

What is your assessment of the April elections?

First of all, I must say that we are still developing in all spheres of our life, including our political life . And let me also use this medium to commend Mr. President for appointing Prof. Attahiru Jega as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). With the benefit of hindsight, you can see that he meant well for the country and our democratic experience. I can say that to a very large extent we had better elections than those we had in the past. Of course, nobody was expecting a situation where we would get 100 per cent, but at least it was a better outing than the previous ones.

So we must thank Mr. President and we must thank the chairman of the INEC and all those who worked with him for giving us elections that were more credible than what we used to have in the past. The joy is that the

•Sen. Okowa international community has described it fairly credible compared to past elections. It shows that we can do better in subsequent elections.

Earlier on, you called on God to make you reciprocate the goodwill and support you have enjoyed from the Anioma people. Specifically, what should they look forward to?

The first thing to know is that as the man representing the Anioma nation in the Senate , when I speak, I am not speaking for myself, but for the Anioma nation. That is the first thing. That means that I am here as a voice of the Anioma people. I did not send myself to this place. I was sent by the majority of Anioma people and that means the Anioma nation. Then on a larger scale, I speak for Delta State of which Anioma is a part.

They can and should always look forward to the fact that I am here not to seek personal benefits, but the benefits of all my people both in urban and rural areas of all the place called the Delta North Senatorial District. I am here to highlight, as much as possible, the prob-

lems of the people and look into ways and means of attracting one form of development or another to the place.

Also, issues affecting us generally as a nation, that is, Nigeria, will be well taken care of.

Beyond all these, however, is the important aspect of coming back regularly to brief the people on what you are doing in Abuja, or what you have done. Listen to them and take their feelings back there with a view to finding solutions to their problems. That is the only process through which the people can feel the pulse of how government is working and know and appreciate the challenges the government is facing and what is being done to address such challenges.

I have promised myself that every three months, I have to go back to them and that is already a promise I have made and I will try as much as possible to stick to it.

Many people do not really represent their people effectively. Because they have got money, or had connections or won elections rightly or wrongly, they are not in touch with the people. Therefore, most of the time

‘

The frontiers of security management have moved away from the culture of impunity to the friendly frontiers of the rule of law, due process, civility and professionalism. In essence, all our operations must be people-centred...

,

they represent self; they present opinions of self and opinions of the class they belong to rather than present opinions of the majority of the people whom they claim to represent.

I know that I have a responsibility to stay in tune with the people. And staying with the people means that you must represent their voice. This is what I want to bring into being a senator; and this is what I call effective representation. It is highly important that whatever law we make must represent the will of the larger population, which ,of course, is the poor. Making laws, when the people do not understand the laws you are making because you do not revert regularly to them enough to hold consultations, means you are not representing the people. So I see effective representation as that which organizes the people, develop them economically, create a movement that props them up for recognition and drive them from their inner parts to be useful to themselves and the society. Somebody has to do that. Again a senator must be able to help coordinate other elected people from the senatorial district in the House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly, coordinate the council chairmen and ensure that you meet regularly with opinion leaders throughout the district so that you can think together on how to develop the area beyond what the federal and state governments are doing.

There are many things that could be collectively done through this association of elected people. This is a strong vision and idea that I intend to pursue. This has been lacking not only in this senatorial district, but all over the country and somebody has to start it.

You spoke positively about the INEC’s performance . Can you mention specifically what the electoral body did well?

As I said earlier, we are not yet there, though we certainly did better than the previous elections. No doubt about that.

But part of the new things he introduced included the process of accreditation nationwide, the voting pattern that was chosen and the timing of the voting, all helped in eliminating malpractices. But the fact that we still had pockets of thuggery, violence and ballot box snatching in a few places simply affirms the fact that these are not things that can be taken out of the system in one single day. I want Jega and his team to begin to look at the ways of finetuning the processes so that they can improve on their achievements.

But then I think the greatest credit must go to Mr. President. He has actually done very well . You will recall that he came in at a very challenging time because the president died when nobody expected him to die. You could see that where the voting pattern was patently against the PDP,people voted massively for the president. And you could also see one rare thing about his conduct.

He did not at any time try to bend the rules in his favour or that of his party.

That is the way it should be. He promised it would be one man, one vote; that Nigerian votes would count and it was so. Three governors of his party lost were not re-election .

He did not interfere; he did not intervene.

He simply allowed the people to decide what they wanted which is the hallmark of a good leader. And what did we see? Nigerians massively voted for him. It was a way of saying we were happy with what you did.

I personally believe that he is the type of man that we need in Nigeria. We now have a leader we can trust. We have a leader who listens to people and thinks about the country than himself. I have a strong conviction that the next four years would usher in transformation as he has promised Nigerians.

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Otedola at 85: Nostalgic reflections from a political son

T

ILL eternity, a usual ‘migrane’ with any enterprising journalist, remains putting on his thinking cap, brainstorming on story ideas.

Such was the lot of this writer while on the Features Desk of The Guardian Newspapers, Rutam House, Lagos, in 1986 when he ran into a roommate during his undergraduate days at the University of Ibadan.

After the usual pleasantries with Olaitan Ogidan, who hails from Epe in Lagos State and is now one of the most senior directors in local government services of Lagos State Government, we dovetailed into our career prospects, during which I informed him of my interest in fishing out newsmakers who had impacted greatly on their society through quality contributions.

Ogidan, who was a proud ambassador of Lagos State in our university days, could not think of any other person beyond his locality, Epe. But when he advanced the reason to justify his choice, I immediately fell in love.

Ogidan told me of a renowned medical practitioner who could have ended up as a fisherman in Epe, but for the intervention of Sir Michael Agbolade Otedola, who about a decade ago as at that time,began a scholarship scheme for indigent students.

This medical student, according to Ogidan, apart from having his tuition, books and feeding expenses paid by Otedola, this philanthropist also provided for his clothes and shoes.

The most remarkable thing that he said was that Sir Otedola could not even identify this beneficiary directly if there were to be a parade.

Dozens of other beneficiaries, he said, would also have pleasant testimonies to narrate about this orphan, Otedola, who in the course of his life utilized the Western Region scholarship for his education in Great Britain and later worked as Press Secretary to the late Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Spurred by this gist, I burst into the office of this Catholic Knight of Saint Sylvester without any prior notice.

This public relations expert, who also served as Public Affairs Manager of Mobil Oil before venturing into publishing at his Impact Press outfit at Randle Avenue in Surulere, received me warmly because of his love for the media, especially The Guardian which he held in high esteem.

However, it took a lot of prodding for this personality with a disarming smile to finally agree to speak on the scholarship scheme as he felt it was a God-sent service being rendered silently without any intention of making any mileage out of it.

However, after the publication of the interview, Sir Otedola was overwhelmed by the traffic of recommendations he received from well-meaning Nigerians, including those calling the shots at the federal level.

This elderly man made an

Sina OGUNBAMBO effort to call me on the phone to express his appreciation.

Since then, I became his ‘son’ and I will always seek his comments when writing on topical issues.

As the saying goes that there is no hiding place for a gold fish, Sir Otedola was to be dragged into partisan politics by his people in the Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State whose lives he had touched in various ways apart from his scholarship scheme for indigent students.

When former President Ibrahim Babangida later midwifed two political parties, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1990, Sir Otedola opted for the NRC. I had at that time moved over to the Political Desk of The Guardian as a Senior Correspondent and was shocked at his decision to join the NRC because it was already a forgone conclusion in the politics of South-West that the SDP would have a field day.

When approached, Baba Otedola, as he is fondly called, said he was in politics to make a difference,adding that his credentials would sell him to the public.

In any case, he pointed out that his participation in politics was to offer to a larger society the drive that made him better the lot of over a thousand indigent students he had offered scholarships.

He said he was not desperate, and if he did not win the election, he would regard his campaign expenses as the extension of his scholarship scheme.

To actualise his ambition,he set up a powerful political structure – Michael Otedola Campaign Organization (MOCO)- and the slogan of MOCO was “that Lagos State may excel”.

This structure traversed all the wards in Lagos State and campaigned vigorously, articulating the manifesto of the NRC. Otedola also had a massive support of the Christians in Lagos State, as that was the first time a very serious Christian was contesting for the governorship in Lagos States.

Sir Otedola brought in a kaleidoscope of colours, exhibited the expertise of a printing magnate, utilizing colour posters. Balloons pumped with helium gas were hoisted all over Lagos, a demonstration that gave this campaign more attraction.

His advanced age at that time was no barrier as he

•Otedola campaigned vigorously with the agility of a younger mind and he was quick to educate those capitalizing on his age as a deficit that “the government house is not a boxing ring where he required too much energy to survive, but a place for an intelligent mind to perform.”

When the NRC primaries were conducted, Otedola won convincingly and his then co- contestant,Chief (Mrs) Oluremi Adikwu, like a good sportsperson, accepted defeat and congratulated him.

As fate would have it, the two political gladiators in the SDP, the late Prof Femi Agbalajobi and Chief Dapo Sarunmi, fought each other to a standstill and Babangida’s administration had to disqualify them.

Chief Yomi Edu later emerged the candidate for the SDP and the true meaning of Otedola (rift has become a source of blessing) was spelt out during the governorship election in Lagos State on December 4, 1991.

It was a delightful drama at nearly all the polling booths as the majority of voters would queue behind the SDP House of Assembly candidates when the open ballot (option A4) votes were to be counted, and, like an enthusiastic crowd at a very charged football competition, would shift to queue for Sir Otedola of the NRC when votes for the governor-

‘

ship candidates were to be counted within the next 30 minutes.

Sir Otedola’s emergence brought into Lagos State politics a unique dimension where the executive was led by one party and the opposing party was dominant in the legislature, a ratio of 20 to 4 .

However through maturity, deft political calculation, wisdom and regular caucus meetings, Sir Otedola wriggled out of any controversy with the legislature.

In fact, his cabinet members were made of the NRC and SDP members and there was no factionalisation nor oppression of the opposition party through the nearly two years of his administration before the late General Sani Abacha hijacked power from the democratically elected people in November, 1993.

Within this short period, Sir Otedola was able to commence the Jubilee Housing Scheme for mass housing of Lagosians and Jubilee Transport to ease transportation difficulties.

Though his administration was the first to feel the impact of movement of the Federal Government from Lagos to Abuja as capital of Nigeria, Sir Otedola’s constant communication with the Police, Army, SSS amd other security agencies prevented to a large extent the incidence of crime.

But the fact that a “pampered” Lagos State no longer

He pointed out that his participation in politics was to offer to a larger society the drive that made him better the lot of over a thousand indigent students he had offered scholarships

,

enjoyed the financial support which the Federal Government had been giving to ensure good road infrastructure in the state made the roads (especially federal roads) to suffer decay.

However, Sir Otedola rose to the challenge and mandated Lagos State Public Works to embark on road rehabilitation during the day and night.

Critics of Sir Otedola opined that he was slow and could not move Lagos at a very fast tempo expected of him.

Sir Otedola did not take their criticism in bad faith, remarking that he had to exercise prudence in the way government funds are being spent,a situation necessitating a careful scrutiny of memo and prayers before approval.

However, when he had finally got a very good grinding in government and was moving at the jet speed required of him, the military struck.

Technocrats who were sent to Germany for training in a scientific approach to housing where thousands of housing units could be achieved in a record time and reasonably affordable prices just came back from training when the military intervention.

When there was a protest in Lagos State, organized by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), on the annulment of the June 12, 1992 presidential election, the military authorities asked him to call the people to order.

Sir Otedola told them that he employed dialogue with them and he had counselled them on the need to avoid violence ,adding that they had the right to fight injustice.

To him, his exalted position as Governor of Lagos State meant nothing to him than the interest of his people and the need to ensure justice.

A few days before the military took over, Sir Otedola, myself and a then Director in the Ministry of the Environment were to travel to London before proceeding to Shanghai in China for an international conference on Aquapolisis.

A day to our departure, Baba Otedola asked me and the Director to proceed to Shanghai to represent him at the conference, joking that London is closer to Lagos than China in case there was a serious problem at home.

Three days later, we heard on the CNN that the military had taken over.

Fortunately, we just ended the conference and were to proceed back to London to join Sir Otedola and brief him on the conference.

On our arrival, we learnt that Sir Otedola had gone back to Lagos so as to hand over to the military. We had to rush back to join him.

When he was handing over to General Patrick Aziza (rtd), the then acting Administrator, Sir Otedola remarked that though he was saddened by the military takeover of government from the democratically elected people, he had no regret as he had fulfilled his

promise to serve the people with all honesty.

His decision to return to Lagos without any fear of what might happen to him showed a great attribute of bravery and a proof of the fact that he had no skeleton in his cupboard.

When he returned to his hometown, Odoragusin, near Epe, his spacious compound and modest house, which had no major transformation than ordinary repainting, could not contain the overwhelming crowd that held a carnival to receive him.

His people rejoiced that he came back alive with his integrity.

The rousing reception accorded him was not unexpected as he was a man of the people.

Evidence of this was displayed on the first Eid-ElKabir (Sallah) celebration on his assumption of office as Lagos State Governor. He joined his fellow Muslim brothers and sisters at Odoragusin on the praying ground and observed all the rules involved in praying.

When the Catholic authority challenged him over this act, he replied them that he was born a Muslim converting to Christianity and even as a Christian, he has never failed to pray along with his people, Christians and Muslims alike, as he believed we all serve one God and should demonstrate tolerance in religion.

Sir Otedola has also done a lot in rural development providing good roads, drainages, potable water,hospitals and electricity for the people of Lagos State.

He convinced the military to hand over their underutilised barracks at Epe to Lagos State Government for the take-off of Lagos State University (LASU) Engineering and Agricultural Campus and constructed the Festac Link Bridge alongside other projects.

His wife, Lady Doja Otedola, had through the Better Life for Rural Dwellers trained and empowered women in trade and agriculture.

A father of successful children and many grandchildren, Sir Otedola, though no longer active in partisan politics, has not forgotten to relate with his political associates, monitoring their progress.

One of his sons, Femi , a chip of the old bloc and one of the most successful and philanthropic Africans, has taken over his father’s scholarship scheme and enlarged the circle of beneficiaries.

I consider myself lucky to have come across this accomplished statesman who till today remains humble, caring, generous in assisting people, but prudent in his spending.

I join millions of his admirers worldwide in wishing Sir Otedola who clocks 85 today a happy birthday and many happy returns.

•Sina Ogunbambo, CEO, Damo Solid Concepts was Otedola’s Chief Press Secretary in Lagos State.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011

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Tomorrow in THE NATION PUNCHLINE

SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.5, NO. 1822

But bad as it was, we must have learnt some lessons from the floods, whether as government or as citizens.

It is shameful that some people still build on water channels in Lagos —Tunji Adegboyega

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EATING ominously across the land are the threatning war drums of the impending minimum wage battle royale between labour and government. The dark clouds are gathering and the raging storms of industrial unrest may soon overwhelm a nation still caught between the vicious jaws of the human induced catastrophe of Boko Haram terrorism in the north and the natural disaster of floods that ravaged parts of the south west this week.

Labour has given notice of a three day warning strike to commence on Wednesday in protest against all tiers of government for non implementation of the new national minimum wage of N18,000 signed into law

by President Goodluck Jonathan in the run up to the last general elections. If the situation remains the same after the warning strike, the nation may be poised to ignite an indefinite paralysis of the national economy by labour.

The main protagonists in the gradually escalating minimum wage brouhaha are the 36 state governors on one hand and the labour leaders on the other. Of course, one can understand the hard line posture of labour. Given the pervasive poverty across the land and the astronomical cost of living in an otherwise highly endowed country, a minimum wage of N18,OOO is in reality a huge joke. Matters are worsened by the gross inequality between a microscopic minority of Nigeria’s rapacious elite that live in obscene opulence and the vast majority of Nigerians trapped in the famished desert of dehumanizing immiserization.

How can political office holders who extract a more than proportionate share of purportedly scarce national resources without necessarily adding value to the polity through purposeful and productive leadership convince labour that they cannot afford to pay a pittance of N18,000 as minimum wage? It is interesting that, just as he brilliantly succeeded in doing during the rancorous PDP primaries and the last general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has strategically placed himself above the minimum wage fray. This may be ultimately beneficial to the polity if it enables him to serve as a credible mediator between the contending parties in the crisis.

On the surface, the divergence in the positions of the governors and the labour leaders appears to be fundamental. In reality, there seems to be more that binds both par-

SMS to

Unstated minimum consensus ‘ Without decisively breaking this unrealistic minimum consensus on oil dependency, Nigeria will be doomed to perpetual economic stagnation

•Amaechi •Omar ties together than many realize. The governors are politicians. Their political careers depend on popular approbation particularly in the context of a credible electoral system. Ordinarily, the governors would readily jump to pay the new minimum wage if they could afford to. Afterall, it would give them considerable political mileage. The conundrum they confront, however, is that the public sector work force constitutes only a minuscle proportion of the total population. Can the governors afford to expend the bulk of their revenue on this tiny minority at the expense of developmental projects that will benefit the larger and more electorally lethal populace? That seems to be their dilemma.

But then, the labour leaders are also veteran politicians in their own sphere. Labour

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politics can be as complex and treacherous as party politics. The labour leaders must also have an eye on the next labour elections. They must be seen as pursuing the best interest of their constituency. Otherwise, there are rivals waiting on the periphery willing to play to the gallery and give anything to join the elite ranks of the labour aristocracy. But beyond rhetorics, will the hike in minimum wage necessarily improve the quality of life of ordinary workers? It is doubtful. What experience teaches is that inflationary spirals will most likely erode the value of any nominal wage increase.

Even if labour can muscle governments to implement the new minimum wage law, can the same thing apply in the private sector? Will any hardline stance on the matter in the private sector not lead to either lay off of workers or increased casualization of

labour?

There seems to be an unstated but patently unhealthy minimum consensus between government and labour that petroleum will continue to be the mainstay and life wire of the Nigerian economy. One does not need to be an economist to know that the realistic minimum wage of any economy will necessarily be a function of the aggregate level of national productivity. But the reality is that ours is a spectacularly unproductive economy. Our federation comprises of largely unviable states that depend on monthly handouts from the centre to survive. Remove the oil of the Niger Delta today and Nigeria will collapse like a pack of cards.

But the oil of the Niger Delta is simply a gift of fortune or a coincidence of nature.

We did absolutely nothing to locate the oil within our jurisdiction. Foreign multinationals own the technology and expertise that enable us to extract the oil from the ground.

We have even been unable to maintain the refineries built by foreign expertise to enable us refine our crude oil locally. The consequent dependence on fuel imports is the source of the so-called petroleum subsidy that successive governments keep on threatning to remove.

Labour’s demand for a new minimum wage is predicated on petroleum revenues.

An unimaginative and uncreative federal government that sits on the bulk of national revenues and has been unable, over time, to use proceeds from petroleum to stimulate other sectors has signed into law a minimum wage that will be funded by petroleum revenues. Governors have said they will be willing to pay if they receive higher revenue allocations, which will obviously come from oil proceeds. Furthermore, they want fuel subsidy removed so that they will have larger oil revenues to share.

For how long will this parasitism continue? When will we have a political leadership courageous enough to ensure that the Niger Delta keeps the bulk of its oil revenues so that the rest of us will cast off the garment of laziness, put on our thinking caps and truly earn our living by maximally utilizing the abundant human, mineral and natural resources that every part of this country is blessed with? Without decisively breaking this unrealistic minimum consensus on oil dependency, Nigeria will be doomed to perpetual economic stagnation.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday

Sports minister not…

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OTHING amazes me in this country.

Whereas others look up towards changes in any new administration, ours is that of distinguishing between six and half a dozen.

Therefore, when the news broke that another former minister of transport has been saddled with the task of re-inventing sports, I remembered Ibrahim Isa Bio. My heart sank because sport doesn’t require nice guys, such as Bio. Bio, like everyone, had his merits but he couldn’t refrain from fighting his lieutenants’ battles.

Bio was determined to leave a mark in sport, but his men at the National Sport Commission (NSC) capitalised on his hunger for change to make his tenure a catalogue of controversies that led Nigeria sports in only one direction-backwards.

These NSC hawks are the problem with the ministers we have had in the last decade. What we experience with every new appointment is the power tussle between those who have just lost out and the new minister’s men.

It is quite disturbing that we have had 11 ministers in the last decade, yet no sport is listed in the Stock Exchange as we have in other climes.

It is easy for these NSC men to say that our

sport is at the amateur level. That is okay. But is that not what operates around the world?

How good are these amateurs to compete with others at international competitions, such as Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games etc?

Do we have viable nurseries to identify, groom and expose rookies at the grassroots in various competitions? What has happened to the tournaments (Principals Cup, Hussey shield, Lady Mamiwa Cup, Schools sports, Morocco Clarke, etc) that served as platforms to expose new talents? Outside the National Sport Festival, which is now being bankrolled by rich state governments, what has the NSC done to ensure that the mill for producing athletes is sustained? How efficient are the 29 other sports associations to ensure that the Nigerian youth is kept off social vices to embrace sports?

Do these sports associations have programmes throughout the year to attract the blue-chip companies to splash cash on them or use such sporting platforms to leverage on their products and services? Can anyone in the NSC show the new minister Nigeria’s sports calendar that he can use to woo the bluechip companies to support sports?

The National Sports Festival is the NSC’s baby, yet it has suffered repeated postponements even when it is the commission’s statutory right to ensure that it holds at the appropriate time.

Hitherto, the Festival was the platform to discover budding talents to be nurtured to rep-

resent the country in international competitions. It was categorised into U-13, U-18 and senior. The Nigerian Youth looked forward to it. It held in 1973, 1975, 1977 and 1979- a sequence of two-year interval, until it became a political tool for military governors, military administrators and now governors.

Sadly, the Festival has been bastardised. It is now a competition for mercenaries, who are hired to compete for the highest bidder.

If the Sports Minister Yusuf Suleiman wants to succeed, he must ensure that Decree 101 is abolished and a new Act of parliament formulated.

The abolition of Decree 101 would ensure that there is a balance between what the government commits in terms of funding and what can be placed before the corporate world to support football.

Nigeria appears to be the only country that loves to spend money on soccer because government money is hardly accounted for.

Sulieman’s first achievement should be the total democratisation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), using the universal instrument- the FIFA statutes. He should ask NSC chiefs to produce the document NFA/CHM/ CON/03/16 signed by former Minister Bala Bawa Kaoje, dated 26th February, 2007. Part of it reads: (2) The Federal executive Council by its meeting of Wednesday 5 January 2005, conclusion EC (2005) Ist meeting approved the commission’s prayer for the abrogation of the Decree 101 based on

the approval of the Federal Executive Council, for which a bill has been tabled before the National Assembly for the abrogation of the Decree. The bill is currently undergoing the normal legislative procedures at the National Assembly.

This document will resolve the NFF/NFA impasse, especially as the process of abrogating Decree 101 has passed through two readings on the two floors of the National Assembly. Sulieman would be misled if he tries to settle the rift in football. Those in contention have headed for the courts where there are better arbiters.

Probity should be the basis for running sports, to make the corporate world identify with its programmes. Sport is a money-spinner. Competitions offer big businesses the platform to showcase their products and ideals.

Hitherto, companies struggled to bankroll sporting activities, knowing the immense audience involved. The spiral effect of sponsored competitions led to the emergence of rookies in the grassroots who rose to stardom, wearing the country’s colours.

Yusuf must ask NSC men to produce a sport calendar where all the sports associations organise competitions for their athletes.

The preparation for the All Africa Games in Maputo should start Nigeria’s quest for a remarkable showing at the Olympic Games in London, next year.

Athletes for the 2011 All Africa Games should report in the Port Harcourt camp. The facilities that hosted the last National Sports •Continued on Page 6

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